| List of years in British television (table) |
|---|
| … 1961 . 1962 . 1963 . 1964 . 1965 . 1966 . 1967 … 1968 1969 1970 -1971- 1972 1973 1974 … 1975 . 1976 . 1977 . 1978 . 1979 . 1980 . 1981 … |
This is a list of British television related events from 1971.
Events[]
- 3 January – BBC Open University broadcasts begin.
- 27 January – Valerie Barlow is electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer, and then perishes in a house fire on Coronation Street.
- 1 February – Radio only and combined radio & television licences are abolished.
- 8 February – The Colour Strike ends after three months of industrial action by ITV staff who had refused to work with colour television equipment after a dispute with their managers over pay.
- February – BBC2 airs Elizabeth R, a drama serial of six 85-minute plays starring Glenda Jackson in the title role.
- 10 April – The Two Ronnies debuts on BBC1.
- 7 June – The UK children's magazine show Blue Peter buries a time capsule in the grounds of BBC Television Centre, due to be opened on the first episode of the year 2000.
- 21 September – The Old Grey Whistle Test premieres on BBC2.
- 10 October – Upstairs, Downstairs debuts on ITV.
Debuts[]
BBC1[]
- 25 February – * Mr Benn (1970, 2005)
- Unknown - Crystal Tipps and Alistair (1971–1974)
- 10 April – The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)
- 19 June – Parkinson (1971–1982, 1998–2007)
- 2 October – The Generation Game (1971–2005, 2007)
- 15 October – The Onedin Line (1971–1980)
- 5 November – Now Look Here (1971–1973)
BBC2[]
- 17 February – Elizabeth R (1971)
- 21 September – The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)
ITV[]
- 14 January – A Class by Himself (1971–1972)
- 9 April – Budgie (1971–1972)
- 27 April – ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973)
- 12 June – The Comedians (1971–1985)
- 28 June – Follyfoot (1971–1973)
- 17 September – The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1973)
- 17 September – The Persuaders! (1971–1972)
- 10 October – Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975, 2010)
Television shows[]
1940s[]
- Watch with Mother (1946–1973)
- Come Dancing (1949–1998)
1950s[]
- The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
- Panorama (1953–present)
- Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1976)
- Crackerjack (1955–1984)
- Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)
- This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)
- Armchair Theatre (1956–1980)
- What the Papers Say (1956–2008)
- The Sky at Night (1957–present)
- Blue Peter (1958–present)
- Grandstand (1958–2007)
1960s[]
- Coronation Street (1960–present)
- Songs of Praise (1961–present)
- Steptoe and Son (1962–1965, 1970–1974)
- Z-Cars (1962–1978)
- Animal Magic (1962–1983)
- Doctor Who (1963–1989, 2005–present)
- World in Action (1963–1998)
- Top of the Pops (1964–2006)
- Match of the Day (1964–present)
- Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
- Play School (1964–1988)
- Mr. and Mrs. (1964–1999, 2008-2010)
- Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
- World of Sport (1965–1985)
- Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006–present)
- It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001)
- The Money Programme (1966–present)
- Callan (1967–1972)
- The Golden Shot (1967–1975)
- ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)
- Please Sir! (1968–1972)
- Father, Dear Father (1968–1973)
- Dad's Army (1968–1977)
- Magpie (1968–1980)
- The Big Match (1968–2002)
- On the Buses (1969–1973)
- Clangers (1969–1974)
- Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)
1970s[]
- A Family at War (1970–1972)
- Queenie's Castle (1970–1972)
- The Goodies (1970–1982)
Ending this year[]
- All Gas and Gaiters (1966)
- Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width (1967)
- Me Mammy (1968)
- Albert and Victoria (1970)
- Bachelor Father (1970)
- The Lovers (1970)
- Timeslip (1970)
- UFO (1970)
Births[]
- 1 January – Suzanne Virdee, British Newsreader-Midlands Today BBC ONE
- 3 January – Sarah Alexander, actress
- 5 January –
- Joanna Gosling, journalist and newsreader
- Jayne Middlemiss, British television presenter
- 6 January – Charlie Neil, British regional TV weather reader
- 12 January – Jay Burridge, British artist and television presenter
- 14 January – Yiolanda Koppel, British television presenter
- 15 January – Lara Cazalet, British actress
- 20 January – Gary Barlow, singer and actor
- 23 January – Lisa Snowdon, English fashion model, actress and television presenter
- 29 January – Clare Balding, sports presenter, journalist and jockey
- 30 January – Darren Boyd, actor
- 31 January – Patrick Kielty, Northern Irish comedian and television presenter
- 2 February – Michelle Gayle, singer and actress
- 13 February – Sonia, English pop singer
- 16 February – Amanda Holden, British actress and television presenter
- 16 February – Steven Houghton, British actor and singer
- 20 February – Sarah Hadland, actress
- 23 February – Melinda Messenger, British television presenter and model
- 2 March – Dave Gorman, comedian and broadcaster
- 23 March – Gail Porter, British television presenter.
- 5 April – Victoria Hamilton, actress
- 16 April - Max Beesley, actor and musician
- 17 April – Claire Sweeney, actress, singer and television personality
- 18 April – David Tennant, Scottish actor
- 27 April – Tess Daly, British television presenter.
- 27 May – Paul Bettany, British actor
- 5 June – Susan Lynch, Northern Irish actress
- 18 June – Debbie Chazen, actress
- 26 June – Emma Noble, actress and model
- 5 July – Nicola Stephenson, actress
- 9 July – Dani Behr, British television presenter and actress.
- 24 July – John Partridge, actor
- 25 July – Chloë Annett, actress
- 7 August – Melanie Sykes, British television presenter
- 9 August – Kate Sanderson, British television presenter and newsreader
- 20 August – Helen Grace, actress
- 31 August – Kirstie Allsopp, British television presenter
- 7 September – Lisa Rogers, television presenter
- 8 September - Martin Freeman, actor
- 11 September – Johnny Vegas, actor and comedian
- 13 September – Louise Lombard, British actress.
- 25 September – Jessie Wallace, British actress
- 29 September – Mackenzie Crook, English actor
- 4 October – Simone Hyams, actress
- 13 October – Sacha Baron Cohen, British comedian
- 16 October – Craig Phillips, British reality show star, Winner of Big Brother UK in 2000
- 19 October – Kacey Ainsworth, British actress.
- 24 October – Dervla Kirwan, actress
- 1 December – Emily Mortimer, British actress
- Unknown – Helen Blakeman, playwright and screenwriter