1973 in British television

List of years in British television       (table)
… 1963 .  1964 .  1965 .  1966  . 1967  . 1968  . 1969 … 1970 1971 1972 -1973- 1974 1975 1976 … 1977 .  1978 .  1979 .  1980  . 1981  . 1982  . 1983 …

This is a list of British television related events from 1973.

Events

• 4 January – The record breaking, long-running comedy series in the UK and the world "Last of the Summer Wine" starts as a 30-minute pilot on BBC1's Comedy Playhouse show. (The first series started on 12 November the same year). This programme is still active 36 years later.
• 11 January- The Open University awards its first degrees.
• 25 January – English actor Derren Nesbitt is convicted of assaulting his wife Anne Aubrey.
• 21 March – Are You Being Served? begins first regular series (pilot aired 8 September 1972). It is set in Her Majesty's Prison Slade in Cumbria.
• 25 March – The pilot episode of Open All Hours airs as part of Ronnie Barker's series Seven of One on BBC1.
• March – Experimental Ceefax teletext transmissions begin.
• 1 April – Prisoner and Escort, the pilot episode of Porridge, airs as part of Seven of One.
• 5 May-28 July - BBC Television series The Ascent of Man, written and presented by Jacob Bronowski, airs; there is also an accompanying bestselling book.
• 6 August – James Beck, who stars as Private Joe Walker in the popular UK sitcom Dad's Army, dies of a burst pancreas at the age of 44. Although the series continues until 1977, the part of Walker could have been recast but the show carries on without him.
• 8 October – Patricia Phoenix leaves the role of Elsie Tanner on Coronation Street after thirteen years.
• 31 October – Thames Television's landmark 26 part documentary The World at War begins.
• 12 November – The record breaking, long-running comedy series "Last of the Summer Wine" starts as a series on BBC1. The programme continued to air until August 2010.
• 23 November – 10th anniversary of the first episode of Doctor Who.

Debuts

BBC 1

• 9 January – Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–1974)
• 5 February – The Wombles (1973–1975, 1990–1991 BBC, 1996–1997 ITV)
• 15 February – Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973–1978)
• 26 May – That's Life! (1973–1994)
• 13 June – We Are the Champions (1973–1995)
• 20 August – Why Don't You? (1973–1995)
• 12 November – Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)

ITV

• 1 January – Pipkins (1973–1981)
• 30 April – The Tomorrow People (1973–1979, 1992–1995)
• 29 September – New Faces (1973–1978, 1986–1988)
• 31 October – The World at War (1973–1974)
• 1 November – Beryl's Lot (1973–1977)

Television shows

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

• Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955–1967, 1973–1974)

1940s

• 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)
• The Golden Shot (1967–1975)
• ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)
• Dad's Army (1968–1977)
• Magpie (1968–1980)
• The Big Match (1968–2002)
• Clangers (1969–1974)
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)

1970s

• The Goodies (1970–1982)
• Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975, 2010)
• The Onedin Line (1971–1980)
• The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)
• The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)
• Colditz (1972–1974)
• The Protectors (1972–1974)
• Love Thy Neighbour (1972–1977)
• Clapperboard (1972–1982)
• Crown Court (1972–1984)
• Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986)
• Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1995)
• Emmerdale (1972–present).
• Newsround (1972–present).
• Weekend World (1972–1988)

Ending this year

• Watch with Mother (1946–1973)
• Father, Dear Father (1968–1973)
• Freewheelers (1968–1973)
• Nearest and Dearest (1968–1973)
• The Flaxton Boys (1969–1973)
• On the Buses (1969–1973)
• ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973)
• The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1973)
• Now Look Here (1971–1973)
• Follyfoot (1971–1973)
• Arthur of the Britons (1972–1973)
• War and Peace (1972–1973)

Births

• 29 January – Miranda Krestovnikoff, television presenter
• 7 February – Kate Thornton, journalist and television presenter
• 8 February – Sonia Deol, presenter
• 3 March – Alison King, actress
• 5 April – Jason Done, actor
• 24 April – Gabby Logan, radio and television presenter
• 21 May - Noel Fielding, British Comedian and Actor
• 24 May – Dermot O'Leary, British TV Star
• 30 May – Leigh Francis, British comedian
• 9 June – Iain Lee, British comedian and radio and television presenter
• 25 June – Sunetra Sarker, actress
• 3 July – Emma Cunniffe, British actress
• 11 October – Mark Chapman, broadcaster and newsreader
• 21 October – Beverly Turner, British TV and radio presenter
• 5 November – Danniella Westbrook, actress and television presenter
• 14 December – Amanda Byram, television personality

References

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