2002 in British television

none April 2013 May 2020 2002 British television This is a list of British television related events from 2002. Events January 1 January Provisional viewing figures released by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board indicate that on average, BBC One had more viewers than ITV through 2001. This is the first time this has happened.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1737412.stm BBC celebrates ratings 'success' BBC BBC News 1 January 2002 4 April 2014 New Year's Day highlights on BBC One include the films Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Small Soldiers, Shakespeare in Love and 'Til There Was You.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/2002-01-01 BBC One London – 1 January 2002 – BBC Genome Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 2018-01-13 4 January – It is reported that three Coronation Street actors Stephen Beckett (Dr Matt Ramsden), Clare McGlinn (Charlie Ramsden) and Naomi Russell (Bobbi Lewis) are to leave the series in the Spring.Simon Jeffery https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/jan/04/netnotes.simonjeffery Coronation Street The Guardian 4 January 2002 1 July 2017 7 January The Independent Television Commission rejects 129 viewer complaints about WHSmith's Fat Geordies Christmas advertising campaign, saying the humour was acceptable and would not have caused widespread offence, but the watchdog does express its concerns about the stereotyping of overweight people, suggesting this could be harmful.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1747485.stm Watchdogs clear 'fat Geordie' advert BBC BBC News 7 January 2002 23 May 2014 Sky News content becomes available on terrestrial television for the first time in a decade as Channel 5 begins simulcasting part of the breakfast news programme Sunrise with Sky's news channel.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1746908.stm Sky News debuts on Channel 5 BBC BBC News 7 January 2002 29 January 2019 8 January – EastEnders character Angie Watts is set to be killed off-screen from cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism. The character was last seen in May 1988 and her death would air in April 2002.https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a4596/departed-eastenders-star-to-be-killed-off/ Departed EastEnders character to be killed-off Digital Spy Wilkes Neil 8 January 2002 10 October 2019 11 January – Coronation Street bosses confirm that Jacqueline Chadwyck who plays Linda Sykes has left the series and will not return to film any exit scenes. It is also confirmed that comedian Roy Hudd will join the soap to play a lighthearted character, an undertaker named Archie Shuttleworth.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1755546.stm Chadwick quits the Street BBC BBC News 11 January 2002 1 July 2017 20 January – Bloody Sunday, a television drama based on the events of the controversial Bloody Sunday incident in Northern Ireland in 1972 airs on ITV.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1773624.stm ITV hails Sunday 'success' BBC BBC News 21 January 2002 17 May 2014 The film, and Channel 4's Sunday (airing eight days later and dealing with the same topic), attract several complaints to the Independent Television Commission over their impartiality because of an ongoing inquiry into the incident. But the Commission rules in April that neither film was biased.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1930314.stm Bloody Sunday films 'not biased' BBC BBC News 15 April 2002 23 May 2014 22 January – UTV2 closes and is replaced by ITV2. 23 January – At a meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee in Westminster, BBC governor Sir Robert Smith tells the committee that the possibility of a Six O'Clock News bulletin for Scotland will be considered again following next year's Scottish Parliament election.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1777355.stm 'Scottish Six' back on the agenda BBC BBC News 23 January 2002 4 May 2012 24 January – Hear'Say, the band formed by ITV's Popstars, confirm that Kym Marsh has left the group, but say they intend to continue.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1780839.stm Hear'Say to continue without Kym BBC BBC News 24 January 2002 31 March 2014 The following day auditions are announced for a new band member to replace Marsh.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1782367.stm Hear'Say to audition for 'new Kym' BBC BBC News 25 January 2002 31 March 2014 25 January – UK Today ends after all of the BBC's regional centres are upgraded for digital broadcasting. However, due to cost considerations, the BBC decides not to create separate regional services for BBC Two in England. Despite this, the weekday afternoon regional bulletin continues on BBC Two and digital viewers see BBC London News rather than their own regional news bulletin. 27 January – Sid Owen and Patsy Palmer are reprising their EastEnders roles as Ricky Butcher and Bianca Jackson after filming a one-off special that will air later in the year.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1785761.stm Ricky and Bianca film soap return BBC BBC News 27 January 2002 26 May 2015 28 January – Beginning of a week of EastEnders episodes set in Spain which see the return of the character Sam Mitchell.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Showbiz%3A+COSTA+DEL+SQUARE%3B+EastEnders+takes+a+trip+out+to+Spain.-a082269973 Showbiz: Costa del Square; EastEnders takes a trip out to Spain Trinity Mirror Sunday Mercury 27 January 2002 25 May 2014 Sam's return sees actress Kim Medcalf make her television acting debut, having taken over the role from Danniella Westbrook after the part was recast.Fletcher Rebecca http://www.thefreelibrary.com/It+would+be+easy+to+get+swept+up+in+the+fame+thing,+but+I+won't+let...-a082906286 It would be easy to get swept up in the fame thing, but I won't let it affect me and my boyfriend; EastEnders' newcomer Kim Medcalf on how she is handling her overnight success and why she won't let it go to her head Trinity Mirror The Mirror 16 February 2002 25 May 2014Marlow Will http://www.thefreelibrary.com/On+the+box%3A+It's+been+a+pleasure+getting+to+know+Sam%3B+Kim+Medcalf...-a084298047 On the box: It's been a pleasure getting to know Sam; Kim Medcalf tells Wil Marlow how she quickly felt part of the family on the EastEnders set Trinity Mirror The Birmingham Post 30 March 2002 25 May 2014 Medcalf goes on to play Sam until 2005 when the character is written out of the series in a storyline that sees her fleeing to Brazil after becoming a murder suspect. Westbrook then returns to the role of Sam in 2009, before Medcalf once again reprises the role in 2022.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7987736.stm Westbrook returns to EastEnders BBC BBC News 7 April 2009 25 May 2014http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8264606.stm Westbrook to leave Albert Square BBC BBC News 21 September 2009 26 May 2014 29 January – The Sun reports that Cat Deeley will leave SM:TV in March after being offered other projects.Wilkes Neil http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a4838/cat-deeley-quits-smtv.html#~oHQJVhdRdVsd6s Cat Deeley quits SM:tv Digital Spy 30 January 2002 2014-06-21 ITV subsequently confirms her departure from the programme.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1790868.stm Cat Deeley to leave SM:tv BBC BBC News 30 January 2002 21 June 2014 30 January – Channel 4's controversial Brass Eye spoof documentary on paedophiles is among the winners at the annual Broadcast Magazine Awards held in London, picking up a comedy award despite causing controversy when it aired the previous year.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1793789.stm Brass Eye wins comedy award BBC BBC News 31 January 2002 29 April 2014 31 January The BBC children's series Teletubbies has been sold to China where it will be aired on the state owned channel CCTV1.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1793278.stm TV AND RADIO | Teletubbies say Eh Oh to China BBC News 2002-01-31 2018-01-13 The last titled episode of The Bill, "Set in Stone", is broadcast. This is followed by a six-part untitled story after which the series switches to a serial format. January – BBC Worldwide relaunches its commercially funded website beeb.com as a sponsored shopping guide.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2002/01_january/beeb_motoreasy.shtml motoreasy first to take advantage of beeb.com's new advertising options BBC 2002-01-23 2025-01-11 February 1 February – It is reported that The Saturday Show presenter Dani Behr has been reprimanded by her BBC bosses after giving a sexually explicit interview to lads' magazine Maxim.Methven Nicola http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+had+seedy,+great+sex+in+a+car+park+and+I+could+really+go+for+Sharon...-a082364298 The Dani Behr interview that had BBC bosses fuming Trinity Mirror The Mirror 1 February 2002 18 May 2014 3 February – 3,000 hopefuls travel to London to attend auditions to replace Kym Marsh in Hear'Say.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1798677.stm Hear'Say auditions reject thousands BBC BBC News 3 February 2002 31 March 2014 Johnny Shentall is introduced as the band's new member two days later.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1801766.stm Hear'Say introduce new member BBC BBC News 5 February 2002 31 March 2014 Fans and the media later dismiss the process as a stunt because Shentall is a former member of the pop group Boom!, accusations that prompt Hear'Say to issue a statement denying it was fixed.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1806164.stm Hear'Say deny auditions 'fix' BBC BBC News 7 February 2002 31 March 2014 7 February – BBC Director-General Greg Dyke launches his "cut the crap, make it happen" initiative, designed to cut red tape and inertia at the corporation.Matt Wells https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/feb/08/broadcasting.bbc Dyke rallies BBC with cut the crap yellow card The Guardian 8 February 2002 10 May 2014 8–22 February – The BBC provides coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. 9 February Following the announcement of the death of Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Elizabeth II, some radio and television schedules are changed to make room for tribute programmes.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1810760.stm UK | Princess Margaret dies BBC News 2002-02-09 2018-01-13 Will Young wins the first series of Pop Idol.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1384337/Will-Young-wins-Pop-Idol-contest.html Will Young wins Pop Idol contest The Telegraph 9 February 2002 31 March 2014http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1809938.stm Will wins Pop Idol BBC BBC News 10 February 2002 31 March 2014 10 February – ITV1 begins airing the fifth and final series of the Michael Barrymore fronted gameshow My Kind of Music. Twelve episodes are recorded, but only five are ultimately shown, as some regions prefer to continue airing their own local programmes within the Sunday early evening slot. 11 February Two new BBC children's channels, CBeebies, aimed at children under 6 and CBBC, aimed at children aged 6–12, launch.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1747194.stm New BBC channels get launch dates BBC BBC News 7 January 2002 17 May 2014http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1809678.stm BBC children's channels on air BBC BBC News 11 February 2002 17 May 2014 The channels broadcast within the downtime of the BBC's established digital channels, with CBBC sharing its multiplex space with BBC Choice and CBeebies sharing its space with BBC Knowledge. The Teletubbies spin-off "Teletubbies Everywhere" premieres alongside the launch of CBeebies. It is set in coloured backgrounds instead of the usual Teletubbyland.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/02_february/11/cbbcdigital.shtml ITV Digital launches a test card based on the BBC's Test Card F to be aired when its channels are off air. The card features the characters Al and Monkey playing a game of noughts and crosses.http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a6200/itv-digital-launches-mock-testcard.html#~oExeS34mj7bwa5 ITV Digital launches mock testcard – Tech News Digital Spy 11 February 2002 17 May 2014 12 February – Figures released by ITV Digital indicate that one in four of its subscribers are cancelling their subscription, a figure the company hopes will begin to improve.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1815745.stm Viewers desert ITV Digital BBC BBC News 12 February 2002 17 May 2014 14 February – In EastEnders, one of the soap's longest running characters, Dot Cotton, played by June Brown marries Jim Branning (John Bardon) in a Valentine's Day ceremony.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/feb/15/tvandradio.television2 Cotton shocks The Guardian London 15 February 2002 21 August 2014 Nancy Banks-Smith 16 February – F1 Digital+ launches on Sky Digital. 18 February – The BBC loses the rights to air The Simpsons, being outbid by Channel 4. However, the broadcasting rights are held until 2006, eventually ending in May 2004. 21 February Channel 5 has secured the rights to show the UK television premiere of Steven Spielberg's World War II epic Saving Private Ryan after signing a deal with Paramount Pictures, it is reported. The deal also includes the rights to several other films, including Fatal Attraction, The General's Daughter and An Officer and a Gentleman.Wilkes Neil http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a6349/channel-5-lands-private-ryan-rights.html#~oLf6AURd61IOeN Channel 5 lands "Private Ryan" rights Digital Spy 21 February 2002 27 July 2014http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1834750.stm Big film deal for Channel 5 BBC BBC News 21 February 2002 27 July 2014 22 February A peak audience of 5.6 million viewers watch late into the night on BBC Two as the Great Britain women's curling team win the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics; it is Britain's first gold medal at a Winter Olympics since 1984.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/02_february/22/curlingfigures.shtml Great Britain's Curling Gold – television audience figures BBC BBC Press Office 22 February 2002 15 June 2025 Sarah Baxendale makes her debut as the Hollyoaks character Ellie Hunter.Steve Hendry https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Everyone+thinks+I'm+Helen's+young+sis%3B+Hollyoaks+Sarah+on+name+mix-up.-a083223188 Everyone thinks I'm Helen's young sis; Hollyoaks Sarah on name mix-up Trinity Mirror The Sunday Mail 24 February 2002 25 July 2017 Five airs the 3000th episode of Home and Away.https://www.backtothebay.net/news/2023/05/19/look-back-home-and-away-airs-8000th-episode/ Looking back as Home and Away celebrates its 8000th episode Dan Foster 19 May 2023 Back to the Bay 10 November 2023 25 February – Release date of Will Young's debut single, the double-A side CD "Evergreen"/"Anything is Possible". With advanced sales of more than a million, the single is set to debut at number one in the UK Singles Chart and make chart history as the UK's biggest selling debut single.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1839086.stm MUSIC | Pop Idol single 'flying off shelves' BBC News 2002-02-26 2018-01-13 27 February – BBC One airs The Boy Can't Help It, a follow-up documentary to the 1989 Q.E.D. programme, John's Not Mad which deals with sufferers of Tourette syndrome.Tooze Steve http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+swear+I'm+going+to+be+normal+now%3B+Tourette's+Syndrome+sufferer+John...-a083184063 I swear I'm going to be normal now; Tourette's Syndrome sufferer John Davidson highlighted the illness in a TV documentary when he was 16. Here he reveals how he is coping with the disorder 14 years on Trinity Mirror The Mirror 23 February 2002 27 April 2014http://www.thefreelibrary.com/How+John+came+to+terms+with+Tourette's%3B+TELLY.-a083312623 How John came to terms with Tourette's Trinity Mirror Liverpool Echo 27 February 2002 27 April 2014 28 February – The Bill switches to a serial format. March 1 March – Martin Kemp makes his last appearance as Steve Owen in EastEnders when he is killed off in a fireball car explosion. 2 March BBC Knowledge ceases transmission in the early hours (the first BBC channel to permanently close) with BBC Four launching to replace it at 7pm. The opening night is simulcast on BBC Two.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1848919.stm BBC's channel Four debuts BBC BBC News 2 March 2002 17 May 2014 The animated series of Mr. Bean premieres on ITV1 based on the original live-action series of the same title and Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean. 3 March Will Young's debut single tops the charts, having accrued calculated sales of 1,108,269.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1848656.stm MUSIC | Young scores record number one BBC News 2002-03-03 2018-01-13 It remains at the number one position for three weeks, before being replaced on 24 March by Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, with his version of "Unchained Melody".http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1891053.stm MUSIC | Pop Idol's Gareth is number one BBC News 2002-03-24 2018-01-13 The acclaimed US spy drama 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland as agent Jack Bauer makes its British television debut on BBC Two.http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a6379/24-gets-sunday-evening-slot.html#~oBTUKNQYgGOS37 "24" gets Sunday evening slot Digital Spy 23 February 2002 19 April 2014 11 March – Somerville College, Oxford wins the 2001–02 series of University Challenge, beating Imperial College London 200–185. 12 March – A report conducted for the Independent Television Commission and Broadcasting Standards Commission indicates that for the first time at least half of television viewers have access to multi channel television, i.e., channels other than the main five terrestrial channels.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1869108.stm Multichannel halfway mark reached BBC BBC News 12 March 2002 23 May 2014 13 March – A report by the Independent Television Commission indicates that viewer dissatisfaction with the quality of television stood at 64% in 2001, an 18% rise on the previous year. However, the authors of the report attribute the dramatic increase to the time at which their survey was conducted, shortly after the controversial Channel 4 spoof Brass Eye was broadcast.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1870037.stm TV standards 'falling' BBC BBC News 13 March 2002 23 May 2014 15 March – Former Coronation Street actress Jane Danson will join ITV's The Bill as the series first lesbian police officer, it is reported. Her character, Gemma Osbourne, will be seen on screen in the Summer.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1874624.stm Corrie star takes gay role in The Bill BBC BBC News 15 March 2002 17 June 2014 19 March – The Office of Communications Act 2002 receives Royal Assent, enabling the establishment of Ofcom.http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020011_en_1 Office of Communications Act 2002 – 2002 CHAPTER 11 19 March 2002 Office of Public Sector Information 5 April 2014 21 March – Theo Paphitis and Neil Doncaster, the respective chairmen of Millwall and Norwich City football clubs, warn of serious financial consequences for their teams if ITV are allowed to renegotiate the £315 million agreement they signed to screen Football League matches.Dan Milmo https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/mar/21/football.clubsincrisis Clubs face bankruptcy if ITV Digital tears up TV deal The Guardian 21 March 2002 17 May 2014 26 March – BBC One announces that the current hot-air balloon idents are to be axed and be replaced by a new set called Rhythm & Movement on 29 March.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1895151.stm Dancers replace BBC One globe 23 April 2017 27 March – ITV Digital is placed into administration after failing to reach an agreement with the Football League over the £315 million three-year deal to air league matches. The company still owes £180 million which it says it cannot pay after its revenue was not as good as forecasts had predicted. Services will continue while negotiations to resolve the issue continue.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1896732.stm ITV Digital goes broke BBC BBC News 27 March 2002 17 May 2014 28 March – ITV announces the removal of Night and Day from its weekday teatime slot from 11 April, although late night episodes will continue to air on Thursdays, as well as a Sunday omnibus on ITV2. This is in response to the series attracting a relatively low audience of 1.5 million.http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/slots-cut-as-night-and-day-itv-soap-flops/2024246.article Slots cut as Night and Day ITV soap flops Marketing Week 28 March 2002 28 June 2014 29 March At 2:10am (in Northern Ireland at 2:50am), the last Balloon ident is shown on BBC One and with it, the last time the globe is used as the channel's symbol, having been used since 1963. Its replacement, the 'Rhythm & Movement' idents, premiere at 9am. Channel 4's The Big Breakfast ends after almost a decade on the air.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1899152.stm Big Breakfast bows out BBC BBC News 29 March 2002 17 May 2014http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1897300.stm Toasting the end of The Big Breakfast BBC BBC News 29 March 2002 17 May 2014 My Kind of Music airs on ITV1 for the final time after five years. Although a further seven episodes from its final series have been recorded, these were ultimately not aired. 30 March – The death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is announced at 5:49pm on BBC One, who interrupts a repeat of Dazzling Bloomers to report the news. The news special is anchored by Peter Sissons. A celebrity edition of The Weakest Link and the season premiere of The Waiting Game are both dropped for the news coverage. A documentary about the Queen Mother cancels The National Lottery: Jet Set, and sends Casualty to BBC Two. Man and Boy starts thirty minutes earlier than scheduled, due to the addition of another news bulletin, while the film Air America is replaced by another movie, Tony Rome. BBC One's daily simulcast of BBC News 24 starts at 1.25am instead of 3.05am, displacing repeats of the previous day's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and Top of the Pops. BBC Two interrupts a rerun of Steptoe and Son to simulcast both BBC News 24 and BBC One, but airs Rostropovich at 75 at its scheduled time followed by BBC One leftover Casualty (which replaces House Detectives at Large).https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/03_march/30/queenmother.shtml The death of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother BBC Press Office 30 March 2002 17 February 2026 14 November 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20021114055205/https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/03_march/30/queenmother.shtml live ITV1 interrupts the All Star Animals Awards for a news report from Mary Nightingale, with Stars in Their Eyes airing one hour later than scheduled, displacing Blind Date, while Denis Norden's 7th Laughter File airs as usal. 31 March – Television schedules continues to change following the death of the Queen Mother. BBC One's day starts with Breakfast being extended to an hour, dropping a repeat of Animal Park. While Easter Day's special religious programming (Risen Today and live broadcast of Pope John Paul II's annual Easter Urbi et Orbi message) and Countryfile airs as scheduled, a repeat of Ground Force replaces a rebroadcast of the 1994 Keeping Up Appearances Christmas special, pushing Herbie Goes Bananas and the EastEnders omnibus twenty minutes earlier than billed. The afternoon news bulletin (alongside its weather forecast and the regional news magazines) airs fifty-five minutes later than billed, due to the first part of a documentary highlighting the Queen Mother until the end of World War II. It was followed by a special edition of Songs of Praise (whose regular airing was displaced by the aformentioned documentary). Both programmes replaces That Was Life. Antiques Roadshow is also dropped, replaced by a delayed Arthur – King of the Britons, which was displaced from its scheduled time by the second part of the Queen Mother documentary, which also removes Blackadder: Back & Forth from the schedule. Rescue Me airs five minutes than scheduled due to the Nine o'clock bulletin being extended by five minutes, while Parkinson being replaced by a tribute to Dudley Moore, who passed away last Wednesday. Moore's tribute (which was due to air the previous night) leads to the films Days of Thunder and Breach of Conduct airing earlier than scheduled, with an extra programme, Wildlife Gems, being shown to get the schedule back on track (with The Sky at Night and BBC One joining BBC News 24 being shown at their scheduled time slots). BBC Two's only change is to replace coverage of the previous day's Balmoral Road Race by Charlie's Gardening Neighbours and A Foot Again in the Past, with BBC Choice bumping a repeat of Film 2002 with Jonathan Ross in favour of a repeat of Celebrity Overload.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/03_march/31/queenmothersunday.shtml Schedule changes for Easter Day following the death of The Queen Mother BBC Press Office 31 March 2002 17 February 2026 8 November 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20021108133353/https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/03_march/31/queenmothersunday.shtml livehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1905260.stm Schedules resume after royal coverage BBC BBC News 1 April 2002 21 April 2014 March – Mark Thompson succeeds Michael Jackson as Chief Executive of Channel 4.https://www.channel4.com/media/documents/corporate/foi-docs/4_at_25.pdf Channel 4's 25-year Anniversary Channel 4 2007 26 January 2019 April 1 April – Naomi Russell, who leaves her role as Coronation Street character Bobbi Lewis this month, is to have a starring role in Sky One's new airline based drama Mile High, it is reported.http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/corrie-star-gets-new-role-as-air-hostess-44990.html Corrie star gets new role as air hostess Landmark Media Investments The Irish Examiner 1 April 2002 1 July 2017 2 April – More than 1,500 viewers have complained to the BBC about its coverage of the Queen Mother's death, it is reported, with the majority of complaints concerning the rescheduling of favourite programmes and the belief that too much airtime was devoted to events surrounding her death. Peter Sissons is criticised by some newspapers, including the Daily Mail, for not wearing a black tie to report the death, and by some viewers for what is perceived to have been an insensitive interview with The Hon. Margaret Rhodes, the Queen Mother's niece.Claire Cozens Lisa O'Carroll https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/02/bbc.queenmother1 BBC deluged by complaints over Queen Mother coverage The Guardian 2 April 2002 21 April 2014 3 April – GMTV presenter Eamonn Holmes signs a three-year contract to stay with the broadcaster until 2005.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1909003.stm TV AND RADIO | New GMTV deal for Holmes BBC News 2002-04-03 2018-01-13 6 April ITV records a record low audience share of 3% for football programme The Goal Rush during the broadcast of the 2002 Grand National on BBC One.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/04/09/nbul5.xml ITV figures at all-time low 9 April 2002 17 June 2014 London The Daily Telegraph July 2021 medicmedic Cat Deeley presents her final edition of SM:TV after 4 years. 8 April – The shopping channel Shop! closes down after 4 years on the air. 9 April Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's funeral is held at Westminster Abbey and aired on all major television channels. The event makes UK television history as the country's largest ever outside broadcast, while proceedings are watched by an average 10 million viewers. Provisional viewing figures released the following day suggest BBC audiences peaked at 7.1 million and ITV at 3.3 million. The BBC coverage is presented by David Dimbleby and ITV's by Sir Trevor McDonald.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1921737.stm 10m watch royal funeral in UK BBC BBC News 10 April 2002 17 May 2014 Emmerdale confirm the axing of their Soapstars family. Ruth Abram leaves the series immediately, with the other four actors appearing on screen until the Summer.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1918218.stm Emmerdale's Soapstars axed BBC BBC News 9 April 2002 3 April 2014 10 April Producers of The Experiment are forced to reedit parts of the programme ahead of its debut after some participants complain about the way they are shown in the series.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1921185.stm Concerns force edit of reality show BBC BBC News 10 April 2002 10 April 2014 BBC Four airs Ian Curteis's The Falklands Play, in which Patricia Hodge plays the role of Margaret Thatcher during the Falklands War.Gareth McLean https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/11/tvandradio.television1 TV review: The Falklands Play (BBC4) The Guardian 11 April 2002 27 May 2014Billen Andrew http://www.newstatesman.com/node/142754 Mrs T and sympathy Progressive Media International New Statesman 15 April 2002 27 May 2014 The play was originally written in 1986, but shelved by the BBC because of an upcoming general election and the play's perceived pro-Thatcher stance. The play has separate radio and television versions, airing on Radio 4 on 6 April and gives BBC Four an audience of 174,000, the channel's highest audience since its launch a month earlier.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1925836.stm Falklands Play proves digital hit BBC BBC News 12 April 2002 27 May 2014 12 April – Tamzin Outhwaite leaves EastEnders as Mel Owen.https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41740782 Tamzin Outhwaite returns to EastEnders 24 October 2017 BBC News 3 October 2021 17 April – The first Helen Rollason Cancer Care Centre, named for the sports presenter Helen Rollason who died of cancer in 1999 is opened in Chelmsford, Essex.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-84865758.html https://web.archive.org/web/20150329085646/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-84865758.html usurped 29 March 2015 Cancer centre opens in memory of Helen Trinity Mirror Coventry Evening Telegraph 17 April 2002 16 December 2014 subscription England HighBeam Research 18 April – An episode of The Bill in which six characters are killed off in a petrol bomb attack is watched by 8.6 million viewers, giving the show its largest audience of the year so far.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1946700.stm Fire boosts The Bill's ratings BBC BBC News 23 April 2002 22 February 2014 20 April – The final edition of The Generation Game presented by Jim Davidson is broadcast.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f8edc3d76d134c49bb965e1410052bb7 The Best of Jim Davidson's Generation Game – BBC One London – 20 April 2002 BBC BBC Genome 20 April 2002 18 August 2017 21 April – Blackadder: Back & Forth makes its terrestrial television debut on BBC One.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Best+On+The+Box.-a084912926 Best On The Box Trinity Mirror Daily Record 19 April 2002 21 April 2014 The programme, having been scheduled to air on 31 March, was postponed because of ongoing coverage of the death of the Queen Mother. 22 April Liquid News presenter Christopher Price is found dead at his London home.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1944810.stm Kylie leads tributes to presenter BBC BBC News 23 April 2002 25 July 2014 An inquest later returns a verdict of death by natural causes after hearing he died of heart failure caused by meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection similar to meningitis.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2053119.stm Presenter killed by rare infection BBC BBC News 19 June 2002 25 July 2014 The pay-per-view movie channel ITV Select closes. The channel, a joint venture between ITV Digital and SDN, is taken off air after ITV Digital's administrators withdrew its funding.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1946944.stm Pay-per-view movies blow to ITV Digital BBC BBC News 23 April 2002 18 May 2014 25 April – ITV Digital is officially put up for sale by administrators Deloitte & Touche, but the company must be sold in the next few days to avoid liquidation because owners Carlton and Granada have not put forward any extra money to keep it afloat.Dan Milmo https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/25/itvdigital.clubsincrisis ITV Digital up for sale The Guardian 25 April 2002 18 May 2014 26 April – Making her first appearance as a panellist on an edition of Have I Got News for You at the age of 16, singer Charlotte Church becomes the youngest person to appear on the show.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/52d6522d9c904e73afa2ef6802d5cc6a Have I Got News for You – BBC One London – 26 April 2002 – BBC Genome 26 April 2002 Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 2018-01-13 7 August 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170807025640/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/52d6522d9c904e73afa2ef6802d5cc6a dead https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/04_april/08/hignfy_charlottechurch.shtml Press Office – Charlotte Church to present Have I Got News For You BBC 2014-10-29 2018-01-13 27 April – Stewart Duff wins the fourteenth series of Stars in Their Eyes, performing as Elvis Presley.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1956781.stm Stars winner looks ahead BBC BBC News 28 April 2002 27 April 2014 29 April – The first edition of RI:SE is broadcast as a replacement for The Big Breakfast, exactly a month after it was axed.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1956517.stm New breakfast show Rises BBC BBC News 29 April 2002 17 May 2014 30 April – The 900 workers at ITV Digital's Pembrokeshire call centre are told they are likely to be made redundant as the firm's troubles continue.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1960018.stm 900 jobs go at ITV Digital centre BBC BBC News 30 April 2002 17 May 2014 May 1 May – ITV Digital's Pay-TV operations cease at 7am after administrators Deloitte & Touche decided to close the company for good, having failed to find a buyer for it. The ITV Sport Channel is redesignated as a free-to-air channel, enabling viewers to watch the final matches of the football season. The Independent Television Commission launches a fast-track process to find a replacement provider for digital terrestrial television in the UK.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1961209.stm Race to find digital broadcaster BBC BBC News 1 May 2002 17 May 2014 11 May The ITV Sport Channel closes following the expiry of its Football League rights. Other sports shown on the channel will be aired by ITV2.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1967253.stm ITV Sport to go off air BBC BBC News 3 May 2002 17 May 2014 The Vault, a big-money game show based on the Israeli format created by Erez Tal, Ori Gross and Ruti Nissan for Menta Productions and Keshet Broadcasting, makes its debut on ITV1, hosted by Davina McCall.http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/The_Vault The Vault UKGameshows 12 November 2016https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Interview%3A+Davina+McCall+-+Being+a+mum+is+more+important+to+me+than...-a085796171 Being a mum is more important to me than stardom Clare Grant The Mirror Trinity Mirror 11 May 2002 12 November 2016 13–20 May – BBC One airs Ricky & Bianca, a two-part EastEnders spin-off, leading up to the return of Ricky Butcher as a regular character.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/may/14/firstnight.broadcasting Ricky and Bianca The Guardian 14 May 2002 26 May 2015 14 May – The Experiment debuts on BBC One.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1986889.stm Shocking experiment recreated for TV BBC BBC News 14 May 2002 10 April 2014 16 May – A UK version of The Chair, a US game show originally created in New Zealand by Julie Christie, Darryl McEwen and Brian Bigg for Touchdown Television and hosted by former tennis player John McEnroe in which contestants must control their heart rate while answering questions, will be produced for BBC One, it is reported.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/may/16/bbc.tennis McEnroe takes The Chair The Guardian 16 May 2002 20 May 2014 McEnroe will also present the UK programme which will air in the Autumn.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1990940.stm McEnroe brings The Chair to UK BBC BBC News 16 May 2002 20 May 2014 20 May – Challenge TV is rebranded as 'Challenge' and axes in-vision continuity.http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a6867/new-look-challenge-to-go-interactive-may-20.html#~oKXOMDtMLJnFGj New-look "Challenge?" to go interactive May 20 Digital Spy 28 March 2002 24 July 2014 21 May The Independent Television Commission grants a two-week extension to applicants planning to bid to run a digital service to replace ITV Digital. The delay is to allow the companies to develop their technical proposals and means applications must be submitted by 13 June.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2000686.stm ITV Digital's licence sale postponed BBC BBC News 21 May 2002 18 May 2014 More than 100 viewers have complained to the BBC about an episode of BBC One's new spy drama Spooks which aired the previous evening: it depicted an MI5 agent having her head pushed into a deep fat fryer before being shot.Claire Cozens https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/may/21/broadcasting Spooks death sparks flood of complaints The Guardian 21 May 2002 9 April 2014 20th Century Fox Television are to remake ITV's 1970s based comedy The Grimleys for the US market, The Guardian reports. The series, scheduled for broadcast later in the year, will be set in the present and renamed The Grubbs.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/may/21/broadcasting1 The Grimleys go west | Media The Guardian 21 May 2002 2018-01-13 22 May – Channel 5 announces it has axed the weekly Pepsi Chart show after it lost two-thirds of its viewers, with the last edition scheduled to air on 25 June.Claire Cozens https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/may/22/channelfive.broadcasting Pepsi Chart Show goes flat | Media The Guardian 22 May 2002 2018-01-13 25 May – Latvia's Marie N wins the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest with I Wanna. 26 May – The Osbournes, a US reality television series about heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his family, makes its British television debut on MTV, giving the channel a record audience of 500,000.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/may/27/overnights1 TV ratings: The Osbournes May 26 The Guardian 27 May 2002 3 August 2018 29 May – Jonny Gibb, a Detective Constable from Edinburgh, Scotland wins the second UK series of Survivor and the show's £1 million prize money.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2014192.stm Jonny scoops £1m Survivor prize BBC BBC News 30 May 2002 2 April 2014 30 May – The Broadcasting Standards Commission rules that scenes showing domestic abuse in episodes of EastEnders that aired over Christmas 2001 were inappropriate for a pre-watershed audience. The scenes, in which Trevor Morgan attacked his wife, Little Mo went too far when families would have been watching the programme.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2015205.stm EastEnders violence 'went too far' BBC BBC News 30 May 2002 31 March 2014 31 May–30 June – The BBC and ITV air live coverage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. June 3 June The Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II. During the Golden Jubilee Weekend, BBC One airs the Party at the Palace, while BBC Parliament reruns footage of the Queen's coronation from 1953. Lads' Army debuts on ITV1, a new social experiment series in which 30 men aged between 18 and 24 undertake a four-week period of National Service, which was compulsory for all men in the 1950s. 6 June BBC Two begins showing The Hunt for Britain's Paedophiles, a three part documentary series following investigations by Scotland Yard's specialist Paedophile Unit.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bff38bc896d949619f5d25dd470f3caa The Hunt for Britain's Paedophiles – BBC Two England – 6 June 2002 – BBC Genome 6 June 2002 Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 2018-01-13 The programme proves to be controversial, even before going on the air, as it is reported that after spending two years shadowing investigators, many members of the production team required counselling to deal with their exposure to the things witnessed by the unit's detectives. Executive producer Bob Long defends the programme, saying he hopes it will lead to better policing of the crime.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2027864.stm UK | The hunt for Britain's paedophiles BBC News 2002-06-06 2018-01-13 The series concludes on 20 June.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/66ff6c36988d48b5b34fb2a3427c03ce The Hunt for Britain's Paedophiles – BBC Two England – 20 June 2002 – BBC Genome 20 June 2002 Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 2018-01-13 An advert for Microsoft's Xbox console featuring a newborn boy who flies through the air while rapidly aging, before falling into his grave is banned from being shown again by the Independent Television Commission after complaints were received from 135 viewers who found the commercial to be "offensive, shocking and in bad taste".http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2028725.stm 'Shocking' Xbox advert banned BBC BBC News 6 June 2002 13 June 2014 8 June – ITV airs the first edition of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, a new live Saturday night entertainment show hosted by Ant & Dec. It airs for a total of nine series until it is put on hiatus in 2009, before returning for a further eleven series from 2013 until 2024. 10 June – ITV introduces a second Monday episode of Coronation Street. It is broadcast at 8:30pm to usher in the return of Bet Lynch.Chris Diamond Coronation Street Review http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/reviews/2002/coronationstreet.htm Website edition Off The Telly 10 June 2002 30 March 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090108024326/http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/reviews/2002/coronationstreet.htm 8 January 2009 dead The episode also used intermittently during the popular Richard Hillman storyline but becomes fully scheduled from Monday 25 August 2003. 13 June BBC One airs Episode 4000 of Neighbours.http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2042000/2042909.stm Neighbours celebrates 4,000th episode 13 June 2002 7 October 2018 BBC News Variety magazine reports that Channel 4 has won the British terrestrial television rights to The Osbournes, paying £100,000 per episode.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2042271.stm Channel 4 wins UK Osbournes race BBC BBC News 13 June 2002 3 August 2018 14 June – The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are among the six applicants who have submitted proposals for a licence to run a digital terrestrial television service. Three licences will be awarded, a process expected to happen in July.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2044824.stm Major TV firms bid for digital licences BBC BBC News 14 June 2002 18 May 2014 17 June – ITV recommissions Crossroads for another year, despite falling audience figures. Yvon Grace is also hired as its executive producer and announces plans to make it a "must-see daytime show".http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2050033.stm Crossroads given more time BBC BBC News 17 June 2002 31 March 2014 19 June BBC One airs Tomorrow's World: the Science of Spider-Man, a special edition of Tomorrow's World that looks at the scientific facts behind the Spider-Man film.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4a5a450080bc4505b072d3c204381669 Tomorrow's World: the Science of Spider-Man – BBC One London – 19 June 2002 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 19 June 2002 2 December 2018 As England prepare to take on Brazil in the World Cup, BBC One makes an eleventh hour decision to replace the scheduled film, Falling Down, with a repeat of the England v Brazil match from the 1970 World Cup.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jun/20/overnights TV ratings: June 19 The Guardian 20 June 2002 2 April 2014 23 June – Sky One airs the Star Trek-themed episode of Futurama, featuring guest stars from the main cast of the original series with its special appearance by The Next Generations Jonathan Frakes. 24 June – Catchphrase returns to ITV1 in a new teatime slot airing five days a week, with Mark Curry taking over as host from Nick Weir. 25 June – ITV has told the newspapers that Peak Practice is axed after nine years.Owen Gibson https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jun/25/broadcasting1 Peak Practice treats its last patient The Guardian 25 June 2002 19 May 2014 29 June – EastEnders actress Kim Medcalf is injured in a motoring accident while on holiday in France, suffering a broken hand, leg and breastbone.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2086891.stm EastEnders star hurt in crash BBC BBC News 3 July 2002 25 May 2014 She is airlifted back to the UK a few days later.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2094815.stm Injured EastEnders star airlifted to UK BBC BBC News 4 July 2002 25 May 2014 and discharged from hospital on 9 July.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2118110.stm EastEnders star leaves hospital BBC BBC News 9 July 2002 25 May 2014 July 1 July – The EastEnders character Mark Fowler, played by Todd Carty, has been axed after 12 years, it is announced. The character who was involved in one of the soap's most controversial storylines after contracting HIV from a former lover, will leave the series in 2003.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2091882.stm EastEnders' Mark axed from square BBC BBC News 3 July 2002 25 May 2014 2 July – That night's episode of Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks sets a new world record for the longest on-screen kiss at three minutes, fifteen seconds. The kiss, featuring Sarah Baxendale who plays Ellie Hunter and Marcus Patric (Ben Davies) surpasses the previous record of three minutes, five seconds held since 1941 by Regis Toomey and Jane Wyman in the film You're in the Army Now.https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Lips...cameras...+action!%3B+Hollyoaks+couple+set+world+record+for...-a087925018 Lips...cameras... action!; Hollyoaks couple set world record for on-screen kiss Trinity Mirror Liverpool Echo 28 June 2002 25 July 2017 3 July – David Liddiment announces he will step down as ITV's head of programming. His decision comes after the network's viewership dropped below that of the BBC and following the collapse of ITV Digital.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2089772.stm ITV chief steps down BBC BBC News 3 July 2002 16 May 2014Methven Nicola http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ITV+boss+quits+as+viewers+turn+off.-a088302234 ITV boss quits as viewers turn off Daily Record Trinity Mirror 4 July 2002 16 May 2014 4 July – A joint venture between the BBC and media firm Crown Castle is awarded the licences for a digital terrestrial television service to replace ITV Digital. The free-to-air service will include 24 channels from the BBC and commercial television, including three from Sky.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2092337.stm BBC to offer 24 digital channels BBC BBC News 4 July 2002 18 May 2014https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/07_july/04/dtt_licence.shtml DTT Licences BBC 4 July 2002 18 May 2014 5 July – The Football League agrees a four-year deal with Sky Sports for live television rights, worth £95 million. The deal is agreed in the aftermath of the collapse of ITV Digital, whose controversial £315 million contract with the league was responsible for its downfall.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jul/05/bskyb.broadcasting Sky pays knockdown price for Nationwide football The Guardian 5 July 2002 26 January 2024 6 July Children's media company Gullane Entertainment, the owners of Thomas the Tank Engine, Art Attack and Sooty among other popular franchises; agrees to a £139 million purchase by rival company HIT Entertainment.Cassy John Gullane gives in to Barney bid https://www.theguardian.com/business/2002/jul/06/citynews.media?INTCMP=SRCH 9 April 2013 The Guardian 6 July 2002 Lock Keepers Cottage in Bow, East London, used as the setting for The Big Breakfast which was axed in March, is to be sold as a private house for £1,000,000, it is reported.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2104330.stm Big Breakfast house to be sold BBC BBC News 6 July 2002 25 May 2014 Home on Their Own debuts on ITV1, presented by Ulrika Jonsson. 7 July Disc jockey Chris Evans has signed a deal with Channel 5 to produce a five-nights-a-week chat show that will air for 13 weeks from September.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2111850.stm Evans signs Ł4m chat show deal BBC BBC News 7 July 2002 15 April 2014 London's Burning returns to ITV for its fourteenth series with a new set of opening and closing credits. 11 July – BBC One airs a special edition of Parkinson in which Michael Parkinson travels to South Africa to talk with its former President Nelson Mandela.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/eabc5b66157b457aad79e9951afce7ec When Parkinson Met Mandela – BBC One London – 11 July 2002 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 11 July 2002 25 November 2018 25 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181125074000/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/eabc5b66157b457aad79e9951afce7ec dead 12 July Dani Behr and Joe Mace are dropped from The Saturday Show as the programme struggles to compete with its ITV1 rival SM:TV. They will present their last editions of the show in September.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jul/12/bbc.broadcasting BBC drops Behr from Saturday Show The Guardian 12 July 2002 18 May 2014 After reprising his EastEnders role as Ricky Butcher for a one-off special earlier in the year, Sid Owen is to make a permanent return to the soap, it is confirmed.Hart Beth http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a8536/sid-owen-to-return-to-eastenders.html#~pdNSCPymfdV94E Sid Owen to return to EastEnders Digital Spy 12 July 2002 26 May 2015 13 July BBC One airs the first Sport Relief telethon.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/special_events/sport_relief/2126128.stm BBC Sport Sport Relief is here BBC 13 July 2002 18 March 2016 Channel 5 airs The Great Dome Robbery, Gabriel Range's film about the 2000 Millennium Dome raid, starring Craig Fairbrass.English Paul Craig's a diamond geezer; The Ex-EastEnder plays a Cockney spiv again as the mastermind behind a pounds 350m raid on the Dome: And he admits he could so easily have strayed off the straight and narrow when he was growing up http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Craig's+a+diamond+geezer%3B+The+Ex-EastEnder+plays+a+Cockney+spiv+again...-a088872887 25 August 2017 Daily Record Trinity Mirror 13 July 2002Hagan Angela A diamond geezer; Why Craig Fairbrass, who's back playing one of the real-life Dome raiders, reckons he owes his success to fate http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+diamond+GEEZER%3b+Why+Craig+Fairbrass%2c+who's+back+playing+one+of+the...-a088872647 25 August 2017 The Mirror Trinity Mirror 13 July 2002 22 July – Channel 4 is criticised by the Independent Television Commission after explicit content in Brookside was aired before the watershed. The scenes involved the characters Max and Jacqui Farnham who became embroiled in a passionate embrace after Jacqui was taken to hospital following a car crash.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brookie+in+nooky+rap+by+television+watchdog.-a089385820 Brookie in nooky rap by television watchdog Coventry Evening Telegraph Trinity Mirror 22 July 2002 28 April 2014 23 July – BBC Two airs a special "then and now" edition of TOTP2 in which present day performances of hits by artists and groups such as Robert Plant, Neil Diamond and A-ha are compared with archive performances.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/62cb723d3a4949f9a6ece0ffefdaecd7 TOTP2 – BBC Two England – 23 July 2002 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 23 July 2002 30 October 2018 25 July – The BBC airs the final episode of the children's preschool programme Tweenies. 25 July–4 August – The BBC broadcasts live coverage of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. 26 July – Kate Lawler wins series three of Big Brother, becoming the show's first female winner.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2154496.stm Kate wins Big Brother BBC BBC News 27 July 2002 2 April 2014 28 July – Fearne Cotton and Simon Grant will succeed Dani Behr and Joe Mace as presenters of BBC One's The Saturday Show from September, it is announced. The programme will also be revamped to include a Top of the Pops spin-off in an attempt to compete with ITV1's CD:UK.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2157545.stm Saturday Show gets revamp BBC BBC News 28 May 2002 20 May 2014 29 July – Channel 4 debuts the three-part dramatised documentary Sex BC, is about the ancient history of human sexuality in which prehistoric peoples throughout civilisation from different periods include the Stone Age, Greece and Egypt within the subject material being handled in an intelligent and educational fashion. The series continues on 12 August. 31 July – The BBC is censured by the Broadcasting Standards Commission for failing to sufficiently warn viewers about the level of violence in an episode of Spooks depicting the murder of an MI5 agent. However, the watchdog does not criticise the nature of the scene itself, describing it as "shocking but...acceptable and important [in the context of] the [episode's] later narrative".John Plunkett https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jul/31/broadcasting.bbc1?INTCMP=SRCH BBC spy drama spooks TV watchdog The Guardian 31 July 2002 9 April 2014 August 1 August – Channel 5 announces a deal with Columbia TriStar allowing it to show blockbuster films such as Spider-Man, Panic Room, Stuart Little 2, Kermit's Swamp Years and Men in Black II. The channel will also screen the controversial American police drama series The Shield.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2165854.stm Channel 5 bags blockbusters BBC BBC News 1 August 2002 15 April 2014 6 August – Veteran sports presenter Bob Wilson announces he will retire at the end of the month after three decades in broadcasting.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2176834.stm Football host Wilson retires BBC BBC News 6 August 2002 18 June 2014 12 August – Channel 4 airs the documentary Sex: The Annabel Chong Story.https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Anna+has+251+men+in+a+night+Sex%3A+The+Annabel+Chong+Story%2C+11.15pm%2C...-a090289410 Anna has 251 men in a night Sex: The Annabel Chong Story, 11.15pm, Channel 4; Pick of the Day The Mirror Trinity Mirror 12 August 2002 14 September 2018 13 August – BBC Two airs a special edition of TOTP2 dedicated to reggae as part of the BBC's Jamaica 40 season.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1ac93681223448dca52f4d2ce74fb2c9 TOTP2 – BBC Two England – 13 August 2002 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 13 August 2002 30 October 2018 18 August – Props from EastEnders are among items on display at an exhibition celebrating film-making at Borehamwood, Herts.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2201408.stm EastEnders props on show BBC BBC News 18 August 2002 31 March 2014 19 August – The BBC and Crown Castle announce their new digital terrestrial television service will be named Freeview and will be on air in the Autumn.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/08_august/19/freeview.shtml BBC Press Office Freeview BBC 19 August 2002 18 May 2014 21 August – The BBC publishes a list of the top 100 greatest Britons as voted for by a poll in 2001. The list comes ahead of a series scheduled for later in the year in which the top ten will be revealed in a series of one-hour programmes presented by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson, Rosie Boycott and Andrew Marr who will argue the case for each of those on the list with the public given a chance to vote for who they believe to be the greatest Briton. A final will then be presented by Anne Robinson in which the greatest Briton will be revealed. The top 100 includes names such as Boudicca, Winston Churchill, Richard III, J. K. Rowling, David Beckham and Cliff Richard.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/08_august/21/100_britons.shtml Great Britons Top 100 BBC BBC Press Office 21 August 2019 14 February 2019 23 August – Channel 5 announces plans to rebrand itself as Five. The rebrand will take place on 16 September.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2212224.stm Channel 5 relaunched as Five BBC BBC News 23 August 2002 15 April 2014 25 August BBC One airs a special edition of its garden makeover series Ground Force in which Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh transform a public space in New York into a memorial garden to mark the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2195473.stm Ground Force creates NY tribute BBC BBC News 15 August 2002 19 April 2014 The first series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! begins on ITV1.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2218547.stm Viewers warm to star Survivor BBC BBC News 27 August 2002 19 April 2014 30 August – ITV1 soap Crossroads airs for the last time this year before taking a short break. The show is to be revamped due to low viewing figures.Methven Nicola http://www.thefreelibrary.com/IT'S+DALLAS+IN+DUDLEY%3B+EXCLUSIVE+Crossroads+goes+glam+for+final...-a090945827 It's Dallas in Dudley: Crossroads goes glam for final relaunch Trinity Mirror The Mirror 31 August 2002 27 May 2014 31 August The first episode of the BBC children's television series Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow is broadcast presented by Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood. The show is broadcast on Saturday mornings and in later series airing a Sunday edition before being axed in 2006. The final episode of Family Fortunes presented by Les Dennis is aired on ITV1, although 14 unaired episodes from his last series are later shown during Christmas 2004. Dennis has left the show after 15 years following disagreements over plans to move the show to a five days a week teatime slot. September 1 September – Smile premieres on BBC Two, presented by Devin Griffin, Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates. 2 September The Scottish children's series Balamory debuts on CBeebies. Family Fortunes returns to ITV1 in its new teatime slot. Andy Collins takes over as presenter and other changes include the removal of the star prize and a reduction of the 'Big Money' jackpot. 4 September – A two-day auction of ITV Digital assets begins at the company's headquarters to help pay off its debts. Among the 3,500 items up for sale are desks, televisions and video equipment, ITV Digital mugs and Monkey mascots.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2236220.stm ITV Digital monkey under the hammer BBC BBC News 4 September 2002 17 May 2014 7 September Play Your Cards Right returns to ITV1 for a new series after a three-year break.http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Play_Your_Cards_Right Play Your Cards Right UKGameshows.com 18 August 2017 Popstars: The Rivals debuts on ITV1.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/02/bbc.broadcasting Fame Academy beckons Deeley | Media The Guardian 2 September 2002 2018-01-13 The show will create two rival groups, one male and one female who will compete against each other for the Christmas Number One spot on the UK Singles Chart.http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Popstars:_The_Rivals Popstars: The Rivals UKGameshows 2018-01-13 8 September BBC One celebrates the 21st anniversary of its sitcom, Only Fools and Horses, by repeating the first episode originally aired in 1981.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2241093.stm Only Fools and Horses comes of age BBC BBC News 8 September 2002 31 May 2014 Tony Blackburn is voted the winner of the first series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2244920.stm DJ Tony wins Celebrity Survivor BBC BBC News 8 September 2002 19 April 2014 9 September BBC One launches Inside Out, a regionally based television series in England. The series focuses on stories from the local area of each BBC region and replaces a number of different titles previously used on BBC Two.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/08_august/30/insideout_yorkslincs.shtml Regional current affairs move to BBC ONE – Inside Out launches on 9 September 30 August 2002 BBC Press Office 17 February 2010 ITV1 airs A Is for Acid, a drama starring Martin Clunes as a 1940s acid bath killer John George Haigh.James Rampton Martin Clunes: he pass the acid test? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/martin-clunes-he-pass-the-acid-test-176035.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/martin-clunes-he-pass-the-acid-test-176035.html 1 May 2022 subscription live 22 August 2017 The Independent 5 September 2002 10 September ITV1 airs the four Star Wars films with the 1997 Special Edition versions of the Original Trilogy including A New Hope, followed by The Empire Strikes Back (8 October), Return of the Jedi (5 November) and the first showing of The Phantom Menace (3 December) during the four-month period on Tuesday evenings. Channel 5 airs the UK television premiere of the Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan. Overnight viewing figures indicate it to have had an audience of 2.7 million.Jon Rogers http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/saving-private-ryan-captures-27-million-for-c5/1155365.article Saving Private Ryan captures 2.7 million for C5 Broadcast 11 September 2002 29 June 2014 The film which includes graphic scenes depicting the Normandy landings is aired uncut and in an unusual move for mainstream UK television, it is shown again a few days later on 15 September, a day before the channel is rebranded.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/05/channelfive.broadcasting Channel 5 to show Saving Private Ryan uncut The Guardian 5 September 2002 27 July 2014 11 September – BBC News 24, ITN News Channel and Sky News provide in-depth coverage of the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks as commemorative events are held around the world. http://m.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a9126/news-channels-show-special-programmes.html https://archive.today/20120710000937/http://m.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a9126/news-channels-show-special-programmes.html dead 10 July 2012 News channels show special programmes Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd Digital Spy James Welsh 11 September 2002 28 April 2014 Coverage of the memorial services and events are also shown live on BBC Onehttps://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/2002-09-11 Schedule – BBC Programme Index genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 3 October 2021 and on ITV1. 13 September Channel 5 has recommissioned its soap Family Affairs for a further year, The Guardian reports. The soap had been facing the axe, but was partially saved by an increase in ratings provided by Australian soap Home and Away which airs in the schedule immediately before it.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/13/channelfive.broadcasting Family Affairs wins reprieve The Guardian 13 September 2002 28 June 2014 Top of the Pops airs its 2,000th edition.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2254124.stm Top of the Pops hits 2,000th show BBC BBC News 13 September 2002 21 June 2014 14 September – Joe Mace and Dani Behr present their final edition of The Saturday Show.http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2257000/2257737.stm Joe and Dani say final farewell to Saturdays BBC BBC News 14 September 2002 21 June 2014 16 September – Channel 5 rebrands itself to Five and drops its digital on-screen graphic.Jury Louise https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/will-3m-be-enough-to-tempt-the-woman-who-transformed-channel-5-to-itv-174449.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/will-3m-be-enough-to-tempt-the-woman-who-transformed-channel-5-to-itv-174449.html 1 May 2022 subscription live Will £3m be enough to tempt the woman who transformed Channel 5 to ITV? Independent Print Limited The Independent 24 August 2002 20 June 2014http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2261059.stm New-look Five goes live BBC BBC News 19 September 2002 20 June 2014 21 September – Simon Grant and Fearne Cotton present their first The Saturday Show, succeeding Joe Mace and Dani Behr.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2269352.stm New-look Saturday Show battles on BBC BBC News 20 September 2002 21 June 2014 23 September – Live with Chris Moyles makes its debut on Five.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/oct/31/broadcasting.channel5 Channel 5 recommissions Live With Chris Moyles The Guardian 31 October 2002 15 April 2014 The nightly show is presented by him from a London bar.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/reviews/2277430.stm Moyles struggles on TV debut BBC BBC News 23 September 2002 15 April 2014 The series attracts an audience of between 400,000 and 700,000 in its 7pm slot and is recommissioned for a second run in October. However, Moyles is replaced as presenter by Christian O'Connell when the programme returns in February 2003.Claire Billings http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/182463/Live-withChristian-OConnell-unlikely-return-Five/?HAYILC=RELATED Live with...Christian O'Connell unlikely to return on Five Brand Republic 12 June 2003 15 April 2014 and it is subsequently axed in June 2003 following declining ratings.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jan/14/broadcasting.channel5 Moyles show axed by Channel 5 14 January 2003 John Plunkett 24 February 2023 24 September – Five announces plans to axe Open House with Gloria Hunniford as part of a revamp of its daytime schedule, despite the programme achieving a regular audience of 900,000 and relatively strong ratings for the channel.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/24/broadcasting2 Hunniford loses daytime show John Plunkett 24 September 2002 19 September 2017 The Guardian 26 September – Sky1 airs The Truth, the season nine finale of The X-Files and the last episode in the series original run.http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?RequestTimeout=500&report=weeklytop30 BARB's multichannel top 10 programmes Broadcasters' Audience Research Board 1 August 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081005102511/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?RequestTimeout=500&report=weeklytop30 5 October 2008 Note: Information is in the section titled "w/e 23–29 Sept, 2002", listed under Sky1 On terrestrial television it is aired by BBC Two on 23 March 2003.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ef566d062a2643a99eaadb8b02a379ab The X-Files – BBC Two – 23 March 2003 BBC Genome 23 March 2003 BBC 19 July 2019 19 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190719161900/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ef566d062a2643a99eaadb8b02a379ab dead 27 September – Castaway Television Productions Ltd, a company co-owned by Bob Geldof is to take legal action against Granada and London Weekend Television, the makers of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, claiming the idea for the reality programme was stolen from Castaway's Survivor series.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2284706.stm Geldof takes action against 'Celebrity' BBC BBC News 27 September 2002 19 April 2014 However, the lawsuit is dropped in April 2003 after a similar case in the United States between CBS, the makers of Survivor and ABC, the makers of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, held that the idea had not been stolen, but was part of a "continual evolutionary process involving borrowing frequently from what has gone before".http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2975251.stm Geldof drops Celebrity lawsuit BBC BBC News 25 April 2003 19 April 2014 29 September – Michael Jackson's Face, a Five documentary about singer Michael Jackson's attempts to alter his appearance, is watched by 3.6 million viewers, giving the channel its highest audience to date, excluding ratings for football and films.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2289683.stm Jackson's face boosts Five BBC BBC News 1 October 2002 22 June 2014 30 September The ITN News Channel is relaunched as the ITV News Channel. Play UK closes due to low ratings following the closure of ITV Digital.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jun/11/broadcasting.bbc2 PlayUK to be axed The Guardian 11 June 2002 28 July 2018 October 1 October – Hear'Say, the band formed by the ITV series Popstars announce they are to split, citing pressure and public abuse as the reasons for their decision.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2289447.stm Hear'Say split up BBC BBC News 1 October 2002 31 March 2014 3 October – The BBC, Crown Castle and BSkyB announce that 30 October as the launch date for the new Freeview service. Extra channels have also been added to the lineup.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/10_october/03/freeview_launchdate.shtml Freeview launch date BBC 3 October 2002 18 May 2014 4 October – Debut of the BBC's Fame Academy where 12 contestants compete to win a recording contract.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/09_september/17/fame_academy.shtml BBC Press Office Fame Academy BBC 17 September 2002 4 April 2014http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2293000/2293659.stm We look inside the Fame Academy mansion BBC BBC News 2 October 2002 4 April 2014 5 October – Charlotte Gethin, performing as Eva Cassidy wins the first series of the junior edition of Stars in Their Eyes.Twist Jo http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2306000/2306415.stm CBBC Newsround The star who has no idea he's a heart-throb BBC 7 October 2002 27 April 2014http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2306869.stm Teenager wins TV talent show BBC BBC News 7 October 2002 27 April 2014 6 October – BBC Choice's Liquid News is relaunched with a new studio and graphics and a new presenting team consisting of Claudia Winkleman and Colin Paterson.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/07_july/28/liquid_news_presenters.shtml BBC Press Office Liquid News Presenters BBC 28 July 2002 25 July 2014https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/10_october/04/liquidnews_relaunch.shtml BBC Press Office Liquid News relaunch BBC 4 October 2002 25 July 2014 7 October – The BBC announces that Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen will succeed Carol Smillie as the presenter of Changing Rooms. 10 October – Channel 4 announces that Brookside will lose its prime time weeknight slot and will be condensed into a 90-minute weekly episode airing on Saturday afternoons. The changes will take place from 30 November and spark fears it could be axed when its contract comes up for renewal in 2003.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2316827.stm Brookside loses prime-time slot BBC BBC News 10 October 2002 31 March 2014 13 October The Independent Television Commission rejects more than 160 viewer complaints that scenes depicting a gay kiss between two police officers on The Bill which aired at 8pm were not appropriate viewing before the watershed.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2325267.stm Bill's gay kiss scene cleared BBC BBC News 13 October 2002 31 March 2014 BBC One airs Mr Trebus: A Life of Grime, a 60-minute programme paying tribute to Edmund Trebus, a compulsive hoarder who became famous after featuring in the first series of A Life of Grime in 1999 who died the previous month.http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/famously-dirty-old-man-wins-bbc-1-tribute/1160209.article Famously dirty old man wins BBC 1 tribute Broadcast 9 October 2002 25 July 2014 Stanley Kubrick's controversial 1971 film A Clockwork Orange receives its British terrestrial television debut on Channel 4.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2289597.stm Orange to show on Channel 4 BBC BBC News 1 October 2002 27 March 2016 16 October – ITV's two largest companies, Carlton and Granada agree the terms of a £2.6bn merger deal.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2332149.stm Granada and Carlton agree merger BBC BBC News 16 October 2002 28 April 2014 17 October – BBC News 24 chief political correspondent Nick Robinson is appointed as ITN's political editor, replacing John Sergeant who retires at the end of the year.Ciar Byrne https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/oct/17/tvnews.television Robinson succeeds Sergeant as ITN political editor The Guardian 17 October 2002 31 March 2016 18 October – Staff at a St Helens supermarket start a petition after Channel 4's announcement that Brookside will lose its weeknight episodes from 30 November.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2338937.stm Brookside fans hold Scouse demo BBC BBC News 18 October 2002 31 March 2014 19 October Blind Date returns to ITV1 with a new look, with contestants now given the chance to reject their initial choice of date after seeing them for the first time, which is referred to on the show as 'Date or Ditch'. The top ten greatest Britons is revealed ahead of a BBC Two series to choose the greatest Briton. The top ten is as follows: Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Winston Churchill, Oliver Cromwell, Charles Darwin, Diana, Princess of Wales, Queen Elizabeth I, John Lennon, Horatio Nelson, Isaac Newton, and William Shakespeare.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/10_october/19/great_britons.shtml Top 10 Great Britons BBC BBC Press Office 19 October 2002 14 February 2019http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2341661.stm Entertainment | Ten greatest Britons chosen BBC BBC News 20 October 2002 14 February 2019 20 October – BBC Two's motoring series Top Gear is relaunched with a brand new format. 22 October – Former Hear'Say band member Myleene Klass famously breaks down during an appearance on The Frank Skinner Show while recalling how she was verbally abused when she went to buy an ironing board from Argos.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Big+Interview%3A+A+year+in+the+life+of+a+pop+star%3B+IT'S+been+a...-a093914505 The Big Interview: A year in the life of a pop star; IT'S been a month since Hear'Say announced they were splitting. Noel Sullivan talks to Alison Stokes about what happens next for the former waiter who found overnight fame Alison Stokes South Wales Echo Trinity Mirror 2 November 2002 19 April 2014https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/oct/15/popandrock Portrait: Myleene Klass The Guardian 15 October 2003 19 April 2014 24 October – During an edition of Five's The Wright Stuff, presenter Matthew Wright mistakenly names John Leslie as the mystery "acquaintance" who raped Ulrika Jonsson as detailed in her autobiography.http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/john-leslie-named-as-mystery-man-in-ulrika-rape-claim-1.135745 John Leslie named as mystery man in Ulrika rape claim The Herald Glasgow 24 October 2002 26 January 2024 This prompts a slew of further sexual accusations against Leslie in the coming days. 27 October – London Weekend Television broadcast their final day after 34 years on the air. A modern-day recreation of a 1970s-style startup is shown in the early morning and just after midnight a montage of LWT presentation over the years is broadcast, introduced in-vision by two of LWT's announcers, Trish Bertram and Glen Thompsett.O'Rourke Colm http://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/ident/contemporary/lwt A new start Transdiffusion Broadcasting System 31 May 2014Randall Gareth http://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/ident/contemporary/last Last Days Transdiffusion Broadcasting System 31 May 2014 28 October – In England and Wales, ITV drops regional identification from most programmes and adopts a unified branding of just ITV1. The names for the London (Carlton and LWT), West (HTV West) and Wales (HTV Wales) are dropped altogether and replaced with ITV1 London, ITV1 West of England and ITV1 Wales respectively, though the names continue to appear elsewhere. 30 October Formal broadcasting of ITV Digital's replacement Freeview begins at 6am.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2371285.stm Third time lucky for Freeview? BBC BBC News 29 October 2002 18 May 2014 With the launch of Freeview, BBC Parliament becomes available in vision for the first time to Digital Terrestrial Television viewers. Due to capacity limitations on the DTT platform, from its launch until that day, the channel had only been available in audio format. This Morning presenter John Leslie is dismissed by Granada Television following a series of allegations about his personal life. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1411688/TVs-John-Leslie-sacked.html TV's John Leslie sacked The Daily Telegraph Tom Leonard 30 October 2002 9 May 2009 Although he is subsequently cleared, his television career never recovers.http://www.scotsman.com/news/celebrity/ex-tv-presenter-john-leslie-reveals-suicidal-thoughts-after-sex-attack-claims-1-2721204 Ex-TV presenter John Leslie reveals suicidal thoughts after sex attack claims Johnston Press The Scotsman 7 January 2013 20 May 2014 Have I Got News For You presenter Angus Deayton is sacked after allegations regarding his personal life appeared in the media. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2373711.stm Quiz host Deayton fired by BBC BBC News 30 October 2002 14 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090505142350/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2373711.stm 5 May 2009 live Since his departure, the show has been hosted by a different guest presenter each week, a format that continues permanently.https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/hignfy-hosts Have I Got News For You celebrates 10 years of guest hosts BBC Media Centre BBC 26 October 2012 20 May 2014 The free-to-air music video channel The Hits goes on the air. UK History is also launched on the same day. At 12noon, local news channel Channel One Liverpool closes.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Channel+One+closes+after+six+years.%28News%29-a093631445 Channel One closes after six years Liverpool Echo 30 October 2002 31 October Launch of TMF UK, a free-to-air music video channel and part of the Music Factory brand. The Independent Television Commission rules that a frank discussion about sex that aired on This Morning in May was inappropriate for a daytime show on a mainstream channel.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2381911.stm This Morning rapped by watchdog BBC BBC News 31 October 2002 31 March 2014 November 1 November 20th anniversary of S4C. The first episode of Have I Got News for You after the departure of Angus Deayton is broadcast and hosted by Paul Merton who is described by BBC News as having been "merciless" in his treatment of his former co-star.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2384165.stm Show goes on after Deayton exit BBC News 1 November 2002 15 March 2014 Guest presenters in subsequent weeks include Anne Robinson, John Sergeant, future Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Liza Tarbuck, Charles Kennedy and Jeremy Clarkson.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/12_december/07/news_clarkson.shtml BBC Press Office HIGNFY Jeremy Clarkson BBC 7 December 2002 15 March 2014 2 November – 20th anniversary of Channel 4.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2378353.stm The ever-changing Channel 4 BBC BBC News 2 November 2002 30 May 2014 8 November – Lock Keeper's Cottage, the building in East London used for the Big Breakfast house is destroyed by fire, eight months after the show was axed.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2420223.stm UK | England | Fire guts Big Breakfast house BBC BBC News 8 November 2002 3 February 2019 14 November – Harry Hill's TV Burp begins on ITV1 with ITV2 showing repeats afterwards. 15 November – South African Nathan Roberts and Camilla Priest from Sunderland are named as the winners of the second and final series of Channel 4's Model Behaviour. They each win a year's contract with Select Model Management. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2483000/2483445.stm Model Behaviour winners revealed BBC BBC News 16 November 2002 18 January 2010 20 November The government publishes the Communications Bill which will introduce new media regulations and establish Ofcom as the new media watchdog, replacing several existing bodies.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2495125.stm Entertainment | Communications Bill published BBC BBC News 20 November 2002 5 April 2014 The controversial German anatomist Gunther von Hagens performs the first public autopsy in the UK for 170 years, to a sell-out audience of 500 people in a London theatre.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2493291.stm Controversial autopsy goes ahead 20 November 2002 BBC BBC News 1 June 2012 The event is filmed and broadcast on Channel 4, prompting a raft of complaints from viewers.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/nov/21/broadcasting.channel4 Channel 4's autopsy show prompts hundreds of calls The Guardian 21 November 2002 1 June 2012 21 November – Shane Richie makes his first appearance as Alfie Moon in EastEnders. 23 November – The penultimate edition of Popstars: The Rivals is broadcast in which Matt Johnson, Anton Gordon, Daniel Pearce, Jamie Shaw and Keith Semple are chosen as the members of the male group which will be named One True Voice.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2504141.stm First Popstars line-up unveiled BBC BBC News 23 November 2002 30 May 2014 24 November Sir Winston Churchill is voted the Greatest Briton of all time by viewers of BBC Two's 100 Greatest Britons.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/11_november/25/greatbritons_final.shtml The Greatest Briton of all BBC BBC Press Office 25 November 2002 14 February 2019 The first episode of the third and final series of Catchphrase to feature Nick Weir as presenter is aired on ITV1. The 21-episode series is scattered all over the schedules and takes nearly two-and-a-half years to complete its broadcast. ITV broadcasts the first episode of a three part version of the 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago. Adapted by Andrew Davies, it stars Hans Matheson as Zhivago and Keira Knightley as Lara.Price Karen http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Arts%3A+Prepare+to+weep+again+as+Davies+twists+Dr+Zhivago.-a094217866 Prepare to weep again as Davies twists Dr Zhivago Western Mail 14 November 2002 30 May 2014 27 November – ITV have warned Granada that London's Burning will be dropped from the schedule if the series does not develop new ideas to reverse falling ratings, it is reported.Jason Deans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/nov/27/broadcasting ITV ultimatum over London's Burning The Guardian 27 November 2002 19 May 2014 29 November – Former Take That singer Mark Owen wins the second series of Celebrity Big Brother.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2529779.stm Owen wins Celebrity Big Brother BBC BBC News 29 November 2002 23 April 2014 30 November – The final of Popstars: The Rivals is broadcast where Sarah Harding, Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh are chosen as the members of the female groups which will be named Girls Aloud.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2529373.stm Popstars girl group picked BBC BBC News 2 December 2002 30 May 2014 December 1 December – The Sunday Telegraph reports that Buckingham Palace has taken the rare step of writing a letter of complaint to the BBC about an item on the previous Sunday's On the Record discussing the future of the monarchy which it says was biased and inaccurate.Alderson Andrew https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1414859/Palace-at-war-with-BBC-over-biased-diatribe-against-Queen.html Palace at war with BBC over 'biased diatribe' against Queen The Daily Telegraph 1 December 2002 15 July 2014 2 December – Claims that a technical glitch left viewers unable to vote for a contestant on the final of Popstars: The Rivals are rejected by the programme. Several people who voted for Javine Hylton have claimed their votes were either not registered or that they heard a recording telling them they had voted for Sarah Harding. Hylton was the last contestant eliminated before the members of Girls Aloud were announced.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2532667.stm Popstars 'vote blunder' denied BBC BBC News 2 December 2002 29 May 2014 6 December – The final episode of Family Fortunes is aired on ITV1. The programme has been axed after 22 years following a drop in ratings after its move to being a daily teatime show. The network later revives the show in 2006 in a celebrity format and then again in 2020 in its original civilian format. 7 December – Gareth Gates' interpretation of "Unchained Melody" is voted the 2002 Record of the Year by ITV viewers.http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_2555000/2555585.stm Gareth Gates wins Record of the Year BBC BBC News 8 December 2002 27 May 2014 8 December – Athlete Paula Radcliffe is named as this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/special_events/sports_personality_2002/2554969.stm Radcliffe wins BBC award BBC BBC Sport 8 December 2002 7 November 2015 10 December The Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair appears on television to make a public apology over dealings she had with convicted fraudster Peter Foster.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1415816/Cheries-apology-prompts-more-questions.html Cherie's apology prompts more questions Telegraph Media Group The Telegraph 11 December 2002 24 April 2017 BBC Two airs a special edition of TOTP2 featuring Celine Dion.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6f1f9094db9e4012b6131cb24700ebef TOTP2 – BBC Two England – 10 December 2002 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 10 December 2002 30 October 2018 13 December – David Sneddon wins the first series of Fame Academy.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2569749.stm David wins Fame Academy BBC BBC News 14 December 2002 4 April 2014 15 December – On the Record, the BBC's flagship political programme, ends after 14 years on the air.Jones Ian http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/oldott/www.offthetelly.co.uk/indexe6c6.html?p=5183 On the Record Off The Telly 15 December 2002 15 July 2014https://www.bbc.co.uk/otr/intext/20021215_whole.html On The Record BBC BBC News 15 December 2002 15 July 2014 16 December – Children's adventure gameshow Raven broadcasts on CBBC for the first time. 17 December – BBC Two airs its first terrestrial television showing of Mike Nichols' 2001 American award-winning drama film Wit, starring Emma Thompson, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Atkins and Harold Pinter. Based on the Margaret Edson's play of the same title, Vivian Bearing is a university English literature professor who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she reflects on her reactions to several treatments and significant events in her life. 18 December – The joint NTL/Vivendi film channel The Studio announces it will close at the end of the year after its owners decide it is not financially viable.Dan Milmo https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/dec/18/broadcasting1 NTL/Vivendi movie channel closes The Guardian 18 December 2002 11 June 2012 22 December The debut of the controversial BBC One documentary The Virgin Mary which questions many of the central aspects of the Nativity. The programme is condemned by groups associated with the Catholic Church and attracts 500 complaints from viewers, the highest number of complaints for a single programme in 2002. The programme is seen by an audience of just over three million. Crispian Hollis, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth accuses the programme's makers of misrepresenting the Virgin Mary and says he will write to BBC Director-General Greg Dyke to complain about its broadcast.Owen Gibson https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/dec/23/bbc.broadcasting Record complaints for BBC's Virgin Mary programme The Guardian 23 December 2002 13 July 2014 A special edition of Popstars: The Rivals in which it is announced that "Sound of the Underground" recorded by Girls Aloud has reached Number one on the Singles Chart, thereby becoming the Christmas Number One. One True Voice's double A-side single, "Sacred Trust"/"After You're Gone" enters the charts at Number Two.Graham Polly http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Girls+set+for+No.1+at+Xmas.-a095662911 Girls set for No.1 at Xmas The Mirror Trinity Mirror 22 December 2002 30 May 2014Wilkes Neil http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s102/popstars/news/a9911/girls-aloud-win-christmas-number-one.html#~oFMNctJlEpFZXx Girls Aloud win Christmas number one Digital Spy 22 December 2002 30 May 2014http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nicola+goes+top+for+Christmas.-a095760179 Nicola goes top for Christmas Liverpool Echo Trinity Mirror 23 December 2002 30 May 2014Piper Dean http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DEAN+ON+THE+CHARTS%3A+SINGLES.-a095672085 Dean on the Charts: Singles Trinity Mirror The Mirror 23 December 2002 30 May 2014 25 December The 2000 Aardman stop-motion animated film Chicken Run airs on BBC One as part of the channel's Christmas Day schedule.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/2002-12-25 BBC One London – 25 December 2002 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 21 November 2018 Strangers on the Shore, a Christmas special and the penultimate episode of Only Fools and Horses, is the highest rated show of the year in the UK, with an audience of 17.40 million.http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/lots-of-xmas-specials-but-very-few-crackers/1107950.article Lots of Xmas specials but very few crackers Broadcast 21 January 2003 15 July 2014http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/2002s-blockbusters/1108611.article 2002's blockbusters Broadcast 27 January 2003 15 July 2014 Jack Ryder makes his last appearance as the EastEnders character Jamie Mitchell. He is killed off in a tragic storyline. 30 December – To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mastermind, its original presenter, Magnus Magnusson returns to the role of quizmaster for a one-off special celebrity edition of the programme.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/12_december/06/mastermind_celebrity.shtml Mastermind Celebrity Special BBC BBC Press Office 6 December 2002 13 April 2017 31 December – BBC One airs the final edition of Vets in Practice, a special in which the show's participants discuss their time with the series.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8fb69179d75a41b5b49e298d20461aa2 Goodbye Vets in Practice – BBC One London – 31 December 2002 BBC Genome BBC 12 November 2016 30 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161030002046/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8fb69179d75a41b5b49e298d20461aa2 dead Debuts BBC One 4 January – Captain Abercromby (2002–2003) 5 January – 'The Mummy' (2002–2005) 8 January – The Story of Tracy Beaker (2002–2006) Jeopardy (2002–2004) 13 January – Stig of the Dump (2002) 17 February – Outside the Rules (2002) 3 March – Rescue Me (2002) 8 March – All About Me (2002–2004) 13 March – Rockface (2002–2003) Snoddy (2002) 4 April –Ted and Alice (2002) 16 April – Cutting It (2002–2005) 21 April – Born and Bred (2002–2005) 13 May – Spooks (2002–2011) 14 May – The Experiment (2002) 20 June – Being April (2002) 2 July – The Eustace Bros. (2002–2003) 2 August – The House That Jack Built (2002) 8 August – Any Time Now (2002) 10 August – Ella and the Mothers (2002) 31 August –Cavegirl (2002–2003) 1 September – Sparkhouse (2002) 6 September – Celeb (2002) Still Game (2002–2007, 2016, 2018–2019) 15 September – Out of Control (2002) 24 September – River City (2002–2026) 25 September – Flesh and Blood (2002) 2 October – High Hopes (2002–2008) 4 October – Fame Academy (2002–2003) 13 October – Sahara with Michael Palin (2002) 22 October – Wild West (2002–2004) 2 November – The Fairly OddParents (2002–2007) 23 November – Daniel Deronda (2002) 1 December – Jeffrey Archer: The Truth (2002) 8 December – Bootleg (2002) 26 December – The Hound of the Baskervilles (2002) BBC Two 19 February – Manchild (2002) 3 March – 24 (2001–2010, 2014) 15 March – Dead Ringers (2002–2007) 27 May – Flog It! (2002–2020) 2 September – Teletubbies Everywhere, the spin off of Teletubbies (2002) Balamory (2002–2005) 30 September – Fimbles (2002–2003) 9 October – Tipping the Velvet (2002) 10 October – Look Around You (2002–2005) 20 October – Great Britons (2002) 11 November – TLC (2002) 16 December – Raven (2002–2010) BBC Choice 4 March – Breeze Block (2002) 4 July – Having It Off (2002) 7 November – 15 Storeys High (2002–2004) CBBC Channel 23 February – Yvon of the Yukon (2002–2005) 24 February – UK Top 40 (2002–2005) 31 August – Dick and Dom in da Bungalow (2002–2006) ITV (Including ITV1 and ITV2) 3 January – Club Reps (2002–2004) 7 January – Don't Eat the Neighbours (2001–2002) Ripley and Scuff (2002–2003) 8 January – Footballers' Wives (2002–2006) 20 January – Bloody Sunday (2002) 3 February – Blood Strangers (2002) 11 February – Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight in the Land (2002–2003) 17 February – The Jury (2002) 2 March – Mr. Bean: The Animated Series (2002–2004, 2015–present) 1 April – The Quest (2002) 7 April – The Forsyte Saga (2002–2003) 8 April – The Cry (2002) 16 April – I Saw You (2002) 6 May – Helen West (2002) 11 May – The Vault (2002–2004) 27 May – Plain Jane (2002) 3 June – Lads' Army (2002–2006) 8 June – Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002–present) 9 July – Shipman (2002) 10 June – Bertie and Elizabeth (2002) 14 July – Believe Nothing (2002) 25 August – I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (2002–present) 2 September – As Told by Ginger 4 September – Engie Benjy (2002–2005) 4 September – SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–present) 9 September – A Is for Acid (2002) 16 September – Ultimate Force (2002–2006) 29 September – Rose and Maloney (2002–2005) 30 September – Today with Des and Mel (2002–2006) 10 October – The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius (2002–2006) 13 October – Sirens (2002) 27 October – Foyle's War (2002–2015) 28 October – The Safe House (2002) 4 November – Stan the Man (2002) 7 November – Russian Roulette (2002–2003) 14 November – Wire in the Blood (2002–2008) Harry Hill's TV Burp (2002–2012) 24 November – Doctor Zhivago (2002) 26 December – Goodbye Mr Chips (2002) Channel 4 2 January – Shackleton (2002) 7 February – The Estate Agents (2002) 31 March – Totally Spies! (2001–2008) 12 April – The Book Group (2002–2003) 29 April – RI:SE (2002–2003) 10 June – Six Feet Under (2001–2005) July – Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005) 29 July – Sex BC (2002) 6 September – Bo' Selecta! (2002–2009) 17 September – White Teeth (2002) 14 October – Bodily Harm (2002) 12 November – Offenders (2002) 28 December – Dinotopia (2002) Channel 5/Five 3 August – Audrey and Friends (2000; 2002) 5 August – BrainTeaser (2002–2007) 2 September – Make Way for Noddy (2002–2003) 12 September – Menace (2002) 29 September – The Shield (2002–2008) 6 October – Don't Blame the Koalas (2002–2003) 2 November – Beyblade (2001–2003) Living TV 25 May – Most Haunted (2002–2010) Sky One 17 January – Scrubs (2001–2008) 23 January – Alias (2001–2006) 26 May – Is Harry on the Boat? (2002–2003) 6 July – Zoids: Chaotic Century (2001) Cartoon Network UK 7 January – Spaced Out (2001–2003) 11 February – Cubix: Robots for Everyone (2001–2004) 7 June – Beyblade (2001) 7 July – Baby Blues (2000–2002) 2 September – Time Squad (2001–2003) 5 October – Grim & Evil (2001–2002) Nickelodeon UK 2 September – The Nick Cannon Show (2 September 2002 – 22 February 2003) Nicktoons UK 7 January – The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius (2002–2011) 12 January – Invader Zim (12 January 2002 – 19 August 2006) 12 January – Yu-Gi-Oh! (2001–2006) 1 September – The Fairly OddParents! (2001–2017) Fox Kids UK 4 February – Shinzo (2000–2003) 18 February – Medabots (1999–2000) 22 April – Shin Chan (1992–) 2 September – Hamtaro (2000) 7 September – Pig City (2002) 21 September – Power Rangers: Wild Force (2002) Undated – Tracey McBean (2001–2006) Disney Channel UK 21 January – The Proud Family (2002–2005) 2 September – That's So Raven (2002–2007) 4 November – Kim Possible (2002–2007 Disney Channel, 2003–2008 ITV Breakfast) Trouble UK 3 February – My Wife & Kids (2002–2006) 18 March – One on One (2001–2006) 8 April – So Little Time (2001–2002) Channels New channels DateChannel11 FebruaryCBBCCBeebies2 MarchBBC Four4 JulyAvago22 JulyNicktoons TV24 SeptemberChart Show TV10 OctoberReality TV14 OctoberCNX30 OctoberThe HitsUK History31 OctoberSolent TVTMF5 DecemberNASN9 DecemberSky One Mix13 DecemberE! Europe Defunct channels List of former TV channels in the United Kingdom#2002 DateChannel22 JanuaryUTV22 MarchBBC Knowledge8 AprilShop!30 AprilGranada BreezeTara TV12 MayITV Sport Channel30 SeptemberPlay UK30 OctoberChannel One Liverpool 31 DecemberF1 Digital+ Rebranded channels DateOld NameNew Name20 MayChallenge TVChallenge?1 July Sky Premier/MovieMax/CinemaSky Movies Premier/Max/Cinema16 SeptemberChannel 5Five30 SeptemberITN News ChannelITV News Channel Television shows Changes of network affiliation Show Moved from Moved toDig and DugChannel 4FiveKy's BoomerangITVBoomerangBlockbustersSky1ChallengeKnightmareSci-Fi ChannelYou Bet!ITVWheel of FortuneLooney Tunes/Merrie MelodiesBBC Two/CBBCThe Fairly OddParents!NickelodeonBBC OneSpongeBob SquarePantsITVAs Told by Ginger Returning this year after a break of one year or longer 28 April – Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983–1986 ITV, 2002–2004 BBC One) 20 October – Top Gear relaunches on BBC Two (1977–2001, 2002–2022) Unknown Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005) Play Your Cards Right (1980–1987, 1994–1999, 2002–2003) Continuing television shows 1920s BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present) 1930s Trooping the Colour (1937–1939, 1946–2019, 2023–present) The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present) 1950s Flower Pot Men (1952–1958, 2001–2002) Panorama (1953–present) What the Papers Say (1956–2008)What the Papers Say in pictures https://www.theguardian.com/media/gallery/2008/may/29/what.the.papers.say The Guardian 2 April 2022 29 May 2008 The Sky at Night (1957–present) Blue Peter (1958–present) Grandstand (1958–2007) 1960s Coronation Street (1960–present) Songs of Praise (1961–present) Top of the Pops (1964–2006) Match of the Day (1964–present) Call My Bluff (1965–2005) The Money Programme (1966–2010) 1970s Emmerdale (1972–present) Newsround (1972–present) Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010) Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003) Arena (1975–present) One Man and His Dog (1976–present) Grange Hill (1978–2008) Ski Sunday (1978–present) Antiques Roadshow (1979–present) Question Time (1979–present) 1980s Children in Need (1980–present) Timewatch (1982–present) Brookside (1982–2003) Countdown (1982–present) James the Cat (1984–1992, 1998–2003) The Bill (1984–2010) Channel 4 Racing (1984–2016) EastEnders (1985–present) Comic Relief (1985–present) Casualty (1986–present) ChuckleVision (1987–2009) Fifteen to One (1988–2003, 2013–2019) This Morning (1988–present) 1990s Stars in Their Eyes (1990–2006, 2015) 999 (1992–2003) Heartbeat (1992–2010) Breakfast with Frost (1993–2005) Wipeout (1994–2002) Animal Hospital (1994–2004) Room 101 (1994–2007, 2012–present) Time Team (1994–2013) The National Lottery Draws (1994–2017) Top of the Pops 2 (1994–present) Y Clwb Rygbi, Wales (1997–present) Dream Team (1997–2007) Family Affairs (1997–2005) Midsomer Murders (1997–present) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1998–2014) Bob the Builder (1998–present) British Soap Awards (1999–2019, 2022–present) Holby City (1999–2022)Holby City – an oral history by the show's stars and creators https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/holby-city/a35594857/holby-city-an-oral-history-by-the-shows-stars-and-creators/ Digital Spy 4 April 2022 29 March 2022 The League of Gentlemen (1999–2002) My Parents Are Aliens (1999–2006)Rodger James My Parents Are Aliens cast reunite after 17 years as fans left emotional https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/parents-aliens-cast-reunite-after-26543597 BirminghamLive 25 March 2023 en 23 March 2023 Tweenies (1999–2002) 2000s Doctors (2000–present) Big Brother (2000–2018, 2023–present) The Weakest Link (2000–2012, 2017–present) At Home with the Braithwaites (2000–2003) Clocking Off (2000–2003) The Office (2001–2003) Ky's Bommerang (2001–2003) Pop Idol (2001–2003) The Kumars (2001–2006, 2014) Popworld (2001–2007) Real Crime (2001–2011) Survivor (2001–2002, 2023–present) Angelina Ballerina (2002–2005) Ending this year The Flower Pot Men (1952–1958, 2001–2002) Captain Pugwash (1957–1975, 1997–2002) How We Used To Live (1968–2002) Des O'Connor Tonight (1977–2002) Blankety Blank (1979–1990, 1997–2002) Family Fortunes (1980–1985, 1987–2002, 2006–2015, 2020–present) Catchphrase (1986–2002, 2013–present) The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987–2002) London's Burning (1988–2002) On the Record (1988–2002) Big Break (1991–2002) Brum (1991–2002) The Big Breakfast (1992–2002, 2021–2022) Peak Practice (1993–2002) Wipeout (1994–2002) I'm Alan Partridge (1997–2002) Playing the Field (1998–2002) Delia's How to Cook (1998–2002) The Pepsi Chart Show (1998–2002) Big Train (1998–2002) CBBC on Choice (1999–2002) Always and Everyone (1999–2002) The League of Gentlemen (1999–2002) The People Versus (2000–2002) Time Gentlemen Please (2000–2002) Audrey and Friends (2000, 2002) Model Behaviour (2001–2002) Teletubbies Everywhere (2002) Returning or renamed programs Show Last aired Retitled as/Season/Notes Channel Return date Mr. Bean 1995 (as a live-action sitcom) Same (animated adoption) ITV March 2 Births 6 November – Mya-Lecia Naylor, actress Deaths Date Name Age Cinematic Credibility12 JanuaryStanley Unwin90comic performer (The Secret Service)15 JanuaryJeremy Hawk83actor and host of Criss Cross Quiz17 JanuaryPeter AdamsonDennis Barker https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jan/21/guardianobituaries.broadcasting Obituary: Peter Adamson The Guardian 2014-07-2571actor (Coronation Street)24 JanuaryStuart Burge84television director29 JanuaryStratford Johns76actor (Z-Cars)Phil McCallactor (Minder)11 FebruaryBarry Foster74actor (The Troubleshooters, Van der Valk)21 FebruaryJohn ThawPhilip Purser https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/feb/22/broadcasting.guardianobituaries Obituary: John Thaw | Media The Guardian 21 January 2002 25 July 201460actor (Inspector Morse, The Sweeney, Kavanagh Q.C.)27 FebruarySpike MilliganStephen Dixon https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/feb/28/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries Obituary: Spike Milligan The Guardian 28 February 2002 25 July 201483comedian4 MarchEric Flynn62actor6 MarchDonald Wilson91television producer and scriptwriter (Doctor Who, The Forsyte Saga)25 MarchKenneth WolstenholmeJeevan Vasagar Jon Brodkin https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/mar/27/broadcasting.uknews Kenneth Wolstenholme dies at 81 The Guardian 27 March 2002 25 July 201481BBC football commentator and presenter27 MarchDudley MooreRonald Bergan https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/mar/28/guardianobituaries.media Obituary: Dudley Moore The Guardian 28 March 2002 25 July 201466comedian and actor (Not Only... But Also)31 MarchBarry TookPhilip Purser https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/01/broadcasting.guardianobituaries Barry Took The Guardian 1 April 2002 25 July 201473comedian, writer and television presenter11 AprilDelphi Lawrence70actress (The Saint, Sir Francis Drake)12 AprilHoward Pays74actor (Sixpenny Corner)15 AprilDave King72actor (Coronation Street)21 AprilTerry Walsh62actor and stuntman22 AprilChristopher PriceRobert Nisbet Patrick O'Connell Steph West https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/24/broadcasting.guardianobituaries Obituary: Christopher Price The Guardian 24 April 2002 25 July 201434television presenter25 AprilMichael Bryant74actor (The Stone Tape, The Roads to Freedom)1 MayJohn Nathan-Turner54television producer (Doctor Who)10 MayAusten Kark75television director (BBC World Service)15 MayBryan Pringle67actor (The Dustbinmen, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Inspector Morse)17 MayNorman Vaughan79actor and comedian18 MayGordon Wharmby68actor (Last of the Summer Wine)25 MayPat CoombsDennis Barker https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/may/28/guardianobituaries.arts Obituary: Pat Coombs The Guardian 28 May 2002 25 July 201475actress (Till Death Us Do Part, EastEnders)30 MayKenny Craddock52theme tune composer (Joking Apart)26 JuneDermot Walsh77actor (Richard the Lionheart)9 JulyGerald Campion81actor (Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School)23 JulyLeo McKernWendy Trewin Wendy Trewin https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/jul/24/guardianobituaries.filmnews Obituary: Leo McKern The Guardian 24 July 2002 25 July 201482actor (Rumpole of the Bailey)24 JulyMaurice Denham92actor26 JulyTony Anholt61actor (Howards' Way)28 JulyJack Karnehm85BBC snooker commentator29 JulyPeter Bayliss80actor (Please Sir!, The Sweeney, Coronation Street, Lovejoy, The Bill)3 AugustCarmen Silvera80actress (Edith Artois in 'Allo 'Allo!)7 SeptemberKatrin Cartlidge41actress (Brookside)Michael Elphickhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2247666.stm Actor Michael Elphick dies BBC BBC News 10 September 2002 25 July 201455actor (Boon, EastEnders)29 SeptemberEdmund TrebusDuncan Staff https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/oct/05/guardianobituaries Obituary: Edmund Trebus The Guardian 5 October 2002 25 July 201483compulsive hoarder who featured in the BBC's A Life of Grime8 OctoberPhyllis Calvert87actress (Kate, Crown Court, Tales of the Unexpected, After Henry)17 OctoberPattie ColdwellJohn Howard https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/oct/31/broadcasting.guardianobituaries Obituary: Pattie Coldwell The Guardian 31 October 2002 25 July 201450television presenter and journalist24 OctoberCharmian May65actress (The Good Life, Keeping Up Appearances, You're Only Young Twice)25 OctoberRichard HarrisMichael Parkinson http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2362935.stm Actor Richard Harris dies BBC BBC News 25 October 2002 25 July 201472actor (Harry Potter films)7 NovemberDilys Hamlett74actress8 NovemberChristopher Parsons70television producer (Life on Earth)27 NovemberStanley Black89theme tune composer10 DecemberIan MacNaughton76comedy producer-director (Monty Python's Flying Circus)17 DecemberJames Hazeldinehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2589587.stm London's Burning star Hazeldine dies BBC BBC News 20 December 2002 19 May 201455actor (London's Burning)19 DecemberRoger Webb68theme tune composer (Strange Report, Hammer House of Horror, The Gentle Touch, Paradise Postponed, George and Mildred)20 DecemberJoanne CampbellBourne Stephen Stephen Bourne (writer) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/joanne-campbell-612843.html Obituary – Joanne Campbell: Actress capable of dazzling stage performances The Independent 8 January 2003 23 June 2009 https://archive.today/20090722201208/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/joanne-campbell-612843.html 22 July 2009 dead38actor See also 2002 in British music 2002 in British radio 2002 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 2002 References 30em External links List of 2002 British television series at IMDb 2002