1977 in British television

none 1977 British television This is a list of British television related events from 1977. Events January 1 January – BBC1 airs its network television premiere of the 1971 musical fantasy Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson and Peter Ostrum.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8a7433592675495eae7a479eb67eee7b https://web.archive.org/web/20141018011040/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8a7433592675495eae7a479eb67eee7b dead October 18, 2014 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – BBC One London – 1 January 1977 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 14 November 2018 3 January – The US crime drama series, Charlie's Angels makes its UK debut on ITV, starring Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith as the crime-fighting trio, the "Angels". 6 January – The natural history documentary Wildlife on One premieres on BBC1.Wildlife on One – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/40b21b2d3bd043cc8973b8c680cd3d8b 8 May 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 6 January 1977 BBC Genome Project 10 January – ITV broadcasts the first episode of the children's folk horror drama Children of the Stones. 11 January – ITV debuts Robin's Nest, the spin-off sitcom to Man About the House, and once again starring Richard O'Sullivan. February 3 February – The Annan Committee on the future of broadcasting makes its recommendations. They include the establishment of a fourth independent television channel, the establishment of Broadcasting Complaints Commission and an increase in independent production.Annan Committee Report of the Committee on the Future of Broadcasting 1977 HMSO 14 February – BBC1 debuts the children's animated series The Flumps,The Flumps – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d3a88c617b224377a963e553ed33943c 22 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 6 January 1977 BBC Genome Project which, although only thirteen episodes are produced, will be broadcast on the BBC until 1988.The Flumps – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ea9b2898da1a42f2b2c13178de63cc41 22 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 13 July 1988 BBC Genome Project 15 February – The first Aardman Animations character, the Morph, is introduced with the launch of BBC children's series Take Hart with Tony Hart.Take Hart – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2f3b1ac66c544e7b9e84a963673e8e19 22 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 15 February 1977 BBC Genome Project 24 February – ITV begins showing the US medical mystery drama series Quincy, M.E., starring Jack Klugman. 26 February – The network television premiere of the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball airs on ITV, starring Sean Connery in his fourth 007 adventure.https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/history_bond_on_tv.php3 James Bond On TV – Movies MI6 – The Home Of James Bond 007 5 April 2011 26 January 2018 6 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201106124333/https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/history_bond_on_tv.php3 dead February – Michael Grade is appointed as Director of Programmes at London Weekend Television. March 11 March – Mister Trimble is broadcast for the final time. 21 March – BBC1 airs the network premiere of Nicholas Roeg's 1971 Australian-set survival film Walkabout, starring Jenny Agutter.The Monday Film – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2f0206793e494ce28485b970752c6f44 22 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 21 March 1977 BBC Genome Project 24 March – ITV shows the network television premiere of the 1968 science fiction film Planet of the Apes, starring Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall. 27 March – Jesus of Nazareth, a British-Italian television miniseries directed by Franco Zeffirelli and co-produced by Lew Grade which dramatises the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus based on the accounts in the four New Testament Gospels makes its debut on British television, starring Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, Stacy Keach, Laurence Olivier, Ian Holm, Peter Ustinov and James Farentino. 28 March – Yorkshire Television and Tyne Tees Television launch a nine-week breakfast television experiment. It is credited as being the United Kingdom's first breakfast television programme, six years before the launch of TV-am and the BBC's Breakfast Time in 1983.http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/insidetv/history/breakfast.php A good breakfast Inside TV David Hastings 1 September 2001 1 August 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100213000230/http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/insidetv/history/breakfast.php 2010-02-13 deadhttp://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvyorkshire/news.html Yorkshire Television News TV Ark 1 August 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20120219183737/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvyorkshire/news.html 2012-02-19 usurped Both programmes run at the same time, with Tyne Tees' Good Morning North and Yorkshire's Good Morning Calendar. Both programmes finish on Friday 27 May. April 7 April – BBC1 begins showing a new series of the American cartoon The Scooby-Doo Show,Scooby Doo – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/260ac5d0c35f4b6b8cd37d18aff7d401 23 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 7 April 1977 BBC Genome Project following several years of repeating older episodes. 11 April – Stepping Stones, a television programme for preschoolers and the replacement programme for Mister Trimble, makes its debut on ITV. 12 April – The pilot of John Sullivan's sitcom Citizen Smith, starring Robert Lindsay as Walter Henry "Wolfie" Smith, airs on BBC1.Comedy Special – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8c006f9c72b543a4bf5bd681bcf87f12 23 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 12 April 1977 BBC Genome Project. 22 April – The original version of motoring programme Top Gear begins as a local monthly magazine format produced by (and shown only by) BBC MidlandsRegional programmes – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/5c4e1a9f17854945af6fbcae9253b615 23 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 22 April 1977 BBC Genome Project. from its Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham, presented by Angela Rippon and Tom Coyne. In July 1978, it is offered to BBC2,Top Gear – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/53d7caaca2db42e9af4b102cb6bb061b 23 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 13 July 1978 BBC Genome Project where it airs until 2001.Top Gear – BBC Two https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/42573c2e10d54d8084bb038effcae978 23 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 17 December 2001 BBC Genome Project In 2002, the series is relaunched in a new format.Top Gear – BBC Two https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6dc3d0fce45f48fb9474e17456707076 23 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 20 October 2002 BBC Genome Project May 7 May – The 22nd Eurovision Song Contest is held at Wembley Conference Centre in London and broadcast on BBC1. With Angela Rippon as the presenter,Eurovision Song Contest 1977 – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/960e17b5ed2145e38d4d19be9ab4b955 23 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 7 May 1977 BBC Genome Project the contest is won by Marie Myriam representing France, with the song "L'oiseau et l'enfant" (The Bird and the Child). The British entry, "Rock Bottom", written and sung by Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran finishes in second place. June 6–9 June – Television viewers in Britain watch live coverage of the celebrations of the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II, while the soap opera Coronation Street features an elaborate Jubilee parade in the storyline, having Rovers' Return Inn manageress Annie Walker dress up in elaborate costume as Queen Elizabeth I. Ken Barlow and Uncle Albert play Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing respectively. 11 June – BBC1 begins showing the horror-themed anthology series Supernatural.Supernatural – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ec2d4b7f556c47f0bf6f749643d5e74b 23 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 11 June 1977 BBC Genome Project 20 June – Anglia Television broadcasts the documentary Alternative 3. It enters into the conspiracy theory canon. 22 June – ITV shows the Michael Caine starring 1971 adventure film Kidnapped, based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. July 2 July – BBC2 launches a new season of Saturday evening horror movie double bills with Dracula, Frankenstein – and Friends!, showing the 1931 Dracula film with Bela Lugosi and the 1931 Frankenstein with Boris Karloff.Dracula, Frankenstein – and Friends! – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/200f7ff0999b492d842b9ba13e49b290 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 2 July 1977 BBC Genome Project 6 July – The first episode of the BBC documentary series Brass Tacks is aired,Brass Tacks – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c60f7a72cd7540b2be105781aaa48ac1 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 6 July 1977 BBC Genome Project featuring a debate as to whether Myra Hindley should be considered for parole from the life sentence she received for her role in the Moors murders in 1966. September 7 September – The game show The Krypton Factor makes its debut on ITV, presented by Gordon Burns. 10 September – The Saturday morning children's show Tiswas returns for a fourth series with new presenter Sally James appearing alongside Chris Tarrant, and for several episodes Jim Davidson. It is now broadcast to several ITV regions: Midlands, Anglia, HTV and Border. 12 September – Thames Television launches Thames at Six, a regional news programme that replaces the more light-hearted magazine programme Today. 18 September – The occasional ITV bloopers programme It'll Be Alright on the Night is first broadcast, presented by Denis Norden. 19 September – BBC Schools and Colleges changes to use the Dots ident with rotating text until 1978. 24 September – ITV begins showing the US science fiction fantasy series Man from Atlantis, starring Patrick Duffy. October 1 October – Ian Trethowan succeeds Charles Curran as Director-General of the BBC. 17 October – BBC1 launches the long-running variety and chat show Des O'Connor Tonight.Des O'Connor Tonight – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1e725b5f0f9d415bbfbc96832a42f908 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 17 October 1977 BBC Genome Project 19 October – The first edition of a new weekly magazine programme for Asian women, Gharbar, is broadcast. The programme had only been intended to run for 26 weeks,Gharbar – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7e74932197e54c31a5da905e6404a7f6 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 19 October 1977 BBC Genome Project but continues for around 500 weeks, finally ending in April 1987.Gharbar – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/45e12b23228e4856b6e193e8818e0131 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 28 April 1987 BBC Genome Project The programme airs on Wednesdays at 10.20am, displacing that day's Service Information, which is moved to 11.30am, airing after Play School. 21 October – The World Administrative Radio Conference assigns five high-powered direct broadcast by satellite channels for domestic use in the UK.Kassim, Hussein. The European Union and National Industrial Policy. p. 208. November 1 November – BBC1 screens the Mike Leigh comedy drama Abigail's Party as part of the Play for Today series.Play for Today – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ad4724eccaf14904ba9d5a8f0f3f3831 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 1 November 1977 BBC Genome Project 13 November – BBC1 airs the final episode of the sitcom Dad's Army.Dad's Army – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/92dd0fdf582d4ca28343674f72b0b0dc 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 13 November 1977 BBC Genome Project 19 November – Southern Television broadcasts the US children's series Sesame Street for the first time. 20 November – The network television premiere of the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice on ITV, starring Sean Connery. 26 November – Southern Television broadcast interruption: Just after 5:10pm in the Southern Television ITV region, a hoaxer hijacks the sound of Independent Television News from the IBA transmitter at Hannington, Hampshire and broadcasts a message claiming to be a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command. Thousands of viewers ring Southern, the IBA, ITN or the police for an explanation; the identity of the intruder is never confirmed. December 22 December – BBC2 shows an adaptation of Bram Stoker's vampire novel Count Dracula, starring Louis Jordan.Count Dracula – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/49c86359d6694604b5f509a6d927e9fa 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 22 December 1977 BBC Genome Project 24 December ITV airs Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas. The Christmas television special marked Bing Crosby's final screen appearance in which he duets with David Bowie on Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy. BBC2 screens the network television premiere of Robert Altman's 1970 Korean War-set comedy M*A*S*H, starring Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould.M*A*S*H – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/da97c051103b4bc5b5c987b081f56f58 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 24 December 1977 BBC Genome Project 25 December – Both the Mike Yarwood Christmas ShowRoberts Laura https://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/8171671/Mike-Yarwoods-1977-Christmas-Show-tops-the-list-of-10-most-watched-Christmas-programmes.html Mike Yarwood's 1977 Christmas Show tops the list of 10 most-watched Christmas programmes Telegraph 2010-12-01 2018-01-13Joe Moran https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/dec/19/how-tv-shaped-the-great-british-christmas Christmas TV: five key moments | Television & radio The Guardian 2018-01-13archivetvmusings https://archivetvmusings.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/the-morecambe-and-wise-christmas-show-1977/ The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show 1977 | Archive Television Musings Archivetvmusings.wordpress.com 2014-12-20 2018-01-13 and The Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show on BBC1 attract an audience of more than 28 million, one of the highest ever in British television history.The Guinness Book of Records.http://www.morecambeandwise.com/viewpage.aspx?pageid=331 Eric and Ern – The Morecambe & Wise Show: Series 8 Morecambeandwise.com 2011-08-24https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/5900988/Ernie-Wise.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100325200559/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/5900988/Ernie-Wise.html dead 25 March 2010 Ernie Wise The Daily Telegraph 22 March 1999 2011-08-24Barfe Louis 22 November 2008 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/3503100/How-John-Sergeant-revived-did-you-see-TV.html How John Sergeant revived did-you-see TV The Daily Telegraph 2011-08-24Bushby Helen 30 December 2010 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11768311 BBC News Victoria Wood tells all about Eric and Ernie 2011-08-24ITV and the BFI quote a figure of 21.3 million. http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/mostwatched/1970s.html Features | Britain's Most Watched TV | 1970s BFI 4 September 2006 2012-04-28 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20051122221511/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/mostwatched/1970s.html 22 November 2005 Moran Joe 22 March 2011 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/dec/20/christmas-show-one-nation-television?INTCMP=SRCH One nation Christmas television The Guardian 2011-08-24 27 December – The network television premiere of Douglas Trumbull's 1972 science fiction drama Silent Running on BBC1, starring Bruce Dern.Silent Running – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/69f532fdb1c546e0892fb58b589a43c0 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 27 December 1977 BBC Genome Project 30 December ITV debuts the crime-action series The Professionals starring Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw as CI5 agents Bodie and Doyle. The adult education themed sitcom Mind Your Language is first broadcast on ITV. Although highly popular, gaining eighteen million viewers, it would eventually be cancelled after the third series, due to its racial stereotypes. 31 December BBC1 begins showing the animated series The New Adventures of Batman.The New Adventures of Batman – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/844f4567295840d2880ba2563c4bf113 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 31 December 1977 BBC Genome Project Bruce Forsyth steps down as presenter of The Generation Gamehttp://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3b9067cce5754f10a3891afbe6000b46 https://web.archive.org/web/20160918221238/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3b9067cce5754f10a3891afbe6000b46 dead September 18, 2016 Bruce's Choice – BBC One London – 31 December 1977 BBC BBC Genome 18 August 2017 after six years. He would return to the programme when it is revived by the BBC in 1990.Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b44be341f13d4d8382e655397933e79b 24 August 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 7 September 1990 BBC Genome Project Undated Scum, an entry in BBC1's Play for Today anthology strand, is pulled from transmission due to controversy over its depiction of life in a Young Offenders' Institution, at this time known in the United Kingdom as a borstal. Two years later, director Alan Clarke makes a film version with most of the same cast, and the original play itself is eventually transmitted on BBC2 in 1991.Radio Times listing – 27 July 1991 Emmerdale Farm moves from daytime to a peak time (7pm) slot although five regions, Anglia Television, Thames Television, Westward Television, Grampian Television and Scottish Television air the programme at 5:15pm, with the days sometime changing. Debuts BBC1 2 January – Wings (1977–1978) 5 January – Rosie (1977–1981) 6 January – Wildlife on One (1977–2005) 7 January – Mr. Big (1977) 9 January – Rascal the Raccoon (1977) 11 January – Look and Read: The King's Dragon (1977) 1 February – Fathers and Families (1977) 13 February – Rob Roy (1977) 14 February – The Flumps (1977; repeated until 1988) 15 February – Take Hart (1977–1983) 16 March – Out of Bounds (1977) 27 March Nicholas Nickleby (1977) Jubilee (1977) 5 April – A Roof Over My Head (1977) 7 April – The Scooby-Doo Show (1976–1978) 8 April – Roots (1977) 12 April – Citizen Smith (1977–1980) 25 April – Fred Basset (1977) 2 May – The Mackinnons (1977) 3 May – A Picture of Tom Keating (1977) 10 June – No Appointment Necessary (1977) 11 June – Supernatural (1977) 15 June The House That Jack Built (1977) Middlemen (1977) 4 September – The Eagle of the Ninth (1977) 7 September – Secret Army (1977–1979) 9 September – Target (1977–1978) 10 September – The Peppermint Pig (1977) 17 October – Des O'Connor Tonight (1977–2002) 1 November Abigail's Party (Play for Today) (1977) The Other One (1977–1978) 2 November – King Cinder (1977) 9 November — The Emigrants (miniseries) (1977) 13 November – The Children of the New ForestJuly 2026 InternetArchiveBot (1977) 13 December – Come Back Mrs. Noah (1977–1978) 31 December – The New Adventures of Batman (1977) BBC2 10 January – Eleanor Marx (1977) 26 January – The Velvet Glove (1977) 7 February – Headmaster (1977) 20 February – Drama (1977) 8 March – Three Piece Suite (1977) 10 April – Esther Waters (1977) 18 April – Don't Forget to Write! (1977–1979) 22 April – Top Gear (1977–2001) 8 May – Murder Most English (1977) 12 May – Sea Tales (1977) (Anthology) 13 June – Maidens' Trip (1977) 2 July – Dracula, Frankenstein – and Friends! (1977) 6 July – Brass Tacks (1977–1988) 16 August – Marie Curie (1977) 18 September – 1990 (1977–1978) 19 September – The Long Search (1977) 21 September – BBC2 Play of the Week (1977–1979) 22 September – Premiere (1977–1980) 25 September – Anna Karenina (1977) 19 October – Parosi (1977–1978) 21 October – Kilvert's Diary (1977) 7 November – Who Pays the Ferryman? (1977) 30 November – Eustace and Hilda (1977) 22 December – Count Dracula (1977) ITV 3 January – Charlie's Angels (1976–1981) 5 January – Another Bouquet (1977) 10 January – Children of the Stones (1977) 11 January – Robin's Nest (1977–1981) 16 January – Holding On (1977) 6 February – Just William (1977–1978) 9 February – Horse in the House (1977) 12 February – All You Need Is Love (1977) 17 February – The Galton & Simpson Playhouse (1977) 24 February – Quincy, M.E. (1976–1983) 25 February – Raffles (1977) 2 March – Romance (1977) 27 March – Jesus of Nazareth (1977) 28 March – Jamie and the Magic Torch (1977–79) 15 April – Backs to the Land (1977–1978) 18 April Miss Jones and Son (1977–1978) The Flockton Flyer (1977–1978) 20 April – Dawson and Friends (1977) 21 April – Paradise Island (1977) 7 May – Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (1976–1977) 8 May – King of the Castle (1977) 18 May – A Bunch of Fives (1977–1978) 29 May – The Sunday Drama (1977–1978) 31 May – Burgess, Philby and Maclean (1977) 6 June – Two Stars for Comfort (1977) 13 June – Cottage to Let (1977) 20 June – Alternative 3 (1977) 26 June – Follow Me (1977) 6 July – I'm Bob, He's Dickie (1977–1978) 8 July – The Foundation (1977–1978) 15 July – Devenish (1977) 17 July – Hi Summer (1977) 28 July – A Sharp Intake of Breath (1977–1981) 28 July – The Sound of Laughter (1977) 31 July – Here I Stand... (1977) 1 August – Lord Tramp (1977) 7 August – Took and Co. (1977) 24 August – The Paper Lads (1977–1979) 6 September London Belongs to Me (1977) You're Only Young Twice (1977–1981) 7 September – The Krypton Factor (1977–1995, 2009–2010) 8 September – The Fuzz (1977) 9 September – Love for Lydia (1977) 18 September – It'll Be Alright on the Night (1977–present) 19 September – Raven (1977) 24 September Man from Atlantis (1977–1978) The Love Boat (1977–1986) 25 September – The Cost of Loving (1977) 26 September – The Upchat Line (1977) 5 October – The Norman Conquests (1977) 12 October – Midnight Is a Place (1977–1978) 18 October – The Sullivans (1976–1983) 25 October – Hard Times (1977) 27 October – Odd Man Out (1977) 9 November – Dummy (1977) 30 December Mind Your Language (1977–1979) The Professionals (1977–1983) Returning after a break of a year or longer The Rag Trade (1961–1963; 1977–1978) 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) BBC Cricket (1939, 1946–1999, 2020–2024) 1950s Come Dancing (1950–1998) The Good Old Days (1953–1983) Panorama (1953–present) Crackerjack (1955–1984, 2020–present) Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990) This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992) 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) Z-Cars (1962–1978) Animal Magic (1962–1983) Doctor Who (1963–1989, 2005–present) World in Action (1963–1998) Top of the Pops (1964–2006) Match of the Day (1964–present) Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003) Play School (1964–1988) Mr. and Mrs. (1965–1999) World of Sport (1965–1985) Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006) Sportsnight (1965–1997) It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001) The Money Programme (1966–2010) ITV Playhouse (1967–1982) Reksio (1967–1990) Magpie (1968–1980) The Big Match (1968–2002) Nationwide (1969–1983) Screen Test (1969–1984) 1970s The Goodies (1970–1982) The Onedin Line (1971–1980) The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987) The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005) Clapperboard (1972–1982) Crown Court (1972–1984) Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986, 1991–1996) Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1997) Are You Being Served? (1972–1985) Emmerdale (1972–present) Newsround (1972–present) Weekend World (1972–1988) Pipkins (1973–1981) We Are the Champions (1973–1987) Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010) That's Life! (1973–1994) Happy Ever After (1974–1978) Rising Damp (1974–1978) Within These Walls (1974–1978) It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981) Tiswas (1974–1982) Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003) The Good Life (1975–1978) The Sweeney (1975–1978) Celebrity Squares (1975–1979, 1993–1997, 2014–2015) The Cuckoo Waltz (1975–1980) Arena (1975–present) Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994) Gambit (1975–1985, 1995) The Muppet Show (1976–1981) The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976–1978) When the Boat Comes In (1976–1981) Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976–1982) Rentaghost (1976–1984) One Man and His Dog (1976–present) Ending this year 23 February – The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club (1974–1977) 25 March – Porridge (1974–1977) 8 June – Survivors (1975–1977) 24 August – The Adventures of Rupert Bear (1969–1977) 19 September – Yanks Go Home (1976–1977) 13 November – Dad's Army (1968–1977) 17 December – The New Avengers (1976–1977) 24 December – The Duchess of Duke Street (1976–1977) 31 December – Rascal the Raccoon (1977) Births 1 January – Anna Acton, actress 13 January – Orlando Bloom, actor 10 March – Rita Simons, actress, singer and model 23 April – Babita Sharma, newsreader 4 April – Stephen Mulhern, magician and presenter 13 May – Samantha Morton, actress May 15 – Ben Whitehead, English actor, voice artist and read-in artist 23 May – Richard Ayoade, comedian and actor 24 May – Jo Joyner, actress 30 May – Rachael Stirling, actress 31 May – Debbie King, presenter 5 June – Emma Crosby, newsreader, presenter and journalist 6 June – Adrian Dickson, South African-born presenter 9 June – Maryam Moshiri, Iranian-born news presenter 22 August – Sarah Champion, presenter and disc jockey 1 September – Lucy Pargeter, actress 12 September – James McCartney, singer and songwriter 15 September – Tom Hardy, actor 25 September – Georgie Thompson, sports journalist 3 October – Shazia Mirza, comedian 3 December – Jennifer James, actress 23 December – Matt Baker, presenter Rachel Jupp, BBC News & Current Affairs Diector Deaths 25 February – Patricia Haines, 45, actress 29 August – Edward Sinclair, 63, actor (verger Maurice Yeatman in Dad's Army) See also 1977 in British music 1977 in British radio 1977 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1977 References External links List of 1977 British television series at IMDb 1977