1998 in British television

none April 2014 April 2014 1998 British television This is a list of British television related events from 1998. Events January 1 January – The network television premiere on BBC One of Robert Zemekis's 1994 blockbuster film Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/429229abeba24b58b5da881b39d4ff52 https://web.archive.org/web/20141018010657/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/429229abeba24b58b5da881b39d4ff52 dead 18 October 2014 Forrest Gump – BBC One London – 1 January 1998 BBC Genome BBC 18 December 1997 3855 178 26 October 2016 3 January The BBC pulls an edition of Noel's House Party at the last minute following a disagreement between Noel Edmonds and the BBC over the quality of the programme and a reduction of its budget. A compilation show from the previous series is repeated in its place. The US supernatural series Buffy the Vampire Slayer makes its UK debut on Sky One; it stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular character. 6 January – The BBC and ITV agree their scheduling arrangements for the 1998 World Cup, which will see both England and Scotland's opening matches airing on BBC One, while each nation's second group match will air on ITV.https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-bbc-and-itv-agree-world-cup-television-schedule-1137304.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-bbc-and-itv-agree-world-cup-television-schedule-1137304.html 1 May 2022 subscription live BBC and ITV agree World Cup television schedule Independent Print Limited The Independent 7 January 1998 22 April 2015 7 January – The BBC confirms that Helen Rollason will return to television to present weekend sports bulletins for BBC One and BBC Two following treatment for colon cancer.Paul McCann https://www.independent.co.uk/news/bbc-presenter-defies-cancer-for-comeback-1137169.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/bbc-presenter-defies-cancer-for-comeback-1137169.html 1 May 2022 subscription live BBC presenter defies cancer for comeback Independent Print Limited The Independent 7 January 1998 2 May 2015 8 January ITV airs the docudrama Miracle at Sea: The Rescue of Tony Bullimore which reconstructs the events of yachtsman Tony Bullimore's dramatic rescue after his boat capsized during the 1996 Vendée Globe yacht race.Chris Maume https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/sport-on-tv-bullimore-plays-himself-as-nightmare-scenario-sees-bruce-w-illis-meet-the-x-files-1137813.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/sport-on-tv-bullimore-plays-himself-as-nightmare-scenario-sees-bruce-w-illis-meet-the-x-files-1137813.html 1 May 2022 subscription live Sport on TV: Bullimore plays himself as nightmare scenario sees Bruce Willis meet The X Files Independent Print Limited The Independent 10 January 1998 19 April 2015 The US sitcom Veronica's Closet makes its UK debut on Sky One; it stars Kirstie Alley. 9 January Michael Parkinson returns to television with a new series of Parkinson on BBC One.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Parky+-+let+me+at+Blair.-a061054015 Parky – let me at Blair Trinity Mirror The Mirror 30 December 1997 5 May 2014 Guests on the first edition are Sir Anthony Hopkins, Barry Manilow and Paul Merton.Reade Brian http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+could+never+survive+without+Mary%3B+At+62,+Parky+is+back+in+the+chat...-a060710789 I could never survive without Mary; At 62, Parky is back in the chat show hot seat next week: Brian Reade finds out what makes him run Trinity Mirror The Mirror 3 January 1998 5 May 2014 Channel 5 signs a deal with Buena Vista Entertainment to air some of its films. This will include the network television premiere of The Rock, starring Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery. 12 January Location filming begins for a one-off episode of the Australian soap Home and Away set in Ironbridge, Shropshire.Australian soap – English water http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Australian+soap+-+English+water.-a060850871 Birmingham Post Trinity Mirror 15 April 2014 10 January 1998 This is the first time the soap has filmed an episode overseas.More away than home for TV soap star bride Selina http://www.thefreelibrary.com/More+away+than+home+for+TV+soap+star+bride+Selina.-a060847938 Birmingham Post Trinity Mirror 15 April 2014 13 January 1998 The storyline, which will air later in the year, sees Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) arrive in the UK to help Selina Roberts (Tempany Deckert), who is recovering from a bout of malaria. Selina is also reunited with her on screen fiancé, Steven Matheson (Adam Willits).Everton Denise Television http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=age&kw=Tempany+Deckert&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news980331_0273_2561 Illawarra Mercury Fairfax Media 15 April 2014 30 March 1998 The 1996 UTV logos are supplemented with a set of idents featuring people playing the UTV jingle on various musical instruments.https://identcentral.co.uk/idents/itv/itv-regions/ulster-television/utv-idents-and-presentation/utv-1993-2000/utv-idents-1993-2000/ Ident Central: UTV Idents 1993–2000 17 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215858/https://identcentral.co.uk/idents/itv/itv-regions/ulster-television/utv-idents-and-presentation/utv-1993-2000/utv-idents-1993-2000/ 15 February 2019 dead Debut on BBC Two of the comedy sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, starring Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Kulvinder Ghir and Nina Wadia. 13 January – Debut of the docusoap The Cruise on BBC One. 14 January Channel 4 airs the 2000th episode of its long-running soap Brookside.http://www.brooksidesoapbox.co.uk/guide_50.htm Brookside guide-50 Brooksidesoapbox.co.uk 2018-01-13 1 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200901011054/http://www.brooksidesoapbox.co.uk/guide_50.htm dead Debut of ITV Nightscreen, which is shown during the early hours of the morning. 17 January – Media sources report the arrival of a new EastEnders family, the Di Marcos, who will make their first appearance later in the month and set up an Italian restaurant in Albert Square.Thomas Quinn https://www.thefreelibrary.com/ALBERTO+SQUARE%3B+Wild+child+to+hit+EastEnders.-a060606437 Alberto Square; Wild child to hit EastEnders Daily Record Trinity Mirror 17 January 1998 26 October 2016 The majority of the family are written out of the soap two years later.Sharon Marshall https://www.thefreelibrary.com/EASTENDERS'+ROSA%3A+I'M+GUTTED+BY+SACK.-a061192988 EastEnders' Rosa: I'm Gutted by Sack The People Trinity Mirror 2 April 2000 26 October 2016 21 January – The former Conservative MP Rupert Allason loses a libel action against BBC Worldwide and Hat Trick Productions over comments made in a 1996 book based on the satirical series Have I Got News for You. A paragraph in Have I Got 1997 for You had noted "...given Mr Allason's fondness for pursuing libel actions, there are also excellent legal reasons for not referring to him as a conniving little shit".https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/49430.stm Ex-Tory MP loses libel action BBC News 21 January 1998 2 May 2013 24 January – ITV airs the first episode of Ice Warriors, a spin-off from Gladiators, but the series is not a success and is axed after nine episodes with the last one airing on 21 March. 25–26 January – Channel 4's coverage of American football comes to an end with its broadcast of the 1998 Super Bowl.http://indexc447.html/?page_id=1259 Part Two (1992–2002): "I Didn't Get Off Massively on Saint and Greavsie" : Off The Telly 23 January 2019May 2020 InternetArchiveBot yes 26 January – Hayley Patterson, British soap's first transgender character, is first seen in Coronation Street. Hayley, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, is a regular in the series for sixteen years and helps to change public attitudes towards transgender issues. The character is killed off in a dramatic and emotional right to die storyline in January 2014 after Hesmondhalgh decides to leave the show.Stuart Jeffries https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/jan/17/julie-esmondhalgh-assisted-suicide-coronation-street-hayley-cropper Coronation Street and the right to die: why Hayley Cropper's story matters The Guardian 17 January 2014 27 April 2014Hesmondhalgh Julie http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-01-20/coronation-streets-julie-hesmondhalgh-why-hayley-had-to-die Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh on why Hayley had to die Radio Times 20 January 2014 27 April 2014 25 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201125055735/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-01-20/coronation-streets-julie-hesmondhalgh-why-hayley-had-to-die/ dead 30 January – The Weather Channel closes in the UK after fewer than 18 months on the air, owing to low viewership. Rival weather station The Weather Network also closes its UK operation around the same time. February 4 February – Debut of The Pepsi Chart Show on Channel 5. Initially presented by Rhona Mitra and Eddy Temple-Morris, the show is intended as a stablemate to the Pepsi Chart that airs across commercial radio. It becomes one of the channel's most watched programmes, but has difficulty attracting some of the bigger acts of the day. 7–22 February – The BBC provides coverage of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games from Japan. Due to the time difference, live coverage is limited with little action shown, especially during the second week of the Games. 8 February – Debut on ITV of My Kind of Music, hosted by Michael Barrymore. 15 February – The final Screen One drama is broadcast on BBC One with Our Boy, starring Pauline Quirke and Ray Winstone. 16 February Teletubbies begins airing in Australia on ABC. The game show Wipeout is relaunched as a daytime series on BBC One with Bob Monkhouse succeeding Paul Daniels as host. 17 February – The Central discussion series Central Weekend is criticised by the Independent Television Commission after an elderly couple complained about an item on the show's 9 January edition that included a discussion about the size of male genitalia.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Watchdog+warns+Central+over+'crude+and+disgusting'+show.-a060791429 Watchdog warns Central over 'crude and disgusting' show Trinity Mirror The Birmingham Post 17 February 1998 6 May 2014 20 February – Debut on BBC Two of Robot Wars, presented by Jeremy Clarkson and later Craig Charles.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/29f3db9f6e1b417eb7ef2e6193dc113d https://web.archive.org/web/20181114061211/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/29f3db9f6e1b417eb7ef2e6193dc113d dead 14 November 2018 Robot Wars – BBC Two England – 20 February 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 12 February 1998 3862 108 13 November 2018 27 February – Castle Transmission International is confirmed as the supplier of the BBC's Digital Terrestrial Television Service and says it will invest £100 million in broadcast capacity.Peter Thal Larsen https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/flextech-close-to-bskyb-supply-deal-1147438.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/flextech-close-to-bskyb-supply-deal-1147438.html 1 May 2022 subscription Flextech close to BSkyB supply deal Independent Print Limited The Independent 28 February 1998 21 November 2018 February – CNBC Europe merges with European Business News, upon which the channel is officially known as "CNBC Europe – A Service of NBC and Dow Jones". February – Middlesbrough Football Club launches Boro TV, and becomes the first football club in the world to launch their own dedicated TV channel. March 1 March – Positions for BBC Governors are advertised for the first time in the Sunday newspapers. 2 March – Channel 5 begins a rerun of the 1980s' Australian soap Sons and Daughters. This is the series first networked broadcast as its previous run on ITV had varied from region to region. 4 March – Kate Winslet, star of Titanic, appears as a guest on Celebrity Ready Steady Cook with former Casualty actor Gray O'Brien.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d9904b6a6cc74375b441d524e85fd70a https://web.archive.org/web/20170918023437/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d9904b6a6cc74375b441d524e85fd70a dead 18 September 2017 Celebrity Ready, Steady, Cook – BBC One London – 4 March 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 26 February 1998 3864 88 2018-01-13 6 March Debut on ITV of Airline, a brand new six-part fly-on-the-wall documentary series, produced by London Weekend Television narrated by Charlie Higson, that highlights the daily happenings of the passengers, ground workers and flight crew of Britannia Airways. From the second series, the show switches its attention to EasyJet. Central Weekend is briefly taken off the air when a member of the audience becomes aggressive during a discussion about women's football.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TV+debate+turns+into+punch-up.-a060660683 TV debate turns into punch-up Trinity Mirror Sunday Mirror 8 March 1998 6 May 2014 9 March – The name Tyne Tees Television is brought back to ITV viewers in the North East of England, having been rebranded as Channel 3 North East two years earlier. 14 March – Debut of the Saturday morning children's series Diggit on ITV. 15 March – ITV airs a special one-off edition of Sunday Night at the London Palladium to celebrate Bruce Forsyth's 70th birthday. It includes appearances by Diana Ross and Joe Longthorne.Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1998) https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b811623db dead https://web.archive.org/web/20170821010116/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b811623db 21 August 2017 BFI 16 March – Teletubbies goes on the air in New Zealand on TV3. 19 March – The BBC signs a deal with Discovery Communications that will allow the two to collaborate on the production of nature programming. 20 March – The 9:25am slot on ITV that has typically been used to broadcast gameshows since 1987 is used for that genre for the final time, with the talk show Vanessa set to take over the slot from the following week. On the same morning, the final edition of The Time, The Place is aired on ITV after just over a decade. 21 March – BBC Two airs Richard Eyre's film version of his Royal National Theatre production of King Lear, starring Ian Holm in the eponymous role, as well as Barbara Flynn, Amanda Redman and Victoria Hamilton as Lear's daughters.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f93f1b3f99264e39bba0210f7f38f7d0 https://web.archive.org/web/20181117234033/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f93f1b3f99264e39bba0210f7f38f7d0 dead 17 November 2018 Performance: King Lear – BBC Two England – 21 March 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 19 March 1998 3867 66 17 November 2018 28 March The US adult animated series South Park makes its UK debut on Sky One. Debut on BBC One of the National Lottery game show Big Ticket, presented by Anthea Turner and Patrick Kielty, which is the first British game show to offer a six figure cash prize with a jackpot of £100,000. Despite much publicity for the series, it is not a success and its final episode airs on 11 July. 29 March BBC America launches in the US. An episode of Coronation Street, in which the character Deirdre Rachid is jailed for mortgage and credit card fraud, is watched by 16.5 million viewers, giving the soap its highest Sunday viewing figures since the weekend episode was added in 1996. The crimes having been committed by her lover, Jon Lindsay, Deirdre's wrongful conviction sparks a public outcry. Her case is championed by national newspapers and even Prime Minister Tony Blair offers to refer the conviction to Home Secretary Jack Straw.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/71934.stm PM supports Weatherfield One BBC BBC News 31 March 1998 23 March 2014https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/71798.stm 'Street' plot outrages fans BBC BBC News 31 March 1998 23 March 2014 31 March – CMT Europe ceases broadcasting. April 1 April – Episode 2965 of Neighbours airs on BBC One; it sees Anne Haddy make her final appearance as matriarch Helen Daniels, the character having been killed off. The episode aired in Australia on 17 October 1997.http://www.neighboursepisodes.com/index.php?year=1997&episode=2965 Neighbours Episode 2965 from 1997 NeighboursEpisodes.com 2018-01-13 Haddy, the soap's longest serving cast member at the time of her departure, dies herself in June 1999.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/362967.stm Entertainment | Neighbours star Haddy dies BBC News 1999-06-07 2018-01-13 3 April – The Children's Channel ceases broadcasting in the UK after 14 years. 4 April – After just nine shows, Ice Warriors is axed by ITV owing to poor ratings and the show itself is not recommissioned for a second series. 6 April Cable and Wireless viewers see the Nordic version of The Children's Channel due to a pre-agreed contract signed some years before to air The Children's Channel in Scandinavia. Flextech creates an advertisement-free version known as TCC Nordic to fulfil this requirement. Teletubbies starts airing in the US on PBS as part of the PTV Park block. 8 April – The military science-fiction series Stargate SG-1 makes its debut on Sky One, beginning with a special two-hour pilot episode. 10 April Progress in Northern Ireland after overnight talks as the final draft of a Good Friday Agreement is almost ready for signature. At about 5:30pm, BBC Two drops its scheduled programmes in the late afternoon to cover developments picking up in the middle of a joint press conference at Castle Buildings in Stormont Estate by the Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern. After 13 years with EastEnders, Gillian Taylforth makes her final regular appearance as Kathy Beale with the show airing a one-hour special to coincide with her departure.Sue Mallins https://www.thefreelibrary.com/My+family+is+far+more+important+than+fame%3B+For+13+years+a+nation+has...-a060681143 My family is far more important than fame Trinity Mirror The Mirror 4 April 1998 20 June 2021 BBC One airs a two-part adaptation of the 1994 Minette Walters crime novel The Scold's Bridle, starring Miranda Richardson, Siân Phillips, Virginia McKenna and Trudie Styler. The second part is aired on 11 April. 12 April – Debut on Channel 4 of the engineering competition Scrapheap Challenge, presented by Robert Llewellyn. 13 April – Channel 4 premieres the 1994 animated film The Pagemaster starring Macaulay Culkin, Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Stewart & Whoopi Goldberg. 16 April – CITV is scheduled to air the tenth episode of ReBoots third series. However, the episode is not broadcast and Timmy Towers is shown instead. 17 April – Coronation Street character Deirdre Rachid is freed from prison after her lover Jon Lindsay is exposed as a bigamist. Four separate tabloid newspapers subsequently claim victory in securing her release, but the soap's producers say they always planned for the jail storyline to conclude after three weeks. 21 April – Magdalen College, Oxford wins the 1997–98 series of University Challenge on BBC Two, beating Birkbeck, University of London 225–195. 27 April ITV airs the final episode of the children's programme Tots TV. Kevin Lloyd, who has played Tosh Lines in The Bill since 1988, is dismissed from the role by ITV owing to his alcoholism. He dies at the age of 49 within a week.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/87266.stm Axed TV star Tosh dies BBC News 4 May 1998 2012-07-07 28 April – Debut of Open House with Gloria Hunniford on Channel 5. April – The cable and satellite channel TV Travel Shop launches. May 1 May – The four individual segments of Granada Good Life are merged into a single channel and relaunched as Granada Breeze. 2 May – The US teen drama series Dawson's Creek makes its UK debut on Channel 4. 3 May – Sky One airs the 200th episode of The Simpsons, featuring the Irish rock band U2. 9 May – The 43rd Eurovision Song Contest is held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. The contest is presented by Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson, and won by Israel's Dana International singing "Diva". 15 May – ITV announces that ITV2, a new digital terrestrial channel scheduled for launch later in the year, will be aimed at a younger and lighter audience, with an emphasis on male viewers.Claire Beale http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/23894/ ITV2 to target a young audience Campaign Live 15 May 1998 22 April 2015 16 May – Debut on ITV of the stunts and dares series Don't Try This at Home!, presented by Darren Day and Davina McCall, with Paul Hendy and Kate Thornton in supporting roles. 18 May – The British Academy Television Awards are awarded in a separate ceremony to the British Academy Film Awards for the first time. 20 May – BBC One airs Episode 3000 of Neighbours.http://www.neighboursepisodes.com/index.php?year=1998&episode=3000 Neighbours Episode 3000 from 1998 - NeighboursEpisodes.com www.neighboursepisodes.com 7 October 2018 25 May – Labour MP George Galloway demands an investigation into an edition of Panorama aired on 21 May, which he describes as "racist". The edition had focused on two British nurses accused of the murder of Yvonne Gilford, a colleague with whom they worked in Saudi Arabia, and included a reconstruction of the two women being interrogated by Saudi Police. Galloway, himself accused of racismGeorge Galloway accused of racism after walking out of Middle East debate at Oxford https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/i-don-t-debate-with-israelis-george-galloway-accused-of-racism-after-walking-out-of-middle-east-debate-at-oxford-8505232.html 20 March 2024 The Independent and antisemitism,George Galloway sacked by talkRADIO over allegedly anti-Semitic tweet https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48498010 20 March 2024 BBC describes the programme as "tabloid television at its worst".https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/100356.stm MP hits at 'racist' Panorama BBC BBC News 25 May 1998 22 June 2014 26 May – CITV is relaunched with a new logo as well as the revival of in-vision continuity, introducing Stephen Mulhern and Danielle Nicholls as regular presenters. 28 May – Channel 4 is censured by the Broadcasting Standards Commission for an episode of the series TV Dinners in which a woman's afterbirth was served up to friends and relatives as pâté. Several viewers, including MP Kevin McNamara, complained about the programme, shown in February, which the Commission deemed had broken a taboo and "would have been disagreeable to many".https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/101944.stm Channel 4 rapped for serving placenta BBC BBC News 28 May 1998 2 May 2014 30 May – BBC One airs The Bee Gees: One Night Only, a concert recorded in Las Vegas by them in 1997.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d7b2a7943ac942e999212a9db88c1716 https://web.archive.org/web/20170816022137/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d7b2a7943ac942e999212a9db88c1716 dead 16 August 2017 The Bee Gees: One Night Only – BBC One London – 30 May 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 28 May 1998 3877 68 2018-01-13 31 May – Sky Scottish closes after 19 months on the air, having failed to meet its financial targets.Scots Sky Shuts The Times 1998-04-08 Times Newspapers Limited June 1 June – Wheel of Fortune returns to ITV for its tenth series in which John Leslie takes over as host from Bradley Walsh. 3 June The Big Breakfast presenter Denise van Outen apologises for taking an ashtray and tissue box holder from Buckingham Palace. She took the items while attending a royal reception two days earlier, but returns them with a note of apology following criticism in the press.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/105905.stm 'We are not amused' with TV star BBC BBC News 3 June 1998 15 June 2014 The US comedy-drama series Ally McBeal makes its UK debut on Channel 4.David Aaronovitch https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/television-why-having-it-ally-doesnt-work-1163352.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/television-why-having-it-ally-doesnt-work-1163352.html 1 May 2022 subscription live Television: Why having it Ally doesn't work Independent Print Limited The Independent 7 June 1998 17 February 2019 5 June – The BBC signs a deal with BSkyB to make BBC channels available through Sky Digital when it is launched later in the year.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/107534.stm Sky is the limit for BBC BBC BBC News 5 June 1998 21 April 2014 7 June – To mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Russell Harty, BBC Two airs You Are, Are You Not, Russell Harty?, a documentary paying tribute to the chat show presenter.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2149f6a6560746ae97c41b4b00532910 https://web.archive.org/web/20170811225040/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2149f6a6560746ae97c41b4b00532910 dead 11 August 2017 You Are, Are You Not, Russell Harty? – BBC Two England – 7 June 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 4 June 1998 3878 84 2018-01-13 9 June Film critic and host of The Film Programme Barry Norman announces he will leave the BBC after 25 years to join BSkyB. He will leave Film 98 at the end of its current run and join Sky in September.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/106832.stm Barry Norman defects to Sky BBC BBC News 9 June 1998 31 March 2014 The Bill episode The People Person is aired as a tribute to Kevin Lloyd, who died on 2 May. 10 June – The BBC switches on its digital signal, doing so to coincide with the start of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The technology will be showcased at a number of public venues over the Summer before the launch of the BBC's first digital television channel, BBC Choice, in the Autumn.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/110692.stm BBC World Cup coverage kicks off digital TV revolution BBC BBC News 11 June 1998 3 May 2019 10 June–12 July – The BBC and ITV show live coverage of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. 11 June – Blue Peter presenters Katy Hill and Richard Bacon bury a time capsule containing various items associated with the show in the foundations of the Millennium Dome. It will be opened in 2050.https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/bluepeter/stuartkatyromanarichard/trivia.shtml I Love Blue Peter – Trivia about Stuart Miles, Katy Hill, Romana D'Annunzio and Richard Bacon BBC 15 April 2015 13 June Jason Searle wins the ninth series of Stars in Their Eyes on ITV, performing as Neil Diamond.Catchpole Charlie http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Oh+Bruvver!+It's+that+Grunt+Mitchell+again.-a060674184 Oh Bruvver! It's that Grunt Mitchell again Trinity Mirror The Mirror 16 June 1998 27 April 2014 Channel 4 airs the documentary The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist, written and presented by film critic Mark Kermode. At the time of its broadcast, the film is still banned on video by the British Board of Film Classification in the UK. 15 June – Debut on Channel 4 of Watercolour Challenge, presented by Hannah Gordon. 21 June – The final Screen Two broadcast takes place. The strand ends after 13 years as the BBC moves its attentions away from single dramas to focus production on series and serials. 25 June – The final episode of BBC One's The Human Body is the first British television programme to show the final moments of a cancer patient. 63-year-old Herbert Mower, who died the previous year, had given permission for his death to be recorded for the series.David Aaronovitch https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/tv-review-how-herbie-died-for-all-of-us-1168089.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/tv-review-how-herbie-died-for-all-of-us-1168089.html 1 May 2022 subscription live TV Review: How Herbie died for all of us Independent Print Limited The Independent 28 June 1998 12 April 2014 26 June – Launch of the music channel Kiss TV. July 1 July Flextech and UKTV have signed a deal with BSkyB that will see their channels carried on BSkyB's new digital satellite service when it is launched.https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/flextech-uktv-sign-deal-bskyb/40696 Flextech and UKTV sign deal with BSkyB Campaign Live 1 July 1998 21 November 2018 BBC One shows highlights of the Diana, Princess of Wales Tribute Concert, held at Althorp Park on 27 June.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/121635.stm Entertainment | Thousands in party tribute to Diana BBC News 1998-06-28 2018-01-13http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7af2f98757c94ed28a25bca850b50b45 https://web.archive.org/web/20170814024423/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7af2f98757c94ed28a25bca850b50b45 dead 14 August 2017 Diana, Princess of Wales Tribute Concert – BBC One London – 1 July 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 25 June 1998 3881 100 2018-01-13 3 July – The chat show So Graham Norton makes its debut on Channel 4.James Rampton https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/interview-graham-norton-father-teds-legacy-1166086.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/interview-graham-norton-father-teds-legacy-1166086.html 1 May 2022 subscription live Interview: Graham Norton: Father Ted's legacy Independent News and Media The Independent 20 June 1998 27 April 2015 10 July BBC Chairman Sir Christopher Bland officially opens the BBC News Centre. BBC One airs the first of three bitesize episodes of EastEnders to coincide with the 1998 World Cup Final; they see some characters travelling to Paris for the final. Subsequent episodes are aired on 11 and 12 July.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4b6139aa92f44cd4a1d96cf1d4694e27 https://web.archive.org/web/20161023071249/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4b6139aa92f44cd4a1d96cf1d4694e27 dead 23 October 2016 EastEnders – BBC One London – 10 July 1998 BBC Genome BBC 2 July 1998 3882 98 26 October 2016http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a8585bc963b946afb6a472e009534a2f https://web.archive.org/web/20150408122558/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a8585bc963b946afb6a472e009534a2f dead 8 April 2015 EastEnders – BBC One London – 11 July 1998 BBC Genome BBC 9 July 1998 3883 62 26 October 2016http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/21002d384365493e90200797a1e27996 https://web.archive.org/web/20161023064221/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/21002d384365493e90200797a1e27996 dead 23 October 2016 World Cup 98 Final – BBC One London – 12 July 1998 BBC Genome BBC 9 July 1998 3883 68 26 October 2016 The US animated series South Park makes its UK terrestrial debut on Channel 4. 28 July British Digital Broadcasting rebrand as ONdigital.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/140880.stm UK | Digital turn on for ONdigital BBC News 1998-07-28 2018-01-13 Debut on BBC One of the police detective series Maisie Raine, starring Pauline Quirke as the titular character. 29 July – The final edition of Telly Addicts is broadcast on BBC One after 13 years; it is axed due to falling ratings. August 10 August Test runs begin for the impending launch of Sky Sports News.Kelly Cates speaks about being a part of the very first broadcast 25 Years of Sky Sports News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg0dbVbPOKk 2023-10-05 en The Independent Television Commission upholds a viewer's complaint after a member of the Irish girl group B*Witched used the phrase "feck off" during a live interview on children's channel Nickelodeon on 13 May.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/148466.stm B*Witched star's four-letter TV outburst BBC BBC News 10 August 1998 4 December 2013 12 August – BBC Two announces plans for an evening of programmes dedicated to the Helen Fielding novel Bridget Jones's Diary and issues raised in the book for later in the year.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/149915.stm An evening with Bridget Jones BBC BBC News 12 August 1998 9 June 2018 15 August – On the first day of the 1998–99 football season, the first edition of an afternoon-long continuous football news, scores and results programme Soccer Saturday is broadcast on Sky Sports. It replaces Sports Saturday which had featured action from a variety of different sports and had only focussed on football from around 4.30pm. 19 August – It is reported that talk show host Vanessa Feltz has been sacked by Anglia because of her "unreal" demands to have her wages doubled to £2.75 million.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/154374.stm Vanessa fired for pay demand BBC BBC News 19 August 1998 28 June 2014 24 August – Channel 5 is reprimanded by the Independent Television Commission for showing an advert during its soap Family Affairs after both featured the same actor. The advert for McDonald's, aired on 18 May, featured actor Stephen Hoyle, who plays Liam Tripp in the series. The ITC has strict rules governing the separation of television programmes and adverts and after two viewers complained about the incident rules that Channel 5 had breached its regulations.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TV+soap+star+appeared+in+ad+and+show.-a060770450 TV soap star appeared in ad and show Birmingham Post Trinity Mirror 24 August 1998 28 April 2014 27 August – Vanessa Feltz signs an exclusive two-year contract with the BBC.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/159625.stm Vanessa's dream comes true BBC BBC News 27 August 1998 28 June 2014 28 August – The satellite channel Bravo launches The Doll's House, an online series enabling internet users to observe the lives of four women living in a house in London. The women have been selected from 250 applicants to live rent free in the house for six months with weekly highlights of their activities being aired on the channel's men's magazine The Basement. The project, inspired by JenniCam, a US site established by Jennifer Ringley, follows an experiment by Bravo earlier in the year where cameras chronicled the life of actress Sara West over three months.Ward Amanda http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Very+Candid+Camera%3B+FOUR+GIRLS+TO+LIVE+LIFE+ON+THE+WEB.-a060666035 Very Candid Camera; Four girls to live life on the web The Mirror Trinity Mirror 27 August 1998 31 March 2014Vanessa Thorpe https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/network-every-move-you-make-ill-be-watching-1175235.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/network-every-move-you-make-ill-be-watching-1175235.html 1 May 2022 subscription live Network: Every move you make, I'll be watching Independent Print Limited The Independent 31 August 1998 31 March 2014 The Doll's House later attracts some media attention after one of the housemates sleeps with a male partner, unaware they are both on camera at the time.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Net%3B+Clinton+and+a+Web+of+deceit.-a060559119 The Net; Clinton and a Web of deceit Bob Low Daily Record Trinity Mirror 18 September 1998 16 April 2014 29 August SMTV Live makes its debut as ITV's Saturday morning children's programme. Hosted by Ant & Dec alongside Cat Deeley, it replaces Scratchy & Co The music series CD:UK makes its debut on ITV; it airs immediately after SMTV Live and is also presented by Ant & Dec with Cat Deeley. ITV airs the pilot episode of the talent show Give Your Mate a Break, hosted by John Leslie. August – The BBC's domestic television channels become available on Sky Digital's satellite service. An unintended consequence of this is that people in the rest of Europe can now watch BBC One and Two using viewing cards from the UK (as the signal is encrypted). This applies even within the UK: people in England can now watch BBC channels from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and vice versa. September 1 September Dale's Supermarket Sweep returns to ITV for its sixth series, now airing in an afternoon slot following ITV's decision to abolish the 9:25am gameshow slot earlier in the year. Channel 4 pulls a documentary from the following day's schedule after learning that it was faked. Daddy's Girl tells the story of aspiring model Victoria and her father, Marcus, who speaks candidly of his feelings about his daughter's career, but father and daughter are revealed to be boyfriend and girlfriend when Victoria's real father contacts Channel 4 after seeing a trailer for the documentary.Jane Robins https://www.independent.co.uk/news/phoney-father-hoodwinks-channel-4-filmmakers-1195437.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/phoney-father-hoodwinks-channel-4-filmmakers-1195437.html 1 May 2022 subscription Phoney father hoodwinks Channel 4 film-makers Independent Print Limited The Independent 2 September 1998 22 April 2015 4 September The big-money game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? makes its debut on ITV; it is presented by Chris Tarrant.Neil Midgley https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10596029/Why-well-miss-Who-Wants-to-Be-a-Millionaire.html Why we'll miss Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? The Daily Telegraph 28 January 2014 19 April 2015 Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley replaces Jeremy Beadle as the presenter of You've Been Framed! on ITV. Channel One announces the closure of its channels in London and Bristol and the sale of its sole operation in Liverpool.https://variety.com/1998/tv/news/channel-one-unplugs-2-sites-1117480156/ Channel One unplugs 2 sites Erich Boehm September 4, 1998 Variety 5 September The football magazine series On the Ball makes its debut on ITV; it is presented by Gabby Yorath.Francis Pam http://www.thefreelibrary.com/WHY+I'LL+NEVER+DATE+A+FOOTBALLER%3B+GABBY+YORATH+IS+ITV'S+NEW+FACE+OF...-a060648304 Why I'll Never Date A Footballer; Gabby Yorath Is Itv'S New Face Of Football. Here She Tells For The First Time How She Owes It All To Her Father...And Why She'S Decided To Ignore The Players' Pitches Trinity Mirror Sunday Mirror 9 August 1998 6 May 2014 Debut on ITV of The Moment of Truth, a game show presented by Cilla Black, in which families or groups of friends can win prizes if one of their members is able to complete a difficult task, such as getting 24 tiddlywinks into a pot in under two minutes or memorising then playing the US national anthem on a xylophone.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/No+fears+for+Cilla+as+her+Moment+of+Truth+arrives.-a060556012 No fears for Cilla as her Moment of Truth arrives Daily Record Trinity Mirror 5 September 1998 18 May 2014http://www.thefreelibrary.com/IT'S+A+SILLY+BLACK!%3B+Game+show+family+give+Cilla+the+runaround.-a060751610 It's a silly Black!; Game show family give Cilla the runaround Sunday Mail Trinity Mirror 18 October 1998 18 May 2014http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cilla+gets+to+truth+of+the+matter%3B+Cilla's+Moment+Of+Truth%3A+Granada,...-a078107847 Cilla gets to truth of the matter; Cilla's Moment Of Truth: Granada, 6pm Liverpool Echo Trinity Mirror 8 September 2001 18 May 2014 The show achieves audiences of nine million, but is criticised as being cruel because children are shown the prizes even though they could lose and are visibly distressed when their family loses. Black herself later admits she was not "emotionally prepared" for the reaction of losing contestants and the rules are changed to allow larger consolation prizes for the second series.O'Carroll Lisa http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cilla%3A+My+new+show+upset+me.-a060614341 Cilla: My new show upset me The Mirror Trinity Mirror 19 November 1998 18 May 2014 9 September Manchester United F.C. informs the London Stock Exchange that it has accepted a £623.4 million takeover bid by Rupert Murdoch's British Sky Broadcasting.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/167564.stm United accepts Ł623m BSkyB bid BBC BBC News 9 September 1998 3 May 2015 The network television premiere in ITV of Batman Forever, starring Val Kilmer, Chris O'Donnell, Nicole Kidman, Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey. 10 September – Sky Movies Screen 1, Sky Movies Screen 2 and Sky Movies Gold have their names changed to Sky Premier, Sky MovieMax and Sky Cinema ahead of the launch of digital television. 12 September – London's Burning returns to ITV for its eleventh series with a new set of opening and closing credits. 14 September Data released by the National Grid indicates that a special edition of EastEnders which aired the previous evening beat ITV's Sunday edition of Coronation Street. Power surges recorded as the soaps ended suggest three times as many viewers tuned into EastEnders over Coronation Street.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/170936.stm EastEnders surges ahead in soap showdown BBC BBC News 14 September 1998 4 April 2014 Debut of the popular sitcom The Royle Family on BBC Two, later on BBC One; it stars Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Caroline Aherne, Ralf Little, Craig Cash and Liz Smith and is written by Aherne and Cash. 17 September – ITV's This Morning conducts the first live test of the anti-impotence drug Viagra.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/173241.stm Viagra gets an airing BBC BBC News 17 September 1998 19 April 2015 18 September – In an attempt to attract more viewers to its soap Family Affairs, Channel 5 announces that its entire central cast, the Hart family, will be killed off in a dramatic storyline.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/174529.stm The axeman cometh for C5 family BBC BBC News 18 September 1998 31 March 2014 19 September – BBC Two airs a special Bee Gees edition of TOTP2.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8fd10783c64d4921b56beb0c13088e93 https://web.archive.org/web/20181031054606/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8fd10783c64d4921b56beb0c13088e93 dead 31 October 2018 TOTP2 – BBC Two England – 19 September 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 17 September 1998 3893 67 30 October 2018 21 September The long-running BBC soap EastEnders is sold to television stations in Ireland for the first time despite airing in Northern Ireland at the same time as its first broadcast in the rest of the UK. The first Irish television network to air the series is the newly launched commercial free-to-air channel TV3. Debut on ITV of the talk show Trisha, presented by Trisha Goddard. 23 September BBC Choice, the UK's first digital-only television channel, launches.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/174535.stm BBC unveils digital TV BBC BBC News 21 September 1998 14 May 2014 BBC Parliament launches on digital satellite and analogue cable. It replaces the cable-only Parliamentary Channel.http://thetvroom.com/bbc-uk/bbc-parliament-01-01.html https://archive.today/20130204064725/http://thetvroom.com/bbc-uk/bbc-parliament-01-01.html dead 4 February 2013 BBC Parliament • September 1998 – October 2002 Thetvroom.com 15 April 2015 The BBC warns Blue Peter viewers to ignore a hoax chain letter claiming to be supported by the show.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/178754.stm Blue Peter letter warning BBC BBC News 24 September 1998 15 April 2015 ITV's Autumn schedule will include what is reported to be the most expensive costume drama the broadcaster has ever made, being the seafaring adventure Hornblower, which will cost £3 million an episode to produce.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/177771.stm Entertainment | Costume battle goes to sea BBC BBC News 23 September 1998 30 April 2015 25 September – After less than four years on air, the Channel One channels in London and Bristol/Bath close.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3512ujFzCY The last hour of Channel One London (25th September 1998) October 2, 2017 YouTube 28 September – Three police officers are awarded substantial libel damages against Granada at the High Court after the broadcast of an April 1992 edition of World in Action, which accused them of fabricating evidence against a prisoner charged with the murder of his cellmate.Gordon Cathy Taylor Mike http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Granada+pays+pounds+2m+for+TV+libel%3B+World+in+Action+apologises+to...-a061435787 Granada pays pounds 2m for TV libel; World in Action apologises to police The Birmingham Post Trinity Mirror 29 September 1998 14 May 2014 29 September – Former Spandau Ballet guitarist turned actor Martin Kemp is to join the cast of EastEnders as a nightclub owner, it is confirmed.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/182570.stm Spandau star Kemp becomes an EastEnder BBC BBC News 29 September 1998 26 May 2014 October 1 October Digital satellite television launches in the UK, operated by Sky Digital. This also sees the start of UK channels transmitting in 16:9 widescreen. Sky Sports News is fully launched.Lee Jeremy http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/1022395/jeremy-lee-media-sporting-chance Jeremy Lee on Media: Sporting chance Marketing Magazine 17 August 2010 18 May 2014 2 October – UK Gold Classics launches. On air as a part-time channel, broadcast from Friday to Sunday on Sky Digital from 6pm to 2am, the spin-off from UK Gold airs a number of early shows, including some black-and-white programmes which had been acquired in the early years of the UK Gold service. It also airs some recent shows from the main channel, but its primary purpose is to broadcast older shows from the early years of UK Gold to complement the main channel which has begun to move towards showing newer programmes. 5 October ITV adopts a new set of idents and a new logo with lower case lettering themed around a heart design, a year after the BBC launched its new corporate logo.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/183681.stm ITV takes new look to heart BBC BBC News 30 September 1998 22 April 2015 Sky One begins simulcasting part of Virgin Radio's The Chris Evans Breakfast Show after they signed a three-year sponsorship deal with BSkyB. Under the agreement, Evans is not allowed to mention Virgin Radio while the programme is being simulcast with Sky.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/186644.stm Breakfast radio makes TV debut BBC BBC News 5 October 1998 9 February 2019McCann Paul https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/media-snap-crackle-pop-go-the-ratings-1046578.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/media-snap-crackle-pop-go-the-ratings-1046578.html 1 May 2022 subscription Snap, crackle, pop go the ratings Independent Print Limited The Independent 12 January 1999 9 February 2019 Sarah, Duchess of York makes her debut as a talk show host on Sky One with the first in a ten-part series titled Sarah... Surviving Life. Each week, she will interview guests who have been through traumatic experiences, discussing with them how they overcame their difficulties. Guests in the first episode include a woman who was raped by serial killer Fred West, a man who killed someone and a car crash survivor.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/186950.stm Fergie survives her first talk show BBC BBC News 5 October 1998 16 April 2014 The show, however, is panned by critics and axed in February 1999 because of poor viewing figures.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fergie+show+axed%3B+Sky+drops+TV+chat+series+watched+by+just+12,000.-a060392565 Fergie show axed; Sky drops TV chat series watched by just 12,000 Kevin O'Sullivan The Mirror Trinity Mirror 11 February 1998 16 April 2014 6 October – The BBC announces plans to revamp its news bulletins following an 18-month review of news programming, the largest ever undertaken in the UK. Changes will include a new look Six O'Clock News concentrating on national and regional stories and an increase in world news stories for the Nine O'Clock News.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/187462.stm New look for BBC News BBC BBC News 6 October 1998 7 May 2014 7 October – On today's edition of The Big Breakfast, Denise van Outen announces her intention to leave the series at the end of the year.Fulton Rick http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DENISE+VAN+OUT-EN%3B+Star+quits+Big+Breakfast+to+catch+up+on+sleep.-a060924540 Denise Van Out-en; Star quits Big Breakfast to catch up on sleep Trinity Mirror Daily Mirror 8 October 1998 15 June 2014Wright Matthew http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Denise+walks+Outen%3B+She+quits+Brekkie+on+air.-a060616051 Denise walks Outen; She quits Brekkie on air Trinity Mirror Daily Mirror 8 October 1998 15 June 2014 10 October BBC Two airs Blue Peter Night, a selection of programmes celebrating 40 years of the long-running children's series Blue Peter.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/190117.stm Here's one the BBC made 40 years earlier BBC BBC News 10 October 1998 15 April 2015 UK Play launches. Originally intended as a television version of BBC Radio 1, it shows music programming and videos during the day and comedy during the evening. It has no tie-up with Radio 1, however. 12 October – BBC One airs Divas Live, a concert from New York featuring Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan and Shania Twain.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a3b4349c2143492f87a23187c80e1f97 https://web.archive.org/web/20180925220135/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a3b4349c2143492f87a23187c80e1f97 dead 25 September 2018 Divas Live – BBC One London – 13 October 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 8 October 1998 3896 98 25 September 2018 13 October Debut of Delia's How to Cook on BBC Two, a basic cookery show presented by Delia Smith. The series is criticised by chef and restaurateur Gary Rhodes for its back-to-basics approach while the Devon Fire Brigade criticises a piece of advice she gives to people who wish to season a new frying pan to heat oil in it and leave it to simmer on a low heat for eight hours.Grant Clare http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Delia+Smith's+cooking+is+the+missionary+position+of+food%3B+EGON+JOINS...-a060617899 Delia Smith's cooking is the missionary position of food; Egon joins row over TV shows Trinity Mirror The Mirror 27 October 1998 27 April 2014 The network television premiere on ITV of John McTiernan's 1995 action thriller Die Hard with a Vengeance, starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Irons. 15 October – The BBC loses the broadcasting rights to test match cricket after the England and Wales Cricket Board accepts a rival £103 million four-year bid from Channel 4 and BSkyB. The decision brings to an end sixty years of continuous cricket coverage by the BBC.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/cricket/194168.stm Channel 4 wins rights to home Tests BBC BBC News 16 October 1998 12 April 2014 16 October A man who got drunk and ran amok on the set of Central Weekend during a debate on women's football in March, forcing the show to be taken off the air, is jailed for 12 months over the incident.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TV+debate+rowdie+is+jailed+for+one+year.-a060708998 TV debate rowdie is jailed for one year Trinity Mirror The Birmingham Post 17 October 1998 6 May 2014 Man jailed after live TV outburst The Daily Telegraph 17 October 1998 London Blue Peter celebrates its 40th anniversary with a special show featuring former presenters.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/194867.stm Return of an 'idiot called Noakes' BBC BBC News 16 October 1998 15 April 2015 The adventure game show Fort Boyard makes its debut on Channel 5; it is presented by Melinda Messenger with Leslie Grantham. 17 October – Noel's House Party returns to BBC One for its eighth series with a major revamp featuring a brand new set and new features. As part of the revamp, the character Mr Blobby is dropped from the show. 18 October – The network television premiere on Channel 4 of Martin Scorsese's 1995 epic gangster thriller Casino, starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone and James Woods. 19 October – Richard Bacon becomes the first ever Blue Peter presenter to have his contract terminated in mid-run after tabloid newspaper The News of the World publishes a report of him taking cocaine.https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/bluepeter/presenters/bacon.shtml Richard Bacon 16 February 2009 BBC Online https://web.archive.org/web/20090210200405/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/bluepeter/presenters/bacon.shtml 10 February 2009 live After his dismissal, the Head of BBC children's programmes, Lorraine Heggessey, goes on air to explain the situation to CBBC viewers. 25 October The T4 strand is launched on Channel 4, as a youth-oriented TV channel aimed for 16–24 year olds. ITV airs Goodnight Mister Tom, a feature-length adaptation based on the 1981 wartime novel of the same name by Michelle Magorian, directed by Jack Gold as his final film. The cast featured well-known stars including John Thaw. 26 October – Debut on BBC Two of Ads Infinitum after showing a pilot episode two years earlier.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b75f26924e754c0c995c03f3f8d6cef9 https://web.archive.org/web/20180924033812/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b75f26924e754c0c995c03f3f8d6cef9 dead 24 September 2018 Ads Infinitum – BBC Two England – 26 October 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 22 October 1998 3898 96 23 September 2018 27 October – As part of its Q.E.D. strand, BBC One airs Hope for Helen, a documentary following Helen Rollason's fight against terminal cancer. She had been diagnosed the previous year and given three months to live.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/QED+films+Helen's+cancer+nightmare.-a060629670 QED films Helen's cancer nightmare Trinity Mirror The Mirror 19 October 1998 10 April 2014http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/530745d4b34848ad981c326d20712e9f https://web.archive.org/web/20161024035734/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/530745d4b34848ad981c326d20712e9f dead 24 October 2016 Hope for Helen – BBC One London – 27 October 1998 BBC Genome BBC 22 October 1998 3898 102 26 October 2016 30 October – Debut on Channel 4 of the dating series Streetmate, presented by Davina McCall. 30–31 October – ITV broadcasts a special themed "Alien Invasion" night devoted to programmes with a mix of science-fiction and horror featuring some of the weirdest links that include Starship Bloopers as well as the quiz show Universe Challenge and John Carpenter's 1982 film version of The Thing, starring Kurt Russell. October – Cable and Wireless stops airing the Nordic version of The Children's Channel, thereby ending all UK broadcasts after more than 14 years. November 1 November S4C Digidol launches in Wales. Launch of FilmFour, a new subscription-based movie service from Channel 4.John Plunkett https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/feb/08/broadcasting.channel4 FilmFour relaunches as free-to-air service The Guardian 8 February 2006 19 April 2015 The opening night is simulcast on Channel 4.Conor Dignam http://www.marketing-magazine.co.uk/article/58345/agenda-films-pay-off-c4-channel-4-becomes-latest-entrant-digital-pay-tv-business-conor-dignam-examines-whether-venture-will-succeed-its-potential Can films pay off for C4? – As Channel 4 becomes the latest entrant in the digital pay-TV business, Conor Dignam examines whether the venture will succeed, and its potential impact on advertisers Marketing Magazine 15 October 1998 19 April 2015 The network television premiere on Channel 4 of Bryan Singer's 1995 American neo-noir mystery thriller The Usual Suspects, starring Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Pete Postlethwaite, Stephen Baldwin and Benicio del Toro. 9 November – Release of Voice of an Angel, the debut album from Charlotte Church, who was discovered after singing Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu" down the telephone on an edition of ITV's This Morning the previous year. She goes on to make appearances on Talking Telephone Numbers and The Big Big Talent Show, which help to launch her career.https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/charlotte-church/pages/biography.shtml Wales – Music – Charlotte Church – Biography BBC 2008-11-17 2018-01-13https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/03_march/16/over_the_rainbow5.shtml Press Office – Over The Rainbow press pack: Charlotte Church BBC 2014-09-24 2018-01-13 12 November – Debut on BBC One of the sitcom Dinnerladies, created, written by and starring Victoria Wood. 15 November Digital terrestrial television launches in the UK from 81 transmitters, operated by ONdigital.Peter Thal Larsen https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ondigital-line-up-and-launch-date-unveiled-1201238.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ondigital-line-up-and-launch-date-unveiled-1201238.html 1 May 2022 subscription live ONdigital line-up and launch date unveiled The Independent 2018-01-13 It changes its name to ITV Digital in July 2001 and goes into administration a year later.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1418601.stm ITV to relaunch as ITV1 BBC BBC News 2 July 2001 24 May 2014 Carlton launches three new channels, Carlton Cinema, Carlton Kids and Carlton World while Granada, in conjunction with Littlewoods launches the home-shopping channel Shop! After airing a pilot episode the previous year, the first full series of the comedy-drama Cold Feet begins on ITV. 18 November The British Egg Information Service reports that egg sales have increased by 10% since the debut of Delia Smith's BBC Two series Delia's How to Cook which teaches viewers basic cookery skills.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/216737.stm Delia's golden eggs BBC BBC News 18 November 1998 10 April 2014 The National Grid reports a surge in the use of electricity at 8pm as the Coronation Street episode featuring the death of the character Des Barnes, played by Philip Middlemiss, reaches its conclusion.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/217128.stm Electric ending for Street star BBC BBC News 18 November 1998 3 May 2015 19 November ITV is given permission to move its 10pm news bulletin by the Independent Television Commission, a decision that will allow the channel to axe News at Ten in early 1999. ITV wants to move the programme because of declining ratings and to make way for films and dramas to air uninterrupted in its evening schedule, but the plans have been criticised by senior journalists and politicians who fear it will lead to a reduction in the quality of evening television. Once the changes are implemented, ITV's main evening bulletin will air at 6:30pm, with a shorter news programme at 11pm.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/217917.stm ITV news flagship sunk BBC BBC News 19 November 1998 27 April 2014MacAskill Jamie http://www.thefreelibrary.com/And+finally,+the+News+at+Ten+is+bonged+out...%3B+Chiefs+win+battle+to...-a060934305 And finally, the News at Ten is bonged out...; Chiefs win battle to axe flagship show Daily Record Trinity Mirror 20 November 1998 27 April 2014 Members of the National Assembly Against Racism, one of Britain's leading anti-racism groups, stage a protest outside the headquarters of Channel 4 as the channel airs a Dispatches documentary that claims to have established that most juvenile gang rapes are carried out by black youths.Paul McCann Kathy Marks https://www.independent.co.uk/news/tv-gang-rape-documentary-angers-blacks-groups-1185625.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/tv-gang-rape-documentary-angers-blacks-groups-1185625.html 1 May 2022 subscription TV gang rape documentary angers blacks groups Independent Print Limited The Independent 18 November 1998 22 April 2015 20 November The Independent Television Commission orders ITV to take its advertising campaign for digital television off air because it is "derogatory" towards satellite television. The campaign had featured a crossed out satellite dish and had attracted complaints from other major broadcasters in the week it was shown. The regulator also decides that future digital television advertising campaigns by ITV must be submitted to the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre before going on the air.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/218745.stm ITV rapped for digital ads BBC BBC News 20 November 1998 14 May 2014 At London's Wandsworth County Court, the makers of Channel 4's game show Fifteen to One are awarded a county court judgment against Trevor Montague, a former series champion who broke the show's rule that losing contestants cannot appear on the show again. Having lost in 1989, he reapplied under a different name in 1992 and went on to become series champion, but was subsequently identified by a contestant who watched a repeat of the show on Challenge TV. He must pay £3,562 in compensation and return his prizes, two goblets and a set of decanters to Regent Productions. 22 November – The BBC confirms that Patsy Palmer, who plays Bianca Butcher in EastEnders, will leave the soap in 1999 to spend more time with her family.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/219572.stm Patsy Palmer to leave EastEnders BBC BBC News 22 November 1998 16 May 2014 27 November – ITV has scrapped plans for a documentary investigating claims of anti-English racism in Scotland because there is not enough evidence to support it, the Daily Record reports.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SCOTS+RACISM+SHOW+AXED.-a060941739 Scots racism show axed Daily Record Trinity Mirror 27 November 1998 14 May 2014 December 1 December – Channel 4 marks World AIDS Day with a fundraising evening of music and comedy, presented by Stephen Fry.http://index63eb.html/?page_id=1155 1998 : Off The Telly 23 January 2019May 2020 InternetArchiveBot yes 2 December ITV airs the first celebrity special of Stars in Their Eyes, which features Carol Vorderman performing as Cher and five female cast members of Coronation Street as The Spice Girls. The episode is won by Steven Houghton as Tony Hadley.Qualthrough Stuart http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Summy+%60N'+Cher%3B+Maths+wizard+Carol+swaps+figures+as+singer's...-a060633300 Summy 'N' Cher; Maths wizard Carol swaps figures as singer's lookalike Trinity Mirror The People 22 November 1998 27 April 2014http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TV+Watch%3A+Total+eclipse+of+the+Stars.-a060651823 TV Watch: Total eclipse of the Stars Trinity Mirror Sunday Mirror 6 December 1998 27 April 2014 ITV airs the one-off entertainment show Men for Sale, a special hour-long event hosted by Ulrika Jonsson and Denise van Outen, in which male celebrities go under the hammer to raise money for charity with three musical guest appearances including the Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias, pianist Jools Holland and the boy band 911. 3 December – Channel 4 announces it has secured a £400,000 deal to air the only international interview with Monica Lewinsky, the woman at the centre of the sex scandal involving US President Bill Clinton.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/227445.stm Channel 4 clinches Lewinsky deal BBC BBC News 3 December 1998 22 April 2015 7 December The long-running current affairs series World in Action ends after 35 years, its final edition being an investigation into Britain's alcohol consumption called "Britain on the Booze". It will be replaced in April 1999 with Tonight.8 December 1998 ITV stretches its digits https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/230214.stm 14 May 2014 BBC News BBC Launch of the UK's second digital-only TV channel ITV2.9 December 1998 Colourful new look for Channel 4 News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/231692.stm 22 April 2015 BBC News BBC 9 December – Channel 4 News unveils a new look for its hour-long bulletin and a new set which will be seen on air from January 1999 and marks the biggest change for the programme since its launch in 1982. Jon Snow will continue to present the bulletin.11 December 1998 BBC rejects Scottish Six https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/232121.stm 4 May 2012 BBC News BBC 11 December – BBC governors reject a request to give Scotland its own Six O'Clock News bulletin. Instead, an extra £20 million will be spent on new jobs and programming in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.12 December 1998 The Street in black and white https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/233345.stm 3 May 2015 BBC News BBC 12 December The Commission for Racial Equality has called on British soaps to change the way black and Asian people are portrayed after Marcus Wrigley, a new black character in Coronation Street, is seen breaking into a house in one of his first scenes.Programme Complaints and Interventions Report http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/itc_publications/complaints_reports/programme_complaints/show_complaint.asp-prog_complaint_id=143.html 5 May 2014 Ofcom Viewers of the Living channel accidentally see five minutes of an adult film being aired by Television X following a switching error by the company relaying both channels. The interruption which occurs during an edition of The Jerry Springer Show generates seven complaints to the Independent Television Commission. The company responsible for the glitch later apologises and makes technical changes to ensure it won't happen again.14 December 1998 Owen nets BBC sports award https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/234398.stm 7 November 2015 BBC News BBC 13 December Footballer Michael Owen is named as this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.Arnold Harry 17 December 1998 Tv Quiz Chiefs Drop Mister 100 Per Cent: They alter rules after his 75th win Daily Mirror Trinity Mirror 27 The network television premiere of David Hogan's 1996 futuristic action thriller Barb Wire on Channel 4, starring Pamela Anderson Lee, Temuera Morrison and Xander Berkeley. ITV's long-running programme Sunday morning programme for disabled people, Link is broadcast for the final time. 14 December After a world-record-breaking 75 consecutive victories, Ian Lygo makes his final appearance on the Channel 5 game show 100%, after being forced to retire by the show's producers. Lamer Tony 11 July 1999 Trivia of Channel 5's most successful show Sunday Mercury Trinity Mirror 32 http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60203929.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121023041154/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60203929.html HighBeam Research subscription usurped Birmingham, England 23 October 201215 December 1998 Dando quits 'Six' race https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/235449.stm 7 May 2014 BBC News BBC After 22 years of presenting Sooty, Matthew Corbett announces his retirement and hand picks Richard Cadell and Liana Bridges as his successors in the very last edition of Sooty & Co. They appear throughout the final series of the show. The network television premiere on ITV of Jonathan Demme's 1993 American legal drama Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. 15 December – Holiday presenter Jill Dando rules herself out of becoming the face of a planned relaunched BBC Six O'Clock News following much media speculation on the topic. She says she plans to leave BBC News to concentrate on her presenting roles.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/235449.stm Dando quits 'Six' race BBC BBC News 15 December 1998 7 May 2014 16 December – Regular programming is interrupted when the United States and the United Kingdom launch air strikes against Iraq after that country fails to comply with the United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. 17 December – Jane Root is appointed Controller of BBC Two, becoming the first female head of a BBC channel. She will replace the outgoing incumbent, Mark Thompson, in January 1999.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/237070.stm Two's company for Root BBC BBC News 17 December 1998 12 April 2014 18 December BBC political correspondent Huw Edwards is confirmed as the new face of the Six O'Clock News, taking over when the programme is revamped next year.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/237946.stm Huw Edwards to front revamped Six BBC BBC News 18 December 1998 29 May 2014 Carlton is fined £2 million by the Independent Television Commission for a 1996 documentary called The Connection in which actors pretended to be drug traffickers.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/237715.stm Carlton fined Ł2m for 'faked' documentary BBC BBC News 18 December 1998 21 April 2014 19 December – Denise van Outen presents the final of the first Record of the Year for ITV, a show allowing viewers to vote for their favourite single of 1998 through a phone-in poll.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/238056.stm TV first for record poll BBC BBC News 18 December 1998 27 May 2014 More than a million viewers call to register their vote, making it the UK's largest ever television phone poll. Of the ten songs shortlisted for the show, Irish boy band Boyzone's single "No Matter What" emerges as the winner.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/238830.stm Boyzone scoop record of the year BBC BBC News 19 December 1998 27 May 2014 20 December – Sky One airs the third Christmas episode of The Simpsons, featuring a special guest appearance by Jeopardy host Alex Trebek. 21 December Coronation Street unveils its first Asian family, the Desais, who will be seen on screen from the New Year. They are Ravi Desai, played by Saeed Jaffrey, his daughter Nita (Rebecca Sarker) and son Vikram (Chris Bisson), and will take over running the corner shop from Fred Elliott (John Savident).https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/240023.stm First Asian family joins the Street BBC BBC News 21 December 1998 3 May 2015 The National Federation of SubPostmasters criticises the forthcoming Christmas Day episode of Emmerdale for featuring the death of a village postmaster during a robbery, expressing concerns it could prompt a spate of copycat incidents. The union calls on ITV to pull the episode, which sees the character Vic Windsor (Alun Lewis) killed after he strikes his head during a robbery at his post office. ITV says it has taken care not to breach Post Office security during the episode's filming.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/239673.stm Emmerdale raid story attacked BBC BBC News 21 December 1998 4 April 2014 22 December – BBC One airs These Are Special Times, a TV special recorded by Celine Dion and featuring appearances from Andrea Bocelli and Rosie O'Donnell.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e2c5f3dc496849ebbef15ac1675cfb3b https://web.archive.org/web/20170816022333/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e2c5f3dc496849ebbef15ac1675cfb3b dead 16 August 2017 Celine Dion: These Are Special Times – BBC One London – 22 December 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 17 December 1998 3906 102 2018-01-13 24 December BBC One shows the network premiere of the 1994 Christmas comedy film The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen. Raymond Briggs' The Bear makes its debut on Channel 4. A £30 million advertising campaign for the Millennium Dome kicks off with a 60-second advert voiced by actor Jeremy Irons that invites viewers to imagine the achievements of the past 1,000 years had happened in one day. Major events such as the consecration of Westminster Abbey, the plays of William Shakespeare and the fall of the Berlin Wall are highlighted against the backdrop of the Easter Island Statues from sunrise to sunset.Woodman Peter http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dome+TV+advert+crams+1,000+years+into+one+minute.-a060709948 Dome TV advert crams 1,000 years into one minute The Birmingham Post Trinity Mirror 17 December 1998 10 May 2014 The final episode of the sitcom Birds of a Feather is broadcast on BBC One, although it will be revived on ITV in 2014. 25 December Christmas Day highlights on BBC One include the 1994 Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street, starring Richard Attenborough, the 1995 family film Babe, and the first of three new episodes of Men Behaving Badly.http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1998-12-25 https://archive.today/20150317000007/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1998-12-25 dead 17 March 2015 BBC One London – 25 December 1998 BBC Genome BBC 26 October 2016 BBC Two airs a special documentary about the popular children's series Teletubbies called Big Hug!: The Story of Teletubbies. The special takes a look at the phenomenal success of the series, how it came about, the way it was done, how it was criticized and been under fire, the differences between children's television in the old and later days, how the series was commissioned for the BBC and how children communicate to the "Tubby" language. There are also interviews with several people include the creator of the Teletubbies Anne Wood, the co-creator and writer Andrew Davenport, Anna Home a former BBC executive who commissioned the series prior to retiring, journalist and food writer Nigella Lawson, Oliver Postgate, the creator and writer of Bagpuss, The Clangers, Noggin the Nog, Pogles' Wood, Ivor the Engine and Pingwings and the president and CEO of the Children's Television Workshop David Britt. The first ITV Panto is broadcast, starting with Jack and the Beanstalk. Channel 4 airs The Omen, Richard Donner's 1976 supernatural horror film depicting the Antichrist, at 10:30pm,Jane Robins https://www.independent.co.uk/news/eccentric-and-ludicrous-views-of-the-people-who-decide-what-we-view-on-tv-1096131.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/eccentric-and-ludicrous-views-of-the-people-who-decide-what-we-view-on-tv-1096131.html 1 May 2022 subscription 'Eccentric and ludicrous' views of the people who decide what we view on TV Independent Print Limited The Independent 27 May 1999 10 August 2014https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1998/dec/24/features11.g214 Christmas TV: Working party | From The Guardian 24 December 1998 11 August 2014 but it leads to six viewer complaints that its scheduling on Christmas Day was in poor taste and the Broadcasting Standards Commission later agrees with this sentiment.Davies Ashley http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bsc-slams-eastenders-murder/1215294.article BSC slams EastEnders murder Broadcast 4 June 1999 10 August 2014 However, the ruling on 27 May 1999 draws criticism from Channel 4 Chief Executive Michael Jackson, who describes it as "typical of how the commission fails to get things in proportion" and says he would schedule the film similarly again. 26 December – Boxing Day highlights on BBC One include the films Casper, Free Willy 2 and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear as well as the second of three episodes of Men Behaving Badly.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1998-12-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20141017221805/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1998-12-26 dead 17 October 2014 BBC One London – 26 December 1998 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 23 October 2018 27 December – BBC One airs the 1997 costume drama Mrs Brown, starring Judi Dench and Billy Connolly.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a39a6264513d4c1e8851eacd4a858943 https://web.archive.org/web/20181024000120/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a39a6264513d4c1e8851eacd4a858943 dead 24 October 2018 Mrs Brown – BBC One London – 27 December 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 17 December 1998 3906 132 23 October 2018 28 December – BBC One concludes its Christmas trilogy of new episodes of Men Behaving Badly.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bebd925b212d47769cb44eb95a7ac847 https://web.archive.org/web/20181023235232/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bebd925b212d47769cb44eb95a7ac847 dead 23 October 2018 Men Behaving Badly – BBC One London – 28 December 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 17 December 1998 3906 138 23 October 2018 29 December The long-running series Come Dancing marks its 50th anniversary with an edition of the show from London's Royal Albert Hall which would be the last one ever made; the final regular series was shown in 1995.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7875bfedd50f4b4ea080a26435971b95 https://web.archive.org/web/20181024041442/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7875bfedd50f4b4ea080a26435971b95 dead 24 October 2018 Come Dancing 50 – BBC One London – 29 December 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 17 December 1998 3906 144 23 October 2018 BBC Two airs a special edition of TOTP2 dedicated to glam rock.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ebb135405efc4a72a123937b6b0e9080 https://web.archive.org/web/20181031053327/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ebb135405efc4a72a123937b6b0e9080 dead 31 October 2018 TOTP2 – BBC Two England – 29 December 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 17 December 1998 3906 144 30 October 2018 29–30 December – BBC One airs a two-part dramatisation of Minette Walters' 1997 crime novel The Echo, starring Clive Owen and Joely Richardson.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e03905df573145458294b274b26391d0 https://web.archive.org/web/20181024040348/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e03905df573145458294b274b26391d0 dead 24 October 2018 The Echo – BBC One London – 29 December 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 17 December 1998 3906 144 23 October 2018https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/18c9b2c464ff4804b795f3d4aa0a5ae4 https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035949/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/18c9b2c464ff4804b795f3d4aa0a5ae4 dead 24 October 2018 The Echo – BBC One London – 30 December 1998 – BBC Genome The Radio Times 17 December 1998 3906 150 23 October 2018 30 December Provisional viewing figures indicate that BBC One had seven of the top ten most watched programmes over the Christmas weekend. The 28 December episode of EastEnders achieved first place with 15.7 million viewers, followed by an episode of Coronation Street from the previous day with 15.1 million. The final episode of Men Behaving Badly was watched by 14 million viewers.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/244704.stm Tiffany helps trounce ITV BBC BBC News 30 December 1998 1 April 2014 The US supernatural series Buffy the Vampire Slayer makes its UK terrestrial debut on BBC Two. 31 December An episode of EastEnders in which the character Tiffany Mitchell is killed when she is hit by a car driven by Frank Butcher is watched by 22 million viewers.http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a200982/eastenders-moments-tiffanys-death.html#~oAc6HysmCDgcNa 'EastEnders' Moments: Tiffany's Death Digital Spy 11 February 2010 1 April 2014https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1223113.stm Martine McCutcheon: By George she's got it BBC BBC News 16 March 2001 1 April 2014 Other New Year's Eve highlights for BBC One include the film Getting Even with Dad and Shirley Bassey: Viva Diva in which she performs a number of show tunes with the backing of a large orchestra and the cast of the musical Chicago.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1998-12-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20141017221755/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1998-12-31 dead 17 October 2014 BBC One London – 31 December 1998 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 23 October 2018 Unknown Early in 1998, BBC2 stops shutting down its transmitters when it isn't broadcasting the BBC Learning Zone. Instead, BBC2 broadcasts Pages from Ceefax during all overnight downtime.The history of Pages from CeefaxAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot Vanni Treves succeeds Sir Michael Bishop as Chairman 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 Debuts BBC One 4 January – The Ambassador (1998–1999) 8 January – Roger Roger (1998–2003) 9 January – Wiggly Park (1998) 12 January – Looking After Jo Jo (1998) 13 January – The Cruise (1998) 24 January – Unfinished Business (1998–1999) 6 February – Mortimer's Law (1998) 22 February – Heaven on Earth (1998) 8 March – Playing the Field (1998–2002) 15 March – The Last Salute (1998–1999) 28 March – Big Ticket (1998) 4 April – City Central (1998–2000) 10 April – The Scold's Bridle (1998) 16 April – The Ben Elton Show (1998) 19 April – A Respectable Trade (1998) 4 May – Kiss Me Kate (1998–2000) 8 May – Invasion: Earth (1998) 10 May – Berkeley Square (1998) 20 May The Human Body (1998) Out of Hours (1998) 25 May – My Summer with Des (1998) 18 July – Little White Lies (1998) 20 July – Heartburn Hotel (1998–2000) 28 July – Maisie Raine (1998–1999) 26 August – The X Creatures (1998) 31 August – The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (1998–2000) 6 September Big Cat (1998) The Heaven and Earth Show (1998–2007) 22 September – Party of a Lifetime (1998) 1 October – Undercover Heart (1998) 12 October – Pass the Buck (1998–2000) 21 October – The Life of Birds (1998) 1 November – Vanity Fair (1998) 12 November – dinnerladies (1998–2000) 15 November – Children of the New Forest (1998) 25 December – Rotten Ralph (1998–2001) 29 December – Paddington Green (1998–2001) 29 December – The Echo (1998) BBC Two 8 January – Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines (1998) 12 January Goodness Gracious Me (1998–2001) Look and Read: The Legend of the Lost Keys (1998) 15 January – Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends (1998–2000) 15 February – This Morning with Richard Not Judy (1998–1999) 20 February Is It Bill Bailey? (1998) Robot Wars (1998–2004, 2016–2018) 24 February – How Do You Want Me? (1998–1999) 8 March – Obsession series (4 eps – Getting Hurt/ Stand & Deliver/ Guiltrip/ Anorak of Fire) (1998) 9 March – Our Mutual Friend (1998) 20 April – Stressed Eric (1998–2000) 8 May – Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round (1998) 12 May – Sir Bernard's Stately Homes (1998) 26 May – In the Red (1998) 30 May – Windrush (1998) 16 June – Spoonface Steinberg (1998) 21 June – The Tribe (1998) (Made in 1996) 14 July – In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (1998) 15 July – Amongst Women (1998) 14 September – The Royle Family (1998–2000, 2006–2012, later series on BBC One) 15 September – Touch and Go (1998) 2 October – The Creatives (1998–2000) 4 October – Shot Through the Heart (1998) 13 October – Delia's How to Cook (1998–2002) 19 October – The Cops (1998–2001) 21 October – Despatch Box (1998–2002) 28 October – Brothers and Sisters (1998) 9 November – Big Train (1998–2002) 14 November – Lesley Garrett Tonight (1998) 21 December – Rex the Runt (1998–2001) 30 December – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) ITV (Including ITV and ITV2) 5 January – Teddybears (1998–1999) 8 January – The Forgotten Toys (1998–1999) 9 January – Tom and Vicky (1998–1999) 14 January – ITV Nightscreen (1998–2021) 23 January – Friday Night's All Wright (1998–2000) 24 January – Ice Warriors (1998) 28 January – Heat of the Sun (1998) 8 February – My Kind of Music (1998–2002) 26 February – Passport Quiz (1998–2003) 3 March – The Life and Crimes of William Palmer (1998) 6 March – Airline (1998–2007) 8 March – Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1998) 12 March – Seesaw (1998) 14 March – Diggit (1998–2005) 24 March – Waffle (1998) 25 March – March in Windy City (1998) 2 April – Oktober (1998) 5 April – Wuthering Heights (1998) 12 April – Coming Home (1998) 14 April – Under Offer (1998–2001) 17 April – Magic with Everything (1998) 28 April – Rocky and the Dodos (1998–1999) 16 May – Don't Try This at Home (1998–2001) 25 May – The Stalker's Apprentice (1998) 30 May – Fun Song Factory (1998–2006) 6 July Far from the Madding Crowd (1998) Get Real (1998) 13 July – Brilliant Creatures (1998–2003) 14 July – PD James' A Certain Justice (1998) 19 July – Duck Patrol (1998) 23 July – Babes in the Wood (1998–1999) 29 August SMTV Live (1998–2003) CD:UK (1998–2006) 1 September – Supply & Demand (1998) 2 September – Mad for It (1998–2000) 4 September Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1998–2014, 2018–present) Archibald the Koala (1998–2000) 5 September The Moment of Truth (1998–2001) Motorway Life (1998–2001) 7 September – Liverpool 1 (1998–1999) 21 September – Trisha Goddard (1998–2010) 23 September – The Thoughts of Chairman Alf (1998) 25 September – The Adventures of Captain Pugwash (1998–2001) 7 October – Hornblower (1998–2003) 22 October – The Worst Witch (1998–2001) 25 October – Goodnight Mister Tom (1998) 26 October – Draw Your Own Toons (1998–2001) 27 October – Grafters (1998–1999) 29 October – Picking Up the Pieces (1998) 30 October – Starship Bloopers (1998) 15 November Cold Feet (1998–2003, 2016–2020) Sermon from St. Albion's (1998–1999) 20 December – Frenchman's Creek (1998) 25 December – ITV Panto (1998–2002) 27 December Kids Say the Darndest Things (1998–2000) Cider with Rosie (1998) 28 December – Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (1998–1999) Channel 4 4 January – Pippi Longstocking (1997–1998) 12 February – Mosley (1998) 12 April – Scrapheap Challenge (1998–2010) 2 May – Dawson's Creek (1998–2003) 5 May – Killer Net (1998) 3 June – Ally McBeal (1997–2002) 15 June – Watercolour Challenge (1998–2001, 2022–present) 24 June – Barking (1998) 3 July – So Graham Norton (1998–2002) 10 July – South Park (1997–present) 1 August – More Tales of the City (1998) 15 September – Ultraviolet (1998) 30 September – The 11 O'Clock Show (1998–2000) 25 October – T4 (1998–2012) 30 October – Streetmate (1998–2007) 9 November – Comedy Lab (1998–2011) (Anthology series) 10 November – The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star (1998) 18 November – Bob and Margaret (1998–2001) 21 November – History Hunters (1998–1999) 5 December – Angry Kid (1998–2019) 24 December – The Bear (1998) Channel 5 2 January – PB Bear and Friends (1998) 4 February – The Pepsi Chart Show (1998–2002) 28 April – Open House with Gloria Hunniford (1998–2003) 10 June – Compromising Situations (1994) 27 June – Loggerheads (1998–1999) 24 August – House Doctor (1998–2003) 16 October – Fort Boyard (1998–2001, 2003) 29 October – Sex and Shopping (1998–2001) Channels New channels DateChannel February Boro TV 4 April TV Travel Shop 26 June Kiss TV 1 September Animal Planet 10 September MUTV 23 September BBC Choice BBC Parliament 1 October Sky Sports News 2 October UK Gold Classics 10 October UK Play 1 November S4C Digidol FilmFour 15 November Carlton Cinema Carlton Kids Carlton World 7 December ITV2 Defunct channels DateChannel 30 January The Weather Channel 31 March CMT Europe 3 April TCC (original) 31 May Sky Scottish 22 September The Parliamentary Channel 25 SeptemberChannel One in Londonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3512ujFzCY The last hour of Channel One London (25th September 1998) October 2, 2017 YouTube and Bristol/Bath Rebranded channels DateOld NameNew Name 1 May Granada Good Life Granada Breeze 10 September Sky Movies Screen 1 Sky Premier Sky Movies Screen 2 Sky MovieMax Sky Movies Gold Sky Cinema Television shows Returning this year after a break of one year or longer Talking Heads (1988, 1998) James the Cat (1984–1992 ITV, 1998–2003 Channel 5) 4 March – The Wombles (1973–1975, 1998–2001) 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) 1940s Come Dancing (1949–1998) 1950s Panorama (1953–present) Take Your Pick! (1955–1968, 1992–1998) 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) Mr. and Mrs. (1965–1999) Sportsnight (1965–1997) Call My Bluff (1965–2005) The Money Programme (1966–2010) 1970s Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1997) 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 Play Your Cards Right (1980–1987, 1994–1999, 2002–2003) Family Fortunes (1980–2002, 2006–2015, 2020–present) Children in Need (1980–present) Timewatch (1982–present) Brookside (1982–2003) Countdown (1982–present) Right to Reply (1982–2001) Surprise Surprise (1984–2001, 2012–2015) Crimewatch UK (1984–2017) The Bill (1984–2010) Channel 4 Racing (1984–2016) Thomas & Friends (1984–2021) EastEnders (1985–present) The Cook Report (1987–1999) Crosswits (1985–1998) Screen Two (1985–1998) Telly Addicts (1985–1998) Blind Date (1985–2003, 2017–2019) Comic Relief (1985–present) The Chart Show (1986–1998, 2008–2009) Equinox (1986–2006) The Really Wild Show (1986–2006) Casualty (1986–present) The Time, The Place (1987–1998) ChuckleVision (1987–2009) Wheel of Fortune (1988–2001, 2024–present) London's Burning (1988–2002) On the Record (1988–2002) Fifteen to One (1988–2003, 2013–2019) This Morning (1988–present) Children's Ward (1989–2000) Mike and Angelo (1989–2000) Birds of a Feather (1989–1998, 2014–2020) Bodger & Badger (1989–1999) 1990s Drop the Dead Donkey (1990–1998) One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000) Rosie and Jim (1990–2000) MasterChef (1990–2001, 2005–present) How 2 (1990–2006) Stars in Their Eyes (1990–2006, 2015) 2point4 Children (1991–1999) Big Break (1991–2002) Noel's House Party (1991–1999) GamesMaster (1992–1998) Heartbeat (1992–2010)ITV axes popular police drama Heartbeat https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4365441/ITV-axes-popular-police-drama-Heartbeat.html?fb www.telegraph.co.uk 14 July 2023 Men Behaving Badly (1992–1998) The Big Breakfast (1992–2002) 999 (1992–2003) Sooty & Co. (1993–1998) Mr. Motivator exercise routines (1993–2000) Breakfast with Frost (1993–2005) Ky’s Cartoons (1994–1999) Animal Hospital (1994–2004) The National Lottery Draws (1994–2017) Time Team (1994–2013) The Vicar of Dibley (1994–2007) Wipeout (1994–2003) Frasier (1993–2004) Wycliffe (1994–1998) Top of the Pops 2 (1994–present) Father Ted (1995–1998) Hollyoaks (1995–present) Is It Legal? (1995–1998) Dennis the Menace (1996–1998) Jonathan Creek (1997–2016) Teletubbies (1997–2001) Ending this year Come Dancing (1949–1998) Take Your Pick! (1955–1968, 1992–1998) The Rockford Files (1974–2016 BBC 1997–1998 ITV) Sale of the Century (1972–1990 ITV, 1997–1998 Challenge) Alas Smith and Jones (1982–1998) Crosswits (1985–1998) Screen Two (1985–1998) Telly Addicts (1985–1998) The Chart Show (1986–1998, 2008–2009) Birds of a Feather (1989–1998 BBC, 2014–2020 ITV) The Riddlers (1989–1998) Drop the Dead Donkey (1990–1998) Men Behaving Badly (1992–1998) GamesMaster (1992–1998) Run the Risk (1993–1998) Sooty & Co. (1993–1998) Tots TV (1993–1998) Wycliffe (1993–1998) Father Ted (1995–1998) Absolutely Animals (1995–1998) The Caribou Kitchen (1995–1998) Is It Legal? (1995–1998) Scratchy & Co. (1995–1998) The Demon Headmaster (1996–1998) Wake Up in the Wild Room (1996–1998) Bimble's Bucket (1996–1998) Dennis the Menace (1996–1998) Mashed (1997–1998) A Prince Among Men (1997–1998) Noah's Ark (1997–1998) Whittle (1997–1998) Enid Blyton's Enchanted Lands (1997–1998) Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1998) Ice Warriors (1998) PB Bear and Friends (1998) Vanity Fair (1998) Births 21 February – Ella-Rae Smith 29 April – Ella Hunt 24 May – Daisy Edgar-Jones 5 August – Mimi Keene Deaths Date Name Age Cinematic Credibility2 JanuaryFrank Muirhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/44182.stm Comedy writer Frank Muir dead at 77 BBC BBC News 2 January 1998 1 May 201577comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur11 JanuaryJohn Wells61actor and scriptwriter (That Was The Week That Was)25 JanuarySidney Cole89television producer3 FebruaryDavy Kaye81actor (Sapphire and Steel)20 FebruaryHenry Livings68television scriptwriter28 FebruaryDermot Morgan45actor (Father Ted Crilly in Father Ted)20 MarchIvor Slaney76theme tune composer25 MarchDaniel Massey64actor (The Roads to Freedom)2 MayKevin Lloydhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/87266.stm Axed TV star Tosh dies BBC BBC News 4 May 1998 21 June 201449actor (The Bill)19 MayEdwin Astley76theme tune composer (The Saint, Danger Man, The Baron)27 MayRobert Muller72television scriptwriter28 MayLana Morris68actress (The Saint, The Forsyte Saga, Howards' Way)5 JuneViola Keats87actress4 JulyGladys Ambrose67actress (Brookside)5 JulyJohnny Speight78television scriptwriter (Till Death Us Do Part)21 JulyKenneth Watson66actor (Dixon of Dock Green, Coronation Street, Take the High Road)22 JulyMichael Denison82actor (Boyd in Boyd QC)23 JulyJohn Hopkins67screenwriter (Z-Cars)4 AugustRichard Dunn54CEO of Thames Television11 AugustDerek Newark65actor14 AugustRosemary Martin61actress25 AugustBarbara MandellAnthony Hayward https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-barbara-mandell-1196010.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-barbara-mandell-1196010.html 1 May 2022 subscription Obituary: Barbara Mandell – Arts & Entertainment Independent Print Limited The Independent 5 September 1998 28 March 201278television journalist and UK's first female newsreader19 SeptemberPatricia Hayes88narrator, actress and voice actress (Gran)30 SeptemberMarius Goring86actor (The Expert)10 OctoberJacqueline Mackenzie71news reporter17 OctoberJoan Hickson92actress (Agatha Christie's Miss Marple).10 NovemberPeter Cotes86television producer and directorMary Millar62actress (Keeping Up Appearances)19 NovemberBernard Thompson72television producer and director29 NovemberRobin Ray64television presenter3 DecemberGeorge Murcell73actor7 DecemberJohn Addison78theme tune composer8 DecemberMichael Craze56actor (Doctor Who)13 DecemberSir Lew Gradehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/234005.stm Media legend Grade dead BBC BBC News 13 December 1998 29 June 201491showbusiness impresario and television company executive21 DecemberRoger Avon84actor30 DecemberGeorge Webb87actor (Keeping Up Appearances) See also 1998 in British music 1998 in British radio 1998 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1998 References 30em External links List of 1998 British television series at IMDb 1998