1965 in British television

none 1965 British television This is a list of British television related events from 1965. Events January January – The BBC collaborates with Ireland's RTÉ on a television broadcast as Irish Taoiseach Seán Lemass and Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Terence O'Neill meet for the first time in Belfast.http://www.rte.ie/laweb/brc/brc_timeline.html RTÉ Libraries and Archives: preserving a unique record of Irish life RTÉ.ie 5 January 2012 2 January – World of Sport premieres on ITV with Eamonn Andrews as its first presenter. 9 January – The comedy sketch show Not Only... But Also, featuring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, debuts on BBC2. It also features the first of three guest appearances by John Lennon.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c225954a89e54e6c96e5ec16610bd6dd Not Only.... But Also – – BBC Two England – 9 January 1965 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 9 November 2018 10 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040807/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c225954a89e54e6c96e5ec16610bd6dd dead 12 January – Doctor Who begins airing in Australia on ABC by first being shown in Perth. It later airs for the first time in several states; including Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne during January and the next two months. March 20 March – "Poupée de cire, poupée de son", sung by France Gall (music and lyrics by Serge Gainsbourg), wins the Eurovision Song Contest 1965 (staged in Naples) for Luxembourg.https://eurovision.tv/event/Naples-1965/final Official Eurovision Song Contest 1965 scoreboard Eurovision Song Contest The British entry, Kathy Kirby singing "I Belong", comes second. 26 March – Border Television begins broadcasting to the Isle of Man. April 7 April – BBC1 airs Three Clear Sundays, a Wednesday Play about the events leading to a man's conviction for capital murder.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/218f38c6873a41149226849d8bf9851c The Wednesday Play: Three Clear Sundays – BBC One London – 7 April 1965 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 9 November 2018 10 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040730/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/218f38c6873a41149226849d8bf9851c dead It is repeated on BBC2 on 16 July.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8e2eb17cedd14933b17020fe1c87e79c Encore: Three Clear Sundays – BBC Two England – 16 July 1965 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 9 November 2018 10 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040913/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8e2eb17cedd14933b17020fe1c87e79c dead May 30 May – A televised tribute to the late British bandleader and impresario Jack Hylton called The Stars Shine for Jack is held in London at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. June 18 June – The last edition of Tonight is broadcast on BBC1.Tonight – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/51a5cf7e4c9946bfb5058ca9afd7d4a5 18 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 18 June 1965 BBC Genome Project 10 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110041043/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/51a5cf7e4c9946bfb5058ca9afd7d4a5 dead 24 June – BBC1 begins showing the American spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., starring Robert Vaughn as Napoleon Solo and David McCallum as Illya Kuryakin.The Man from U.N.C.L.E. – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b3679c2720104346990248cab2f489d3 18 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 24 June 1965 BBC Genome Project 27 June – The last episode of science-fiction marionette series Stingray is broadcast on ITV. July 5 July – Anglia Television starts broadcasting on VHF channel 6 from Sandy Heath transmitting station, extending coverage into Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Until late 1966, there are no morning broadcasts from this transmitter due to a clash with the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory. 7 July – The science and technology programme Tomorrow's World makes its debut on BBC1.Tomorrow's World – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/decd0e73c87744c79902e8bde42ce444 18 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 7 July 1965 BBC Genome Project 10 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040703/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/decd0e73c87744c79902e8bde42ce444 dead 22 July – The pilot episode for the sitcom Till Death Us Do Part is broadcast on BBC1.Comedy Playhouse – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/90e9918b322b4467a9866c77844c3beb 18 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 22 July 1965 BBC Genome Project August 1 August Cigarette adverts are banned from British television. Pipe tobacco and cigar adverts will continue until 1991. Television and radio licence fees are increased. 6 August – The War Game, a drama-documentary by director Peter Watkins depicting the events of a future nuclear attack on the United Kingdom, is pulled from its planned transmission in BBC1's The Wednesday Play anthology strand. The BBC has been pressured into this move by the British government, which does not want much of the play's content to become public.The BBC and the Censorship of The War Game James Chapman (media historian) Chapman James Journal of Contemporary History 2006 41 1 84 10.1177/0022009406058675 159498499 It is released to cinemas, and wins the 1966 Academy Award for Documentary Feature; the BBC finally screens the play in 1985.After the Bomb – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/402cccb15e354656bc723325689822d5 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 31 July 1985 BBC Genome Project September 12 September – BBC2 Wales goes on the air. To introduce the service, BBC2 airs a programme titled BBC-2 Comes to Wales, featuring the Secretary of State for Wales James Griffiths, the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, the Deputy Mayor of Newport, Chairman of the Broadcasting Council for Wales Professor Glanmor Williams, BBC2 Controller David Attenborough, and BBC2 Wales Controller Alun Oldfield-Davies.https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0eeaa290284d457dbec644d0b267f099 BBC-2 Comes to Wales – BBC Two England – 12 September 1965 – BBC Genome genome.ch.bbc.co.uk 21 November 2018 22 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181122010155/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0eeaa290284d457dbec644d0b267f099 dead 28 September – "The Town of No Return", the first episode of the fourth series of The Avengers, introduces the character of Emma Peel played by Diana Rigg. 30 September – Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's science-fiction marionette series (with electronic lip syncing known as Supermarionation) Thunderbirds premieres on ITV. October 2 October – American science-fiction series Lost in Space debuts on ITV. It is adapted for the feature film version in 1998 and then again for the revived television series in 2018, after the original series ends in 1968. 4 October BBC2 begins broadcasting across the Midlands. 24 Hours premieres on BBC1.Twenty-Four Hours – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c1bc143870264aff9ffc78745ec4b925 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 4 October 1965 BBC Genome Project 10 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110041058/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c1bc143870264aff9ffc78745ec4b925 dead Football-based drama serial United! premieres on BBC1.United! – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/24570134d69446839c220311c4207daa 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 4 October 1965 BBC Genome Project 10 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110041050/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/24570134d69446839c220311c4207daa dead Science-fiction anthology series Out of the Unknown premieres on BBC2.Out of the Unknown – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c1bbc6b2877043bd8a11bf9244cb8636 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 4 October 1985 BBC Genome Project The BBC announces plans to introduce a new service for Asian immigrants starting the following week. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/4/newsid_2540000/2540633.stm Immigrants feel at home with BBC BBC On This Day 16 May 2009 1965-10-04 10 October – The BBC Asian service, broadcast on Sunday mornings, launches with a programme called In Logon Se Miliye.In Logon Se Miliye – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/577bf9006cf04a65b39c471660bfc145 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 10 October 1985 BBC Genome Project At the start of 1966, it would be renamed Apna Hi Ghar SamajhiyeApna Hi Ghar Samajhiye – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8a5bbf0fedf24b309b456f35299d22b5 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 2 January 1966 BBC Genome Project (which is also the name of the Asian Service's radio programme which debuted at the same time that In Logon Se MiliyeApna Hi Ghar Samajhiye – BBC Home Service https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/550b7b01dc6449b3a440fb9b2069c02d 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 10 October 1965 BBC Genome Project), which was replaced in 1968 by Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan.Nai Zindagi – Naya Jeevan – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/669b343a00eb4a45ac675516ec3fdd89 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 24 November 1968 BBC Genome Project In June 1982, it would be relaunched as Asian Magazine.Asian Magazine – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/512dc3bde4d94e4b9050a67d5314bb24 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 20 June 1982 BBC Genome Project 18 October – The British version of children's stop-motion animation The Magic Roundabout, with narration written and read by Eric Thompson, debuts on BBC1;The Magic Roundabout – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fc2efbca64ab42d7b99e5918d2d492eb 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 18 October 1965 BBC Genome Project 10 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040952/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fc2efbca64ab42d7b99e5918d2d492eb dead it continues until 1977. 31 October – BBC2 in the North of England goes on the air. November 4 November – The current affairs and documentary series Man Alive makes its debut on BBC2.Man Alive – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6911441a38b74167b3fa389c7914b97b 23 June 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 4 November 1965 BBC Genome Project 13 November – During a discussion on BBC1 satire-and-chat show BBC-3 about theatre censorship, critic Kenneth Tynan supposedly becomes the first person to say "fuck" on British television (although research indicates that the word has been used at least twice before). He claims that the word no longer shocks anyoneMy TV 4-letter word by Tynan Daily Mirror 1 1965-11-15 but the storm which results forces the BBC to make a public apology. 29 November – Mary Whitehouse and colleagues found the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, succeeding the Clean-Up TV Campaign.Penguin Pocket On This Day Penguin Reference Library 0-14-102715-0 2006 November – BBC2 begins broadcasting across Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. December 13 December – The children's storytelling series Jackanory makes its debut on BBC1.Jackanory – BBC1 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e28d754cbdc4492b908299963578fc75 13 July 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 13 December 1965 BBC Genome Project It runs until 1996Jackanory – BBC2 https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f8054164ba434084bb68808e4ab1ecf1 13 July 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 24 March 1996 BBC Genome Project and is briefly revived in 2006.Jackanory – BBC One https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9845160223d947b69a34404362eb8ad3 13 July 2026 Radio Times London, United Kingdom 27 November 2006 BBC Genome Project 20 December – Anglia starts broadcasting on VHF channel 20 from Belmont transmitting station, extending coverage into Lincolnshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire and northern parts of Norfolk. 25 December – Christmas Day: ITV shows the American animated Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, narrated by Burl Ives. The episode of Doctor Who broadcast on BBC1, "The Feast of Steven", is a largely self-contained comedic one which concludes with the Doctor breaking the fourth wall to wish viewers a happy Christmas.Wright Mark 2017 Galaxy 4, Mission to the Unknown, The Myth Makers and The Daleks' Master Plan 110, 133–134, 145 Doctor Who: The Complete History Panini Comics London 6 47 2057-6048 Undated The Membury transmitting station in Berkshire is erected by the Independent Television Authority. Debuts BBC1 6 January – Jonny Quest (1964–1965) 9 January – Not Only... But Also (1965–1970) 28 February – Alexander Graham Bell (1965) 2 March – The Walrus and the Carpenter (1965) 22 March – A Man Called Harry Brent (1965) 24 March – The Airbase (1965) 27 March – The Flying Swan (1965) 31 March – Going for a Song (1965–1977, 1995–2002) 8 April – The Wars of the Roses (1965) 11 April – A Tale of Two Cities (1965) 13 April – The Bed-Sit Girl (1965–1966) 18 April – And So to Ted (1965) 23 April – Lil (1965–1966) 30 May – The World of Wooster (1965–1967) 5 June – The Val Doonican Show (1965–1970) 20 June – Poison Island (1965) 24 June – The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964–1968) 6 July – The Lance Percival Show (1965–1966) 7 July – The Troubleshooters (1965–1972) 7 July – Tomorrow's World (1965–2003) 15 July – The Illustrated Weekly Hudd (1965–1967) 22 July – Till Death Us Do Part (1965–1975) 29 July – Pogles Wood (1965–1968) 1 August – Heiress of Garth (1965) 3 August – 199 Park Lane (1965) 4 August – The Wednesday Thriller (1965) 26 August – Moulded in Earth (1965) 12 September – Hereward the Wake (1965) 2 October – BBC-3 (1965–1966) 4 October – United! (1965–1967) 4 October – 24 Hours (1965–1972) 5 October – The Newcomers (1965–1969) 6 October – Hector Heathcote (1959–1963) 8 October – The Mask of Janus (1965) 9 October – The Munsters (1964–1966) 12 October – The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1965–1966) 16 October – Get Smart (1965–1970) 18 October – The Magic Roundabout (1965–1977) 19 October – Play of the Month (1965–1983) 23 November – Hudd (1965) 13 December – Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006) 17 December – Barney Is My Darling (1965–1966) BBC2 9 January – Not Only... But Also (1965–1966; 1970) 18 January – Hit and Run (1965) 27 January – Night Train to Surbiton (1965) 11 February – Naked Island (1965) 21 February – The Mill on the Floss (1965) 22 March – A Man Called Harry Brent (1965) 5 May – Call It What You Like (1965) 9 May – The Scarlet and the Black (1965) 13 May – Londoners (1965) 13 June – The Rise and Fall of César Birotteau (1965) 11 July – Jury Room (1965) 19 July – Legend of Death (1965) 31 July – Gaslight Theatre (1965) 8 September – A Slight Case of... (1965) 2 October – For Whom the Bell Tolls (1965) 4 October – Out of the Unknown (1965–1971) 7 October – Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965–1973) 17 October – Call My Bluff (1965–1988, 1994, 1996–2005) 17 October – An Enemy of the State (1965) 4 November – Man Alive (1965–1981) 5 December – The Big Spender (1965–1966) ITV 2 January – World of Sport (1965–1985) 19 January – Front Page Story (1965) 23 January – Public Eye (1965–1975) 23 February – Mr and Mrs (1965–1988; 1995–1999) 27 February – The Worker (1965–1970; 1978) 13 April – Orlando (1965–1968) 30 April – Six Shades of Black (1965) 8 May – Undermind (1965) 2 June – Pardon the Expression (1965–1966) 11 June – The Man in Room 17 (1965–1966) 16 June – Deckie Learner (1965) 2 August – Riviera Police (1965) 11 August – Six of the Best (1965) 21 August – Broad and Narrow (1965) 21 August – The Frankie Vaughan Show (1965–1966) 10 September – Blackmail (1965–1966) 30 September – Thunderbirds (1965–1966) 1 October – The Addams Family (1964–1966) 2 October Lost in Space (1965–1968, 2018–2021) Knock on Any Door (1965–1966) 19 October –Object Z (1965) 8 November – My Mother the Car (1965–1966) 13 December – The Power Game (1965–1969) 16 December – Court Martial (1965–1966) 25 December – The Bruce Forsyth Show (1965–1969) Unknown Flipper (1964–1967) Peyton Place (1964–1969) Television shows Changes of network affiliation Shows Moved from Moved toMatch of the DayBBC2BBC1 Continuing television shows 1920s BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–2024) 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 The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971) Come Dancing (1949–1998) 1950s Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005) Watch with Mother (1952–1975) The Good Old Days (1953–1983) Panorama (1953–present) Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955–1967, 1973–1974) Take Your Pick! (1955–1968, 1992–1998) Double Your Money (1955–1968) Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1976) Crackerjack (1955–1970, 1972–1984, 2020–2021) ITV Wimbledon (1956–1968) Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990) This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992) Armchair Theatre (1956–1974)Mark Duguid "Armchair Theatre (1956–74)", BFI screenonline 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 The Flintstones (1960–1966) Coronation Street (1960–present) The Avengers (1961–1969) Songs of Praise (1961–present) Hugh and I (1962–1967) The Saint (1962–1969) Z-Cars (1962–1978) Animal Magic (1962–1983) Ready Steady Go! (1963–1966) Doctor Who (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present) World in Action (1963–1998) The Likely Lads (1964–1966) Redcap (1964–1966) The Wednesday Play (1964–1970) Top of the Pops (1964–2006) Match of the Day (1964–present) Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003) Play School (1964–1988) Ending this year Rag, Tag and Bobtail (1953–1965) Picture Book (1955–1965) Monitor (1958–1965) Noggin the Nog (1959–1965, 1966–1982) Sykes and a... (1960–1965) Compact (1962–1965) Steptoe and Son (1962–1965, 1970–1974) The Beat Room (1964–1965) Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life (1964–1965) The Sullavan Brothers (1964–1965) Births 4 January – Julia Ormond, British actress 9 January – Joely Richardson, British actress 14 January – Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, English chef 15 January – James Nesbitt, Northern Irish actor 27 January – Alan Cumming, Scottish actor 22 February – John Leslie, television presenter 26 February – Alison Armitage, English model and actress 11 March – Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen, British television presenter 22 March – Emma Wray, actress 30 March – Piers Morgan, British tabloid journalist 4 April – Sean Wilson, British actor 21 April – Jacquie Beltrao, sports presenter 26 April – Juliet Morris, presenter 27 April – Anna Chancellor, British actress 29 April – Rosie Rowell, actress 3 May – Michael Marshall Smith, novelist, screenwriter and short story writer 17 May Alice Beer, television presenter Jeremy Vine, British BBC radio and television presenter 19 June – Simon O'Brien, television actor and radio presenter 4 July – Jo Whiley, broadcast music presenter 8 July – Matthew Wright, journalist and television presenter 6 August – Mark Speight, British television presenter (died 2008) 16 September – Lorne Spicer, presenter (Cash in the Attic) 24 September – Sheryl Gascoigne, television personality 14 October – Steve Coogan, British comedian and actor 15 October – Stephen Tompkinson, British actor 31 October – Rob Rackstraw, British voice actor 4 November – Shaun Williamson, British actor 10 November – Sean Hughes, English-born Irish comedian (died 2017) 12 November – Eddie Mair, British BBC radio and television presenter 16 November – Mark Benton, actor 21 November – Alexander Siddig, Sudanese-born actor Deaths 23 February – Stan Laurel, English-born comedian, surviving half of Laurel and Hardy, aged 74 22 December – Richard Dimbleby, journalist and broadcaster, aged 52, testicular cancer See also 1965 in British music 1965 in British radio 1965 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1965 References External links List of 1965 British television series at IMDb 1965