1956 in British television

This is a list of British television related events from 1956.

Events

• 17 February – The Midlands becomes the first part of the UK outside London to receive ITV, when ATV Midlands begins broadcasting their weekday franchise. The weekend franchise, ABC, appears a day later.
• 28 March – Television transmissions begin from the new Crystal Palace site in south London
• 3 May – Granada Television begins broadcasting, extending ITV's coverage to Northern England. ABC's weekend franchise appears two days later.
• 6 July – Hancock's Half Hour debuts on the BBC Television Service.
• 8 July – The anthology drama series Armchair Theatre, produced by ABC Television for the ITV network, begins its long run (until 1974).^[1]
• 15 September – The Adventures of Sir Lancelot debuts on ITV. After being sold to the NBC network in the United States, it later becomes the first British television series ever to be made in colour.

Debuts

BBC Television Service/BBC TV

• 4 July – Abigail and Roger (1956)
• 6 July – Hancock's Half Hour (1956–1961)

ITV

• 6 January – This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)
• 27 April – The Tony Hancock Show (1956–1957)
• 20 June – Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)
• 8 July – Armchair Theatre (1956–1980)
• 20 July – My Husband and I (1956)
• 15 September – The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956–1957)
• 17 September – The Adventures of Aggie (1956–1957)
• 5 November – What the Papers Say (1956–2008)

Television shows

1940s

• Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

• Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005)
• What's My Line? (1951–1963)
• Flower Pot Men (1952–1958, 2001–2002)
• Watch with Mother (1952–1973)
• The Appleyards (1952–1957)
• All Your Own (1952–1961)
• Rag, Tag and Bobtail (1953–1965)
• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• Panorama (1953–present)
• The Grove Family (1954–1957)
• Zoo Quest (1954–1963)
• The Woodentops (1955–1958)
• The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1960)
• Picture Book (1955–1965)
• 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 (1955–1984)

Ending this year

• Fabian of the Yard (1954–1956)

Births

• 6 January – Angus Deayton, actor and television presenter
• 9 January – Imelda Staunton, actress
• 14 February – Tom Watt, radio presenter, journalist and actor
• 11 March – Helen Rollason, sports journalist and television presenter (died 1999)
• 19 April – Sue Barker, tennis player and television presenter
• 26 April – Koo Stark, actress
• 13 May – Richard Madeley, television presenter
• 28 May – Julie Peasgood, actress, author and television presenter
• 1 June – Louise Plowright, actress (died 2016)^[2]
• 10 October – Amanda Burton, actress
• 30 October – Juliet Stevenson, actress
• 28 November – Lucy Gutteridge, actress
• 7 December – Anna Soubry, television journalist, barrister and politician

References