# List of early colour TV shows in the UK

Below is a list of early colour TV shows produced in the UK between the late 1950s up to 1970, by which point the majority of programmes were being produced in colour. The list features titles of shows, TV companies, transmission dates, formats and their archival status; noting whether they are lost, partially or mostly missing or have episodes that exist in B&W. Also included are some programmes which had one-off transmissions, where applicable.
BBC2 was the first European broadcaster to show colour programmes from 1 July 1967, ahead of ITV and BBC1, who both began broadcasting in colour from 15 November 1969. This list includes shows that were recorded in colour but whose first UK broadcast was in black-and-white; most of these shows were sold to US networks who were already broadcasting in colour.

## Pre 1966

| Title | Company | TX | Format | Archival Status |
| The Adventures of Sir Lancelot | ITC Entertainment | 1956–57 | Film | Exists |
| Stingray | ITC Entertainment | 1964–65 | Film | Exists |
| Thunderbirds | ITC Entertainment | 1965–66 | Film | Exists |

## 1966

| Title | Company | TX | Format | Archival Status |
| Hippodrome Show | ITV (ATV) | 1966 | Video tape (VT) | Some episodes |
| The Palladium Show | ITV (ATV) | 1966–69 (1 test episode) | VT | Exists |
| The Baron | ITC Entertainment | 1966–67 | Film | Exists |
| The Saint | ITC Entertainment | 1962–69 (Series 5–6) | Film | Exists |

## 1967

| Title | Company | TX | Format | Archival Status |
| Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons | ITC Entertainment | 1967–68 | Film | Exists |
| Half Hour Story | ITV (Rediffusion) | 1967–68 (1 test episode) | Film | Exists |
| Horizon | BBC2 | 1964–present (Series 4 onwards) | Film/ VT | Most episodes exist |
| Late Night Line Up | BBC2 | 1964–72 (Jun 67 onwards) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Man In a Suitcase | ITC Entertainment | 1967–68 | Film | Exists |
| Once More With Felix | BBC2 | 1967–70 | VT | Some episodes exist |
| The Piccadilly Palace | ITV (ATV) | 1967 | VT | Some episodes exist |
| The Avengers | ITV (ABC/Thames) | 1961–69 (Series 5–6) | Film | All colour episodes exist |
| The Black and White Minstrel Show | BBC2 | 1958–78 (Series 10–20) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| The Flower of Gloster | ITV (Granada) | 1967 | Film | Exists |
| The Prisoner | ITC Entertainment | 1967–68 | Film | Exists |
| Theatre 625 | BBC2 | 1964–68 (Series 5) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Wimbledon Tennis Championships | BBC1/2 | 1937–present (1967 onwards) | VT | Most colour transmissions exist |
| Vanity Fair | BBC2 | 1967–68 | VT | Exists |

## 1968

| Title | Company | TX | Format | Archival Status |
| 1968 Summer Olympics | BBC1/2 | 1968 | VT | Exists |
| Bobbie Gentry | BBC2 | 1968–71 | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Broaden Your Mind | BBC2 | 1968–69 | VT | Lost |
| Call My Bluff | BBC2 | 1965–2005 | VT | Most episodes |
| Cold Comfort Farm | BBC2 | 1968 | VT | Exists |
| Colour Me Pop | BBC2 | 1968–69 | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Danger Man | ITC Entertainment | 1960–68 (Series 4) | Film | Exists |
| Gardeners’ World | BBC2 | 1968–present | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Goodbye Again | ITV (ATV) | 1968 | VT | Exists |
| In Their Own Words | BBC2 | 1968 | Film | Exists |
| Marty | BBC2 | 1968–69 | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Jazz at the Maltings | BBC2 | 1968–69 | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Joe 90 | ITC Entertainment | 1968–69 | Film | Exists |
| Late Night Horror | BBC2 | 1968 | VT | One episode exists |
| Man Alive | BBC2 | 1965–82 (Series 3–16) | Film/VT | Most episodes exist |
| One Pair of Eyes | BBC2 | 1967–84 (Series 2 onwards) | Film | Exists |
| Ooh La La | BBC2 | 1968–73 | VT | Series 3 only |
| Scott On... | BBC2 | 1964–74 (Series 2–5) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Sherlock Holmes | BBC2 | 1965–68 (Series 2) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| The Champions | ITC Entertainment | 1968–69 | Film | Exists |
| The Dave Allen Show | BBC1/2 | 1968–69 | VT | Most episodes exist |
| The Eurovision Song Contest | Various | 1957–present (1968 onwards) | VT | Most transmissions exist |
| The Morecambe & Wise Show | BBC1/2 | 1968–77 | VT | Most episodes exist |
| The World of Beachcomber | BBC2 | 1968 | VT | Lost |

## 1969

| Title | Company | TX | Format | Archival Status |
| All Gas and Gaiters | BBC1 | 1967–71 (Series 3–5) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Cilla | BBC1 | 1968–76 (Series 3–8) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Civilisation | BBC2 | 1969 | Film | Exists |
| Coronation Street | ITV (Granada) | 1960–present (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Exists |
| Crossroads | ITV (ATV/Central) | 1964–88 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Curry and Chips | ITV (LWT) | 1969 | VT | Exists |
| Dad's Army | BBC1 | 1968–77 (Series 3–9) | VT | All colour episodes exist |
| Dee Time | BBC1 | 1967–70 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | No colour episodes exist |
| Department S | ITC Entertainment | 1969–70 | Film | Exists |
| Dixon of Dock Green | BBC1 | 1955–76 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Doctor in the House | ITV (LWT) | 1969–70 | VT | Exists |
| Frost on Sunday | ITV (LWT) | 1968–70 (Oct 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Girls About Town | ITV (ATV) | 1969–71 | VT | Exists |
| Grandstand | BBC1 | 1958–2007 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Hadleigh | ITV (Yorkshire) | 1969–76 | VT | Exists |
| Lift Off with Ayshea | ITV (Granada) | 1969–74 | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Magpie | ITV (Thames) | 1968–80 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Match of the Day | BBC1/2 | 1964 – present (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Monty Python's Flying Circus | BBC1 | 1969–74 | VT | Exists |
| Mr Digby Darling | ITV (Yorkshire) | 1969–71 (Series 2–3) | VT | Exists |
| Nearest and Dearest | ITV (Granada) | 1968–73 (Series 3–7) | VT | Exists |
| Not in Front of the Children | BBC1 | 1967–70 (Series 4) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Out of the Unknown | BBC2 | 1965–71 (Series 3–4) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Panorama | BBC1 | 1953–present (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Parkin's Patch | ITV (Yorkshire) | 1969–70 | VT | Exists |
| Paul Temple | BBC1/ ZDF | 1969–71 | VT | Some episodes exist |
| Please Sir! | ITV (LWT) | 1968–72 (Series 2–4) | VT | Exists |
| Pop Go the Sixties | BBC1/ ZDF | TX: 31/12/1969 | VT | Exists |
| Pot Black | BBC2 | 1969–2007 | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Prince Charles Investiture | BBC2 | TX: 1/7/1969 | VT | Exists |
| Public Eye | ITV (ABC/ Thames) | 1965–72 (Series 4–7) | VT/Film | All Colour Episodes exist |
| Q... | BBC2 | 1969–82 | VT | Most episodes exist |
| Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) | ITC Entertainment | 1969–70 | Film | Exists |
| Sez Les | ITV (Yorkshire) | 1969–76 (Series 2–11) | VT | Series 3–11 exists |
| Softly Softly: Taskforce | BBC1 | 1969–76 | VT | Exists |
| Strange Report | ITC Entertainment | 1969–70 | Film | Exists |
| The Big Match | ITV | 1968–92 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| The Dick Emery Show | BBC1 | 1963–81 (Dec 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| The Gnomes of Dulwich | BBC2 | 1969 | VT | Lost |
| The Golden Shot | ITV (ATV) | 1967–75 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Some episodes exist |
| The Good Old Days | BBC1 | 1953–83 (Dec 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes exist |
| The Secret Service | ITC Entertainment | 1969 | VT | Exists |
| The Sky at Night | BBC1 | 1957–present (Dec 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| The Sooty Show | ITV (Thames) | 1968–92 (Dec 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| The Wednesday Play | BBC1 | 1964–70 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT/Film | Most episodes |
| The Worker | ITV (ATV/Thames) | 1965–78 (Series 3–5) | VT | Most episodes |
| This Is Your Life | ITV (Thames)/ BBC1 | 1955–64, 1969–2003, 2007 (Series 10 onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| Take Three Girls | BBC1 | 1969–71 | VT | Some episodes |
| This Is Tom Jones | ITV (ATV) | 1969–71 | VT | Exists |
| Tomorrow's World | BBC1 | 1965–2003 (1970 onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| Top of the Pops | BBC1/2 | 1964–2006 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| Up Pompeii! | BBC1/ ITV (Thames) | 1969–91 | VT | Exists |
| Where Was Spring? | BBC2 | 1969–70 | VT | Lost |
| World of Sport | ITV | 1965–85 (Nov 69 onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| World in Ferment | BBC2 | 1969 | VT | Audio Only |

## 1970

| Title | Company | TX | Format | Archival Status |
| A Family at War | ITV (Granada) | 1970–72 | VT | Exists |
| A Question of Sport | BBC1 | 1968–present (Series 1 onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| Albert and Victoria | ITV (Yorkshire) | 1970–71 | VT | Exists |
| Armchair Theatre | ITV (ABC/ Thames) | 1956–74 (Series 10–16) | VT | Most episodes |
| Bachelor Father | BBC1 | 1970–71 | VT | Exists |
| Barry Humphries’ Scandals | BBC2 | 1970 | VT | Lost |
| Braden's Week | BBC1 | 1968–72 (Series 3–4) | VT | Some Episodes |
| Blue Peter | BBC1 | 1958–present (Sept 70 onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| Callan | ITV (ABC/ Thames) | 1967–72 (Series 3–4) | VT | All Colour Episodes |
| Dear Mother...Love Albert | ITV (Thames/ Yorkshire) | 1969–72 | VT | Series 2–4 |
| Disco 2 | BBC2 | 1970–1 | VT | Some episodes |
| Doctor Who | BBC1 | 1963 – present (Season 7 onwards) | VT | All Colour Episodes |
| Dr. Finlay's Casebook | BBC1 | 1962–71 (Series 8) | VT | Some episodes |
| Father Dear Father | ITV (Thames) | 1968–73 (Series 3–7) | VT | Exists |
| Freewheelers | ITV (Southern) | 1968–73 Series 4–8 | VT | Most episodes |
| FIFA World Cup – 1970 | BBC/ ITV | 1970 | VT | Most transmissions exist |
| For the Love of Ada | ITV (LWT) | 1970–71 | VT | Exists |
| Hark at Barker | ITV (LWT) | 1969–70 Series 2 | VT | Exists |
| How! | ITV (Southern) | 1966–81 (Series 4–17) | VT | Some episodes |
| It's Cliff Richard | BBC1 | 1970–76 | VT | Most episodes |
| Jokers Wild | ITV (Yorkshire) | 1969–74 (Series 2–9) | VT | Exists |
| Manhunt | ITV (LWT) | 1970 | VT | Exists |
| Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width | ITV (ABC/ Thames) | 1967–71 (Series 4–6) | VT | Exists |
| No – That's Me Over Here! | ITV (Rediffusion/ LWT) (Series 3) | 1967–70 | VT | Series 3 only |
| Not Only, But Also | BBC2 | 1965–70 (Series 3) | VT | Some episodes |
| Oh Brother! | BBC1 | 1968–70 (Series 3) | VT | All colour episodes exist |
| Oh In Colour! | BBC2 | 1970 | VT | Exists |
| On the Buses | ITV (LWT) | 1969–73 (Series 3–7) | VT | Exists |
| Play For Today | BBC1 | 1970–84 | VT/Film | Most episodes |
| Queenie's Castle | ITV (Yorkshire) | 1970–72 | VT | Exists |
| Steptoe and Son | BBC1 | 1962–65, 1970–74 (Series 5–8) | VT | Exists |
| That's Your Funeral | BBC1 | 1970–1 | VT | Exists |
| The Adventures of Rupert Bear | ITC Entertainment | 1970–77 | Film | Exists |
| The Dustbinmen | ITV (Granada) | 1969–70 (Series 3–4) | VT | Most episodes |
| The Goodies | BBC2/ ITV (LWT) | 1970–82 | VT | Most episodes |
| The Kenny Everett Explosion | ITV (LWT) | 1970 | VT | Fragment exists |
| The Lovers | ITV (Granada) | 1970–71 | VT | Exists |
| The Misfit | ITV (ATV) | 1970–71 | VT | Exists |
| Till Death Us Do Part | BBC1 | 1965–75 (Election Special onwards) | VT | Most episodes |
| Timeslip | ITV (ATV) | 1970–71 | VT | Exists |
| Two in Clover | ITV (Thames) | 1969–70 (Series 2) | VT | Exists |
| UFO | ITC Entertainment | 1970 | Film | Exists |
| Z-Cars | BBC1 | 1962–65, 1967–78 (Series 6–12) | VT | Some episodes |