1954 in British television

1954 in British television
This is a list of British television related events from 1954.
Events
January
11 January – The first weather forecast with an in-vision presenter is televised in the United Kingdom, its first presenter is George Cowling.
February
No events.
March
No events.
April
9 April – The Grove Family, generally considered the first British TV soap opera, debuts on the BBC Television Service.
21 April – Running Wild on the BBC marks the debut of Morecambe and Wise on British television.
May
No events.
June
No events.
July
5 July – First actual news bulletin, News and Newsreel, aired on the BBC Television Service, replacing Television Newsreel.
30 July – The Television Act 1954 is given Royal Assent. It authorises the setting up of the infrastructure for British commercial television.
August
No events.
September
No events.
October
7 October – BBC Television covers a party political conference for the first time when it broadcasts from the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool.
November
12 November – The BBC opens Rowridge transmitting station on the Isle of Wight, bringing television coverage to the Solent area.
December
12 December – The BBC Television Service screens its acclaimed adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, starring Peter Cushing. The broadcast proves controversial however and attracts some criticism in the House of Commons. Screened live, a second production takes place 4 days later.
30 December – The first BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony is presented from London's Savoy Hotel. Christopher Chataway is the first winner. The award airs annually from now on.
The British Academy Television Awards, the most prestigious awards in the British television industry, are first awarded.
Debuts
BBC Television Service
5 January – A Castle and Sixpence (1954)
16 January – The Lost Planet (1954)
19 January – Show Case (1954–1955)
27 January – Friends and Neighbours (1954)
6 February – Clementina (1954)
16 February – The Cabin in the Clearing (1954)
17 February – The Bespoke Overcoat (1954)
30 March – The Wide, Wide World (1954)
31 March – Gravelhanger (1954)
9 April – The Grove Family (1954–1957)
21 April – Running Wild (1954)
11 May – The Windmill Family (1954)
12 May – The Dancing Bear (1954)
12 May – Fast and Loose (1954–1955)
23 May – The Promised Years (1954)
7 June – Emney Enterprises (1954–1957)
15 June – The Gentle Falcon (1954)
10 July – Happy Holidays (1954)
13 July – Dear Dotty (1954)
14 July – The Six Proud Walkers (1954)
3 August – Paradise Island (1954)
16 August – Stage by Stage (1954–1955)
25 August – Crime on Our Hands (1954)
1 October – And So to Bentley (1954)
13 November – Fabian of the Yard (1954–1956)
24 November – The Three Musketeers (1954)
12 December – Nineteen Eighty-Four (1954)
21 December – Zoo Quest (1954–1963)
24 December – Carols From Kings (1954–present)
Unknown –
Sportsview (1954-1968)
Walk in the Air (1954–1955)
Independent productions
The Halls of Ivy (produced by ITC Entertainment)
The Vise (produced by Danziger Productions)
Continuing television shows
1920s
BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–2024)
1930s
The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019)
BBC Cricket (1939, 1946–1999, 2020–2024)
1940s
Muffin the Mule (1946–1955, 2005–2006)
Come Dancing (1949–1998)
1950s
Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005)
Flower Pot Men (1952–1958, 2001–2002)
Watch with Mother (1952–1975)
The Appleyards (1952–1957)
All Your Own (1952–1961)
Rag, Tag and Bobtail (1953–1965)
The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
Panorama (1953–present)
Ending this year
Television Newsreel (1948–1954)
Births
6 January – John Sparkes, comedian
20 February – Anthony Head, actor
16 March – Jimmy Nail, actor and singer
17 March – Lesley-Anne Down, actress
28 April - Mary Jo Randle, actress
9 May – Nicholas Crane, geographer and TV presenter
21 June – Anne Kirkbride, actress (Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street) (died 2015)
16 July – Nicholas Frankau, actor
26 August – Steve Wright, broadcaster
27 August – Andrew Marshall, scriptwriter
8 September – Anne Diamond, journalist and television presenter
24 September
Helen Lederer, comedian and actress
Martin Sixsmith, journalist, author and radio and television presenter
3 October – Jeff Randall, journalist and television presenter
14 October – Carole Malone, journalist and presenter
19 October – Ken Stott, actor
24 November – Susan Gilmore, actress (Avril Rolfe in Howards' Way)
1 December – Alan Dedicoat, newsreader and the National Lottery's "Voice of the Balls"
5 December – Hanif Kureishi, novelist and screenwriter
22 December – Hugh Quarshie, actor
See also
1954 in British music
1954 in the United Kingdom
List of British films of 1954
References
External links
List of 1954 British television series at IMDb