1981 in British television

This is a list of British television related events from 1981.

Events

• 5 January – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the television version of Douglas Adams' radio comedy of the same name debuts on BBC2.
• 21 March – After an unprecedented seven years starring in Doctor Who, Tom Baker makes his final appearance as the Fourth Doctor in Part 4 of Logopolis. Peter Davison makes his first appearance as the Fifth Doctor at the conclusion of that story.
• 4 April – Bucks Fizz was the winner of Eurovision Song Contest with the song, Making Your Mind Up.
• 27 July – In a specially timed event by the show's writers, Ken Barlow marries Deirdre Langton on Coronation Street, just two days before the real-life wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. The wedding of Ken and Deirdre is watched by over 24 million viewers in Britain.
• 29 July – The marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer takes place at St Paul's Cathedral. More than 30,000,000 viewers watch the wedding on television – the second highest television audience of all time in Britain.^[1][2]
• 8 September – BBC1 airs the first episode of the popular comedy series Only Fools and Horses starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst.
• 16 September – Debut of children's television series Postman Pat on BBC1. Episode 8 introduced a more authentic look to the Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd logos and more storybooks produced after 13 episodes being broadcast repeating on BBC1 and BBC2 made the programme (Postman Pat) more popular than usually expected.
• 28 September – Thames Television airs the first episode of Cosgrove Hall Films' children's animated series Danger Mouse with the lead character voiced by David Jason.
• 12 October – Brideshead Revisited, a television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel of the same name begins on ITV.
• 31 December – The final day on air for the ITV regional stations ATV, Southern, and Westward.
• BBC1 and The Open University aired computer generated clocks.

Debuts

BBC1

• 5 January Triangle (1981–1983)
• 10 February Pigeon Street (1981)
• 20 February – Finders Keepers (1981–1985)
• 4 March – The Life and Times of David Lloyd George (1981)
• 12 March – Sorry! (1981–1982, 1985–1988)
• 8 September – Only Fools and Horses (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996, 2001–2003, 2014)
• 16 September – Postman Pat (1981, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2004–2008)
• 18 October – Bergerac (1981–1991)
• 22 October – Tenko (1981, 1984–1985)

BBC2

• 5 January – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)

ITV

• 3 January – Punchlines (1981–1984)
• 9 January – The Gaffer (1981–1983)
• 2 June – Razzamatazz (1981–1987)
• 5 September – Take a Letter, Mr. Jones (1981)
• 26 September – Game for a Laugh (1981–1985)
• 28 September
  • Bullseye (1981–1995, 2006)
  • Danger Mouse (1981–1992, 2015–present)
• 29 September – Rod, Jane and Freddy (1981–1991)
• 12 October – Brideshead Revisited (1981)
• 23 October – That's My Boy (1981–1986)
• 1 November – A Fine Romance (1981–1984)
• 8 December – Freetime (1981–1985)

Television shows

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

• 1 March – Open All Hours (BBC2 1976, BBC1 1981–1982, 1985, 2013–)
• 9 April – Are You Being Served? (BBC1 1972, 1973–1979, 1981, 1983, 1985)

1940s

• Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• Panorama (1953–present)
• Crackerjack (1955–1984)
• What the Papers Say (1956–2008)
• The Sky at Night (1957–present)
• Blue Peter (1958–present)
• Grandstand (1958–2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street (1960–present)
• Songs of Praise (1961–present)
• Animal Magic (1962–1983)
• Doctor Who (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present)
• World in Action (1963–1998)
• Top of the Pops (1964–2006)
• Match of the Day (1964–present)
• Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
• Play School (1964–1988)
• Mr. and Mrs. (1964–1999, 2008–2010, 2012–present)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006–present)
• Sportsnight (1965–1997)
• Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
• It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001)
• The Money Programme (1966–present)
• ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)
• The Big Match (1968–2002)
• Nationwide (1969–1983)
• Screen Test (1969–1984)

1970s

• The Goodies (1970–1982)
• The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)
• The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)
• Clapperboard (1972–1982)
• Crown Court (1972–1984)
• Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986)
• Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1995)
• Emmerdale (1972–present)
• Newsround (1972–present)
• Weekend World (1972–1988)
• We Are the Champions (1973–1987)
• Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
• That's Life! (1973–1994)
• Tiswas (1974–1982)
• Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)
• Arena (1975–present)
• Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994)
• Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976–1982)
• Rentaghost (1976–1984)
• One Man and His Dog (1976–present)
• The Professionals (1977–1983)
• Strangers (1978–1982)
• Butterflies (1978–1983, 2000)
• 3-2-1 (1978–1988)
• Grange Hill (1978–2008)
• Dick Turpin (1979–1982)
• Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1979–1982)
• Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982)
• Only When I Laugh (1979–1982)
• Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982)
• Terry and June (1979–1987)
• The Book Tower (1979–1989)
• Blankety Blank (1979–1990, 1997–2002)
• The Paul Daniels Magic Show (1979–1994)
• Antiques Roadshow (1979–present)
• Question Time (1979–present)

1980s

• Into the Labyrinth (1980–1982)
• The Gentle Touch (1980–1984)
• Juliet Bravo (1980–1985)
• Cockleshell Bay (1980–1986)
• Children in Need (1980–present)
• Postman Pat (1981–2008)

Ending this year

• 1 March – Agony (1979–1981)
• 15 March – The Muppet Show (1976–1981)
• 31 March – Robin's Nest (1977–1981)
• 21 April – When the Boat Comes In (1976–1981)
• 29 April – The Life and Times of David Lloyd George (1981)
• 1 August – You're Only Young Twice (1977–1981)
• 3 September – It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981)
• 10 October – Take a Letter, Mr. Jones (1981)
• 29 November – To the Manor Born (1979–1981, 2007)
• 9 December – Postman Pat (1981, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2004–2008)
• 12 December – Worzel Gummidge (1979–1981)
• 17 December – Pigeon Street (1981)
• 21 December – Blake's 7 (1978–1981)
• 29 December – Pipkins (1973–1981)

Births

• 19 January – Thaila Zucchi, singer and actress
• 8 February – Helen Pearson, journalist and presenter
• 10 February
  • Max Brown, actor
  • Holly Willoughby, television presenter
• 1 April – Hannah Spearritt, actress and singer (S Club 7)
• 5 June – Jade Goody, reality show contestant and media personality (died 2009)
• 25 June – Sheridan Smith, actress
• 2 July – Angela Hazeldine, actress and musician
• 12 July – Rebecca Hunter, actress and singer
• 3 September – Fearne Cotton, radio and television presenter
• 5 September – Elize du Toit, actress
• 21 September – Jack Ryder, actor
• 25 September – Sarah Jayne Dunn, actress
• 10 October – Laura Tobin, broadcast meteorologist
• 19 December – Sam Bloom, actor and singer

Deaths

References