List of early colour TV shows in the UK

Last updated

Below is a list of early colour TV [1] shows produced in the UK between the late 1950s up to 1970, [2] by which point the majority of programmes were being produced in colour. [3] 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. [4] Also included are some programmes which had one-off transmissions, where applicable.

Contents

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

TitleCompanyTXFormatArchival Status
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot ITC Entertainment 1956–57FilmExists
Stingray ITC Entertainment1964–65FilmExists
Thunderbirds ITC Entertainment1965–66FilmExists

1966

TitleCompanyTXFormatArchival Status
Hippodrome ShowITV (ATV)1966Video tape (VT)Some episodes [F 1]
The Palladium Show ITV (ATV)1966–69

(1 test episode)

VT Exists
The Baron ITC Entertainment1966–67FilmExists
The Saint ITC Entertainment1962–69

(Series 5–6)

FilmExists

1967

TitleCompanyTXFormatArchival Status
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons ITC Entertainment1967–68FilmExists
Half Hour StoryITV (Rediffusion) 1967–68

(1 test episode)

FilmExists [5]
Horizon BBC2 1964–present

(Series 4 onwards)

Film/ VTMost episodes exist
Late Night Line Up BBC21964–72

(Jun 67 onwards)

VTSome episodes exist
Man In a Suitcase ITC Entertainment1967–68FilmExists
Once More With Felix BBC21967–70VTSome episodes exist [F 2]
The Piccadilly Palace ITV (ATV)1967VTSome episodes exist [F 3]
The Avengers ITV (ABC/Thames)1961–69

(Series 5–6)

FilmAll colour episodes exist
The Black and White Minstrel Show BBC2 1958–78

(Series 10–20)

VTSome episodes exist
The Flower of Gloster ITV (Granada)1967FilmExists
The Prisoner ITC Entertainment1967–68FilmExists
Theatre 625 BBC21964–68

(Series 5)

VTSome episodes exist
Wimbledon Tennis Championships BBC1/21937–present

(1967 onwards)

VTMost colour transmissions exist
Vanity Fair BBC21967–68VTExists [F 4]

1968

TitleCompanyTXFormatArchival Status
1968 Summer Olympics BBC1/21968VTExists
Bobbie Gentry BBC21968–71VTSome episodes exist
Broaden Your Mind BBC21968–69VTLost [F 5]
Call My Bluff BBC21965–2005VTMost episodes
Cold Comfort Farm BBC21968VTExists
Colour Me Pop BBC21968–69VTSome episodes exist [F 6]
Danger Man ITC Entertainment1960–68

(Series 4)

FilmExists
Gardeners’ World BBC21968–presentVTMost episodes exist
Goodbye Again ITV (ATV)1968VTExists
In Their Own WordsBBC21968FilmExists
Marty BBC21968–69VTMost episodes exist
Jazz at the Maltings BBC21968–69VTSome episodes exist
Joe 90 ITC Entertainment1968–69FilmExists
Late Night Horror BBC21968VTOne episode exists
Man Alive BBC21965–82

(Series 3–16)

Film/VTMost episodes exist
One Pair of EyesBBC21967–84

(Series 2 onwards)

FilmExists
Ooh La LaBBC21968–73VTSeries 3 only
Scott On... BBC21964–74

(Series 2–5)

VTSome episodes exist
Sherlock Holmes BBC21965–68

(Series 2)

VTSome episodes exist
The Champions ITC Entertainment1968–69FilmExists
The Dave Allen Show BBC1/21968–69VTMost episodes exist
The Eurovision Song Contest Various1957–present

(1968 onwards)

VTMost transmissions exist [F 7]
The Morecambe & Wise Show BBC1/21968–77VTMost episodes exist
The World of Beachcomber BBC21968VTLost

1969

TitleCompanyTXFormatArchival Status
All Gas and Gaiters BBC1 1967–71

(Series 3–5)

VTSome episodes exist
Cilla BBC11968–76

(Series 3–8)

VTMost episodes exist
Civilisation BBC21969FilmExists
Coronation Street ITV (Granada)1960–present

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTExists
Crossroads ITV (ATV/Central)1964–88

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes exist [F 8]
Curry and Chips ITV (LWT)1969VTExists
Dad's Army BBC11968–77

(Series 3–9)

VTAll colour episodes exist
Dee Time BBC11967–70

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTNo colour episodes

exist

Department S ITC Entertainment1969–70FilmExists
Dixon of Dock Green BBC11955–76

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTSome episodes exist
Doctor in the House ITV (LWT)1969–70VTExists
Frost on Sunday ITV (LWT)1968–70

(Oct 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes exist
Girls About TownITV (ATV)1969–71VTExists
Grandstand BBC11958–2007

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes exist
Hadleigh ITV (Yorkshire)1969–76VTExists
Lift Off with Ayshea ITV (Granada)1969–74VTSome episodes exist
Magpie ITV (Thames)1968–80

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTSome episodes exist
Match of the Day BBC1/21964 – present

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes exist
Monty Python's Flying Circus BBC11969–74VTExists
Mr Digby Darling ITV (Yorkshire)1969–71

(Series 2–3)

VTExists
Nearest and Dearest ITV (Granada)1968–73

(Series 3–7)

VTExists
Not in Front of the Children BBC11967–70

(Series 4)

VTSome episodes exist
Out of the Unknown BBC21965–71

(Series 3–4)

VTSome episodes exist [F 9]
Panorama BBC11953–present

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes exist
Parkin's Patch ITV (Yorkshire)1969–70VTExists
Paul Temple BBC1/ ZDF 1969–71VTSome episodes exist
Please Sir! ITV (LWT)1968–72

(Series 2–4)

VTExists
Pop Go the Sixties BBC1/ ZDFTX: 31/12/1969VTExists
Pot Black BBC21969–2007VTMost episodes exist [F 10]
Prince Charles InvestitureBBC2TX: 1/7/1969VTExists
Public Eye ITV (ABC/ Thames)1965–72

(Series 4–7)

VT/FilmAll Colour Episodes

exist [F 11]

Q... BBC21969–82VTMost episodes exist
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) ITC Entertainment1969–70FilmExists
Sez Les ITV (Yorkshire)1969–76

(Series 2–11)

VTSeries 3–11 exists
Softly Softly: Taskforce BBC11969–76VTExists
Strange Report ITC Entertainment1969–70FilmExists
The Big Match ITV1968–92

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes exist
The Dick Emery Show BBC11963–81

(Dec 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes exist
The Gnomes of Dulwich BBC21969VTLost
The Golden Shot ITV (ATV)1967–75

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTSome episodes exist [F 12]
The Good Old Days BBC11953–83

(Dec 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes exist
The Secret Service ITC Entertainment1969VTExists
The Sky at Night BBC11957–present

(Dec 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes
The Sooty Show ITV (Thames)1968–92

(Dec 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes
The Wednesday Play BBC11964–70

(Nov 69 onwards)

VT/FilmMost episodes
The Worker ITV (ATV/Thames)1965–78

(Series 3–5)

VTMost episodes [F 13]
This Is Your Life ITV (Thames)/ BBC11955–64, 1969–2003, 2007

(Series 10 onwards)

VTMost episodes
Take Three Girls BBC11969–71VTSome episodes
This Is Tom Jones ITV (ATV)1969–71VTExists
Tomorrow's World BBC11965–2003

(1970 onwards)

VTMost episodes [F 14]
Top of the Pops BBC1/21964–2006

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes
Up Pompeii! BBC1/ ITV (Thames)1969–91VTExists [F 15]
Where Was Spring? BBC21969–70VTLost
World of Sport ITV 1965–85

(Nov 69 onwards)

VTMost episodes
World in FermentBBC21969VTAudio Only

1970

TitleCompanyTXFormatArchival Status
A Family at War ITV (Granada)1970–72VTExists [F 16]
A Question of Sport BBC11968–present

(Series 1 onwards)

VTMost episodes
Albert and Victoria ITV (Yorkshire)1970–71VTExists
Armchair Theatre ITV (ABC/ Thames)1956–74

(Series 10–16)

VTMost episodes
Bachelor Father BBC11970–71VTExists
Barry Humphries’ Scandals BBC21970VTLost
Braden's Week BBC11968–72

(Series 3–4)

VTSome Episodes
Blue Peter BBC11958–present

(Sept 70 onwards)

VTMost episodes
Callan ITV (ABC/ Thames)1967–72

(Series 3–4)

VTAll Colour Episodes
Dear Mother...Love Albert ITV (Thames/ Yorkshire)1969–72VTSeries 2–4
Disco 2 BBC21970–1VTSome episodes [F 17]
Doctor Who BBC11963 – present

(Season 7 onwards)

VTAll Colour Episodes [F 18]
Dr. Finlay's Casebook BBC11962–71

(Series 8)

VTSome episodes
Father Dear Father ITV (Thames)1968–73

(Series 3–7)

VTExists
Freewheelers ITV (Southern)1968–73

Series 4–8

VTMost episodes
FIFA World Cup – 1970 BBC/ ITV1970VTMost transmissions exist
For the Love of Ada ITV (LWT)1970–71VTExists
Hark at Barker ITV (LWT)1969–70

Series 2

VTExists [F 19]
How! ITV (Southern)1966–81

(Series 4–17)

VTSome episodes
It's Cliff Richard BBC11970–76VTMost episodes [F 20]
Jokers Wild ITV (Yorkshire)1969–74

(Series 2–9)

VTExists
Manhunt ITV (LWT)1970VTExists
Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width ITV (ABC/ Thames)1967–71

(Series 4–6)

VTExists
No – That's Me Over Here! ITV (Rediffusion/ LTW)

(Series 3)

1967–70VTSeries 3 only
Not Only, But Also BBC21965–70

(Series 3)

VTSome episodes
Oh Brother! BBC11968–70

(Series 3)

VTAll colour episodes exist
Oh In Colour! BBC21970VTExists
On the Buses ITV (LWT)1969–73

(Series 3–7)

VTExists
Play For Today BBC11970–84VT/FilmMost episodes [F 21]
Queenie's Castle ITV (Yorkshire)1970–72VTExists
Steptoe and Son BBC11962–65, 1970–74

(Series 5–8)

VTExists
That's Your Funeral BBC11970–1VTExists
The Adventures of Rupert Bear ITC Entertainment1970–77FilmExists
The Dustbinmen ITV (Granada)1969–70

(Series 3–4)

VTMost episodes
The Goodies BBC2/ ITV (LWT)1970–82VTMost episodes
The Kenny Everett Explosion ITV (LWT)1970VTFragment exists
The Lovers ITV (Granada)1970–71VTExists
The Misfit ITV (ATV)1970–71VTExists [F 22]
Till Death Us Do Part BBC11965–75

(Election Special onwards)

VTMost episodes
Timeslip ITV (ATV)1970–71VTExists [F 23]
Two in Clover ITV (Thames)1969–70

(Series 2)

VTExists
UFO ITC Entertainment1970FilmExists
Z-Cars BBC11962–65, 1967–78

(Series 6–12)

VTSome episodes [F 24]

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References

  1. Elen, Richard G. "TV Technology 8. Britain In Colour – and UHF". BFI Screenonline .
  2. Thomas, Howard (1977). Adding colour, with an Independent air. Weidenfeld & Nicolson via ABC at Large.
  3. Bowden-Smith, Kif (24 May 2004). "Colour My Life". Transdiffusion.
  4. "Kaleidoscope's TV Brain". TV Brain.
  5. Simon Coward, David Rolison (31 July 2016). "Experiments in colour and electronic film systems: George's Room (1967)". British Television Drama.

Footnotes

  1. The first in a series of shows ATV filmed in NTSC colour for US transmission, though shown in monochrome in the UK.
  2. Some episodes survive as inserts recorded by Bob Pratt, one complete episode survives as a B&W tele-recording.
  3. Filmed in NTSC for US transmission, the series was shown in B&W in the UK.
  4. The majority of episodes survive as NTSC copies.
  5. Some 35mm Colour film inserts exist.
  6. Three complete episodes survive in colour, an incomplete episode also exists.
  7. Parts of the 1970 contest exist in Monochrome.
  8. Some 1970–1 episodes were affected by the ITV Colour Strike.
  9. Some surviving colour episodes survive as B&W tele-recordings.
  10. A large number of episodes are missing from Series 1–8.
  11. The five episodes of Series 5 were shot in monochrome due to the ITV Colour Strike.
  12. Some episodes recovered from domestic videotape copies, courtesy of presenter, Bob Monkhouse.
  13. Series 5 consists of short sketches that featured on Bruce Forsyth's Big Night (1978–80). Some of the episodes have been recovered from VHS recordings.
  14. The majority of colour episodes are lost prior to 1981.
  15. All episodes survive as NTSC copies.
  16. Episodes 12–19 of Series 2 were affected by ITV Colour Strike.
  17. Some surviving episodes survive as B&W tele-recordings.
  18. Some colour episodes survive as NTSC copies, off-air tapes and B&W tele-recordings with chroma dots. Only one colour episode, The Mind of Evil pt1, has no surviving authentic colour image data - this episode has been recolourised.
  19. One episode 'Rustless on Law' (TX: 17/7/1970) survives a B&W tele-recording.
  20. Some episodes exist as B&W tele-recordings.
  21. Some episodes from Series 1–5 are missing, a few exist as B&W tele-recordings.
  22. All episodes survive as B&W tele-recordings.
  23. All but one episode survives as B&W tele-recordings.
  24. Some colour episodes exist as B&W tele-recordings.