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List of early colour TV shows in the UK

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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/ LTW)

(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

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.

External links

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