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 television soap opera, debuts on the BBC Television Service. 21 April – The BBC Television comedy sketch programme Running Wild 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, adapted by Nigel Kneale and starring Peter Cushing. The Sunday broadcast proves controversial however and attracts some criticism in the House of Commons. Screened live, a second production takes place 4 days later. 21 December – The BBC begins broadcasting the first series of nature documentary Zoo Quest, the first major programme to feature David Attenborough as a presenter. 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) 8 April – The Cisco Kid (1950–1956) 9 April – The Grove Family (1954–1957) 21 April – Running Wild (1954) 8 May – The Pat Kirkwood Show (1954) 11 May – The Windmill Family (1954) 12 May The Dancing Bear (1954) Fast and Loose (1954–1955) 23 May – The Promised Years (1954) May – Ask Pickles (1954–1956) 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) 27 July – Misalliance (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) 5 October – The Face of Love (1954) 21 October – The Burning Bush (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 – Meet David Berglas 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–present)
1930s Trooping the Colour (1937–1939, 1946–2019, 2023–present) The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present) BBC Cricket (1939, 1946–1999, 2020–2024)
1940s Muffin the Mule (1946–1955, 2005–2006) The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971) 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 (died 2026) 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 21 August – Clive Tyldesley, football commentator 26 August – Steve Wright, broadcaster (died 2024) 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