This is a list of British television related events from 1952.
Events January 16 January – Sooty, Harry Corbett's glove puppet bear, first appears on the BBC Television Service.
February 1 February – The GPO's first TV detector van is demonstrated. It is designed to track down users of unlicensed television sets. 15 February – State funeral of George VI: The funeral procession through London is televised in the UK, but not the ceremony inside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. 19 February – The BBC Children's Department begins screening the series Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School with scripts by 'Frank Richards' (Charles Hamilton), author of the original Greyfriars School stories, and Gerald Campion (aged 29) playing Billy Bunter (aged 14/15). Originally they are broadcast live, with a second performance later on the same evening.BBC Genome: Billy Bunter of Greyfriars.
March 14 March – The BBC Television Service is launched in Scotland.
July 20 July – Arrow to the Heart, the first collaboration between director Rudolph Cartier and scriptwriter Nigel Kneale, is broadcast on the BBC Television Service.
August 15 August – The original Wenvoe transmitting station in the Vale of Glamorgan begins transmitting BBC Television to south Wales and the west of England.The Glamorgan Advertiser, Maesteg, 22 August 1952, page 9.
October 21 October – BBC Television's main football commentator Jimmy Jewell dies after suffering a stroke.
December 15 December – Children's puppet series Bill and Ben, The Flower Pot Men premieres on the BBC Television Service, de facto start of Watch with Mother (although this is not so named until April 1953). 20 December – The Wenvoe transmitting station begins broadcasting on full power. 31 December – BBC television ends the day with New Year's Eve Party from St Thomas' Hospital, London, hosted by Richard Dimbleby. December – For the Children comes to an end after 15 years in 2 separate runs.
Debuts 19 February – Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School (1952–1961) 15 March – The Broken Horseshoe (1952) 30 July – My Wife Jacqueline (1952) 2 October – The Appleyards (1952–1957) 25 October – Operation Diplomat (1952) 4 November – Huckleberry Finn (1952) 18 December – The Flower Pot Men (1952–1958, 2001–2002) 28 December – Markheim (1952) 30 December – The Silver Swan (1952–1953) Unknown All Your Own (1952–1961) Animal, Vegetable, Mineral? (1952–1959) The Howerd Crowd (1952)
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 Kaleidoscope (1946–1953) Muffin the Mule (1946–1955, 2005–2006) Café Continental (1947–1953) Television Newsreel (1948–1954) The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971) Come Dancing (1949–1998) How Do You View? (1949–1953)
1950s Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005)
Ending this year Picture Page (1936–1939, 1946–1952) For the Children (1937–1939, 1946–1952)
Births 29 January Tim Healy, actor Samir Shah, Indian-born television executive 2 March – John Altman, actor 4 April – Cherie Lunghi, actress 9 May – Patrick Ryecart, actor 22 June – Alastair Stewart, ITN journalist and newscaster 11 July – John Kettley, weatherman 22 September – Gary Holton, actor and musician (died 1985) 27 September – Rob Bonnet, BBC sports presenter and journalist 30 September – Jack Wild, actor (died 2006) 4 October – Kirsten Cooke, actress 9 October – Sharon Osbourne, music manager and promoter and television personality and presenter 3 December – Mel Smith, comic actor and director (died 2013) 10 December – Clive Anderson, comedy writer and radio and television personality 20 December – Jenny Agutter, actress
See also 1952 in British music 1952 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1952
References
External links List of 1952 British television series at IMDb