This is a list of British television related events from 1948.
Events 5 January – Television Newsreel is first shown on the BBC Television Service.
3 June – A Laurel and Hardy short film is shown for the first time on the BBC Television Service. The 1929 comedy Perfect Day begins what would become decades long appearances of the comedy duo on the BBC.
29 July – The BBC Television Service begins its coverage of the Olympic Games in London by broadcasting the opening ceremony. From now until the closing ceremony on 14 August the BBC Television Service will broadcast an average three and a half hours a day of live coverage from the Games, using a special coaxial cable linking the main venue at Wembley Stadium to the television service's base at Alexandra Palace. This is the most ambitious sustained outside broadcast yet attempted by the BBC, but passes off with no serious problems.
Debuts 5 January – Television Newsreel (1948–1954) 8 February – Pygmalion (1948) 14 March – I Killed the Count (1948) 21 March – Men of Darkness (1948) 1 August – Kid Flanaghan (1948) 15 August – The Front Page (1948) Unknown – Television Dancing Club (1948–1962) (Dancing Club, 1963–1964)
Continuing television shows 1920s BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present)
1930s Picture Page (1936–1939, 1946–1952) For the Children (1937–1939, 1946–1952) Trooping the Colour (1937–1939, 1946–2019, 2023–present) The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present) BBC Cricket (1939, 1946–1999, 2020–present)
1940s Kaleidoscope (1946–1953) Muffin the Mule (1946–1955, 2005–2006) Café Continental (1947–1953)
Births 2 January – Deborah Watling, actress (died 2017) 19 January – Michael J. Jackson, actor 24 February – Dennis Waterman, actor (died 2022) 26 February – Roberta Taylor, actress (died 2024) 10 March – Richard Park, media personality and businessman 25 March – Lynn Faulds Wood, Scottish-born consumer affairs presenter (died 2020) 28 March – Matthew Corbett, television presenter and comedian 4 April – Derek Thompson, Northern Irish actor 12 April – Jeremy Beadle, television presenter, writer and producer (died 2008) 11 May – Pam Ferris, actress 16 May – Judy Finnigan, television presenter 31 May – Lynda Bellingham, actress and broadcaster (died 2014) 18 June – Philip Jackson, actor 8 August – Wincey Willis, broadcaster (died 2024) 19 September – Jeremy Irons, actor 27 September – Michele Dotrice, actress 3 November – Lulu, singer and entertainer 29 November – David Rintoul, actor 22 December – Noel Edmonds, television presenter and executive
Deaths 30 July — Hay Petrie, actor (born 1895)
See also 1948 in British music 1948 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1948
References
External links List of 1948 British television series at IMDb