This is a list of British television-related events from 1940.

Events

British television did not broadcast in 1940. Television had been suspended since 1939 for the duration of the Second World War, due to fears that the signals would help German bombers. Television broadcasting resumed in 1946.

Births 19 January – Mike Reid, entertainer, comedian and actor (died 2007) 22 January – John Hurt, actor (died 2017) 2 February – David Jason, born David White, actor 6 February – Jimmy Tarbuck, comedian 12 February – Ralph Bates, English actor (died 1991) 20 February – Jimmy Greaves, footballer and television pundit (died 2021) 22 February – Judy Cornwell, English actress 2 April – Penelope Keith, actress (died 2026) 10 April – Gloria Hunniford, Northern Irish television and radio presenter and singer 24 April – Chris Kelly, English television host and producer 7 June – Ronald Pickup, actor (died 2021) 16 June – Carole Ann Ford, actress 20 June – John Mahoney, actor (died 2018 in the United States) 22 June – Esther Rantzen, consumer affairs journalist, television presenter and campaigner (died 2026) 23 June – Adam Faith, born Terry Nelhams, pop singer, screen actor and financial journalist (died 2003) 27 June – Eric Richard, actor 11 July – Tommy Vance, born Richard Weston, DJ and TV music presenter (died 2005) 13 July – Patrick Stewart, actor 17 July – Tim Brooke-Taylor, broadcast comedy performer (died 2020) 28 July – Brigit Forsyth, actress (died 2023) 31 July – Roy Walker, Northern Irish comedian 16 August – John Craven, journalist and television presenter 3 September – Pauline Collins, character actress 9 October – John Lennon, rock singer-songwriter, screen actor and activist (killed 1980 in the United States) 14 October Cliff Richard, born Harry Webb in British India, pop singer and film actor Christopher Timothy, Welsh actor, television director and writer 19 October – Michael Gambon, Irish-born actor (died 2023) 29 October – Jack Shepherd, actor, playwright, director and saxophonist 27 November – John Alderton, character actor 11 December – Tony Adams, Welsh actor (died 2025)

See also 1940 in British music 1940 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1940

References