This is a list of events that took place in 2014 related to British television.
Events
January Date Event150th anniversary of the first edition of Top of the Pops. Although an edition was aired on New Year's Eve 2013, the anniversary itself goes unmarked by the BBC because of the programme's association with the late Jimmy Savile.ITV screens the terrestrial television premiere of the concluding film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, which is watched by an average audience of 5.1 million. It is up against the series three premiere of Sherlock on BBC One, which is watched by an average of 9.2 million.2It is reported that newspaper proprietor Richard Desmond has appointed Barclays Bank to advise his company on the possible sale of Channel 5.Responding to a suggestion from former Channel 5 chief executive David Elstein that the BBC should introduce a subscription model for its services, the Corporation rejects the idea, saying it would exclude those who couldn't afford to pay for it.4It is reported that Only Fools and Horses will return for a one-off sketch that will air during the BBC's Sport Relief telethon in March.5Speaking on an edition of BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show, Prime Minister David Cameron declines an invitation from Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond to take part in a televised debate on Scottish independence ahead of September's referendum on the issue.Actor Sir Tony Robinson and TV historian and Labour MP Tristram Hunt criticise Education Secretary Michael Gove after he wrote in a Daily Mail article that "left-wing academics" were using the television series Blackadder "to feed myths" about World War I.6The media regulator Ofcom concludes that news coverage of the murder of Lee Rigby didn't breach broadcasting regulations, but issues new guidelines to news outlets on giving appropriate warnings before distressing content is aired.7Police are investigating death threats made against five people who featured in Channel 4's documentary Benefits Street. The programme also draws criticism for stereotyping people on welfare.The BBC issues a statement rejecting claims of political bias after an episode of Sherlock that aired on 5 January displayed a spoof newspaper article describing a fictional Mayor of London as "dithering, incoherent, and self-interested". Boris Johnson had suggested it was the broadcaster's raison d'être to attack Conservative politicians during an interview for London's LBC.Royal Mail releases a set of stamps celebrating 60 years of children's television from the BBC, ITV, Channels 4 and 5, featuring characters such as Bagpuss, Postman Pat and Bob the Builder.The Magic House celebrates its 20th anniversary.8The first episode of Benefits Street has attracted 300 complaints to the media regulator Ofcom and 400 to Channel 4. An online petition calling for the broadcaster to axe the remainder of the series has also been launched, so far attracting 3,000 signatures.The Advertising Standards Authority bans two commercials for logbook loans company Loans2Go that feature a man dressed as an Austrian singing a jingle to the tune of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow", deeming it an inappropriate way to sell expensive loans.Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt is confirmed as one of the contestants in the upcoming series of ITV's high-diving reality show, Splash!. Reports describe her party as being "relaxed" about her participation in the show, with the politician set to donate her appearance fee to charity.9Channel 4 announces plans for live broadcasts from the International Space Station, including the airing of a 90-minute orbit of the Earth.13West Midlands-born comedian Frank Skinner tells the Birmingham Mail that he turned down an offer to narrate Channel 4's Benefits Street because he had concerns about how people from Birmingham would be portrayed, and did not wish to criticise the city.15Sky introduces AdSmart, a system enabling customers to receive specifically targeted advertisements depending on income, lifestyle, geography, etc.Sky Sports presenter Charlie Webster speaks candidly about a sexual assault she suffered as a teenager during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live.Figures from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport indicate that jobs in the entertainment industry, which includes television, have increased by 8.6% over recent years, and now make up 5.6% of the UK workforce.BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson's tablet computer interrupts a heated debate about Prime Minister's Questions on the day's edition of Daily Politics when it begins playing the Queen song "Fat Bottomed Girls".17Channel 4 News broadcasts the only known recording of Cambridge spy Guy Burgess. It is the first time the material, recorded in New York in 1951, has been heard publicly, after it was released to City University London researchers by the US government.18The first edition of weekend breakfast show Scrambled! airs over three years after Toonattik, Action Stations! and The Fluffy Club had all ended.20Julie Hesmondhalgh makes her final appearance in Coronation Street as Hayley Cropper. As soap's first transgender character, Hayley was a regular in the series for several years, and helped to change public attitudes towards transgender issues. She is killed off in a dramatic and emotional right to die storyline after Hesmondhalgh decided to leave the show.22Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street is presented with the award for best serial drama performance at the 2014 National Television Awards for the soap's storyline which saw the character take her own life following a diagnosis of terminal cancer.24The BBC confirms that John Linwood, the Corporation's former head of technology was sacked in July 2013 over the failure of the Digital Media Initiative.27Granada Television weatherman Fred Talbot faces several charges related to a number of alleged sexual offences in a previous profession.29As part of a four-year deal with Sky, ITV announces the launch of ITV Encore, a pay-TV channel exclusive to Sky that will show recent ITV series and commission new material.A safety advert for Cycling Scotland is banned by the Advertising Standards Authority for showing a rider without a helmet.Comedian and television presenter Jim Davidson wins the thirteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother.30The Scottish Football Association agrees a new four-year deal with Sky Sports to show its matches in the UK and Ireland.Ashley Walters announces, during an interview with Charlie Sloth, on BBC Radio 1Xtra that his series Top Boy has been cancelled by Channel 4, after two series.
February Date Event3The Law Society of Scotland says it is in favour of allowing cameras into Scottish Courts, and suggests adopting the format used by New Zealand, where filming is left to the Judge's discretion.Joe McElderry wins the first series of The Jump.4Launch of Channel 5 +24, a channel that airs the previous day's primetime content from Channel 5.ITV airs the final edition of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? after more than 15 years. The following week, on 11 February, a compilation of some of the best bits of Millionaire is aired as part of Chris's Final Answer, a documentary taking a look at the show's history. The show is revived in 2018.5The BBC confirms that Sarah Smith will join BBC Scotland to present Scotland 2014, a 30-minute weeknight studio programme about the independence referendum. The programme replaces Newsnight Scotland from May, which will not return once Scotland 2014 ends in October.Debut of the dark comedy anthology series Inside No. 9 on BBC Two.6Sarah Smith criticises Twitter users who have accused her of anti-independence bias following the previous day's announcement of her new presenting role.Coronation Street actor William Roache is cleared of several accusations of historical sexual offences following a trial at Preston Crown Court. ITV says it will discuss his return to the soap.7Simon Cowell confirms he will return to The X Factor when the show returns later in the year.8In an interview for the following day's Observer, the BBC Director of Television, Danny Cohen says that the BBC will make no more all male panel shows. His announcement follows recommendations made by the BBC Trust in 2013 to boost the on screen presence of women.13Former BBC Radio 1 DJ and Top of the Pops presenter Dave Lee Travis is cleared of twelve historic counts of indecent assault, with the jury unable to reach a verdict on the remaining two. It is announced on 24 February that he will face a retrial on the remaining allegations, and on 28 March that he will face charges on another count.15Janice Hadlow will step down as joint Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four to take up a new role in charge of "special projects and seasons" at the BBC.Perri Kiely, a dancer with Diversity, wins the second series of Splash!.16ITV confirms plans for a three-part miniseries about the rise to fame of Cilla Black, which will star Sheridan Smith as Black.17Figures from Broadcasters' Audience Research Board indicate that people in the UK watched an average of 3 hours 55 minutes and 30 seconds of television a day in 2013, down nine minutes from 2012.It is announced that Lorraine Kelly will leave Daybreak to concentrate on presenting her self-titled show on ITV.Big Tobacco advertising returns to British television for the first time in almost 50 years as British American Tobacco launches a television, press and poster campaign for its electronic cigarette brand Vype.20The BBC announce that David Dimbleby and Huw Edwards will share the presenting of its 2015 general election coverage, with Dimbleby fronting the programme overnight from 10 pm on 7 May, and Edwards taking over at 7 am the following day. Dimbleby will then present a special post-election edition of Question Time on the evening of 8 May. The announcement is made after media speculation Dimbleby would be replaced by Edwards, although 2015 (Dimbleby's ninth election at the helm) is expected to be the last one he will cover.24A camera fault on the lunchtime edition of BBC Look North leads to presenter Caroline Bilton appearing to sink into the floor. Over the following four days, footage of the incident is watched on YouTube by three million viewers.25Media regulator Ofcom says it has launched an investigation into Benefits Street after the show generated more than 1,700 complaints.26Speaking at the Oxford Media Conference, Maria Miller, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport says Scotland will lose the BBC if it votes for independence in September.A third series of the BBC period crime drama Ripper Street, axed by the broadcaster in 2013, will be produced in Ireland by Amazon for its video on-demand service.28Actress Sheridan Smith will play journalist Lisa Lynch is a BBC adaptation of Lynch's 2010 book, The C-Word, which chronicles her fight against breast cancer.
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