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On This Day in TV History

17th June 2025

Miscellaneous
1959 The BBC Cablefilm system is put to its first official use when the Queen and President Eisenhower opened the St Lawrence seaway in 1959. The BBC Engineering Research and Designs Departments co-operated in designing and manufacturing two sets of equipment for sending and recording short pieces of 16mm film over a transatlantic music circuit. One set was installed in Canada and the other at Alexandra Palace.
Programmes
1961 The final episode of Billy Bunter of Greyfriar's School airs on BBC TV.
1963 Blue Peter badges (blue, silver and gold) - designed by Tony Hart - first appeared.
1971 Yesterday's Men airs on BBC One.
1971 The final episode of All Gas and Gaiters airs on BBC One.
1973 The final episode of Owen MD airs on BBC One.
1980 The first edition of Q9 airs on BBC Two.
1982 The first episode of US series Fame airs on BBC One.
1987 The final edition of In at the Deep End airs on BBC One.
1995 The final episode of Rumble airs on BBC One.
2000 The final episode of City Central airs on BBC One.
2015 The first edition of Love Island airs on ITV 2.
2024 The final episode of Lost Boys and Fairies airs on BBC One.

Many people visit this page every day. If you found out about an anniversary event here and intend flagging the event on social media or elsewhere online, please also give us a mention.

Research for On This Day in TV History is by Paul R. Jackson.

Details about test card/teletext in-vision music and BBC trade test films are available as a result of decades of research and logging by members of the Test Card Circle.


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