This Day in History: 1964-04-20

BBC Two was expected to launch at 7.20pm. However, a serious power failure at Battersea Power Station knocked out the power supply to BBC Television Centre. BBC One was kept on the air via facilities at Alexandra Palace. Other than occasional news updates on BBC Two that evening, where presenter Gerald Priestland explained the power issues, no other programmes were broadcast on BBC Two that day. The first official programme on BBC Two was Play School at 11am the next day.