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TVARK
@tvark.bsky.social
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The online TV museum 📺 📼 documenting TV graphics and branding from the UK and around the world. • https://tvark.org
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tvark.bsky.social
3 January 2021

ITV transmits the funny news show And Finally...with Trevor McDonald.

BBC Two began showing the US series A Teacher which dealt with grooming in the classroom.

BBC One debuts A Perfect Planet. A 5 part look at the world around us. Hosted by David Attenborough.
And Finally...with Trevor McDonald was a 2 part humourous look at the fun side of the news. The first part debuted on ITV on 3 January 2021. A North One Television production for ITV. A Teacher is a 10 part drama series from the US first broadcast in the UK on BBC Two from 3 January 2021. Set in the span of 10 years, this series follows a female English teacher in her early 30s as she begins to groom and abuse her 17-year-old male student in a fictional high school in America. The cast includes Kate Mara, Nick Robinson, Ashley Zukerman, Shane Harper, Marielle Scott, Dylan Schmid, Adam David Thompson, Jana Peck, Rya Ingrid Kihlstedt, Cameron Moulène, Camila Perez, Ciara Quinn Bravo, Charlie Zeltzer, Matt Raymond, MC Gainey and Devon Bostick. A co-production of Aggregate Films, Hola Fidel and FXP. A Perfect Planet is a 5 part earth science series broadcast from 3 to 31 January 2021 on BBC One. Presented by David Attenborough. Filming took place over four years, across 31 countries, with crew navigating difficulties in extreme temperatures and remote locations. The editing process was affected by the pandemic. The series covers volcanoes, the sun, weather and oceans, with the final episode focusing on human impact on the environment. A Sliverback Films production in association with Tencent Penguin Pictures and ZDF for BBC.
January 4, 2026 at 5:05 PM
tvark.bsky.social
3 January 2016

ITV debuts Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands. Based on the Beowulf poem.

BBC Two had the first part of My Mediterranean with Adrian Chiles. Part 2 was a week later.

BBC One began a new adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's War & Peace. Paul Dano and Lily James star.
Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands was a 13 part fantasy adventure series broadcast on ITV from 3 January to 20 March 2016. It was adapted by James Dormer from the original poem of Beowulf. Beowulf returns to Heorot to find that Hrothgar, his adoptive father, is dead. Hrothgar's wife, Rheda, who had favoured her own son over the young Beowulf, is named his successor. Beowulf's step-brother, Slean, is furious, both because of his return and for not being named Thane. Rheda, now regent, must show strength while scheming for the support of other village heads, in order to gain the title of Jarl (a rank above Thane) - a title some are willing to kill for. The cast includes David Ajala, Kieran Bew, Lee Boardman, David Bradley, Lolita Chakrabarti, Elliot Cowan, Laura Donnelly, Holly Earl and Allison McKenzie. An ITV Studios production. My Mediterranean with Adrian Chiles is a 2 part documentary shown on BBC Two on 3 & 10 January 2016. Television presenter Adrian Chiles takes a personal tour around the Mediterranean to discover if his faith was an accident of birth and geography. A Storyvault Films production for BBC. War & Peace was a 6 part adaptation of the Leo Tolstoy novel which was broadcast on BBC One from 3 January to 7 February 2016. It was adapted by Andrew Davies. The Russian Empire in 1805. When Pierre, Natasha and Andrei are first introduced to viewers, their youthful ambition, despite their privileged circumstances, is to find meaning in their lives. Kind-hearted but awkward Pierre, the illegitimate son of Russia's richest man, wants to change the world for the better. The spirited Natasha is searching for true love, while handsome and gallant Andrei, frustrated with the superficiality of society, seeks a higher purpose. The cast includes Paul Dano, Lily James, James Norton, Jessie Buckley, Jack Lowden, Aisling Loftus, Tuppence Middleton, Callum Turner, Adrian Edmondson, Rebecca Front, Greta Scacchi, Aneurin Barnard, Stephen Rea, Brian Cox, Kenneth Cranham, Ken Stott, Gillian Anderson and Jim Broadbent. A BBC Cymru Wales production with BBC Worldwide, {REDACTED} and Lookout Point.
January 4, 2026 at 4:17 PM
tvark.bsky.social
3 January

2001 - Custer's Last Stand Up debuts on CBBC One.

2006 - Countdown broadcasts its 4,000th edition on Channel 4.

2011 - BBC Two and BBC HD launch 2 shows.
Stargazing Live with Brian Cox and Liz Bonnin.
The Bear Family & Me. Shown over 3 consecutive nights.
Custer's Last Stand Up is a kids comedy series broadcast on the CBBC strand of BBC One from 3 January 2001 to 27 March 2002. 18 episodes over 2 series were made. Jamie Custer is a schoolboy who has an ambition to be a stand-up comedian. The cast includes Brian Roche, Shane Fallon, George McMahon, Ciaran Nolan, Elaine Symons, Tom Hopkins, Deirdre Monaghan, Grainne McIver, Mark Doherty and Eamon Rohan. A BBC & RTÉ co-production. Countdown has been part of Channel 4 since they began in 1982. On 3 January 2006, they broadcast their 4,000th edition of the show. Stargazing Live launched on BBC Two and BBC HD on 3 January 2011. Hosts were Brian Cox, Dara Ó Briain, Liz Bonnin, Mark Thompson, Lucie Green and Greg Quicke. The first series was scheduled to coincide with the partial Solar eclipse of 4 January 2011, a conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, and the Quadrantid meteor shower. It also featured a discussion with the International Space Station. Newly qualified British ESA astronaut Tim Peake appeared as a guest. To coincide with each series of the show, hundreds of Stargazing Live events were run across the UK, including star parties and 'sidewalk astronomy' sessions. Many of these events were organised by local astronomy societies and universities. Some series were a co-production with The Open University. The Bear Family & Me was a 3 part nature documentary series shown on BBC Two and BBC HD on 3, 4 & 5 January 2011. Presented and narrated by Gordon Buchanan. Wildlife cameraman Buchanan spends a year with a family of wild black bears, under the guidance of biologists Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield of the North American Bear Centre. A BBC Bristol production.
January 4, 2026 at 8:42 AM
tvark.bsky.social
3 January 1996

2 shows debuted on BBC 1

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates starring Patricia Routledge.

Kids sitcom Agent Z and the Penguin from Mars.

2 shows debuted on CITV

Potamus Park. With Rusty Goffe and Nigel Plaskitt.

Delta Wave with Ania Sowinski and Jason Stracey.
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates is a crime drama series broadcast on BBC 1 from 3 January 1996 to 4 September 1998. 4 series totalling 28 episodes were made. Hetty Wainthropp is a retired working-class woman from Darwen in northwest England, who has a knack for jumping to conclusions and solving crimes of varying bafflement which often are too minor to concern the police. Although on occasion her husband offers assistance, he more often than not tends to the home while Hetty gads about the countryside with young Geoffrey in search of resolution and justice. In many episodes Hetty seeks the help and advice of the local constabulary. The cast includes Patricia Routledge, Derek Benfield, Dominic Monaghan, John Graham Davies, Suzanne Maddock and Frank Mills. Agent Z and the Penguin from Mars is a 6 part kids sitcom broadcast on BBC 1 from 3 January to 7 February 1996. Based on the novel by Mark Haddon. The series follows the exploits of Ben and his friends Barney and Jenks. Together, they're the "Crane Grove Gang" named after the street where they live. The gang played ingenious practical jokes in an initiative called "Agent Z." Following the arrival of an unpleasant and dull new astronomer neighbour Dennis Sidebottom, a supposed lottery winner, the gang plot their biggest ever practical joke: an elaborate conspiracy involving a penguin stolen from a supermarket Christmas display, an alien from Mars, a spaceship and a "message for mankind" carved on a meteorite. The cast includes Duncan Barton, Andrew McKay, Reggie Yates, Catherine Shipton, lan Sharrock, Andrew Wheeler, Nicola Mycroft, Rod Culbertson, Pamela Power, Stephen Churchett and Anthony Houghton. Potamus Park is a 26 episode children's series broadcast on CITV from 3 January 1996 to 7 January 1997. The series revolved around a small family of hippopotamuses: Father Herbie and Mother Hippy, and their children Hazel and Hinkley. Other characters living in the park with the Potamus family included Ticker the bird, Got To Guess, Mindy and Mo the moles, and three anthropomorphic wallflowers who introduced every episode. Voice cast includes Nigel Plaskitt, Atalanta Harmsworth, Rusty Goffe, Mark Jefferis, Nikki Bond, Simon Buckley, Stroma Inglis and Elizabeth Morgan. A Zoo Gang production for ITV. Delta Wave is a 10 episode science fiction drama broadcast on ITV from 3 January to 6 March 1996. The show focuses on three main characters, Dr Ruby Munro and two children with psychic powers named Julia and Ed. The three have a series of adventures and strange encounters, including time travel back to the past. The cast includes Robin McCaffrey, Ania Sowinski, Jason Stracey, Una Stubbs, Victoria Wicks and Peter Capaldi. A Tetra Films production for ITV.
January 3, 2026 at 11:41 PM
tvark.bsky.social
3 January 1991

ITV showed feature length drama Gawain and the Green Knight. Jason Durr and Marc Warren star.

BBC 1 debuts 3 shows:

Dooby's Duck Truck.

Gordon the Gopher with Hugh Dennis.

The Brittas Empire starring Chris Barrie.
tvark.org/brittas-empire
Gawain and the Green Knight was a feature length drama shown on ITV on 3 January 1991. One Christmas, a knight garbed all in green appears in King Arthur's Court and challenges any knight to hew off his head on the proviso that he be allowed to return the axe stroke afterwards. All of King Arthur's other knights being frightened, Sir Gawain takes up the challenge and hacks off the green knight's head. The green knight then gives Gawain a year to find his home and live a little before the cut is returned. The cast includes Marc Warren, Jason Durr, Malcolm Storry, Valerie Gogan, Martin Crocker, Patrick Moore, Stephen Tiller, Marie Francis, Jonathan Adam, Michael Povey, Gethin Mills, Sally Mates, Shay Gorman, Arthur Kelly, Nigel Cairns, John Lyons and George Sweeney. A Thames Television production. Dooby's Duck Truck was a 13 part kids music show broadcast on BBC 1 from 3 January to 28 March 1991. Dooby goes on tour. This is the second series. The first (Dooby Duck's Disco Bus) was broadcast in 1989. The third series (Dooby Duck's Euro Tour) was to be transmitted in 1992. The series was a hit with students. Gordon the Gopher was a 13 part kids series broadcast on BBC 1 from 3 January to 28 March 1991. After years in the Broom Cupboard and on Going Live, Gordon has his own show. Among the humans on the show were Hugh Dennis (narrator), Sue Devaney, Sue Dacre and Paul Smith as the voice of Gordon the Gopher. The Brittas Empire was a sitcom broadcast on BBC 1 from 3 January 1991 to 24 February 1997. 7 series totalling 52 episodes were made. Gordon Brittas is the well-meaning but incompetent manager of Whitbury New Town Leisure Centre. He trained at the fictional Aldershot Leisure Centre. Completely tactless, totally annoying, and forever coming up with 'half-baked' ideas (and oblivious to all of his aforementioned faults), Brittas frequently upsets his staff, public, and his frazzled wife Helen, often bringing confusion and chaos into their lives. Helen finds coping with Gordon increasingly difficult and turns to medication and affairs with other men to maintain her sanity. The cast includes Chris Barrie, Pippa Haywood, Harriet Thorpe, Michael Burns, Tim Marriott, Russell Porter, Jill Greenacre, Judy Flynn, Julia St John, Stephen Churchett, Anouschka Menzies, Jo Kendall, Ian Bleasdale, Sebastian Coe, Pam Rhodes, Michael Fenton-Stevens and Robin Parkinson.
January 3, 2026 at 6:26 PM
tvark.bsky.social
3 January

1966 - BBC 1 pays its first visit to Camberwick Green.
tvark.org/camberwick-g...

1971 - the first TV shows from The Open University broadcast on BBC 2.
tvark.org/open-univers...

1981 - ITV debuts comedy quiz game Punchlines with Lennie Bennett.
tvark.org/punch-lines
Camberwick Green was a stop motion animated series broadcast on BBC 1 from 3 January 1966. Although recorded in colour, it would be broadcast in monochrome until 1969. This was the first of Gordon Murray's Trumptonshire Trilogy. It was also the first programme on BBC television to have a copyright year. On 3 January 1971, The Open University began broadcasting programmes on BBC 2. The first programmes were filmed at the BBC studios at Alexandra Palace. Punchlines was a comedy game show broadcast on ITV from 3 January 1981 to 22 December 1984. 5 series totalling 79 episodes (including a special episode broadcast on FA Cup Final day in 1981) were made. Each week, teams comprising a celebrity guest and a non-celebrity had to match punchlines given by eight other guests who were seated in boxes to the questions asked by host Lennie Bennett. The first team to reach 150 points won the chance to win a major prize. Celebrities in the boxes included Rose-Marie, Fogwell Flax, Bryan Joan Elliott, Aiden J Harvey, Judy Gridley, Patti Gold, Windsor Davies and Matthew Kelly. An LWT Production.
January 3, 2026 at 5:26 PM
tvark.bsky.social
We remember

Dustin Gee 24/6/1942 – 3/1/1986
Part of a double act with Les Dennis
Worked on Who Do You Do?, Russ Abbot's Madhouse and The Laughter Show

tvark.org/les-dustins-...
Dustin Gee was born on 24 June 1942 and passed away on 3 January 1986 at the age of 43. He was a comedian and impersonator. Dustin was part of a double act with Les Dennis and they worked together on Russ Abbot's Madhouse, Go For It and The Les and Dustin Laughter Show. Gee's other television credits included Who Do You Do?, Rock Follies, The Railway Carriage Game, No 73, Blankety Blank, Punchlines!, The Main Attraction, The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, The Royal Variety Performance of 1984 and The Children's Royal Variety Performance in 1983. On 15 April 1984, Dustin and Les were on the bill at Live from Her Majesty's on ITV. They had to perform their entire act in front of the main theatre curtains as ambulance workers were battling to save the life of Tommy Cooper who collapsed just before an impromptu commercial break.
January 3, 2026 at 4:56 PM
tvark.bsky.social
Happy Birthday 🎉🎂🎈

The Little Drummer Girl actress Florence Pugh is 30 today.

Coupling and Green Wing actress Sarah Alexander is 55 today.
Actress Florence Pugh was born on 3 January 1996. Her television appearances included The Little Drummer Girl, Marcella, Acting for a Cause, Marvel Studios Assembled, Hawkeye, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, Human Resources, No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski, Marvel Zombies, and East of Eden which will be released on Netflix later this year. Actress Sarah Alexander was born on 3 January 1971. She is the wife of actor and comedian Peter Serafinowicz. Among Sarah's television credits are The Armstrong and Miller Show, Kappatoo, Natural Lies, Covington Cross, Lovejoy, You Me and It, Chris Cross, Anna Lee, The Bill, Drop the Dead Donkey, Red Dwarf, Alas Smith and Jones, Tilly Trotter, People Like Us, Smack the Pony, The Strangerers, Midsomer Murders, Coupling, Dr Terrible's House of Horrible, Look Around You, Green Wing, The Worst Week of My Life, Teachers, The Peter Serafinowicz Show, Mutual Friends, All the Small Things, Agatha Christie's Marple, The Jury, The Gobetweenies, Me and Mrs Jones, Jonathan Creek, Undercover, Marley's Ghosts, Drunk History, Pennyworth, Father Brown and Art Detectives.
January 3, 2026 at 4:29 PM
tvark.bsky.social
We remember

Leonard White 5/11/1916-2/1/2016
Produced 168 Armchair Theatres

Pete Postlethwaite 7/2/1946-2/1/2011
Sgt Hakeswill in Sharpe

John Woodnutt 3/3/1924-2/1/2006
Merlin & Mogdred in CITV's Knightmare

Howard Caine 2/1/1926-28/12/1993
Major Hochstetter in Hogan's Heroes
Leonard White was born on 5 November 1916 and passed away on 2 January 2016 at the age of 99. He was a British actor, director and television producer. Among his television credits are Armchair Theatre, Armchair Mystery Theatre, The Avengers, Strathblair, Shadow of the Stone, Stookie, Murder at the Wedding, The Clifton House Mystery, King of the Castle, Westway, The Georgian House, Sky, Pretenders, Out of This World, Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width, ITV Playhouse, Police Surgeon, BBC Sunday Night Theatre, Without Walls and The Campbell's. Pete Postlethwaite was born on 7 February 1946 and passed away on 2 January 2011 at the age of 64. He was an actor. Among Pete's television appearances are Second City Firsts, Last of the Summer Wine, Going Straight, Horse in the House, Crown Court, Mitch, Victoria Wood As Seen on TV, Victoria Wood with all the Trimmings, Blind Justice, Tales of Sherwood Forest, Boon, Zorro, El CID, The Bill, The Sins, Criminal Justice, Between the Lines, Shakespeare the Animated Tales, Minder, Lovejoy, Shattered City, Casualty, Pie in the Sky, Sharpe and Martin Chuzzlewit. John Woodnutt was born on 3 March 1924 and passed away on 2 January 2006 at the age of 81. He was an actor who specialized in villainous roles. Among John's television roles are in shows such as Knightmare, Harry Enfield and Chums, Harry's Mad, Wycliffe, Paul Merton The Series, Jeeves and Wooster, The Bill, The Return of Shelley, Never Come Back, Doctor Who, Shoestring, Hazell, The Dick Emery Show, Justice, Z Cars, Second City Firsts, The Tomorrow People, New Scotland Yard, Owen MD, Look and Read, Adam Adamant Lives, The Doombolt Chase, Van der Valk, Children of the Stones, Bill Brand, Emmerdale, The Sweeney, Village Hall, Six Days of Justice, Churchill's People, The Secret Garden, Public Eye, Rooms, Bread, Porterhouse Blue, King & Castle, No Place Like Home, Terry and June, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Pickwick Papers, Don't Wait Up, Dramarama, Crown Court, Stalky & Co, Winston Churchill The Wilderness Years, Sense and Sensibility, and The Walls of Jericho. Howard Caine was born on 2 January 1926 and passed away on 28 December 1993 at the age of 67. He was an actor. Howard's most famous role was as Gestapo Major Wolfgang Hochstetter in Hogan's Heroes. Caine's other television credits include War and Remembrance, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, The New Adventures of Jonny Quest, Riptide, Super Friends, Challenge of the GoBots, The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show, Bret Maverick, The Paper Chase, Fantasy Island, Helter Skelter, Police Story, Get Christie Love!, Leave it to Beaver, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dr Kildare, Peter Guinness, The Untouchables, Gunsmoke, I Spy, The Addams Family (animated series), Adam's Rib, The High Chaparral, The Outcasts, The Rat Patrol, Get Smart, Rango, My Favourite Martian, The Lucy Show, The Outer Limits, Ben Casey, 77 Sunset Strip and The Twilight Zone.
January 2, 2026 at 11:07 PM
tvark.bsky.social
Happy Birthday 🎉🎂🎈

EastEnders and Call the Midwife actor Ben Hardy is 35 today.

Emmerdale actor and I'm a Celebrity winner Danny Miller is also 35 today.
Ben Hardy was born on 2 January 1991. Famous for EastEnders, Call the Midwife, Drunk History, The Woman in White and The Girl Before. Danny Miller was born on 2 January 1991. Famous for Emmerdale, Grange Hill, Lightfields, Scott & Bailey, Jamaica Inn and winning I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2021.
January 2, 2026 at 9:36 PM
tvark.bsky.social
2 January

2011 - Channel 4 debuts Famous and Fearless. 8 celebrities are taking part. Shown every night until 7 January. Won by Charley Boorman.

- over on BBC One was the debut of 3 part drama Zen. Based on Aurelio Zen by Michael Dibdin. Rufus Sewell and Caterina Marino stars.
Famous and Fearless is a 6 part reality game show in which 8 celebrities compete in extreme sporting events to win money for their respective chosen charity. It aired every night from 2 to 7 January 2011 on Channel 4. It was presented by Chris Evans, Clare Balding and Jack Osbourne with commentary by Nick Fellows. Taking part were Charley Boorman (the eventual winner), Jenny Frost, Jonah Lomu, Kacey Ainsworth, Dame Kelly Holmes, Rufus Hound, Sam Branson and Sarah Jayne Dunn. A Princess Production for Channel 4. Zen was a 3 part drama shown on BBC One on 2, 9 & 16 January 2011. Based on the Aurelio Zen novels by Michael Dibdin. Detective Zen is sent to a remote village to re-investigate a murder, which may spark a political scandal in episode 1 - Vendetta. In episode 2 (titled Cabal), the death of a famous aristocrat, Umberto Ruspanti, leads Detective Zen into the shadowy world of the Cabal - an organisation more powerful and secret than the Mafia. Ratking (episode 3) sees Detective Zen working against the clock to recover the kidnapped Ruggerio Miletti, a wealthy industrialist with political ties. The cast includes Rufus Sewell, Caterina Marino, Ben Miles, Stanley Townsend, Francesco Quinn, Catherine Spaak, Vincent Riotta, Ed Stoppard, Anthony Higgins and Cosima Shaw. A BBC production in association with Left Bank Pictures, Mediaset, WGBH Masterpiece and ZDF.
January 2, 2026 at 9:12 PM
tvark.bsky.social
2 January

2006 - 2 new animated series made their debut on Cartoon Network UK.

The Batman animated TV series from the US, looks at the early years of Bruce Wayne's alter ego.

Pokémon: Advanced Battle. The 8th season of this Japanese animation series.
The Batman is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It was broadcast in the UK by Cartoon Network UK from 2 January 2006. Billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne is secretly The Batman, the costumed protector of Gotham City. The series focuses on Batman's earlier years of his crime-fighting career, as he began fighting crime three years prior to the start of the series, and the Gotham City police do not publicly acknowledge the vigilante's existence. Operating out of a secret lair underneath Bruce Wayne's mansion - known as the Batcave - Batman and his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, stop crime with the assistance of high-tech gadgets and a supercomputer. A Warner Bros. Animation production in association with DC Comics. Pokémon: Advanced Battle was a 52 episode animated series translated into English which was broadcast in the UK on Cartoon Network UK from 2 January 2006. This is the 8th season of this animated series from Japan. This season follows Ash Ketchum and his partner Pikachu as they collect Gym Badges in the Hoenn region to compete in the Hoenn League. Along the way, they are joined by Brock, Pokémon Coordinator May, who participates in Pokémon Contests, and her younger brother Max. Later in the season, Ash, May, Brock, and Max travel to the Kanto region, where Ash competes in the Battle Frontier by earning Frontier Symbols, while May continues to participate in Pokémon Contests.
January 2, 2026 at 8:34 PM
tvark.bsky.social
2 January

1996 - ITV debuts the US animated series Santo Bugito. 13 episodes were made.

- while over on BBC 1, it was the first episode of The Demon Headmaster. Based on the books by Gillian Cross.

tvark.org/demon-headma...
Santo Bugito was a 13 episode kids animated series broadcast in the UK on ITV from 2 January 1996. Santo Bugito is set in a titular border town between Texas and Mexico, populated by various anthropomorphic insects. Carmen De La Antchez is the show's protagonist, an ant who runs a restaurant in the town with her husband, Paco. The town is populated by other insects, including two brash American flies, Clem and Burt, a hyperactive flea named Lencho, a cynical artist termite named Eaton Woode, a butterfly named Rosa and her boyfriend Miguel who is still in his cocoon, Amelia, an enthusiastic damselfly, Ralph, a large friendly ladybug with a deep voice and a praying mantis professor who occasionally interrupts the show. Voice cast includes Marabina Jaimes, Tony Plana, Charlie Adler, Joan Van Ark, George Kennedy, Candi Milo, William Sanderson, Michael Stanton, Cheech Marin, Henry Gibson and David Paymer. A Klasky Csupo production with Anivision. The Demon Headmaster is a television series based on the children's books of the same name by Gillian Cross. Made for CBBC and BBC 1, the drama was broadcast from 2 January 1996 and 22 January 1998. 3 series totalling 19 episodes were made. Dinah Glass moves in with the Hunter family and starts going to the same school as her foster brothers Lloyd and Harvey. It is not easy, as she finds the school strange, and her foster brothers seem to hate her. Pupils suddenly talk like robots and do unusual things, and even Dinah finds herself acting oddly. She is sure the headmaster has some kind of power over them, and is determined to find out more. The cast includes Frances Amey, Terrence Hardiman, Gunnar Cauthery, Thomas Szekeres, Anthony Cumber, Kristy Bruce, Rachael Goodyer, Tessa Peake-Jones and Katey Crawford Kastin. In 2019, the BBC put out a new series to continue on from where the 1998 series ended.
January 2, 2026 at 8:01 PM
tvark.bsky.social
2 January

1976 - Sheffield Cablevision runs out of money and ceases broadcasting.

tvark.org/sheffield-ca...

- ITV debuts 7 part family drama The Georgian House. Janine Duvitski, Brinsley Forde and Spencer Banks are amongst the cast.
Sheffield Cablevision started broadcasting on 29 August 1973. Sadly, they ran out of money and ceased broadcasting on 2 January 1976. The 7 part family drama The Georgian House was shown on ITV from 2 January to 13 February 1976. Two students, Dan and Abbie, arrive at a reconstructed Georgian House in Bristol, which is open for guided tours. They work there as tour guides along with the caretaker. While there, they discover an African wood carving which takes hold of the teenagers and transports them back 200 years to a time when the house was owned by the Leadbetter family. The cast includes Jack Watson, Spencer Banks, Brinsley Forde, Adrienne Byrne, Janine Duvitski, Constance Chapman, Peter Schofield, Monica Lavers, Anna Quayle, Valerie Lush, Michael Gover, Ruth Kettlewell, Stephen Holton, Anne Blake, Dudley Jones and Sarah Carthy. A HTV West production.
January 2, 2026 at 7:32 PM
tvark.bsky.social
1 January

Belated Birthday wishes to Mark Wingett (Jim Carver in The Bill) who was 65 yesterday.

Belated greetings also to GMTV presenter Fiona Philips who also turned 65 yesterday. Sending best wishes to her, Martin and all the family.
Happy 65th Birthday to actor Mark Wingett whose birthday was on 1 January. Happy 65th Birthday to former presenter Fiona Phillips whose birthday was on 1 January.
January 2, 2026 at 6:51 PM
tvark.bsky.social
1 January

1981 - The Channel Four Television Company was established to pave the way for the new channel to launch in 1982.

1991 - the IBA is gone and the ITC takes over control of commercial TV. One of their first tasks is to oversee the applications for Channel 3 licenses.
On 1 January 1981, the Channel Four Television Company was established to provide the fourth channel service for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – Wales' fourth channel will be a Welsh language service called S4C although it will broadcast some Channel 4 programmes during off-peak hours. On 1 January 1991, the Independent Broadcasting Authority was disbanded. The Radio Authority takes over Independent Local Radio while commercial television is now overseen by the Independent Television Commission. One of the ITC's first tasks was to oversee the applications and bids for Channel 3 licenses from 1 January 1993. The closing date for applications was 15 May 1991 with the announcement of the winners on 16 October 1991.
January 2, 2026 at 6:42 PM
tvark.bsky.social
1 January

1961 - Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol (Welsh for 'Start Singing, Start Praising') began on BBC tv and continues to this day on S4C.

1961 - Dechreuodd Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol ar deledu'r BBC ac mae'n parhau hyd heddiw ar S4C.

1966 - BBC 2 debuts Rugby Special.
Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol (Welsh for 'Start Singing, Start Praising') began on BBC tv on 1 January 1961. The series continues to this day on S4C. The series inspired the BBC to do an English language version (Songs of Praise) which debuted later that same year. Dechreuodd Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol ar deledu'r BBC ar 1 Ionawr 1961. Mae'r gyfres yn parhau hyd heddiw ar S4C. Ysbrydolodd y gyfres y BBC i wneud fersiwn Saesneg (Songs of Praise) a ddangoswyd am y tro cyntaf yn ddiweddarach yr un flwyddyn. Rugby Union highlights programme Rugby Special debuts on BBC 2 on 1 January 1966. It continues to this day.
January 2, 2026 at 6:17 PM
tvark.bsky.social
It was announced during New Year that actor Anthony Head and his family shared news that his wife, Sarah Fisher, had passed away at the age of 61.

Our condolences, sympathies and thoughts are with them all at this time.
It was announced during New Year that actor Anthony Head and his family shared news that his wife, Sarah Fisher, had passed away at the age of 61. Our condolences, sympathies and thoughts are with them all at this time.
January 2, 2026 at 6:02 PM
tvark.bsky.social
We have some more new stuff arrived.

Did you ever feed your dog Pal Partners?

Pop down to Our Price to buy the new album from The Proclaimers?

Use OXO to flavour your dishes?

Maybe even "Page the Oracle?"

All this and more when you click the link below.

tvark.org?s
January 2, 2026 at 2:24 PM
tvark.bsky.social
We're taking a break now for New Year.

Thank you all for your support in 2025.

On to 2026!

Do keep checking out

tvark.org?s

for our latest batch of new entries to our website.

We'll see you on 2nd January 2026.

Happy New Year Arkers!
We're taking a break now for New Year. Thank you all for your support in 2025. On to 2026! Do keep checking out https://tvark.org/?s for our latest batch of new entries to our website. We'll see you on 2nd January 2026. Happy New Year Arkers!
December 31, 2025 at 10:48 PM
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31 December

1995 - BBC 1 debuts drama Black Hearts in Battersea. Based on the novel by Joan Aiken. Celia Imrie and Annette Badland star.

2025 - a sad day for music as we say farewell to MTV Live, Club MTV, MTV Music, MTV 80s and MTV 90s.
Black Hearts in Battersea was a 6 part family drama adapted for television by James Andrew Hall from the book of the same name by Joan Aiken. It was broadcast on BBC 1 from 31 December 1995 to 11 February 1996. In early nineteenth century London the rightful Duke finds himself cheated out of his inheritance. The cast includes Celia Imrie, Annette Badland, Philip Jackson, Ronald Pickup, Stephen Moore, Tilly Vosburgh, William Mannering, John Altman, Jade Williams, Barry Ewart, Johnny Shannon, Matthew Steer, Mark Burdis, Gemma Sealey and Tom Wisdom. 31 December 2025 was a sad day for music on television as we said farewell to MTV Live, Club MTV, MTV Music, MTV 80s and MTV 90s.
December 31, 2025 at 10:40 PM
tvark.bsky.social
31 December

1980 - BBC 1 bids farewell to the Tooting Popular Front as Citizen Smith ended after 4 series and 30 episodes.

tvark.org/citizen-smit...

- over on ITV was the debut of drama Brendon Chase. Based on the novel by BB.

tvark.org/brendon-chase
The sitcom Citizen Smith was broadcast on BBC 1 from 12 April 1977 to 31 December 1980. 4 series totalling 30 episodes were made. Brendon Chase is a 13 part kids drama adapted by James Andrew Hall from the novel by BB. It was broadcast on ITV from 31 December 1980 to 25 March 1981. The Hensman brothers, Robin, John and Harold, spend eight months living as outlaws in the forest of Brendon Chase. Their parents are living in India. They are cared for by their Aunt Ellen, a strict and somewhat cold spinster. At the end of the Easter holidays, Harold falls ill with the measles, so Robin and John are unable to return to boarding school. They decide to run away and fend for themselves, taking some food from their aunt's house, and also taking a rifle and ammunition so they can survive in the wild. The cast includes Craig McFarlane, Howard Taylor, Paul Erangey, Rosalie Crutchley, Hilary Mason, Michael Robbins, Christopher Biggins, Bernard Gallagher, Jimmy Edwards, Veronica McNamee, Liza Goddard, Paul Curran, Michael Balfour and Shirley Cain. A Primetime and RM co-production with Southern Television.
December 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM
tvark.bsky.social
31 December

1975 - BBC 1 debuted the kids football drama series Striker. Joe Gladwin and Geoff Hinsliff star.

- over on BBC 2, one-off drama Three Men in a Boat was shown. Michael Palin, Tim Curry and Stephen Moore star.
Striker was a kids drama series broadcast on BBC 1 from 31 December 1975 to 3 November 1976. 2 series totalling 8 episodes were made. Ben's Dad was an ex-footballer who had broken his leg and was forced to stop playing. Ben's mum then got a job but was killed driving into a bridge one night. As a result, the Dad hated football and wouldn't let Ben play, despite him being a talented player. They arrived in an area which had a hopeless team. Ben joined secretly but his Dad eventually found out. After a row and stand-off, he agreed to coach the team. The cast includes Joe Gladwin, Geoff Hinsliff, Stephen Howe, Kevin Moreton, Simon Manley, Sylvia O'Donnell, Arthur White, Sam Williams, Keith Allingham, Andrew Cadle, Patrick Murphy, Jeanne Doree, Martin Clarke, Jo Kendall, Keith Marsh, Richard Grant and Ian Sinclair. Three Men in a Boat was a one-off feature length adaptation of Jerome K Jerome's novel that was broadcast on BBC 2 on 31 December 1975. It was adapted by Tom Stoppard. One hot June day, three friends decide there is nothing they would like to do more than to get away from London. A boating holiday with lots of fresh air and exercise would be just the very thing, or so their doctors tell them. So, after debating the merits of hotel or camp beds and what to pack, they set off on their voyage - a trip up the Thames from Kingston to Oxford - but very quickly find themselves ill-equipped for the trials of riverbank life. The cast includes Tim Curry (who also narrated), Michael Palin, Stephen Moore, William Russell, Bill Stewart, Michael Elphick, John Blain, George Innes, Russell Dixon, Mary MacLeod, Alan Collins, Clifford Kershaw and Eileen Helsby.
December 31, 2025 at 9:36 PM
tvark.bsky.social
31 December

1950 - BBC tv debuted Mr Pastry's Progress. Richard Hearne played the clumsy character of the title. 6 episodes were made.

1985 - The final episode of Juliet Bravo was shown on BBC 1. 6 series totalling 88 episodes were made.
Mr Pastry's Progress is a 6 part comedy series broadcast on BBC Television from 31 December 1950 to 4 February 1951. Mr Pastry was a beloved British clown character, famous for his slapstick comedy and silly antics. The cast were Richard Hearne, Barbara Hicks, Cambria Smith and Roger May. Juliet Bravo broadcast on BBC 1 from 30 August 1980 to 31 December 1985. 6 series totalling 88 episodes were made.
December 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
tvark.bsky.social
If you watched The Celebrity Apprentice on 29 & 30 December 2025 you will know all about what is in the picture.

The winning and losing biscuits are now available for £1.65 each from Tesco. Children in Need profit from sales.
If you watched The Celebrity Apprentice on 29 & 30 December 2025 you will know all about what is in the picture. The winning and losing biscuits are now available for £1.65 each from Tesco. Children in Need profit from sales.
December 31, 2025 at 7:13 PM