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List of early colour TV shows in the UK

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Below is a list of early colour TV[1] shows produced in the UK between the late 1950s up to 1970,[2] by which point the majority of programmes were being produced in colour.[3] The list features titles of shows, TV companies, transmission dates, formats and their archival status; noting whether they are lost, partially or mostly missing or have episodes that exist in B&W.[4] Also included are some programmes which had one-off transmissions, where applicable.

BBC2 was the first European broadcaster to show colour programmes from 1 July 1967, ahead of ITV and BBC1, who both began broadcasting in colour from 15 November 1969. This list includes shows that were recorded in colour but whose first UK broadcast was in black-and-white; most of these shows were sold to US networks who were already broadcasting in colour.

Pre-1966

More information Title, Company ...
Title Company TX Format Archival status
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot ITC Entertainment 1956–57 Film (various stocks for experimentation) Exists
Journey of a Lifetime ABC 1961 Film Exists
Man of the World ATV 1962–63

(pilot episode only)

 Film Exists
Stingray ITC Entertainment 1964–65 Film Exists
Thunderbirds ITC Entertainment 1965–66 Film Exists
Close

1966

More information Title, Company ...
Title Company TX Format Archival status
The Baron ITC Entertainment 1966–67 Film Exists
Camberwick Green BBC1 1966 Film Exists
Dare I Weep, Dare I Mourn Rediffusion 1966 Film Exists
Hippodrome Show ITV (Rediffusion/ARTV) 1966 Video tape (VT) All episodes [F 1]
The Human Voice Rediffusion 1966–67 VTR Exists
Ivanov ITC Entertainment 1966 VTR Existence unknown
The Palladium Show ITV (ATV) 1966–69

(1 test episode + 6 for US transmission)

 VT Some exist
The Saint ITC Entertainment 1962–69

(Series 5–6)

 Film Exists
The Tormentors ATV 1966 VTR Exists
Close

1967

More information Title, Company ...
Title Company TX Format Archival status
The Avengers ITV (ABC/Thames) 1961–69

(Series 5–6)

 Film All colour episodes exist
The Benny Hill Show ATV 1967 VTR Existence unknown
The Black and White Minstrel Show BBC2 1958–78

(Series 10–20)

 VT Some episodes exist
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons ITC Entertainment 1967–68 Film Exists
The Flower of Gloster ITV (Granada) 1967 Film Exists
Half Hour Story ITV (Rediffusion) 1967–68

(1 test episode)

 Film Exists[5]
Horizon BBC2 1964–present

(Series 4 onwards)

 Film/VT Most episodes exist
Late Night Line-Up BBC2 1964–72

(Jun 67 onwards)

 VT Some episodes exist
Man in a Suitcase ITC Entertainment 1967–68 Film Exists
Once More with Felix BBC2 1967–70 VT Some episodes exist [F 2]
The Piccadilly Palace ITV (ATV) 1967 VT Some episodes exist [F 3]
The Prisoner ITC Entertainment 1967–68 Film Exists
The Small Rebellion of Jess Calvert (play) Rediffusion 1967 VT/Film.. experimental electronic film system Existence unknown
Spotlight ATV/ITC 1967 VT Exists
Theatre 625 BBC2 1964–68

(Series 5)

 VT Some episodes exist
Trumpton BBC1 1967 Film Exists
Vanity Fair BBC2 1967–68 VT Exists [F 4]
Wimbledon Tennis Championships BBC1/2 1937–present

(1967 onwards)

 VT Most colour transmissions exist
Close

1968

More information Title, Company ...
Title Company TX Format Archival status
1968 Summer Olympics BBC1/2 1968 VT Exists
The Big Show aka Showtime ATV/ITC 1968 VT Exists
Bobbie Gentry BBC2 1968–71 VT Some episodes exist
Broaden Your Mind BBC2 1968–69 VT Lost [F 5]
Call My Bluff BBC2 1965–2005 VT Most episodes
The Champions ITC Entertainment 1968–69 Film Exists
Cold Comfort Farm BBC2 1968 VT Exists
Colour Me Pop BBC2 1968–69 VT Some episodes exist [F 6]
Danger Man ITC Entertainment 1960–68

(Series 4)

 Film Exists
The Dave Allen Show BBC1/2 1968–69 VT Most episodes exist
The Eurovision Song Contest Various 1957–present

(1968 onwards)

 VT Most transmissions exist [F 7]
Frontier ABC (UK) 1968 VT Existence unknown
Gardeners' World BBC2 1968–present VT Most episodes exist
Goodbye Again ITV (ATV) 1968 VT Exists
The Growing Summer LWT 1968 film Existence unknown
Horne A'Plenty Xmas show Thames 1968 VT Existence unknown
In Their Own Words BBC2 1968 Film Exist
Jazz at the Maltings BBC2 1968–69 VT Some episodes exist
Joe 90 ITC Entertainment 1968–69 Film Exists
Journey to the Unknown Hammer/Twentieth Century Fox 1968 film Exists
Late Night Horror BBC2 1968 VT One episode exists
Man Alive BBC2 1965–82

(Series 3–16)

 Film/VT Most episodes exist
Marty BBC2 1968–69 VT Most episodes exist
The Morecambe & Wise Show BBC1/2 1968–77 VT Most episodes exist
One Pair of Eyes BBC2 1967–84

(Series 2 onwards)

 Film Exists
Ooh La La BBC2 1968–73 VT Series 3 only
Scott On... BBC2 1964–74

(Series 2–5)

 VT Some episodes exist
Sherlock Holmes BBC2 1965–68

(Series 2)

 VT Some episodes exist
Tom Gratton's War YTV 1968–70 film Exists
The World of Beachcomber BBC2 1968 VT Lost
Close

1969

More information Title, Company ...
Title Company TX Format Archival status
All Gas and Gaiters BBC1 1967–71

(Series 3–5)

 VT Some episodes exist
The Big Match ITV 1968–92

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes exist
Chigley BBC1 1969 Film Exists
Cilla BBC1 1968–76

(Series 3–8)

 VT Most episodes exist
Civilisation BBC2 1969 Film Exists
Coronation Street ITV (Granada) 1960–present

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Exists
Crossroads ITV (ATV/Central) 1964–88

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes exist [F 8]
Curry and Chips ITV (LWT) 1969 VT Exists
Dad's Army BBC1 1968–77

(Series 3–9)

 VT Most colour episodes exist [F 9]
Dee Time BBC1 1967–70

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT No colour episodes

exist

Department S ITC Entertainment 1969–70 Film Exists
The Dick Emery Show BBC1 1963–81

(Dec 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes exist
Dixon of Dock Green BBC1 1955–76

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Some episodes exist
Doctor in the House ITV (LWT) 1969–70 VT Exists
The Flaxton Boys YTV (Yorkshire) 1969–71 VT Exists
From a Bird's Eye View ITC Entertainment 1969 Film Exists
Frost on Sunday ITV (LWT) 1968–70

(Oct 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes exist
Girls About Town ITV (ATV) 1969–71 VT One colour episode exists
The Gnomes of Dulwich BBC2 1969 VT Lost
The Golden Shot ITV (ATV) 1967–75

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Some episodes exist [F 10]
The Good Old Days BBC1 1953–83

(Dec 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes exist
Grandstand BBC1 1958–2007

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes exist
Hadleigh ITV (Yorkshire) 1969–76 VT Exists [F 11]
The Liberace Show ATV 1969 VT Some episodes exist
Lift Off with Ayshea ITV (Granada) 1969–74 VT Some episodes exist
Magpie ITV (Thames) 1968–80

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Some episodes exist
Male of the Species ATV/ITC 1969 VT Exists
Match of the Day BBC1/2 1964 – present

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes exist
Monty Python's Flying Circus BBC1 1969–74 VT Exists
Mr Digby Darling ITV (Yorkshire) 1969–71

(Series 2–3)

 VT Exists
Nearest and Dearest ITV (Granada) 1968–73

(Series 3–7)

 VT Exists
Not in Front of the Children BBC1 1967–70

(Series 4)

 VT Some episodes exist
Out of the Unknown BBC2 1965–71

(Series 3–4)

 VT Some episodes exist [F 12]
Panorama BBC1 1953–present

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes exist
Parkin's Patch ITV (Yorkshire) 1969–70 VT Exists
Paul Temple BBC1/ ZDF 1969–71 VT Some episodes exist
Please Sir! ITV (LWT) 1968–72

(Series 2–4)

 VT Exists [F 13]
Pop Go the Sixties BBC1/ ZDF TX: 31/12/1969 VT Exists
Pot Black BBC2 1969–2007 VT Most episodes exist [F 14]
Prince Charles Investiture BBC2 TX: 1/7/1969 VT Exists
Public Eye ITV (ABC/ Thames) 1965–72

(Series 4–7)

 VT/Film All colour episodes

exist [F 15]

Q... BBC2 1969–82 VT Most episodes exist
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) ITC Entertainment 1969–70 Film Exists
The Secret Service ITC Entertainment 1969 Film Exists
Sez Les ITV (Yorkshire) 1969–76

(Series 2–11)

 VT Series 3–11 exists
The Sky at Night BBC1 1957–present

(Dec 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes
Softly, Softly: Task Force BBC1 1969–76 VT Exists
The Sooty Show ITV (Thames) 1968–92

(Dec 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes
Strange Report ITC Entertainment 1969–70 Film Exists
Take Three Girls BBC1 1969–71 VT Some episodes
This Is Tom Jones ITV (ATV) 1969–71 VT Exists
This Is Your Life ITV (Thames)/ BBC1 1955–64, 1969–2003, 2007

(Series 10 onwards)

 VT Most episodes
Tomorrow's World BBC1 1965–2003

(1970 onwards)

 VT Most episodes [F 16]
Top of the Pops BBC1/2 1964–2006

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes
Up Pompeii! BBC1/ ITV (Thames) 1969–91 VT Exists [F 17]
The Wednesday Play BBC1 1964–70

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT/Film Most episodes
Where Was Spring? BBC2 1969–70 VT Lost
World of Sport ITV 1965–85

(Nov 69 onwards)

 VT Most episodes
The Worker ITV (ATV/Thames) 1965–78

(Series 3–5)

 VT Most episodes [F 18]
World in Ferment BBC2 1969 VT Audio only
Close

1970

More information Title, Company ...
Title Company TX Format Archival status
The Adventures of Rupert Bear ITC Entertainment 1970–77 Film Exists
Albert and Victoria ITV (Yorkshire) 1970–71 VT Exists
Armchair Theatre ITV (ABC/ Thames) 1956–74

(Series 10–16)

 VT Most episodes
Bachelor Father BBC1 1970–71 VT Exists
Barry Humphries’ Scandals BBC2 1970 VT Lost
Blue Peter BBC1 1958–present

(Sept 70 onwards)

 VT Most episodes
Braden's Week BBC1 1968–72

(Series 3–4)

 VT Some episodes
Callan ITV (ABC/ Thames) 1967–72

(Series 3–4)

 VT All colour episodes
Dear Mother...Love Albert ITV (Thames/ Yorkshire) 1969–72 VT Series 2–4 [F 19]
Disco 2 BBC2 1970–1 VT Some episodes [F 20]
Doctor Who BBC1 1963 – present

(Season 7 onwards)

 Film/VT All colour episodes [F 21]First serial on film only.
Dr. Finlay's Casebook BBC1 1962–71

(Series 8)

 VT Some episodes
The Dustbinmen ITV (Granada) 1969–70

(Series 3–4)

 VT Most episodes
A Family at War ITV (Granada) 1970–72 VT Exists [F 22]
Father Dear Father ITV (Thames) 1968–73

(Series 3–7)

 VT Exists
FIFA World Cup – 1970 BBC/ ITV 1970 VT Most transmissions exist
For the Love of Ada ITV (LWT) 1970–71 VT Exists
Freewheelers ITV (Southern) 1968–73

Series 4–8

 VT Most episodes
The Goodies BBC2/ ITV (LWT) 1970–82 VT Most episodes
Hark at Barker ITV (LWT) 1969–70

Series 2

 VT Exists [F 23]
How! ITV (Southern) 1966–81

(Series 4–17)

 VT Some episodes
It's Cliff Richard BBC1 1970–76 VT Most episodes [F 24]
Jokers Wild ITV (Yorkshire) 1969–74

(Series 2–9)

 VT Exists
The Kenny Everett Explosion ITV (LWT) 1970 VT Fragment exists
The Lovers ITV (Granada) 1970–71 VT Exists
Manhunt ITV (LWT) 1970 VT Exists
The Misfit ITV (ATV) 1970–71 VT Exists [F 25]
Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width ITV (ABC/ Thames) 1967–71

(Series 4–6)

 VT Exists
No – That's Me Over Here! ITV (Rediffusion/LWT)

(Series 3)

 1967–70 VT Series 3 only
Not Only... But Also BBC2 1965–70

(Series 3)

 VT 16mm colour film inserts exist
Oh, Brother! BBC1 1968–70

(Series 3)

 VT All colour episodes exist
Oh In Colour BBC2 1970 VT Exists
On the Buses ITV (LWT) 1969–73

(Series 3–7)

 VT Exists
Play for Today BBC1 1970–84 VT/Film Most episodes [F 26]
Queenie's Castle ITV (Yorkshire) 1970–72 VT Exists
A Question of Sport BBC1 1968–2023

(Series 1 onwards)

 VT Most episodes
Steptoe and Son BBC1 1962–65, 1970–74

(Series 5–8)

 VT Exists
That's Your Funeral BBC1 1970–1 VT Exists
Till Death Us Do Part BBC1 1965–75

(Election Special onwards)

 VT Most episodes
Timeslip ITV (ATV) 1970–71 VT Exists [F 27]
Two in Clover ITV (Thames) 1969–70

(Series 2)

 VT Exists
UFO ITC Entertainment 1970 Film Exists
Z-Cars BBC1 1962–65, 1967–78

(Series 6–12)

 VT Some episodes [F 28]
Close

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