1976 in British television

This is a list of British television-related events in 1976.

Events

• 3 April – The 21st Eurovision Song Contest is won by Brotherhood of Man, representing the United Kingdom, with their song "Save Your Kisses for Me".
• 5 April – Patricia Phoenix returns to the role of Elsie Tanner on Coronation Street after an absence of three years.
• 7 April – Margot Bryant makes her last appearance as Minnie Caldwell on Coronation Street.
• 1 July – US Sci-Fi series The Bionic Woman makes its debut at No.1 in the ratings – an almost unheard of event for a Sci-Fi series.
• 1 December – Punk group The Sex Pistols cause a storm of controversy and outrage in the UK by swearing well before the watershed on the regional Thames Television news programme Today, hosted by Bill Grundy. Grundy, who has goaded them into doing so, is temporarily sacked. Today is replaced by Thames at Six a year later.
• Dennis Potter's Play for Today Brimstone and Treacle is pulled from transmission on BBC1 due to controversy over its content, including the rape of a woman by the devil. It is eventually screened on BBC2 in 1987, after having been made into a film starring Sting in 1982.

Debuts

BBC1

• Unknown – Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1976)
• 6 January – Rentaghost (1976–1984)
• 8 January – When the Boat Comes In (1976–1981)
• 8 September – The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–1979)
• 2 October – Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976–1982)

BBC2

• 17 February – One Man and His Dog (1976–present)
• 20 February – Open All Hours (BBC2 1976, BBC1 1981–1982, 1985, 2013)

ITV

• 1 July – The Bionic Woman (1976–1978, 2007)
• 1 September – Star Maidens (1976)
• 6 September – George and Mildred (1976–1979)
• 27 September –
  • The Muppet Show (1976–1981)
  • Chorlton and the Wheelies (1976–1979)
• 19 October – The New Avengers (1976–1977)

Television shows

^{^[e]} signifies that this show has a related event in the Events section above.

1940s

• Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

• Panorama (1953–present)
• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• This Is Your Life (1955–2003)
• Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978)
• What the Papers Say (1956–2008)
• The Sky at Night (1957–present)
• Blue Peter (1958–present)
• Grandstand (1958–2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street (1960–present)^[e]
• Songs of Praise (1961–present)
• Z-Cars (1962–1978)
• Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
• Play School (1964–1988)
• Mr. and Mrs. (1964–1999, 2008–2010, 2012–present)
• Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• Magpie (1968–1980)
• The Benny Hill Show (1969–1989)
• Doctor Who (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present)
• Top of the Pops (1964–2006)
• Match of the Day (1964–present)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006–present)
• Sportsnight (1965–1997)
• The Money Programme (1966–present)
• Dad's Army (1968–1977)
• Magpie (1968–1980)
• The Big Match (1968–2002)
• Nationwide (1969–1983)
• Screen Test (1969–1984)

1970s

• Play for Today (1970–1984)^[e]
• The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)
• The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)
• Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)
• Emmerdale Farm (1972–present)
• John Craven's Newsround (1972–present)
• Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
• Superstars (1973–1985, 2003–2005)
• The Tomorrow People (1973–1979, 1992–1995)
• Tiswas (1974–1982)
• Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)
• Arena (1975–present)
• Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994)
• Survivors (1975–1977)
• The Good Life (1975–1978)
• The Bionic Woman (1976–1978, 2007)^[e]
• Pop Quest (1975–1978)
• Runaround (1975–1981)
• Space: 1999 (1975–1977)
• Supersonic (1975–1977)
• The Sweeney (1975–1978)
• Celebrity Squares (1975–1979, 1993–1997, 2014–present)

Ending this year

• Unknown
  • Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976)
  • Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1976)
• 10 February — Shades of Greene (1975–1976)
• 26 March  — Open All Hours (1976, 1981–1982, 1985, 2013)
• 7 April — Man About The House (1973–1976)
• 1 May — Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1976)
• 1 December — Star Maidens (1976)

Births

• 19 January — Marsha Thomason, actress
• 21 January — Emma Bunton, musician and television presenter
• 28 January — Lee Ingleby, actor
• 3 February — Caroline Bilton, journalist and newsreader
• 8 February — Abi Titmuss, television presenter and model
• 10 February — Keeley Hawes, actress
• 12 February – Jenni Falconer, television presenter
• 2 March — Helen Latham, actress
• 21 March — Celina Hinchcliffe, television sports presenter
• 18 April — Sean Maguire, actor and singer
• 27 April  — Sally Hawkins, English actress
• 14 May — Martine McCutcheon, actress and singer
• 5 June
  • Rachel Leskovac, actress
  • Ross Noble, comedian
• 13 June — Kym Marsh, actress and singer
• 8 July — Alex Fletcher, actress
• 12 July — Anna Friel, actress
• 13 July – Lisa Riley, actress and television presenter
• 19 July
  • Ellie Crisell, journalist and news presenter
  • Benedict Cumberbatch, actor
• 9 August — Rhona Mitra, actress
• 6 September — Naomie Harris, actress
• 7 September — Natasha Collins, actress and model (died 2008)
• 23 September – Rob James-Collier, actor and model
• 21 October – Andrew Scott, actor
• 23 October — Cat Deeley, television presenter
• 1 November — Beth Cordingly, actress
• 8 December — Dominic Monaghan, actor
• Unknown – Brian Kirkwood, television producer

Deaths

• 26 April — Sid James, actor and comedian
• 19 August – Alastair Sim, actor