Robert Seatter's blog

Animal Magic was first seen on 13 April 1962. The fortnightly children’s nature programme was made by the fledgling Natural History Unit, and presented by Johnny Morris, who provided voices for the animals and made them talk.

Although some people criticised Morris for anthropomorphising the animals, his humour drew viewers into the more formal, scientific elements of the programme.

Former king Edward VIII spoke to a stunned nation announcing that he had abdicated the throne in favour of his brother, George, so as to be free to marry divorcee Mrs Wallis Simpson. The historic broadcast and climax of the constitutional crisis was heard by the whole country, most of whom had been unaware of the royal love affair only a week earlier.

Cathy Come Home was first broadcast on BBC One. The gritty drama, written by Jeremy Sandford and directed by Ken Loach, traces the descent into homelessness of young mother Cathy Ward, played by Carol White.

During the drama, Cathy and her partner, Reg, are evicted from their flat “with parquet flooring and tin openers fixed to the walls”. In the memorable final scene, Cathy's children are forcibly taken from her by Social Services and put into care.

On 2 October 1961, the first edition of the viewer feedback programme Points of View aired. It was presented by a young Robert Robinson, who asked viewers to send their letters, saying: “I hope they will be highly critical and frightfully disobedient, and so help television from one of its besetting sins, which is complacency.”

On 20 September 1976, the first episode of the 12-part historical drama I, Claudius aired. Adapted from two novels by Robert Graves - I, Claudius and Claudius the God, it depicted decadent imperial Roman life and was a ratings success.

Derek Jacobi’s portrayal of Claudius was matched by an outstanding performance from Sian Phillips as Livia, his scheming grandmother. Both actors had to age through the series, and required hours in the make-up chair.

The first experimental television programme produced by the BBC was broadcast on 22 August 1932. The BBC’s involvement with John Logie Baird’s broadcasts on the 30-line mechanical system was an acknowledgement that the medium had a future; three experimental broadcasts, from studio BB in the basement of Broadcasting House, were produced by Eustace Robb.

Baird, who now had the chance to advance his research, appeared on the first programme to thank the BBC, and said afterwards that the transmission was the best he had yet seen.

Till Death Us Do Part began on 6 June 1966, following a successful pilot the previous year. The sitcom, written by Johnny Speight and produced by Dennis Main Wilson, became a big success, drawing audiences of 20 million. But it was always controversial; the central character of Alf Garnett, the opinionated cockney bigot brought to life by Warren Mitchell, attracted complaints from politicians and Mary Whitehouse.

In a Panorama programme, the Duke of Edinburgh became the first member of the royal family to give a television interview. The duke was interviewed by Richard Dimbleby about the Commonwealth Technical Training Week. As patron of the initiative, he emphasised the need to encourage the training of skilled workers for the modern labour force.

The return of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race to the BBC in 2010 continued an association that dates back to 1927. Now available on all platforms, the first broadcast race on 2 April 1927 was an event that the Radio Times trailed as “one of the biggest treats that the BBC has provided yet”.