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Image: Joan Miller at the switchboard for Picture Page in October 1936.

What do you remember about the early days of ±«Óãtv Television? Did buying your first television set change your life? What are your earliest television memories? Let us know something about your early TV viewing habits. Leave your feedback here.

Your memories

I worked for ±«Óãtv tv Outside Broadcasts London 1969-1997 (Technical Assistant/Vision Engineer). Check out my pictures of Outside Broadcasts at YouTube "±«Óãtv TV OUTSIDE BROADCASTS".

John Stevens, Bushey, Herts, England

My father bought a TV in 1948 when I was only 3 years old, so despite my age I have always known TV. Our first TV had a 9" screen with a large magnifying lens in front of it. But may I suggest a way of bridging these 70 years. Watching the beautiful "Here's Looking At You" from 1936, made me realise it would be a perfect Foxtrot on SCD. Could it be digitally re-mastered and used to start a show dance that would then merge into Dave Archer and the singers in colour. What a way for the Beeb to celebrate 80 years of TV.

Barry Linton, Southend, Essex

I clearly remember hearing a schoolmaster in 1939 saying that he had tossed up whether or not to buy a television or a small car. The prices were about the same, a bit over £100, he decided that the television would be cheaper to run. He was probably right but had he bought the car he could have used it despite petrol rationing for many years, his TV became worthless and by the end of WW2 his car would have been worth many hundreds.

Dudley Parker, Eastleigh, England

Carry On London the most memorable.

Peter Harris, Maidstone, Kent

Regarding the birth of TV. My mother in law Cecilie, was closely involved with this work as she was in the ±«Óãtv at that time. Cecilie wrote that she was at Alexandra Palace on 1st November 1936 with the team.I have her Piece of paper saying opening by His Majesty's Postmaster General, Alexandra Palace 1st November 1936. She began working at the ±«Óãtv as a trainee stenographer at £2 per week in the engineering information department. She wrote that Sir John Reith was Director General and was 'my idol'. The chief engineer she said was Noel Ashridge. She was also involved in Radar.

Vivien Gilliard

Our first tv was purchased specifically to see the coronation - as I'm sure many thousands of others were. Our 12" screen was supplemented by an awful liquid filled magnifier. Nevertheless, we three plus Grandma, 2 Aunts & Uncles an probably any other odd bodies crowded in to watch. Mind bending! Although this was not the trigger for my ambitions, I did go on to a career in the ±«Óãtv as Senior Sound Supervisor, & had a wonderful time - until John Birt came along and spoiled it for everyone.

Norman McLeod, Studley

My mother's twin brother, Godfrey Delahay was one of the very first television cameramen, he was a technician, and worked for John Logie Baird, he was seconded to the ±«Óãtv at the time when television was coming into being in 1936. It also happened that he was working in one of the towers of the Crystal Palace at the time of the fire, too, but he was safe. Sadly though he died at the age of 29. Our mother, Della Walter, died fairly recently, she was almost 97. During her youth in the 1930's, living and working in London she was frequently with her brother and involved with some light roles at the ±«Óãtv. Known as Della Delahay, she became one of the UK's leading mannequins, appearing mainly in London, but also Paris and New York. As youngsters we, her children, grew up hearing about our 'uncle' Goff, his world, his achievements, their background, and their individual or joint involvements to do with the development of television, and became familiar with such names as Jasmine Bligh who they both knew. Our mother also mentioned that her brother was working on ‘something secret’ with/for Baird on behalf of the Government at that time which she thought may have been the development of radar. In preparation for the newly invented ‘television’ to go live in 1936 several years of trials took place and our mother was one of many models Mr.Baird used to ascertain the best 'make-up' to be used to provide the quality and clarity of picture ultimately to be transmitted live from Alexandra Palace. To do these experimental tests some of the models and technicians and/or cameramen worked in a booth or studio in a side street somewhere about 3 miles away. Baird had to constantly monitor the clarity of the picture and experimented with different make-up that would provide the best. The most successful result came from using green face-powder, black lip-stick and very black eye-shadow and mascara – everything accentuated – which is what our mother told us she wore.

Virginia Tarrant (nee Walter), Hagley, Worcestershire

My first memory of watching television was sometime mid 1950s I think. Watching Hans and Lotte Hass exploring under water scenes. Although very exciting, it was in black and white. As a child, I thought it strange that the lamp on top of the television, a plastic colourful underwater scene, looked far more exciting!

Kathy Fenlon, Rustington, West Sussex

We hired a TV for the Coronation (1953) then it went back, and we didn't get our own till a few years alter. The earliest TV programme I can definitely remember watching (after the Coronation) was Panorama on the Spaghetti Harvest.

Harold Schickler, London

TV - We had a B&W one in the late 40s. I remember Dad & Uncle watching rugby, but nothing for us at the time (age 5). Parents chose what we watched. Quatermass & The Pit - my grandfather let me watch. Wuthering Heights , Age of Kings, Jane Eyre - was terrified. All well remembered.

Pam Schickler, London

My earliest memories of either TV or radio is of sitting on my parents’ bed (the TV was kept in their bedroom, since they considered it a bit vulgar for the "drawing room") and watching Andy Pandy. Must have been before 1960, since we left England that year. My next memory is of listening to John Glenn's space flight in 1962. My next is watching Cathy Come ±«Óãtv (1966?).

Nick Till, London

I remember watching the first shuttle launch. We had a black-and-white TV and the picture quality was poor, but we were fascinated. As children, we were allowed to watch only the ±«Óãtv - we used to watch ITV in our friend's house. We watched three programmes every week – ‘Jackanory’, which we found boring, then ‘Newsround’ and ‘Blue Peter’. ‘Blue Peter’ was amazing and a ‘must watch’ from week-to-week.

Al Mackintosh, Brighton

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