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80th anniversary of TV service

John Humphrys presents a special concert to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first regular television service, with the ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra and conductor Gavin Sutherland.

As the ±«Óãtv celebrates its centenary and reflects on 100 years of broadcasting, another chance to hear John Humphrys present a special concert first broadcast to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first regular television service in 2016.

'Your Name: John Humphrys
Occupation: Journalist and broadcaster
And your specialist subject: 80 years of British television...1936 to the present day'

It all started on 2nd November 1936 from a make-shift studio in the south east wing of Alexandra Palace in North London. Ally Pally as it was and still is known today. It wasn't a new invention by any means - experiments had been on going around the world since the 1850s to perfect and broadcast television pictures. In this country, the work of John Logie Baird pushed the way forward and this November day was momentous as it marked the start of the world's first regular television service and it was called ±«Óãtv Television. This title was to last until the arrival of the ±«Óãtv's second television channel in 1964 and this first channel was re-named - ±«Óãtv One.

Since then, of course, there's been a media revolution - you can catch up; download and watch online. But the last 80 years produced a wealth of comedy, drama, music, documentary, sport, natural history and news programmes.

Tonight's concert includes musical themes from 'Quatermass', 'Monitor', 'Poldark', 'Mastermind', 'Vision On', 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' and 'Blue Planet', performed by the ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland.

And casting an inquisitive eye and ear over the proceedings, and no doubt adding the occasional pithy comment, is John Humphrys.

During the interval we revisit Alexandra Palace to discover some more television history.

First broadcast in 2016.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sun 16 Oct 2022 20:00

Music Played

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland

    Friday Night Is Music Night Opening Sig Tune

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    TELEVISION MARCH

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    THE YOUNG BALLERINA (THE POTTERS WHEEL)

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    Ronnie Hazelhurst Medley (Two Ronnies, Last of the Summer Wine, Blankety Blank, Some Mothers Do Av'em, Yes Minister

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    BLUE PETER (BARNACLE BILL)

  • Alasdair Malloy & Rhythm Section of ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    LEFT BANK TWO (Vision On theme from The Gallery)

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    MARS (THE PLANETS)

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    GRANDSTAND

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    POLDARK SUITE

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    Police special (Kojak, Cagney and Lacey, Hill Street Blues, Streets Of San Francisco

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    The Girls In Grey

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    THEME - MORSE

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    Doctor Who

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    AT THE CASTLE GATE

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    APPROACHING MENACE

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    Suite - the Avengers

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    Brideshead Revisited (Theme)

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    Theme From Parkinson

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Strictly Come Dancing Sig Tune

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    SARDINE RUN

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    SOUNDS FAMILIAR

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra Cb: Gavin Sutherland

    FNIMN Closing Sig Tune

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra & Gavin Sutherland

    Television March

  • Billy Cotton & His Band

    Somebody Stole My Gal

  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra & Gavin Sutherland

    Theme - Hancock's Half Hour

  • Charles Williams

    The Young Ballerina (The Potter's Wheel Interlude)

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ronnie Hazlehurst

    Theme - Yes Minister

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ronnie Hazlehurst

    Theme - Last of the Summer Wine

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ronnie Hazlehurst

    Theme - Blankety Blank

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ronnie Hazlehurst

    Theme - The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ronnie Hazlehurst

    Theme - Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Bruce Forsyth

    Theme - The Generation Game

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ronnie Hazlehurst

    Theme - The Two Ronnies

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ashworth Hope

    Blue Peter (Barnacle Bill)

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Annette Mills

    Muffin The Mule

  • Alasdair Malloy & Rhythm Section of ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra

    Left Bank Two(Vision On)

  • Gustav Holst

    Mars, The Bringer of War (The Planets)

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Keith Mansfield

    Grandstand

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Anne Dudley

    Poldark Suite

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Jack Warner

    An Ordinary Copper

  • Billy Goldenberg

    Kojak

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Bill Conti

    Cagney and Lacey

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Mike Post

    Hill Street Blues

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Patrick Williams

    Streets of San Francisco

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Charles Williams

    The Girls in Grey

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Barrington Pheloung

    Theme - Inspector Morse

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ron Grainer

    Theme - Doctor Who

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Jean Sibelius

    At The Castle Gate (Pelleas et Melisande)

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Neil Richardson

    Approaching Menace

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Laurie Johnson

    The Avengers

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Geoffrey Burgon

    Brideshead Revisited

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Harry Stoneham

    Theme - Parkinson

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Daniel McGrath

    Strictly Come Dancing

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • George Fenton

    Sardine Run (Blue Planet)

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra & Gavin Sutherland

    TV Theme Medley - ±«Óãtv News

  • Derek Taverner

    TV Theme Medley - Dad's Army

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Geoffrey Burgon

    TV Theme Medley - Forsyth Saga

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra & Gavin Sutherland

    TV Theme Medley - Tonight

  • Jeff Darnell

    TV Theme Medley - Dixon of Dock Green

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ron Grainer

    TV Theme Medley - Maigret

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Ronnie Hazlehurst

    TV Theme Medley - Are You Being Served?

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • Arthur Kent

    TV Theme Medley - Bring Me Sunshine - Morecambe and Wise

    Orchestra: ±«Óãtv Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 28 Oct 2016 20:00
  • Fri 24 Feb 2017 20:00
  • Sun 28 Jun 2020 19:00
  • Sun 16 Oct 2022 20:00