2006 in British television explained

The following is a list of British television related events from the year 2006.

Events

January

width=90	Date	Event
1 January	BBC One airs The Queen by Rolf, a documentary following artist Rolf Harris as he paints a portrait of the Queen.[1]
2 January	BBC One airs the network premieres of Piglet's Big Movie and the Steven Spielberg smash-hit Catch Me If You Can.
3 January	Channel 4 quiz show Countdown celebrates its 4000th edition.[2]
6 January	ITV debuts Soapstar Superstar, a singing talent contest in which soap actors compete to become series champion.[3]
7 January	ITV's Saturday morning children's show MoM is relaunched under the new title of Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown.
9 January	Debut of the offbeat police drama Life on Mars on BBC One and ITV's pilot programme of Dancing on Ice.[4]
14 January	Coronation Street actor Richard Fleeshman wins the first series of ITV's Soapstar Superstar.[5]
	Debut of ITV's Dancing on Ice.[6]
15 January	The BBC announces details of Just the Two of Us, a singing contest following the Strictly Come Dancing format that will air in February and March. Vernon Kay and Tess Daly will present the series which will pair celebrities with professional singers, who will then compete to become series champion.[7]
16 January	To coincide with the introduction of a new identity across ITV plc stations, UTV replaces its 2003 idents with a brand new set.[8] The new idents featured newly recorded films shot across Northern Ireland, again in the form of panoramas. The landscape films used in these idents are updated in July 2007 and October 2008.
27 January	Chantelle Houghton, a model from Essex, wins the fourth series of Celebrity Big Brother after entering the series as a "fake" celebrity. In order to remain as a contestant she was required to convince the other participants that she was a famous singer.[9]

February

width=90	Date	Event
8 February	Channel 4 confirms that its pay-per-view movie channel FilmFour will go Free-to-air from July, when it will launch on Freeview.[10]
10 February	The events of the 2006 Winter Olympics start broadcasting worldwide.
14 February	Coronation Street bosses defend their decision to film a storyline involving a car breaking down on Saddleworth Moor, scene of the 1960s Moors murders, saying the plot has nothing to do with the events that occurred there.[11]
15 February	BBC One debuts Davina, a chat show presented by Davina McCall. Guests on the first edition include Charlotte Church, Tess Daly and Vernon Kay.[12] The show proves to be a disaster, with The Guardians Gareth Maclean noting that McCall "found herself floundering and foundering, struggling through [interviews], and exposing herself in a way from which even the hardiest flasher would recoil", while Jonathan Ross blames a poor guest line up. The 8 March edition gives BBC One its worst ever peak time ratings of 2.75 million.[13] [14] By the time the show ends on 12 April ratings have fallen to below 2.5 million. It is axed shortly afterwards.[15] [16]
19 February	Channel 4 airs the penultimate and final episode of Gene Simmons' Rock School where the band Hoax UK (formerly No Comment) opened for Judas Priest at Long Beach Arena. Members included the late Lil' Chris, Ellie Chapman, Samanie Warren-Close, Sammi Reeve, Lindsey Rose, Jess Reid and others.
23 February	Just the Two of Us debuts on BBC One.[17]
26 February	The events of the 2006 Winter Olympics end broadcasting worldwide.
28 February	L!VE TV is moved to the adult section of Sky's EPG, and is rebranded as "Babeworld" two days later. This is because the channel has moved to broadcasting an increasingly adult themed content.

March

width=90	Date	Event
2 March	Charlie Brooker's ...wipe series debuts on BBC Four, starting with the first episode of Screenwipe which is still a rival to ITV's Harry Hill's TV Burp.
4 March	BBC Two shows the network television premiere of Anita and Me, a coming of age drama based on the book of the same name by Meera Syal.[18]
	Actress Gaynor Faye and professional skating partner Daniel Whiston win the first series of Dancing on ice.[19]
	Tony Blair becomes the first serving Prime Minister to be interviewed by Michael Parkinson on his chat show. Blair volunteers the information that he believes he will be judged by God for the Iraq War.[20]
5 March	Siân Reeves and Russell Watson win the first series of Just the Two of Us.[21]
11 March	Dick & Dom in da Bungalow comes to an end after four years on CBBC.
	ITV launches a CITV channel, which broadcasts during the downtime hours of ITV4, replacing the ITV News Channel.[22]
18 March	Christopher Napier, performing as George Formby, wins the fourth and final junior series of Stars in Their Eyes. The programme continues with a number of special editions during 2006, before a final celebrity special on 23 December.
19 March	American period sitcom television series Everybody Hates Chris debuts on Five.
23 March	Coronation Street bosses dismiss as untrue media reports that the child actress who plays Amy Barlow is being replaced because her parents felt her storylines were "too harrowing", and her workload too heavy.[23]
24 March	ITV announces plans to air World of Chat, a show on ITV2 featuring the best from chat shows around the world.[24]
25–26 March	UKTV Gold presents its Mitchells Weekend to coincide with the return of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) to EastEnders. The weekend includes The Mitchells – The Full Story, a documentary about the soap family presented by actress Kim Medcalf.[25]

April

width=90	Date	Event
3 April	Graham Norton will present How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, a TV talent search for an actress to play Maria in a stage production of The Sound of Music, it is announced.[26]
7 April	12.6 million viewers watch long-running Coronation Street character Mike Baldwin die in the arms of his long-time rival, Ken Barlow. Baldwin, played by Johnny Briggs, had been in the show for 30 years.[27]
13 April	BBC daytime soap opera Doctors air the first same-sex marriage on British television when characters Greg Robinson (Ben Jones) and Rico Da Silva (Felix D'Alviella) get married.[28] [29]
17 April	Peter Bayless wins the 2006 series of MasterChef Goes Large.
19 April	ITV launch ITV Play, a new 24/7 participation TV channel, on Freeview in the United Kingdom. It will launch on other platforms later in the year.
21 April	The Queen celebrates her 80th birthday at Windsor. The Prince of Wales makes a televised address in tribute.|-|Denis Norden announces his retirement from his two ongoing ITV shows It'll Be Alright on the Night and spin-off show Denis Norden's Laughter File, after 30 years with ITV.|-|ITV secures the terrestrial television screening rights to Casino Royale, the new James Bond film that will be released in November.[30] The film receives its terrestrial television premiere on 19 September 2009.[31] |-|24 April|Cartoon Network Too and Nick Jr. 2 are launched in the UK.|-|25 April|The BBC announces that Grandstand, its flagship sports TV programme, will be phased out within the next year after nearly 50 years on air.[32] |} May width=90 Date Event 5 May The BBC's local election coverage goes off air shortly before 3:00 am, due to a power failure at their Millbank studios. For the next hour coverage relocates to The Counting House pub, with results being read out using handwritten pieces of paper. 6 May ITV1 broadcasts the network premiere of Peter Pan. 8 May Guy Goma, a graduate from the Congo who went to the BBC to attend a job interview, appears on BBC News 24 in place of an IT expert after a mix-up. Guy Kewney had been scheduled to comment on the subject of Apple Computer's court case with The Beatles' record label, Apple Corps, but a producer collected the wrong man from the wrong reception at Television Centre.[33] 10 May Former supermarket cashier Michelle Dewberry wins the second series of The Apprentice and a £100,000 a year job working for Sir Alan Sugar.[34] 14 May Producers of Coronation Street confirm that Debra Stephenson, who plays Frankie Baldwin, will be leaving the soap at the end of the year.[35] 15 May BBC High Definition Television Trial commences. The University of Manchester wins the 2005–06 series of University Challenge, beating Trinity Hall, Cambridge 160–150. 18 May Channel 4 airs the first ever Big Brother episode to be shot in 16:9 widescreen. 20 May Just minutes before the live Eurovision Song Contest final begins, BBC One's live National Lottery draw is invaded by Fathers 4 Justice protestors. The show is temporarily taken off air, leaving just a programme logo and announcer Alan Dedicoat's voice until the problems are resolved.[36] Finland's Lordi win the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest (staged in Athens) with "Hard Rock Hallelujah". ITV airs The Princes' Trust 30th Birthday Concert Live which is a four-hour fundraiser telethon that includes an outdoor concert, royal interviews and studio-based sketches. 22 May BSkyB launch High-definition television in the UK under the brand Sky HD. 26 May UTV changes its registered company name from 'Ulster Television plc' to 'UTV plc', the company's belief being that the existing name no longer reflected the full scope of the company's business.[37] 27 May The BBC's first scheduled HDTV broadcast on BBC HD. The first ever Soccer Aid football match takes place at Old Trafford and is broadcast live on ITV1. England defeat the Rest of the World 2–1 and £2 million is raised for UNICEF, the event's charity partner. 28 May It is announced that the traditional live Saturday morning kids' programmes are to be axed after 38 years on either channels, ending on 1 July. This is because children have more choice to digital multi channels and ITV will rival Saturday Kitchen with Saturday Cooks!. 30 May Scottish and Grampian are rebranded as STV Central and STV North respectively. June width=90 Date Event 4 June Coronation Street confirms that Richard Fleeshman, who plays Craig Harris, will be leaving the soap to follow a singing career.[38] 5 June Actress Lucy Benjamin wins , a celebrity version of the ITV music talent contest.[39] 6 June ITV announces that Central News South's existence as a news region will end after 17 years when the eastern half of the region (the area served by the Oxford transmitter) merges its operations with Meridian West's output, forming a new news region named ITV Thames Valley. 9 June–9 July Live coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup from Germany is aired by the BBC and ITV. 15 June The BBC announces that Billie Piper will leave her role as Rose Tyler on Doctor Who at the end of the second series the following month.[40] 19 June BBC One Controller Peter Fincham announces that They Think It's All Over will not be recommissioned for a new series, ending a run of eleven years on air.[41] 20 June The BBC announces that Top of the Pops will be axed, the final show airing on 30 July.[42] 18.46 million watch England vs Sweden in the 2006 FIFA World Cup from Germany, the highest rated programme of the year. 24 June James Martin presents his first edition of Saturday Kitchen, taking over from Antony Worrall Thompson who has moved to ITV with rival show Saturday Cooks!. 26 June–9 July Live coverage of the Wimbledon 2006 is aired by the BBC with the first Wimbledon season to be shot in 16:9 widescreen. July width=90 Date Event 1 July The last live Saturday morning regular-based children's show, Holly and Stephen's Saturday Showdown, is aired after 38 years of broadcasting Saturday morning kids' shows on both channels. They are replaced by cookery programmes permanently. 5 July Actress Freema Agyeman is announced as the new Doctor Who companion Martha Jones replacing Billie Piper's Rose Tyler.[43] [44] 7 July Launch of Only Fools on Horses on BBC One, a celebrity show jumping contest airing over nine successive nights in aid of Sport Relief. 11 July It is announced that actress Wendy Richard will leave EastEnders as Pauline Fowler at Christmas. She is one of the only remaining cast members from the show's 1985 launch.[45] 16 July Sarah Lang wins one million pounds in the final of the ITV1 gameshow PokerFace.[46] As she had also won £32,500 on the BBC One gameshow In It to Win It the previous year, this makes her the biggest known female gameshow winner in UK television history, and second overall behind Ian Woodley. 19 July CITV transmits its last ever episode of Thomas and Friends. From here, Channel 5 will take over the license to broadcast the series on free-for-air television. 21 July James Dreyfus replaces Ardal O'Hanlon as George Sunday (Thermoman) in the sixth and final series of My Hero. The series ends in September due to low viewing figures. 23 July FilmFour is relaunched as a free-to-air channel. It had originally been a subscription service, but this has ended four days previously. 29 July Debut of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? on BBC One.[47] 30 July Top of the Pops airs its final regular edition after being axed earlier in the year.[48] However, the show returns for a Christmas special.[49] August width=90 Date Event 14 August The One Show is first broadcast on BBC One. 18 August Pete Bennett wins series seven of Big Brother.[50] 23 August ITV secures a deal to sell its 45% stake in Ireland's TV3 for £70m.[51] Central Tonight presenter Joanne Malin apologises after swearing during a live broadcast from Trentham Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent. Central subsequently claims to have received no viewer complaints as a result of her description of the inclement weather, but Trentham says several people contacted them offering the presenter their support.[52] 27 August Playhouse Disney removes most of its in-vision continuity, and its two main presenters Dave Benson Phillips and Alex Lovell (referred to as Big Dave and Little Alex) leave the network. 28 August Bianca Gascoigne and model Calum Best win the second and final (for the time being) series of Love Island. September width=90 Date Event 1 September BBC Entertainment replaces BBC Prime in global markets. 4 September ITV Lunchtime News moves to 13:30 and returns to run for 30 minutes. 13 September Ingram Wilcox, a civil servant and quiz show fanatic, has become the fifth person to win the £1 million prize on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, it is reported. The episode showing his win, the first in two and a half years, is aired on 16 September.[53] 16 September Connie Fisher wins BBC One's How Do You Solve a Problems Like Maria?. She will make her debut in the role in a revival of The Sound of Music at London's Palladium Theatre on 14 November.[54] 18 September Loose Women now broadcasts weekdays at 12.30pm. 20 September Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is seriously injured after crashing a jet-powered car at 280 mph.[55] BBC One's daytime soap Doctors celebrates its 1000th episode with a one-hour special.[56] 22 September BBC One airs Episode 5000 of Neighbours.[57] 25 September Lianna Fowler wins Cycle 2 of Britain's Next Top Model. 29 September Matt Dawson wins the 2006 series of Celebrity MasterChef. 30 September 1 vs. 100, the National Lottery game show, debuts on BBC One. October width=90 Date Event 5 October QI publishes its first book: The Book of General Ignorance. The book becomes a No. 1 best-seller for amazon.co.uk. 6 October The BBC defends presenter Graham Norton after he admits to having taken recreational drugs, including ecstasy in an interview for Marie Claire magazine. Of Norton's revelation the broadcaster says: "The issues that Graham discusses in this interview are aimed at an adult audience and reflect the frank and open nature of his personality".[58] 7 October After four and a half years, the BBC 'Rhythm & Movement' idents are shown for the final time on BBC One at 1:10 am, as part of a special montage (2:55 am on BBC One Northern Ireland). Their replacements, the 'Circle' idents, debut at 10 am. 12 October ITV announce that Where the Heart Is will not be commissioned for a new series.[59] 15 October Five Life is launched.[60] 16 October Five US is launched. Numberjacks, the 3D children's educational show, debuts on CBeebies. 20 October Entertainer Jimmy Tarbuck is forced to withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing because of his health problems. 26 October ITV confirms the axing of its prison drama, Bad Girls after eight series.[61] 29 October After a six-year absence from television, The Royle Family returns for what is billed as its final episode, an hour-long show titled "The Queen of Sheba".[62] 30 October In the Grid, a 70-part primetime game show, premieres on Five. Long running animated series for children Horrid Henry begins on CITV. 31 October Pop star Madonna appears on Newsnight, where she gives her first British television interview about her controversial adoption of an African baby.[63] November width=90 Date Event 8 November Virgin Media comes into being when NTL Telewest does a deal to license the Virgin name.[64] 10 November Lorraine Chase makes her final appearance in Emmerdale as Steph Stokes. 13 November BBC Parliament broadcasts in full screen format for the first time on the Freeview service, having previously only been available in quarter screen format.[65] The BBC has eventually found the bandwidth to make the channel full-screen after receiving "thousands of angry and perplexed e-mails and letters",[66] not to mention questions asked by MPs in the Houses of Parliament itself. ITV launches some new idents themed around "alive with colour", replacing the previous "Emotions" set which have been in use since January. 14 November Cadbury announces its intention to end its £10m a year sponsorship deal with Coronation Street after a decade. The current sponsorship contract is due to expire at the end of 2007, but Cadbury says it would end the deal earlier if another sponsor is found.[67] 17 November Episode eight of Series D of QI is a Children in Need special with Alan Davies, Rich Hall, Jonathan Ross and Phill Jupitus, who discuss the topic of Descendants with presenter Stephen Fry.[68] 24 November ITV Summer tropical reality series Love Island is axed after two series, due to poor ratings. The programme would see a successful return in 2015 on ITV2. 27 November The BBC confirms that the long-running Holiday Programme is being axed after 37 years on air.[69] 28 November ITV confirms that BBC chairman Michael Grade is to become its chief executive in early 2007.[70] Launch of 4 on demand, a service which allows some internet, Virgin Media Television, Tiscali TV and BT Vision users to view programming recently shown on Channel 4, E4 or More4, or from their archives. 29 November After seven and a half years on air, Jungle Run airs its last episode. Channel 4 axes its music reality series Rock School due to Gene Simmons' other commitments, after two series. December width=90 Date Event 1 December Matt Willis, a former member of boy band Busted wins the sixth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[71] 3 December The last edition of Central News South is aired. From tomorrow the Central South region will cease to exist. The east of the region including Oxford becomes part of ITV Thames Valley, the west half of the region, covering Cheltenham and Gloucester is absorbed into the ITV West region, while Herefordshire rejoins the Central West region. 4 December The ITV Thames Valley region, a composite of the old Meridian West and eastern part of the Central South regions, goes on air with a new regional news programme Thames Valley Tonight. 10 December Equestrian Zara Phillips is named as this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year, following her mother, Anne, Princess Royal, who won the title in 1971.[72] 13 December The Berwick-upon-Tweed transmitter transfers from Border to Tyne Tees as part of the preparations for the digital switchover of the Border region in 2008.[73] 16 December At 5.30am BBC Two airs the final Open University course-related television broadcast. With Open University course content now available through media such as podcasts and DVDs it is no longer necessary for the programmes to be aired on television and radio. However, the Open University continues to make programming for a broader audience, with series including Coast, Child of Our Time and Battle of the Geeks.[74] [75] Leona Lewis wins the third civilian series of The X Factor, becoming the ITV show's first female winner. It is also the last edition to be presented by Kate Thornton who is replaced by Dermot O'Leary the following year.[76] 19 December Following the success of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, BBC One announces plans for Any Dream Will Do, a follow-up series that will search for someone to play Joseph in the West End musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.[77] 22 December Desmond Lynam presents his last Channel 4's Countdown after over a year of presenting. 23 December BBC One airs the network premiere of the 2003 DreamWorks animated film . Cricketer Mark Ramprakash and his dancing partner Karen Hardy win the fourth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[78] Stars in Their Eyes ends, with the last special celebrity episode presented by Cat Deeley, due to the fact that she has moved to the US by this point. The show is revived in 2015, fronted by Harry Hill. 24 December Christmas Eve highlights on BBC One include Calendar Girls, a film starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters along with an ensemble cast.[79] 25 December Actress Wendy Richard makes her final appearance in EastEnders after her character, Pauline Fowler, is killed off in a dramatic storyline. She has been in the show since its inception in 1985. Richard dies in February 2009 at the age of 65.[80] Launch of Emmerdales whodunit storyline involving the murder of Tom King (played by Ken Farrington). Tom is hit over the head and falls through a window to his death on his wedding day.[81] [82] 26 December Casper is aired on BBC One for the last time. Boxing Day highlights on BBC One include the films Freaky Friday and . ITV airs a one-off dramatisation of After Thomas, with Keeley Hawes, Ben Miles, Sheila Hancock, Asa Butterfield and Andrew Byrne. It is produced by Beryl Vertue and Elaine Cameron, directed by Simon Shore, and written by Lindsey Hill. The film centres on the severely autistic child Kyle Graham and the progress he makes when his parents adopt a golden retriever named Thomas. It is based on the true story of Scottish child Dale Gardner and his dog Henry. Debuts BBC One Date Debut 9 January Life on Mars 15 January Johnny and the Bomb Friends and Crocodiles 19 January Hotel Babylon 22 January The Virgin Queen 26 February Gideon's Daughter 9 March Waterloo Road 23 March The Family Man 30 March Casualty 1900s 13 April The Street Totally Doctor Who 4 May New Street Law 5 May Home Again 12 June Don't Get Done, Get Dom 1 July The Likeaballs 16 July The Chase 26 July Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole in My Heart 8 September Aftersun 16 September TMi 21 September Young Dracula 24 September Jane Eyre 3 October The Amazing Mrs Pritchard 6 October Not Going Out 7 October Robin Hood 8 October – Something for the Weekend 9 October Wide Sargasso Sea 2 November The State Within 27 December The Ruby in the Smoke 28 December Dracula BBC Two Date Debut 11 January Hyperdrive 12 February Petrolheads 17 May The Line of Beauty 19 June Saxondale 12 July Soundproof 3 August Time Trumpet 4 September Me Too! 16 September The Secret Show 8 October Something for the Weekend 16 October Numberjacks BBC Three Date Debut 16 July Sinchronicity 22 October Torchwood BBC Four Date Debut 2 March Charlie Brooker's ...wipe 20 March The Chatterley Affair 4 October Lead Balloon ITV (1/2/3/4/CITV) Date Debut 14 January Dancing on Ice 23 January Northern Lights 29 January Lewis, a spin-off from Inspector Morse. Wild at Heart 27 February Love Lies Bleeding 13 March A Good Murder 9 April Ghostboat 21 April The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant 7 May If I Had You 14 May 6 June The Thieving Headmistress 10 July PokerFace 12 July Jane Hall 13 September Losing It 16 October Bel's Boys 31 October Horrid Henry 6 November Dickinson's Real Deal 16 November Strictly Confidential 9 December Extinct 10 December Housewife, 49 18 December Losing Gemma 26 December After Thomas Channel 4 Date Debut 6 January My Name Is Earl 3 February The IT Crowd 7 May How I Met Your Mother 11 May All in the Game 27 June How to Look Good Naked 1 August Blunder 14 September Low Winter Sun 18 October Goldplated 26 October Longford 2 November A Harlot's Progress Five Date Debut 19 March Everybody Hates Chris 27 April Suburban Shootout 30 August Respectable 25 October Tripping Over Disney Channel UK Date Debut 6 May Hannah Montana Cartoon Network UK Date Debut 2 January The Batman 4 March Ben 10 4 September My Gym Partner's a Monkey 6 October Skatoony Cartoon Network Too Date Debut 4 September Blanche Ellen's Acres Pororo the Little Penguin Playhouse Disney UK Date Debut 24 April Doodlebops Mid July Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Channels New channels width=90 Date width=250 Channel 1 March Bliss 2 March Player 6 March Boomerang +1 11 March CITV 16 March Disney Cinemagic Disney Cinemagic +1 19 April ITV Play 24 April Cartoon Network Too Nick Jr. 2 2 May TCM 2 UKTV Drama +1 15 May BBC HD 22 May Artsworld HD Discovery HD National Geographic Channel HD Sky Box Office HD 1 Sky Box Office HD 2 Sky Movies 9 HD Sky Movies 10 HD Sky Sports HD Sky One HD 31 July Sky Sports HD 2 15 October Five Life 16 October Five US Defunct channels width=90 Date width=250 Channel 6 March Cartoon Network + 16 March Toon Disney 18 April UKTV People +1 19 July FilmFour Weekly 1 August VH2 Rebranded channels width=90 Date width=150 Old Name width=150 New Name 23 July FilmFour Film4 FilmFour +1 Film4 +1 31 July Sky Sports HD Sky Sports HD 1 28 September Player Bravo 2 Changes of network affiliation Show Moved from Moved to Lost Channel 4 Sky One Bagpuss Five The Clangers Ivor the Engine Noggin the Nog World's Strongest Man BBC One Thomas & Friends ITV The Paul O'Grady Show Channel 4 Family Guy (first run rights) BBC Three Little Einsteins Playhouse Disney CITV Television shows Returning this year after a break of one year or longer width=250 Programme width=125 Date(s) of original removal width=125 Original channel(s) width=125 Date(s) of return width=125 New channel(s) Finders Keepers 1 March 1985 6 August 1996 CITV 6 January 2006 N/A (Same channel as original) Jackanory 24 March 1996 BBC One CBBC 27 November 2006 Family Fortunes as All Star Family Fortunes 31 May 1985 30 December 2002 ITV 28 October 2006 Words and Pictures 2001 BBC One & BBC Two 2006 CBeebies Continuing television shows 1920s BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present) 1930s Trooping the Colour (1937–1939, 1946–2019, 2023–present) The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present) 1950s Panorama (1953–present) What the Papers Say (1956–2008)[83] The Sky at Night (1957–present) Blue Peter (1958–present) Grandstand (1958–2007) 1960s Coronation Street (1960–present) Songs of Praise (1961–present) Doctor Who (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present) Top of the Pops (1964–2006) Match of the Day (1964–present) The Money Programme (1966–2010) 1970s Emmerdale (1972–present) Newsround (1972–present) Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010) Arena (1975–present) One Man and His Dog (1976–present) Grange Hill (1978–2008) Ski Sunday (1978–present) Antiques Roadshow (1979–present) Question Time (1979–present) 1980s Children in Need (1980–present) Postman Pat (1981, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2004–2008) Timewatch (1982–present) Countdown (1982–present) The Bill (1984–2010) Channel 4 Racing (1984–2016) Thomas & Friends (1984–present) EastEnders (1985–present) Comic Relief (1985–present) Casualty (1986–present) ChuckleVision (1987–2009) Fireman Sam (1987–1994, 2005–2013) This Morning (1988–present) The Simpsons (1989–present) 1990s Have I Got News for You (1990–present) Room 101 (1994–2007, 2012–2018) A Touch of Frost (1992–2010) Heartbeat (1992–2010) Time Team (1994–2013) The National Lottery Draws (1994–2017) Top of the Pops 2 (1994–2017) Hollyoaks (1995–present) Arthur (1996–present) Never Mind the Buzzcocks (1996–2015) Silent Witness (1996–present) King of the Hill (1997–2010) Midsomer Murders (1997–present) South Park (1997–present) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1998–2014) Bob the Builder (1998–present). Bremner, Bird and Fortune (1999–2010) British Soap Awards (1999–2019, 2022–present) Family Guy (1999–2002, 2005–present) SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–present) Holby City (1999–2022)[84] 2000s The Weakest Link (2000–2012, 2017–present) Popworld (2001–2007) Real Crime (2001–2011) Flog It! (2002–2020) Foyle's War (2002–2015) I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2002–present) Harry Hill's TV Burp (2002–2012) Spooks (2002–2011) Top Gear (2002–present) Daily Politics (2003–2018) New Tricks (2003–2015) Peep Show (2003–2015) All Grown Up! (2003–2008) Tiny Pop (2003–2008) Politics Show (2003–2011) QI (2003–present) The Royal (2003–2011) PointlessBlog (2003-2007) This Week (2003–2019) Strictly Come Dancing (2004–present) Sea of Souls (2004–2007) Supernanny (2004–2008, 2010–2012) Shameless (2004–2013) Doc Martin (2004–2019) The X Factor (2004–2018) More4 News (2005—2009) Love Soup (2005–2008) Come Dine with Me (2005–present) The Jeremy Kyle Show (2005–2019) It's Me or the Dog (2005–2012) Deal or No Deal (2005–2016) Sunday AM (2005–2021) Ending this year Date(s) Show Channel(s) Debut(s) 13 January Muffin the Mule CBeebies 1946 & 2005 ITV Day ITV 2005 19 February Rock School Channel 4 28 February Love Lies Bleeding ITV 2006 3 March Pingu CBeebies/BBC One rowspan= 1986 & 2004 1 April ITV 1998 6 April The Family Man BBC One 2006 14 April Footballers' Wives ITV 2002 Finders Keepers CITV 1991 & 2006 9 June They Think It's All Over BBC One 1995 29 June Cash Cab ITV 2005 30 June Coach Trip Channel 4 1 July Saturday morning kids' programmes CBBC & CITV 1968 30 July Top of the Pops (weekly episodes) BBC One & BBC Two 1964 17 August Sugar Rush Channel 4 2005 18 August The Kumars BBC One 2001 28 August (Celebrity) Love Island ITV 2005 29 August Bad Lads' Army: Extreme 2002 10 September Where the Heart Is 1997 My Hero BBC One 2000 22 September Bullseye Challenge 1981 & 2006 15 October Jane Eyre BBC One 2006 22 October Prime Suspect ITV 1991 6 November Vincent 2005 22 November Afterlife 7 December The State Within BBC One 2006 10 December Byker Grove 1989 16 December Extinct ITV 2006 18 December My Parents Are Aliens 1999[85] 19 December Losing Gemma 2006 23 December Stars in Their Eyes 1990 27 December The Biggest Loser Sky 2005 Deaths width=90 Date width=250 Name Age Broadcast credibility 2 January John Woodnutt 81 actor (Jeeves and Wooster, Doctor Who) 28 January Henry McGee 76 actor (The Benny Hill Show) 5 February Peter Philp 85 television presenter (Collectors' Club) 16 February Dennis Kirkland 63 television director and producer (The Benny Hill Show) 20 February Lou Gish 38 actress (Casualty, EastEnders, New Tricks) 27 February Linda Smith 48 comedian 1 March Jack Wild 53 actor (H. R. Pufnstuf, The Newcomers, George and the Dragon) 7 March John Junkin 76 comic actor and screenwriter (The Sweeney, Only When I Laugh, Inspector Morse) 16 March Moira Redmond 77 actress (Domitia in I, Claudius) 18 March Michael Attwell 63 actor (Kenny Beale in EastEnders) 24 March Lynne Perrie 74 actress (Ivy Tilsley in Coronation Street) 12 April Richard Bebb 79 actor (Compact, Poirot) 13 April John Read 85 television producer 17 April Peter Cadbury 88 television executive 23 April Jennifer Jayne 74 actress (The Adventures of William Tell) 19 May Peter Bryant 82 actor (The Grove Family) and television producer 2 June Ronald Cass 83 television scriptwriter 4 June Alec Bregonzi 76 actor (Hancock's Half Hour, The Two Ronnies, Filthy Rich and Catflap) 25 June Elkan Allan 83 television producer Kenneth Griffith 84 actor and documentary film-maker (Minder, Lovejoy) 6 July Tom Weir 91 mountaineer and television presenter (Weir's Way) 8 July Peter Hawkins 82 actor and voice artist (Doctor Who, Rainbow, Captain Pugwash) 18 July David Maloney 72 television director and producer (Doctor Who, Blake's 7) 25 July Bob Simpson 61 BBC news correspondent 28 July Patrick Allen 79 actor (The Saint, UFO, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) 6 August Stella Moray 83 actress (Coronation Street, Crossroads, The Bill, Midsomer Murders, George and Mildred) 13 August Tony Jay 73 actor, voice actor and singer (Mighty Ducks, ReBoot, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, , , Beauty and the Beast) 19 August Joyce Blair 73 actress (The Morecambe and Wise Show, The Benny Hill Show, The Adventures of Robin Hood) 24 August David Plowright 75 television producer and executive 2 September Charlie Williams 78 footballer, actor and comedian (The Comedians, Love Thy Neighbour) 5 September Anne Gregg[86] 66 travel writer and television presenter (Holiday) Hilary Mason 89 actress (Maid Marian and her Merry Men) 8 September Frank Middlemass 87 actor (As Time Goes By, To Serve Them All My Days, Heartbeat) 14 September Peter Ling 80 television scriptwriter (Crossroads) 15 September Raymond Baxter 84 television presenter (Tomorrow's World) 4 October Tom Bell 73 actor (Prime Suspect) 5 October Jennifer Moss 61 actress (Lucille Hewitt in Coronation Street) 15 October Derek Bond 86 actor (Callan, Thriller) 16 October Ross Davidson 57 actor (Andy O'Brien in EastEnders) 21 October Peter Barkworth 77 actor (The Avengers, Manhunt, ) Paul Walters 59 television producer 22 October Richard Mayes 83 actor 29 October Nigel Kneale 84 television scriptwriter (The Quatermass Experiment) 10 November Diana Coupland 78 actress (Bless This House) Chubby Oates 63 comedian 11 November Ronnie Stevens 81 actor (Goodnight Sweetheart, Only When I Laugh, Ever Decreasing Circles, Hi-de-Hi!, Yes, Prime Minister, As Time Goes By) 14 November John Hallam 65 actor (EastEnders) 23 November Nick Clarke 58 television presenter 26 November Anthony Jackson 62 actor (Rentaghost, Bless This House) 27 November Alan Freeman 79 radio DJ and presenter (Top of the Pops) 6 December Mavis Pugh 92 actress (Are You Being Served?, Fawlty Towers, You Rang, M'Lord?) 7 December Desmond Briscoe 81 television sound engineer 23 December Charlie Drake 81 comic performer (The Worker) See also 2006 in British music 2006 in British radio 2006 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 2006 External links List of 2006 British television series at IMDb

Notes and References

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7. News: Just the Two of Us . BBC Press Office . 15 January 2006 . 7 June 2014.
8. http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0607_about.html UTV Today: 2006–07 Scenery Idents: About These Idents
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36. News: Lottery show delayed by protest . BBC News . London . 20 May 2006 . 21 February 2012.
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53. News: Quiz fan wins Millionaire jackpot . BBC News . 13 September 2006 . 13 May 2014.
54. News: Connie wins Maria talent contest . BBC News . 17 September 2006 . 12 June 2014.
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58. News: Jo . Revill . BBC backs Norton over drugs admission . The Guardian . 7 October 2006 . 17 May 2014.
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75. Web site: BBC Learning Zone: Open University/General Interest. 16 December 2006. BBC Genome. 22 February 2019.
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77. News: TV search for new West End Joseph . BBC News . 19 December 2006 . 12 June 2014.
78. News: Strictly success for Ramprakash . BBC News . 24 December 2006 . 23 April 2014.
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82. News: No peace towards Tom . The Journal . 20 December 2006 . 19 February 2015.
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