1936 in British television

This is a list of events related to British television in 1936.

Events

• 2 November – The first regular high-definition (then defined as at least 200 lines) BBC Television Service, based at Alexandra Palace in London, officially begins broadcasting (after test transmissions began in August). The service alternates on a weekly basis between Baird's 240-line mechanical system and the Marconi-EMI's 405-line all-electronic system. Programmes are broadcast daily, Monday to Saturday from 3pm to 4pm and 9pm to 10pm. Leslie Mitchell is the first announcer to be heard on the new service.

Debuts

• 26 August – Radiolympia (1936)
• Unknown (probably November) – Picture Page (1936–1939, 1946–1952)
• Unknown – Theatre Parade (1936–1938)

Continuing television shows

1920s

• BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present)

Births

• 9 February – Clive Swift, actor (died 2019)
• 3 April – Tony Garnett, producer (died 2020)
• 7 April – Peter Eckersley, producer (died 1981)
• 16 April – Derrick Sherwin, producer (died 2018)
• 25 April – Richard Lindley, foreign correspondent and television regulator (died 2019)
• 9 May
  • Albert Finney, actor (died 2019)
  • Glenda Jackson, actress and politician (died 2023)
• 17 June – Ken Loach, film director
• 30 June – Don Taylor, director (died 2003)
• 8 July – Tony Warren, scriptwriter (died 2016)
• 9 July – Richard Wilson, Scottish actor
• 3 August - Edward Petherbridge, actor and writer
• 27 September – Gordon Honeycombe, news presenter (died 2015)
• 9 October – Brian Blessed, actor
• 10 October – Judith Chalmers, television presenter (died 2026)
• 22 November – John Bird, satirical actor (died 2022)
• 22 December – James Burke, science populariser

See also

• 1936 in British music
• 1936 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1936