OTD in early British television: 5 May 1938

5th May 2025

Daily Telegraph, 6 May 1938, with a picture (and apologies for the quality of the reproduction) taken in the studio during the previous evening's Picture Page.

OTD in early British television: 4 May 1939

4th May 2025

John Wyver writes: Yet more dance from Alexandra Palace, this time on the evening of Thursday 4 May 1939. Which only speaks to how rich and varied was early television's presentation of the artform. Alongside actors Janine Darcey and Jim more

OTD in early British television: 3 May 1937

3rd May 2025

John Wyver writes: More or less six months to the day after the start of the 'high definition' television service from Alexandra Palace, on Monday 3 May 1937, members of the Vic-Wells ballet company travelled to the studio to perform, more

OTD in early British television: 30 April 1937

30th April 2025

John Wyver writes: Sports punditry on television starts here, with the first edition of Sports Review on the afternoon and evening of Friday 30 April 1937. Billed as 'a survey of the outstanding sports events in the month of April', more

OTD in early British television: 29 April 1939

29th April 2025

John Wyver writes: Saturday 29 April 1939 was some way off the heady days of my youth when FA Cup Final day was one of those rare and much-anticipated occasions when television began early on a Saturday morning. But already more

OTD in early British television: 28 April…

28th April 2025

John Wyver writes: The schedule from Alexandra Palace on Wednesday 28 April 1937 was unremarkable. As was the schedule two years later on Friday 28 April 1939. Which is more or less the point of this post, prompted in part more

OTD in early British television: 27 April 1939

27th April 2025

John Wyver writes: 'There were three, large, hearty failures in the television programmes last week and I propose to discuss them.' That was how the splendid television critic for The Listener, Grace Wyndham Goldie, began her 27 April 1939 column more

OTD in early British television: 26 April 1938

26th April 2025

John Wyver writes: We take for granted live coverage and analysis of Budget speeches today, but television had to learn how to make such broadcasts, a process that began on Tuesday 26 April 1938. That evening from more