Image: Annette Mills and Muffin the Mule at Lime Grove, 1952
Television returned to British screens on 7 June 1946, having been off-air for the duration of World War II. With an expanded schedule to fill, the first dedicated television programmes for children were introduced, starting with For the Children on Sunday morning, 9 June. However, they had a slow start. The Radio Times justified the limited scheduling, saying "the afternoon programme is over before the return from school and the night programme interferes with home lessons and bedtime".
The opening For the Children featured The Hogarth Puppet Circus and conjuror Eric Cardi. Fred Woodward played Hank the Mule and the presenter was A. Miller-Jones. The second programme – a month later – featured stamp collecting and Commander A.B.Campbell displaying the contents of his sea chest. As the frequency of children’s programmes increased they became a staple of the schedules and in October the first major children’s television star was born with the introduction of Muffin the Mule.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Children’s television provides some of the fondest memories of childhood for many people. The establishment of a Children’s Television Department in 1950 gave programmes a boost. Today, two dedicated Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Channels and a wealth of online content keep children informed and entertained, creating the memories of tomorrow.
June anniversaries
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Juke Box Jury
1 June 1959 -
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
2 June 1953 -
Mock the Week
5 June 2005 -
Real Lives
5 June 1984 -
D-Day broadcasts
6 June 1944 -
Till Death Us Do Part
6 June 1966 -
First broadcast of Crimewatch UK
7 June 1984 -
Steptoe and Son
7 June 1962 -
Driving School
10 June 1997 -
Last programme from Lime Grove Studios
13 June 1991 -
The Basil Brush Show
14 June 1968 -
Blackadder
15 June 1983 -
Yesterday's Men
17 June 1971 -
De Gaulle's first broadcast to France
18 June 1940 -
Parkinson first broadcast
19 June 1971 -
First female newsreader in vision
20 June 1960 -
Wimbledon first televised
21 June 1937 -
Royal Family first transmitted
21 June 1969 -
Music While You Work
23 June 1940 -
Our World
25 June 1967 -
Opening of Television Centre
29 June 1960