BBC New Broadcasting House in Manchester was officially opened by James Callaghan in 1976. Its production base has produced thousands of hours of programming from it's base on Oxford Road. In 1992 one of the BBC's most innovative departments was created - Youth & Entertainment lead by Janet Street Porter. It created hit series like Rough Guides, Reportage, Dance Energy, The Full Wax and No Limits.
Manchester has also produced daytime output including People Today, Open Air. Today it still produces the long running quiz show A Question of Sport, Mastermind and Songs of Praise.
Departments based in Manchester today are BBC Entertainment, BBC Religion, BBC News and Current Affairs. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra is also based here in the Studio 7 Concert Hall.
BBC Sport and Childrens BBC are expected to move to Manchester in 2010 in an 'Out of London' initiative, but not actually in Manchester anymore, but to a new purpose built building/site in Salford.
Top of The Pops
The first edition of Top of the Pops was transmitted on 1st January 1964. The original presenters were Jimmy Saville, Alan Freeman, Pete Murray and David Jacobs. The show went out live from the BBC's Manchester studio until mid-1967, when it was moved to the BBC's studios at Lime Grove in London.
Cheggars Plays Pop
A BBC Manchester classic. The opening titles were designed by Terry Speake and Ian Bate
A Question of Sport
Long running sport based quiz show which saw it's first programme go out on 5th January 1970. Its hosts have included David Vine, David Coleman and Sue Barker.
Open Air
Open Air
Open Air
The tv set titles are gone, now replaced by a telephone box and a more mellow theme tune.
Jane Irving now joins the presenting team.
Fax
The BBC's decision in 1984 to replace Sixty Minutes with the Six O’Clock News meant that a gap now existed between the end of children's programmes at 5:35 and the start of the news at 6pm.
The vacant slot was initially filled with repeats of The Good Life, a popular decision with the viewers but one which clearly would only have a limited shelf-life - after all, with only 30 episodes of the sitcom ever made, the re-runs would have to be limited to six weeks.
Going For Gold
The opening title sequence from 1988 and the right clip a closing sequence from 1987
Going For Gold
Going for Gold was a Reg Grundy Production for the BBC. It was filmed in the BBC's old Studio A Manchester.
No Limits
Fast moving youth music programme from BBC Manchester presented by Jenny Powell and Tony Baker. The series ran from 1985 - 1987.
Reportage
Reportage was a current affairs programme made by the BBC Youth & Entertainment department based in Manchester during Janet Street-Porters days.
On The Line
Sport current affairs programme from BBC North.
The Living Soap
Living Soap might well have been the first reality programme on British TV. It was based on MTV's The Real World, where they filmed daily the lives of 6 students living in Manchester. The students changed throughout the series, as some dropped out, as they didn't like the way they were being portrayed.
On The Line
Sports Current Affairs programme. This is where Donald McIntyre started his undercover investigations...
Songs of Praise
The titles changed a couple more times after this, but the logo remained the same for a while...
The Travel Quiz
The Travel Quiz was a daytime spin off quiz-show and may well have been Andi Peters first job away from the broom cupboard.
Heart of the Matter
Long running religious debate series presented by Joan Bakewell. The series was axed in 2000
A Word in Season
BBC Reglion's series presented by Jeremny Vine who looks at how preachers are bringing the traditional sermon into the 199Os.
A Question of Sport
BBC's long running quiz show returns in 1997 with a brand new host - Sue Barker. This is her first apperance on the show sporting a rather dull grey fleece!
Docs on the Box
BBC 2 theme night featuring medical documentaries and classic re-runs of programmes like Dr. Kildare
Everyman
Religious affairs programme from BBC North.
The Fall Guy
Hidden camera show hosted by Johnny Vaughan.
I Love 1979
First series of the successful genre of nostaligia programmes
I Love 1987
second in the series of the successful genre of nostaligia programmes
Bare Necessities
Hosted by Ed Hall, Bare Necessities was the reality tv adventure gameshow, where contestants had to survive in the wilderness on basic rations and 6 'bare necessities'
A Question of Pop
Spin off Music Quiz Show hosted by Jamie Theakston, Team captains were Suggs from Madness and Noddy Holder
I Love Kung Fu
Other spin off "i Love" programmes included Jamaica, Kung Fu......
A Question of Sport
Sue barker hosts another series of A Question of Sport, the titles have a stadium theme this time..
