This is a list of events in

Scottish television Scottish Television (now, legally, known as STV Central Limited) is the ITV network franchisee for Central Scotland. The channel — the largest of the three ITV franchises in Scotland — has been in operation since 31 August 1957 and is the ...

from 1979.

Events

*16 March - The American educational series for preschoolers ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) a ...

'' begins airing for the first time on

Scottish Television Scottish Television (now, legally, known as STV Central Limited) is the ITV network franchisee for Central Scotland. The channel — the largest of the three ITV franchises in Scotland — has been in operation since 31 August 1957 and is the ...

. *3 May - Television coverage of the 1979 general election. *12 July - ''

Garnock Way ''Garnock Way'' was a short-lived Scottish soap opera, produced by Scottish Television for the ITV network, running from 1976 to 1979. It was replaced by ''Take the High Road'' which also featured actors Eileen McCallum, Bill Henderson, Paul ...

'' concludes after three years on air. It is axed to make way for ''

Take the High Road ''Take the High Road'' (renamed ''High Road'' from 1994 to 2003) was a Scottish soap opera produced by Scottish Television, which started in February 1980 as an ITV network daytime programme, and was broadcast until 2003. It was set in the ficti ...

'', which would be shown across the ITV network. ITV had rejected Garnock Way because they wanted, in their words, "lots of Scotch Lochs and Hills". The new soap was a bigger budget affair and more in keeping with the 'tartan' perception of Scotland as it was deliberately set in a more beautiful part of Scotland. *Unknown - BBC 1 Scotland airs ''

Can Seo ''Can Seo'' is a television series teaching Scottish Gaelic that initially started broadcasting in 1979 on BBC1 Scotland. The television series lasted for 20 weeks. Additionally, a textbook, cassette and vinyl LP were produced to accompany the s ...

'', a 20-part series teaching

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

. Can Seo means "Say This" in Gaelic. *Unknown - Broadcast of the

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

A Sense of Freedom ''A Sense of Freedom'' is a 1981 Scottish crime film directed by John Mackenzie for Scottish Television. The film stars David Hayman and featured Jake D'Arcy, Sean Scanlan, Hector Nicol, Alex Norton and Fulton Mackay. It is based on the auto ...

'' about the Glasgow gangster Jimmy Boyle.

Debuts

BBC

*13 June - ''

The Omega Factor ''The Omega Factor'' (stylized as ''The Ωmega Factor'') is a British television series produced by BBC Scotland in 1979. It was created by Jack Gerson and produced by George Gallaccio, and transmitted in ten weekly episodes between 13 June an ...

'' on BBC 1 (1979) *Unknown - ''

'' on BBC 1 Scotland (1979)

ITV

*16 March - ''

'' on Scottish Television (1969–present) *Unknown - ''

'' on Scottish Television (1981)

Television series

*''

Scotsport ''Scotsport'' is a Scottish sports television programme, broadcast on STV in northern and central Scotland between 1957 and 2008, as well as on ITV Border in southern Scotland. It was first broadcast in 1957 as ''Sports Desk'' and continui ...

'' (1957–2008) *''

Reporting Scotland ''BBC Reporting Scotland'' is the BBC's national television news programme for Scotland, broadcast on BBC One Scotland from the headquarters of BBC Scotland at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. History Although BBC Television was established in Scotl ...

'' (1968–1983; 1984–present) *''

Top Club ''Top Club'' is a Scottish regional television game show produced by Grampian Television (now ''STV North'') between 1971 and 1998. History Running for over 28 years, ''Top Club'' was an annual tournament of general knowledge quiz games involvin ...

'' (1971–1998) *''

Scotland Today ''Scotland Today'' is a Scottish regional news programme covering Central Scotland, produced by STV Central (formerly Scottish Television). Despite its name suggesting a national remit, the programme was actually limited to stories around STV's Ce ...

'' (1972–2009) *''

Sportscene ''Sportscene'' is the name of a range of Scottish sports television programmes produced by BBC Scotland. History ''Sportscenes predecessors were ''Sports Special from Scotland'' and ''Sportsreel'', which was broadcast every Saturday at around 5 ...

'' (1975–Present) *''

The Beechgrove Garden ''Beechgrove'' (formerly known as ''The Beechgrove Garden'') is a television programme broadcast since 1978 on BBC Scotland. Over the years it has been broadcast on BBC Scotland, BBC One Scotland, BBC Two Scotland and Britbox. History ''Beechgro ...

'' (1978–Present)

Ending this year

*15 August - ''

'' (1979) *Unknown - ''

'' (1976–1979)

Births

*23 January - Dawn Porter, television presenter and writer *28 January -

Ainslie Henderson Ainslie Thomas Henderson (born 28 January 1979, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and animator. He became known to the public via his appearance on the BBC's television programme, ''Fame Academy'', and his subsequent UK top 5 ...

, singer-songwriter *2 February -

David Paisley David Paisley (born 2 February 1979) is a Scottish actor, domestic violence and LGBTQIA+ rights campaigner, known for roles as midwife Ben Saunders in '' Holby City'', Ryan Taylor in '' Tinsel Town'' and Rory Murdoch in ''River City''. Some of ...

, actor *21 April -

James McAvoy James McAvoy (; born 21 April 1979) is a Scottish actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in '' The Near Room'' (1995) and appeared mostly on television until 2003, when his feature film career began. His notable television work includes ...

, actor

Deaths

*9 July -

Roddy McMillan Roddy McMillan OBE (23 March 1923 – 9 July 1979) was a Scottish actor and playwright, possibly most famous for his comedy role as Para Handy for BBC Scotland's television series, ''The Vital Spark''. He also played the lead role in Edwa ...

, 56, actor and playwright *24 July - Archie Duncan, 65, actor

References

{{Years in TV by country, 1979 Television in Scotland by year 1970s in Scottish television