Events
January
*1 January – ''February
*2 February – **March
*5 March – MajorApril
*1 April – **It is reported that ITV have axed '' On the Ball'' after losing the broadcast rights to screen Premiership highlights. It will disappear from the schedule at the end of the current season. **BBC One airs '' Pat and Mo'', an '' EastEnders'' spin-off episode featuringMay
*2 May – '' Merseybeat'' actress Leslie Ash's publicist has released a statement saying that she is undergoing treatment in hospital for "an unknown infection", which she is believed to have contracted during an earlier hospital stay. Ash was treated for a broken rib and collapsed lung a few days earlier, which she said had occurred as a result of her falling onto a table during lovemaking with her husband, former footballerJune
*2 June – ''Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter'' makes its Network television premiere on ITV1. *4 June – **BBC News reports that having been axed by BBC America in September 2003, '' EastEnders'' will air in the US once again. Episodes will appear on the subscription channel Dish Network, beginning from where BBC America left the series. **Kitten Pinder is evicted from the ''Big Brother (British TV series), Big Brother UK'' house, shouting against Elizabeth II, The Queen and the aristocracy on the way out. She is the first contestant to be evicted by the show's producers rather than through an audience vote after she repeatedly broke the rules during her stay in the house. *5 June – Launch of the BBC's ''Summer in the Sixties'' season with a night of classic TV from the 1960s on BBC Four, including episodes of '' Coronation Street'', ''Z Cars'', ''Not Only But Also'', and ''Call My Bluff''. More 1960s programming is aired on 6 June, with episodes of ''World in Action'' and ''Till Death Us Do Part'' among the lineup. *7 June –July
*1 July – Andy Duncan (executive), Andy Duncan succeeds Mark Thompson (media executive), Mark Thompson as Chief Executive of Channel 4. *3 July – BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and her dance partner Brendan Cole are crowned series champions as the Strictly Come Dancing (series 1), first series of '' Strictly Come Dancing'' reaches its grand final. *5 July – 50th anniversary of television news broadcasts. *8 July – The first Schools edition of ''Question Time (TV series), Question Time'' is aired on BBC One. Recorded in London, the panel is made up of guests chosen by the winners of the Schools Question Time Challenge. *15 July – The BBC broadcasts a documentary on the British National Party in which undercover reporter Jason Gwynne infiltrated the BNP by posing as a football hooligan. The programme results in Mark Collett and Nick Griffin, the leader of the party, being charged for inciting racial hatred in April 2005, for comments made in the film. *18 July – BBC Four airs a night of programming celebrating the work of Jack Rosenthal, including an episode of '' Coronation Street'' written by him. *27 July – Tiny Pop launched in the UK (2004–present)August
*6 August – Nadia Almada wins the Big Brother (British series 5), fifth series of ''Big Brother (British TV series), Big Brother''. *8 August – '' EastEnders'' announce the introduction of a new family, the Miller family, Millers, who will be seen on screen from September. *11 August – The ''Daily Mirror'' reports that a laptop stolen during a burglary at the home of a senior member of the ''EastEnders'' production team could lead to several months of major storylines being leaked as the computer contained scripts for upcoming episodes. *12 August – ''September
*September –October
*1 October – **As part of its response to theNovember
*1 November – The digital television station ITV3 is launched at 9:00 pm, replacing Granada Plus. *5 November – **Just over a year after his high-profile return to '' EastEnders'', the BBC confirms that Leslie Grantham, who plays Den Watts will leave for a second time. **Re-runs of ''December
*1 December – BBC News reports that the digital switchover trial has begun after Ferryside and Llansteffan had their digital signal switched on a few days earlier. The towns were chosen because they received their signal from a single relay which had poor reception, and residents report that their viewing experience has improved since digital transmission began. *2 December – BBC Two unveils its winter season of programming, which will include a major documentary, ''Auschwitz: The Nazis and the Final Solution, Auschwitz'', to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day. *4 December – "Thunderbirds / 3AM, Thunderbirds Are Go" by Busted (band), Busted is voted the 2004 ''The Record of the Year, Record of the Year'' by ITV viewers. *5 December – ITV1 aired the 4th series of the medical drama series ''The Royal'', with the opening episode watched by 9.43 million viewers. *6 December – Joe Pasquale wins the I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British series 4), fourth series ofUnknown
*Scottish Television, STV axes the lunchtime edition of ''Scotland Today''. *''Peppa Pig'' begins its first television screening in New Zealand on Three (New Zealand), TV3.Debuts
BBC One
*1 January – ''Carrie's War'' (2004) *17 January – ''The Murder Room'' (2004) *2 February – ''Sea of Souls'' (2004–2007) *24 February – ''Hustle (TV series), Hustle'' (2004–2012) *12 March – ''The Worst Week of My Life'' (2004–2006) *18 April – ''He Knew He Was Right (TV serial), He Knew He Was Right'' (2004) *15 May – '' Strictly Come Dancing'' (2004–present) *6 July – ''55 Degrees North'' (2004–2005) *9 July – ''Coming Home (British TV series), Coming Home'' (2004–present) *3 September – ''Carrie & Barry'' (2004–2005) *6 September – ''Live at the Apollo (TV series), Live at the Apollo'' (2004–present) *9 September – ''Should I Worry About...?'' (2004–2005) *28 September – ''A Thing Called Love'' (2004) *16 October – ''Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder'' (2004) *17 October – ''Himalaya with Michael Palin'' (2004) *14 November – ''North & South (TV serial), North & South'' (2004) *26 December – ''Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking'' (2004)BBC Two
* 15 February – ''Bella and the Boys'' (2004) * 20 February – ''Sex & Lies'' (2004) * 1 March - ''Look and Read'': ''Shadow Play'' (2004) * 14 March – ''Gunpowder, Treason & Plot'' (2004) * 13 April – ''BBC Three
* 6 January – ''Nighty Night'' (2004–2005) * 18 May – ''The Mighty Boosh (TV series), The Mighty Boosh'' (2004–2007) * 24 May – ''Killing Time'' (2004) * 23 June – ''Bodies (2004 TV series), Bodies'' (2004–2006) * 29 June – ''The Smoking Room'' (2004–2005)BBC Four
* 15 January – ''The Alan Clark Diaries'' (2004)BBC News 24
*1 October – ''Newswatch (UK TV series), Newswatch'' (2004–present)CBBC
*8 March – ''Bamzooki'' (2004–2010) *21 September – ''Shoebox Zoo'' (2004–2007)ITV (Including ITV1, ITV2 and ITV3)
*5 January – ''Channel 4
*13 January – ''Shameless (British TV series), Shameless'' (2004–2013) *25 January – ''Comfortably Numb'' (2004) *2 March - ''No Angels (TV series), No Angels'' (2004-2006) *7 March – ''The O.C.'' (2003–2007) *7 July – ''Supernanny'' (2004–2008, 2010–2012 as ''Extreme Parental Guidance'') *24 August – ''NY-LON'' (2004) *3 September – ''Green Wing'' (2004–2007) *14 October – ''Sex Traffic'' (2004) *23 November – ''The Sex Inspectors'' (2004–2007)Five
*31 May – ''Peppa Pig'' (2004–present) * 7 June - ''The Gadget Show'' (2004-present) *11 September – **''Beyblade G-Revolution'' (2004) **''Duel Masters'' (2004-2005) *30 October – ''Murder Prevention'' (2004)S4C
*27 July – ''Winx Club, Clwb Winx'' (2004–2009)Sky One
*13 January – ''Cartoon Network UK
*5 January – ''Whatever Happened to Robot Jones?'' (2002–2004) *5 April – ''Xiaolin Showdown'' (2003–2006) *30 October - ''Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends'' (2004–2009) *1 November - '' Atomic Betty'' (2004–2008)Nickelodeon UK
*6 September – ''Drake & Josh'' (6 September 2004–16 September 2007)Trouble
* 7 June - ''Undergrads'' (2001) * 16 July - ''Run of the House'' (2003–2004)Nicktoons UK
*5 January – ''My Dad The Rock Star'' (2003–2004) *31 October – ''Danny Phantom'' (31 October 2004–24 August 2007)Boomerang UK
*2 February – ''Duck Dodgers'' (2004–2007)Disney Channel UK
*8 November - ''Brandy & Mr Whiskers'' (2004–06)Fox Kids UK/Jetix UK
*3 April – ''Pop
*3 February – ''Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog'' (1993) *27 May – ''Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog'' (1993) (Sonic week on Pop in the UK – 65 Episodes) *2 August – ''Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series), Sonic the Hedgehog'' (1993–1994)Channels
New channels
Defunct channels
Rebranded channels
Television shows
Changes of network affiliation
Returning this year after a break of one year or longer
*''Postman Pat'' (1981, 1991–1994, 1996, 2004–2008). *''Pingu'' (1986–1998, 2004–2006) *''Continuing television shows
1920s
*''BBC Wimbledon'' (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present)1930s
*The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019)1950s
*''Andy Pandy'' (1950–1970, 2002–2005) *''Panorama (British TV programme), Panorama'' (1953–present) *''What the Papers Say'' (1956–2008) *''The Sky at Night'' (1957–present) *''Blue Peter'' (1958–present) *''Grandstand (TV programme), Grandstand'' (1958–2007)1960s
*'' Coronation Street'' (1960–present) *''Songs of Praise'' (1961–present) *''1970s
*''1980s
*''Children in Need'' (1980–present) *''Timewatch'' (1982–present) *''Countdown (game show), Countdown'' (1982–present) *''The Bill'' (1984–2010) *''Channel 4 Racing'' (1984–2016) *''Thomas & Friends'' (1984–present) *'' EastEnders'' (1985–present) *''Comic Relief'' (1985–present) *''Casualty (TV series), Casualty'' (1986–present) *''ChuckleVision'' (1987–2009) *''This Morning (TV programme), This Morning'' (1988–present)1990s
*''2000s
*''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors'' (2000–present) *''Big Brother (British TV series), Big Brother'' (2000–2018) *''The Weakest Link (British game show), The Weakest Link'' (2000–2012, 2017–present) *''The Kumars at No. 42, The Kumars'' (2001–2006, 2014) *''Popworld'' (2001–2007) *''Real Crime'' (2001–2011) *''UK Top 40 (TV series), UK Top 40'' (2002–2005) *''Harry Hill's TV Burp'' (2002–2012) *''Flog It!'' (2002–2020) *''Foyle's War'' (2002–2015) *''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series), I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'' (2002–present) *''Spooks (TV series), Spooks'' (2002–2011) *''Angelina Ballerina'' (2002–2005) *''Tiny Pop'' (2003–2008) *''Daily Politics'' (2003–2018) *''Peep Show (British TV series), Peep Show'' (2003–2015) *''New Tricks'' (2003–2015) *''Politics Show'' (2003–2011) *''QI'' (2003–present) *''The Royal'' (2003–2011) *''PointlessBlog'' (2003-2007) *''This Week (2003 TV programme), This Week'' (2003–2019)Ending this year
* ''ITV News at Ten'' (1967–1999, 2001–2004, 2008–present) * ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' (1983–1986, 2002–2004) * ''Frasier'' (1993-2004) * ''Animal Hospital'' (1994–2004) * ''Changing Rooms'' (1996–2004) * ''Liquid News'' (2000–2004) * ''2DTV'' (2001–2004) * ''As If (British TV series), As If'' (2001–2004) * ''The Premiership (TV series), The Premiership'' (2001–2004) * ''15 Storeys High'' (2002–2004) * ''Bo' Selecta!'' (2002–2004) * ''Fimbles'' (2002–2004) * ''The Vault (game show), The Vault'' (2002–2004) * ''Mr. Bean: The Animated Series'' (2002–2004, 2015–present) * ''Born to Be Different'' (2003–2004, 2006–2007, 2009, 2011–2013, 2016) * ''Hardware (TV series), Hardware'' (2003–2004) * '' The Salon'' (2003–2004) * ''Smash Hits, The Smash Hits Chart Show'' (2003-2004) * ''He Knew He Was Right (TV serial), He Knew He Was Right'' (2004) * ''Jake Arnott, The Long Firm'' (2004) * ''Himalaya with Michael Palin'' (2004) * ''North & South (TV serial), North & South'' (2004) * ''Robot Wars (TV series), Robot Wars'' (1998-2004, 2016-2018)Deaths
See also
* 2004 in British music * 2004 in British radio * 2004 in the United Kingdom * List of British films of 2004References
{{Years in TV by country, 2004 2004 in British television,