1976 in British television

This is a list of British television-related events in 1976.

Events

*April 5 - Patricia Phoenix returns to the role of Elsie Tanner on "Coronation Street" after an absence of three years.
*April 7 - Margot Bryant makes her last appearance as Minnie Caldwell on "Coronation Street".
* July - US Sci-Fi series The Bionic Woman makes its debut at No.1 in the ratings - an almost unheard of event for a Sci-Fi series
*December 1 - Punk group the Sex Pistols cause a storm of controversy and outrage in the UK by swearing well before the watershed on the regional Thames Television news programme "Today", hosted by Bill Grundy. Grundy, who has goaded them into doing so, is temporarily sacked. "Today" is replaced by "Thames at Six" a year later.
*Dennis Potter's "Play for Today" "Brimstone and Treacle" is pulled from transmission on BBC1 due to controversy over its content, including the rape of a woman by the devil. It is eventually screened on BBC2 in 1987, after having been made into a film starring Sting in 1982.

Debuts

=BBC1=

*September 8 - "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" premieres (1976-1979).
*October 2 - "Multi-Coloured Swap Shop" premieres (1976-1982).

ITV

* July - "The Bionic Woman"
*September 1 - "Star Maidens" premieres on ITV
*September 27 - "The Muppet Show" premieres on ITV and in syndication in the United States (1976-1981).

Television shows

TVEvent signifies that this show has a related event in the Events section above.

=BBC1=

*"Come Dancing" (1949–1995).
*"Panorama" (1953–present).
*"The Good Old Days" (1953–1983).
*"The Sky at Night" (1957–present).
*"Blue Peter" (1958–present).
*"Grandstand" (1958–2007).
*"Z-Cars" (1962–1978).
*"Doctor Who" (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present).
*"Top of the Pops" (1964–2006).
*"Dad's Army" (1968–1977).TVEvent "Play for Today" (1970–1984).
*"Are You Being Served?" (1972–1985).
*"John Craven's Newsround" (1972–present).
*"Last of the Summer Wine" (1973–present).
*"Superstars" (1973–1985, 2003–2005).
*"Jim'll Fix It" (1975–1994).
*"Survivors" (1975–1977).
*"The Good Life" (1975–1978).

=BBC2=

*"The Money Programme" (1966–present).
*"Old Grey Whistle Test" (1971–1987).
*"Arena" (1975–present).

ITV

*"This Is Your Life" (1955–2003).
*"Opportunity Knocks" (1956–1978).
*"What the Papers Say" (1956–present).TVEvent "Coronation Street" (1960–present).
*"Crossroads" (1964–1988, 2001–2003).
*"World of Sport" (1965–1985).
*"Magpie" (1968–1980).
*"The Benny Hill Show" (1969–1989).TVEvent "The Bionic Woman" 1976–1978
*"Emmerdale Farm" (1972–present).
*"Tiswas" (1974–1982).
*"Wish You Were Here...?" (1974–present).
*"Pop Quest" (1975–1978).
*"Runaround" (1975–1981).
*"" (1975–1977).
*"Supersonic" (1975–1977).
*"The Sweeney" (1975–1978).
* "The Tomorrow People" (1973 - 1979, 1992 - 1995)

Ending this year

=BBC1=

*March—"Dixon of Dock Green" (1955–1976).