Television's Opening Night: How the Box Was Born

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Dallas Campbell, Professor Danielle George and Dr Hugh Hunt mark the 80th anniversary of Britain's very first TV broadcast by trying to recreate the landmark event. The inaugural programme came live from Alexandria Palace on November 2, 1936, but there are no surviving recordings of the show. In response, the presenter trio set out to recreate every aspect of this first broadcast, from the variety acts featured right down to the camera equipment used, using authentic technology and filming techniques. Plus, pioneering TV engineer John Logie Baird's assistant - now aged 104 - is on hand to lend some technical assistance, and Dallas meets one of the performers who appeared on the first programme to find out what it is like to be part of TV history

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rolenamePresenterDallas CampbellParticipantDanielle GeorgeParticipantHugh HuntProducerPeter GauvainDirectorPeter GauvainExecutive producerDavid Dugan

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News & features about Television's Opening Night: How the Box Was Born

BBC4 to recreate the first ever night of British television 80 years to the day

The first ever UK broadcast, which aired on 2nd November 1936, will be filmed again using identical technology and another programme will tell the story of TV’s birth