On Monday 2nd November 1936, the Postmaster-General officially launched BBC TV. In that fleeting moment in time, the world saw the advent of a phenomenon ( television ) that was to define the rest of the 20th Century, by bringing about a social and cultural revolution as massive in it’s impact as the two World Wars that cast a shadow over that century, and as radical as the Industrial Revolution in the previous century!!

To mark the landmark of BBC TV’s 75th Anniversary, I’ve been pondering which are my all time favourite TV shows in the standard and conventional TV Awards categories. Inevitably there were so many TV shows to choose from the late 1960s to the present day, but as I then reflected on my choices , I discovered that quite unintentionally every one, bar two, were a BBC production – which speaks volumes for the high calibre programming of the venerable broadcasting institution that the BBC has become over the past 75 years!!

These are the programmes that have made the biggest impact on the author since the late 1960s –

BEST SINGLE DRAMA – Abigail’s Party ( 1976 surburban satire, starring Alison Steadman as the infamous and appalling Abigail – I remember to this day, being in stitches for the duration of the programme )

BEST DRAMA SERIES – The Avengers ( 1960s surreal cult series starring Patrick Macnee & Diana Rigg as John Steed & Emma Peel )

BEST DRAMA SERIAL ( UK ) – I Claudius ( BBC TV in 1976 told the tale of life in the Imperial Palace in Ancient Rome during the reigns of the first four Emperors, who became gradually more deranged and corrupt – compelling acting & storytelling )

BEST DRAMA SERIAL ( US ) – Mad Men ( Current, on going drama set in a 1960s advertising agency in Madison Avenue, New York – beautifully crafted stories & great production values )

BEST SINGLE DOCUMENTARY – Fourteen Days In May (Incredibly moving, sad, harrowing & ultimately horrifying story of the last two weeks of the life of a man on Death Row in a US prison)

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS PROGRAMME – Panorama ( Unrivalled, peerless investigative journalism from BBC TV spanning over 50 years )

BEST TELEVISED SPORTING EVENT – Can’t make up my mind between two great, gripping sports matches –

1990 World Cup Semi Final – England v West Germany ( Remembered for Gazza’s tears & penalty shoot out misery for England players & fans alike )

1985 World Championship Snooker Final – Steve Davis v Dennis Taylor ( An incredible come back for Taylor having been 8-0 down. He was only ever ahead in the match when he potted the final black of the final 35th frame to win the championship. You couldn’t script a better climax to a sporting event!! )

BEST ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME – Morecambe & Wise ( All you need to say, is the nation’s favourites!! )

BEST COMEDY PROGRAMME – Fawlty Towers ( In 1975, John Cleese brought his own brand of mania and intelligence to the genre of slapstick & farce. The acid test of how funny this series is, is that you can watch it over & over again, with total familiarity of the storylines and gags, and the humour is never diminished in the slightest!! )

BEST MUSIC PROGRAMME – Top of the Pops ( Simply all over 35’s grew up with it as the definitive chart music programme )

BEST NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMME – Life on Earth ( 1979 groundbreaking comprehensive series fronted by the incomparable narrator David Attenborough )

Which TV programmes and shows would you choose as your favourites? They don’t necessarily have to be BBC TV productions. Let us know in the Reply Box below.