1931 in British television

Events

• 3 June – First television outside broadcast of a sporting event: Baird televises the Epsom Derby horse race.

Births

• 10 January – Peter Barnes, playwright and screenwriter (died 2004)
• 2 February – Les Dawson, comedian (died 1993)
• 15 February – Claire Bloom, actress
• 18 February – Ned Sherrin, producer (died 2007)
• 28 February – Peter Alliss, professional golfer, television commentator and golf course designer (died 2020)
• 25 March – Humphrey Burton, music and arts presenter (died 2025)
• 7 April – Lynne Perrie, actress (died 2006)
• 8 April – Beryl Vertue, producer and media executive (died 2022)
• 14 April – Kenneth Cope, actor (died 2024)
• 7 June
  • Michael Bakewell, producer (died 2023)
  • Virginia McKenna, actress
• 2 July – Frank Williams, comic actor (died 2022)
• 25 August – Bryan Mosley, actor (died 1999)
• 8 September – Jack Rosenthal, screenwriter and playwright (died 2004)
• 22 September – Fay Weldon, screenwriter, playwright and novelist (died 2023)
• 23 October – Diana Dors, actress (died 1984)

References

References

1. (2011-04-07). "History of British television: Timeline, 1926–2017". National Science and Media Museum.
2. (5 July 2004). "Obituary: Peter Barnes".
3. Owen, James. "Dawson, Leslie [Les] (1931–1993), comedian".
4. "Claire Bloom - British actress".
5. Millington, Barry. (17 December 2025). "Sir Humphrey Burton obituary". The Guardian.
6. "Lynne Perrie obituary".
7. (16 May 2018). "The unwitting pioneer of transatlantic format adaptation: Beryl Vertue".
8. "Kenneth Cope".
9. "Virginia McKenna".
10. Coveney, Michael. (2022-06-26). "Frank Williams obituary". The Guardian.
11. (1999-02-11). "Obituary: Bryan Mosley".
12. "Jack Rosenthal, author and playwright".
13. Waymark, Peter. "Dors [''married names'' Hamilton, Dawson, Lake], Diana [''real name'' Diana Mary Fluck] (1931–1984), actress".