JENNY HANLEY AND SIR TREVOR MCDONALD MARK

‘70 YEARS OF ITV’ 

2025 saw the 70th anniversary of commercial, television in the UK. 

By popular request, we're presenting another chance to hear former Magpie presenter Jenny Hanley - joined by Sir Trevor McDonald - marking 70 years of ITV.

Jenny will tell the story of commercial television from the quiet beginnings of Associated-Rediffusion and the debut TV ad for Gibbs SR toothpaste in 1955 - to ITV’s much-loved soaps, documentaries and children’s programmes through the years.

She’ll tell of her own time hosting the Magpie children’s programme - a ‘hip version of Blue Peter – and about the contribution to ITV played by her mother the actress Dinah Sheridan and her father Jimmy Hanley.

Trevor McDonald tells the ITN story, from the pioneering news bulletins - where we saw the announcers for the first tine – onto the creation of the famous Bongs and the groundbreaking News at Ten.

Boom’s Judi Spiers and David Hamilton open-up too about how the announcers between the programmes made their mark.

There are also contributions from Simon Williams, who played the part of James Bellamy in LWT’s Upstairs Downstairs; from sitcom writer and Doctor at Large star George Layton; Chris Tarrant; producer/director Tony Virgo; and insight from Sir Michael Grade.

The whole programme is spiced with many familiar ITV signature tunes, so fondly remembered to this day.

‘70  years of ITV’ – Boxing Day at 8.00pm