1956

1956
In Writing broadcast in the Sunday Night Theatre broadcast. Jospeh Sterling's The Case Of The Mukkinese Battle-Horn - starring Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Dick Emery - premiered.
The first episode of Wynford Vaughan Thomas's ... And There Was I broadcast. Possession of heroin became criminalised in the UK. Bill Hayes' 'Ballad Of Davy Crockett'/'Farewell', Gale Storm's 'I Hear You Knocking'/'Never Leave Me' and The Hilltoppers' 'Only You (& You Alone)'/'(It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along' released. Daniel Birt's Laughing In The Sunshine - starring Jane Hylton, Bengt Logardt and Adolf Jahr - premiered.
Jenifer Wayne's Miss Chloe broadcast. The Goon Show episode The Mighty Wurlitzer broadcast.
Bernard Edward Sumner born in Salford. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The New Year Resolution broadcast on The Light Programme.
Location King's Cross featured the first TV showing of scenes from The Ladykillers.

RADA's adaptation of She Stoops To Conquer - featuring Albert Finney's TV début - broadcast. Frank Sinatra's 'Love & Marriage'/'Look To Your Heart', The Jodimars' 'Well Now, Dig This'/'Let's All Rock Together', Dick James With Stephen James & His Chorus & Ron Goodwin's Orchestra's 'The Ballad Of Davy Crockett'/'Robin Hood', Hank Penny's 'Bloodshot Eyes'/'Wham! Bam! Thank You Ma'am', Lou Busch & His Orchestra's 'Zambezi'/'Rainbow's End', Tennessee Ernie Ford's 'Sixteen Tons'/'You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry', Michael Holliday's 'Sixteen Tons'/'The Rose Tattoo', Winifred Atwell & Her Other Piano's 'The Poor People Of Paris'/'Piano Tuner's Boogie', Norman Wisdom & Ruby Murray's 'Two Rivers'/'Boy Meets Girl', Benny Hill's 'Memories Are Made Of This'/'Who Done It?' and The Dream Weavers' 'It's Almost Tomorrow'/'You've Got Me Wondering' released. Gordon Angus Deayton born in Banstead. The first episodes of This Week (Polygamy) and Escapers' Club (The Key To Colditz) broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
The first episode of Movie Museum broadcast. The FA Cup Third Round saw victories for Liverpool (two-nil over Accrington Stanley), Newcastle United (three-one at Sheffield Wednesday), Sunderland (four-two against Norwich City), Swindon Town (one-nil over Worksop Town), Sheffield United (five-nil versus Barrow), Tottenham Hotspur (four-nil against Boston United), West Ham United (five-two over Preston North End), Chelsea (one-nil at Hartlepools United), Birmingham City (seven-one at Torquay United) and Charlton Athletic (seven-nil against Burton Albion). West Ham United beat Preston North End five-two (Albert Foan scoring three). Arsenal drew two-two at home to Southern League Bedford Town. Manchester City's game with Blackpool was abandoned due to fog.
The first eisode of Space School broadcast.
Vernon Sewell's Johnny, You're Wanted - starring John Slater, Alfred Marks and Garry Marsh - premiered. Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton born in London. The Four Esquires' 'Adorable'/'Thunderbolt' released.
The Goon Show episode The Raid Of The International Christimas Pudding broadcast. The Story Of A London Hedgehog and an adaptation of The Day Lincoln Was Shot broadcast on The Home Service.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode Hancock's Hair broadcast on The Light Programme. Second Division Leicester City beat Luton Town four-nil in the FA Cup (Arthur Rowely scoring a hat-trick). Bolton Wanderers beat Huddersfield Town three-nil and Manchester City overcame Blackpool at the second attempt.
The first episode of Terry-Thomas's Strictly T-T broadcast. Arsenal avoid a potential banan-skin and won two-one in their FA Cup replay at Yeovil Town. Aston Villa won at Hull City by the same score.
Another high-scoring day in the First Division saw forty four goals in eleven games. Blackpool beat Aston Villa six-nil, Newcastle defeated Luton Town four-nil, Manchester United had a three-one victory over Sheffield United, Sunderland won three-two and Chelsea and Cardiff City thumped Manchester City four-one. Second Division leaders Sheffield Wednesday defeated Doncaster Rovers five-two. Stockport County beat Mansfield Town seven-two in the Third Division (North). Southend United hammered Exeter City six-nil in the Third Division (South).
The first episode of Frontiers Of Science broadcast. The Goon Show episode Tales Of Monmartre broadcast.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Student Prince broadcast on The Light Programme. Guy Green's adaptation of Portrait Of Alison - starring Terry Moore, Robert Beatty, William Sylvester, Geoffrey Keen and Josephine Griffin - premiered.
The first episode of Tales From Soho broadcast. Sports Special featured highlights of Newcastle United's two-nil victory at Charlton Athletic in the First Division. Elsewhere, Chelsea won four-one at Aston Villa, Portsmouth defeated Arsenal five-two, Blackpool had a three-two win at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Preston North End beat league leaders Manchester United three-one. In the Third Division (South), the top two sides, Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion both had five-nil victories (at Northampton Town and at home to Gillingham respectively).
An adaptation of A Girl Called Jo - featuring the TV debut of Edward Woodward - broadcast. The Goon Show episode The Jet-Propelled Guided NAAFI broadcast.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Breakfast Cereal broadcast on The Light Programme.
The Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics broadcast from Cortina in Italy. Peter Scott's The Alien Sky broadcast.

In the FA Cup Fourth Road one of the greatest games in the tournament's history saw Newcastle United (eventually) emerge victorious in a nine-goal thriller at Craven Cottage. United led three-nil, through Tommy Casey, Jackie Milburn and Bob Stokoe. Fulham then scored four (a Josh Chamberlain hat-trick and a fourth by Jimmy Hill) before two late Vic Keeble goals won it for The Magpies. The BBC broadcast highlights on Sports Special. Elsewhere Burnley and Chelsea drew, followed by a marathon four replays before Chelsea went through. Liverool drew with Scunthore & Lindsey United, Arsenal beat Aston Villa four-one, Birmingham City beat Leyton Orient four-nil and West Ham UNited beat Cardiff City two-one. In the Third Division (North), Chesterfield thrashed Crewe Alexandra eight-nil.
JB Priestley On Books & Authors broadcast. John Gilling's The Gamma People - starring Paul Douglas, Eva Bartok, Leslie Phillips, Walter Rilla, Martin Miller, Philip Leaver, Olaf Poley and Rosalie Crutchley - premiered.
Prelude To Massacre broadcast. The Goon Show episode The House Of Teeth broadcast. John Jospeh Lydon born in Holloway. Guy Green's Lost - starring David Farrar, David Knight and Julia Arnall - premiered.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode How Hancock Won The War broadcast on The Light Programme. Charles Saunders' The Narrowing Circle - starring Paul Carpenter, Hazel Court and Russell Napier - premiered.
Maclean Rogers' Not So Dusty - starring Bill Owen, Leslie Dwyer, Joy Nichols, Wally Patch, Dandy Nichols and Ellen Pollock - premiered.
The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group's 'Diggin' My Potatoes'/'Bury My Body' and Julie London's 'Cry Me A River'/'S'wonderful' released.
Joseph Sterling's Cloak Without Dagger - starring Philip Friend, Mary Mackenzie, Leslie Dwyer and Allan Cuthbertson - premiered. Manchester United went four points clear at the top of the First Divsion with a two-nil victory over Burnley. Eddy Brown scored three in Birmingham City's four-nil win over Charlton Athletic. Sheffield Wednesday remained top of the Second Division, winning one-nil at Nottingham Forest. Accrington Stanley won four-nil at Carlisle United to stay leaders of the Third Division (North). Mansfield Town beat Wrexham six-one. Ipswich Town topped the Third Division (South), defeating Aldershot two-one.
The first episode of The Max Wall Show and Rudolph Cartier's adaptation of The White Falcon broadcast. Don Siegel's Invasion Of The Body Snatchers - starring Kevin McCarthy - premiered. The first Free Cinema programme at the National Film Theatre saw the premieres of Tony Richardson and Karel Reisz's Momma Don't Allow, Lindsay Anderson's O Dreamland and Lorenza Mazzetti's Together.
Bill Haley & His Comets' 'See You Later, Alligator'/'The Paper Boy (On Main Street, USA)' released. Daniel Hill born in Bristol. Alan Arnell scored the winner as Liverpool won an FA Cup replay two-one at Scunthorpe & Lindsey United.
The Goon Show episode Tales Of Old Dartmoor broadcast. Anthony Squire's Doublecross - starring Donald Houston, Fay Compton, Anton Diffring, Allan Cuthbertson, Delphi Lawrence, William Hartnell, Kenneth Cope, Colin Douglas, Robert Shaw and Harry Towb - premiered.

The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Newspaper broadcast on The Light Programme. Don Chaffey's The Secret Tent - starring Donald Gray, Andrée Melly and Jean Anderson - premiered.
Ian MacCormick's Act Of Violence broadcast.
Dean Martin's 'Memories Are Made Of This'/'Change Of Heart', Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra's 'Theme From The Threepenny Opera'/'I'd Give A Million Tomorrows' and Kay Starr's 'Rock & Roll Waltz'/'I've Changed My Mind A Thousand Times' released.
First Division highlights included Charlton Athletic's five-one victory over West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers' four-two win against Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland defeating Portsmouth by the same score.
The first episode of Jesus Of Nazareth broadcast. Double yellow lines to prohibit parking were introduced in Slough.
Peter Woodhead born in Salford.
The Goon Show episode The Choking Horror broadcast.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Greyhound Track broadcast on The Light Programme. After four draws, Chelsea finally defeated Burnley two-nil in an FA Cup fourth replay at White Hart Lane.
Joshua Logan Picnic - starring William Holden, Kim Novak and Rosalind Russell - premiered. The first episode of Alfred Marks Time broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
John Boulting's Private's Progress - starring Ian Carmichael, Richard Attenborough, Dennis Price and Terry-Thomas - premiered. The Midlands became the first part of the UK outside London to receive ITV, when ATV Midlands began broadcasting their weekday franchise. The weekend franchise, ABC, appeared the following day.
The FA Cup Fifth Round, saw victories for Birmingham City (one-nil at West Bromwich), Everton (one-nil over Chelsea), Newcastle (two-one against Stoke City) and Arsenal (two-nil at Charlton). Tommy Taylor scored twice as Manchester United won two-nil at Wolves to go six points clear at the top of the First Division. Grimsby Town won five-one against Oldham Athletic and went top of the Third Division (North).
The first episode of Nathanial Titlark broadcast. The Goon Show episode The Great Tuscan Salami Scandal broadcast. John Paddy Carstairs' Jumping For Joy - starring Frankie Howerd, Stanley Holloway, Joan Hickson and Lionel Jeffries and Mario Zampa's Now & Forever - starring Janette Scott and Kay Walsh - premiered. The first episode of George & Alfred Black Present Strike A New Note broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Conjurer broadcast on The Light Programme. In the FA Cup, Manchester City beat Liverpool two-one at Anfield and Sunderland defeated Sheffield United one-nil. Newcastle United won two-nil at Protsmouth in the First Division in the first ever Football League game played under floodlights.
The first episode of Constance Cox and Ian Dallas's adaptation of Jane Eyre broadcast. The first episode of Idiot Weekly Price 2d broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
In the First Division, the top three sides all won; Manchester United beat Aston Villa one-nil, Blackpool won two-one at Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United defeated Arsenal two-nil.
The Goon Show episode The Treasure In The Lake broadcast.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Test Match broadcast on The Light Programme.
The Goon Show episode The Goons In Wales broadcast. Vernon Sewell's Soho Incident - starring Faith Domergue and Lee Patterson, Jack Lee's A Town Like Alice - starring Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch, Guy Fergusson's Supersonic Saucer - starring Marcia Manolescue, Gillian Harrison, Fella Edmonds and Andrew Motte-Harrison and The Adventures Of Quentin Durward - starring Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley and George Cole - premiered.
Montgomery Tully's The Wall of Death - starring Cyril Chamberlain and Ferdy Mayne - premiered. The This Week episode Fenchurch Teddy Boys broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
In an FA Cup Sixth Round of surprises, Sunderland won two-nil at Newcastle (Bill Holden scored twice), Birmingham City won three-one at Arsenal and Manchester City overcame Everton two-one. Spurs and West Ham drew three-all at White Hart Lane (Tottenham won the replay five days later). In the Third Division (South), Leyton Orient thrashed Queens Park Rangers seven-one Johnny Hartburn scoring four and Ron Heckman three). Fred Wilcox's Forbidden Planet - starring Water Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen and Robby The Robot - premiered. The first episode of The Count Of Monte Cristo broadcast on ATV London.
Darcy Conyers' The Secret Of The Forest - starring Kit Terrington and Jacqueline Cox - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Fear Of Wages broadcast. Michael Anderson's adaptation of Nineteen Eighty Four - starring Edmond O'Brien, Michael Redgrave and Jan Sterling - premiered.
The Douglas Fairbanks Presents episode The Awakening starring Buster Keaton broadcast on Associated Rediffusion.
The first episode of Men In Battle - presented by Brian Horrocks - and John Comden's The Advancing Shadow broadcast. Clyde McPhatter's 'Seven Days'/'I'm Not Worthy Of You', Bobby Charles' 'See You Later, Alligator'/'On Bended Knee', Eve Boswell's 'It's Almost Tomorrow'/'Cookie', Commodores' 'Speedoo'/'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On', Kim Bennett's 'No, Not Much'/'You Can't Keep Running', Pat Boone's 'I'll Be Home'/'Tutti Frutti' and Fats Domino's 'Bo Weevil'/'Don't Blame It On Me' released.
Archbishop Makarios was deported from Cyprus to the Seychelles by the British authorities. For being a damned trouble-maker and nuisance. Meet Me In Las Vegas - starring Cyd Charisse - premiered.
The first episode of My Friend Charles broadcast. Lesley Jane Dunlop born in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Helen Frances Grindley born in London.
Lesley Ann Manville born in Brighton.
Donald Wilson's adaptation of Story Conference broadcast, featuring the Alexandra Repertory Company. The Goon Show episode Scardje broadcast. Ronald Neame's The Man Who Never Was - starring Clifton Webb, Gloria Grahame and William Russell - premiered.
A memorial to Karl Marx was unveiled in Highgate Cemetery by Harry Pollitt.
The first episode of Science Fiction Theatre - an adaptation of The World Below - broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
The first episode of I'm Not Bothered broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion. Billy May & His Orchestra's 'Main Title (From The Film The Man With The Golden Arm)'/'Suzette' released.
Birmingham City beat Sunderland three-nil in the FA Cup Semi Final at Hillsborough whilst Manchester City defeated Spurs one-nil at Villa Park in front of sixty nine thousand. Third Division (South) table-toppers Leyton Orient hammered Alkdershot eight-three, whilst second-placed Ipswich Town won two-nil at Watford.
Basil Dearden and Michael Relph's Who Done it? - starring Benny Hill, Belinda Lee, David Kossoff, Garry Marsh and George Margo - premiered.
Bunny Webber and Rex Tucker's adaptation of PG Wodehouse's Lord Emsworth & The Little Friend broadcast. The Goon Show episode The Man Who Never Was broadcast.
Sheffield Wednesday stretched their lead at the top of the Second Division to four points with a three-nil victory over Barnsley.
Robert Rossen's Alexander The Great - starring Richard Burton and Claire Bloom - premiered.
Elvis Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel'/'I Was The One' released in the UK on the HMV label. The This Week episode Gretna Green broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.

At the Grand National, Devon Loch, owned by The Queen Mother and ridden by Dick Francis, was in a clear lead when it inexplicably collapsed fifty yards from the line, giving victory to ESB, ridden by Dave Dick and trained by Fred Rimell. Tricia Walsh-Smith born in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia. Manchester United lead the First Division by five points after a one-nil victory over Bolton Wanderers. Blackpool, in second-place, won two-one at Birmingham City. Derby County went to the top of the Third Division (North), winning three-one against Chester.
Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever published. Ralph Thomas's Doctor At Large - starring Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice and Shirley Eaton - premiered.
RF Delderfeld's And Then There Were None and Kitty Clive broadcast. Pat Jackson's The Feminine Touch - starring George Baker, Belinda Lee, Delphi Lawrence, Adrienne Corri, Henryetta Edwards, Barbara Archer and Mandy Miller - premiered.
Transmissions begin from the BBC's new Crystal Palace site. Terence Fisher's The Gelignite Gang - starring Wayne Morris and Sandra Dorne - premiered.
The first episode of The Billy Cotton Band Show broadcast.
Manchester United defeated Newcastle United five-two in the First Division. Sheffield United won four-one at Everton (Jack Wilkinson scoring three). Preston North End won four-nil at Tottenham Hotspur (Tom Finney and Tommy Thompson both scoring twice). Bristol Rovers climbed into the Second Division promotion places with a two-one win over Plymouth Argyle.
The first episode of Gardening Club - presented by Percy Thrower - and Eric Sykes's Dress Rehearsal broadcast. Manchester United's First Division lead extended to seven points with a two-nil victory at relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town. Derby County remained top of the Third Division (North) but Grimsby Town moved three points behind (and with two games in hand) with a five-one victory over Crewe Alexandra. The first UK broadcasts of The Hawk Of Powder River on the BBC and Highway Patrol on ATV London.
George More O'Ferrall's The March Hare - starring Peggy Cummins, Terence Morgan, Martita Hunt and Cyril Cusack - premiered.
Elmo Williams and Herbert Glazer's Women Without Men - starring Beverly Michaels, Joan Rice, Thora Hird, Avril Angers, Hermione Baddeley and Gordon Jackson - premiered. Leeds United's six-one victory over Fulham in the Second Division included a hat-trick from John Charles.
The Goon Show episode The Pevensey Bay Disaster broadcast. It had originally been scheduled for broadcast on 22 November 1955 but was postponed due to a fatal train derailment at Milton. The first episode of George & Alfred Black Present Get Happy - starring Arthur Haynes - broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
'Where's my fiorucci?' The first episode of The Clitheroe Kid - initially The Call Boy - broadcast on The Light Programme.
The first episode of Double Cross broadcast.
Carl Perkins' 'Blue Suede Shoes'/'Honey Don't', Julius La Rosa's 'No Other Love'/'Rosanne', Jimmy Work's 'When She Said You All'/'There's Only One You', Cathy Carr's 'Ivory Tower'/'Please, Please Believe Me' and Ivory Joe Hunter's 'A Tear Fell'/'I Need You By My Side' released. Terence Young's Safari - starring Victor Mature, Janet Leigh, John Justin, Roland Culver and Earl Cameron and Brian Desmond Hurst's The Black Tent - starring Donald Sinden, Anthony Steel, Anna Maria Sandri, André Morell and Donald Pleasence - premiered.
The first episode of Hans and Lotte Hass's Diving To Adventure broadcast. Manchester United, with an average team age of just twenty four, won the First Division title with three games of the season still to go after a two-one victory over Blackpool in front of sixty two thousand at Old Trafford. Bury's seven-one defeat of Plymouth Argyle condemned The Pilgrims to relegation from the Second Division. In the Third Division (North), Derby County thrashed Aaccrington Stanley six-two (Alf Ackerman scoring four), Stockport County hammered Carlisle United eight-one (Jack Connor hit five) and Workington defeated Gatehad six-one. Henry Cass's Bond of Fear - starring Dermot Walsh, Jane Barrett, and John Colicos - premiered.
Leslie Hiscott's Tons Of Trouble - starring Richard Hearne, William Hartnell and Austin Trevor - premiered.
The first episode of Picture Parade, Winged Menace, A Festival Of Dance Music, The Singing Pig and Alf's Dream broadcast. Hull City drew one-all with Doncaster Rovers in the Second Division and were relegated.
John Sturges's Backlash - starring Richard Widmark and Donna Reed - premiered.
Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group's 'Lost John'/'Stewball' released.
England drew one-all with Scotland in the Home International championship at Hampden thanks to Johnny Haynes last minute equaliser. This was the only occasion during the hundred-year history of the championship in which all four home nations finished level on points. As goal difference was not used to determine position until 1979, all four shared the trophy. Coventry City's Reg Matthews made his international debut, the first Third Division player to win a full England cap since Joe Payne in 1937. In the First Division, Chelsea defeated Everton six-one. Huddersfield and Aston Villa kept their survivial hopes alive with victories over Sheffield United and Charlton Athletic respectively. The FA Amateur Cup Final between Bishop Auckland and Corinthian-Casuals at Wembley was broadcast on the BBC which ended in a one-all draw (Bishop's won the replay four-one at Ayresome Park).
The first episode of Rex Milligan and Ted Allan's The Seat Of The Scornful broadcast, the latter in the Sunday-Night Theatre strand.
Lance Comfort's The Man In The Road - starring Derek Farr, Ella Raines, Donald Wolfit and Lisa Daniely - premiered.
In his Budget speech, Chancellor Harold Macmillan announced the launch of Premium Bonds, which would go on sale on 1 November.
The first episode of Music For You broadcast. The Bold & The Brave - starring Wendell Corey - premiered.
Norman MacOwen's The Infinite Shoeblack broadcast. Lionel Crabb, working for MI6, dived into Portsmouth Harbour to investigate the visiting Soviet cruiser Ordzhonikidze and vanished during a state visit by Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin. On 9 May Anthony Eden, who had expressly forbidden the operation, made a statement refusing to reveal any details surrounding the mystery of Crabb's disappearance.
Humphrey Lyttelton and his band recorded his composition 'Bad Penny Blues' with sound engineer Joe Meek. This was the first British jazz record to get into the Top Twenty. Georgie Glen born in Helensburgh.
The first episode of Opportunity Murder broadcast. Manchester United won the First Division title by eleven points with Matt Busby's emphasis on youth paying dividends. Second place was occupied by Blackpool, with Stanley Matthews still a dominant presence at forty one, while Wolves finished third, Manchester City fourth and Arsenal fifth. Bolton Wanderers' Nat Lofthouse was the division's top scorer with thirty two goals. Sheffield Wednesday won five-two at Bury to clinched the Second Division title. Coventry City's four-two defeat at Newport County in the Third Division (South) saw the league debut of George Curtis - the first of five hundred and forty three games for The Sky Blues in a career that lasted until 1969. In the process he broke George Mason's appearance record for the club, established in 1952. Curtis's own record would be beaten by Steve Ogrizovic in 1998.
Henry At Agincourt - featuring Richard Burton and John Neville - broadcast on The Home Service.
Philip Larkin introduced New Poetry on The Third Programme.
Grimsby Town's two-nil victory over Southport secured The Mariners' the Third Division (North) and promotion.
Ronald Eaglesham Porter born in Dundee. Leyton Orient were the Third Division (South) championship folowing their two-one defeat of Millwall.
Kevin Robert McNally born in Bristol. The first episode of Jack Hylton Presents The Tony Hancock Show broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
Huddersfield Town were relegated from the First Division despite beating Bolton Wanderers three-one. Sheffield United (who lost at Tottenham Hotspur) were relegated. They replaced in the top flight by Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United, both of whom finished their promotion season with thumping wins (five-three at home to Lincoln City and four-one at Hull City, respectively).
James Ambrose Brown's The Talking Cat broadcast. Guy Hamilton's Charley Moon - starring Max Bygraves, Dennis Price, Michael Medwin, Shirley Eaton and Eric Sykes, David Paltenghi's Keep It Clean - starring Ronald Shiner, James Hayter, Diane Hart and Ursula Howells and Hans Nieter's Seven Years In Tibet premiered.
The first episode of A Show Called Fred - starring Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers and directed by Richard Lester - broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion. George Cukor's Bhowani Junction - starring Ava Gardner, Stewart Granger, Bill Travers, Abraham Sofaer, Francis Matthews and Lionel Jeffries - premiered.
James Thurber and Elliott Nugent's The Male Animal broadcast. Albert Lamorisse's Le Ballon Rouge premiered. ITV's third regional channel, Granada, began broadcasting, extending ITV's coverage to Northern England.
Michael McCarthy's It's Never Too Late - starring Phyllis Calvert, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen and Guy Rolfe - premiered.
Manchester City won the FA Cup three-one against Birmingham City despite their goalkeeper, Bert Trautmann, playing the last fifteen minutes with a broken bone in his neck.
Tony Young's Port of Escape - starring Googie Withers, John McCallum, Bill Kerr and Joan Hickson - premiered.
The first episode of The Adventures of The Big Man - The Bomb - broadcast. Minister of Health Robin Turton, rejected calls for the government to lead an anti-smoking campaign arguing that 'no ill-effects' had yet been proven from tobacco. Bill Haley & His Comets' 'The Saints Rock 'n Roll'/'R-O-C-K', Chuck Berry's 'Down Bound Train'/'No Money Down' and Jim Lowe's 'Blue Suede Shoes'/'Maybellene' released.
John Brandane's The Glen Is Mine broadcast. The first performance of John Osborne's play Look Back In Anger by the newly formed English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre. Alan Bates had his first major role. The theatre's press release described the dramatist as 'among the angry young men' of the time. The first episode of the TV version of My Wildest Dream - featuring Tommy Trinder, David Nixon, Alfred Marks and Terry-Thomas - broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion. The first episode of Zoo Time - presented by Desmond Morris - broadcast on Granada. It debuted on Associated-Rediffusion on 5 June.
Mark Robson's The Harder They Fall - starring Humphrey Bogart in his final movie, Rod Steiger and Jan Sterling - premiered. England beat Brazil four-two in a friendly international at Wembley. Sheffield United winger Colin Grainger scored twice on his international debut. Tommy Taylor also scored two whilst both Jonny Atyeo and Roger Byrne missed penalties. The teams were presented to His Grace The Duke of Norfolk, KG, GCVO. Then the Brazil team presented Stanley Matthews - who had given Nilton Santos a torrid afternoon - with a Silver Cup at a post-match banquet. The first episode of the variety show Two's Company - with Libby Morris and Peter Butterworth - broadcast on Granada. It didn't debut on Associated-Rediffusion until 19 September, by which time Butterworth had been replaced by Dick Emery.
The first episode of Spot The Tune - presented by Ken Platt and Marion Ryan - broadcast on Granada. It first appeared on Associated-Rediffusion on 7 June.
'Heartbreak Hotel' made its first appearance in the UK charts. Fats Domino's 'I'm In Love Again'/'My Blue Heaven' and Julie London's 'Baby, Baby All The Time'/'Shadow Woman' released.
The Kilt Is My Delight, featuring Jimmy Shand & His Band, broadcast.
Richard Holt Madeley born in Romford.
Anthony Armstrong's Ten Minute Alibi broadcast in the Play Of The Week strand on Associated-Rediffusion.
Birmingham City became the first English football club side to compete in a European competition, getting a goalless draw with Internazionale in Milan in their first Inter-Cities Fairs Cup group game.
Alfred Hitchcock's second version of The Man Who Knew Too Much - starring James Stewart and Doris Day - and John Ford's The Searchers - starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood - premiered. England played a goalless draw with Sweden in a friendly international in the Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm.
Ray Rigby's The End Begins broadcast.
The first episode of The Sixty Four Thousand Question broadcast on ATV London. The first episode of My Sister & I broadcast on ABC Weekend.

England beat Finland five-one in a friendly international in Helsinki. Nat Lofthouse scored twice after coming on as a substitute for the injured Tommy Taylor with further goals from Dennis Wilshaw, Johnny Haynes and debutant Gordon Astall of Birmingham City. Lofthouse's second goal was his twenty ninth for England in thirty one internationals, breaking the record for the most England goals held by Steve Bloomer since 1907.
Ken Hughes's Wicked As They Come - starring Arlene Dahl, Philip Carey and Herbert Marshall - premiered. The first episode of The Billy Cotton Band Show and Cyril Davey's Flame In The Forest broadcast. Gogi Grant's 'Wayward Wind'/'No More Than Forever' and Andy Williams' 'Walk Hand In Hand'/'Not Any More' released.
The first annual Eurovision Song Contest broadcast. It was won by Switzerland.
Elvis Presley's 'Blue Suede Shoes'/'Tutti Frutti' released.
The first episode of Can We Help You? broadcast. England beat World Champions West Germany three-one in a friendly international in Berlin. Duncan Edwards, Colin Grainger and Johnny Haynes scored for the visiotrs with Fritz Walter replying for the hosts.
Julie May Peasgood born in Cleethorpes.
Carol Reed's Trapeze - starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida - premiered. The Southlanders' 'Hush-A-Bye Rock'/'The Wedding Of The Lucky Black Cat' released.
Robert Furnival's The Devil's Tattoo - featuring an early TV appearance by Ronnie Barker - broadcast in the Nom-De-Plume strand. Jack Lee's A Town Like Alice - starring Virginnia McKenna and Peter Finch - premiered. The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon's 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love?'/'Please Be Mine', Otis Williams & His Charms' 'Ivory Tower'/'In Paradise', Gale Storm's 'Why Do Fools Fall In Love?'/'I Walk Alone' and Glen Mason's 'Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)'/'Baby Girl Of Mine' released. Louise Plowright born in Congleton.
Montgomery Tully's The Case Of The River Morgue - starring Hugh Moxey and Janet Welsh - premiered. The first episode of About Homes & Gardens broadcast on ATV Midlands.
The Strong Are Lonely broadcast. John Baxter's Ramsbottom Rides Again - starring Arthur Askey, Sid James, Frankie Vaughan, Shani Wallis and Betty Marsden - premiered.
Roy Ward Baker's Jacqueline - starring John Gregson, Kathleen Ryan, Jacqueline Ryan and Cyril Cusack and Wolf Rilla's Pacific Destiny - starring Denholm Elliott and Susan Stephen - premiered.
Let's Have Fun- featuring Jimmy James, Ken Dodd, Jimmy Clitheroe and the TV debut of Roy Castle - broadcast. Chuck Berry's Rhythm & Blues With Chuck Berry EP ('Maybellene'/'Wee Wee Hours'/'Thirty Days'/'Together We Will Always Be'), Bert Weedon's 'The Boy With The Magic Guitar'/'Flannel-Foot', Doris Day's 'Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)'/'We'll Love Again' and Humphrey Lyttelton's 'Bad Penny Blues'/'Close Your Eyes' released. The This Week episode Eisenhower Interviews broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.

The first episode of Those Kids broadcast on ABC Weekend (it would be 15 September before it debuted on ATV London).
The first episode of The Black Brigand broadcast. Don Siegel's Crime In The Streets - starring James Whitmore, John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo - premiered.
Shaun Sutton's Cry Wolf! broadcast. The first Ashes test at Trent Bride was drawn. Peter Richardson, making his test debut, top-scored in both of England's innings, Keith Miller took six wickets in the match as did Jim Laker, the first of a records forty six he would get across the five tests.
Real Madrid beat Stade De Reims-Champagne four-three in the inaugural European Cup final. To the great delight of their biggest fan, Generalissimo Franco. George Seaton's The Proud & Profane - starring William Holden and Deborah Kerr - premiered. The first episode of the TV version of Opportunity Knocks! - sincerely presented by Hughie Green - broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
J Lee Thompson's Yield To The Night - starring Diana Dors, Yvonne Mitchell and Michael Craig - premiered.
The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group's Skiffle Session EP ('Railroad Bill', 'Stackalee'/'The Ballad Of Jesse James', 'Ol' Riley') released. The This Week episode Squatters broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
Saturday-Night Out Goes Under The Sea featured the first ever live broadcast from a submarine, HM Tapir.
Dominic Guard born in London. Henry Xass's Breakaway - starring Tom Conway, Michael Balfour, Honor Blackman and Freddie Mills - premiered.
Joseph Losey's The Intimate Stranger - starring Richard Basehart, Mary Murphy, Constance Cummings, Roger Livesey and Faith Brook - premiered.
The first episode of Opportunity Knocks broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion. Herbert Wilcox's My Teenage Daughter - starring Anna Neagle, Sylvia Syms, Norman Wooland, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Kenneth Haigh and Wanda Ventham - premiered.
Colin Morris's Quiet Revolution broadcast. George Sidney's The Eddy Duchin Story - starring Kim Novak and Tyrone Power - premiered.
Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps' 'Be-Bop-A-Lula'/'Woman Love' and Pat Boone's 'Long Tall Sally'/'Just As Long As I'm With You' released. Charles Frend's The Long Arm - starring Jack Hawkins, John Stratton, Dorothy Alison, Michael Brooke, Sam Kydd and Glyn Houston and John Guillermin's Thunderstorm - starring Linda Christian - premiered.
William Fairchild's The Extra Day - starring Richard Basehart, Simone Simon, George Baker and Sid James - premiered. It was Glenda Jackson's film debut.
Gale Pedrick's Mr Butters Writes A Notice broadcast. Australia won the second Ashes test at Lord's by one hundred and eighty five runs thanks, largely, to a battling ninety seven by Richie Benaud in their second innings. Keith Miller took ten wickets in the match. For England, Peter May scored fifties in both innings.
John Huston's adaptation of Moby Dick premiered.
Anthony Kimmins's Smiley - starring Ralph Richardson, Chipps Rafferty and Colin Petersen - and Walter Lang's The King & I - starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr - premiered.
Bo Diddley's Rhythm And Blues With Bo Diddley EP ('Bo Diddley', 'I'm A Man'/'Bring It To Jerome', 'Pretty Thing') released.
Ralph Thomas's The Iron Petticoat - starring Bob Hope, Katharine Hepburn, Noelle Middleton, James Robertson Justice and Robert Helpmann - premiered.
James Hill's Peril For The Guy - starring Frazer Hines, Mandy Harper and Christopher Warbey - premiered.
Tony Thompson's documentary about rural Northumberland Any Man's Kingdom - narrated by Stephen Murray - premiered.
David Turner's Fresh As Paint broadcast. Robert Wise's Somebody Up There Likes Me - starring Paul Newman - premiered.
The first episode of Abigail & Roger broadcast.
Lewis Gilbert's Reach For The Sky - starring Kenneth More - premiered. Parliament passed The Clean Air Act in response to 'the Great Smog' of 1952.
The first episode of the TV version of Hancock's Half Hour - The First TV Show - broadcast. Johnny Burnette & The Rock 'N' Roll Trio's 'Tear It Up'/'You're Undecided', Moon Mullican With Boyd Bennett & His Rockets' 'Honolulu Rock-A Roll-A'/'Seven Nights To Rock', Johnny Dankworth & His Orchestra's 'Experiments With Mice'/'Applecake', Dick Noel's '(The Same Thing Happens 'ith) The Birds & The Bees'/'Birth Of The Blues' and Willie Dixon's 'Walking The Blues'/'Crazy For My Baby' released.
The first episode of Northern Showground broadcast. The first episode of Armchair Theatre - The Outsider - broadcast on ATV London.
Jay Lewis's The Baby & The Battleship - starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough and André Morell - premiered.
The Bird Of Truth broadcast.
Ian Kevin Curtis born in Stretford.
Adrian Mills born in Oakham, Rutland. Henry Cass' Breakaway starring Tom Conway, Michael Balfour, Honor Blackman and Brian Worth - premiered.
The first episode of The Billy Cotton Band Show - later The Wakey Wakey Tavern - broadcast. England won the third Ashes test at Headingley by an innings and forty two runs. Peter May scored a century and Cyril Washbrook ninety eight as England made three hundred and twenty five. Australia were then dismissed twice by Jim Laker (eleven wickets) and Tony Lock (seven wickets). Alan Oakman made his test debut. Charles Walters's High Society - starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra - premiered. Well, did you evah?
Wyndham Lewis's Tarr - starring Stephen Murray, Olaf Pooley, James McKechnie and Carleton Hobbs - broadcast on The Third Programme. Charles Saunders' Behind The Headlines - starring Paul Carpenter, Adrienne Corri, Hazel Court, Ewen Solon and Alfie Bass - premiered.
The first episode of Friday Night With The Crazy Gang broadcast in the Jack Hylton Presents strand on Associated-Rediffusion.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Artist broadcast. Paul Thomas Cook born in Shepherd's Bush. The first episode of My Husband & I broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
Paul Dickson's Satellite In The Sky - starring Kieron Moore, Lois Maxwell, Donald Wolfit and Bryan Forbes - premiered.
The first Albums Chart was published in Record Mirror. Frank Sinatra's Songs For Swingin' Lovers! topped it for the first two weeks.
Peter Blackmore's Down Came A Blackbird broadcast in the Play Of The Week strand on Associated-Rediffusion.
The Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser announced the nationalisation of the Suez Canal triggering the Suez Crisis.
The first Berni Inn steakhouse opened in Bristol. Elvis Presley's 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You'/'My Baby Left Me' released.
Jim Laker took nineteen wickets in the match as England beat Australia in the fourth Ashes test at Old Trafford. England's four hundred and fifty nine included centuries by David Sheppard and Peter Richardson and eighty from Colin Cowdrey. Laker took nine for thirty seven in Australia's first innings and all ten wickets - for fifty three runs - in the second. The first episode of The Crimson Ramblers - The Girl In Black - broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion. Mark David Darwin Arden born in Newbury.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Dancer broadcast. René Clément's Gervaise - starring Maria Schell, François Périer and Suzy Delair - premiered.
Bill Haley & His Comets' 'Rockin' Through The Rye'/'Hot Dog Buddy Buddy' and Big Joe Turner's 'Corrine Corrina'/'Morning, Noon And Night' released.
The exhibition This Is Tomorrow, featuring principally the interdisciplinary ICA Independent Group, opened at the Whitechapel Art Gallery. Among the exhibits was Richard Hamilton's collage Just What Is It that Makes Today's Homes So Different, So Appealing?, considered to be one of the earliest works of 'pop art.'
The Chordettes' 'Born To Be With You'/'Love Never Changes' and Mel Torme's 'Lulu's Back In Town'/'The Lady Is A Tramp' released.
RC Sherriff's Home At Seven - starring Peter Cushing - broadcast.
Muriel Box's Eyewitness - starring Donald Sinden, Muriel Pavlow, Belinda Lee, Michael Craig and Nigel Stock - premiered.
Cy Endfield's Child In The House - Phyllis Calvert, Eric Portman, Stanley Baker, Mandy Miller, Dora Bryan, Joan Hickson, Victor Maddern and, in an uncredited role making her film debut, Maggie Smith - premiered.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Bequest broadcast. Scotland Yard were called to Eastbourne to investigate the suspicious activities of society doctor John Bodkin Adams. The case was reported around the world including claims that up to four hundred patients may have been murdered. Frank Tuttle's A Cry In The Night - starring Edmond O'Brien, Raymond Burr, Brian Donlevy and Natalie Wood - premiered.
Bolton Wanderers' four-one victory over Blackpool in the First Division included a hat-trick for Nat Lofthouse and saw the debut of Eddie Hopkinson - the first of five hundred and seventy eight games for The Trotters in a career that lasted until 1970. In the process he broke Alex Finney's appearance record for the club, established in 1937. Elsewhere on the opening day of the Football League season, promoted Leeds United thrashed Everton five-one (Harry Brook netting three), Luton Town thumped Sunderland six-two (Gordon Turner scored four), Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Manchester City five-one (Jimmy Murray hitting four), Tottenham Hotspur won four-one at Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday beat West Bromwich Albion four-two. Champions Manchester United drew two-two with Birmingham City. In the Second Division, Mel Charles scored four in Swansea Town's five-one victory over Blackburn Rovers whilst both relegated sides, Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town had away wins (at Rotherham and Liverpool respectively). In the Third Division (North), Derby County beat Gateshead five-three and Hartlepools united had a fiveone win over Chesterfield.
Frederick Wiseman's Extra Item broadcast.
The Tenth Edinburgh International Festival broadcast including an extract from Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas, introduced by Wynford Vaughan Thomas, from The Lyceum Theatre.
The first episode of The Black Tulip broadcast King Vidor's adaptation of War & Peace - starring Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer and Rudolph Maté's Port Afrique premiered.
The Man With A Hundred Hands broadcast in the Nom-De-Plume strand.
The first episode of Bill Radford - Reporter broadcast. Luton Town were the early pace-setters in the First Division, winning their third consecutive game, two-one at Charlton. Spurs (who beat Leeds five-one, Manchester United (who won three-two at West Bromwich) and Birmingham City (four-two winners over Arsenal) were also unbeated. Newcastle won the Wear-Tyne derby two-one at Roker Park. Hartlepools United lead the Third Division (North) following a one-nil win at Chester. George More O'Ferrall's The Woman For Joe - starring Diane Cilento, George Baker, Jimmy Karoubi and David Kossoff - premiered.
The fifth test at The Oval ended in a draw meaning that England retained The Ashes with a two-one series victory. Jim Laker took a further seven wickets to end the series with forty six. Terence Fisher's The Last Man To Hang - starring Tom Conway, Elizabeth Sellars, Eunice Gayson, Victor Maddern, Anthony Newley and Walter Hudd and Val Guest's It's A Wonderful World - starring Terence Morgan, George Cole, Mylène Demongeot and Kathleen Harrison - premiered.
The first episode of Sea & Ships broadcast. A remake of The Goon Show episode China Story broadcast. Michael Curtiz's The Vagabond King - starring Kathryn Grayson, Oreste Kirkop and Rita Moreno - premiered. In the First Division, Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Luton Town five-four, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester City three-two and Birmingham City won four-three at Portsmouth. Dennis Viollet score a hat-trick as Manchester had a three-two victory against Preston North End and Leeds United thrashed struggling Charlton Athletic four-nil. Sheffield United made it four wins in four with a two-one win at Fulham in the Second Division. Performance of the day came in the Third Division (South) and Gillingham's six-two hammering of Aldershot (Gordon Brasted scored three).
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Radio Show broadcast. Joshua Logan's Bus Stop - starring Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray - premiered. Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group's 'Bring A Little Water, Sylvie'/'Dead Or Alive' released.
Val Guest's The Weapon - starring Steve Cochran, Lizabeth Scott, Herbert Marshall and Nicole Maurey - premiered. Leo McKern's London Story broadcast on The Home Service. Preston North End had their first win of the season in the First Division. And, it was a big one, six-nil over Cardiff City. Charlton Athletic remained rooted to the foot of the table, thashed eight-one at Sunderland (Johnny Hannigan hitting three). Manchester United went top with a three-nil victory over Portsmouth. Second Division leaders Sheffield United won their fifth game in a row, six-one at Barnsley (Colin Grainger scored three). Nottingham Forest (four-one winners at Swansea) and Bristol Rovers (who beat Stoke City four-nil) were also unbeaten.
Donald Wilson's adaptation of Morning Star broadcast as part of The Sunday Night Theatre strand. Going Up - with Jimmy Clitheroe - broadcast.
Montgomery Tully's Destination Death - starring Russell Napier, Arthur Gomez, Paula Byrne, Melissa Stribling and Colette Wilde - premiered.
The first episode of Picture Parade broadcast and the TV début of Bernard Cribbins in an episode of The Black Tulip. Ken Annakin's Loser Takes All - starring Glynis Johns, Rossano Brazzi and Robert Morley, with a screenplay by Graham Greene and Gordon Parry's Sailor Beware! - starring Peggy Mount and Shirley Eaton - premiered. In the third Division (North), Hartlepools United won six-one at Southport whilst in the third Division (South), Brighton & Hove Albion had a five-two victory at Brentford.
The first episode of The Light Programme's Pick of The Pops to be presented by David Jacobs. Vernon Sewell's Home & Away - starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Lana Morris, Charles Victor, Thora Hird, Leslie Henson and Merrie Carroll - premiered. Alex Govan scored three in Birmingham City's six-one victory over Newcastle United in the First Division. Manchester United remained top of the league with a two-one win at Chelsea. Performance of the day came in the Third Division (South) with Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic thrashed Shrewsbury Town six-one.
Cy Roth's Fire Maidens From Outer Space - starring Anthony Dexter, Paul Carpenter, Susan Shaw, Harry Fowler, Sydney Tafler, Jacqueline Curtis and Rodney Diak - premiered.
Little Willie John's 'Fever'/'Letter From My Darling' released.
Forty six goals were socred in eleven First Division games, the highlight being Charlton Athletic's four-all draw with Sheffield Wednesday. Over sixty two thousand were at White Hart Lane where Tottenham thrashed Wolves four-one. In the Second Division, Roy Dwight scored a hat-trick in Fulham's seven-three defeat of Swansea Town. Stone City thumped Notts County six-nil. San Collins scored four in Torquay United's seven-two victory over Millwall in the Third Division (South).
Hartlepools uNited stayed top of the Third Division (North) with a five-two victory against Southport at Victoria Park.
Bernard Shaw's Fanny's First Play broadcast.
Mervyn LeRoy's The Bad Seed - starring Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack and Evelyn Varden - premiered. Manchester United became the first English team to compete in the European Cup when they played the first leg of the Preliminary Round in Belgium and beat RSC Anderlecht two-nil. In the First Division, Sheffield Wednesday thrashed Cardiff City five-three.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Chef That Died Of Shame broadcast. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps' 'Race With The Devil'/'Gonna Back Up Baby', Sidney Torch & His Orchestra's 'Reach For The Sky'/'Bicycle Belles' and Humphrey Lyttelton & His Band's 'Love, Love, Love'/'Echoing The Blues' released. Edmond Gréville's Guilty? - starring John Justin, Barbara Laage and Donald Wolfit and Rudolf Schündler's Die Rosel Vom Schwarzwald - starring Herta Staal, Helmuth Schneider, Bibi Johns, Susi Nicoletti and Wolfgang Wahl - premiered.
First Division highlights included Manchester United's four-one victory over Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland's five-two defeat of Blackpool, Spurs four-two win at Aston Villa and Newcastle United's one-nil victory at Arsenal. Nottingham Forest remained top of the Second Division despite a three-two defeat at Rotherham United. Scunthorpe & Lindsey United's six-one thumping of Halifax Town and Hartlepools United's four-two victory at Stockport County were the big stories in the Third Division (North). Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Exeter City all scored six in their Third Division (South) games against Walsall, Torquay United and outhend united respectively. he first episodes of The Strange World Of Planet X, The Adventures Of Aggie, The Buccaneers, Errol Flynn Theatre - The Mirror - and The Adventures Of Sir Lancelot - The Knight With The Red Plume - broadcast on ATV London. After being sold to the NBC network in the US, The Adventures Of Sir Lancelot later became the first British series to feature episodes filmed in colour (albeit still broadcast in monochrome).
The first episode of What's In Store? broadcast on ABC Weekend. Tears In The Wind broadcast on ATV London in the Armchair Theatre strand.
Vincente Minnelli's Lust For Life - starring Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn - premiered. Leciester City went to the top of the Second Division with a thrilling five-four victory at Bury. The first episode of Son Of Fred broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
An adaptation of Days Of Grace broadcast. Julian Amyes's A Hill In Korea - starring George Baker, Harry Andrews, Stanley Baker, Michael Medwin, Victor Maddern, Robert Brown, Robert Shaw and Michael Caine and Robert Day's The Green Man - starring Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry-Thomas and Jill Adams - premiered. The first episodes of Do You Trust Your Wife? - with Bob Monkhouse and Denis Goodwin, Our Dora and The Bob Cummings Show broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
The first episode of The Arthur Haynes Show broadcast on ATV Midlands. It was shown in most other ITV regions, including Associated-Rediffusion and Granada from January 1957. Stanley Mann's For The Defence and Keep Up With The Joneses - presented by Peter Jones - broadcast. Over To William - starring Keith Crane - broadcast in Associated-Rediffusion's Jolly Good Time strand.
Elvis Presley's 'Hound Dog'/'Don't Be Cruel' released. The first episode of Assignment Foreign Legion broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
United beat City two-nil in the Manchester debry in the First Division. For once, the Second Division provided many ofd the day's big stories fifty one goals in eleven games; Stoke City thumped Lyton Orient seven-one, Leciester City hammered Notts Count six-three, Bristol City beat neighbours Rovers five-three at Ashton Gate and Nottingham Forest beat Port Vale four-two. Third Division (South) Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic were amongst the goals again, thrashing Swindon Town seven-one. The Fortunes Of War - starring Christopher Lee - broadcast in ATV London's Errol Flynn Theatre strand. A different episode of the same anthology, The Girl In The Blue Jeans - starring Glynis Johns - broadcast on ABC Weekend.
Dylan Thomas broadcast on The Home Service. This programme consistd of edited versions of recordings made at the Poetry Centre, New York. Thomas gave his first recital there in 1950, the last in October 1953, shortly before his death. It included extracts from the works of WB Yeats, Walter De La Mare, Oliver St John Gogarty and Henry Reed.
Hartlepools United's one hundred per cent home record in the Third Division (North) was maintained with a five-one victory over Tranmere Rovers (Ken Johnson scoring four).
Manchester United annihilated Anderlecht ten-nil in the second leg of their European Cup debut. Dennis Viollet socred four, Tommy Taylor three and Billy Whelan two. Johnny Berry completed the scoring.
The first episode of Vincent Tilsley's adaptation of David Copperfield broadcast. Chris Jury born in Coventry. Little Willie John's 'Fever'/'Letter From My Darling' released.
Maclean Rogers' Assignment Redhead - starring Richard Denning, Carole Mathews, Ronald Adam and Danny Green, Henry Cass's High Terrace - starring Dale Robertson, Lois Maxwell, Derek Bond, Eric Pohlmann and Lionel Jeffries and Gerald Thomas's Circus Friends - starring Alan Coleshill and Carol White - premiered.
The first episodes of My Wife's Sister and Alicia In Wonderland broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion. Charles Saunders' Find The Lady - starring Donald Houston, Beverley Brooks, Mervyn Johns, Kay Callard, Maurice Kaufmann, Edwin Richfield and Ferdy Mayne and Roy Kellinmo's The Silken Affair premiered.

The first episode of Whack-O! broadcast. On The Light Programme's Parade ('a programme for family listening presenter by members of the Younger Generation') Don Durbridge questioned the American bandleader Bill Haley on 'the origin and future and rock and/or roll music.' The Goon Show episode The Nasty Affair At The Burami Oasis broadcast.
Big Moe With Boyd Bennett & His Rockets' 'The Groovy Age'/'Hit That Jive Jack', Tommy Steele & The Steelmen's 'Rock With The Caveman'/'Rock Around The Town', Fats Domino's 'Blueberry Hill'/'I Can't Go On', The Cadets' 'Stranded In The Jungle'/'I Want You', Big Moe With Boyd Bennett & His Rockets' 'The Groovy Age'/'Hit That Jive Jack', Mandy Miller's 'Nellie The Elephant'/'It's Time To Dream', Jim Lowe's 'The Green Door'/'The Little Man In China Town', Frankie Vaughan With Wally Stott & His Rochestra & Chrous' 'The Green Door'/'Pity The Poor, Poor Man', Eamonn Andrews & The Voices Of Vernons' 'High Wind'/'The Legend Of Wyatt Earp', The Vipers Skiffle Group's 'Ain't You Glad?'/'Pick A Bale Of Cotton' and The Ivor & Basil Kirchin Band's 'The Roller'/'St Louis Blues' released.
The first episode of Potts In Parovia broadcast. Bobby Charlton, five days short of his nineteenth birthday, scored twice on his debut for Manchester United in a four-two win against Charlton Athletic - the first of seven hundred and fifty eight games for The Red Devils in a career which lasted until 1973. In the process he broke Bill Foulkes's appearance record for the club, established in 1969. (Charlton's record would, itself, subsequently be broken by Ryan Giggs in 2008.) Newcastle United's two-two draw with Luton Town saw the debut of George Eastham, the first of six hundred and twenty two games, for Newcastle, Arsenal, Sotke City and England, in a career that lasted until 1974. Forty eight goals were scored in eleven First Division matches with other highlights including Arsenal beating Manchester City seven-three, Cardiff City defeating Leeds United four-one, Tottenham Hotspur's four-two victory at Chelsea, Portsmouth's five-one victory over Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday winning three-two against Sunderland. England drew one-all with Northern Ireland in the Home International championship at Windsor Park. Stan Matthews opened the scoring with Jimmy McIlroy equalising.
Jack Clayton's adaptation of The Bespoke Overcoat - starring Alfie Bass and David Kossoff - premiered. The first episode of Sailor Of Fortune and Harry Kershaw's The Hollow Crown broadcast on ATV London, the latter in the Armchair Theatre strand.
The first episode of Ted Ray's The Spice Of Life broadcast on The Home Service. James Coombes born in Newport, Monmouth.
George Stevens's Giant - starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor,James Dean, Carroll Baker and Dennis Hopper - premiered. The first episode of The Carroll Levis Show broadcast on ATV Midlands. Some episodes were billed as Carroll Levis & His Discoveries, including the first broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion on 9 January 1957. Irene Amanda Burton born in Derry.
The Goon Show episode Drums Along Ther Mersey broadcast. Richard Fleischer's Between Heaven & Hell - starring Robert Wagner - premiered.
The first episode of Alan Melville Takes You From A To Z broadcast. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps' 'Bluejean Bop'/'Who Slapped John?', Sanford Clark's 'The Fool'/'Lonesome For A Letter' and Muddy Waters' Mississippi Blues EP ('Young Fashioned Ways', 'The Mannish Boy'/'All Aboard', 'Forty Days & Forty Nights') released.
The first UK broadcast of The Adventures Of Champion The Wonder Horse. First Division highlights included Tottenham Hotspur's five-nil victory over Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers' six-nil hammering against Portsmouth.
The first episode of Meeting Point broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode Back From Holiday broadcast on The Light Programme.
The TV debut of Tommy Steele, performed Lionel Bart and Mike Pratt's 'Rock With The Cavemen' on Off The Record. Steele was, he later claimed, treated 'just like a burlgar' by the show's host, the odious Jack Payne.
Michael Anderson's adaptation of Around The World In Eighty Days - starring David Niven and Robert Newton - and Andrew Stone's Julie - starring Doris Day and Louis Jourdan - premiered. Manchester United defeated Borussian Dortmund three-two in the European Cup in a game played at Maine Road in front of seventy five thousand five hundred and ninety eight.
The Goon Show episode The Great Nadger Plague broadcast. Douglas Sirk's Written On The Wind - starring Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack - and Maclean Rogers' Assignment Redhead - starring Richard Denning, Carole Mathews, Ronald Adam and Danny Green - premiered.
Elvis Presley's first LP, Rock N Roll (containing 'That's All Right Mama', 'Shake, Rattle & Roll', 'Mystery Train', 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' et al), Chordettes' 'Lay Down Your Arms'/'Teenage Goodnight', Betty Johnson's 'Honky Tonk Rock'/'Say It Isn't So, Joe', Joe Turner's 'Boogie Woogie Country Girl'/'The Chicken & The Hawk' and Dave Barry & Sara Berner's 'Out Of This World With Flying Saucers (Parts 1 & 2)' released. The first episode of The Other Man broadcast. Leicester City returned to the top of the Second Division with a six-nil thumping of Blackburn Rovers. Hartlepool's United won their eighth consecutive home game, two=one against Darlington in the Third Division (North).
Philip Mackie's A Death In The Family broadcast in The Sunday Night Theatre strand. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Bolshoi Ballet broadcast on The Light Programme.
John Moore's Local Boy Makes Good broadcast. Guy Green's House of Secrets - starring Michael Craig, Anton Diffring and Gérard Oury - premiered.
Protocol of Sèvres, a secret agreement between the UK, France and Israel allowing the latter to invade Sinai with the support of the two former governments was signed. Anthony Eden subsequently denied the existence of such an agreement. The Hungarian Revolution broke out against the pro-Soviet government, originating as a student demonstration in Budapest. Hungary attempted to leave the Warsaw Pact causing the invasion of the Red Army. Champions Manchester United beat FA Cup winners Manchester City one-nil in the FA Charity Shield at Maine Road.
The Goon Show episode The MacReekie Rising Of '74 broadcast.
The new Hungarian Prime Minister, Imre Nagy, appealed for calm as fighting between demonstrators and the Soviet Army entered its third day. David Butler's The Girl He Left Behind - starring Natalie Wood, Tab Hunter and James Garner and Irving Rapper's The Brave One premiered. The Vipers Skiffle Group's 'Ain't You Glad'/'Pick A Bale Of Cotton' and Tommy Steele & The Steelmen's 'Doomsday Rock'/'Elevator Rock' released.
Roger Corman's Sorority Girl - starring Susan Cabot and Barboura Morris - premiered.
The first episodes of The Recording Angells and Kidnapped broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode Sid James' Dad broadcast on The Light Programme. On the ITV talk show Free Speech, a bitter debate on the Suez Crisis took place, with historian AJP Taylor and journalist and future Labour MP Michael Foot calling their fellow-panellist, Bob Boothby, 'a criminal' for supporting the war.
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's The Battle of The River Plate - starring John Gregson, Anthony Quayle and Peter Finch and George Marshall's Beyond Mombasa premiered.
Juliet Anne Virginia Stevenson born in Kelvedon, Essex.
Maurice Elvey's Dry Rot - starring Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix, Peggy Mount and Sid James - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Spectre Of Tintagel broadcast. Edmund Goulding's Teenage Rebel - starring Ginger Rogers, Michael Rennie and Betty Lou Keim - premiered.
Arnold Laven's The Rack - starring Paul Newman, Walter Pidgeon and Lee Marvin - premiered. The Jodimars' 'Midnight'/'Clarabella' released.
The Norman Wisdom Show and Sir Anthony Eden's statement on the developing Suez Crisis broadcast. Gilbert Gunn's My Wife's Family - starring Ronald Shiner, Ted Ray, Diane Hart, Greta Gynt and Robertson Hare - premiered. First Division highlights included Preston North End thrashing Sunderland six-nil (Tommy Thompson hitting three), Manchester United defeating Wolves three-nil and Tottenham Hotspur's three-two victory at Portsmouth. In the Third Division (North) Mansfield Town thrashing Darlington seven-three (Sammy Chapman scoring a hat-trick). The first episode of Doctor Jekyll & Mister Hyde broadcast on ATV London.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Income Tax Demand broadcast on The Light Programme. Montgomery Tully's Person Unknown - starring Russell Napier, Edward Cast, Alan Robinson, Marianne Stone and George Pravda - premiered.
What the Papers Say broadcast for the first time on Associated-Rediffusion (an earlier pilot episode had been shown on Granada on 15 October). It would run for sixty years, until 2016, subseqently moving to Channel Four, BBC2 and, finally, Radio 4. Hammer's X The Unknown - starring Dean Jagger, Leo McKern, Edward Chapman, William Lucas, Anthony Newley, Michael Ripper, Frazer Hines and Kenneth Cope - premiered.
John Elliot's groundbreaking A Man From The Sun broadcast. Cecil B DeMille's The Ten Commandments - starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner - premiered. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps' Bluejean Bop!, Nervous Norvus' 'Ape Call'/'Wild Dog Of Kentucky' and Glen Mason's 'The Green Door'/'Why Must You Go, Go, Go?' released.
Elvis Presley's 'Blue Moon'/'I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine' released.
The first episode of Evans Above broadcast. Spurs replaced Manchester united at the top of hte First Division with a three-one victory over Newcastle whilst The Red Devils were losing two-nil at Bolton Wanderers.
Christopher Fry's translation of The Lark - featuring an early TV role for Michael Caine - broadcast as part of the Sunday-Night Theatre strand. The first UK broadcast of Champion The Wonder House. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The New Secretary broadcast on The Light Programme.
Bill Haley & His Comets' 'Rip It Up'/'Teenagers' Mother' released. Gordon Parry's A Touch Of The Sun - starring Frankie Howerd, Ruby Murray, Dennis Price and Dorothy Bromiley - premiered.
Shaun Sutton's The Watch Tower broadcast.
England beat Wales three-one in the Home International championship at Wembley with goals from Johnny Haynes, Tom Finney and debutant Johnny Brooks of Tottenham Hotspur. Wales's goalkeeper, Johnny Kelsey, suffered a nasty injury after diving at the feet of Finney and was carried from the field. Alf Sherwood took over in goal. John Charles scored for the visitors.
The Goon Show episode The Great Bank Robbery broadcast. Love Me Tender - starring Elvis Presley - premiered.
Little Richard's 'Rip It Up'/'Ready Teddy' and Vince Martin With The Tarriers' 'Cindy, Oh Cindy'/'Only If You Praise The Lord' released.

In the First Round of the FA Cup, Northern League Bishop Auckland knocked-out Third Division Tranmere Rovers, two-one at Kingsway and Southern League Hereford United defeated Aldershot three-two. Blyth Spartans won five-one at Ilkston Town, Margate defeated Dunstable Town three-one and Beford Town caused the shock of the round with a four-two win at Norwich City. Weymouth also defeated league opposition, Shrewsbury Town, one-nil. Tooting & Mitchum United beat Bromsgrove Rovers two-one. Peterborough United defeated Yeovil Town three-one, Accrington Stanley beat Morecambe four-one, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic thrashed Burton Albion eight-nil, Brentford beat Guildford City three-nil, Carlisle United thumped Billingham Symphonia six-one, Darlington defeated Evewnwood town seven-two, Torquay United won six-two at Ely City, Hartlepools United beat Selby Town three-one and Watford had a six-nil victory at Newport. Manchester United returned to the top of the First Division with a three-two win over Leeds United (Bobby Charlton scoring the winner).
Rudolph Cartier's adaptation of Dark Victory broadcast in The Sunday Night Theatre strand. The Hancock's Half Hour episode Michelangelo 'Ancock broadcast on The Light Programme.
The first episodes of Lenny The Lion and The Further Adventures of Billy Bean & His Funny Machine broadcast. Shirley Abicair presented Songs & Stories For Scallywags. Production began on both Jacques Tourneur's Night Of The Demon at Elstree and Terence Fisher's The Curse Of Frankenstein at Hammer Studio's at Bray. John Gilling's Odongo - starring Rhonda Fleming, Macdonald Carey and Juma - premiered.
In the FA Cup First Round replays, Lancashire Combination side New Brighton won three-two at Stockport County. Chesterfield beat North Eastern League South Shields four-nil and Gillingham defeated Yiewsley of the Corinthian League two-nil.
The 1956 Olympics began. Due to the games taking place in Melbourne, Australia, there was no television coverage in the UK, meaning that the gold medal feats of the likes of Chris Basher, Dick McTaggert, Gillian Sheen and Judy Grinham have rather slipped through the cracks of history. The Goon Show episode Personal Narrative broadcast.
In the First Division, Newcastle united won three-two at Blackpool, Manchester City beat Portsmouth five-opne and Wolverhampton Wanderers had a four-three victory over Preston North End. Leeds United and Arsneal drew three-three. Roy Dwight scored a hat-trick in Fulham's five-one Second Division victory over bottom side Notts County. Stoke City remained top of the division with a two-one win at Bristol City. Accrington Stanley went top of the Third Division (North), winning two-nil at Rochdale. Southampton headed the Third Division (South), defeating Shrewsbury Town four=nil.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode Anna & The King Of Siam broadcast on The Light Programme. William Wyler's Friendly Persuasion - starring Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire and Anthony Perkins - premiered.
Bunny Webber's Theft Royal broadcast. Roy Ward Baker's Tiger In The Smoke - starring Donald Sinden, Muriel Pavlow, Tony Wright, Bernard Miles and Christopher Rhodes - premiered.
England beat Yugoslavia three-nil in a friendly international at Wembley with two goals from Tommy Taylor and a third from Johnny Brooks. Lucy Kérimée Gutteridge born in Lewisham. Ruth Brown's 'As Long As I'm Moving'/'RB Blues' relesaed. Raoul André's L'Homme Et L'Enfant - starring Eddie Constantine, Juliette Gréco and Jacqueline Ventura - premiered. A production of Look Back In Anger broadcast in the Play Of The Week strand on Associate-Rediffusion.
Petrol rationing was introduced because of blockades from the Middle East due to the Suez Crisis. The Goon Show episode The Mystery Of The Fake Neddie Seagoon broadcast.
Tommy Steele & The Steelmen's 'Singing The Blues'/'Rebel Rock', The Six Teens' 'A Casual Look'/'Teen Age Promise' and The Drifters' 'Soldier Of Fortune'/'I Gotta Get Myself A Woman' released.
The first episodes of The Crime Of The Century and the TV adaptation of Twenty Questions broadcast. Duncan Edward, Tommy Taylor and David Pegg scored as Manchester United stayed top of the First Division, beating Luton Town three-one.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode Cyrano De Hancock broadcast on The Light Programme.
Birmingham City beat a Zagreb XI in the European Inter-Cities Fairs Cup at St Andrews.
England beat Denmark five-two in a friendly international at Molineux. Tommy Taylor scored a hat-trick with his Manchester United teammate Duncan Edwards adding another two. The Goon Show episode What's My Line? broadcast.
Maurice Elvey's Stars In Your Eyes - starring Nat Jackley, Pat Kirkwood, Bonar Colleano, Dorothy Squires, Jack Jackson, Vera Day and Joan Sims - premiered.
Elvis Presley's 'Love Me Tender'/'Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)', Guy Mitchell's 'Singing The Blues'/'Crazy With Love', Dick James' 'The Garden Of Eden'/'I Accuse' and Big Moe With Boyd Bennett & His Rockets' 'Rockin' Up A Storm'/'The Most'released.
The first episode of Potts, Gangbuster broadcast. In the Second Round of the FA Cup, giant-killers New Brighton added another league scalp to their credit with a three-one win at Derby County. Midlands Leaguew Petereborough United thrashed Bradford Park Avenue three-nil. Cheshire Counties League Rhyl beat Bishop Auckland three-one. Hartlepools United won one-nil at Blyth Spartans, Southend United defeated Hereford United three-two and Queens Park Rangers won two-nil at Tooting & Mitcham United. In the First Division, Manchester City defeated Chelsea five-four. Preston North End won four-three at Charlton Athletic. Spurs and West Bromwich Albion drew teo-two (Derek Kevan scored twice for the visitors). Manchester United won three-one at Aston Villa.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Stolen Petrol broadcast on The Light Programme. Harold Huth's adaptation of The Hostage - starring Ron Randell, Mary Parker and John Bailey - premiered.
Off The Record featured an appearance by Peter Sellers and Spike Millgan and the TV debut of The Vipers Skiffle Group (featuring Wally Whyton) performing 'Pick A Bale Of Cotton.' The host, snooty and ignorant Jack Payne told viewers 'these people have been put on the programme against my wishes.' What a complete bastard.
Johnny Burnette & The Rock 'N Roll Trio's self-titled debut LP (featuring 'Honey Hush','Lonesome Tears In My Eyes', 'The Train Kept A-Rollin' and 'Chains Of Love' among others) released. Goole Town of the Midland League gained a placed in the Third Round of the FA Cup with a one-nil win at Workington. In another replay, Wrexham thrashed Scunthorpe & Lindsey United six-two. Gordon Parry's A Yank In Ermine - starring Peter Thompson, Noelle Middleton, Harold Lloyd Junior, Diana Decker, Jon Pertwee, Reginald Beckwith and Edward Chapman - premiered.
Colin Morris's Without Love broadcast. The Goon Show episode The Telephone broadcast. Anastasia - starring Ingrid Bergman, Stagecoach To Fury and The Rainmaker - starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn - premiered.
2 The Vipers Skiffle Group's 'Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O'/'Ten Thousand Years Ago', Bert Weedon's 'Theme From ITV's 64,000 Question'/'Twilight Theme' and The Famous Eccles & Miss Freda Thing's 'My September Love'/'You Gotta Go OWW!' released.
Performance of the day in the Second Division was Rotherham United's seven-two win at Sheffield United. In the Third Division (South) Walsall thrashed Millwall seven-one and Ipswich Town beat Torquay united six-nil. The first episode of The Trollenburg Terror broadcast on ATV London.
The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Espresso Bar broadcast on The Light Programme. The first episode of Fireside Theatre broadcast on ATV London. Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Band appeared on Bernard Delfont Presents Sunday Night At The Prince Of Wales Theatre.
Elia Kazan's Baby Doll - starring Karl Maden, Carroll Baker and Eli Wallach - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Flea broadcast. Dick Lester's Hellzashoppin broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man - starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles - released. Christmas Cracker - starring Tessie O'Shea, Alfred Marks, Spike Milligan and The Five Alberts, Eddie Calvert The King Of The Trumpet and Charles Drake broadcast in the Saturay Comedy Hour strand. Thirty one goals were scored in just five First Division games. Newcastle United won the Tyne-Weat derby six-two at St James' Park with Alex Tait socring a hat-trick. Arsenal beatr Birmingham City four-nil, Burnley thumped Cardiff City six-two, Luton Tow were four-two victors over Charlton Athletic (Gordon Turner scoring three) and Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Blackpool four-one (Dennis Wilshaw hitting three). Rotherham were in the goals again for the second week running, thrashing Bristol City six-one in the Second Division. Bristol Rovers defeated Doncaster Rovers by the same score.
British and French troops withdrew from Suez under United Nations and United States pressure. The Hancock's Half Hour episode Hancock's Happy Christmas broadcast on The Light Programme.
The sixteen year old Denis Law made his debut for Huddersfield Town against Notts County in the Second Division. The first UK TV showing of John Ford's Stagecoach. The Christmas Eve episode of Off The Record featured performances by Anne Shelton, Alma Cogan, The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group ('Don't You Rock Me, Daddy-o') and Tommy Steele ('Singing The Blues'). The latter two, much to the chagrin of resident faceache Jack Payne. The Goon Show episode Operation Christmas Duff broadcast. The first episode of Boyd QC broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.
The first UK broadcast of The Lone Ranger. PG Tips launched its long-running ITV advertising campaign using a chimpanzees' tea party. Philip Leacock's The Spanish Gardener - starring Dirk Bogarde, Jon Whiteley, Michael Hordern, Cyril Cusack and Maureen Swanson, Ken Annakin's Three Men In A Boat - Laurence Harvey, Jimmy Edwards, David Tomlinson, Shirley Eaton, Jill Ireland and Lisa Gastoni and Ralph Thomas's Checkpoint premiered. The First Division highlight of the day was Tottenham Hotspur's six-nil defeat of Everton. In the Second Division Bury beat Birstol Rovers seven-two (Stan Pearson scoring three). Bradford City remained top of the Third Division (North) with a four-one victory over Tranmere Rovers.
The Goose Girl and At Home On Boxing Day With Bernard Braden & Barbara Kelly broadcast. The Goon Show episode Six Charlies In Search Of An Author broadcast. Terence Young's Zarak - starring Victor Mature, Michael Wilding, Anita Ekberg and Patrick McGoohan and Cyril Frankel's It's Great To Be Young - starring John Mills - premiered. In the First Division, Leeds United thrashed Blackpool five-nil, Newcastle United defeated West Bromwich Albion five-two and League leaders Manchester United won three-one against Cardiff City. Josh Chamberlain scored three in Fulham's seven-two victory over Blackburn Roivers in the Second Division. Bristol Rovers thumped Bury six-one and Swansea Town defeated Bristol City five-nil whilst Liverpool won four-nil at Leyton Orient. Third Division (South) table-toppers Southampton beat Reading four-one.
Max Bygraves At Home (Almost!) broadcast.
The first episode of Vanity Fair broadcast.
England won the first of a five test series against South Africa at Johannesburg by one hundred and thirty one runs. The highlights included Peter Richardson's first innings century and Trevor Bailey taking eight wickets in the match. The first UK broadcast of They Shot An Arrow in the Canadian Television Theatre strand. Manchester United ended the year two points clear at the top of the First Division with games in hand over both Spurs and Arsenal, after a three-one win at Portsmouth. Charlton remained bottom despite beating Sunderland three-two. Leicester City led the Second Division by four points, three-one winners at Middlesbrough. Relegation-haunted Notts County lost heavily again, four-two at Doncaster Rovers. Hartlepools United closed to within a point of Bradford City at the top of the Third Division (North) with a four-one victory over Gateshead. Accrington Stanley won three-one at Mansfield Town thanks to a hat-trick from Wattie Dick. The division's bottom side, Crewe Alexandra - with only eight points from their twenty five games so far - lost again, three-nil at Barrow. There were goals aplenty in the Third Division (South) with Shrewsbury Town thrashing Swindon Town seven-three, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic defeating Millwall six-one and Ipswich beating Brighton & Hove Albion four-nil. Tommy Dixon scored all four in Reading's four-one win at Aldershot. The first episode of Where Shall We Go? broadcast on ATV London.
The first episode of Sir Gerald Kelly Remembers broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Diary (featuring the memorable test pilot sequence) broadcast on The Light Programme.
Rex Tucker's The Page Of Chinon, an adaptation of The Gypsy Thief, Secombe's Year (featuring Terry-Thomas, Alma Cogan, Eric Barker, Harry Corbett and Sooty) and Where There's Life ... broadcast. The Michael Flanders and Donald Swann revue At The Drop Of A Hat opened in London. The first episode of Cool For Cats - presented by Ker Robertson - broadcast on Associated-Rediffusion.