The BBC and ITV has always been rivals in the television market. Whilst they’re a lot more friendly with each other these days, back in the days of black-and-white, it was a lot more vicious.
The BBC’s Television Service had almost a decade’s worth of airtime and experience by the time ITV was due to launch. The Beeb their monopoly on television was drawing to a close, but they were going all they can to disrupt or hinder the beginnings of their new competitor.
ITV’s launch night was slated to be Thursday 22nd September 1955. The BBC had a particular programme lined up, but this show wasn’t on the television, but it was on its predecessor, the radio.
They’re plan rested with the Archers, a radio soap opera that had been running since 1951. Grace Archer, a popular character who had recently gotten married, was fatally injured in a stable fire whilst trying to save her horse. The emotional episode was a top subject in the media the following day, indeed taking some emphasis away from the launch of the brand-new ITV.
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