On This Day

September 22, 1955: Commercial television comes to Britain as ITV goes on air

British television viewers finally faced the dilemma of what to watch as a new commercial channel, ITV, came into being with a grand launch night featuring Alec Guinness, Harry Secombe, and a toothpaste advert.

January

Concorde's first flight, the euro arrives and Britain wakes up to breakfast TV - notable January events and anniversaries

February

Nelson Mandela is free, Torvill and Dean win Olympic gold and Buddy Holly dies - historic happenings from February

March

The Queen Mother dies, the Miners' Strike ends and the Spitfire takes to the skies - memorable moments from March

April

Gagarin is the first man in space, Kurt Cobain commits suicide and Martin Luther King is shot - April's notable anniversaries

May

Everest is conquered, Ayrton Senna is killed and Margaret Thatcher is Britain's first female PM - May days from history

June

Jaws fever bites, the nation celebrates the Silver Jubilee and Wimbledon serves up its longest match - on this day in June

July

England beat West Germany to win the World Cup, Live Aid raises millions and rationing ends - July's historic days

August

Record summer temperatures, the start of the Berlin Wall and Pluto is demoted - August anniversaries to note

September

9/11 attacks shock the world, Ben Johnson is stripped of gold and Bobby's back in Dallas - September's days to remember

October

The Great Storm hits, the BT Tower opens and Concorde makes its final flight - memorable moments in October

November

BBC One goes colour, the National Lottery begins and Margaret Thatcher quits - notable November goings-on

December

Edwina sparks outrage, Edward VIII abdicates and Santa is tracked - December dates to remember

Royal events to remember

June 2, 1953: Millions watch on TV as Queen Elizabeth II is crowned at Westminster Abbey

June 7, 1977: Britons mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee with 12,000 street parties

July 29, 1981: Prince Charles marries Lady Diana in front of record global audience of 750 million

November 20, 1992: Queen faces huge repair bill as Windsor Castle is devastated by fire

Sporting anniversaries

February 25, 1964: Muhammad Ali becomes World Heavyweight Champion

February 7, 2005: Ellen MacArthur breaks round-the world sailing record

June 22, 1986: Maradona crushes England’s World Cup dreams with the Hand of God goal

Do you remember? August 4, 2012: Team GB strikes Olympic gold

Memorable musical moments

June 1, 1967: Beatles break new ground with release of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

January 6, 1977: EMI fires the Sex Pistols after TV shame and airport anarchy

July 13, 1985: Live Aid concerts raise millions for famine relief in Africa

August 16, 1977: The King is Dead: Elvis Presley dies aged 42 in Memphis

Entertainment events through the years

December 27, 1977: Star Wars arrives in the UK – heralded by a wave of hype

September 10, 2001: We don't want to give you that, Who Wants to be a Millionaire bosses tell 'cheating major' Charles Ingram

April 20, 1964: Power cut pulls the plug on BBC2’s big launch night

June 20, 1975: Jaws hits cinemas and the summer movie blockbuster is born

Political milestones

January 20, 1961: John F. Kennedy inaugurated as youngest elected US president

March 17, 2003: Commons Leader Robin Cook resigns as Britain prepares for war with Iraq

May 12, 1994: John Smith's death leaves Britain mourning 'the best prime minister it never had'

May 4, 1979: Margaret Thatcher becomes the UK’s first woman Prime Minister

Key moments in transport history

December 1, 1990: Channel Tunnel breakthrough as British and French make undersea rendezvous

March 5, 1936: The Spitfire - the iconic fighter plane of the Battle of Britain - takes to the skies

July 21, 1969: Neil Armstrong takes 'giant leap for mankind' onto surface of the Moon

October 24, 2003: Britons look to the skies as Concorde makes its final commercial flight