2008 in British television

|ITV announces that it will move its Sunday episodes of Emmerdale and Coronation Street. From the week beginning on 12 January, Coronation Street will have an additional Friday episode, while Emmerdale will air for an hour on Tuesdays. Dancing on Ice would move to a Sunday night slot.{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/02/itv.television1|title= ITV drops soaps from Sunday lineup|work=The Guardian|first= Leigh|last= Holmwood|date=2 January 2008|access-date=10 April 2009}}

|ITV News at 10.30 is shown for the last time. News at Ten then replaces it from Mondays to Thursdays, and ITV Late News on Fridays.

|News at Ten returns to ITV with Sir Trevor McDonald and Julie Etchingham.{{cite news|last=Martin |first=Nicole |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1575652/ITVs-revamped-News-at-Ten-fails-to-dent-BBC.html |title=ITV's revamped News at Ten fails to dent BBC |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=15 January 2008 |access-date=28 April 2014}} The programme will air four nights a week from Mondays to Thursdays, with an 11.00pm bulletin on Fridays.{{cite news|first=Tara |last=Conlan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/10/bbc.itv |title=We won't dumb down 10 O'Clock News, says BBC |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=10 January 2008 |access-date=28 April 2014}}

|Actress Leslie Ash wins a record £5 million out of court settlement from Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust after contracting a hospital acquired bug that left her partially paralysed while undergoing hospital treatment in 2004.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7192605.stm |title=£5m hospital bug payout for Ash |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=16 January 2008 |access-date=28 June 2014}}

|BBC Three has its identity relaunched, showcasing new shows such as Lily Allen and Friends.

|Konnie Huq presents her last episode of Blue Peter after over ten years, having become the longest-running female presenter and third longest-running overall in the shows' 50-year history.

|"Pretty Baby....", a unique episode of the soap opera EastEnders is broadcast, consisting of just one character (Dot Cotton) with a single monologue in the form of a taped message to her husband. This 'one-hander' is a first in UK soap history.{{cite news|first=Nancy |last=Banks-Smith |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2008/feb/01/lastnightstveastenders1 |title=Last night's TV: EastEnders |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 February 2008 |access-date=14 June 2014}}

|The BBC announces that children's drama Grange Hill is to be axed after exactly 30 years on air.{{cite news|first=Tara |last=Conlan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/06/bbc.television |title=BBC drops Grange Hill |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=6 February 2008 |access-date=25 July 2017}}

|In an address to the Royal Television Society, the comedian Lenny Henry criticises the lack of ethnic diversity in the media.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7234895.stm |title=TV is too white, Lenny Henry says |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=8 February 2008 |access-date=19 March 2014}}

|After 22 years Neighbours is shown on BBC One for the last time.

|Australian soap opera Neighbours debuts in its new home on Five.

|The BBC Three "Blobs" are played out for the last time at 4 am. A new set of idents debuted the same day, this is the channels first ever rebrand since launching in early 2003.

|The Big Bang Theory debuts on Channel 4.

|Natasha Kaplinsky makes her Five News debut as Britain's highest paid newsreader, on a reported annual salary of £1 million.{{cite news|first=John |last=Plunkett |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/05/channelfive.tvnews?guni=Article:in%20body%20link |title=Natasha Kaplinsky gears up for Channel Five News debut |work=The Guardian|date=5 February 2008 |access-date=2 April 2014}}

|It is announced that music video channel The Hits will be replaced by 4Music later in the year.

|BBC One soap EastEnders is reprimanded by Ofcom for the level of violence in an episode aired in November 2007 which saw a gang attack on a pub. The scenes, which showed a sustained level of violence, were deemed to be inappropriate for a pre-watershed audience.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7262752.stm |title=Ofcom raps EastEnders fight scene |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=25 February 2008 |access-date=3 May 2014}}

|Launch of the black entertainment channel BET International.

|James Nathan wins the 2008 series of MasterChef.{{cite news|last=Hilton |first=Beth |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s127/masterchef/news/a90503/masterchef-2008-winner-crowned.html#~paTTnkZMYfQUW6 |title='MasterChef 2008' winner crowned |work=Digital Spy |date=29 February 2008 |access-date=25 April 2015}}

|Christ Church, Oxford wins the 2007–08 series of University Challenge, beating the University of Sheffield 220–170.

|The MS Society criticises a recent The Bill plotline as "grossly irresponsible" after it featured a multiple sclerosis patient being told about a fictional treatment for the condition.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/entertainment/7282892.stm|title=The Bill criticised over MS plot|date=7 March 2008|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News|access-date=28 October 2009|location=London}}

|A blanket ban on filming in and around Stormont Castle is lifted when the restrictions on the presence of cameras in the building are lifted, thus allowing proceedings in the Northern Ireland Assembly to be televised.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7287499.stm|title= Assembly broadcasting ban lifted|publisher= BBC|work= BBC News|date=10 March 2008|access-date=15 June 2013}}

|Overnight viewing figures indicate that the debut episode of the US TV series Bionic Woman, which aired on ITV2 on 11 March was watched by 2.2 million viewers, giving the channel its largest audience to date.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7292135.stm |title=Bionic gives ITV2 record ratings |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=12 March 2008 |access-date=14 May 2014}}

|Launch of BBC One's I'd Do Anything, a search for actors to appear in the West End musical Oliver!. Three boys will be chosen to play Oliver Twist and an actress to play the role of Nancy.{{cite news|last=Savage |first=Mark |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7294740.stm |title=Doing Anything for West End fame |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=14 March 2008 |access-date=12 June 2014}}

|Suzanne Shaw and skating partner Matt Evers win the third series of Dancing on Ice.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7299751.stm |title=Suzanne Shaw wins Dancing on Ice |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=16 March 2008 |access-date=15 June 2014}}

|BBC Four attracts its highest ever ratings after broadcasting the one-off drama The Curse of Steptoe, with 1.41 million viewers.

|Dirty Sexy Money makes its debut airing in the UK and proves to be a popular hit for Channel 4.

|ITV1 airs the Network television premiere of the 2005 musical film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

|BBC Four broadcasts a revived, special two-hour-long episode of the 1960s satire The Frost Report.{{cite news|last=Walton |first=James |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3672086/Last-night-on-television-Alternative-Therapies-BBC2-The-Frost-Report-Is-Back-BBC4.html |title=Last night on television: Alternative Therapies (BBC2) – The Frost Report Is Back (BBC4) |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=25 March 2008 |access-date=14 June 2014}}

|American Hit Dramedy, Desperate Housewives finally makes its Fourth season debut. The show was due to start in the first two weeks of January, but this was shelved due to the WGA Strike.

|Patsy Palmer returns to EastEnders as Bianca Jackson nine years after leaving the series.

|ITV has decided to drop the second episode of the nine-part US supernatural drama Pushing Daisies because it only has scheduling space to show eight episodes before the start of Euro 2008. The second episode was the only one considered not crucial to the storyline, but it will be shown when the series is repeated.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7347911.stm |title=ITV drops Pushing Daisies episode |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=15 April 2008 |access-date=24 May 2014}}

|BBC News has a major relaunch with BBC News 24 becoming BBC News and BBC World becoming BBC World News. All the news programmes on BBC One and BBC Two have also had new looks including all regional news programmes.

|A report in The Sun suggests seven characters will be axed from Coronation Street over the coming months. Those leaving include five members of the Morton family, who run the street's kebab shop, and Jack Ellis and Matthew Crompton, who play bookies Harry and Dan Mason.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a94702/seven-coronation-street-characters-axed.html#~oHWxxIDD9kExkk |title=Seven 'Coronation Street' characters axed |publisher=Digital Spy |date=26 April 2008 |access-date=22 June 2014}}

|Five Life is renamed to Fiver.

|VH1 takes on a general entertainment focus, matching the American network, though due to the American VH1's programmes being licensed to other networks or broadcasters, it also carries content from Channel 5 and MTV. VH1 completes its transition to a general entertainment format in October 2018, though music programmes continue in non-prime timeslots.{{cite web |last1=Szalai |first1=Georg |title=Viacom's VH1 U.K. to Focus on Unscripted Shows in Repositioning miscellaneous |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/viacom-s-vh1-uk-focus-unscripted-shows-repositioning-1146803 |website=Hollywood Reporter |access-date=25 September 2018}}

|Freesat officially launches. ITV HD launches its full service.

|Kix! was launched in the UK for the first time.

|In a press release, the BBC announce that Russell T Davies is resigning as head writer and executive producer on Doctor Who following the fourth series, the 2008 Christmas special and a series of four hour-long episodes in 2009, after which he will be replaced by fellow writer Steven Moffat.

|Scotsport airs for the last time on Scottish television. By the time it ended it was recognised as the world's longest running sports television magazine.

|After Britain's entry in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest comes last, Sir Terry Wogan suggests he may step down as the BBC's Eurovision commentator because the contest is "no longer a music contest". Andy Abraham receives 14 points for the United Kingdom with "Even If", while the contest is won by Russia's Dima Bilan with "Believe", which scores 292 points. The result is partially due to the number of former Soviet states giving Russia the maximum 12 points, prompting Wogan to tell viewers that "Russia were going to be the political winners from the beginning" and to suggest "western European participants have to decide whether they want to take part from here on in because their prospects are poor".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7418940.stm |title=Wogan 'may quit Eurovision role' |work=BBC News |date=25 May 2008 |access-date=11 May 2014}}

|It is announced that What the Papers Say, the second longest running programme on British television after Panorama, is to be axed by the BBC.

|Several newspapers report that George Galloway, MP has issued legal proceedings against The Bill for defamation after a storyline aired in November 2007 that featured a corrupt MP who smuggled antiques out of Iraq before the war, which Galloway alleges was a portrayal of him.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/may/30/independentproductioncompanies.itv|title=George Galloway in libel complaint over The Bill storyline|last=Kiss|first=Jemima|date=30 May 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 November 2009|location=London}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/05/30/mp-george-galloway-to-sue-the-bill-86908-20588244/|title=MP George Galloway to sue The Bill|last=Spencer|first=Ben|date=30 May 2008|work=The Daily Record|access-date=5 November 2009|location=Edinburgh}}

|Jodie Prenger will play the role of Nancy in the West End musical Oliver! after winning BBC One's I'd Do Anything.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7428291.stm |title=Jodie takes West End Nancy role |work=BBC News |date=31 May 2008 |access-date=12 June 2014}}

|All Virgin Media channels including Bravo (also Bravo 2), Living (also Living2), Challenge, Trouble and Virgin 1 switch to widescreen.

|MTV UK and several other MTV Networks Europe channels are fined £255,000 by Ofcom for "widespread and persistent" breaches of the broadcasting code, including breaking the pre-watershed content ban.

|The Big Brother 9 launch night proves to be not as good as Channel 4 had hoped with the loss of around 1 million viewers who had watched the previous year's launch night

|Sharon Osbourne quits as a judge on the ITV series The X Factor shortly before filming is due to begin on a new series.{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/07/itv.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media|title= Osbourne quits X Factor days before filming|work=The Guardian|first= Leigh|last= Holman|date=7 June 2008|access-date=14 June 2009}}

|Euro 2008 are held in Austria and Switzerland.

|Channel 4 apologises after broadcasting an episode of The Simpsons that included the use of the word "wankers" at 6.00 pm on 15 April. The incident, blamed on an administrative error, led to 31 viewers complaining to Ofcom that such language was unacceptable at a time when children would be watching.{{cite news|first=Ben |last=Dowell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/09/channel4.ofcom |title=The Simpsons: Channel 4 apologises for pre-watershed swearing |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=9 June 2008 |access-date=10 August 2014}}

|Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole is revealed as Sharon Osbourne's replacement as a judge on The X Factor.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7446678.stm|title= Cheryl Cole is new X Factor judge|work= BBC News|date=10 June 2008|access-date=14 June 2009}}

|Lee McQueen wins the fourth series of The Apprentice.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7448834.stm |title=McQueen named as The Apprentice |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=12 June 2008 |access-date=5 May 2014}}

| Comedian Joan Rivers is asked to leave the ITV afternoon talk show Loose Women after swearing live on air. She was removed during the commercial break, and said that she didn't realise the show was going out live and thought her comments would be bleeped.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jun/17/itv.television2|title=Joan Rivers thrown off Loose Women for Russell Crowe outburst|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian Media Group|date=17 June 2008|access-date=28 January 2021|first=Leigh|last=Holmwood}}

|An EastEnders storyline involving the live burial of a character that aired over Easter is criticised as "offensive" by Ofcom. The scenes, which saw Tanya Branning getting revenge against her unfaithful husband Max by drugging and burying him, attracted 116 complaints from viewers. Ofcom says the episodes had "a seriously disturbing element to them".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7469315.stm |title=EastEnders burial was 'offensive' |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=23 June 2008 |access-date=3 May 2014}}

|The finale of the fourth series of Doctor Who is watched by 9.4 million viewers, this is the first time since the series' revival in 2005 that Doctor Who has the largest audience share in its timeslot.

|Alex Evans wins Cycle 4 of Britain's Next Top Model.

|ITV Central is fined £25,000 for contempt of court after running a news story about a trial that was about to start, which included details of a defendant's previous conviction for murder.[http://www.5rb.com/case/Attorney-General-v-ITV-Central-Ltd Attorney General v ITV Central Ltd] 5RB, 15 July 2008[http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/node/41685 A £25,000 contempt of court fine for ITV Central] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615224059/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/node/41685 |date=15 June 2013 }} Press Gazette, 16 July 2008

|BBC Two Controller Roly Keating is appointed as the BBC's first director of archive content. He will take up the role in the autumn.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7519123.stm |title=New role for BBC Two controller |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=22 July 2008 |access-date=13 April 2014}}

|Des O'Connor announces that he will step down as presenter of Countdown.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7522099.stm|title= Des O'Connor to leave Countdown|work= BBC News|date=23 July 2008|access-date=18 July 2009}}

|Carol Vorderman announces that she will quit as host of Countdown, two days after Des O'Connor announced his intention to leave the programme. Vorderman's manager said that she did not think she could go through the process of bonding with another co-presenter.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7526290.stm|title= Carol Vorderman quits Countdown|work= BBC News|date=25 July 2008|access-date=18 July 2009}}

|2008 Summer Olympics are held in China.

|The music video channel The Hits closes and is replaced by 4Music later the same day.

|After seven years with Channel 4, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan present their last edition of Richard & Judy. They move to new subscription channel Watch in the Autumn.

|Sky One, Sky Two and Sky Three rebrands to Sky1, Sky2 and Sky3 respectively.

|Selina Scott is suing Five for age discrimination, it is reported, after she was considered but overlooked as a temporary replacement for Five News presenter Natasha Kaplinsky during her maternity leave.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7591940.stm |title=Scott sues for age discrimination |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=4 June 2014}}

|Rachel Rice wins series nine of Big Brother.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7599646.stm |title=Big Brother win for Rachel Rice |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=6 September 2008 |access-date=2 April 2014}}

|A report by the Scottish Broadcasting Commission recommends that up to £75 million of public funds should be used to create a high quality Scottish television channel.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7603396.stm |title=Scotland 'needs national channel' |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=8 September 2008 |access-date=15 February 2014}}

|BBC One airs the final episode of Grange Hill.{{cite news|first=Leigh |last=Holmwood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2008/sep/15/bbc.television1 |title=BBC1 screens the last ever episode of the school drama today |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 September 2008 |access-date=25 July 2017}}

|BBC One screens its controversial documentary The Undercover Soldier that alleges instances of bullying in the British Army.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7622102.stm|title= Army trainers suspended from role|publisher= BBC |work=BBC News|date= 18 September 2008|access-date= 25 October 2008|first=Sophie|last=Hutchinson}}{{cite news|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4781233.ece|title= Five Army instructors suspended over bullying claims at Catterick|publisher= News International |newspaper=The Times |date= 19 September 2008|access-date= 25 October 2008 | location=London | first=Russell | last=Jenkins |url-access=subscription}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The show attracts relatively low ratings and the BBC is criticised by serving soldiers for the way the investigation was conducted.{{cite news|url= http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3686244.Soldiers_hit_back_at_BBC_investigation_into_base/|title= Soldiers hit back at BBC investigation into base|newspaper=Northern Echo |date= 19 September 2008|access-date= 25 October 2008}}

|BBC Alba, a Scottish Gaelic language digital television channel, is launched through a partnership between the BBC and MG Alba.

|BBC Four Controller Janice Hadlow is appointed Controller of BBC Two, replacing outgoing incumbent Roly Keating from November.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7646701.stm |title=Hadlow announced as BBC Two boss |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=1 October 2008 |access-date=13 April 2014}}

|Five has its first major rebrand since 2002.

|UKTV launches a new general entertainment channel called Watch; UKTV Gold is relaunched as comedy channel G.O.L.D. (Go on Laugh Daily); and UKTV Drama is relaunched as crime drama channel Alibi.

|EastEnders begins broadcasting the storyline The Secret Mitchell in which Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace) is revealed to be Ronnie Mitchell's (Samantha Janus) daughter.

|Longest-running children's television programme Blue Peter celebrates its 50th birthday.

|BBC One airs the 1000th edition of Question Time.

|During the live broadcast of the 2008 National Television Awards, David Tennant announces that he is quitting Doctor Who at the end of 2009.

|Following his involvement in The Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row, Jonathan Ross is suspended for 12 weeks without pay from all BBC shows, including his television programmes such as Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.{{cite news|first1=Tara |last1=Conlan |first2=Stephen |last2=Brook |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/30/jonathan-ross-russell-brand1 |title=Jonathan Ross suspended from BBC for 12 weeks over prank phone calls |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=30 October 2008 |access-date=13 November 2018}} He also decides not to host the 2008 British Comedy Awards, broadcast on ITV.

|F1 on ITV airs for the last time, presented by Steve Rider, with commentators Martin Brundle and James Allen.

|Britain's favourite singing pigs Pinky and Perky return to CBBC with a brand new television series known as The Pinky and Perky Show brought to life with CGI animation. The series is updated with various brand new characters and a few old characters which were Morton Frog and Vera Vixen (but this time as the main antagonist) and follows the brothers and their misadventures in a television studio while working as presenters of a children's TV show.

|It is announced that an agreement has been struck for Sky's basic channels – including Sky1, Sky2, Sky3, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Arts 1, Sky Arts 2, Sky Real Lives and Sky Real Lives 2 – to return to Virgin Media from 13 November 2008 until 12 June 2011. In exchange Sky will be provide continued carriage of Virgin Media Television's channels – Living, Living2, Bravo, Bravo +1, Trouble, Challenge and Virgin1 for the same period.{{cite news

|title=BSkyB and Virgin Media Sign New Channel Carriage Agreements

|publisher=skyuser.co.uk

|date=4 November 2008

|url=http://www.skyuser.co.uk/skyinfo/bskyb_and_virgin_media_sign_new_channel_carriage_agreements.html

|access-date=25 May 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208233810/http://www.skyuser.co.uk/skyinfo/bskyb_and_virgin_media_sign_new_channel_carriage_agreements.html

|archive-date=8 February 2009

|url-status=live

}} However, Trouble closed down in April 2009 and Sky brought Virgin Media Television (later Living TV Group) two years later. Bravo, Bravo 2, Challenge Jackpot and Channel One closed down on 1 January and 1 February 2011 respectively, along with the rebrandings of Living (now Sky Living), Livingit (then Livingit, now Sky Livingit), Living Loves (now Sky Living Loves) and Challenge's new slot on Freeview on 1 February 2011, which finally ended Living TV Group and extended the agreement as a permanent deal.

|A BBC Two Newsnight special on the election of Barack Obama in which presenter Jeremy Paxman famously addresses the rapper Dizzee Rascal as "Mr Rascal".{{cite news|first=Paul |last=Moody |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/nov/06/dizzee-rascal-jeremy-paxman-newsnight |title=Paul Moody: Jeremy Paxman should have shown Dizzee Rascal more respect |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=6 November 2008 |access-date=10 April 2015}}{{cite news|first=Eliot |last=Smith |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/08/dizzee-rascal-paxman-jeremy-bbc |title=When Jeremy Paxman met Dizzee Rascal |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=8 November 2008 |access-date=10 April 2015}}

|The digital switchover continues when the Scottish Borders region's analogue service is switched off. People served by the Selkirk transmitter will be the first substantial area to go fully digital.

|ITV airs Proof of Life, a two-part episode of The Bill to celebrate the series' 25th anniversary. The storyline features a crossover with the German police procedural Leipzig Homicide, and is aired on both UK and German television.{{cite news|first=Stephen |last=Armstrong |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/the-bill-meets-soko-leipzig-m3jw8k22d6t |title=The Bill meets SOKO Leipzig |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=2 November 2008 |access-date=27 May 2019}}

|BSkyB's basic channels such as Sky1 and Sky News return to Virgin Media TV.

|Children in Need 2008 is broadcast on BBC One, hosted by Terry Wogan, Tess Daly and Fearne Cotton. Raising £20,991,216 by the end of the broadcast.

|Journalist John Sergeant pulls out of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing contest following controversy over his participation in the show. Sergeant has been consistently supported by the public despite receiving the lowest scores from the programme's panel of judges. Announcing his decision, Sergeant says winning would be "a joke too far". The BBC says it will refund anyone who voted for Sergeant while he was taking part.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7737447.stm |title=Sergeant quits Strictly contest |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=20 November 2008 |access-date=18 June 2014}}

|Sir Trevor McDonald presents his last News at Ten after only 11 months at helm. Mark Austin takes over as head anchor.

|It is announced that Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling and Oxford graduate Rachel Riley will replace Des O'Connor and Carol Vorderman as hosts of the next series of Countdown. Riley beat 1,000 applicants to win the role.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7675710.stm|title= Sky host Stelling joins Countdown|work= BBC News|date=21 November 2008|access-date=18 July 2009}}

|The new Wallace and Gromit adventure, A Matter of Loaf and Death, premieres in Australia on the ABC before airing in the UK.

|Selina Scott has reached a settlement with Five after suing the channel for age discrimination, it is reported.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7764644.stm |title=Scott settles Five legal action |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=4 June 2014}}

|Des O'Connor presents his last Countdown episode after over a year of presenting and Carol Vorderman also presents her last Countdown episode after 26 years of co-presenting.

|Alexandra Burke wins the fifth series of The X Factor.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7782054.stm |title=Alexandra crowned X Factor winner |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=14 December 2008 |access-date=25 April 2014}}

|Cyclist Chris Hoy is named as this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.{{cite news|first=Owen |last=Gibson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/dec/15/chris-hoy-bbc-sports-personality1 |title=Cyclist Chris Hoy wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award 2008 |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 December 2008 |access-date=6 November 2015}}

|Presenter Fiona Phillips leaves GMTV after nearly 16 years with ITV's breakfast broadcaster.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7787587.stm |title=Tearful GMTV goodbye for Phillips |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=18 December 2008 |access-date=27 July 2019}}

|Tom Chambers and dancing partner Camilla Dallerup win the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing.{{cite news|first1=Roya |last1=Nikkah |first2=Adam |last2=Lusher |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3870180/Tom-Chambers-beats-Rachel-Stevens-to-win-Strictly-Come-Dancing-final.html |title=Tom Chambers beats Rachel Stevens to win Strictly Come Dancing final |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=20 December 2008 |access-date=25 April 2014}}

|The Royle Family returns for a Christmas Special, attracting an audience of 11 million. The most watched show of the day is a new Wallace and Gromit adventure, A Matter of Loaf and Death, which airs on BBC One, and is seen by 14.4 million viewers.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7800091.stm |title=Wallace and Gromit top TV ratings |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |date=26 December 2008 |access-date=18 June 2014}}

|Shooting Stars returns with a Christmas special and a clip show, the first new episodes since 2002 and Rab C. Nesbitt returns with a Christmas special, another new episode since 1999.{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Christmas+crackers%3B+Settle+back+in+the+best+seat+in+the+house+and...-a0190924684 |title=Christmas crackers; Settle back in the best seat in the house and check out our guide to this year's festive film and TV |newspaper=Western Mail |date=20 December 2008 |access-date=18 June 2014}}

|ITV airs Elton's New Year's Eve party, a live concert by Elton John from London's O2 Arena. Channel 5 airs an evening of programming dedicated to Bruce Forsyth, including An Audience with Bruce Forsyth.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a139592/bbc-wins-new-years-eve-ratings.html#~oHxsTdrxN5veod |title=BBC wins New Year's Eve ratings |publisher=Digital Spy |date=4 January 2009 |access-date=18 June 2014}}

|Never Better

|Get Squiggling

|Empty

|Mad Men

|10 Days to War

|Wild China

|Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story

|Lab Rats

|Help! Teach is Coming to Stay

|House of Saddam

|Sesame Tree

|Chuggington

|Beautiful People

|The American Future: A History

|Einstein and Eddington

|Lily Allen and Friends

|Dis/Connected

|The Wall

|MeeBOX

|Snog Marry Avoid?

|Spooks: Code 9

|The Wrong Door

|Art of Spain

|The Curse of Steptoe

|Hughie Green, Most Sincerely

| The Long Walk to Finchley

|Fossil Detectives

|Only Connect

|Honest

|Moving Wallpaper

|Thank God You're Here

|The Palace

|Bike Squad

|Rock Rivals

|Bionic Woman

|The Passions of Girls Aloud

|He Kills Coppers

|Teenage Kicks

|Headcases

|Beat the Star

|Midnight Man

|Bingo Night Live

|Who Dares, Sings!

|The Children

|Lost in Austen

|No Heroics

|A Place of Execution

|Wired

|Britannia High

|The Triple Nipple Club

|City of Vice

|Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live

|Supersize vs Superskinny

|Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong

|New Hero of Comedy

|Poppy Shakespeare

|Tony Robinson's Crime and Punishment

|Dexter

|The Kevin Bishop Show

|Stacked

|Wogan's Perfect Recall

|The Family

|Jamie's Ministry of Food

|Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice

|The Devil's Whore

|The Ascent of Money

|The Mr. Men Show

|Rory and Paddy's Great British Adventure

|The What in the World? Quiz

|Paul Merton in India

|Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack

|The Big Bang Theory

|The Inbetweeners

|Dead Set

|Hollyoaks Later

|Ross Kemp in Afghanistan

|Don't Forget the Lyrics!

|Hairspray: The School Musical

|Richard and Judy's New Position

|Argumental

|Batteries Not Included

|The Colbert Report

|Phineas and Ferb

|Disney Channel

|Chowder

|Cartoon Network

|Hi-5

|Cartoonito

|MTV One +1

|Sky Sports HD 3

|Sky Movies Premiere HD

|FX HD

|Kix!

|AAP TV

|4Music

|Nicktoonsters

|Watch

|Crime & Investigation Network HD

|Disney Cinemagic HD

|MTVNHD

|MTV Flux

|The Hits

|BBC News 24

|BBC News

|Five Life

|Fiver

|Sky One

|Sky 1

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|Sky3

|UKTV Drama

|Alibi

|Alibi +1

|G.O.L.D.

|G.O.L.D. +1

| BBC Three

| FX

| BBC Three

| BBC Two

|rowspan=2| ITV1

| Sky One

|rowspan=3| Challenge

|rowspan=4| BBC One

| ITV1 & Setanta Sports

|rowspan=2| Five

| CBeebies

|rowspan=4| BBC Two

| BBC One & CBBC

|rowspan=4| BBC One

|rowspan=2| BBC Three

| BBC Two

| Challenge

| Bravo

| Channel 4 & More4

| Sky3 & Sky Real Lives

| CITV

| CBeebies

|30 January 2004

|rowspan="3"| ITV1

|14 January 2008

|rowspan="2"| N/A (Same channel as original)

| 2 July 1999

| 12 April 2008

| 1 January 2000

| 11 May 2008

| Sky1

| 2005

| BBC One

| July 2008

| Five

| 18 March 2006

| ITV1

| 20 September 2008

| N/A (Same channel as original)

| 9 July 1996

| BBC One

| 13 October 2008

| Five

|18 June 1999

|BBC Two

|23 December 2008

|N/A (Same channel as original)

|1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present

|1937–1939, 1946–2019, 2023–present

|1938–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present

|1953–present

|1957–present

|1958–present

|1960–present

|1961–present

|1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present

| rowspan="2" |1964–present

|1966–1967, 2008

|1966–2010

| rowspan="2" |1972–present

|1973–2010

|1975–present

|1976–present

|1977–present

|1978–present

| rowspan="2" |1979–present

|1980–present

|1981, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2004–2008

|1982–present

|1984–2010

|1984–2016

|1984–present

| rowspan="2" |1985–present

|1986–present

|1987–1994, 2005–2013

|1987–2009

|1988–present

|1988–1999, 2008–2014

|1989–present

|1990–present

| rowspan="2" |1992–2010

|1994–2017

|1994–2017

|1995–2002, 2008–2011

|1995–present

|1996–2015

| rowspan="2" |1996–present

|1997–2010

| rowspan="2" |1997–present

|1998–2014

|1998–present

|1999–2010

| 1999–2019, 2022–present

|1999–2002, 2005–present

|1999–present

|1999–2022{{cite web |title=Holby City - an oral history by the show's stars and creators |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/holby-city/a35594857/holby-city-an-oral-history-by-the-shows-stars-and-creators/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=4 April 2022 |date=29 March 2022}}

|2000–2012, 2017–present

|2001–2011

|2002–present

|2002–2012

|2002–2011

|2003–2008

|2003–2015

|2003–2018

|2003–2015

|2003–2011

|2003–present

|2003–2011

|2003–2019

|2004–2022

|2004–2013

|2004–present

|2004–2018

| rowspan="2" |2005–present

|2005–2008

|2005–2022

|2005–2009

|2005–2019

|2005–2021

|2005-present

|2005–2016

|2005–2012

|2006–present

|2006–present

|2006–2009

|2006–2015

| rowspan="2" |2006–2009

|2006–2015

| rowspan="2" |2006–2010

|2006–2011

|2006–2015

|2006–2008

|2007–2011

|2007–2008

|2007–2014

|2007–2008

| rowspan="2" |2007–2009

|2007–2010

| rowspan="2" |2007–present

|2007–2014

| rowspan="2" |2007–2010

|2007–2013

|2007–present

|Sense and Sensibility

|BBC

|2008

|Jamie at Home

|Channel 4

|2007

|The Palace

|rowspan="3"|ITV

|rowspan="3"|2008

|Echo Beach

|The Passions of Girls Aloud

|Charlie & Lola

|BBC

|2005

|Scotsport

|STV

|1957

|rowspan="2"|BBC

|1956

|HolbyBlue

|2007

|Headcases

|ITV

|rowspan="3"|2008

|Bonekickers

|rowspan="2"|BBC

|Lost Land of the Jaguar

|All Grown Up!

|Nickelodeon

|2003

|Richard & Judy

|rowspan="2"|Channel 4

|2001

|rowspan="2"|2008

|Last Choir Standing

|rowspan="2"|BBC

|Grange Hill

|1978

|rowspan="2"|ITV

|rowspan="5"|2008

|Lost in Austen

|Mutual Friends

|rowspan="2"|BBC

|Tess of the D'Urbervilles

|A Place of Execution

|ITV

|Supernanny

|Channel 4

|2004

|Fossil Detectives

|rowspan="2"|BBC

|rowspan="4"|2008

|Amazon

|Dawn Porter: Extreme Wife

|Channel 4

|Wired

|ITV

|Comedy Connections

|BBC

|rowspan="2"|2003

|The Commander

|ITV

|The Devil's Whore

|Channel 4

|rowspan="3"|2008

|Apparitions

|BBC

|Britannia High

|rowspan="2"|ITV

|Northern Lights

|2004

|rowspan="2"|BBC

|2007

|Out of the Blue

|2008

|Natasha Collins

|31

|Presenter

|83

|Actor

|Rowan Ayers

|85

|Television producer (Late Night Line-Up, Old Grey Whistle Test, Points of View)

|Carole Lynne

|89

|Actress, widow of Baron Delfont

|Diane Chenery-Wickens

|48

|Television make-up artist

|86

|Actor

|John Ardagh

|79

|Journalist and author

|Jeremy Beadle

|59

|Presenter (Game for a Laugh, Beadle's About, Chain Letters, Beadle's Hotshots, You've Been Framed!)

|Barry Morse

|89

|Actor (The Fugitive, Space: 1999)

|60

|Actor (When the Boat Comes In) director of the National Youth Theatre

|David Watkin

|82

|Cinematographer

|100

|Actress

|Carol Barnes

|63

|Former ITN newscaster

|John Hewer

|rowspan="2"|86

|rowspan="2"|Actor

|Paul Scofield

|Brian Wilde

|80

|Actor (Last of the Summer Wine, Porridge)

|Tony Church

|77

|rowspan="2"|Actor

|Ronnie Letham

|58

|Sir Geoffrey Cox

|97

|Founder of ITN News at Ten

|Mark Speight

|42

|Presenter (SMart, Scratchy & Co.)

|Francis Coleman

|84

|Canadian-born British conductor, television producer and director

|Willoughby Goddard

|81

|Actor

|Hazel Court

|82

|Actress (The Masque of the Red Death, The Raven)

|Tristram Cary

|82

|Film and television composer

|Humphrey Lyttelton

|86

|Jazz musician, radio broadcaster (Host of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue)

|Bernard Archard

|91

|Actor

|76

|Comedian and actor

|Jill Adams

|77

|Actress

|Frith Banbury

|96

|Stage director and actor

|David Mitton

|69

|British TV animator/producer and director (Thunderbirds, Thomas & Friends, Tugs)

|Wilfrid Mellers

|94

|Composer and author

|68

|Roman Catholic priest and broadcaster

|Iona Banks

|87

|Actress

|94

|Actress (Marjorie Antrobus on The Archers)

|Alan Brien

|83

|Journalist and critic

|Rob Knox

|18

|Actor

|73

|Journalist and television presenter (Midlands Today)

|Chris Morgan

|55

|Journalist

|75

|Television producer and presenter (The Time, The Place)

|Jonathan Routh

|80

|Co-star (Candid Camera)

|Angus Calder

|66

|Historian and writer

|David Brierly

|73

|Actor (Voice of K-9 on Doctor Who)

|Tony Melody

|85

|Actor

|Elizabeth Spriggs

|78

|Stage, television and film actress (Sense and Sensibility, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)

|Clive Hornby

|63

|Actor (Emmerdale) aka Jack Sugden

|Charles Wheeler

|85

|Journalist and longest serving BBC foreign correspondent

|Hugh Mendl

|88

|Record producer

|Hugh Lloyd

|85

|Actor (Hancock's Half Hour)

|81

|Executive

|Bob Crampsey

|78

|Sportscaster

|Peter Coke

|95

|Actor and playwright (Paul Temple)

|87

|Television presenter

|Jennifer Hilary

|65

|Actress

|Simon Gray

|rowspan="3"|71

|Playwright

|Terence Rigby

|Actor

|British scriptwriter (The Good Life)

|Bill Cotton

|80

|BBC Television executive

|Bob Humphrys

|56

|Sports presenter (BBC Cymru Wales), brother of John Humphrys

|Geoffrey Perkins

|55

|Producer

|Ken Campbell

|66

|Actor

|Celia Gregory

|58

|Actress

|David Jones

|74

|Theatre and film director

|William Fox

|97

|Actor

|Ian Collier

|87

|Actor and singer

|Peter Vansittart

|88

|Writer

|Peter Copley

|93

|Actor

|Bob Friend

|rowspan=2|70

|Sky News presenter

|Mark Shivas

|Film and television producer

|76

|Singer

|Peter Gordeno

|69

|Actor, singer and dancer

|John Ringham

|80

|rowspan="3"|Actor

|David Lloyd Meredith

|74

|John Axon

|48

|John Daly

|71

|Film producer

|Jack Scott

|85

|BBC Weatherman

|Reg Varney

|92

|Actor (On the Buses, The Rag Trade)

|Dudley Savage

|88

|Radio presenter

|Bob Spiers

|63

|Television director

|83

|Animator

|Kathy Staff

|80

|Actress (Last of the Summer Wine, Crossroads)

|Jack Douglas

|81

|Actor

|Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death

|16.15m

|BBC One

|25 December 2008

|The X Factor Results

|14.06m

|ITV

|13 December 2008

|Britain's Got Talent: Final Result

|13.88m

|ITV

|31 May 2008

|The X Factor

|13.77m

|ITV

|13 December 2008

|Doctor Who

|13.10m

|BBC One

|25 December 2008

|Coronation Street

|13.02m

|ITV

|18 January 2008

|Strictly Come Dancing

|12.97m

|BBC One

|20 December 2008

|Dancing on Ice

|12.02m

|ITV

|16 March 2008

|Britain's Got Talent

|11.86m

|ITV

|30 May 2008

|EastEnders

|11.73m

|BBC One

|24 March 2008