This is a list of British television related events from 1953.
Events
January
No events.
February
No events.
March
17 March – Patrick Troughton becomes television's first Robin Hood, playing the eponymous folk hero in the first of six half-hour episodes of Robin Hood, shown weekly until 21 April on the BBC Television Service.
April
No events.
May
1 May – The BBC brings into service television transmitters at Pontop Pike (County Durham) and Glencairn (Belfast) to improve coverage prior to the Coronation broadcast. 31 May – This week's special 'Coronation Number' of the BBC's Radio Times sells a record 9,012,358 copies.
June
2 June – The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II is televised in the UK on the BBC Television Service. Sales of TV sets rise sharply in the weeks leading up to the event. It is also one of the earliest broadcasts to be deliberately recorded for posterity and continues to exist in its entirety.
July
18 July – The Quatermass Experiment, first of the famous Quatermass science-fiction serials by Nigel Kneale, begins its run on the BBC. 20 July – The Good Old Days begins on the BBC Television Service.
August
No events.
September
No events.
October
2 October – A photograph of a wanted person issued by the police is shown on British television for the first time, that of William Pettit, wanted in connection with the murder of a married woman at Chislehurst a fortnight earlier, shown on the BBC with a Scotland Yard appeal voiced by John Snagge. Pettit's body is found in the City of London 3 weeks later.
November
11 November – The current affairs series Panorama launches on the BBC Television Service. Continuing into its 70th year, it becomes the longest-running programme in British television history and the world's longest-running television news magazine programme. 26 November – The House of Lords backs Government plans for the introduction of commercial television in the UK.
December
2 December – The BBC broadcasts its 'Television Symbol' for the first time, the first animated television presentation symbol in the world. Known as the 'bat's wings' by logo enthusiasts, it will remain until 1960. 31 December – The BBC begins a long series of New Year's Eve broadcasts from Scotland with Hogmanay Party. Peter Scott presents the first BBC television natural history broadcast, from his home at Slimbridge.
Debuts
17 January – Face the Music (1953–1955) 8 February – Our Marie (1953) 10 February – Worzel Gummidge Turns Detective (1953) 11 March – The Pattern of Marriage (1953) 17 March – Robin Hood (1953) 25 April – Strictly Personal (1953) 28 April – Seven Little Australians (1953) 6 May – Reggie Little at Large (1953) 4 July – The Great Detective (1953) 14 July – The Treasure Seekers (1953) 18 July – The Quatermass Experiment (18 July–22 August) 20 July – The Good Old Days (1953–1983) 25 August – Thames Tug (1953) 23 September – Garrison Theatre (1953–1955) 26 September – A Place of Execution (1953) 6 October – Heidi (1953) 7 November – Johnny, You're Wanted (1953) 11 November The Rose and the Ring (1953) Panorama (1953–present) 6 December – Wuthering Heights (1953) 18 December – Asian Club (1953–1961) 26 December – The Teckman Biography (1953–1954) Unknown Before Your Very Eyes (1953–1956; ITV 1956–1958) Rag, Tag and Bobtail (1953–1965)
Continuing television shows
1920s
BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–2024)
1930s
The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019) BBC Cricket (1939, 1946–1999, 2020–2024)
1940s
Muffin the Mule (1946–1955, 2005–2006) Television Newsreel (1948–1954) Come Dancing (1949–1998)
1950s
Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005) Flower Pot Men (1952–1958, 2001–2002) Watch with Mother (1952–1975) The Appleyards (1952–1957) All Your Own (1952–1961)
Ending this year
Kaleidoscope (1946–1953) Café Continental (1947–1953) How Do You View? (1949–1953) Robin Hood (1953) The Quatermass Experiment (1953)