The Independent Television Authority (ITA) awards Granada the franchise for the North of England.  

Construction begins on Granada studios

Denis Forman joins as personnel officer

Sidney and Cecil Bernstein become the first two directors of the Granada TV Network

Granada’s first broadcast

Zoo Time with Desmond Morris

What the Papers Say first broadcast presented by Brian Inglis, running on Granada until 1982.

First live football on independent television with Man United v Real Madrid, European Cup semi-final broadcast as a live outside broadcast

The Army Game, comedy – ran until 1961

Criss-Cross Quiz ran until September 1967

People And Places, regional news magazine programme (runs until January 1963)

Death of a Salesman, drama – described by critic Bernard Levin as ‘the best (production of a) play since ITV began’

First by-election result coverage at Rochdale by-election.

All My Sons, Drama – the second Arthur Miller play to be screened by Granada.

Marathon 1959 – general election coverage

All Our Yesterdays, originally presented by James Cameron, running until 1973 – looking back at the same week 25 years earlier.

Bootsie and Snudge  – comedy spin-off from The Army Game that ran until 1964 with a follow-up in 1974

First episode of Coronation Street broadcast. The Daily Mirror’s critic says the programme is ‘doomed from the outset’.

Granada’s Annual Report states that the region has the largest number of ITV homes with just on 3 milllion

The Younger Generation – eleven new plays about, written and acted by young people.

Granada building opened, designed by Ralph Tubbs – the first commercial building to be built in Manchester after World War Two.

You In Your Small Corner, Play of the Week, believed to include the first televised interracial kiss on British television.

University Challenge first broadcast

The Beatles made their television debut on People and Places from Studio Four.

World in Action begins

Emmy-winning adaptation of War and Peace – produced by Derek Granger.

World in Action broadcasts a film called Seven Up, following the lives of 14 children.

Blues and Gospel Train filmed in a south Manchester station featuring Muddy Waters and Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Cinema – weekly film magazine programme, presenters included Michael Parkinson and later Clive James.

The State of the Nation first transmitted with Hypotheticals.

Granada beats off unsuccessful bid from Palatine Television to win franchise again.

Mick Jagger appears on World in Action after drug conviction quashed

Coronation Street – train derails off the viaduct onto the Street.

Ten Days That Shook the World co-production with Soviet TV.

Technicians strike forces ITV causing on-air disruption for several weeks

Nearest and Dearest first broadcast starring Hylda Baker and Jimmy Jewel

The Caesars – drama

David Plowright becomes Controller of Programmes

Johnny Cash at St Quentin – concert filmed at prison and broadcast in June.

This is Your Right advice programme launched

A Family At War, drama following the lives of Liverpool family during Second World War

First episode of Disappearing World about the Panare people of Venezuela.

Another Sunday and Sweet FA – drama by Jack Rosenthal

Clapperboard – children’s cinema programme hosted by Chris Kelly

Country Matters – drama series based on stories by H.E. Bates

Granada’s nightly news programme is relaunched as Granada Reports.

Drama output includes Sam and Shabby Tiger

Sir Denis Forman appointed chairman

The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club – Variety show, produced by Johnny Hamp

Arthur Hopcraft’s The Nearly Man – drama

Granada 500 Election programme

The Cuckoo Waltz series created by Geoffrey Lancashire.

So It Goes with Tony Wilson

Three Days In Szczecin, drama documentary

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner

The Krypton Factor game show hosted by Gordon Burns is launched and runs for almost 20 years

The Christians, presented by Bamber Gascoigne – filmed in more than 30 countries and broadcast in over 50 countries worldwide

Hard Times – a four-part adaptation by Arthur Hopcraft of Charles DIckens’ novel and the first on British television

Granada opens a news base in Liverpool’s Exchange Flags

Clouds of Glory – drama scripted by Melvyn Bragg and directed by Ken Russell

Sidney Bernstein retires as chairman and hands over his role to Cecil’s son, Alex

Sir Denis Forman appointed chairman

David Plowright appointed Managing Director

Mike Scott appointed Programme Controller

Granada 500 Election programme from Bolton

ITV strike begins and lasts for ten weeks

Granada’s franchise is renewed for contracts starting on 1 January 1982

World In Action – the renowned Steel Papers programme

Liverpool studio opens

Life for Christine – drama written by Fay Weldon based on a true story about a teenage girl in prison

Dramatisation of Paul Scott’s Booker-prizewinning novel, Staying On

The Good Soldier drama screened based on the novel by Ford Madox Ford

Brideshead Revisited, drama based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh screened over eleven episodes

The Queen visits Coronation Street

Channel 4 begins broadcasting

The Spanish Civil War, six part documentary

King Lear, starring Laurence Olivier

Alfresco, comedy sketch show

The Jewel In The Crown, drama

Regional news operation begins in Albert Dock.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Drama

Birmingham Six, World In Action

Albion Market first broadcast

New electronic regional news desk moves to the Dock Office in Liverpool’s Albert Dock.

Albion Market cancelled

David Plowright appointed Chairman of Granada TV

Granada launches 24-hour broadcasting.

Granada Studio Tours opened

This Morning first broadcast

Game, Set and Match 

Prime Suspect, police drama starring Helen Mirren

Gerry Robinson joins Granada as CEP

Charles Allen become Chief Executive Officer, Granada Television.

Franchise renewed

David Plowright resigns