January 1, 1954
Company set up by Sidney Bernstein and listed on the Stock Exchange
1954
The Independent Television Authority (ITA) awards Granada the franchise for the North of England.
1954
Construction begins on Granada studios
1954
Denis Forman joins as personnel officer
1956
Sidney and Cecil Bernstein become the first two directors of the Granada TV Network
May 3, 1956
Granada’s first broadcast
1956
Zoo Time with Desmond Morris
November 5, 1956
What the Papers Say first broadcast presented by Brian Inglis, running on Granada until 1982.
April 25, 1957
First live football on independent television with Man United v Real Madrid, European Cup semi-final broadcast as a live outside broadcast
1957
The Army Game, comedy – ran until 1961
1957
Criss-Cross Quiz ran until September 1967
1957
People And Places, regional news magazine programme (runs until January 1963)
1957
Death of a Salesman, drama – described by critic Bernard Levin as ‘the best (production of a) play since ITV began’
February 6, 1958
First by-election result coverage at Rochdale by-election.
May 3, 1958
All My Sons, Drama – the second Arthur Miller play to be screened by Granada.
October 8, 1959
Marathon 1959 – general election coverage
1960
All Our Yesterdays, originally presented by James Cameron, running until 1973 – looking back at the same week 25 years earlier.
September 1, 1960
Bootsie and Snudge – comedy spin-off from The Army Game that ran until 1964 with a follow-up in 1974
December 9, 1960
First episode of Coronation Street broadcast. The Daily Mirror’s critic says the programme is ‘doomed from the outset’.
1961
Granada’s Annual Report states that the region has the largest number of ITV homes with just on 3 milllion
1961
The Younger Generation – eleven new plays about, written and acted by young people.
1962
Granada building opened, designed by Ralph Tubbs – the first commercial building to be built in Manchester after World War Two.
June 1, 1962
You In Your Small Corner, Play of the Week, believed to include the first televised interracial kiss on British television.
September 21, 1962
University Challenge first broadcast
October 17, 1962
The Beatles made their television debut on People and Places from Studio Four.
January 7, 1963
World in Action begins
1963
Emmy-winning adaptation of War and Peace – produced by Derek Granger.
May 5, 1964
World in Action broadcasts a film called Seven Up, following the lives of 14 children.
1964
Blues and Gospel Train filmed in a south Manchester station featuring Muddy Waters and Sister Rosetta Tharpe
1964
Cinema – weekly film magazine programme, presenters included Michael Parkinson and later Clive James.
1966
The State of the Nation first transmitted with Hypotheticals.
1967
Granada beats off unsuccessful bid from Palatine Television to win franchise again.
1967
Mick Jagger appears on World in Action after drug conviction quashed
May 10, 1967
Coronation Street – train derails off the viaduct onto the Street.
November 6, 1967
Ten Days That Shook the World co-production with Soviet TV.
July 1, 1968
Technicians strike forces ITV causing on-air disruption for several weeks
August 15, 1968
Nearest and Dearest first broadcast starring Hylda Baker and Jimmy Jewel
September 22, 1968
The Caesars – drama
1969
David Plowright becomes Controller of Programmes
February 24, 1969
Johnny Cash at St Quentin – concert filmed at prison and broadcast in June.
April 1, 1969
This is Your Right advice programme launched
April 14, 1970
A Family At War, drama following the lives of Liverpool family during Second World War
May 19, 1970
First episode of Disappearing World about the Panare people of Venezuela.
January 7, 1972
Another Sunday and Sweet FA – drama by Jack Rosenthal
April 14, 1972
Clapperboard – children’s cinema programme hosted by Chris Kelly
August 20, 1972
Country Matters – drama series based on stories by H.E. Bates
1973
Granada’s nightly news programme is relaunched as Granada Reports.
1973
Drama output includes Sam and Shabby Tiger
1974
Sir Denis Forman appointed chairman
April 13, 1974
The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club – Variety show, produced by Johnny Hamp
August 4, 1974
Arthur Hopcraft’s The Nearly Man – drama
October 10, 1974
Granada 500 Election programme
October 27, 1975
The Cuckoo Waltz series created by Geoffrey Lancashire.
July 3, 1976
So It Goes with Tony Wilson
September 21, 1976
Three Days In Szczecin, drama documentary
December 6, 1976
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner
September 7, 1977
The Krypton Factor game show hosted by Gordon Burns is launched and runs for almost 20 years
1977
The Christians, presented by Bamber Gascoigne – filmed in more than 30 countries and broadcast in over 50 countries worldwide
October 25, 1977
Hard Times – a four-part adaptation by Arthur Hopcraft of Charles DIckens’ novel and the first on British television
April 10, 1978
Granada opens a news base in Liverpool’s Exchange Flags
July 9, 1978 12:00 am
Clouds of Glory – drama scripted by Melvyn Bragg and directed by Ken Russell
1979
Sidney Bernstein retires as chairman and hands over his role to Cecil’s son, Alex
1979
Sir Denis Forman appointed chairman
1979
David Plowright appointed Managing Director
1979
Mike Scott appointed Programme Controller
May 3, 1979
Granada 500 Election programme from Bolton
August 8, 1979
ITV strike begins and lasts for ten weeks
1980
Granada’s franchise is renewed for contracts starting on 1 January 1982
1980
World In Action – the renowned Steel Papers programme
May 5, 1980
Liverpool studio opens
November 1, 1980
Life for Christine – drama written by Fay Weldon based on a true story about a teenage girl in prison
December 28, 1980
Dramatisation of Paul Scott’s Booker-prizewinning novel, Staying On
April 15, 1981
The Good Soldier drama screened based on the novel by Ford Madox Ford
October 12, 1981
Brideshead Revisited, drama based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh screened over eleven episodes
May 5, 1982
The Queen visits Coronation Street
November 2, 1982
Channel 4 begins broadcasting
January 7, 1983
The Spanish Civil War, six part documentary
April 3, 1983
King Lear, starring Laurence Olivier
May 1, 1983
Alfresco, comedy sketch show
January 9, 1984
The Jewel In The Crown, drama
1984
Regional news operation begins in Albert Dock.
April 24, 1984
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Drama
1985
Birmingham Six, World In Action
August 30, 1985
Albion Market first broadcast
1986
New electronic regional news desk moves to the Dock Office in Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
August 24, 1986
Albion Market cancelled
1987
David Plowright appointed Chairman of Granada TV
February 13, 1988
Granada launches 24-hour broadcasting.
July 20, 1988
Granada Studio Tours opened
October 3, 1988
This Morning first broadcast
October 3, 1988
Game, Set and Match
April 7, 1991
Prime Suspect, police drama starring Helen Mirren
1991
Gerry Robinson joins Granada as CEP
1991
Charles Allen become Chief Executive Officer, Granada Television.
1991
Franchise renewed
February 3, 1992
David Plowright resigns
February 5, 1993
Death of Lord Bernstein
December 1, 1993
Cracker, drama starring Robbie Coltrane, written by Jimmy McGovern
1994
Takeover of LWT
October 1, 1996
Granada Sky Broadcasting launches as a joint venture between Granada and BSkyB.
November 1, 1996
Hillsborough, drama written by Jimmy McGovern
January 1, 1997
Takeover of Yorkshire Tyne Tees
December 1, 1998
After more than 35 years on air, the final edition of Granada’s current affairs programme World in Action is broadcast. It is replaced by Tonight.
1999
Granada Studio Tours closes
April 1, 1999
Tonight With Trevor McDonald begins
July 1, 2000
Granada merged with Compass Group to form Granada Compass plc
January 1, 2001
Steve Morrison appointed Chief Executive
January 1, 2001
Demerger with Compass. Granada becomes Granada Ltd
February 1, 2004
Charles Allen becomes Chief Executive Officer
January 1, 2005
Blackburn and Chester offices closed
January 1, 2006
Granada Dock office closed.
January 6, 2006
Charles Allen steps down.
January 1, 2013
Move to MediaCityUK