ITV celebrates 50 years on air with commemorative shows

by Staff, Brand Republic 09-May-05, 11:00

LONDON - ITV is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a range of commemorative programmes such as 'ITV's 50 Greatest Shows' and 'Best Ever Ads'.

The first of the celebratory programmes starts in June with Lord Melvyn Bragg's documentary 'The Story of ITV: The People's Channel', which features interviews with celebrities, programme makers and executives who helped shaped ITV.

The focus of the on-air celebrations will be concentrated around the anniversary in mid-September. Programmes include '49 Up', the seventh instalment in the 'World in Action' 1964 special '7 Up' -- 42 years after the first documentary was made.

'ITV's 50 Greatest Shows' will be a three-hour celebration of ITV's finest programmes from 'Sunday Night at the Palladium' to 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!', as voted for by ITV viewers.

'Best Ever Ads' aims to celebrate the creative behind the ITV ads that proved to be as entertaining as the shows they popped up in, from the Smash Martians to the Gold Blend couple.

In 'Avenue of the Stars', British stars past and present are to be honoured in a new walkway along the River Thames similar to the famous Mann's Chinese Theatre strip in Hollywood. The plaques will be a permanent tribute to celebrate their contributions to the entertainment world.

'What Did ITV Do for Me?' will feature some of the biggest names in television as they recall the way in which one pivotal moment, one role, one appearance on ITV, changed their life and career.

Nigel Pickard, director of programmes for ITV, said: "Now, 50 years on, ITV is ready to face the challenges of the future with a family of channels making programmes that are relevant and valuable to today's viewers and that will secure its place at the heart of British television for decades to come."

ITV's contribution over the past 50 years is also recognised this year by a number of other organisations including the Royal Mail, which will be issuing a set of commemorative stamps featuring six iconic ITV shows.

The Royal Television Society will be holding a tribute dinner and the British Film Institute has announced a programme of nationwide screenings, culminating in an ITV season at the National Film Theatre, in London, in November 2005.

It was also announced last month that ITV is to receive the International Emmy Directorate Award at the awards ceremony in New York this November.

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