1986 in British television
This is a list of British television related events from 1986. Events January 1 January New Year's Day highlights on BBC1 include a Paul Young concert simulcast with BBC Radio 1. The network television premieres of the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans and the 1979 Sylvester Stallone sequel Rocky II on BBC1. 2 January – A special edition of Tomorrow's World travels back a century to discover the latest developments in science and technology from 1886. 4 January – Televised football returns to British television after the contractual dispute from the previous year is resolved. 6 January – Debut of the children's animated series Jimbo and the Jet-Set on BBC1. 9 January Rowan Atkinson returns as Edmund Blackadder in the BBC1 comedy series Blackadder II, moving forward in time to the Elizabethan era. Also featuring Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson. BBC2 launches the follow-up series to the acclaimed political satire Yes Minister with Yes, Prime Minister. 10 January – Debut of the comedy-drama mystery series Lovejoy on BBC1, starring Ian McShane as the titular roguish antiques dealer, based on the novels by Jonathan Gash and it was adapted for television by Ian La Frenais. Despite being a moderate rating success was not brought back until 6 January 1991 following a five-year gap between the first and second series. 12 January – Debut of the high-tech game show Catchphrase on ITV, presented by Roy Walker. 14 January – Debut of the private detective series Boon on ITV, starring Michael Elphick. 17 January – BBC1 airs a feature-length episode of US soap Dynasty that sets up the storyline ready for the spin-off series Dynasty II: The Colbys which begins on 24 January. 19 January – Debut of the Screen Two film The Silent Twins, a drama based on the true story of June and Jennifer Gibbons, identical twin sisters known as the "Silent Twins" because they refuse to speak to anyone but each other. 21 January – Debut of The Really Wild Show on BBC1. 24 January – The US soap Dynasty II: The Colbys makes its UK debut on BBC1. 28 January – NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates. Pictures from CNN in the United States, owned by Turner Broadcasting System, then owners of the superstation WTBS, is broadcast around the world. February 4 February – Thorn EMI sells its stake in Swindon Cable to British Telecom and the new owners axe Focus on Swindon and other local programming and replaces it with bought-in content. 8 February – The game show Every Second Counts makes its debut on BBC1, presented by Paul Daniels. 19 February – BBC1 airs Round Britain Whizz, an edition of the science documentary series Q.E.D.. The 30-minute programme consists of a sped up flight around the coastline of Great Britain with guest appearances from geologists and TV personalities including Patrick Moore, David Bellamy and Terry Wogan telling the viewer about the geology and natural history of certain areas. 26 February – Channel