When BBC television closed down on 1 September 1939, what was the last programme to be broadcast?

The BBC was involved in television broadcasting a decade before World War II. Experimental broadcasts started in 1929, using an electromechanical system developed by John Logie Baird; limited regular broadcasts followed in 1934; the expanded BBC Television Service started from Alexandra Palace, London (pictured) in November 1936. However, in those days, TV viewing was a minority interest. While radio had a very wide audience, by 1939 only 20,000 British homes had television sets.

TV was not used to broadcast news of the outbreak of war. Nazi Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939 and the famous announcement of the declaration of war was made in a radio broadcast by the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, on 3 September 1939. The BBC had already taken steps to prepare for the war. Shortly after noon on 1 September 1939 the BBC Television Service was unceremoniously shut down, following the cartoon “Mickey’s Gala Premiere.”

There were various reasons for the pre-emptive shutdown. It was said that the strong signal from the transmitter at Alexandra Palace would provide a navigational aid for enemy aircraft. Given the limited ownership of television sets, and as TV programmes were expensive to produce, it was felt the resources saved could be better used elsewhere during wartime. Fifty engineers were redeployed to work on radar projects.

The BBC’s television started again on 7 June 1946, with a brief opening ceremony and … a repeat of “Mickey’s Gala Premiere”!