Cathy Come ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ was broadcast on 16 November 1966, in the regular Wednesday Play slot. The drama, written by Jeremy Sandford and directed by Ken Loach, exposed Britain's chronic housing shortage.
It follows the story of Cathy Ward, played by Carol White, on a downward spiral from young mother - living with husband Reg in a new flat "with parquet flooring and tin openers fixed to the walls" - to the point where she is homeless and alone. In the memorable final scene her children are forcibly taken from her by Social Services and put into care.
Cathy Come ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ demonstrated the ability of television drama to affect audiences, put homelessness on the public agenda, and gave a huge boost to the charity Shelter. The play was mostly filmed on location using hand held cameras. The naturalistic action was contextualised by a voiceover that provided facts on the housing crisis. The issues raised by the drama were widely debated, and policy changes followed, so families were not broken up so readily.
Cathy Come ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ was voted the best drama in the BFI100 poll of British Television in 2000. Stanford went on to write Edna the Inebriate Woman. Loach has had notable success in the cinema, from Kes, to The Wind that Shakes the Barley. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has continued to make original dramas that raise social concerns, such as the acclaimed Five Daughters.
November anniversaries
- 
              First regular hi-definition television service2 November 1936
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              Hancock's Half-Hour2 November 1954
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              Edge of Darkness4 November 1985
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              Life with the Lyons5 November 1950
- 
              The Goodies8 November 1970
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              ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Leicester, the first local radio network8 November 1967
- 
              Byker Grove8 November 1989
- 
              Garrison Theatre10 November 1939
- 
              Butterflies10 November 1978
- 
              Monitor - Elgar by Ken Russell11 November 1962
- 
              Panorama11 November 1953
- 
              dinnerladies12 November 1998
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              Absolutely Fabulous12 November 1992
- 
              America: A Personal History of the United States12 November 1972
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              ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ begins daily transmissions from 2LO Station14 November 1922
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              Colour television on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One15 November 1969
- 
              Clangers16 November 1969
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              Cathy Come ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½16 November 1966
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              The Singing Detective16 November 1986
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              Panorama interview with Princess Diana20 November 1995
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              Start of television broadcasts from the House of Commons21 November 1989
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              First TV gardening programme21 November 1936
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              Doctor Who first episode23 November 1963
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              Noel’s House Party23 November 1991
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              That Was The Week That Was24 November 1962
