That Was The Week That Was began on 24 November 1962. The late-night satirical show took aim at the establishment in a way that had never been seen on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ before, inspired by the success of the stage review Beyond the Fringe. TW3 - as it was known for the sake of convenience - was produced by Ned Sherrin, and presented live by David Frost.
The talented cast joining him for the first programme was Millicent Martin, Kenneth Cope, David Kernan, Roy Kinnear, Bernard Levin, Lance Percival and William Rushton. It quickly became essential Saturday night viewing.
Each week TW3 mixed songs with sketches and cartoons in a free-wheeling format overseen by Frost. The incredible team of writers were helped by the fact that the programmes coincided with the Profumo scandal, and were not afraid to highlight the murkier areas of political life.
TW3 only ran for two series, and was cancelled before the 1964 Election year, as the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Governors worried about its impact. Despite this fact, it came to symbolise the new freedom of the "permissive" Sixties. Many of the stars and writers went on to further success, with Frost in particular helping to recreate the show in the US.
Today political satire is alive and well on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, with programmes like The Now Show on radio, and The Thick of it on television.
November anniversaries
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              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
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              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
- 
              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
- 
              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
- 
              Panorama interview with Princess Diana20 November 1995
- 
              Start of television broadcasts from the House of Commons21 November 1989
- 
              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
