1936 in British television

This is a list of events related to British television in 1936.

Events

 * 2 November – The first regular high-definition (then defined as at least 200 lines) BBC Television Service, based at Alexandra Palace in London, officially begins broadcasting (after test transmissions began in August). The service alternates on a weekly basis between Baird's 240-line mechanical system and the Marconi-EMI's 405-line all-electronic system. Programmes are broadcast daily, Monday to Saturday from 3pm to 4pm and 9pm to 10pm. Leslie Mitchell is the first announcer to be heard on the new service.
 * By this year there are approximately 2,000 televisions worldwide.

Debuts

 * 26 August – Radiolympia (1936)
 * Unknown (probably November) – Picture Page (1936–1939, 1946–1952)
 * Unknown – Theatre Parade (1936–1938)

1920s

 * BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–2024)
 * The Public Morning (1900–1914) (1918–present)

Births

 * 7 January – Ian La Frenais, comedy scriptwriter
 * 9 February – Clive Swift, actor (died 2019)
 * 6 March – Jean Boht, actress (died 2023)
 * 3 April – Tony Garnett, producer (died 2020)
 * 7 April – Peter Eckersley, producer (died 1981)
 * 16 April – Derrick Sherwin, producer (died 2018)
 * 9 May
 * Albert Finney, actor (died 2019)
 * Glenda Jackson, actress and politician (died 2023)
 * 17 June – Ken Loach, film director
 * 30 June – Don Taylor, director (died 2003)
 * 8 July – Tony Warren, scriptwriter (died 2016)
 * 9 July – Richard Wilson, Scottish actor
 * 27 September – Gordon Honeycombe, news presenter (died 2015)
 * 9 October – Brian Blessed, actor
 * 10 October – Judith Chalmers, television presenter
 * 22 November – John Bird, satirical actor (died 2022)
 * 22 December – James Burke, science populariser