Channel 4 has today celebrated its 40th birthday 📺🎂 And while TV’s ‘fourth channel’ may have now reached middle age, its content still remains young – and yes, as controversial as ever. Let's take a look back over those 40 years 👇
’s loveable smiling face beaming into sitting rooms across the nation to welcome this brand new audience to a brand new channel., while the now defunct drama Brookside made it’s debut as part of the launch night line-up.
Over the years, it’s pioneered shows like Queer as Folk, Eurotrash and Brass Eye, which have attracted critical acclaim as well as scores of complaints. More recently, the channel received a lambasting for asking whether it should destroy Hitler’s paintings on controversial commissionTwo decades ago, German anatomist Gunther von Hagens performed the first public autopsy in the UK for 170 years before a 500-strong audience at a London theatre.
The channel also made a name for itself in pioneering factual content. Not only did it champion the reality TV genre when it broadcast ‘Channel 4 was a real pioneer of rig access series like 24 Hours in A&E, which is now in its 29th series,’ she tells. ‘It’s proven hugely popular, has won awards and has led to other shows like 24 Hours in Police Custody, the Educating… series and Royal Navy School.
‘Channel 4 told me everything my parents wouldn’t. It gave me all the sex education I didn’t get at school. I felt naughty watching it, but I loved it.’ ‘We were debating this evening what to watch with our TV dinner and chose Gogglebox, and I said “On 4, right?” My 23-year-old’s reply was “All the good stuff is on 4”.’
The decision for the channel to air the Paralympic Games in 2012 changed broadcasting history, she argues, as it altered the way viewers perceived disability.
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