ITV Telethon
Encyclopedia
The ITV Telethons were three charity telethons organised and televised in the UK
by the ITV
network. They took place in 1988, 1990 and 1992. Each lasted for 27 hours and all were hosted by Michael Aspel
.
Telethon', which ran in the Thames/London
ITV region only, on 2 October 1980. Thames broadcast another Telethon on 23 October 1985.
The US-style continuous broadcast raised £1.25 million, and was considered such a success that a 27-hour marathon was broadcast across the entire network from 29 to 30 May 1988, involving participation and input from all of the regional broadcasters around the country. It had the aim of raising money for disability charities across the United Kingdom
.
A further two ITV Telethons followed in 1990 and 1992, the latter raising £15m. Michael Aspel was the frontman for all three. Telethon helped thousands of charities in the UK. Many local ITV companies like Tyne Tees Television
and Television South West
contributed from company profits. In the TVS
region alone TVS donated £1 million from its own charity, the TVS Trust, in late May 1990.
Like the telethons in the US, the ITV Telethons also offered regional cut-ins by ITV companies all over the country, featuring personalities and local celebrities from that region such as the late Richard Whiteley
for Yorkshire Television
or Ruth Madoc
for HTV Wales.
after franchise changes in 1993.
Other factors which have contributed to the ending of this event had possibly included protests from a group of disability rights activists from the actvist group, the Campaign for Accessible Transport, later known as the Direct Action Network. This had included a demonstration outside of LWT's
Kent House
where the main broadcast was located during the 1992 Telethon and two demonstrators had intruded on the studio when the broadcast took place.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network. They took place in 1988, 1990 and 1992. Each lasted for 27 hours and all were hosted by Michael Aspel
Michael Aspel
Michael Terence Aspel, OBE is an English television presenter, known for his reserved demeanour and rich speaking voice. He has been a high-profile TV personality in the United Kingdom since the 1960s, presenting programmes such as Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, This is Your Life, Strange But...
.
Thames Telethon
The ITV Telethon originated from the 10-hour 'ThamesThames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
Telethon', which ran in the Thames/London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
ITV region only, on 2 October 1980. Thames broadcast another Telethon on 23 October 1985.
ITV Telethon
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
A further two ITV Telethons followed in 1990 and 1992, the latter raising £15m. Michael Aspel was the frontman for all three. Telethon helped thousands of charities in the UK. Many local ITV companies like Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
and Television South West
Television South West
Television South West was the ITV franchise holder for the South West England region from 1 January 1982 until 31 December 1992, broadcasting from the former Westward Television studios in Plymouth, Devon.-Origins and Launch:...
contributed from company profits. In the TVS
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
region alone TVS donated £1 million from its own charity, the TVS Trust, in late May 1990.
Like the telethons in the US, the ITV Telethons also offered regional cut-ins by ITV companies all over the country, featuring personalities and local celebrities from that region such as the late Richard Whiteley
Richard Whiteley
John Richard Whiteley, OBE DL , usually known as Richard Whiteley, was an English broadcaster and journalist. He was famous for his twenty-three years as host of Countdown, a letters and numbers arrangement game show broadcast most weekdays on Channel 4...
for Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
or Ruth Madoc
Ruth Madoc
Ruth Madoc is a British actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Gladys Pugh in the 1980s BBC television comedy Hi-de-Hi!, and as Daffyd Thomas's mother in the second series of Little Britain.-Early life:...
for HTV Wales.
Criticism and the end of ITV Telethon
The plug was pulled after the 1992 telethon possibly due to the then recession which resulted in the ITV Telethon raising less money in 1992 than in 1990 and a culture change seen at ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
after franchise changes in 1993.
Other factors which have contributed to the ending of this event had possibly included protests from a group of disability rights activists from the actvist group, the Campaign for Accessible Transport, later known as the Direct Action Network. This had included a demonstration outside of LWT's
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
Kent House
The London Studios
The London Studios is a television studio complex which is owned by London Weekend Television and has been home to the London Weekend ITV provider since 1972...
where the main broadcast was located during the 1992 Telethon and two demonstrators had intruded on the studio when the broadcast took place.