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Prof. Frank McDonough

@FXMC1957 • 88,080 subscribers

Historian. I post a selection of facts that happened on This Day in History at 9:00 AM (BST). It’s a daily journey to inform, educate and entertain.

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Can we ban that “It’s Coming Home” song now.

Can we ban that “It’s Coming Home” song now.

237,871 views

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22 August 1962. The Beatles were filmed for the 1st time by Granada TV at the original Cavern Club in Liverpool. The filming occurred just a week after Pete Best was sacked from the group. This is the only film of The Beatles at the Cavern Club.

22 August 1962. The Beatles were filmed for the 1st time by Granada TV at the original Cavern Club in Liverpool. The filming occurred just a week after Pete Best was sacked from the group. This is the only film of The Beatles at the Cavern Club.

Prof. Frank McDonough

1,906,670 views • 28 days ago

13 September 1972. 1st episode of ITV crime drama series Van der Valk was broadcast. It featured a detective based in Amsterdam called Simon ("Piet") Van Der Valk, played by Barry Foster. There were 32 episodes produced, until 19 February 1992.

13 September 1972. 1st episode of ITV crime drama series Van der Valk was broadcast. It featured a detective based in Amsterdam called Simon ("Piet") Van Der Valk, played by Barry Foster. There were 32 episodes produced, until 19 February 1992.

Prof. Frank McDonough

89,732 views • 6 days ago

3 September 1939. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced on BBC radio at 11:15 AM that Germany had not responded to the British ultimatum to remove its troops from Poland and so “this country is at war with Germany”.

3 September 1939. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced on BBC radio at 11:15 AM that Germany had not responded to the British ultimatum to remove its troops from Poland and so “this country is at war with Germany”.

Prof. Frank McDonough

138,764 views • 16 days ago

17 March 1999. Rod Hull died (aged 63). He always appeared with Emu, a mute and highly aggressive arm-length puppet. Hull died in a tragic accident while trying to adjust the TV aerial on the roof of his bungalow, then slipping and falling to his death.

17 March 1999. Rod Hull died (aged 63). He always appeared with Emu, a mute and highly aggressive arm-length puppet. Hull died in a tragic accident while trying to adjust the TV aerial on the roof of his bungalow, then slipping and falling to his death.

Prof. Frank McDonough

1,764,410 views • 6 months ago

9 September 1955. 1st episode of the BBC children's series The Woodentops was broadcast. The main characters were the members of a family who live on a farm with their dog Spotty. There were 26 episodes.

9 September 1955. 1st episode of the BBC children's series The Woodentops was broadcast. The main characters were the members of a family who live on a farm with their dog Spotty. There were 26 episodes.

Prof. Frank McDonough

45,733 views • 10 days ago

18 July 2000. 1st series of reality TV show Big Brother began on Channel 4. It followed 11 contestants isolated from the outside world. The winner was Liverpudlian builder Craig Phillips who exposed Nick Bateman (“Nasty Nick”) for breaking house rules.

18 July 2000. 1st series of reality TV show Big Brother began on Channel 4. It followed 11 contestants isolated from the outside world. The winner was Liverpudlian builder Craig Phillips who exposed Nick Bateman (“Nasty Nick”) for breaking house rules.

Prof. Frank McDonough

246,538 views • 2 months ago

The opening of Private Ryan recreates the American landing on Omaha Beach.

The opening of Private Ryan recreates the American landing on Omaha Beach.

Prof. Frank McDonough

1,607,320 views • 2 years ago

Blue Peter presenters: Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves reunited in 2000 to open the Blue Peter Millennium Time Capsule they had buried on 7 June 1971.

Blue Peter presenters: Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves reunited in 2000 to open the Blue Peter Millennium Time Capsule they had buried on 7 June 1971.

Prof. Frank McDonough

192,681 views • 3 months ago

5 February 1976. In one of the greatest sporting moments, Austrian skier Franz Klammer produced an exceptional and exhilarating run to win the Men’s Downhill gold medal at the Innsbruck Winter Olympic Games.

5 February 1976. In one of the greatest sporting moments, Austrian skier Franz Klammer produced an exceptional and exhilarating run to win the Men’s Downhill gold medal at the Innsbruck Winter Olympic Games.

Prof. Frank McDonough

400,633 views • 7 months ago

31 October 1973. The 1st episode of the 26-part classic ITV documentary series, World at War, was broadcast. It was narrated by Laurence Olivier, with music by Carl Davies. It cost £900,000 (worth £11 million today).

31 October 1973. The 1st episode of the 26-part classic ITV documentary series, World at War, was broadcast. It was narrated by Laurence Olivier, with music by Carl Davies. It cost £900,000 (worth £11 million today).

Prof. Frank McDonough

904,567 views • 1 year ago

Richard Harris (died #OTD in 2002) tells a story about working on a London theatre productions of Macbeth with an anti-Irish leading actor.

Richard Harris (died #OTD in 2002) tells a story about working on a London theatre productions of Macbeth with an anti-Irish leading actor.

Prof. Frank McDonough

899,237 views • 1 year ago

Robert Redford (died #OTD in 2025) tells Michael Parkinson the story of a practical joke he played on his friend Paul Newman’s 50th birthday.

Robert Redford (died #OTD in 2025) tells Michael Parkinson the story of a practical joke he played on his friend Paul Newman’s 50th birthday.

Prof. Frank McDonough

386,495 views • 1 year ago

8 September 1976. 1st episode of the BBC sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin was broadcast. It starred Leonard Rossiter in the title role of a man who fakes his own death to escape suburbia. There were 3 series from 1976 to 1979.

8 September 1976. 1st episode of the BBC sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin was broadcast. It starred Leonard Rossiter in the title role of a man who fakes his own death to escape suburbia. There were 3 series from 1976 to 1979.

Prof. Frank McDonough

14,464 views • 11 days ago

“And the sun shines now.” The moving BBC radio commentary on the Hillsborough Disaster by Peter Jones. He never recovered from the trauma of Hillsborough. On 31 March 1990 he had a stroke during University Boat Race and died 36 hours later (aged 60).

“And the sun shines now.” The moving BBC radio commentary on the Hillsborough Disaster by Peter Jones. He never recovered from the trauma of Hillsborough. On 31 March 1990 he had a stroke during University Boat Race and died 36 hours later (aged 60).

Prof. Frank McDonough

151,712 views • 5 months ago

Kevin Keegan took part of the Be Smart, Be Safe road safety campaign in 1976.

Kevin Keegan took part of the Be Smart, Be Safe road safety campaign in 1976.

Prof. Frank McDonough

56,649 views • 2 months ago

12 October 1965. The 1st episode of the BBC dubbed French-German series, The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, was broadcast. It was much loved by its young audience. Only 13 episodes were produced, and the series ended on 4 January 1966.

12 October 1965. The 1st episode of the BBC dubbed French-German series, The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, was broadcast. It was much loved by its young audience. Only 13 episodes were produced, and the series ended on 4 January 1966.

Prof. Frank McDonough

466,882 views • 1 year ago

8 May 1945. 3 PM. Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech on BBC Radio.

8 May 1945. 3 PM. Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech on BBC Radio.

Prof. Frank McDonough

92,748 views • 4 months ago

Robert Redford (1936-2025). A famous scene from Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.

Robert Redford (1936-2025). A famous scene from Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.

Prof. Frank McDonough

169,441 views • 1 year ago

BBC Radio newsreader John Snagge gives the first news of the D-Day landing at 9:32 AM to the British public.

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BBC Radio newsreader John Snagge gives the first news of the D-Day landing at 9:32 AM to the British public.

Prof. Frank McDonough

203,721 views • 1 year ago

12 June 1981. The Specials released their classic No 1 single, Ghost Town in the UK, in the midst of the worst economic recession since the early 1930s.

12 June 1981. The Specials released their classic No 1 single, Ghost Town in the UK, in the midst of the worst economic recession since the early 1930s.

Prof. Frank McDonough

47,304 views • 3 months ago