 Thunderbirds premiered on British television on 30 September 1965 on the ITV franchises ATV Midlands , Westward and Channel . Other broadcasters , including ATV London and Granada , started transmissions the following month . The Christmas @-@ themed series finale , " Give or Take a Million " , was first broadcast on 25 December 1966 . Despite Grade 's decision to extend the running time , Midlands and Granada broadcast each episode in two parts . In these areas , both 25 @-@ minute instalments aired on the same day , separated by the ITN Evening News . The conclusion opened with a narration by Shane Rimmer summarising the first part 's action . 
 Thunderbirds premiered on British television on 30 September 1965 on the ITV <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>franchises</mark></a> ATV Midlands , Westward and Channel . Other broadcasters , including ATV London and Granada , started transmissions the following month . The Christmas @-@ themed series finale , " Give or Take a Million " , was first broadcast on 25 December 1966 . Despite Grade <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>decision to extend the running time , Midlands and Granada <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>broadcast</mark></a> each episode in two parts . In these areas , both 25 @-@ minute instalments aired on the same day , separated by the ITN Evening News . The conclusion opened with a narration by Shane Rimmer summarising the first part <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>action . 
Thunderbirds premiered on British television on 30 September 1965 on da ITV franchise ATV Midlands , Westward and Channel . Other broadcasters , including ATV London and Granada , started transmissions tdafollowing month . The xmas @-@ themed series finale , " Give or Take a Million " , was first broadcast on 25 December 1966 . Despite Grade  decision to extend the running time , Midlands and Granada broadcasted each episode in two parts . In these areas , both 25 @-@ minute instalments aired on the same day , separated by thdaTN Evening News . Thedanclusion opened w/ a narration by Shane Rimmer summarising the first part  action .