1986 in British television
This is a list of British television related events from 1986. Events January 1 January New Year's Day highlights on BBC1 include a Paul Young concert simulcast with BBC Radio 1. The network television premieres of the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans and the 1979 Sylvester Stallone sequel Rocky II on BBC1. 2 January – A special edition of Tomorrow's World travels back a century to discover the latest developments in science and technology from 1886. 4 January – Televised football returns to British television after the contractual dispute from the previous year is resolved. 6 January – Debut of the children's animated series Jimbo and the Jet-Set on BBC1. 9 January Rowan Atkinson returns as Edmund Blackadder in the BBC1 comedy series Blackadder II, moving forward in time to the Elizabethan era. Also featuring Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson. BBC2 launches the follow-up series to the acclaimed political satire Yes Minister with Yes, Prime Minister. 10 January – Debut of the comedy-drama mystery series Lovejoy on BBC1, starring Ian McShane as the titular roguish antiques dealer, based on the novels by Jonathan Gash and it was adapted for television by Ian La Frenais.