2002 in Scottish television

Events

January

• 23 January – At a meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee in Westminster, BBC governor Robert Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin tells the committee that the possibility of a Six O'Clock News bulletin for Scotland will be considered again following next year's Scottish Parliament election.

February

• 4 February – MPs investigating broadcasting in Scotland visit Glasgow to hear evidence from academics and members of the Scottish Parliament.
• 11 February – On the same day that the BBC launches its two channels for children, CBeebies Alba is launched as the new programming slot for Children's Gaelic Programmes on BBC One Scotland at 2:55pm – 3:25pm every weekday .

March

• 14 March – 50th anniversary of BBC One Scotland.

June

• CBeebies Alba stops being broadcast on BBC One Scotland.

September

• 2 September – The preschool series Balamory is first broadcast on BBC.
• 24 September
  • Debut of Scottish soap River City.
  • Border Television is rebranded as ITV Border.

November

• The BBC's children's programming in Gaelic resume on BBC Two Scotland during CBeebies under the same name CBeebies Alba.

Debuts

BBC

• 13 March – Snoddy (2002)
• 26 April – Jeopardy on BBC One (2002–2004)
• 1 September – Still Game (2002–2007; 2016–2019)
• 2 September – Balamory (2002–2005)
• 24 September – River City on BBC One (2002–present)
• 7 October – Bits and Bobs on BBC Two (2002–2003)

Television series

• Scotsport (1957–2008)
• Reporting Scotland (1968–1983; 1984–present)
• Scotland Today (1972–2009)
• Sportscene (1975–present)
• The Beechgrove Garden (1978–present)
• Grampian Today (1980–2009)
• High Road (1980–2003)
• Taggart (1983–2010)
• Crossfire (1984–2004)
• Win, Lose or Draw (1990–2004)
• Only an Excuse? (1993–2020)
• Monarch of the Glen (2000–2005)

Ending this year

• 22 February – Chewin' the Fat (1999–2002)
• 12 December – Harry and the Wrinklies (1999–2002)

Deaths

• 29 August – Alan MacNaughtan, 82, actor
• October – William Dysart, 72, actor

References

References

1. (23 January 2002). "'Scottish Six' back on the agenda". BBC.
2. (4 February 2002). "MSPs have say over broadcasting". BBC.
3. "BBC - Press Office - Balamory".
4. (14 January 2009). "Scottish Cinema Now". Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
5. (17 November 2016). "BBC Sport in Black and White". Springer.
6. (6 August 2025). "Sportscene at 50: Famous faces back for anniversary".
7. (13 February 2020). "Performing Scottishness: Enactment and National Identities". Springer Nature.
8. (14 October 2016). "Contemporary British Television Crime Drama: Cops on the Box". Taylor & Francis.
9. "Hogmanay favourite Only an Excuse says cheerio. What did you think?".
10. (6 September 2017). "Monarch of the Glen cast - where are they now?".
11. "Alan MacNaughtan Public success of a very private man".