Channel 4 turns 40: Four decades of news in four minutes

It's exactly 40 years since the very first edition of Channel 4 News. Our top stories? Rather familiar: spending cuts, strikes, and British involvement in an overseas war.
Some of the familiar faces have changed but we've kept on striving to bring you the most diverse voices and the most challenging journalism - along with just a dash of mischief.
Here are some of the highlights of the last four decades - in four minutes.

[@commoneuropeanstarling]

Thank you for all the good work you have done over the last 40 years. As a ten-year-old, the launch of a very snowy/grainy Channel 4 at 16.45 pm was something special and it remains one of the most memorable moments on TV. As for Channel 4 news, I vaguely remember the TV Times advertising it as britain's first hour-long news. Happy birthday, C4.

[@garrysimpson1395]

Here Here!

[@PhillCurtis]

Genuinely unsure where we would be in the UK without channel 4 News reporting. Thank you for what you do!

[@rayray117]

Channel 4 feels like a budget independent news channel and mainstream at the same time. I love it lol

[@SpidermanInLondon]

May Channel 4 stay in the public domain.

[@antispindr8613]

But how can it be a public domain media outlet if it takes adverts?

[@jackcrawford3921]

​@@antispindr8613it's government owned but funded by advertising. I think S4C in Wales is also similar too, but some of their funding also comes from the licence fee

[@JuanJose16]

Happy Birthday, Channel 4 news. Here's to the next 40!

[@lesbleus71]

American watcher of Channel 4 here. Big fan for years. From across the pond-- keep up the great work!

[@philippepalmer2968]

I would imagine like so many people who have followed C4 news over these last 40 years including me,I have sometimes disagreed with some of your editorial decisions you have made in covering various stories but thank you for never shying from how you covered and presented the news even the uncomfortable ones to us and getting behind front page headlines but also the stories that never make the headlines but there is still something of worth to report.As the 18th century french philosopher Denis Diderot once said “All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings.”

[@gmuzz]

Really wanted you to include Krishnan's hot mike comment about Steve Baker. Definitely my highlight of the last 40 years

[@bimb0cat]

And Cathy's embarrassing confrontation with Jordan Peterson. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l37Gm6uJic13a5Y

[@AshOrAshes_]

That theme song will never get old.

[@haroon420]

It’s so nostalgic. Reminds me of my granddad!! I don’t want it changed or updated.

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Gary Gibbon and Krishnan have been it for a long time, I didn't even realise.

[@jayplay8140]

Best news reporting on the planet bar none , thanks for everything and here's to another 40 years

[@antispindr8613]

Careful not to over do it. For while C4 News might be better than other media outlets, it is still corporate-ish news

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

40 years goes by so fast. So much has changed in that time but sadly the news is still a depressing spotlight of what humans do to each other. Great coverage over the years from Ch4.

[@DabyhCinacchi]

Happy Birthday, Channel 4 of UK.

[@kingstannisbaratheon7974]

One of the best news channels

[@haroon420]

I remember watching Jon Snow from a very young age!! After Jon Snow, it’s Krishen Gurumurthy who has been the channel4 news anchor. A very suitable person to pass the baton on too. I just hope and pray that Krishen stays for the next few decades and hands over the baton at the right time to the right person. Lots of love to the whole team!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@peterwilliamskelhorn6675]

@haroon420 Krishnan is on strictly Dancing with Lauren Oakley

[@An-Orange-Fox]

The best news broadcaster.

[@dramat1cz]

Happy Anniversary to you all at Channel 4 News :)

[@thtsoi3]

Thank you

[@jcampton1]

Keep telling your friends about "Channel 4 News from ITN" because it's what the British television news landscape needs not just now but forever.

[@sweetypietwo]

Well done guys amazing journalism 👏

[@richsees8988]

Love Channel 4

[@wrestlingp]

Many thanks to Channel 4 News for their incredible reporting over the last 40 years. Always been the most trustworthy coverage the UK provides and has done well to shield itself from the meddling of the current UK govt.

[@baljeetd]

Thank you. Better stories and more credibility than the BBC these days...

[@SallyMangos]

"What a ....!" Lol

[@LloydAnd]

Viva Channel 4 News!

[@ruchpat1]

Congrats on your 40th🎉

[@maxedge67]

The best news program on British TV.

[@mihaim9538]

Extraordinary. Thank you.

[@rajnirvan3336]

Peter Sissons was the original and 1 of the best. I'll remember watching him before Channel 4 News on ITV when on News At 1

[@izzibreezes68]

Bravo! THANK YOU!!!

[@fusionsuper34]

4 decades, probably over 40 different faces and one mainstream media news programme that faced every challenge that was thrown at them. Somethings never change though, the studio set/room which has been in existence since January 1999 and the famous theme song that always opens the show every night and may that continue. Happy birthday Channel Four News.

[@cathcath1324]

Love channel 4, best film seasons growing up, best comedies growing up and best homemade stuff too. The news is also the best

[@rhessex]

The best.

[@mrduckspeak]

Keep up the good work!

[@sabuein]

Thank you and keep going on.

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Jon Snow should have been kept on. He did not plan to retire as I understand it. If so, why was he replaced. By far the best presenter of the programme by a country mile, empathetic and engaged in stories. He had the best and most moving interactions with the public I have seen of any journalist on television, notably though not exclusively when he reported from Grenfell Tower for several days in the aftermath of the disaster. Channel 4 has other excellent journalists like Krishnan Guru Murthy and Alex Thomson but Jon Snow is the best in the last forty years.

[@maxinewest4096]

Thank God for people who gives the news, it keeps the world inform.

[@garrysimpson1395]

Oh so young those reporters were!

[@chrisgreen6259]

Amazing journalists - thank you Ch4 News.

[@hgilbert]

Always before clicking Channel 4, I sing: Pa-Pa-Paaah ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ Ta-Ta-Taaah ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ Pa-Pa-Paah, Ta-ta-Taaah .. Pa-Pa-Paah ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ It's obligatory.

[@lauralishes1]

Best news channel in the UK

[@mga59xbd38]

Impeccable journalism.

[@fburton8]

I’m definitely going to tell my friends about Channel 4 News!

[@hollywaz]

Proper journalism

[@fToo]

"now tell your friends" they should bring this line back !

[@johnnyboo8243]

Keep up the good work 🙂

[@Mark_Brooks]

John Snow FTW!

[@ashroskell]

I miss the old theme. I have to say that (apart from the wonderful constant of John Snow) this channel’s news coverage has been truly outstanding of late. It still suffers from the domestic issues around politics coverage, where all channels, “play the game,” with Westminster so as to keep in the good books and get those exclusive interviews, which undermines our democracy and has contributed to its slow erosion over the years. But their coverage of the Ukraine war has been outstanding.

[@gerryburntwood9617]

Feeling old watching this, but thank you for jogging the memory, , you e had some amazing reporters, and interviewers, missing a Zainab Badawi, too!

[@AndrogyneMichinaga]

The best TV news programme.

[@frixosfriedman7813]

Thank you channel 4

[@pfifo_fast]

Better than 4 years of channel 40's news

[@RankinMsP]

Best news network by a country mile. Miss Jon Snow

[@Adnaan98-ONIIL]

Channel 4 is where I get the news from.

[@77funtomas]

Has anybody found any good news within these 4 minutes summarizing their 40 years of existence !?

[@feeamerie5011]

I feel oooooold.

[@SuperSagittaria]

Thank you Channel 4 News - the best at what you do! Happy 40th Birthday!

[@bigbirdcage753]

Quality news reporting. Not a pinch of Sue Turton

[@ReyGumatas1993]

0:43 Let Bygone the Baygon 😀😄😅😂😆🤣

[@markreynolds8630]

The best!

[@rosemanbridge1000]

Great news show! You should have shown Peterson/Newman though!!

[@emm_arr]

It's much less good than the trolls think it is.

[@patrickeffiom97]

Cruella would be very upset with you, Krishnan-You're helping them in?!!

[@fj103]

Happy birthday

[@Thunderer0872]

I was 12 when filth on 4... sorry I mean Channel 4 launched seems like yesterday.

[@SRSR-pc8ti]

Thank-you Channel 4! It's been (mostly) a pleasure.

[@lloydmeadows3471]

No mention of Sheena McDonald?

[@OliverUnderTheMoon]

No Tarantino? :D

[@ashooaway]

Cheers to hopefully another 40 years of public self funded amazing news

[@metapol118]

dont change the song

[@chrisjoyce415]

Where’s Daljit Dhaliwal????😮

[@gailplatt1]

I miss john snow but also like all the presenters equal

[@ItsKyleMang]

So what your saying is....

[@emm_arr]

shyt trolling.

[@ItsKyleMang]

@@emm_arr That is a great description of the content from this channel.

[@emm_arr]

@@ItsKyleMang You're shyt and you got trolled. You Russians have such fun.

[@emm_arr]

@@ItsKyleMang You're shyt and you got trolled.

[@ItsKyleMang]

@@emm_arr I don't think you know what trolling means.

[@bimb0cat]

You missed out this bit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l37Gm6uJic13a5Y

[@haroon420]

Was the trump MAGA slogan moment an exclusive???

[@kenmasonj4812]

We will fail everytime; it is in our nature 2 SIN. It is only through the *****(BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST)***** that we can acquire complete Forgiveness by Accepting Jesus as our Savior, and ask 4 FORGIVENESS of your SINS, and accept that JESUS shed His BLOOD 2 atone for your Sins if u repent. Then PRAISE the name of GOD. And then ask God for HELP with anything that you need help with. It REALLY works.

[@joshm6683]

Fake news

[@emm_arr]

^^shyt trolling

[@tomb4250]

40 years of propaganda

[@emm_arr]

^^shyt trolling

[@fuckbankers]

I remember that bus.

[@fuckbankers]

I hope the Tories don't get their way and end Channel 4.

[@fuckbankers]

Grenfell R.I.P.

[@cashmoney8547]

Watch channel 4s KZbin documentary called “ Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields “ - it’s a must watch

[@pedrolplgm]

OJO CON LAS DROGAS EN RTVE.

[@ovaughan3836]

What started out as a decent news channel is now no better than the "Sun " and just a total propaganda tool

[@jeremygilpin4282]

I think it’s you that is probably the tool

[@antispindr8613]

Really sad, but very true. Then again, no matter how much effort they put in - they cannot fool all the people, all the time.

[@ovaughan3836]

@@jeremygilpin4282 I guess we shall just assume you are just pretty stupid and blind or both

[@emm_arr]

@@ovaughan3836 Your lame trolling is obvious.

[@ovaughan3836]

@@emm_arr what is obvious is that you are far too stupid to see through the tripe and propaganda pushed on you by ch4 and its ilk