See also: 1984 in television, other events of 1985, 1986 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1985-86 American network television schedule.

Events

• February 18 - The legendary "mirror globe" ident is seen for the last time in regular rotation on BBC1.
• May 17 - The season finale of Dallas finds Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) on his deathbed after his crazed ex-sister in law runs him down in her car.
• May - In the UK, the World Snooker Championship Final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis draws BBC2's highest ever rating of 18 million viewers.
• August 19 - David Letterman interrupts The Today Show with a megaphone while both shows are on the air. Letterman leaned out the window of his building and announced "My name is Larry Grossman (then president of NBC News) and I'm not wearing any pants!". The Today Show was taping an interview several stories below.
• September 14 - In part one of a three-part season premiere on The Facts of Life, Edna's Edibles, the main focal point of the long-running series since 1983, was burned to the ground.
• December 8 - Lindenstraße, the first German soap opera, first airs on das Erste.
• NBC becomes the first commercial television network to use satellite interconnection for its stations; as a result, it is the first station to discontinue use of chime intonations at the beginning of each telecast, to signal to the affiliates to start airing the network feed.
• Elmo, a new character for Sesame Street, is introduced.
• Douglas Marland starts his critically-acclaimed eight-year run writing for As the World Turns.
• Sabado Gigante moves from Chile to Univision studios in Miami, Florida.

Debuts

• March 5 - Moonlighting premieres on ABC (1985-1989).
• March 15 - Mr. Belvedere, based on a series of three films starring Clifton Webb, premieres on ABC (1985-1990).
• September 14 - The Golden Girls premieres on NBC (1985-1992).
• September 14 - 227 premieres on NBC (1985-1990).
• September 24 - Growing Pains premieres on ABC (1985-1992).
• September 29 - MacGyver premieres on ABC (1985-1992).
• October 4 - The short-lived Misfits of Science premieres (1985).
• EastEnders premieres on the BBC (1985-present).
• Edge of Darkness premieres (1985).
• Neighbours premieres in Australia (1985-present).
• Sally premieres (1985-2002).
• What's Happening Now!!, a sequel to the 1970s sitcom What's Happening!!, premieres in syndication (1985-1988).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
• American Bandstand (1952-1989).
• Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Tonight Show (1954-present).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• As the World Turns (1956-present).
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
• Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
• Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
• General Hospital (1963-present).
• Another World (1964-1999).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
• Play School (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
• 60 Minutes (1968-present).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• Hee Haw (1969-1993).
• Sesame Street (1969-present).
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969-1989).
• All My Children (1970-present).
• Monday Night Football (1970-present).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
• Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987).
• Soul Train (1971-present).
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
• The Price Is Right (1972-present).
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
• Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1986).
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
• Countdown (Australia) (1974-1987).
• Derrick (1974-1998).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Good Morning America (1975-present).
• Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975-1994).
• Ryan's Hope (1975-1989).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• Superstars (UK) (1975-1985, 2003-present).
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
• The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987).
• The Love Boat (1977-1986).
• 20/20 (1978-present).
• 3-2-1 (UK) (1978-1987).
• Dallas (1978-1991).
• Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986).
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
• Benson (1979-1986).
• Knots Landing (1979-1993).
• The Facts of Life (1979-1988).
• Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986).
• You Can't Do That on Television (Canada) (1979-1990).
• Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988).
• Solid Gold (1980-1988).
• Too Close for Comfort (1980-1986).
• Dynasty (1981-1989).
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• Falcon Crest (1981-1990).
• Gimme a Break! (1981-1987).
• Hill Street Blues (1981-1987).
• Simon & Simon (1981-1988).
• The Fall Guy (1981-1986).
• Today's Special (Canada) (1981-1987).
• Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988).
• Cheers (1982-1993).
• Fame (1982-1987).
• Family Ties (1982-1989).
• Knight Rider (1982-1986).
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993).
• Newhart (1982-1990).
• Remington Steele (1982-1987).
• Silver Spoons (1982-1987).
• St. Elsewhere (1982-1988).
• The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992).
• Fraggle Rock (1983-1988).
• Loving (1983-1995).
• Press Your Luck (1983-1986).
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987).
• The A-Team (1983-1987).
• Webster (1983-1989).
• Highway to Heaven (1984-1989).
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
• Kate and Allie (1984-1989).
• Miami Vice (1984-1989).
• Mother and Son (Australia) (1984-1994).
• Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996).
• Night Court (1984-1992).
• Punky Brewster (1984-1988).
• Santa Barbara (1984-1993).
• Tales from the Darkside (1984-1988).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• The Cosby Show (1984-1992).
• The Jetsons (1962-1963, 1984-1985, 1987).
• Who's the Boss? (1984-1992).
• It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
• The Twilight Zone (1959-1964, 1985-1988, 2002).

Ending this year

• World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985).
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985).
• The Jeffersons (1975-1985).
• Alice (1976-1985).
• Battle of the Planets (1978-1985).
• The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985).
• Tucker's Luck (UK) (1983-1985).
• Cover Up (1984-1985).
• The Gillies Report (Australia) (1984-1985).

Changes of network affiliation

• Diff'rent Strokes moves from NBC to ABC.

Births

• January 1 - Keeley Fawcett , British actress.
• October 11 - Michelle Trachtenberg, American actress.

Deaths

• February 12 - Nicholas Colasanto , actor (Ernie "Coach" Pantuso) on Cheers.
• May 8 - Dolph Sweet, actor {Carl Kanisky} on Gimme a Break!.
• May 13 - Selma Diamond , actress on Night Court, supposedly the inspiration for a character on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
• October 2 - Rock Hudson, actor.
• October 12 - Johnny Olson, announcer of The Price Is Right and other game shows.
• November 1 - Phil Silvers, actor, comedian.
• November 29 - Bill Scott, voice actor of Bullwinkle the moose.
• December 31 - Ricky Nelson, actor (on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet), musician, killed in a plane crash.