 Thunderbirds premiered on British television on 30 September 1965 on the ITV franchises ATV Midlands , <unk> 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 <unk> Evening News . The conclusion opened with a narration by Shane Rimmer <unk> the first part 's action . 
