- There are no events for 1940 in British television as broadcasting has been suspended for the duration of the Second World War, amid fears that the signals would help German bombers. Television broadcasting resumes in 1946.
- 19 January – Mike Reid, entertainer, comedian and actor (died 2007)
- 22 January – John Hurt, actor (died 2017)
- 2 February – David Jason, born David White, actor[1]
- 6 February – Jimmy Tarbuck, comedian
- 12 February – Ralph Bates, English actor (died 1991)
- 20 February – Jimmy Greaves, footballer and television pundit (died 2021)
- 22 February – Judy Cornwell, English actress
- 5 March – Malcolm Hebden, actor (Coronation Street)
- 2 April – Penelope Keith, actress
- 10 April – Gloria Hunniford, Northern Irish television and radio presenter and singer
- 24 April – Chris Kelly, English television host and producer
- 7 June – Ronald Pickup, actor (died 2021)
- 16 June – Carole Ann Ford, actress
- 20 June – John Mahoney, actor (died 2018 in the United States)
- 22 June – Esther Rantzen, journalist and television presenter
- 23 June – Adam Faith, born Terry Nelhams, pop singer, screen actor and financial journalist (died 2003)
- 27 June – Eric Richard, actor
- 13 July – Patrick Stewart, actor
- 17 July – Tim Brooke-Taylor, broadcast comedy performer (died 2020)
- 31 July – Roy Walker, Northern Irish comedian
- 16 August – John Craven, journalist and television presenter
- 3 September – Pauline Collins, character actress
- 9 October – John Lennon, rock singer-songwriter, screen actor and activist (killed 1980 in the United States)
- 14 October
- 19 October – Michael Gambon, Irish-born actor (died 2023)
- 29 October – Jack Shepherd, actor, playwright, director and saxophonist
- 27 November – John Alderton, character actor
- 11 December – Tony Adams, Welsh actor
