From couch-jumping to car giveaways, moments from 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' to remember

On this day 34 years ago, a revolutionary daytime talk show aired for the first time in America. Here, we look at its legacy

Oprah Winfrey became internationally famous thanks to the success of her talk show.

THE Oprah Winfrey Show aired for the first time on this day in 1986. It ran for 25 years and won over 45 Daytime Emmy Awards. From the first episode on ‘How to Marry the Man or Woman of Your Choice’, to its tearful farewell in 2011, the show and its host had a huge impact on the United States and beyond. Consistently number one in the talk show ratings, it spent years as the highest-rated programme in daytime television.

Against the odds