Which episode was first advertised as being in colour?

The episode first advertised as being in colour was “Man’s Crisis of Identity in the Latter Half of the 20th Century,” commonly shortened to “Man’s Crisis of Identity.”

It was Series 1, Episode 5, broadcast on 16 November 1969. The BBC had already transmitted colour programmes unofficially during the opening months of the series, so the distinction concerns advertising and programme publicity rather than the episode being the first one actually made or broadcast in colour.

BBC1 officially began regular colour broadcasting on 15 November 1969. That timing explains the apparent oddity: the episode aired immediately after the official launch, making it the first Flying Circus instalment promoted with colour explicitly noted. Earlier episodes had still been produced and transmitted in colour under the BBC’s transitional arrangements.

The episode includes “Confuse-a-Cat,” “The Smuggler,” “Police Raid,” “Newsreader Arrested,” “Erotic Film,” and the “Silly Job Interview.” The episode title is also frequently shortened in listings, but the longer form is the canonical title.