17:35 – Sheepy’s opening music.
17:40 – Thames TV morning start-up music.
17:45 – Only When I Laugh – S02E02 – Where There’s a Will – A sitcom made by Yorkshire Television for ITV, written by Eric Chappell (Rising Damp, Home to Roost). It stars Christopher Strauli as Norman, a rather naive middle-class man who is admitted to a hospital ward and finds that he is sharing it with a working-class layabout called Figgis (James Bolam) and an upper-class hypochondriac called Archie (Peter Bowles). All three of them cause headaches for the hospital staff, led by Richard Wilson with Derrick Branche. This week, Glover does not take kindly to eccentric new patient Joe Perkins – with his invisible dog – due to his lack of hygiene and use of Glover’s drinking tumbler for his false teeth. However when he discovers that Joe’s tin box contains a fortune and the man is considering changing his will, Glover – and Norman – both fawn on him to get into his good books. First broadcast on Tue 6th May 1980 by ITV. Guest-starring Patrick Troughton!
18:09 – Michael Bentine’s Potty Time S01E20 – Potty School – a British children’s TV show, written by and starring Michael Bentine, and directed and produced by Leon Thau for Thames Television. This week, Mr. Bentine and the Potties get all scholastic. First broadcast on Mon 25th Mar 1974 by ITV. In which it is revealed that the VT Clock man’s name is Patrick.
18:21 – Ace of Wands S03E05/20 – The Power of Atep: Part 2/4 – a British fantasy children’s television show broadcast on ITV between 1970 and 1972. It was created by Trevor Preston and Pamela Lonsdale and produced by Thames Television. It ran for two seasons of thirteen episodes each, and a third season of twenty, which is the only series that still exists. Telepathic stage magician, Tarot, and his two assistants solve mysteries and crimes of a bizarre or magical nature, and battle against villains with various powers. This week, a strange dream about Egypt, shared by Tarot and Mikki, and a powerful voice at a séance, continues to lead Tarot and friends to the tomb of Atep in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. There Tarot confronts his former stage partner and double, Quabal. First broadcast on Wed 16th Aug 1972 by ITV.
18:45 – Clangers S02E07 – The Noise Machine – the famous Oliver Postgate / Peter Firmin stop-motion children’s television series about a family of mouse-like creatures who live on, and inside, a small moon-like planet. This week, the Clangers assemble a machine they find in space, and the Iron Chick gets into trouble. First broadcast on Sun 30th May 1971 at 4.40pm by BBC1.
18:54 – Star Trek (The Original Series) – S02E05 – The Apple – This week, the crew of the Enterprise visits a planet whose primitive inhabitants live only to worship a god, who then orders them to kill visitors from the Enterprise. First broadcast in the USA on Fri 13th Oct 1967 by NBC. The episode guest-stars a young David Soul (of Starsky & Hutch fame) as one of the Feeders of Vaal. Also, the episode makes the only TOS in-series reference to the saucer section being able to separate from the rest of the Enterprise when Kirk is discussing options for Scotty to save the ship
19:45 – Spaced S01E03 – Art – the famous British sitcom created, written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright, about the (comedic and sometimes farcical and action-packed) misadventures of Daisy Steiner and Tim Bisley, two twenty-something Londoners who, despite only having just met, decide to move in together after she gives up on squatting and he is kicked out by his ex-girlfriend. Supporting roles include Nick Frost as Tim’s best friend Mike, Katy Carmichael as Daisy’s best friend Twist, Mark Heap as lodger Brian who lives downstairs and Julia Deakin as landlady Marsha. This week, Tim has been up all night playing Resident Evil and is still feeling the effects of some speed that he bought. Daisy has an interview at a new women’s magazine publisher. Brian’s ex-partner of performing art, Vulva, invites him to a showing of his newest performance piece. Daisy and Tim join him. Tim freaks out and starts seeing everyone as Zombies because of the mix of booze, speed, Twiglets (which make him violent) and the lack of sleep he’s had. When Vulva acts rudely towards Brian, Tim comes to the rescue with his hallucinations. First broadcast on Fri 8th Oct 1999 by Channel 4. This episode served as the inspiration for Shaun of the Dead. WARNING: Contains David Walliams.
20:10 – Special Branch – S02E08 – Borderline Case – Groundbreaking British police drama series following the exploits of the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police: an elite group of officers tasked with protecting London from spies, terrorists, and subversives. This week, while a member of the SB team keeps watch on Karl Peters’ flat, Inman and his team scan though his charge sheet. They believe he will attempt to incite London dockworkers into taking industrial action against their employers. First broadcast on Tue 30th Sept 1970 by ITV.
21:00 – Eurotrash S03E01 – The legendary late-night magazine show starring Antoine de Caunes and Jean-Paul Gaultier, exploring unusual and bizarre topics from Europe and around the world. This week we have Dr Seduction, Vanessa Demouy/Classe Mannequin, Marcus Schenkenberg, Japanese Yodeller, Ugly Club, Sarah Young. First broadcast on Fri 14th Oct 1994 by Channel 4.
21:22 – A Bouquet of Barbed Wire E07/07 – Leave-Taking – a drama series based on the novel by Andrea Newman published in 1969. Starring Frank Finlay, Susan Penhaligon and Sheila Allen, it was produced by London Weekend Television for ITV. The series is known for its treatment of family and sexual dynamics, focused on the relationship between father and daughter. This week, in the last of the series, Prue delivers a baby girl, Sarah moves to Frankfurt, Peter and Cassie reconcile and everything seems fine until tragedy strikes. First broadcast on Fri 20th Feb 1976 by ITV. Next time we will rejoin this happiest of families in the 1977 sequel series Another Bouquet.
22:14 – There’s Nothing to Worry About! E03/03 – a sketch comedy show that was the first screen collaboration between the comedy duo Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Other cast members include Emma Thompson, Ben Elton, Paul Shearer and Siobhan Redmond. The show was designed by ITV as an answer to the popular BBC series Not the Nine O’Clock News. Rik Mayall was initially approached to star, but he dropped out. Just three episodes of the show were produced, and it was only broadcast in Granada Television’s ITV region. The same cast was then used for the sketch show Alfresco (1983-4), albeit with Shearer replaced by Robbie Coltrane, which ran for two series nationwide. There’s Nothing to Worry About effectively worked as a pilot for Alfresco and several sketches from the former were reproduced in the latter. First broadcast on Fri 18th Jun 1982 by ITV, in the Granada region ONLY. Previously shown on CABTV by Phil_A on Sun 26th Jan 2020. Next week I shall be starting a full run of Alfresco itself.
22:40 – Rock Follies S01E05 – The Pounds Sterling – a musical drama shown on ITV in the 1970s. The storyline followed the ups and downs of a fictional female rock band called the Little Ladies, as they struggled for recognition and success. The series starred Rula Lenska, Charlotte Cornwell and Julie Covington as the Little Ladies, with support from Emlyn Price, Beth Porter, Sue Jones-Davies, Bob Hoskins, Stephen Moore, Derek Thompson, Denis Lawson and Little Nell among others. The series was made on a small low budget for Thames Television, with a style inspired by fringe theatre. It was based on an original idea by Annabel Leventon, Diane Langton and Gaye Brown. The series was a success and won three BAFTA Awards, and the soundtrack album reached No. 1 in the UK chart. This week, a rich Liverpudlian of Greek origins seems likely to provide much-needed financial support. First broadcast on Tue 23rd Mar 1976 by ITV.
23:33 – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (TV Series) E05/06 – The infamous TV adaptation of Douglas Adams’ award-winning radio series, largely ruined by Alan J. W. Bell’s production, although Rod Lord’s brilliant Book animations save it. This week, having been blown to smithereens when a computer exploded on the planet of Magrathea, Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Trillian and Zaphod Beeblebrox are somewhat mystified when they find themselves in some sort of restaurant – apparently at the end of the Universe. First broadcast on Mon 2nd Feb 1981 at 9.00pm by BBC2.
00:06 – Closedown music.
00:11 – Closedown.