17:35 – Sheepy’s opening caption and music.
17:40 – Thames TV morning start-up music.
17:45 – Only When I Laugh – S04E06 – When Did You Last See Your Father? – 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, Charlie, an elderly drunk, arrives at the hospital, claiming that he is looking for his son, from whom he has long been estranged, and Figgis is employed to find out more… First broadcast on Thu 9th Dec 1982 by ITV.
18:10 – Michael Bentine’s Potty Time S03E01 – Ancient Britain / 20,000 Potty Leagues Under the Sea – a British children’s TV show, written by and starring Michael Bentine, and directed and produced by Leon Thau for Thames Television. This week, when the Romans left Ancient Britain, the Potty Britons faced constant raids from the Picts, Scots, Danes and Vikings; we learn how they defended themselves in those turbulent times. Then we go 20,000 leagues under the sea with Professor Pottomax and his assistant Bonjour, in search of the elusive Captain Potto. First broadcast on Tue 4th Jan 1977 by ITV.
18:32 – The Gemini Factor S01E03 – The Clock Tower – a 1987 six-part children’s serial starring Louisa Haigh and Charlie Creed-Miles, written by Paula Milne, directed by Renny Rye, and produced by Sheila Kinany for Thames TV. A twin brother and sister separated at birth. Two halves forming the Yin and Yang. Two telepathic minds. An ancient clock tower. A mystery to keep the mind alert. This week… well the series is obscure enough to have no Wiki page and a fairly minimal IMDb presence, so your guess is as good as mine! First broadcast on Mon 16th Nov 1987 by ITV.
18:58 – Clangers (New CBeebies Version) S01E14 – Tiny’s Orchestra – the 2010s reboot of the famous early-1970s 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, Tiny is stuck for ideas for a new tune to make up, so she asks Mother and Major what kind of tune they would most like to hear. Major wants something ‘bold and stirring’, while Mother would like something ‘light and charming’. Tiny’s best attempts to please them both come to nothing, until a ride on a Skymoo gives her the inspiration she needs. First broadcast on Thu 2nd Jul 2015 at 5.30pm by CBeebies.
19:09 – Star Trek (The Original Series) S02E26 – Assignment: Earth – This week, in the last of the second series, while back in time observing Earth in 1968, the Enterprise crew encounters the mysterious Gary Seven who has his own agenda on the planet. First broadcast in the USA on Fri 29th Mar 1968 by NBC. This was originally written as a standalone half-hour television series; when no network chose to order a pilot, the script was reworked to fit into Star Trek as a backdoor pilot for the proposed Assignment: Earth series. The spin-off series was never produced.
19:59 – Tales of the Unexpected S01E07 – Edward the Conqueror – a British television series that aired between 1979 and 1988. Each episode told a story, often with sinister and wryly comedic undertones, with an unexpected twist ending. Every episode of series one, eight episodes of series two, and one episode of series three were based on short stories by Roald Dahl, who provided introductions for the first two series. This week, a musically appreciative stray cat comes between an elderly husband and wife. First broadcast on Sat 5th May 1979 by ITV.
20:25 – Special Branch S03E04 – Assault – After a two-and-a-half-year break (Nov 1970 – Apr 1973) on original transmission, this show returned in a completely revamped form, now made by Euston Films in their first-ever production for Thames TV. It now stars George Sewell as DCI Alan Craven, with support from an on-off combination of Roger Rowland as DS Bill North and Patrick Mower as DCI Tom Haggerty. This week, Haggerty’s father is beaten into a coma in the latest of a series of attacks on travelers. At first the case falls outside of Special Branch’s jurisdiction, but when sensitive government documents are stolen from the next victim, the team launch a manhunt. First broadcast on Wed 25th Apr 1973 by ITV. This episode features Richard “Slartibartfast” Vernon, and was directed by Douglas Camfield.
21:16 – Eurotrash S06E03 – 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 Nikie, Mr Penguin, Romeo Cleaners, Erotica Festival, Julia Valet, Supermodel Shopping: Vladimir, Sit On Me, Heiko, Eve Vorley, Scandinavian Sports. First broadcast on Fri 26th Apr 1996 by Channel 4.
21:40 – NEW! – The Persuaders! E01/24 – Overture – A British action comedy television series starring Tony Curtis and Roger Moore, produced by ITC Entertainment, and initially broadcast on ITV and ABC in 1971. The show has been called ‘the last major entry in the cycle of adventure series that began 11 years earlier with Danger Man in 1960’, as well as ‘the most ambitious and most expensive of Sir Lew Grade’s international action adventure series’. It was filmed in Britain, France, and Italy between May 1970 and June 1971. The series’ synth-laden theme music was composed by John Barry.
Premise: The Persuaders are two equally-matched men from different backgrounds who reluctantly team together to solve cases that the police and the courts cannot.
Danny Wilde, portrayed by Tony Curtis, is a rough diamond, educated and moulded in the slums of New York City, who escaped by enlisting in the US Navy. He later became a millionaire in the oil business, subsequently making and then losing several fortunes as a Wall Street investor. Curtis himself had suffered a tough childhood in the Bronx, and also had served in the US Navy. Curtis was 46 when he made The Persuaders, but he performed all his own stunts and fight sequences.
Lord Brett Rupert George Robert Andrew Sinclair, played by Roger Moore, is a polished British nobleman, educated at Harrow and Oxford, a former British Army officer and an ex-racing car driver, who addresses his colleague as “Daniel”.
A pair of globe-trotting millionaire playboys, the men are brought together by retired Judge Fulton (Laurence Naismith) in the French Riviera. They instantly dislike each other and destroy a hotel bar during a fist-fight. They are arrested and delivered to Fulton, who offers them the choice of spending 90 days in jail or helping him to right errors of impunity. Grudgingly, Wilde and Sinclair agree to help Fulton to solve a case. He then releases them from any threat of jail. The men develop a sparing affection for each other and soon stumble into more adventures, sometimes by chance, sometimes on commission from Judge Fulton.
This week: Two unsigned personal invitations will bring the titled Englishman, Lord Brett Sinclair and the self-made oil tycoon, the American Danny Wilde to Monaco for an encounter with a stunning brunette and the Mediterranean crime syndicate. First broadcast on Fri 17th Sep 1971 by ITV.
22:30 – Girls on Top S02E01 – Mr Fluffy Knows Too Much – a British sitcom, broadcast on ITV in 1985 & 1986, made by Allan McKeown’s Witzend Productions for Central Independent Television. It starred Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracey Ullman with Joan Greenwood. It was written by French, Saunders and Wax, with additional material for two episodes written by Ullman. It was produced & directed by Paul Jackson (S1) and Ed Bye (S2). Both theme and incidental music were written and perforned by Chris Difford & Glenn Tillbrook. This week, at the start of the second series, when the girls learn Candice has died, they blame themselves, as well as each other, for murdering her, and try to cover it up. First broadcast on Thu 30th Oct 1986 at 9.00pm by ITV. This is the final, audio-only, appearance of Tracey Ullman as Candice Valentine. Also guest-stars Harry Enfield. This show will still be broadcast at 75% volume, until they change the theme tune next week, and maybe not even then. 🙂
22:55 – Agony S03E01 – From Here to Maternity – An ITV sitcom that aired from 1979 to 1981. Made by London Weekend Television, it stars Maureen Lipman as Jane Lucas who has a successful career as an agony aunt but whose own personal life is a shambles. It was created by Len Richmond and real-life agony aunt Anna Raeburn, both of whom wrote all of the first series. The second and third series were written by Stan Hey and Andrew Nickolds. This week, at the start of the third series, reconciled with Laurence and heavily pregnant, Jane decides to quit her jobs at the magazine and radio show to spend more time at home. First broadcast on Sun 18th Jan 1981 by ITV.
23:21 – NEW! – Fanny Hill E01/02 – a two-part BBC adaptation of John Cleland’s controversial 1748 novel Fanny Hill, written by Andrew Davies and directed by James Hawes. This is the first television adaptation of the novel. It tells the story of a young country girl (Rebecca Night) who is lured into prostitution in 18th-century London. This week: on the death of her parents, innocent young Northerner Fanny Hill meets her worldly friend Esther, who invites her down to London to get a job. Esther introduces her to Mrs Brown, who runs a brothel, but Fanny is so naïve that she has no idea what she is expected to do. When confronted by a regular customer, the rude and choleric Mr Crofts, she is appalled by his demands and Mrs Brown has to cover for her. Some time later at a party she meets handsome young Charles and the pair fall idyllically in love. They plan to marry but need Charles’ father’s permission. Unfortunately he turns out to be Mr Crofts… First broadcast on Mon 22nd Oct 2007 by BBC4.
00:19 – Closedown music.
00:24 – Closedown.