18:00 – Sheepy’s opening caption and music.
18:05 – Thames TV morning start-up music.
18:10 – The Tyrant King S01E06 – Meet the King – A six-part children’s serial drama made by ABC Weekend TV and screened by Thames Television in 1968. It was dramatised from the book of the same name by Aylmer Hall, adapted for television by Trevor “Ace of Wands” Preston, and produced and directed by Mike “Get Carter” Hodges. It was notable for its use of a progressive music soundtrack, including music from The Rolling Stones, The Moody Blues, Cream, and in particular, The Nice (whose song “The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack”, from the album of the same name, was the title track), and Pink Floyd (whose song “Saucerful of Secrets”, also from the album of the same name :-), was plundered extensively, including for the end credits).
A strange phone call and a wallet found in an old dark house lead three teenagers and their dog to follow a mysterious character across London. First broadcast on Thu 7th Nov 1968 by ITV.
With Candace “Nicholas and Alexandra” Glendenning, Murray “Bilis Manger” Melvin, Philip “Your name vill also go down on ze list” Madoc and Eddie McMurray & Kim Fortune. The series was commissioned by London Transport, which may well explain how any semblance of a plot is largely subsumed by the children visiting one London tourist attraction after another – just enjoy the music and shots of vintage London! Although shot entirely on film in colour (it served as the pilot project for what became Thames’ TV film production unit Euston Films), it was only ever transmitted in monochrome – hence the b/w Thames ident – and was unseen in colour until its DVD release. NOT previously shown on CABTV, I didn’t get this far with the fill-in streams.
18:35 – Timeslip S01E13 – The Year of the Burn Up E01/08 – This week, at the start of a new adventure, the children return home and Simon is summoned to Whitehall where Commander Traynor questions him about the longevity drug, and orders him to keep out of the future. Simon, intrigued, returns to the time barrier. First broadcast on Mon 21st Dec 1970 by ITV. Previously shown on CABTV on the eleventh Pleasant Phil_A Sunday – Sun 2019/11/10(?) at 5.20pm.
18:59 – Clangers (New) S02E08 – Star Flower – This week, Small Clanger is fishing in the music boat and catches a beautiful silver seed. Mother and Tiny help him to plant it and it grows into a very shy little plant. First broadcast on Wed 20th Sep 2017 at 6pm by CBeebies.
19:10 – UFO S01E17(P10) – The Responsibility Seat – a 1970 British science fiction television series about the covert efforts of an international defence organisation (under the auspices of the United Nations) to prevent an alien invasion of Earth. It was created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade’s Century 21 for Grade’s ITC Entertainment company.
This week, Colonel Alec Freeman is left in control of S.H.A.D.O. as Straker pursues a woman who is impersonating a reporter in order to set him up for a blackmail scheme. While Freeman is in charge, a Russian lunar mining vehicle is off course and headed directly for Moonbase. Freeman is forced to make decisions usually left to Straker. First broadcast on Sat 31st July 1971 by ITV in the ATV region. This was the last episode to be made at MGM Borehamwood, before the studios shut for good. Thus it’s also the last to feature George Sewell, as when production resumed a few months later at Pinewood, he was either “unavailable” and/or “too ugly for the Americans”, depending on whom you believe.
20:00 – Tales of the Unexpected S04E17 – Hijack – This week, a hijacker on an aeroplane takes a stewardess hostage before demanding a million dollars and a parachute. Will Captain Waterhouse give in to his demands? First broadcast on Sat 26th Dec 1981. Starring Denis “Commander Traynor” Quilley, Simon “Hi-de-Hi” Cadell, Suzanne Danielle (DW: Destiny of the Daleks; Candice Rawlinson in Sir Henry at…; and er, Emmanuelle in Carry On Emmanuelle), with an appearance by Peter “Zen” Tuddenham as an Airport Security Officer (possibly voice only). Directed by Herbert “ST:TMP” Wise.
20:26 – The Sweeney S02E02 – Faces – Jack Regan and George Carter are hard-edged detectives in the Flying Squad of London’s Metropolitan Police. They pursue villains by methods which are underhanded and often illegal, frequently violent and – more often than not – successful.
This week, investigating a series of security van robberies is multiply complicated by past Squad encounters and interference by MI5. First broadcast on Mon 8th Sept 1975 by ITV. Featuring, amongst others, Colin Welland.
21:16 – Call My Bluff S09E02 – an episode of the long-running BBC panel game. The game comprises two teams of three (a captain and two guests) who compete to earn points by identifying the correct definitions of obscure words. The teams take turns to give three definitions, one true and two bluffs, while the other team attempt to determine which was correct. If the correct choice was made the team earns one point, if not, the bluffing team earns one point. Both teams take turns bluffing and determining definitions.
This week, the team captains are Frank Muir and Patrick Campbell, and their guests are Joanna Lumley & Miles Kington, and Mary Peach & Simon Williams respectively. The referee is Robert Robinson. First broadcast on Mon 7th Oct 1974 at 9.10pm by BBC2; last broadcast on Mon 12th Aug 2024 at 9pm by BBC FOUR, from whence this was ripped.
21:41 – The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder S02E07 – Find the Lady – a British television series which was originally broadcast on ITV in two series from 1969 to 1971. It is based on a series of novels and short stories written by Edgar Wallace featuring the character of J.G. Reeder, who had appeared in several film adaptations in the late 1930s. Sixteen episodes were made, all but two in black-and-white. Reeder is a mild-mannered civil servant at the Department of Public Prosecutions with an extraordinary gift for solving complex crimes, due to being able to think exactly like a criminal.
This week, just as she is about to be announced at the palace, a young debutante is spirited away. Mr Reeder is appointed to find her – and uncovers a dastardly traffic in white slavery. First broadcast on Wed 31st May 1971 by ITV. Featuring Windsor Davies again, and also David “Silver” Collings, John “C.J.” / “Deveraux” Barron, and Tony “Tony” Anholt. This episode is the second of the two COLOUR ones.
22:33 – Eurotrash S12E04 – The legendary late-night magazine show starring Antoine de Caunes, exploring unusual and bizarre topics from Europe and around the world. This week, we have Indra, Angela Cavagna, Peter Steiner, Wolfgang Padel, Lolo Ferrari, Lolo’s 20th Century Treasure Chest: The Slimming Machine, Rocco Siffredi, The Brotherhood of the Carrot, I’ll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours: Rocco, Cream. First broadcast on Fri 15th Oct 1999 by Channel 4.
22:56 – Thriller S03E04 – In the Steps of a Dead Man – a British television anthology series, made by ATV for the ITV network and originally broadcast in the UK from 1973 to 1976. As the title suggests, each story is a thriller of some variety, from tales of the supernatural to down-to-earth whodunits. The series was created by Brian Clemens (of The Avengers, The Professionals, and many others fame), who also scripted the majority of the episodes and story-lined every installment.
This week, when a young soldier suddenly dies, his parents and his girlfriend are naturally shocked and upset by the news. Several months later a young man turns up at the parent’s house claiming to be their dead son’s best friend… First broadcast on Sat 22nd June 1974 by ITV. Featuring, amongst others, Richard “Slartibartfast” Vernon and Christopher “Sir Keith Gold” / “Jago” Benjamin.
00:01 – Thriller S03E04 – Alternate USA titles – When “Thriller” was exported to the USA, the Americans completely redid the opening and closing titles in a rather trippy manner, sometimes inserting their own newly-shot teasers (using actors shot from a distance or from the neck down!). Here are the ones for this episode.
00:07 – UFO S01E17(P10) – The Responsibility Seat – Repeated from earlier for our late-night viewers.
00:57 – Closedown music.
01:02 – Closedown.