17:35 – Sheepy’s opening music.
17:39 – Thames TV morning start-up music.
17:44 – Only When I Laugh – S02E05 – The Visitors – 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, Norman’s overbearing, hypochondriac mother comes to visit and he is initially scared to tell her he is romancing nurse Jenny. Norman’s cowardice gives Glover the opportunity to try and make a move but Figgis puts him off with lies about Jenny and the young couple eventually stand up to Mrs Binns. Figgis meanwhile shares a passionate embrace with a visitor who is not his wife – and is also unaware that he has one… First broadcast on Tue 27th May 1980 by ITV.
18:09 – Michael Bentine’s Potty Time S01E23 – Arabian Nights – 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 no doubt indulge in more racist stereotypes. First broadcast on Mon 15th Apr 1974 by ITV.
18:21 – Ace of Wands S03E08/20 – Peacock Pie: Part 1/3 – 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, Tarot meets Mr Peacock, a man with the with the power of suggestion. In Peacock’s hands, torn strips of newspaper become bank notes; people book holidays to places they don’t want to visit – and Tarot’s stage act becomes a shambles. First broadcast on Wed 6th Sep 1972 by ITV. Written by P. J. “Sapphire & Steel” Hammond and series creator Trevor Preston, and featuring Brian “Foggy” Wilde as Mr. Peacock. Apparently the best regarded of the surviving stories.. and I think I have vague memories of this one, from the above words.
18:45 – Clangers S02E10 – The Bags – 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, a Gladstone bag appears on the Clangers’ planet – and is mistaken for a strange, new life-form. First broadcast on Fri 13th Oct 1972 (yes, after a one year and precisely four months gap, on a new day!!) at 4.00pm by BBC1. And from the glimpse I got, eminently suitable for broadcasting on Valentine’s Day (nearly)!
18:55 – Star Trek (The Original Series) – S02E08 – I, Mudd – This week, Harry Mudd returns with a plot to take over the Enterprise by stranding the crew on a planet populated by androids under his command. First broadcast in the USA on Fri 3rd Nov 1967 by NBC.
19:45 – Spaced S01E06 – Epiphanies – 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, Tyres, Tim’s friend, stops by the flat and invites Tim and Daisy to go clubbing with him that night. After offering to pay their way in, Tim and Daisy agree. Mike and Twist decide to join, but Brian needs some convincing. He hasn’t been clubbing since a bad experience in the 80s. After finally getting to the club, Brian finds a new appreciation for the club scene. First broadcast on Fri 29th Oct 1999 by Channel 4.
20:09 – Special Branch – S02E11 – Error of Judgement – 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, when Inman discovers that “The Guardians” are taking a more-than-usual interest in a group of pro-germ-warfare people and finds that their leader is a pretty girl, he decides to send Jordan along to question her. First broadcast on Tue 21st Oct 1970 by ITV.
21:02 – BONUS ITEM: The Clash at Dalekdome – Another amusing YouTube video from Joe Vevers where Matt Smith’s Doctor finds himself at a most unusual gig. Not quite up to the standards of last week’s An Unearthly Dalek, but still good fun.
21:05 – Eurotrash S03E04 – 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 Huutajat: Finnish Shouting Choir, Zara White, Dwarf Bullfighters, Bull Testicle Restaurant, Phillipe Decouflé, Risqué Paris Fashions. First broadcast on Fri 4th Nov 1994 by Channel 4.
21:29 – Another Bouquet E03/07 – Accusations – the sequel to A Bouquet of Barbed Wire, the latter based on the novel by Andrea Newman published in 1969. Starring Frank Finlay and Sheila Allen, it was produced by London Weekend Television for ITV. There are no synopses readily available on the internet, but a review I skimmed says that despite the loss of Susan Penhaligon, it still holds up quite well. First broadcast on Fri 21st Jan 1977 by ITV.
22:20 – Alfresco S01E03 – a sketch comedy series starring Robbie Coltrane, Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Siobhan Redmond and Emma Thompson, produced by Granada Television and broadcast by ITV from May 1983 to June 1984. Running for two series, it totalled 13 episodes and was named Alfresco (from the Italian al fresco, meaning “in the fresh air”) because, unusually for a comedy sketch show of the time, it was shot on location rather than in a studio. Like its pilot/predecessor, There’s Nothing to Worry About (from which several sketches were taken and repeated in this), the show was designed by ITV as an answer to the popular BBC series Not the Nine O’Clock News. This week, the Alfresco cast parodies awkward social situations. First broadcast on Sun 15th May 1983 by ITV.
22:45 – Rock Follies of ’77 S01E02 a.k.a. Rock Follies S02E02 – The Empire – 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, The Little Ladies are back on their way, guided by their dynamic new agent, American Kitty Schreiber. With a recording contract now under their beits, their first step is a recording studio. First broadcast on Wed 11th May 1977 by ITV.
23:37 – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (TV Series) E02/06 – RERUN WITH PRODUCTION SUBTITLES – 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, rescued from Earth moments before its destruction to make way for a vast hyperspace bypass, Arthur Dent and his alien friend, Ford Prefect, find themselves on board the actual demolition spacecraft in the capture of the evil, heartless, callous, slimy-green Vogons. But all is not well. They have a major decision to make! Should they face certain death by being flung into the cold vacuum of space? Or should they tell the Vogon captain how good they think his poetry is? First broadcast on Mon 12th Jan 1981 at 9.00pm by BBC2.
00:12 – Closedown music.
00:16 – Closedown.