NOTE: EARLY START TIME DUE TO EXTRA BANK HOLIDAY GOODNESS!
Welcome to my first anniversary stream! You can find the listing for my first-ever regular stream here: https://cabtv.co.uk/sheepys-show-1-mon-2022-05-02/
13:30 – Sheepy’s opening caption & music.
13:34 – Trailer for Invasion (1965).
13:36 – Only When I Laugh – Xmas Special (a.k.a. S03E08) – Away for Christmas – 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, on Christmas Eve the ward gets a new patient, eight year old elective mute Danny, whose parents are abroad and is a known arsonist. Figgis dresses up as Santa Claus to steal presents for him from the children’s ward but is rumbled and has to escape, getting the benefits of kisses from nurses who mistake him for the hospital’s other Santa, Dr Thorpe. Eventually Dr Thorpe brings Danny some Christmas cheer… First broadcast on Thu 24th Dec 1981 by ITV.
14:00 – FILM: Invasion (1965) – a low-budget British science fiction film, directed by Alan Bridges for producer Jack Greenwood of Merton Park Studios, starring Edward Judd and Yôko Tani. The film was written by Roger Marshall from a storyline by Robert Holmes. Holmes later re-used elements of his storyline in the 1970 Doctor Who serial “Spearhead from Space”. In this film, an alien “Lystrian” spacecraft crash-lands on Earth, near a secluded hospital not far from London. The aliens, who are humanoid, are taken to a rural hospital after a collision with a car where they cause a forcefield to be raised around the building. The doctors are confused as the blood of the alien is not human. An issue arises as the doctors are not able to determine if the alien is a law enforcement officer, or if the two other aliens are the law enforcement and the patient is their prisoner. Only the patient can speak English, further complicating matters. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction praises Alan Bridges’ direction, saying that he “creates a powerfully strange atmosphere despite a very small budget.” Creature Feature also liked the movie, giving it 3 out of 5 stars. It stated the movie was atmospheric and that the director gave the movie a peculiar ambiance.
15:21 – Trailer for Gonks Go Beat (1964).
15:25 – FILM: Lunch Hour (1962) – a British romantic comedy drama short film starring Shirley Anne Field, Robert Stephens and Kay Walsh. Based on a one-act play by John Mortimer, it is about a man and a woman who attempt to have an affair during their lunch hour, but are continually interrupted. The original stage play’s cast included Wendy Craig, with whom Mortimer had had an affair and conceived a son. “It was the Sixties and we were all a lot more excitable then,” said Mortimer. It is thought their affair may have inspired the writing of Lunch Hour. The director, James Hill – also an infamous lothario –was mainly known for his documentaries, including three films for BP which became famous as Trade Test Colour Films: Skyhook (1958), Giuseppina (1960), and The Home-Made Car (1963); the first two of which you can see later this evening. His best known work was probably Born Free (1966) [Lion film]. Late in his career he ended up directing most of Worzel Gummidge, including Worzel Gummidge Down Under, which was his penultimate work. I first saw this lovely, slightly surreal, little film on Talking Pictures a few years ago, and was captivated.
16:28 – Trailers for the “next programmes at this cinema” – These came with The Invasion (1965) Blu-Ray, and it seemed a shame not to show them. They’re for The Mind Benders (1963) – which I shall be showing at some point – and The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) – which I probably won’t, as Phil has already shown it.
16:35 – FILM: Gonks Go Beat (1964) – a British science fiction/musical fantasy film, directed by Robert Hartford-Davis. It stars Kenneth Connor and Frank Thornton, with Terry Scott, Reginald Beckwith and Arthur Mullard. Gonks Go Beat features 16 musical numbers performed by a variety of artists, including Lulu and the Luvvers, The Nashville Teens and members of the Graham Bond Organisation including Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Dick Heckstall-Smith. Other musical contributors were – and remained – obscure. The film includes an early appearance by the actor Derek Thompson performing with his twin sister Elaine (credited as Elain). The title highlights the fad for gonk toys in mid 1960s Great Britain. The gonks appear in the opening title credits, whilst Lulu sings the theme song ‘Chocolate Ice’.
At a point in the distant future, the inhabitants of Planet Earth have become divided into two factions who despise each other. In Beatland live the hip and trendy people who have long hair, dress in polo neck jumpers, jeans and sunglasses and listen to cool beat music. Their counterparts on Ballad Isle keep their hair short and tidy, wear button-down shirts and pressed slacks or floral dresses and twinsets, and listen exclusively to crooners. A musical competition is staged annually between the two sides, overseen by the neutral and powerful record company executive Mr. A&R (Thornton). For the rest of the year they regard each other with suspicion and antipathy, although they are not above sneaking into each other’s territory to steal musical ideas.
Meanwhile, the overlords of a far-flung galaxy have been observing the squabblings and goings-on on Planet Earth with increasing exasperation. Finally, their patience with the earthlings is pushed beyond its limit and they decide to send their bungling representative Wilco Roger (Connor) to sort the situation out and bring about a reconciliation between the parties, with the warning that if he fails he’ll be exiled to Planet Gonk, a fearsome and dreaded place where spherical furry soft toys shuffle around all day listening to Dixieland jazz…
Gonks Go Beat was widely ridiculed on its original release as being so ill-advised and botched in execution as to have no appeal to any cinema audience demographic, whether of the younger or older generation. British film historian I.Q. Hunter included Gonks Go Beat in his list of contenders for “the worst British film ever made”. The film was released on DVD in the UK in 2007 by Optimum Home Entertainment, who tipped the wink to its intended audience by describing it as “the Plan 9 from Outer Space of film musicals”, a description originally coined by the UK film critic Mark Kermode.
18:03 – Thames TV morning start-up music.
18:08 – Michael Bentine’s Potty Time S02E07 – Dick Turpin; Waterloo – a British children’s TV show, written by and starring Michael Bentine, and directed and produced by Leon Thau for Thames Television. This week, why is Dick Turpin so pleased to be faced with deportation? And did Wellington really win the Battle of Waterloo? The answer isn’t as obvious as all that and Napoleon’s argument to the contrary is born out as the battle is re-enacted right up to its Potty conclusion. First broadcast on Wed 19th Feb 1975 by ITV.
18:31 – Ace of Wands S03E19/20 – The Beautiful People: Part 3/4 – 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. In this final story, written by P. J. “Sapphire & Steel” Hammond, when Mikki is refused entry to a small town fête run by two astonishingly beautiful girls, Dee and Emm, Tarot investigates. He uncovers a complicated plot organized by a group of extra-terrestrials with very special powers. First broadcast on Wed 22nd Nov 1972 by ITV.
18:55 – Clangers (New CBeebies Version) S01E07 – The Giant Plant – 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, the planet is overrun with vegetation when Tiny Clanger and Small Clanger sing a growing song to a plant. First broadcast on Tue 23rd Jun 2015 at 5.30pm by CBeebies.
19:06 – Star Trek (The Original Series) – S02E19 – A Private Little War – This week, the crew of the Enterprise discovers Klingon interference in the development of a formerly peaceful planet and joins them in what becomes an arms race. First broadcast in the USA on Fri 2nd Feb 1968 by NBC. Star Trek does Vietnam, in another episode I have very little memory of.
19:57 – Spaced S02E07 – Leaves – 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, in the last-ever episode, Mike comes up with a foolproof plan to stop Marsha from selling the house, Brian comes up with a foolproof plan to get Twist to come back from Manchester, Daisy comes up with a foolproof plan to get her writing career on track, Colin comes up with a foolproof plan to stop running away from Daisy, and Tim comes up with a foolproof plan to commit to the woman he loves. Who will succeed, and who will fail? First broadcast on Fri 13th Apr 2001 by Channel 4.
20:23 – Van der Valk – S03E09 – The Professor – After a four-year break (1973-1977) on original transmission, the Amsterdam-based crime drama returned for this 12-episode run, now made by Euston Films for Thames TV. It still stars Barry Foster in the title role, but his wife has mysteriously changed actress, from Susan Travers to Joanna Dunham, who played Patrick Allen’s lover in S02E01 “A Death by the Sea”. This week, why does a man of distinction regularly switch identities? Van der Valk must find out why, when he investigates a death at a famous Amsterdam hotel. First broadcast on Mon 31st Oct 1977 by ITV. An amazing guest cast this week, see if you can spot them all! Karl “Brush Strokes” Howman, Don “Star Wars bit part” Henderson, John “Doctor Who / Boy From Space / Porterhouse Blue” Woodnutt, Geoffrey Palmer, Christopher Timothy, and a 26-year-old Jeff “Drop the Dead Donkey” Rawle! Not to mention Michelle “When the Boat Comes In / The Cleopatras” Newell, Elizabeth “Gangsters” Cassidy, and Jennifer “People Like Us” Daniel!
21:14 – Eurotrash S05E03 a.k.a. Eurotrash Goes Under the Kimono (1/2) – 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 Japanese TV, Mimi the Nude Weather Girl, Cock-a-Doodle Do, Penis Shrine, Dogs, Squid Racing, Japanese Toilets, Kuki Sex Toys. First broadcast on Fri 1st Dec 1995 by Channel 4.
21:38 – Lytton’s Diary S01E06 – Come Uppance – A drama series made by Thames Television for the ITV network, about the life of a newspaper gossip columnist, played by Peter Bowles, who also co-created the show with Philip Broadley. Scripts were by Ray Connolly, the journalist, interviewer, author, Beatles enthusiast, and screenplay writer of That’ll Be The Day and Stardust. Whether consorting with banking tycoons and ex-dictators or investigating a gang of skinheads, Lytton strives to expose the high and mighty, the corrupt and the crooked – and to make sure “God” (his editor at the Daily News) is happy with his work. All the while, Lytton struggles to keep his love life in order, write the one novel he feels he has in him, and fend off constant machinations and maneuvers of an old rival at the Daily Post. This week, when a group of right-wing skinheads run amok in a small village, Lytton suspects it’s more than a case of simple hooliganism. But his curiosity puts him in harm’s way – and his professional pride isn’t the only thing that could take a beating. First broadcast on Wed 6th Feb 1985 by ITV. WARNING: the opening title sequence contains flashing images.
22:23 – NEW! – Girls on Top S01E01 – Four-Play – 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, with housing so scarce, Amanda gratefully accepts the upstairs flat of a mansion owned by eccentric Lady Carlton. The catch: she must share the flat with loud American Shelley, dim-witted Jennifer, and current occupant, party girl Candice. First broadcast on Wed 23rd Oct 1985 at 8.30pm by ITV. This week’s episode also features Helen Atkinson-Wood, Helen Lederer, and Alan Rickman. Jennifer Saunders described her character as “basically a moronic version of myself when I was twelve.” She later credited Wax and Ullman with teaching her “how to write funny” and “how to act funny”, respectively.
22:58 – Agony S02E01 – Back to Reality – 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, in the first of the second series, Jane returns from holiday to big surprises and problems: Andy has been replaced at the radio station by a cynic, Rob and Michael want her out of their flat, and Laurence has attempted to meet someone via a dating service. First broadcast on Sun 13th Apr 1980 by ITV. This week featuring an almost unrecognisable Bill Nighy, and the equally-unrecognisable voice of Susan “Trillian (radio)” Sheridan.
23:17 – Spaced S01E07 – Ends [COMMENTARY TRACK VERSION] – 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, in the last of the first series, Tim gets a phone call from his ex-girlfriend, Sarah, asking to meet him for a drink. Tim is convinced that she’ll want to get back together with him and have him move back in. Daisy thinks this is a bad idea, causing much tension around the flat. Mike has an interview at the Territorial Army to determine whether he should be allowed back in following the ‘Eurodisney Incident’. And Brian summons the courage to ask Twist out on a date which, against all expectations, actually goes quite well. First broadcast on Fri 5th Nov 1999 by Channel 4. This week, it’s the turn of producer Nira Park to join the commentary team.
23:42 – SHORT FILM: Skyhook (1958) – a beautifully shot documentary made for BP by James “Lunch Hour” Hill, on how the helicopter was used to set up a drilling rig at Sireru in a remote area of Papua New Guinea. A whole oil camp was lifted piece by piece into the middle of the jungle by helicopter, thus solving one of the biggest problems, that of oil transportation, for in a country with a rainfall of up to 350 inches a year it may take three months to build a road. The vibrancy of the tropics and the block primary colours of the oil machinery are both wonderfully rendered in the Eastman colour photography, but the modern eye also lingers on the denuded rainforest.
23:59 – SHORT FILM: Giuseppina (1960) – a short British docu-fiction film by James “Lunch Hour” Hill, which was filmed in 1959, in Mandriole, Emilia-Romagna, near Ravenna in the north east of Italy. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject). Production of the film was sponsored by BP, which also distributed the film. Their webpage summarizes the film as, “set at an Italian petrol station where various characters pass through on their onward journey, while entertaining and playing with the attendant’s daughter, Giuseppina.” In the 1960s and early 1970s, Giuseppina was broadcast 185 times on British television as a Trade Test Colour Film. It was the very last one ever shown, on Fri 24th Aug 1973 at 2.30pm. Excerpts were also shown on Vision On, the BBC programme for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
00:31 – Closedown music.
00:36 – Closedown.