NOTE: EARLY START TIME DUE TO EXTRA BANK HOLIDAY GOODNESS!
13:25 – Sheepy’s opening caption & music.
13:30 – MUSIC VIDEO: Orbital – The Box – Just suddenly fancied watching / listening to it. Plus gives us a bit more of a warm-up before going into the first film.
13:35 – FILM: The Mind Benders (1963) – a British thriller film produced by Michael Relph, directed by Basil Dearden and starring Dirk Bogarde, Mary Ure, John Clements, Michael Bryant and Wendy Craig. Screenwriter James Kennaway turned his screenplay into his 1963 novel of the same name. Professor Sharpey, working in a university research laboratory, is suspected of passing secrets to the Soviet Union and commits suicide. British intelligence believe that his suicide was the result of shame over his betrayal of his country. However, Sharpey’s former colleague Doctor Longman believes that the sensory-deprivation experiments that Sharpey was conducting on himself may have rendered him susceptible to brainwashing. He volunteers to undergo the same tests in order to prove his theory. An intelligence officer and a colleague test the theory by trying to brainwash Longman against his beloved wife. In a modern-day review, TV Guide called the film “a strange movie that leaves a deeper impression than one might expect due to the originality of the plot and the tense direction. It is the direct predecessor of Altered States.” I saw this film a few years ago on Talking Pictures TV, and would agree with TV Guide’s assessment. Also, given what we now know about Dirk Bogarde’s sexuality, parts of it are unexpectedly poignant.
15:25 – SHORT FILM: Children’s Film Foundation: Our Magazine no. 2 – in the 1950s, no cinema screening was complete without a newsreel, and the Saturday Morning Pictures was no exception. This edition includes: the London Fields Primary School Percussion Band; model making and decoration using plasticine, mirrors, board, burnt coal, wire, and dead animals(!); footage of the hot springs at Roturua in New Zealand; and a visit to the British Railways Locomotive Testing Station in Rugby. Previously shown three weeks ago at the start of my last Bank Holiday special, but since literally nobody saw it but me, I’m repeating it here.
15:35 – FILM: The Medusa Touch (1978) – a British supernatural horror thriller film directed by Jack Gold. It stars Richard Burton, Lino Ventura, Lee Remick and Harry Andrews, and features Alan Badel, Derek Jacobi, Gordon Jackson, Jeremy Brett and Michael Hordern. The screenplay was by John Briley, based on the 1973 novel The Medusa Touch by Peter Van Greenaway (no relation to the film-maker). A French detective in London reconstructs the life of a man lying in hospital with severe injuries following a brutal attack, with the help of journals and a psychiatrist. He discovers that the man’s entire life has been surrounded by tragedy. The psychiatrist is convinced that the events are coincidental, but the detective becomes increasingly convinced that an evil force is at work. I remember seeing this on TV one afternoon with my whole family in my tweens or early teens. Must have been on ITV as the Beeb didn’t show it until I was 24, and then only late at night, so it will be interesting to see if this is a gorier cut than I remember. Even then, it left a big impression on me!
17:24 – Thames TV morning start-up music.
17:29 – Only When I Laugh – S04E04 – In Sickness & in Health – 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 is to marry the dull and plain Deirdre, rather than Jenny, and is most reluctant. Glover decides to flatter Deirdre in order that she might blossom but rather overdoes it so that she transforms into a glamorous, confident woman with no need for Norman. Dr Thorpe brings his marriage guidance counsellor wife in to speak to Deirdre but, having heard her speak glowingly of her encounter with an older man, gets the wrong idea… First broadcast on Thu 25th Nov 1982 by ITV.
17:55 – Michael Bentine’s Potty Time S02E11 – Explorers / Olympics – a British children’s TV show, written by and starring Michael Bentine, and directed and produced by Leon Thau for Thames Television. This week, explorer and archaeologist Colonel Pottington is famous for crossing the Serpentine, but his greatest achievement was to bring two charming Yeti Potties to London. And running the world is shown to be more difficult than one would expect for Zeus, chief Greek god and leader of the Greek God Union. First broadcast on Wed 19th Mar 1975 by ITV.
18:18 – Ace of Wands: A Story with No End – Parts 2&3/3 – a brand new, exclusive documentary looking at the making of Ace of Wands featuring Michael Mackenzie, Judy Loe, Tony Selby, Roy Holder, Petra Markham, Pamela Lonsdale, Trevor Preston, Ali Bongo and Darrol Blake. A Kindred production for Network DVD, made in 2007. Included as an extra on the Ace of Wands DVD box set. Part 1 was shown last week.
18:51 – Clangers (New CBeebies Version) S01E11 – Space Tangle – 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, Small Clanger has invited the Iron Chicken to a picnic. But the Iron Chicken is late, and when Small looks through his telescope, he can see why. The Iron Chicken is trapped by a load of junk metal which has got caught in orbit around her nest. First broadcast on Mon 29th Jun 2015 at 5.30pm by CBeebies.
19:02 – Original BBC2 trailer, and continuity, for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – needed something here to line up the schedule times again, and since I’m showing the “Making Of…” documentary at the end of the evening, this seemed to fill the gap nicely. 🙂
19:05 – Star Trek (The Original Series) – S02E23 – The Omega Glory – This week, responding to a distress signal, Kirk finds Captain Tracey of the U.S.S. Exeter violating the prime directive and interfering with a war between the Yangs and the Kohms to find the secret of their longevity. First broadcast in the USA on Fri 1st Mar 1968 by NBC. It’s no secret that, unfortunately, this is considered one of the worst episodes of the original run. Incredibly, the story was one of three outlines submitted for selection as the second pilot of Star Trek, the others being “Mudd’s Women” and the one eventually chosen, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”.
19:55 – Tales of the Unexpected S01E04 – Lamb to the Slaughter – 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, when her policeman husband Patrick callously announces that he is leaving her, Mary Marney hits and kills him with the frozen leg of lamb she has bought for their dinner. Thinking quickly, she calls his colleagues, claiming that she came in from the shops and found him dead. Whilst they speculate over what kind of weapon killed him, she considers how to dispose of the evidence. First broadcast on Sat 14th Apr 1979 by ITV. Starring Michael Byrne, Susan George and BRIAN BLESSED.
20:20 – NEW! – Special Branch S03E01 – A Copper Called Craven – 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, DCI Craven is accused of taking bribes. Things go from bad to worse as an internal investigation uncovers a questionable deposit in his bank account. Suspended from duty, Craven must clear his name or face criminal charges. First broadcast on Wed 4th Apr 1973 by ITV, the day the World Trade Centre opened! Wikipedia says: “This incarnation of the drama is notable for being the first production by Euston Films, later responsible for such series as The Sweeney and Minder [and indeed, Van der Valk!]. The influence on The Sweeney is clear, although the rough-and-tumble nature of that show is fairly lacking in Special Branch.” Once this series is complete, I shall (finally!) be showing The Sweeney itself.
21:12 – Eurotrash S05E07 a.k.a. Eurotrash Goes Out With a Bang – 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 Useless Inventor, The Crapper, Nude Christmas Shopping Channel, Romeo Cleaners, Nude Calendars, Dodgy Christmas Carols, New Year’s Eve Parties. First broadcast on Fri 29th Dec 1995 by Channel 4.
21:34 – Lytton’s Diary S02E04 – The Miracle Man – 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, it seems like everyone’s trying to tell Lytton what to do. His publisher has all kinds of fixes for his first draft, and his young new editor wants him to cover more pop stars in his column. Lytton prefers to focus on a faith-healer evangelist instead. First broadcast on Wed 29th Jan 1986 by ITV. WARNING: the opening title sequence contains flashing images.
22:25 – Girls on Top S01E05 – Ident: Candy Time – 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, is Candice really dating Prince Andrew? First broadcast on Wed 20th Nov 1985 at 8.30pm by ITV. This show will be broadcast at 75% volume. 🙂
22:50 – Agony S02E05 – Problem Parents – 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, Rob and Michael turn to Jane for advice on how to break the news to Rob’s parents that he’s gay, while she gets a shock from Truscombe when he tells her he’s in love – with her mother. First broadcast on Sun 11th May 1980 by ITV.
23:15 – The Making of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – a documentary that does exactly what it says on the tin, written & directed by Kevin Davies. Seems to have been a standalone sell-through VHS tape in 1993, before turning up as an extra on the Hitchhiker’s DVD set in 2002.
00:13 – Closedown music.
00:18 – Closedown.