I guess relatively few of us will remember last off-season’s MFW music week. I do because I was quite involved with it and we had some fine contributions from readers and writers alike. Well, this time around we’re collectively going for a TV week.
One of the greatest things about this site is that we have folks of all ages as regular creators and consumers so as a relative oldie I’m not going to steal any thunder from the younger generation and instead just recall my adolescent memories. I was born in 1957.
No, I don’t remember Muffin the Mule – and no unwarranted comments on that statement please.
When I was a tiny, TV was solely B&W. Andy Pandy, the Woodentops, the Sooty Show. And Doctor Who (William Hartnell version) on a Saturday. I knew the Daleks weren’t real, even then. Hide behind the sofa? Only if the old boy had the bottom-ache. Which he sometimes did.
Then probably a tea of fresh shrimps, celery, salt and crusty bread (was I spoiled or what?) before watching Cheyenne starring Clint Walker. My dad loved Westerns. And the Flintstones.
There was also the small matter of the 1966 World Cup – Dad changed his police shifts with his non football-loving colleagues so he and I could see every single game together. And we did. Including the final.
Any boxing match would be watched. I loved them all, especially when Clay/Ali won, which he seemingly always did. Dad was into Sgt Bilko (aka the Phil Silvers Show). I didn’t get many of the in-jokes but loved the interplay between Bilko, Col. Hall and Dobermann, even then.
Till Death Us Do Part was the most divisive programme in this young Penney’s household. My mother loved every racist word of it while Dad got the concept straight away and took the time to explain to me what it was really all about. I had the great privilege of interviewing show creator Johnny Speight at his Leytonstone home many years later. I loved Steptoe and Son too.
And the moon landing live in the middle of the night. Sorry conspiracists I believe it happened.
Frankie Howerd in Up Pompeii was also a source of great amusement to the young me although I doubt I would laugh at it very much now.
Seeing Diana Rigg as Emma Peel in the Avengers kind of awakened the boy if you understand my meaning. I also loved The Saint and The Persuaders. Not because I had a Roger Moore fixation – they were great, if retrospectively cheesy, programmes both. Tony Christie belting out In the Avenues and Alleyways? Top cheese.
There was also Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, followed relatively soon afterwards by Monty Python. So sublime that our very own Stewart Lewis can write about it better than me. And he will. As long as he mentions the homicidal maniac with a bunch of loganberries during the “how to defend yourself against fresh fruit” sketch I don’t mind ducking out.
I’ll let Orlando (Sam Kydd) and Do Not Adjust Your Set (David Jason and Denise Coffey) go. But I liked both. Stuff Blue Peter.
Top of the Pops always bubbled along in the background. I never realised at the time how important my memories of that and the Old Grey Whistle Test would eventually become to me in later life.
I’ll now simply produce a list of what I have liked as an adult and then it’s over to you folks to have your say.
Catweazle, Minder, The Sweeney. Special Branch. Happy Days. The Muppet Show. Late night B&W 1930s horrors like the original Frankenstein and Dracula. Every single episode of Only Fools and Horses.
The Snowman complete with David Bowie intro, Tom and Jerry, The Children of Green Knowe, Taz animations, particularly those with Didgeree Dingo in them and Dick and Dom (all of these watched with the kids of course). Really.
And TISWAS!
Also MotD of course. Although we as Norwich rarely featured.
Father Ted (who could ever forget the Kicking Bishop Brennan up the Ar$e episode), Fawlty Towers and Blackadder go without saying. As does The Young Ones, Bottom (Hotel Paradiso is up there with the very best) and Red Dwarf.
I was once in a quiz team in a pub and when asked for our collective name my mate Steve H decided on Scumbag College. And we somehow won.
We’ve come a long way since Spotty Dog broke a string on the Woodentops.
Over to you guys – what do you reckon?
I’m a bit older than you so you may not remember Quatermass and the Pit, but that was scary. There was another scary serial which featured a tarantula in the opening credits but the name escapes me, perhaps somebody on here can help with that and I can maybe find it on youtube.
Sooty, Lenny The Lion, Popeye, Bill & Ben are all fond childhood memories.
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Hi William
I sure do remember Quatermass and the Pit – it all revolved around a street called Hob Lane – Hob apparently being an old word for the devil.
Lenny the Lion (with Terry Hall) I remember too, while Popeye and Bill and Ben go without saying..
Can’t help you with the tarantula one, but I do remember Clarence the cross-eyed lion from Daktari!
Thank you.
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Blimey, Martin this one could run forever!! I’ll always recall my Old Man moaning when we watched ITV, rather than the Beeb. He felt it was ‘too common’! I’m a big Carry On fan, Minder too, 2 Ronnies, ToTP, of course, Blue Peter, Tiswas. So many, though I hardly ever watch telly these days. Other than then Talking Pictures channel
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Hi Dan – run forever could theoretically be right but MFW editor GG (for now) indicates otherwise.
All the Carry Ons were originally cinema releases, but I will never forget Amanda Barrie as Cleopatra. Or Kenneth Williams disappearing into the hot fat or whatever whilst squealing “Frying Tonight”. The scene with Barbara Windsor in “Camping”.I won’t recall on family-friendly MFW.
Stacked with innuendo and as un-PC as you can get, But back in the day I loved ’em.
Our TISWAS clip doesn’t feature the “Bucket of Water Song” or “Raspberry Rock” or the phantom flan flinger in full effect. You can’t have it all.
The Two Ronnies was sublime on occasion – check out either the phantom raspberry blower of Olde London Town or Big Jim Jehosophat and Fatbelly Jones doing “Upcat Polecat”. Freely available on You Tube.
I never thought I’d use the word “raspberry” thrice in the same post.
Thanks very much.
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My dad would not get a TV for ages, he loved his radio nights. but eventually he bowed to pressure, the only time I saw him give in. Corrie was on 3 times a week. my mum soon took to that so had to suffer every darn episode, now looking back the actors were a lot better and became household names very quickly. Sadly she took to Crossroads as well.. Miss Dianne and all.
Childrens TV started at around 4pm ish and finished with the news, when Magic Rundabout came on that was all the kids in the country got. Champion the Wonder Horse, Whirlybirds, Rin Tin, Wagon Train, Rawhide with a young Clint Eastwood, Bonaza. High Chapperal, Tenderfoot, & Maverick -Think my old man a wannbe cowboy.
Then No Hiding Place, Dixon of Dock Green. , Danger Man, 77 Sunset Strip – Z Cars , Softly,Softly. bumped into Strattford Johns in the City, having quiet pint in the Mitre, I also met Pater Adamson (Len Fairclough Corrie St ) in there too. Who could forget Opportunity Knocks with Hughie (most sincerely) Green and Take you Pick with Michael (yes- no) Miles Gongs and all ; believe me I tried to forget.
Golden Shot with Bernie the Bolt. Anneka Rice tearing round Britain while all of us men /boys watched her arse . It’s a (up and Unda) Knockout. Top of the Form, I’ll name that Tune, bit not the program.
Hell when you get thinking there are hundreds, I’ll stop there
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Blimey Lad – a few memories there for me.
How could I have forgotten Dixon of Dock Green – especially as my Dad was a real dock copper (West India mainly)!!! Jack Warner? I don’t look these things up as it’s more fun for me to try and guess so I could be wrong.
I’m thinking that was a spin-off from the film The Blue Lamp.
Anneka Rice was the Carol Vorderman/Rachel Riley of her day. Carp programme though.
I’m ashamed to say I can remember the original Come Dancing with Peter West. I think.
Golden Shot was Bob Monkhouse. For sure.
Ann Aston and her pal on Sale of the Century were quite attractive too – probably the only TV show Anglia will be remembered for – unless Tales of the Unexpected counts.
Great post and thanks.
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Hi Martin
This should be an enjoyable experience
Westerns
High Chapperal
Rawhide (Rowdie Yates)
Bonaza
Wagontrain.
Sitcoms
The Larkins (Peggy Mount & David Kossoff)
Never the Twain
Robins Nest
Mr Ed
Bewitched
Music
6 Five Special
Top of the Pops
Old Grey Whistle Test
Juke box Jury
Ready Steady go
Childrens
4 Feather fall (Jerry Anderson)
Stingray
Captain Scarlett
Run Around
Crime
Dickson of Dock Green(Blue Lantern)
Z Cars
77 Sunset Strip
Burkes Law
Ironside Raymond Burke)
SoftlySoftly
After so many years overseas you would have to find things to do and quizzes on old TV progs was always a must do so many of these realy got imbeded in the old grey matter.
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Hi Alex
I’ll just address a few from your excellent and extensive list.
Rawhide – top stuff. My dad and I loved it. Rowdy Yates was quite a success – and he obviously moved on to better things. Don’t remember Wagontrain.
I can’t recall Mr Ed at the time (although I know it was a talking horse) but I do remember Champion the Wonder Horse.
Some bright spark in the States reinvented Bewitched as Sabrina the Teenage Witch – my daughter used to love it.
I just about recall Ready Steady Go with Cathy McGowan. I was about eight so didn’t really know what I was seeing – only the Beatles, the Kinks and the Stones etc.
Captain Scarlet, Stingray etc (there were more) were Gerry and Sylvia Anderson at their finest. Watch out for the Mysterons!
As for crime shows, nothing will ever beat The Sweeney for me “Can I kick him guv?”
Thank you.
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Wagontrain was I suppose a cowboy soap about families travelling to California, the wagonmaster was Ward Bond stated in lots of John Wayne’s films.
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Thanks Alex
My mate John Brooker was so obsessed with John Wayne that he wrote a book about him.
He didn’t make as much money as Marion Morrison though (the book bombed).
Cheers
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Being of 1956 vintage our recollections are virtual the same. In our house my mother hated Alf Garnet, Dad and I loved him.
I’d throw in Bonanza, Z cars then It ain’t arve hot mum, oh dear how sad, too bad, never mind and all that!
The list is endless, so sad reality TV took over and I turned off other than the live sky TV making history in front of our very eyes.
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Hi Colin
Bonanza first – the major character in it was called Lorne Greene – who shares his name with our beloved local Police and Crime Commissioner. No politics from me but I know which of the two I rate the highest.
And Dan Blocker as Hoss – one big dude.
It Ain’t Half Hot Mum? You could not produce that today which is probably why it’s never repeated on any BBC channel. I liked it too (at the time) btw.
For some reason the Wilderbeests march out to the Z cars theme – I genuinely dunno what the connection is.
As for unreality TV I watched about ten minutes of Big Brother many years ago and have never seen anything of that ilk since.
Thanks as always.
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Great piece Martin
I loved all the usuals, Dr Who, Thunderbirds, Stingray etc, but can anyone remember The Stranger or The Singing Ringing Tree, they terrified me as did all those Hungarian imports that were a lot scarier than anything on kiddies TV today.
I loved The Flashing Blade along with its great theme song and dodgy dubbing.
And can you remember The Banana Splits, proof if it was ever needed that the 1960’s TV was influenced by “Alternative Tobacco” and don’t forget Captain Pugwash !
I had forgotten such favourites as Daktari, Orlando and The Whirlybirds. I loved Magpie and Animal Magic as well.
I loved watching the westerns as well especially Alias Smith and Jones and The Virginian
( Trampass what a name )
I can remember 50 years ago on a lovely August night that Dad finally said I could come to the football with him v Portsmouth and I can remember being so excited but then realising I would miss The Avengers !!! No contest loved The Great Team , even if it was 0-0.
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Jeez Tim where do I start!!!
My first City match was against Plymouth in 1967 – we won 2-1 and the guy who took me along was the husband of Florrie Frost to whom my mother was an “evacuee guest” at Brisley in 1940.
As I’ve said above I prefer to work from memory rather than Google so I would guess the Flashing Blade would be Zorro.
I was once the night editor on the Ilford Recorder and our top paste-up man (Eddie Church) was called the Flashing Blade. He used a scalpel not a sword, but in downtime he was happy to teach me the art. And it was an art.
Pugwash was insane. How they ever got away with Master Bates and Seaman Staines I will never know. Most folks think there was a character called Roger the Cabin Boy, but his actual name was Tom.
I’d concur with your wacky baccy theme – reference Dylan the rabbit in the Magic Roundabout! Dougal didn’t have the energy of our dogs either. Wonder why?
Fantastic comment and thank you.
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Thanks Martin
The sixties/seventies TV was unique, As you say you would never get away with Captain Pugwash today.
I saw one of those retrospective 1960’s shows last year and you had some old duffer being interviewed as to why in his opinion women shouldn’t be allowed to drive !
It was because they were always thinking of house work, the children and cooking and couldn’t concentrate on the road the silly old fool !!!
To think we were alive in such an era. And the thought of being on Match of the Day was incredibly exciting.
Something that all supporters post-Ron Saunders may not realise is that the idea of 1st division (now Premier League) football was a dream really, even in 1971/72 a lot of my uncles were dismissive of us actually going up.
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Martin, you may be stretching your adolescence for Red Dwarf. I was born 25 years after you and RD sits very much in mine 😉 I remember having 3hr VHS tapes which on “long play” could fit two seasons of Red Dwarf each!
My Roomba is called Kryten.
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Yeah David the stretching the adolescence bit is spot on.
But when you love a programme so much you have to squeeze it into an article somehow.
I thoroughly recommend the Grant-Naylor book of the story written around the first two series, with the add-on that the first is so much better than the second imo.
Years ago I even gave the BBC store near Chapelfield twelve quid for a smeghead T. I’ve still got it.
Thank you.
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Martin, I fear you have dropped a clanger by not mentioning Noggin the Nog..
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Hi Bernie
I never really related to the Clangers – nice try to see if I’d miss the reference.
Noggin the Nog was always entertaining – but there was never anything like Ivor the Engine to me. Boy that Oliver Postgate had some talent.
The next time I see Jones the Steam or the Soup Dragon I’ll give them your regards.
Cheers buddy.
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From the posts so far I feel pretty young!
In my younger days the best of the kids stuff was:
Dungeons and dragons, games master, Jamie and his magic torch, inspector Gadget and anything Warner Bros (Wile coyote, Bugs bunny and Marvin the martian all awesome)
Then there was some awsome pop cultrue stuff:
The word was an awsome and boundery breaking show, later followed by the perfect pre-pub fodder in TFI Friday (Fantastic humour and great music). I guess I’m abit of a Chris Evans generation viewer, because I also loved don’t forget your toothbrush.
For comedy there are so many but the very best for me:
Blackadder, Monty Python, Vic and Bob (Big night out, Smell of, Shooting stars) Have I got news for you (Consistently funny for so many years) whose line is it anyway, the fast show, Harry enfield and chums, Hale and Pace, a bit of fry and Laurie, the Mary whitehouse experience. Also loved Rising damp, Reggie Perrin, Happy days, Porridge, Cheers, the two ronnies and Fools and horses
I’m sure I’m missing a few classics but, lunch break is finite.
Others:
Cracker, Minder, Quantum leap, the A-team, Airwolf, the fall guy, Wrestling both UK and WWE during the attitude era (It is real, goddamnit!) Friends (a huge pop culturer phenomonon) Top gear (Mostly, though stale by the end as is the grand tour) kick start, Gladiators
And finally some from a more modern age:
Game of thrones (Sorry), Spartacus, Chernoble, Breaking bad, the walking dead, boardwalk empire, and perhaps the best of the lot, Peaky blinders.
Greatest charactor from any show ever?
General Hogmany Melchett!
Bah!
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Add to that anything from David Attenborough (Except the increasingly preachy bits of late), tomorrows world, Blue Peter, Grange hill, fraggle rock, the muppet show. Like I say, I could keep posting, I am part of a TV generation. It was even colour when I started watching!
Bah!
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Hi General – great to hear from you.
Sorry you weren’t in Gary’s choice of header pic but all the unfortunates were!
Vic and Bob were superb and to my mind probably peaked with Shooting Stars. The dove from above (and the crow from below) plus Ulrika-ka-ka-ka. Inspired insanity.
HIGNFY was incredible, and while I declared I wouldn’t touch on later stuff, so was Harry Enfield and Chums and the Fast Show.
Who can forget Loadsamoney, Stavros, Ron Manager, Julio Geordio, etc?
If you couldn’t laugh at that you couldn’t laugh at all.
Even Little Britain had its moments.
Don’t apologise for Game of Thrones – my daughter tells me the books are even better and will shortly lend me the first of them – saves me buying it.
Thanks a lot.
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Don’t forget the sweaty fox! Isn’t it, wasn’t it! I might remember more but I’m afraid, I was very very drunk!
Bah!
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How could I forget Auf weidersen pet, quite partial to Peter Kaye too. Pheonix nights and Max n Paddy, both brilliant, Car share a little vanilla. Whilst mentioned elsewhere, Red Dwarf was awesome too.
Bah!
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Auf Wiedersen was utterly brilliant – and so original – first series anyway.
Such a shame that Gary Holton (Wayne) and later Pat Roach (Bomber) shuffled off this mortal coil far too early.
Of course Tim Healy and Kevin Whatley went on to terrific careers, as did “Jimmy Nail” in his way
It was of that time but I thoroughly enjoyed it..
Even read the books (which are better than you might imagine).
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Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush was great Friday night? or was it Saturday night? viewing. I seemed to recall Chris Evans putting up one of his own Ferrari;s for a price on one show. Perhaps I imagined that but I don’t think so.
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I was quite partial to the following in days of yore:
Bergerac
Blakes 7
Dempsey and Makepeace
Grange Hill
Howard’s Way
Last of the Summer Wine
One Man and His Dog
Porridge
The Professionals
Robin of Sherwood
Swap Shop
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Hi Tim
Definitely some leftfield ones there – some of which I can relate to and will pick off in my usual way – eg at random.
I Ioved Bergerac – I like Jersey (although I could never afford to live there) and the theme music was haunting.
Neither Blake’s Seven or Grange Hill appealed to me, while I enjoyed Robin of Sherwood – a very well produced series with both Jason Connery and the previous guy who’s name I’ve forgotten.
Howards Way is – to me – your strangest call.
When it came out I was TV editor on the local rag (alongside my main role) and I got the usual press pack with B&W stills plus a rough synopsis of the storyline – all it said after you removed the cast list was that it concerned a family “going through a time of change”.
Wierdly I enjoyed watching it – how the upper classes live in scriptwriters’ imaginations!
Excellent comment – thanks.
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Hi Martin. I was going to resist joining in with this one, but in the end I had to. My mother refused to have Anglia TV, so our black and white was BBC only. However, a certain young lady of my acquaintance had both Anglia, and a mother who worked in a shop till about 8.30, so although I would have liked to see more of Wagon Train and Rawhide, I’d be hard pushed to tell you too much about the storey lines!
In (slightly) earlier days before we got our box, I would go to a friend’s house on a Friday after school to watch The Range Rider, The Lone Ranger, and Champion the Wonder Horse. I can still do all the voice-over intro to The Lone Ranger!
In later years, Z-cars, Rowan and Martin, Monty Python, and many others took my attention. I still watch old episodes of Porridge and others on Dave when there’s the usual summer load of rubbish on, and no football to watch.
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Hi Jim
There used to be a terrible old schoolyard joke about the Lone Ranger beating up Tonto when he found out Kimo Sabe was the Native American for you f***ing c***. Back in the day of course.
Porridge was ace – Ronnie Barker was so versatile.
I had the privilege of chatting for a long time with one of his major scriptwriters (the wonderful Barry Cryer) a couple of times at our corporate events – he said Barker (aka Gerald Wiley) could have written his shows on his own if he had the confidence.
A bit of football should be coming our way tomorrow to break up TV week, Gary assures me.
Thanks as ever.
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I forgot to mention Edge of Darkness.
If I recall correctly the last episode of Howard’s Way went out the same week that Mrs T resigned from number 10. It was certainly a show of its day and really quite silly but I was hooked.
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Edge of Darkness was top drawer – it really was.
Howards’ Way? I’m quite ashamed to say I ended up hooked too.
I would have voted for Jan Harvey (can’t remember the character name) over Mrs T any day!
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Evening, all (salutes).
What a cracking start to TV week, Martin. Thanks for leaving me space to eulogise about Monty Python – I will indeed.
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Indeed you already have – I’ve seen the evidence.
Great stuff and I’m so pleased you included references to the cheese shop sketch and Torquemada’s mob:-)
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Just to throw in a couple I don’t think have had a shout yet… The Good life, and the excellent Rising Damp.
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Hi Ady
For someone who would claim not to like The Good Life, I always seemed to watch it over anything else when I got home from work!
Leonard Rossiter was superb as Rigsby. That show was probably just as true to life as Steptoe.
Thank you.
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It was meant to be the British Dallas wasn’t it?
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I’m late to this debate (sorry Martin), but one of my faves was definitely “Not the Nine O’clock News”.
Before she became Mrs. Connolly, Pamela Stephenson definitely hit a few spots for me.
O T B C
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Hi John
I actually met Pamela Stephenson at the Earls Court Bike Show around 1983 when I was working for the Met. She was there to promote either Kawasaki or Suzuki (can’t remember which).
She came over to see our officers who were there with their BMW “solos”, sported no make-up and carried no ego. She just wanted to talk to us about the bikes.
As soon as I mentioned I had a cousin in NZ she told me more about the country in two minutes than a history book ever could.
A truly lovely person.
Thank you.
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