Bagpuss
Bagpuss, dear Bagpuss, old fat furry catpuss, wake up and look at this thing that I bring. Wake up, be bright, be golden and light. Bagpuss, oh hear what I sing. Emily was the animator Peter Firmin's daughter. Gabriel the toad (voiced by John Faulkner), the mice on the mouseorgan, Madeleine the rag doll (voiced by Sandra Kerr), Professor Yaffle the woodpecker. Animated. Narrated by Oliver Postgate. UK. 13 episodes. Smallfilms.

The Banana Splits and Friends Show
Fleegle (beagle), Bingo (gorilla), Drooper (lion), and Snorky (elephant).
US. Hanna-Barbera. Created by Sid and Marty Krofft. US. NBC. 1968-1970. UK saturday-morning broadcasts in
the 1970s and early 1980s included The Monkees, The Three Musketeers and The Arabian Knights.

The Barchester Chronicles
Alan Plater's adaptation of two Anthony Trollope novels. The respected Reverend of Barchester becomes a victim by association when the Church is accused of corruption. Rev. Septimus Harding (Donald Pleasence), Archdeacon Grantly (Nigel Hawthorne), Rev. Obadiah Slope (Alan Rickman), Mrs. Proudie (Geraldine McEwan), Signora Madeline Neroni (Susan Hampshire), Mary Bold (Barbara Flynn). UK. BBC costume drama. 1982.

Barney Bear
Animated cartoon character. Created for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by director Rudolf Ising. US. Cartoon shorts. First appearance: 1939.

The Basil Brush Show
Created by Peter Firmin in 1963. First voiced by Ivan Owen. On his show, Basil had a 'straight man' as a companion: Mr. Rodney (Rodney Bewes; 1968-1969), Mr. Derek (Derek Fowlds; 1969-1973), Mr. Roy (Roy North; 1973-1977), Mr. Howard (Howard Williams; 1977-1979) and Mr. Billy (Billy Boyle; 1979-1980). Basil recorded two albums, both entitled Boom! Boom! It's Basil Brush (1970; 1977) and appeared in TV Comic. In December 2005, Basil won £10,900 for his chosen charity on The Weakest Link. Catchphrase: 'Boom! Boom!'.

Batman
More camp than Butlins, this series was intended as a parody, but through its popularity and repeated global syndication is often regarded as the default rendition of the caped crusader. Batman/Bruce Wayne (Adam West), Robin/Dick Grayson (Burt Ward), Alfred the butler (Alan Napier), Police Commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton), Batgirl/Barbara Gordon (Yvonne Craig), the Joker (Cesar Romero), the Riddler (Frank Gorshin), the Penguin (Burgess Meredith) and Catwoman, played by Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, and Eartha Kitt. Narration by William Dozier. US. 120 episodes. ABC. 12 January 1966 to 14 March 1968.

Battle of the Planets
1978 westernisation of 85 episodes of Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman (1972). G-Force (Mark, Jason, Princess, Keyop, and Tiny) protects Earth from the forces of the planet Spectra and the evil Zoltar in their ship, the Phoenix. Robot/narrator: 7-Zark-7. Animated SF cartoon. Japan. 1978.

Battlestar Galactica
A TV SF series released following the unexpected success of the 1978 film Battlestar Galactica, which was itself a recut version of a 2½-hour TV pilot episode. Still following? Good. Produced by Glen A. Larson. Commander Adama (Lorne Greene), Capt. Apollo (Richard Hatch), Lt. Starbuck (Dirk Benedict), Athena (Maren Jensen). In 1978, 20th Century Fox (who released Star Wars) sued Universal Studios (who released the movie version of Battlestar Galactica) for plagiarism. Universal counter-sued, and the lawsuit was finally dismissed in 1980. The movie was later reworked with some tweaking (including a female Starbuck, and cylons that look like people) in a 2003 mini-series. This was a hit, and in 2004 the reworked series began screening. Originally: 24 episodes. US ABC TV release: 1978-1979.

The Benny Hill Show
First aired in 1955 on the BBC, moved to ITV in 1969, cancelled in 1989. Slapstick comedy absolutely bursting with double entendres. Probably the only faintly saucy programme small British children were allowed to watch. Born Alfred Hawthorn Hill (21 January 1924 or 1925) in Southampton, Hill changed his name to Benny in homage to Jack Benny. An innovator, he used under-cranking to speed up film. The theme song to his Show, 'Yakety Sax', was written by Boots Randolph. He recorded a number of songs, most notably topping the charts with the bittersweet ballad Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West). After leaving school, Hill had been a milkman for a time. He also appeared in 9 films, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and The Italian Job (1969).
Benny Hill died around the 20 April 1992.

Bergerac
Detective series with edge (Bergerac was a recovering alcoholic). Jersey DS Jim Bergerac (John Nettles) of the Bureau des Etrangers, Charlie Hungerford (Terence Alexander), Barney Crozier (Sean Arnold), Susan Young (Louise Jameson), Deborah Bergerac (Deborah Grant), DC Willy Pettit (John Telfer), DC Ben Lomas (David Kershaw), Charlotte (Annette Badland), Philippa Vale (Liza Goddard). Memorable theme tune, gorgeous car.
UK. By Robert Banks Stewart. BBC. 1981-1991.

Bewitched
Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery), Darrin Stephens (Dick York replaced in 1969 by Dick Sargent), Endora - Samantha's mother (Agnes Moorehead), Aunt Clara (Marion Lorne), Larry Tate - Darrin's boss at the advertising agency (David White), and Tabitha, the Stephens' daughter (from 1966). Samantha famously cast spells by twitching her nose. US ABC sitcom. 1964-1972.

The Big Time
Documentary following an unknown wannabe singer's attempt to gain a record contract. The unknown the BBC pick is Sheena Easton,
who won herself a contract with EMI Records and a career as a singer and actress. UK. BBC. 1979.

The Bionic Woman
Spin-off from The Six Million Dollar Man. Jaime Sommers (Lindsay Wagner), a tennis pro and the girlfriend of Steve Austin is injured in a sky-diving accident. She gets two bionic legs, a bionic arm, and a bionic ear. Later she adopts Maximillion, a german shepherd dog with bionic implants. Also featuring Oscar Goldman (Richard Anderson) and Dr. Rudy Wells (Martin E. Brooks). Three made-for-TV reunion movies later (1987, 1989, 1994) she finally marries Steve Austin.
US ABC (1976-1977); NBC (1977-1978).

The Black Adder - Blackadder
The sound of hoofbeats 'cross the glade, good folk, lock up your son and daughter, beware the deadly flashing blade, unless you want to end up shorter'. Rowan Atkinson (Edmund Blackadder) and Tony Robinson (Baldrick) with Tim McInnerny (Lord Percy Percy, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Capt. Kevin Darling), Hugh Laurie (Simon Partridge, Prince Ludwig the Indestructible, Prince George, Lieutenant George), Brian Blessed (Richard IV), Miranda Richardson (Elizabeth I), Stephen Fry (Lord Melchett, the Duke of Wellington, General Melchett), Gabrielle Glaister (Bob), Patsy Byrne (Nursie), Rik Mayall (Mad Gerald, Lord Flashheart), Helen Atkinson-Wood (Mrs. Miggins), Peter Cook (Richard III), Robert East (Harry, Prince of Wales), Robbie Coltrane (Dr. Johnson). 4 series set in the late middle ages, at the court of Elizabeth I, during the Regency, and during WWI. The final episode of the fourth series being an extraordinary mix of the riotously comic and the movingly tragic. UK. BBC. 1983-1989.

Blankety Blank
Game-show. Presented by Terry Wogan, Les Dawson and Lily Savage (Paul O'Grady). 2 rounds then the supermatch game. Nobody went home empty-handed, all losers getting a Blankety Blank cheque-book and pen. UK version of the US game-show Match Game (1962).
BBC (1979-1989; 1998-2000); ITV (2001-2002).

Blake's 7
Cult SF series. Roj Blake (Gareth Thomas), Kerr Avon (Paul Darrow), Vila Restal (Michael Keating), Olag Gan (David Jackson), Jenna Stannis (Sally Knyvette), Cally (Jan Chappell), Del Tarrant (Steven Pacey), Soolin (Glynis Barber), Dayna Mellanby (Josette Simon), Supreme Commander Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce), Travis (Stephen Greif/Brian Croucher), Orac, Zen, and the ship, The Liberator. UK. 4 series. BBC. 2 January 1978 to 21 December 1981.

Bleak House
Costume drama. Adapted from the Charles Dickens novel with Diana Rigg as Lady Honoria Dedlock, Denholm Elliott as John Jarndyce, Graham Crowden as the Lord Chancellor, Bernard Hepton as Krook, Charlie Drake as Smallweed, and Peter Vaughan as Tulkinghorn. UK. BBC.

Blue Peter
The BBC's flagship childrens' programme devised by John Hunter Blair and controlled for many years by Biddy Baxter. Presenters from our youth: Valerie Singleton (1962-1972), John Noakes (1965-1978), Peter Purves (1967-1978), Lesley Judd (1972-1979), Simon Groom (1978-1986), Christopher Wenner (1978-1980), Tina Heath (1979-1980), Sarah Greene (1980-1983), Peter Duncan (1980-1984; 1985-1986), and Janet Ellis (1983-1987). Percy Thrower was the Blue Peter gardener. Pets: Petra and Goldie (dogs), Shep (John Noakes' border collie), Freda (tortoise), Jason, Jack, and Jill (cats). Blue Peter still upholds the otherwise tattered remains of the BBC's once unsullied reputation. They never mention brands, actually inventing the term 'sticky-backed plastic' for Fablon, and always using 'sticky-tape', never sellotape. Following many years of summer expeditions, appeals, bring-and-buy sales, badges, cookery lessons, and the inventive recycling of washing-up liquid bottles, any British citizen under the age of 40, if given some coat hangers, tinsel, and candles, can manufacture an inherently unsafe and worryingly inflamable Christmas decoration with their eyes shut. Asteroid '16197 Bluepeter' is named in the show's honour. Famous incidents: Lulu the elephant pooing, sundry fires, Simon Groom's impeccable delivery of the line 'what a lovely pair of knockers', and the 1981 'history of underwear' feature (with Sarah Greene, Isla St. Clair, and Maggie Philbin), videotapes of which are almost entirely unobtainable. Later presenters included Anthea Turner and Konnie Huq, ensuring continued ratings success one way or another. UK. BBC. Began: 16 October 1958.

Bod
Bod is a boy who lives in a town with Aunt Flo, PC Copper, Frank the Postman and Farmer Barleymow. Alberto Frog and his Amazing Animal Band also appear. Based on the four original Bod books by Joanna and Michael Cole. Narrated by John Le Mesurier. Music by Derek Griffiths. Animated.
UK. 13 episodes. BBC. 1975.

Boys from the Blackstuff
Classic drama series following five unemployed tarmac layers from Liverpool. Jobs for the Boys; Moonlighter; Shop Thy Neighbour; Yosser's Story; George's Last Ride. Chrissie Todd (Michael Angelis), Dixie Dean (Tom Georgeson), Yosser Hughes (Bernard Hill), Loggo Lomond (Alan Igbon), George Malone (Peter Kerrigan), Angie Todd (Julie Walters). Also featured Graeme Souness. UK. By Alan Bleasdale. BBC. 10 October to 7 November 1982.

The Book Tower
Originally presented by Tom Baker, the programme sought to encourage children to read more. UK. ITV Yorkshire. 1978.

Bread
Sitcom. Nellie Boswell (Jean Boht), Adrian Boswell (Jonathon Morris), Billy Boswell (Nick Conway), Grandad (Kenneth Waller), Martina (Pamela Power), Lilo Lil (Eileen Pollock), Roxy (Joanna Phillips-Lane), Derek (Peter Byrne), Joey Boswell (Peter Howitt; Graham Bickley), Aveline Boswell (Gilly Coman; Melanie Hill), Jack Boswell (Victor McGuire); Shifty Boswell (Bryan Murray). A number of the characters were played by different actors over the course of 71 episodes and 3 specials. By Carla Lane. UK. BBC. 1986-1991.

Brideshead Revisited
Drama adapted by John Mortimer from Evelyn Waugh's 1945 novel. A cynic would suggest this was a posh, gay, catholic version of Eastenders with no expense spared. Charles Ryder (Jeremy Irons), Lord Sebastian Flyte (Anthony Andrews), Lord Marchmain (Laurence Olivier), Lady Marchmain (Claire Bloom), Lady Julia Flyte (Diana Quick), Lady Cordelia Flyte (Phoebe Nicholls), Edward Ryder (John Gielgud). Filmed at Hertford and Christ Church Colleges, Oxford, at Castle Howard, Yorkshire, in Venice, Malta, and Gozo, and on the QE2. The 'official' budget was £4.5m but the real cost was probably closer to £11m. Watch it in your cricket flannels, clutching your teddy bear. The jewel in the crown of Granada TV, although most people simply assume it was made by the BBC. 11 episodes. UK. ITV Granada. October to December 1981.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
TV spin-off from the 1979 movie. Buck Rogers is a USAF pilot who commands Ranger 3, a space shuttle launched in 1987. Due to a freak combination of gases, he is frozen in space for 504 years and is revived in the 25th century (2491). After a devastating nuclear war in the late 20th century, Earth is now united under the protection of the Earth Defence Directorate. Captain William Buck Rogers (Gil Gerard), Colonel Wilma Deering (Erin Gray), Dr. Elias Huer (Tim O'Connor), Dr. Goodfellow (Wilfrid Hyde-White), Hawk (Thom Christopher), Princess Ardala of Draconia (Pamela Hensley). Twiki (catchphrase: 'biddi-biddi-biddi') usually wore Dr. Theopolis round his neck. Narrated by William Conrad. 2 series (of 21 and 11 episodes). US. NBC. 1979-1981.

Butterflies
Sitcom. Suburban housewife Ria has a mid-life crisis and is torn between her family and the possibility of an affair. Balanced just right, with impeccable acting, this probably stands as some of Carla Lane's best work alongside The Liver Birds, both breaking new ground in their presentation of female leads. Ria Parkinson (Wendy Craig), Ben Parkinson (Geoffrey Palmer), Russell Parkinson (Andrew Hall), Adam Parkinson (Nicholas Lyndhurst), Leonard Dunn (Bruce Montague), Thomas (Michael Ripper), Ruby (Joyce Windsor). By Carla Lane. 4 series, 27 episodes, 1 special and 2 shorts (the last in 2000 as part of Children in Need).
UK. BBC. 1978-1983.

Button Moon
Mr. Spoon, Mrs. Spoon and their daughter Tina, of Cardboard Box House, Treacle Street, would travel to Button Moon in Blanket Sky, in a home-made rocket ship for an adventure. Sometimes Eggbert went too. Various other characters featured, including Brew the witch and her pet dragon, Thunder. Narrated by Robin Parkinson. Created by Ian Allen and John Thirtle. Theme song performed by husband and wife, Peter Davison and Sandra Dickinson.
7 series (91 10-minute episodes). UK. ITV Thames. 1981-1987.

By the Sword Divided
Costume drama of two families, the Royalist Laceys of Arnescote Castle and the Puritan Fletchers, set during the English Civil Wars through to the Restoration (1641-1660). Anne Lacey marries John Fletcher, and the two families' fates become entangled. Particularly enjoyable if you were studying the period for A' Level History at the time. Sir Martin Lacey (Julian Glover), Lucinda Lacey Ferrar (Lucy Aston), Tom Lacey (Tim Bentinck), Frances Neville Lacey (Joanna McCallum), John Fletcher (Rob Edwards), Anne Lacey Fletcher (Sharon Maughan), Edward Ferrar (Peter Birch; Tim Brierley), Susan Protheroe (Judy Buxton), John Thurloe (David Collings), Charles I (Jeremy Clyde), Charles II (Simon Treves), Prince Rupert (Christopher Baines), Oliver Cromwell (Peter Jeffrey), Sir Austin (Bert Parnaby), Maj. Gen. Horton (Gareth Thomas). 2 series, 20 episodes. UK. BBC. October 1983-1985.

C

Cagney and Lacey

Camberwick Green

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
The Teen Angels being Brenda, Dee Dee, and Taffy.

Captain Pugwash

Captain Scarlet

Casualty

Catweazle

Centennial

Champion the Wonder Horse

Charley Says (Public Information Films)

Charlie's Angels

Cheers

Cheggers Plays Pop

Chigley

Citizen Smith

The Clangers
Stop motion animation shorts. Major Clanger, Mother Clanger, Small Clanger, and Tiny Clanger. Staple diet: green soup and blue-string pudding. Other residents include the soup dragon, the froglets, glow buzzers, and the iron chicken. Narration by Oliver Postgate. Music by Vernon Elliot. The Clangers' sounds were produced on swanee whistles. 26 episodes. UK. Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin (Small Films) for the BBC. November 1969-November 1972. A 4-minute election special was broadcast in October 1974, and is believed to still exist. Golden Bear Products Ltd. (Telford) produce small clangers with internal voice boxes. Gently squeeze them, and they talk to you (saying 'Oh sod it! The bloody thing's stuck again!' in Clanger, a line deleted from the original series following objections by the BBC). Froglets and the soup dragon are also available.

Clapperboard
Film-related childrens' show hosted by Chris Kelly. UK. ITV Granada. 1970s.

Closedown
Once upon a time the BBC went to bed every night. The announcer would wish you goodnight, you'd get a blast of the national anthem, sometimes accompanied by a fluttering union jack, and then you'd be faced with static, and you'd have to go to bed or the poltergeist would get you. UK. BBC.

Coast to Coast
TVS regional news programme. Presenters included: Fern Britton, Fred Dinenage, Mai Davies, Chris Peacock, Chrissie Pollard, and Khalid Aziz. Weathermen: Trevor Baker, Carl Tyler. TVS held the franchise from 1982 to 1992, replacing Southern, and being in turn replaced by Meridian. ITV TVS. Fascinating fact: a Coast to Coast presenter once attended a local hospital for the assisted surgical removal of an electric toothbrush from a posterior body cavity. No names for legal reasons.

Connections
Presented by James Burke. A history of science and invention in 10 episodes. Inspired a generation. UK. BBC. 1978.
There were two sequel series in 1994 and 1997.

Coronation Street
Soap. Set in a street 'built' in 1902 and consequently named in honour of the coronation of Edward VII. The original opening credits featured Archie Street, Salford. Famous early 1980s incidents: Renee Roberts was killed in a traffic accident (1980) and Len Fairclough died in a car crash (December 1983). The series is not known for its gritty realism. Created by Tony Warren. Theme by Eric Spear. UK. ITV Granada. First broadcast: December 1960.

Crackerjack
'It's friday, it's five to five and it's Crackerjack!' Comedy, variety, and quiz show hosted (in our era) by Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart and Jan Hunt, and featuring comedy duo Peter Glaze (1924-1983) and Don MacLean. Regular guests included Bernie Clifton (with Oswald the ostrich) and The Krankies (husband and wife team, Ian and Janette Tough, 4ft 5" Janette playing Ian's son, wee Jimmy Krankie, catchphrase: 'Fan'dabi'dozi'). The show included comedy sketches, music, and team games for children. In 'Double or drop' you got a prize for a correct answer, and a cabbage for an incorrect answer, having to hold them all or you were out. Everyone got a Crackerjack pencil, the youthful equivalent of the Blankety Blank cheque-book and pen. Next time you are shopping in Waitrose, yell 'Crackerjack' and see if you get the traditional response.

Crossroads
Soap set in the Crossroads Motel, Birmingham. UK. ITV ATV, Central, and Carlton. 1964-1988; 2001-2003.

Crystal Tipps and Alistair
Animated cartoon. The adventures of Crystal and her dog, Alistair in a pop-art world. Very Yellow Submarine. Created by Hilary Hayton. 50 5-minute episodes and Crystal's Christmas Special (20 minutes). UK. Q3 for the BBC. 1972.

D

Dad's Army

Dallas

Danger Mouse

Dave Allen at Large

The Day the Universe Changed
Presented by James Burke. The impact of advances in science and technology on western philosophy in 10 episodes. UK. BBC. 1985.

Des O'Connor Tonight

The Devil's Crown

Dick Turpin

Disney Time

Do It!

Doctor Who
The Doctors from our youth: Jon Pertwee (1970-1974), Tom Baker (1974-1981), Peter Davison (1981-1984), Colin Baker (1984-1986), Sylvester McCoy (1987-1989, 1996). Companions include Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Leela (Louise Jameson), K9, Romana (Mary Tamm and Lalla Ward), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), Nyssa of Traken (Sarah Sutton), Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding), Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson), Perpugilliam 'Peri' Brown (Nicola Bryant), Melanie 'Mel' Bush (Bonnie Langford), Ace (Sophie Aldred). Adversaries included Davros and the daleks from Skaro, the Master, and the cybermen. Main theme composed by Ron Grainer and produced by Delia Derbyshire and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. UK. BBC. First episode: 23 November 1963.

Don't Wait Up

Drop the Dead Donkey

The Duchess of Duke Street

The Dukes of Hazzard
Filmed on the same lot as Little House on the Prairie.

Dynasty

E

Eastenders
The BBC's flagship soap first screened on Tuesday 19 February 1985 with the episode 'Poor Old Reg...' by Gerry Huxham. The original cast: Lou Beale (Anna Wing), Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard), Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher), Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully), Mark Fowler (David Scarboro), Pete Beale (Peter Dean), Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), Angie Watts (Anita Dobson), Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin), and her dog (Willy), Dr. Harold Legg (Leonard Fenton), Dot Cotton (June Brown), Nick Cotton (John Altman), Sue Osman (Sandy Ratcliff), Ali Osman (Nejdet Salih), baby Hassan Osman, Saeed Jeffery (Andrew Johnson), Naima Jeffery (Shreela Ghosh), Mary Smith (Linda Davidson) and baby Annie, Tony Carpenter (Oscar James), Kelvin Carpenter (Paul J. Medford), Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt), Andy O'Brien (Ross Davidson), Debbie Wilkins (Shirley Cheriton), [Episode one also included:] Det. Insp. Marsh (Harry Miller), Mr. Chumley (Brian Hoskin), and Reg Cox (Johnnie Clayton). The title music was by Simon May and Leslie Osborne, and the programme was originally produced by Julia Smith. BBC.

Edge of Darkness
Stylish political thriller. Ronald Craven (Bob Peck), Emma Craven (Joanne Whalley in her first starring role), Darius Jedburgh (Joe Don Baker), James Godbolt (Jack Watson), Guy Pendleton (Charles Kay), Henry Harcourt (Ian McNeice), Terry Shields (Tim McInnerny), Chief Supt. Ross (John Woodvine), Clemmy (Zoë Wanamaker). UK. Score by Eric Clapton and Michael Kamen. By Troy Kennedy Martin. BBC. 6 parts. 1986.

Edward and Mrs. Simpson

Emmerdale Farm
Soap. UK. ITV Yorkshire. Began: 1972. Name change to Emmerdale in November 1989.

Emu's Broadcasting Company

Ever Decreasing Circles

Everyman

F

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

Fame
Drama series, being a spin-off from the 1980 movie of the same name. Set at the New York High School for the Performing Arts. Bruno Martelli (Lee Curreri), Coco Hernandez (Erica Gimpel), Lydia Grant (Debbie Allen), Julie Miller (Lori Singer), Jesse Velasquez (Jesse Borrego), Holly Laird (Cynthia Gibb), Benjamin Shorofsky (Albert Hague), Christopher Donlan (Billy Hufsey), Danny Amatullo (Carlo Imperato), Cleo Hewitt (Janet Jackson), Elizabeth Sherwood (Carol Mayo Jenkins), Doris Schwartz (Valerie Landsburgh), Mrs. Berg (Ann Nelson), Nicole Chapman (Nia Peeples), Leroy Johnson (Gene Anthony Ray), Quentin Morloch (Ken Swofford). The theme tune was sung by Irene Cara (who played Coco Hernandez in the movie). MGM Television for NBC. 1982-1987. 6 seasons. [UK: BBC]. 50 min episodes.

The Far Pavilions

Fawlty Towers

Film [date] (Barry Norman)

Fingerbobs

Flash Gordon

The Flowerpot Men

The Flumps

G

Gardener's World

The Generation Game

George and Mildred

Go With Noakes

The Good Life

Goodbye Mrs. Noah

The Goodies

The Golden Girls

Great Grape Ape

Grandstand

Grange Hill

The Great Egg Race

H

Hart Beat

Hawaii 5-0

Heidi

Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch!

Here Come the Double Deckers

Hi-De-Hi

Hill Street Blues

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Holiday

Home and Away

Hong Kong Phooey

Horses Galore

How Do You Do?

Howard's Way
Popular drama. Tom Howard, an aircraft designer dreaming of designing yachts, invests his redundancy cheque in Jack Rolfe's ailing Mermaid Boatyard in Tarrant on the south coast. Tom Howard (Maurice Colbourne), Jan Howard (Jan Harvey), Leo Howard (Edward Highmore), Lynne Howard (Tracey Childs), Jack Rolfe (Glyn Owen), Kate Harvey (Dulcie Gray), Charles Frere (Tony Anholt), Ken Masters (Stephen Yardley), Avril Rolfe (Susan Gilmore), Sir Edward Frere (Nigel Davenport), Abby Urquhart (Cindy Shelley), Gerald Urquhart (Ivor Danvers), Polly Urquhart (Patricia Shakesby), Laura Wilde (Kate O'Mara). Boasted Simon May's immediately recognisable theme tune, unfortunately given lyrics and then sung to death by Marti Webb as Always There (charting to no. 13 in 1986). Created by Gerard Glaister (1915-2005). 6 series (78 episodes). UK. BBC. 1985-1990.

The Huckleberry Hound Show
Animated cartoon. Voiced by Daws Butler, Huckleberry Hound was a blue dog with a southern (US) accent, given to singing 'Oh my darling, Clementine' (badly). Included segments featuring Yogi Bear and Pixie and Dixie. 55 episodes. US. Hanna-Barbera. 1958-1962.
TV-movie: The Good, The Bad, and Huckleberry Hound (1988).

I

I, Claudius

I Dream of Jeannie

In Deepest Britain

The Incredible Hulk

It Ain't Half Hot Mum

It's a Knockout

Ivor the Engine

J

Jackanory

Jamie and the Magic Torch
Jamie, his old English Sheepdog Wordsworth, and Officer Gotcha. Psychadelic animation.

Jim'll Fix It

Juliet Bravo
Detective series with a female lead. Insp. Jean Darblay (Stephanie Turner), Insp. Kate Longton (Anna Carteret). The theme tune is one of the very best, the full length version being almost unique in not having a crap bit in the middle. You can close your eyes and its 1982 again. Bliss. UK. BBC. 1980-1985.

Just Good Friends
Popular drama. Would Vince and Penny marry? Vince Pinner (Paul Nicholas), Penny Warrender (Jan Francis), Daphne Warrender (Sylvia Kay), Norman Warrender (John Ringham), Rita Pinner (Ann Lynn), Les Pinner (Shaun Curry). UK. By John Sullivan. BBC. 1983-1986.

K

Ken Dodd

Knight Rider

Knot's Landing

Kojak

Kung Fu

L

Laff-a-Lympics

Lassie

Last of the Summer Wine

Laurel and Hardy

Les Dawson

The Life and Loves of a She-Devil

The Likely Lads

Little House on the Prairie

Little Lord Fauntleroy

The Liver Birds
Sitcom. Female version of The Likely Lads with two female friends sharing a flat in Huskisson Street, Liverpool. Dawn (Pauline Collins), Beryl Hennessey (Polly James), Sandra Hutchinson (Nerys Hughes), Carol Boswell (Elizabeth Estensen), Mrs. Hutchinson (Mollie Sugden), Mrs. Hennessey (Sheila Fay, In 1996: Carmel McSharry), Mrs. Boswell (Eileen Kennally, Carmel McSharry), the rabbit-adoring Lucien (Michael Angelis), Derek Paynton (Tom Chadbon). Dawn moved out after 5 episodes. Beryl got married in series 4 and was replaced by Carol. The late 1970s was the 'Carol and Sandra' era. Sandra eventually married Derek (a vet). The 1996 series brought Sandra and Beryl back together with Carmel McSharry switching characters from being Mrs. Boswell to being Mrs. Hennessey. Lucien also switched from being Carol's brother to being Beryl's brother. By Carla Lane. Comedy Playhouse pilot, 9 series (76 episodes), 3 specials, 1 short, and then an additional series in 1996 (7 episodes). UK. BBC. 1969-1979, 1996.

Lovejoy
Popular drama featuring the adventures of antiques dealer Lovejoy (Ian McShane), Tinker Dill (Dudley Sutton), Lady Jane Felsham (Phyllis Logan), Eric Catchpole (Chris Jury). The series pushed antique collecting and 'dealing' (typically at car boot sales) into the mainstream, giving an unexpected boost to the revenues of antique dealers, and to the ratings of The Antiques Roadshow. UK. 6 series. BBC. 1986, 1991-1994.

M

Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cookery
Cookery. BBC.

Maelstrom
Mystery thriller by Michael J. Bird. Wikipedia states that it 'centres around a young woman who travels to Norway to claim an inheritance, and finds herself involved in the mysterious dealings of the family of her deceased benefactor'. It was very Norwegian. Catherine Durrell (Tusse Silberg), Anders Bjornson (David Beames), Anna Marie Jordahl (Susan Gilmore), and Astrid Linderman (Ann Todd). UK/Norway co-production. BBC. 1985. 6 episodes.

The Magic Roundabout

Magnum P.I.

Making the Most of the Micro

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Mapgie

The Martian Chronicles

Mary, Mungo, and Midge

M*A*S*H

Michael Bentine's Potty Time

The Mike Yarwood Show

Mind Your Language

The Money Programme

Monkey
Cult childrens' drama. Monkey ('born from an egg on a mountain top, the punkiest monkey that ever popped', and played by Masaaki Sakai), Pigsy (Toshiyuki Nishida; Tonpei Hidari), Sandy (Shiro Kishibe), and Tripitaka (a male priest played by an actress-Masako Natsume, and voiced by Maria Warburg). Narrated by Frank Duncan. TV adaptation of Wu Ch'eng-en's 16th-century collection of Chinese fables. English adaptation by David Weir. English version directed by Michael Bakewell for World Wide Sound, London. Songs performed by Japanese band Godiego. Produced by NTV and Kokusai Hoei.
Japanese (dubbed, badly). 1979.

The Monkies

The Monocled Mutineer

Monty Python's Flying Circus

Moonlighting

Morecambe and Wise

Mr. Smith's Flower Garden

The Munch Bunch

The Muppet Show

Murder She Wrote

N

Nationwide

Newhart

The Nightmare Man

Noggin the Nog

Not the Nine O'Clock News

O

The Old Grey Whistle Test

On the Move

The Onedin Line

Only Fools and Horses

Only When I Laugh
Sitcom. James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli, Richard Wilson, Derrick Branche. By Eric Chappell. UK. ITV Yorkshire. 1979-1982.

Open All Hours

Open University

P

Paddington

Panorama

Parkinson

Peanuts

Pennies from Heaven

The Perishers

Perry Mason

The Pink Panther Show

Play Away

Play School

Playhouse

Poldark

Popeye
Animated cartoon. Popeye first appeared as a cartoon character in January 1929. Olive Oyl originally had a brother called Castor, and a boyfriend called Ham Gravy. Swee'Pea was a foundling that Popeye received in the post in 1933 and adopted. Other characters: the hamburger-loving J. Wellington Wimpy, the cobbler George W. Geezil, Popeye's father Poopdeck Pappy, and a yellow dog from Africa with magical powers, called Eugene the Jeep. Popeye's spinach consumption stems from the misreading of, or misplacing of a decimal point in a study on the iron content of spinach, suggesting that it has ten times as much in it, than it really does. It is worth noting that spinach was a slang term for marijuana at the time of Popeye's creation. US. King Features Syndicate produced some 220 cartoon shorts with Bluto renamed Brutus (1960-1961). Hanna-Barbera produced a later show (with Brutus back as Bluto) syndicated as: The Popeye Show, 1 hour long, CBS/Hanna-Barbera (1978-1981); The Popeye and Olive Show, 30 mins, CBS/Hanna-Barbera (1981-1983).

Porridge

Postman Pat

Pot Black

Prisoner: Cell Block H

The Professionals

Q

A Question of Sport

R

Ragtime

Rainbow

The Record Breakers
Roy Castle tap-dancing his way into the Guinness Book of Records with the book's original co-founders, Norris and Ross McWhirter. Ross was murdered by the IRA in 1975 after offering a large reward for information leading to the capture of IRA bombers. Norris died of a heart attack whilst playing tennis in 2004, at the age of 78. Roy Castle died of cancer in 1994 at the age of 62. He had never smoked, but had played the trumpet in smokey jazz clubs early in his career. BBC.

Rhoda

Rising Damp
Leonard Rossiter, Frances De La Tour, Richard Beckinsale, Don Warrington. By Eric Chappell. UK. ITV Yorkshire. 1974-1978.

Robin of Sherwood

The Rockford Files

Rolf Harris Cartoon Time

Rolf on Saturday - OK?

Roobarb (and Custard)
Roobarb the green dog, Custard the pink cat, and the birds.
Animated. 30 episodes. Narrated by Richard Briers. UK. Bob Godfrey. 1974.

Roots

Roseanne

Runaround

S

The Saturday Banana

Scooby Doo, Where Are You!

The Secret Garden
Children's drama. From the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Dramatised by Dorothea Brooking. Mary (Sarah Hollis Andrews), Ben Weatherstaff (Tom Harrison), John (William Marsh), Martha (Jacqueline Hoyle), Mrs. Medlock (Hope Johnstone), Mrs. Sowerby (Lorraine Peters), Pitcher (Basil Clarke), Mr. Archibald Craven (John Woodnutt), Nurse (Jennie Goossens), 'Lizabeth Ellen (Alison Lowndes). BBC.

Screen Test

Secret Army

She-Ra: Princess of Power

The Shillingbury Tales

Shogun

Sinbad and the Flying Carpet

The Singing Ringing Tree

The Six Million Dollar Man

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo

The Snowman

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Songs of Praise

Sorry!

South Today

Spiderman and his Amazing Friends

Star Trek

Starsky and Hutch

Steptoe and Son

Stopwatch

Supergran

Superstars

The Sweeney

Sykes

T

Take Hart

Taxi

Terrahawks

Terry and June

That's Life

Think Again
Educational programme with Johnny Ball. BBC Bristol.

Think of a Number

The Thorn Birds
Mini-series. As the DVD sleeve summarises: Young, handsome Father Ralph de Bricassart surrenders to ambition when he accepts a bequest to the church from wealthy matriarch Mary Carson. The legacy advances Father de Bricassart to the upper echelons of church hierarchy, but it denies Mary's heirs of their rightful fortune - and ties Mary's granddaughter, Meggie, to the priest. Meggie grows into a stunningly beautiful woman, and Father de Bricassart suffers the temptation of a woman he is not allowed-and cannot leave. Together, the two share a secret passion that endures for decades and proves greater than even his faith and his love for the church. Adapted from the novel by Colleen McCullough. Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Barbara Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Jean Simmons, Piper Laurie, Mare Winningham, Bryan Brown, Barry Corbin, and John de Lancie. 7hrs 40mins.

Three of a Kind

3-2-1
Game-show presented by Ted Rogers, based on Un Dos Tres by Ibanez Serrador. Featured Dusty Bin. UK. ITV Yorkshire. 1978-1987.

Three Up, Two Down

Thunderbirds

Tiswas

To the Manor Born

Tom and Jerry

Tommy Cooper

The Tomorrow People

Tomorrow's World

Tonight

Top Cat

Top of the Pops

Triangle

Trumpton

Tucker's Luck

Twin Peaks

The Two Ronnies

U

The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau
The inspirational aquatic explorations of Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997) and the crew of the Calypso. Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, environmentalist, and researcher, although he called himself an oceanographic technician. He was a co-inventor of the aqua-lung and of a number of underwater cameras and vessels. Loel Guinness leased the Calypso (previously a Maltese ferry) to Cousteau for the symbolic sum of 1 franc a year. Narrated by Rod Serling and Jacques Cousteau, the Undersea World was produced from 1966 to 1973. In 1974 Cousteau created The Cousteau Society for the protection of ocean life.

Up Pompei

Upstairs, Downstairs

V

V

The Val Doonican Music Show

A Very Peculiar Practice
Cult comedy drama set around the medical centre of the University of Lowlands (filmed at Keele and Birmingham). Dr. Stephen Daker (Peter Davison), Dr. Jock McCannon (Graham Crowden), Dr. Rose Marie (Barbara Flynn), Dr. Bob Buzzard (David Troughton), Lyn Turtle (Amanda Hillwood), Grete Grotowska (Joanna Kanska), Ernest Hemingway (John Bird), Jack Daniels (Michael Shannon), Ron Rust (Joe Melia), the nuns (Sonia Hart and Elaine Turrell). Appearances by Haydn Gwynne, Hugh Grant, Timothy West, Kathy Burke. Title track It's a Long Way from Anywhere performed by Elkie Brooks. UK. By Andrew Davies. BBC. Began: 21 May 1986. 2 series. The spin-off sequel: A Very Polish Practice (1992) has Stephen Daker living with Greta in Poland.

Vision-On
Pat Keysell, Tony Hart, Wilf Lunn and Syvester McCoy. And Morph of course.

W

The Waltons

Watch with Mother
Shorts including Andy Pandy, The Flowerpot Men, Trumpton, and Mary, Mungo, and Midge intended for pre-school children, initially in the afternoon, but later in a lunchtime slot. UK. BBC. 1952-1973.

The Water Margin
Set in China during the Sung dynasty, a group of outlaws have been forced to reside in the water margins of Liang Shan Po. These heroes fight against the injustices of the tyrannical government, and are thought by some to be the reincarnation of a group of brave knights. Lin Chung (Atsuo Nakamura), Hu San-Niang (Sanae Tsuchida), Kao Chiu (Kei Sato), Lu Ta (Isamu Nagato). China/Japan production, in Mandarin. Screened on the BBC.

Whacky Races

When the Boat Comes In

White Horses
A children's drama series co-produced by Radio Television Serbia of Yugoslavia and BR-TV of Germany (1965). Screened in the UK in 1968, the dubbed soundtrack has been lost. The theme tune was sung by Jackie Lee, and reached No. 10 in the charts. The series told the story of 15 year old Julia (Helga Anders (1948-1986)), who leaves Belgrade to spend a holiday with her uncle Dimitri (Helmuth Schnider), on his stud farm where, with the help of head groom Hugo (Franz Muxeneder), he trains valuable white Lappizaners. 13 hour-long episodes. B&W. RTS/BR-TV. 1965.
(UK, dubbed: 1968, and presumably repeated in the 1970s).

Why Don't You

Willo the Wisp
Nick Spargo's animated

Winner Takes All
Game-show. Originally hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck. UK. ITV Yorkshire.

Wogan
Chat show, first broadcast on Monday 18 February 1985, running three times a week at 7pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. BBC.

The Wombles
Great Uncle Bulgaria, Orinoco, Bungo, Tomsk, Tobermory, Wellington, and Madame Cholet
Animated. UK. Elizabeth Beresford (Filmfair). 1970s.

Wonder Woman

The World About Us

Worzel Gummidge

X

Y

Yes Minister

Yes Prime Minister

Yogi Bear

The Young Ones

Z

Z Cars

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