Those Radio Times

[Nyder]

My 2015 calendar was the Radio Times Calendar. And a beauty it is too - every so often it gives a little "on this day in history" fact-ette about a TV or radio programme. And because I'm a caring, sharing sort of chap I thought I'd share them with you too. Also, thanks to that superb BBC Genome website I can flesh out some of the facts for you. First fact-ette is tomorrow. Take it away Henry ....

[MacNimon]

Looking forward to it!

[Nyder]

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin .....

On this day in 1950, the first Listen With Mother began on the Light Programme. Unfortunately, BBC Genome is not exactly helpful on this one!



So who was the first presenter - Daphne Oxenford? Eileen Browne? What was the first story? We need to know!

The programme ran till 1982.


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[Stuart Wallis]

I wonder if I'm the only person on Ps who'd heard of Henry Hall already?

[Nyder]

I had Mr Wallis! His version of "Teddy Bear's Picnic" is the best!

[Nyder]

John Inman's version is a close second though!

[MacNimon]

I remember Watch With Mother but Listen is a bit before my time. I've obviously heard about it, though...

[Nyder]

And appearing tonight on.......

On this day in 1979 the first Blankety-Blank was transmitted. Terry's first guests were:-

George Baker
Wendy Craig
Bill Tidy
Judy Cornwell
Lennie Bennett
Lorraine Chase

The original run with Tez and Les ran until 1990. In the US and Australia it was known as "Blankety Blanks". Why they went all plural I'll never know!

No more facts now till February. I feel bereft already!


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[Stuart Wallis]

Take some frog pills for it!

[Nyder]

Happy February from those Radio Times


A very cool design there from 1939. BBC had a television service at this time before it shut down at the outbreak of WWII. The schedule for 1st Feb included:-

3pm (nice early start!) This Month on the Farm
3:30pm Intimate Cabaret with skaters, dancers and "eccentric violinist" Jan Tors.

later at 9:40pm Police Boxing Championships with commentary by Thomas Woodrooffe

Thomas' most famous commentary was in 1937 just after he'd had a tad too much to drink with his naval pals. The commentary that followed was erm.... rambling! He was hauled in front of John Reith and suspended for a number of weeks. I'll post that clip in a sec....


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[Nyder]

It's lit up!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0208j3q

[Nyder]

On this day in 1973 this programme was first broadcast:-


This episode featured Orinoco getting to grips with an umbrella on a windy day.


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[Stuart Wallis]

The works of Lord Cribbins should be part of the National Curriculum!

[SiHart]

Underground, overground, wombling free...

[Jon Masters]

Now I've read that I feel I need to have a quick forty winks

[Nyder]

I didn't realise they came back in the 90s with three new series. However - no Cribbins


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[Nyder]

On this day in 1978, the first episode of Grange Hill was broadcast. Benny didn't have a school uniform, and Tucker wasn't wearing his tie. Mr Mitchell was the teacher taking charge of his new Form 1 Alpha kids. I liked Mr Mitchell - he was very sarky, and could still hold authority over his class. I always thought he was a bit of an Ian Marter lookalike. The school for the first couple of series was Kingsbury High School in Brent. It's still in existence but there is NO mention of its illustrious past on its website. Shocking!!

The theme tune was Alan Hawkshaw's "Chicken Man" which for some bizarre reason was also the theme used for the early series of "Give Us A Clue". You can catch a clip of it playing in the background here as Eamonn Andrews sets out to 'surprise' Michael Aspel on "This Is Your Life" (you need Flash Player to view it)-

http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvlondon/thames-progs3a.html

If I've whetted your appetite for this first episode, then fill yer boots here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ATrUuBHRs

[Nyder]

Oh and I forgot to say - there's a very familiar Crossroads actress playing Tricia Yates's Mum!!




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[Andrew Curnow]

I always thought he was a bit of an Ian Marter lookalike

Absolutely, me too Dave!

So that's, what, 37 years ago?! Flippin' eck, Nyder!

[Nyder]

On this day in 1988 the first ever Red Dwarf was broadcast.

The theme toon was sung by Jenna Russell. She appeared as the Floor Manager in Bad Wolf / Parting of the Ways


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[Andrew Curnow]

I'm old enough to remember it - Monday evenings, BBC2, which the week before (I'm 90% certain I'm right on this) had been the slot Ronnie Barker's last sitcom had aired in (Clarence, with Josephine Tewson).

Red Dwarf was instantly one of those 'video to watch it again & again' shows, like Blackadder had been.

- - - Updated - - -

Didn't realise Jenna Russell had sung the theme tune until now though. She was in that very odd, but curiously addictive, comedy with Dennis Waterman, in which Joan Sims was so superb as Mrs Wembley. "Just the one, Sam!"

[SiHart]

I didn't see it until season 3.

[Nyder]

Happy March - from 1937


This programme from the 1st March caught my eye, probably because of Doris Bickerdike


And here's the actual theatre




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[Nyder]

Happy Birthday BBC4 - whose launch night was on this day 2002 (simulcast on BBC Two). Although you've been diluted over the years, long may you reign This was the first night's line up. Very high brow I must say!




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[Nyder]

On this day in 1979, Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected started. The quality of stories might have been variable, but there were some good 'uns. Particularly in the early days. My fave was Timothy West eating too much royal jelly and turning into a bee. What was yours?


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