TV 056: Juke Box Jury (Hit And Miss) - John Barry Seven Plus Four

Hit And Miss was John Barry's first single for the Columbia label. Coincidentally it appeared on Juke Box Jury and was so popular that they decided to make it the new theme tune.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Jukebox Jury (Hit And Miss)

TV 055: Jamaica Inn - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted By Francis Shaw

This is a right rollicking tale. Dramatised in 1983 by Derek Marlowe from the Daphne Du Maurier novel, Jamaica Inn boasts a star-studded cast. And the lovely Jane Seymour. This HTV teleplay is spread over three episodes and never flags.

The music was composed by Francis Shaw and is simply lovely.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Jamaica Inn

TV 054: International Detective - Edwin Astley

Stories from the files of William J. Burns Detective Agency, New York.

The blisteringly great theme comes from Edwin Astley.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

International Detective

TV on DVD schedule w/e 2 May

Monday 26 April
Crossroads - Episode 1927: June 1973 
Crown Court - 'The Open Invitation - Regina V Sellars, Part 1'
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 'The N Word'
John Pilger - The Mexicans

Tuesday 27 April
Crossroads - Episode 1942: July 1973
Yes Minister - 'The Whisky Priest'
The Feathered Serpent - Series 2: Episode 2
Callan - 'Do You Recognise The Woman'

Wednesday 28 April
Crossroads - Episode 1946: July 1973
Crown Court - 'The Open Invitation - Regina V Sellars, Part 2'
Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World - 'Out Of The Blue'
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole And The Golden Thread'

Thursday 29 April
Crossroads - Episode 1961: August 1973
Tales Of The Unexpected - 'In The Cards'
Pardon My Genie - 'Comic Cuts'
The Forsyte Saga - 'Afternoon At Ascot'

Friday 30 April
Crossroads - Episode 1969: August 1973
Crown Court - 'The Open Invitation - Regina V Sellars, Part 3'
Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? - 'Storm In A Tea Chest'
After School Specials - 'The Gold Test'

Saturday 1 May
Crossroads - Episode 1971: August 1973
The Saint - 'The Careful Terrorist'
Monk - 'Mr Monk And The Astronaut'
The Sopranos - 'Big Girls Don't Cry'

Sunday 2 May
Crossroads - Episode 1976: September 1973
Wonder Woman - 'The Girl From Ilandia'
All Creatures Great And Small - 'Only One Woof'
The Rockford Files - 'The Dog And Pony Show'

TV 053: The Human Jungle - John Barry

The Human Jungle was an ATV series that ran for two years - 1963 and 1964. Top man was Herbert Lom playing psychiatrist Dr Roger Corder.

The theme tune was written by Bernard Ebbinghouse and magnificently arranged by the maestro John Barry.

The Human Jungle

TV 052: Holiday (Heartsong) - Gordon Giltrap

The Holiday Show was a BBC staple from 1969 to 2007. Cliff Michelmore presented it for the longest period - 17 years but it's Jill Dando that will forever remain frozen in time as the most memorable anchor.

The theme tune varied but the clear winner was Gordon Giltrap's melodic and meandering Heartsong.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Holiday (Heartsong)

TV 051: Hetty Wainthropp Investigates - Nigel Hess

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates was another one of those wholesome shows from the mid 1990s that occasionally revealed a steely edge. Patricia Routledge was excellent in the title role, playing the retired working class Wainthropp with a keen eye for detail.

Nigel Hess's theme tune is a decent effort which nicely sets the scene for intriguing mysteries that have the 'gentle touch'.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

TV on DVD schedule w/e 25 April

Monday 19 April
Crossroads - Episode 1891: April 1973 
British Transport Films - 'The Scene From Melbury House' (1972)
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 'The TiVo Guy'
Northern Exposure - 'Cicely'

Tuesday 20 April
Crossroads - Episode 1892: April 1973
Yes Minister - 'The Bed Of Nails'
The Feathered Serpent - Series 2: Episode 1
Callan - 'Call Me Enemy'

Wednesday 21 April
Crossroads - Episode 1895: April 1973
British Transport Films - 'Age Of Invention' (1975)
Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World - 'The Riddle Of The Stones'
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole And The Genuine Article'

Thursday 22 April
Crossroads - Episode 1900: April 1973
Tales Of The Unexpected - 'People Don't Do Such Things'
Pardon My Genie - 'Sister, Dear Sister'
The Forsyte Saga - 'Strike'

Friday 23 April
Crossroads - Episode 1905: May 1973
British Transport Films - 'The Seaspeed Express' (1980)
Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? - 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner'
After School Specials - 'A Special Gift'

Saturday 24 April
Crossroads - Episode 1924: June 1973
The Saint - 'The Latin Touch'
Monk - 'Mr Monk And The Big Reward'
The Sopranos - 'Commendatori'

Sunday 25 April
Crossroads - Episode 1925: June 1973
Wonder Woman - 'The Man Who Wouldn't Tell'
All Creatures Great And Small - 'Hail Caesar!'
The Rockford Files - 'Second Chance'

TV 050: Here's Harry (Comedy Hour) - Ivor Slaney

Here's Harry featured the comic talents of Harry Worth - a man who tried the patience of everybody he encountered. The concise theme comes from Ivor Slaney and has a nice early 1960s jazz feel.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Here's Harry (Comedy Hour)

TV 049: Hancock (Hancock's Tune) - The Derek Scott Music

Tony Hancock's ATV series was something of a disappointment when compared with his groundbreaking 1950s work for the BBC. Just 13 episodes were made and the absence of Galton and Simpson was notable in that the quality of the scripts suffered. For many people, Hancock's main achievement with the ATV programme was the quality of the guest stars - John Le Mesurier, Peter Vaughan and Denholm Elliott to name but three.

The theme tune was written by Derek Scott and includes a humourous vocal cameo from Tony. Impatient as ever, it conjures up images of a long-gone era and a sadly-missed talent.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Hancock (Hancock's Tune)

TV 048: Hadleigh - Tony Hatch

Hadleigh comprised of four series and ran from 1969 to 1976. Gerald Harper was the star, a noble squire who simply wanted to do the right thing - by his tenants or the locals in the village where he lived. His wife was played by Hilary Dwyer.

The dramatic theme tune was composed by Tony Hatch and bears his unique touch of melody and strings. 

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Hadleigh

TV on DVD schedule w/e 18 April

Monday 12 April
Crossroads - Episode 1758: August 1972 
British Transport Films - 'Wild Wings' (1965)
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 'The Rat Dog'
Northern Exposure - 'Our Wedding'

Tuesday 13 April
Crossroads - Episode 1759: September 1972
Yes Minister - 'The Moral Dimension'
Robert's Robots - 'Double Trouble'
Callan - 'The Contract'

Wednesday 14 April
Crossroads - Episode 1817: November 1972
British Transport Films - 'An Artist Looks At Churches' (1959)
Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World - 'The Great Siberian Explosion'
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole's Return'

Thursday 15 April
Crossroads - Episode 1868: February 1973
Tales Of The Unexpected - 'The Open Window'
Pardon My Genie - 'Sink Or Swim'
The Forsyte Saga - 'The Silver Spoon'

Friday 16 April
Crossroads - Episode 1884: March 1973
British Transport Films - 'Railways For Ever!' (1970)
Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? - 'No Hiding Place'
Van Der Valk - 'The Rainbow Ends Here'

Saturday 17 April
Crossroads - Episode 1886: March 1973
The Saint - 'The Talented Husband'
Monk - 'Mr Monk And The Captain's Marriage'
The Sopranos - 'Toodle-Fucking-Oo'

Sunday 18 April
Crossroads - Episode 1890: April 1973
Wonder Woman - 'Seance Of Terror'
All Creatures Great And Small - 'The Pig Man Cometh'
The Rockford Files - 'The Battle Of Canoga Park'

TV 047: Grandstand - Keith Mansfield

Grandstand was at the height of its popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It had now branched out into occasional Sunday broadcasts when the situation demanded it - usually on BBC 2.

Keith Mansfield wrote a new theme which was first used in October 1975 and lasted right up until the show was axed in 2007.

It's unforgettable and astounding good. Pure genius from the library god.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Grandstand

TV 046: Grandstand (News Scoop) - Len Stevens

Grandstand was the BBC's flagship sports programme that aired every Saturday afternoon. It was launched in 1958 and was first presented by Peter Dimmock who lasted for just three editions. He was replaced by David Coleman who is photographed above.

The first theme tune was called News Scoop and was written by Len Stevens.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Grandstand (News Scoop)

TV 045: Freewheelers (Private Eye) - Laurie Johnson

Freewheelers was made by Southern Television and ran for seven series between 1967 and 1973. The premise was kids versus villains and in some ways, was a precursor for The Famous Five dramatisations that unfolded in 1978 - also a product of Southern.

It was consistently entertaining with decent scripts and reliable guest stars. The dramatic string-laden theme tune was written by Laurie Johnson back in 1962 and was previously used for early editions of World In Action.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Freewheelers (Private Eye)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 11 April

Monday 5 April
Crossroads - Episode 1674: March 1972 
British Transport Films - 'Giant Load' (1958)
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 'The Freak Book'
Northern Exposure - 'It Happened In Juneau'

Tuesday 6 April
Crossroads - Episode 1688: April 1972
Yes Minister - 'The Skeleton In The Cupboard'
Robert's Robots - 'Kill Or Cure'
Callan - 'The Carrier'

Wednesday 7 April
Crossroads - Episode 1736: July 1972
British Transport Films - 'They Take The High Road' (1960)
Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World - 'The Monsters Of The Lakes'
Minder - 'The Wrong Goodbye'

Thursday 8 April
Crossroads - Episode 1754: August 1972
Tales Of The Unexpected - 'I Like It Here In Wilmington'
Pardon My Genie - 'It's A Small World'
The Forsyte Saga - 'Action For Libel'

Friday 9 April
Crossroads - Episode 1755: August 1972
British Transport Films - 'Wild Highlands' (1961)
Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? - 'Birthday Boy'
Van Der Valk - 'Rich Man, Poor Man'

Saturday 10 April
Crossroads - Episode 1756: August 1972
The Equalizer - 'Pretenders'
Monk - 'Mr Monk Bumps His Head'
The Sopranos - 'Do Not Resuscitate'

Sunday 11 April
Crossroads - Episode 1757: August 1972
Wonder Woman - 'Flight To Oblivion'
All Creatures Great And Small - 'The Bull With The Bowler Hat'
The Rockford Files - 'Trouble In Chapter 17'

TV 044: Four Feather Falls - Michael Holliday

Four Feather Falls was the third series created by Gerry Anderson and his wife Sylvia. It was set in the wild west with its hero being Tex Tucker. Ably assisting were his horse Rocky and dog Dusty.

Once again Barry Gray wrote the theme tune as well as the incidental music. This was sung by Michael Holliday and was a hit during 1960.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Four Feather Falls