TV 090: Shadow Of The Noose (Salva Me) - Isobel Buchanan

Shadow Of The Noose was an enigmatic Edwardian courtroom series originally broadcast in 1989. I don't believe it has been seen since.

The theme tune was composed by Duncan "Travelling Man" Browne and sung by Isobel Buchanan. Pretty soothing stuff.

I hope you have enjoyed listening to these television themes.
We are now at the end of part three and will take a break.

The final run of themes will commence on 12 October.

Tune in then.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Shadow Of The Noose (Salva Me)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 5 September

Monday 30 August
Crossroads - Episode 2981: July 1978 
Danger Man - 'The Key'
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 'Funkhouser's Crazy Sister'
Casanova - 'Fevers Of Love'

Tuesday 31 August
Crossroads - Episode 2982: July 1978
Rising Damp - 'Suddenly At Home'
Porridge - 'The Harder They Fall'
Man At The Top - 'Charity Begins At Home'

Wednesday 1 September
Crossroads - Episode 2983: July 1978
Danger Man - 'View From The Villa'
World In Action - Scotland Yard's Cocaine Connection
Minder - 'The Last Temptation Of Daley'

Thursday 2 September
Crossroads - Episode 2984: July 1978
Sapphire And Steel - Assignment 5: Episode 6
On The Buses - 'The Injury'
Budgie - 'Dreaming Of Thee'

Friday 3 September
Crossroads - Episode 2985: July 1978 
Danger Man - 'Find And Return'
The Famous Five - 'Five Go Down To The Sea, Part 1'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'The True Test'

Saturday 4 September
Crossroads - Episode 2986: August 1978
Man Of The World - 'The Nature Of Justice'
Perry Mason - 'The Case Of The Screaming Woman'
The Sopranos - 'He Is Risen'

Sunday 5 September
Crossroads - Episode 2987: August 1978
Space 1999 - 'Collision Course'
Department S - 'The Perfect Operation'
The Rockford Files - 'The House On Willis Avenue'

TV 089: Sexton Blake - The Vic Flick Sound

The ITV adaptation of the Roaring Twenties detective has a decent reputation but nobody will ever see it again because only one episode (of 50 odd) survives.

Thankfully we have the great theme tune to keep us happy. It was written by Frank Chacksfield and played by The Vic Flick Sound.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Sexton Blake

TV 088: The Saint - The Les Reed Brass

The Saint. Heavenly. Magical. The quintessential 1960s series with an unflappable Roger Moore playing Simon Templar to perfection. Never a dull episode, in fact most of them are fantastic.

As was the music which came from the hand of Edwin Astley. Check out the Network soundtrack set. Meanwhile sit back and relax with a storming cover of the main theme by The Les Reed Brass.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

The Saint

TV 087: The Ruth Rendell Mysteries - Brian Bennett

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries ran for 13 years - 1987 to 2000. It concentrated on a variety of Rendell adaptations, the most well-known being the Inspector Wexford stories starring the dour George Baker and the even more taciturn Christopher Ravenscroft.

Nice theme by our man about town, Brian Bennett.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

TV on DVD schedule w/e 29 August

Monday 23 August
Crossroads - Episode 2974: July 1978 
British Transport Films - 'Robbie' (1979)
Monty Python's Flying Circus - 'Royal Episode 13'
Casanova - 'Window, Window'

Tuesday 24 August
Crossroads - Episode 2975: July 1978
Rising Damp - 'The Cocktail Hour'
Porridge - 'Happy Release'
The Main Chance - 'With All My Worldly Goods'

Wednesday 25 August
Crossroads - Episode 2976: July 1978
British Transport Films - 'Centenary Express' (1980)
World In Action - The Curse Of The Klans
Minder - 'Guess Who's Coming To Pinner?'

Thursday 26 August
Crossroads - Episode 2977: July 1978
Sapphire And Steel - Assignment 5: Episode 5
On The Buses - 'The Lodger'
Hadleigh - 'Whose Life Its It?'

Friday 27 August
Crossroads - Episode 2978: July 1978 
British Transport Films - 'Sir Peter Parker Talks To Jimmy Savile' (1982)
The Famous Five - 'Five Go To Demon's Rocks, Part 2'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'The Heart Of A Saturday Night'

Saturday 28 August
Crossroads - Episode 2979: July 1978
Man Of The World - 'The Frontier'
Perry Mason - 'The Case Of The Hesitant Hostess'
The Sopranos - 'Second Opinion'

Sunday 29 August
Crossroads - Episode 2980: July 1978
Space 1999 - 'Voyager's Return'
Department S - 'Death On Reflection'
The Rockford Files - 'The Prisoner Of Rosemont Hall'

TV 086: Rugby Special (Holy Mackerel) - The Sound Stage Orchestra

BBC's rugby programme was, surprisingly, called Rugby Special. It started in 1976 and ran for almost 30 years. Brian Bennett's theme tune was the superlative Holy Mackerel and lasted until the early 1990s. Funky as hell and performed by The Sound Stage Orchestra.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Rugby Special (Holy Mackerel)

TV 085: Return Of The Saint - The Saint Orchestra

The Return Of The Saint starred Ian Ogilvy (not to be confused with Simon MacCorkindale) in the title role. It ran for 24 episodes at the end of the 1970s and featured many high-profile guest stars.

The theme tune was written by Brian Dee (he of Hammond Excitement) and performed by The Saint Orchestra.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Return Of The Saint

TV 084: Resort To Murder (A Thief In The Night) - Bill Connor

Bill Connor composed the atmospheric music for this 1995 mini series - a right old tale set in an coastal town they forgot to tear down.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Resort To Murder (A Thief In The Night)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 22 August

Monday 16 August
Crossroads - Episode 2891: February 1978 
British Transport Films - 'A New Age For Railways' (1979)
Monty Python's Flying Circus - 'Spam'
Casanova - 'Magic Moments'

Tuesday 17 August
Crossroads - Episode 2892: February 1978
Rising Damp - 'Fawcetts Python'
Porridge - 'No Peace For The Wicked'
The Main Chance - 'The Privilege Of Justice'

Wednesday 18 August
Crossroads - Episode 2893: February 1978
British Transport Films - 'The Stone Carriers' (1982)
World In Action - Inside Idi Amin's Terror Machine
Minder - 'Three Cons Make A Mountain'

Thursday 19 August
Crossroads - Episode 2904: February 1978
Sapphire And Steel - Assignment 5: Episode 4
On The Buses - 'Safety First'
Hadleigh - 'Breakdown'

Friday 20 August
Crossroads - Episode 2928: April 1978 
British Transport Films - 'The Finishing Line' (1976)
The Famous Five - 'Five Go To Demon's Rocks, Part 1'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'White Lies'

Saturday 21 August
Crossroads - Episode 2930: April 1978
Man Of The World - 'The Highland Story'
Perry Mason - 'The Case Of The Daring Decoy'
The Sopranos - 'University'

Sunday 22 August
Crossroads - Episode 2931: April 1978
Space 1999 - 'The Last Sunset'
Department S - 'A Cellar Full Of Silence'
The Rockford Files - 'The Competitive Edge'

TV 083: Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted By Mike Townsend

Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) was a wonderful example of superb and intelligent scriptwriting. A rundown detective agency suffers the loss of one of its partners but ploughs on regardless under the watchful eye of his ghost and the deceased's lovely wife played by Annette Andre.

The theme tune was composed by Edwin Astley and this rendition is faithfully played by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased)

TV 082: Quatermass II (Mars, The Bringer Of War) - The City Of Prague Philharmonic Conducted By Nic Raine

Quatermass II was the second of three BBC entries into the science fiction genre during the 1950s. Nigel Kneale (Beasts, Kinvig) was the writer and these groundbreaking tales of Professor Bernard Quatermass were true televisual feasts.

The ominous theme perfectly complemented the sinister subject matter.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Quatermass II (Mars, The Bringer Of War)

TV 081: The Professionals - The South Bank Orchestra

Bodie, Doyle and Cowley were the main characters in The Professionals which was created by Brian Clemens.

Laurie Johnson's original theme is outstanding and really takes me back to those early 1980s broadcasts. The version here is by The South Bank Orchestra and has been heavily criticised in the past. Pretty undeserved in my opinion - it's pretty funky and well worth a re-appraisal.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

The Professionals

TV on DVD schedule w/e 15 August

Monday 9 August
Crossroads - Episode 2884: January 1978 
British Transport Films - 'Journey Inter-City' (1972)
Monty Python's Flying Circus - 'How Not To Be Seen'
Casanova - 'One At A Time'

Tuesday 10 August
Crossroads - Episode 2885: January 1978
Rising Damp - 'The Good Samaritan'
Porridge - 'Disturbing The Peace'
The Main Chance - 'Liar's Dice'

Wednesday 11 August
Crossroads - Episode 2886: January 1978
British Transport Films - 'Power To Stop' (1979)
World In Action - The Hunt For Dr. Mengele
Minder - 'Whatever Happened To Her Indoors?'

Thursday 12 August
Crossroads - Episode 2887: January 1978
Sapphire And Steel - Assignment 5: Episode 3
On The Buses - 'Cover Up'
Hadleigh - 'The Sealed Order'

Friday 13 August
Crossroads - Episode 2888: January 1978 
British Transport Films - 'Inter-City 125' (1976)
The Famous Five - 'Five Run Away Together'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'M.E., Myself And I'

Saturday 14 August
Crossroads - Episode 2889: January 1978
Man Of The World - 'Blaze Of Glory'
Perry Mason - 'The Case Of The Desperate Daughter'
The Sopranos - 'Another Toothpick'

Sunday 15 August
Crossroads - Episode 2890: February 1978
Space 1999 - 'Alpha Child'
Department S - 'The Ghost Of Mary Burnham'
The Rockford Files - 'South By Southeast'

TV 080: The Power Game - Cyril Stapleton

The Power Game stands up today as one of the finest dramas of the 1960s. Patrick Wymark was on top form with a tremendous supporting cast.

All three series have been released by Network DVD and are well worth the purchase.

The theme tune was composed by Wayne Hill and Cyril Stapleton's pounding cover version is the best interpretation out there.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

The Power Game

TV 079: Porterhouse Blue - The Flying Pickets

This enjoyable adaptation of Tom Sharpe's riotous novel was dramatised by Channel 4 in 1987. David Jason excelled and the theme was performed by The Flying Pickets.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Porterhouse Blue

TV 078: Poirot - Christopher Gunning

This one is still running.
David Suchet has made Agatha Christie's Belgian detective his own since 1989 with a series of superb adaptations.

The theme tune is by Christopher Gunning and by this time, is one of the most distinctive arrangements on television.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Poirot

TV on DVD schedule w/e 8 August

Monday 2 August
Crossroads - Episode 2877: January 1978 
British Transport Films - 'Railways Conserve The Environment' (1970)
Monty Python's Flying Circus - 'Scott Of The Antarctic'
Casanova - 'Steed In The Stable'

Tuesday 3 August
Crossroads - Episode 2878: January 1978
Rising Damp - 'Clunk Click'
Porridge - 'Heartbreak Hotel'
The Main Chance - 'The Professional'

Wednesday 4 August
Crossroads - Episode 2879: January 1978
British Transport Films - 'Discover Britain By Train' (1978)
World In Action - Why I Want To Be Leader
Minder - 'A Bouquet Of Barbed Wine'

Thursday 5 August
Crossroads - Episode 2880: January 1978
Sapphire And Steel - Assignment 5: Episode 2
On The Buses - 'The Anniversary'
Hadleigh - 'Absolutely Feudal'

Friday 6 August
Crossroads - Episode 2881: January 1978 
British Transport Films - 'Old Sam The Signalman' (1982)
The Famous Five - 'Five Fall Into Adventure, Part 2'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'Bad Medicine'

Saturday 7 August
Crossroads - Episode 2882: January 1978
Man Of The World - 'The Runaways'
Perry Mason - 'The Case Of The Half-Wakened Wife'
The Sopranos - 'Employee Of The Month'

Sunday 8 August
Crossroads - Episode 2883: January 1978
Space 1999 - 'Force Of Life'
Department S - 'The Last Train To Redbridge'
The Rockford Files - 'Dwarf In A Helium Hat'