TV 112: Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? (Whatever Happened To You?) - Highly Likely

The Likely Lads was one of the best 1960s sitcoms, airing between 1964 and 1966. Unfortunately only eight of the episodes survive which means that re-appraising it is somewhat restricted. Make the best of what you've got.

Seven years later Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais decided to re-unite Bob and Terry for a sequel. Appropriately enough it was called Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? 26 episodes and a Christmas special were made over the next two years.

The title track, a moving examination of nostalgia and looking back, was released as a single by Highly Likely in 1973.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? (Whatever Happened To You?)

TV 111: Vision On (Left Bank Two) - Wayne Hill

Vision On was ostensibly a programme for children with learning difficulties. However right from its inception in 1964, it was loved by all children and many adults.

It concluded in 1976 and Tony Hart went to the equally brilliant Take Hart.

The wondrously evocative theme for the Gallery section is called Left Bank Two and was composed by Wayne Hill.

Oh to be a child again...

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Vision On (Left Bank Two)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 5 December

Monday 29 November
Crossroads - Episode 3072: December 1978 
Crown Court - 'Destruct, Destruct - Regina V Ainsworth, Part 1'
The Office: An American Workplace - 'Money'
Northern Exposure - 'Blowing Bubbles'

Tuesday 30 November
Crossroads - Episode 3073: January 1979
Rising Damp - 'Under The Influence'
Curry And Chips - Episode 5
Callan - 'Red Knight, White Knight'

Wednesday 1 December
Crossroads - Episode 3074: January 1979
Crown Court - 'Destruct, Destruct - Regina V Ainsworth, Part 2'
Ace Of Wands - 'Peacock Pie': Episode 1
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole's Last Case'

Thursday 2 December
Crossroads - Episode 3075: January 1979
Timeslip - 'The Day Of The Clone': Episode 5
Yus, My Dear - 'The Repair'
The Power Game - 'One Via Zurich'

Friday 3 December
Crossroads - Episode 3076: January 1979 
Crown Court - 'Destruct, Destruct - Regina V Ainsworth, Part 3'
Timeslip - 'The Time Of The Ice Box': Episode 6
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'Partners And Other Strangers, Part 1'

Saturday 4 December
Crossroads - Episode 3077: January 1979
Man Of The World - 'The Prince'
Poirot - 'The Case Of The Missing Will'
The Sopranos - 'Mergers And Acquisitions'

Sunday 5 December
Crossroads - Episode 3078: January 1979
The Beiderbecke Connection - 'Hello Sir, Hello Miss'
The Champions - 'The Search'
Kojak - 'Cross Your Heart And Hope To Die'

TV 110: Van Der Valk (Eye Level) - Jack Trombey

Eye Level was written by Jack Trombey and performed by The Simon Park Orchestra. It was a hit - and deservedly so. As an added bonus, Distant Hills (The Crown Court Theme) appears on the flip of the 45.

Van Der Valk starred Barry Foster (the nasty man in Hitchcock's Frenzy) as a Dutch police inspector. It's a marvellously enthralling piece of work.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Van Der Valk (Eye Level)

TV 109: Upstairs Downstairs (The Edwardians) - The South Bank Orchestra

The greatest costume / historical drama of them all.

Upstairs Downstairs ran for five gripping series during the 1971 to 1975 period. 

It was the jewel in LWT's crown and has never been surpassed.

I was first introduced to it when RTE repeated the entire series in 1981.

The theme tune is performed by The South Bank Orchestra.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Upstairs Downstairs (The Edwardians)

TV 108: The Trials Of Life (End Title) - George Fenton

Life. A trilogy. The Trials Of Life came third - after Life On Earth and The Living Planet. It was broadcast by the BBC in 1990. David Attenborough is the man.

George Fenton's fantastic end theme is breathtaking.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

The Trials Of Life (End Title)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 28 November

Monday 22 November
Crossroads - Episode 3065: December 1978 
Danger Man - 'Vacation'
The Office: An American Workplace - 'Launch Party'
Northern Exposure - 'Heroes'

Tuesday 23 November
Crossroads - Episode 3066: December 1978
Rising Damp - 'Pink Carnations'
Curry And Chips - Episode 4
Callan - 'You Should Have Got Here Sooner'

Wednesday 24 November
Crossroads - Episode 3067: December 1978
Danger Man - 'The Trap'
Little Blue - 'Little Blue Goes To The Moon'
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole And The Bright Seraphim'

Thursday 25 November
Crossroads - Episode 3068: December 1978
Timeslip - 'The Day Of The Clone': Episode 4
Yus, My Dear - 'The Policy'
Budgie - 'Run Rabbit, Run Rabbit, Run Run Run'

Friday 26 November
Crossroads - Episode 3069: December 1978 
Danger Man - 'The Actor'
Music Man - Episode 1
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'Narcissus'

Saturday 27 November
Crossroads - Episode 3070: December 1978
Man Of The World - 'The Bullfighter'
Poirot - 'The Yellow Iris'
The Sopranos - 'Watching Too Much Television'

Sunday 28 November
Crossroads - Episode 3071: December 1978
The Beiderbecke Connection - 'Oh Look - It's Average-Sized Trevor Chaplin'
The Champions - 'The Interrogation'
Kojak - 'The Best War In Town'

TV 107: Travelling Man (Max's Theme) - Duncan Browne

Travelling Man was a compelling mid-1980s drama starring Leigh Lawson as Lomax - a modern day Richard Kimble figure spending his days on the run amongst the canals.

The soundtrack LP was the work of Duncan Browne and while a charity shop staple, belongs in everybody's collection.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Travelling Man (Max's Theme)

TV 106: Top Secret (Sucu Sucu) - Laurie Johnson

Top Secret was an above-average early 1960s espionage / intelligence drama that starred William "Schweppes" Franklyn.

The theme tune reached the top 10 in the UK charts and was composed by Laurie Johnson.

 

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Top Secret (Sucu Sucu)

TV 105: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Nunc Dimittis) - Lesley Garret

And now we have the atmospheric end theme to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy sung by the gorgeous Lesley Garret.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Nunc Dimittis)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 21 November

Monday 15 November
Crossroads - Episode 3058: December 1978 
Danger Man - 'The Girl Who Liked G.I.s'
The Office: An American Workplace - 'Dunder Mifflin Infinity'
Northern Exposure - 'Nothing's Perfect'

Tuesday 16 November
Crossroads - Episode 3059: December 1978
Rising Damp - 'Great Expectations'
Curry And Chips - Episode 3
Callan - 'The Good Ones Are All Dead'

Wednesday 17 November
Crossroads - Episode 3060: December 1978
Danger Man - 'Hired Assassin'
Once Upon A Time - 'The Pig, The Squirrel And The Ladybird'
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole And The Judge's Elbow'

Thursday 18 November
Crossroads - Episode 3061: December 1978
Timeslip - 'The Day Of The Clone': Episode 3
Yus, My Dear - 'The Bargain'
Budgie - 'Brief Encounter'

Friday 19 November
Crossroads - Episode 3062: December 1978 
Danger Man - 'The Gallows Tree'
Animal Kwackers - 'Numbers'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'Deception'

Saturday 20 November
Crossroads - Episode 3063: December 1978
Man Of The World - 'In The Picture'
Poirot - 'The Underdog'
The Sopranos - 'Everybody Hurts'

Sunday 21 November
Crossroads - Episode 3064: December 1978
Space 1999 - 'The Testament Of Arkadia'
The Champions - 'A Case Of Lemmings'
Kojak - 'A Killing In The Second House'

TV 104: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Main Title) - The Philharmonia Orchestra Conducted By Geoffrey Burgon

John Le Carre wrote the book in 1974. Arthur Hopcraft brought it to the UK's television screens in 1979.
It starred Alec Guinness and Michael Jayston.

Here is the main title, composed by Geoffrey Burgon.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Main Title)

TV 103: Thunderbirds - The Barry Gray Orchestra

First aired in 1965, Thunderbirds has become iconic and is the easily the most successful creation from Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson. Parker and Lady Penelope were a formidable double act that never get old.

Once again Barry Gray was responsible for both the theme and incidental music. Instantly gripping.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Thunderbirds

TV 102: This Is Your Life (Gala Performance) - Laurie Johnson

This Is Your Life.

The big red book.

Eamonn Andrews surprising the guests as he takes them on a journey through the past.
Real life biographies unfolded on the television screen.

Memorable theme from Laurie Johnson called Gala Performance.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

This Is Your Life (Gala Performance)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 14 November

Monday 8 November
Crossroads - Episode 3051: November 1978 
Danger Man - 'Name, Date And Place'
The Office: An American Workplace - 'Fun Run'
Northern Exposure - 'Midnight Sun'

Tuesday 9 November
Crossroads - Episode 3052: November 1978
Rising Damp - 'Fire And Brimstone'
Curry And Chips - Episode 2
Callan - Armchair Theatre: 'A Magnum For Schneider'

Wednesday 10 November
Crossroads - Episode 3053: November 1978
Danger Man - 'The Leak'
Topper's Tales - 'Rainbow Gold'
Rumpole Of The Bailey - 'Rumpole And The Official Secret'

Thursday 11 November
Crossroads - Episode 3054: November 1978
Timeslip - 'The Day Of The Clone': Episode 2
Yus, My Dear - 'The Job'
Budgie - 'The Man Outside'

Friday 12 November
Crossroads - Episode 3055: November 1978 
Danger Man - 'The Honeymooners'
Daisy Daisy - 'Brushes'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'Double Blind'

Saturday 13 November
Crossroads - Episode 3056: November 1978
Man Of The World - 'Double Exposure'
Poirot - 'The Adventure Of The Egyptian Tomb'
The Sopranos - 'Pie-o-My'

Sunday 14 November
Crossroads - Episode 3057: December 1978
Space 1999 - 'Dragon's Domain'
The Champions - 'Operation Deep-Freeze'
Kojak - 'A Souvenir From Atlantic City'

TV 101: Thank Your Lucky Stars (Like Lucky Stars) - Peter Bright

Thank Your Lucky Stars started in 1961 and consisted of pop groups miming their hits.

The first theme tune was composed and conducted by Peter Bright before being replaced by a Johnny Hawksworth number in 1965.

It was on this programme - and its Spin-A-Disc section, where a panel aired their views on new 45s - that saw the emergence of the wonderful Janice Nicholls.

Oi'll give it foive.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Thank Your Lucky Stars (Like Lucky Stars)

TV 100: Terry and June (Bell Hop) - John Shakespeare

Terry and June is scorned by many people as "boring, middle-class comedy where nothing ever happens".
I take an opposite view - it's well-crafted and sometimes surreal in its approach. Both leads are perfectly played by Terry Scott and June Whitfield. There are many memorable episodes and the DVDs are essential viewing.

John Shakespeare's theme tune is a happy and catchy composition.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Terry and June (Bell Hop)