TV 120: Z Cars - Johnny Keating and The Z Men

It ran for 16 years and 667 episodes. As police dramas go, it had the edge on Dixon Of Dock Green and was watched by millions all across the UK, finishing its run in 1978.

The theme tune is an adaptation of an old folk tune called Johnny Todd. This version is probably the best arrangement and was recorded by Johnny Keating and his Orchestra a.k.a. The Z Men.

I hope you have enjoyed listening to these television themes.

We are now at the end of the fourth and final part.

Hope to see you in 2011. Not sure what's planned on the television music front but I'll think of something.

Happy Christmas!

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Z Cars

TV on DVD schedule f/e 2 January

Monday 20 December
Crossroads - Episode 3093: February 1979 
Crown Court - 'Treason - Regina v Clement, Part 1'
The Office: An American Workplace - 'Survivor Man'
Northern Exposure - 'Thanksgiving'

Tuesday 21 December
Crossroads - Episode 3094: February 1979
Steptoe And Son - 'A Star Is Born'
Man About The House - 'Right Said George'
Callan - 'Let's Kill Everybody'

Wednesday 22 December
Crossroads - Episode 3095: February 1979
Crown Court - 'Treason - Regina v Clement, Part 2'
Four Idle Hands - 'Out Of The Frying Pan'
Travelling Man - 'The Watcher'

Thursday 30 December
Crossroads - Episode 3096: February 1979
Noah's Castle - Episode 2
On The Buses - 'Stan's Room'
The Power Game - 'The Goose Chase'

Friday 31 December
Crossroads - Episode 3097: February 1979 
Crown Court - 'Treason - Regina v Clement, Part 3'
Nobody's House - 'There's Nobody There'
Van Der Valk - 'Accidental'

Saturday 1 January
Crossroads - Episode 3098: February 1979
The Saint - 'Judith'
Poirot - 'Dead Man's Mirror'
The Sopranos - 'Calling All Cars'

Sunday 2 January
Crossroads - Episode 3099: February 1979
All Creatures Great And Small - Christmas Special 1983
The Champions - 'The Experiment'
Kojak - 'Close Cover Before Killing'

TV 119: Wycliffe - Nigel Hess

Wycliffe is not a pleasant individual but he gets the job done. Once you get used to Jack Shepherd's dour acting style and disagreeable disposition it's not a bad series.

Televison maestro Nigel Hess came up with the theme tune. Reminds me of college days.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Wycliffe

TV 118: The World Of Tim Frazer (The Willow Waltz) - Cyril Watters

Jack Hedley was the star of The World Of Tim Frazer, an involving BBC series from 1960. He later went on to play a detective in Lucio Fulci's classic New York Ripper.

The atmospheric theme is by Cyril Watters.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

The World Of Tim Frazer (The Willow Waltz)

TV 117: World Of Sport (World Of Sport March) - Don Jackson

Immortalised by Half Man Half Biscuit in 1986, Dickie Davies was the face of ITV's World Of Sport. Often seen as poor relation to Grandstand, this compulsive piece of Saturday viewing gathered its own following and is fondly remembered today. 

Don Jackson gave us a superbly arranged theme tune.

Wipe your snot on the arm of your chair, sit back and listen.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

World Of Sport (World Of Sport March)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 19 December

Monday 13 December
Crossroads - Episode 3086: January 1979 
Crown Court - 'The Thunderbolts - Easter v Goss, Part 1'
The Office: An American Workplace - 'Branch Wars'
Northern Exposure - 'The Bad Seed'

Tuesday 14 December
Crossroads - Episode 3087: January 1979
Steptoe And Son - 'Men Of Letters'
Man About The House - 'The Last Picture Show'
Callan - 'The Little Bits And Pieces Of Love'

Wednesday 15 December
Crossroads - Episode 3088: January 1979
Crown Court - 'The Thunderbolts - Easter v Goss, Part 2'
Shadows - 'And For My Next Trick'
Travelling Man - 'The Collector'

Thursday 16 December
Crossroads - Episode 3089: January 1979
Noah's Castle - Episode 1
On The Buses - 'The Nursery'
The Power Game - 'The Outsider'

Friday 17 December
Crossroads - Episode 3090: January 1979 
Crown Court - 'The Thunderbolts - Easter v Goss, Part 3'
You Must Be Joking! - Episode 4
Van Der Valk - 'Enemy'

Saturday 18 December
Crossroads - Episode 3091: January 1979
The Saint - 'Starring The Saint'
Poirot - 'The Chocolate Box'
The Sopranos - 'The Strong, Silent Type'

Sunday 19 December
Crossroads - Episode 3092: February 1979
The Beiderbecke Connection - 'What Do We Have On Hockey Sticks?'
The Champions - 'The Iron Man'
Kojak - 'Loser Takes All' 

TV 116: Woof! - The Paul Lewis Woof Band

Woof - the boy who changed into a dog.
Classic Central TV production with a quirky theme tune.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Woof!

TV 115: Wish Me Luck - Jim Parker

Wish Me Luck was broadcast by ITV in the late 1980s and is another of those gripping World War II dramas that focuses on female heroines - like Tenko before it.

Jim Parker composed the likeable theme tune.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Wish Me Luck

TV 114: Whicker's World (The Trendsetters) - Laurie Johnson

I've recently re-lived the glory of Alan Whicker's wonderful documentary series by watching the two Network DVD releases. For those who have yet to sample his amazing global social / human interest stories, then you're in for a treat.

The series ran for almost 30 years - starting on BBC in 1959, moving to ITV in the late 1960s and then jettisoning back to the BBC for the last few series, finishing up in 1988.

The theme you will hear is by Laurie Johnson and was used for many of the 1960s episodes.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Whicker's World (The Trendsetters)

TV on DVD schedule w/e 12 December

Monday 6 December
Crossroads - Episode 3079: January 1979 
Crown Court - 'Public Lives - Regina V Williams And Pastor, Part 1'
The Office: An American Workplace - 'Local Ad'
Northern Exposure - 'On Your Own'

Tuesday 7 December
Crossroads - Episode 3080: January 1979
Rising Damp - 'Come On In, The Water's Lovely'
Curry And Chips - Episode 6
Callan - 'The Most Promising Girl Of Her Year'

Wednesday 8 December
Crossroads - Episode 3081: January 1979
Crown Court - 'Public Lives - Regina V Williams And Pastor, Part 2'
Jamie - 'The Carpet'
Travelling Man - 'First Leg'

Thursday 9 December
Crossroads - Episode 3082: January 1979
Timeslip - 'The Day Of The Clone': Episode 6
Yus, My Dear - 'The Holiday'
The Power Game - 'The Big Nothing'

Friday 10 December
Crossroads - Episode 3083: January 1979 
Crown Court - 'Public Lives - Regina V Williams And Pastor, Part 3'
Follyfoot - 'A Day In The Sun'
Homicide: Life On The Street - 'Strangers And Other Partners, Part 2'

Saturday 11 December
Crossroads - Episode 3084: January 1979
The Saint - 'The Fellow Traveller'
Poirot - 'The Adventure Of The Italian Nobleman'
The Sopranos - 'Whoever Did This'

Sunday 12 December
Crossroads - Episode 3085: January 1979
The Beiderbecke Connection - 'Is He The Lodger?'
The Champions - 'The Dark Island'
Kojak - 'The Betrayal'

TV 113: When The Boat Comes In (Dance Ti Thi Daddy) - Alex Glasgow

James Bolam again.

When The Boat Comes In was a gritty and realistic portrayal of 1920s north east England that was broadcast in 1976.

The theme tune is an adaptation of a traditional northern folk tune by Alex Glasgow.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

When The Boat Comes In (Dance Ti Thi Daddy)