"To waste one second of one's life is a betrayal of one's self! I wonder what's on television?"
It won t have escaped most people s attention (unless you avoid both social media and the news) that two episodes of Doctor Who have been recovered (the first and third episodes of The Daleks Master Plan The Nightmare Begins and Devil s Planet). It s been thirteen long years since the last returns of previously missing Who, Continue reading 95 to go
This is very much the time of year when the wolves begin running again. And in that case, all you can do is reach for The Box of Delights in one of its many iterations. For me, that tends to be either John Masefield’s novel (published in 1935) or the 1984 BBC television adaptation. And Continue reading Book review Opening The Box of Delights by Philip W. Errington (Herne Books)
As always, sandwiched in-between the umpteenth re-runs, BBC Four always manage to dig a little deeper to unearth some items of interest. Here s a few that have caught my eye. Play of the Week Fairies (tx 27th September 1982) has already aired earlier in the week (and will be seen again on 9/3/25, at Continue reading Forthcoming archive treats on BBC Four
The third book in Edward Kellett s series, we ve now reached 1993 and 1994 a period of change for The Bill as a third weekly episode was added to the schedule. As with the previous volumes, each of the two sections (dedicated to 1993 and 1994) begin by highlighting a number of key episodes (which Continue reading Book review Reaching A Verdict: Reviewing The Bill 1993-1994
Written by Arthur McKenzie, Directed by Richard Holthouse Knowing PC Young s eventual fate, it s difficult not to look back at any episodes which featured him strongly with a keen eye to see how his character was developed. Even this early on it looks like the essential building blocks were in place Young is keen Continue reading The Bill Episode 6.63 Attitudes (7th August 1990)
Written by Peter Gibbs, Directed by Michael Kerrigan Cruising down the street, Ackland and Stamp notice a considerable disturbance outside a travel agency. This becomes the main theme of the episode although the secondary storyline (Stringer and Marshall attempting to locate an illegal immigrant) is also given a fair amount of screen-time. Although the travel Continue reading The Bill 6.62 Come…
Written by John Milne, Directed by Richard Holthouse Carver, Stamp and Quinnan are en route to arrest Daniel King (a builder accused of GBH). But they never get there, as they spot an early morning robbery taking place at a post office. Carver and Stamp give chase on foot but it doesn t end well Continue reading The Bill Episode 6.61 Feeling Brave (31st July 1990)
Written by Patrick Harkin, Directed by Julian Aymes Watch My Lips is that rarest of beasts a story where WPC Ford (Vicki Gee-Dare) takes centre stage. The Private Sponge of Sun Hill, Ford is someone who from time to time would haunt the periphery of stories (occasionally being gifted a line or two). Gee-Dare s Continue reading The Bill Episode 6.60 Watch My Lips (26th July 1990)
One fact everybody knows about the Comedy Playhouse broadcast of Are You Being Served? in September 1972 is that it was hastily parachuted into the BBC schedules after the massacre at the Munich Olympics created large programming gaps. Speaking in the AYBS? edition of Comedy Connections (tx 23rd June 2003), co-writer Jeremy Lloyd confirms this, Continue reading Are You Being Served? and the Munich…
Written by Arthur Mackenzie, Directed by Roger Tucker Bag thefts from cars are becoming more and more of a problem. Brownlow wants results, but he s not prepared to authorise any overtime. This is the cue for a highly entertaining face-off between Burnside and Monroe (an implacable force meeting an immovable object). Despite being a relative Continue reading The Bill Episode 6:59 Angles (24th July…