Writer. Occasional Broadcaster. Somewhere between Jennifer Eccles and King Midas In Reverse.
From Play School Play On to Russell Grant’s Zodiac Jukebox , the story behind every album released by BBC Records And Tapes. Between 1967 and 1991, BBC Records And Tapes released more than seven hundred albums. These featured everything from collections of theme tunes and full radio plays to sound effects, academic lectures, Radio 2 house bands being let loose on synthesisers, and an unlikely…
To a certain kind of viewer and enthusiast of 'old stuff', there are few things more exciting than early black and white Doctor Who , particularly at the height of 'Dalekmania'. Unfortunately, there are also a handful of stories that for various aren't quite as exciting, and 1964's The Sensorites is one of them. After a spooky and atmospheric first episode, it never really gets going and I have to…
The Larks Ascending is a complete guide to comedy, humour and downright oddness on BBC Radio 3, from Kenneth Williams’ archival documentaries about strolling players who never existed, through Rowan Atkinson’s academic profiles of public figures who never existed, right up to Armando Iannucci’s interval talks about composers who did exist, but they’re fitting around him and his using his ears…
A collection of some of my recent features on mid to late nineties loungey indie dance music... It looks as though some of you aren't aware that I now have a new website (which you can find here ) , and are still hanging around here wondering where all the new 'content' is. Well it's over there, obviously. To give you all some idea of where to start, though, I'm adding some new posts here with…
The first six editions of my podcast Looks Unfamiliar ... It looks as though some of you aren't aware that I now have a new website (which you can find here ) , and are still hanging around here wondering where all the new 'content' is. Well it's over there, obviously. To give you all some idea of where to start, though, I'm adding some new posts here with themed collections of links, and this…
A collection of some of my recent features on television drama... It looks as though some of you aren't aware that I now have a new website (which you can find here ) , and are still hanging around here wondering where all the new 'content' is. Well it's over there, obviously. To give you all some idea of where to start, though, I'm adding some new posts here with themed collections of links, and…
A collection of some of my recent book reviews... It looks as though some of you aren't aware that I now have a new website (which you can find here ) , and are still hanging around here wondering where all the new 'content' is. Well it's over there, obviously. To give you all some idea of where to start, though, I'm adding some new posts here with themed collections of links, and this time it's…
A collection of some of my recent features on sixties pop music... It looks as though some of you aren't aware that I now have a new website (which you can find here ) , and are still hanging around here wondering where all the new 'content' is. Well it's over there, obviously. To give you all some idea of where to start, though, I'm going to be adding some new posts here with themed collections…
Looks Unfamiliar Christmas Extra: “The Meaning Of Christmas Is No Boris Gardiner” Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim for a special Christmas edition is writer Stephen O’Brien, who’s brought along some little-heard eighties Christmas Singles…
Can’t Help Thinking About Christmas is a special stocking-filling companion to the year’s best-selling book about obscure radio shows and films nobody remembers Can’t Help Thinking About Me , and includes the following seasonal trimmings: – A collection of reviews of some of the worst sitcom Christmas Specials ever made (and a couple of good ones too!) – A Christmas Party Medley of nonsense about…
Looks Unfamiliar 32: Vikki Gregorich And Jeff Lewis Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time are Game Developer Jeff Lewis and Board Game Collector Vikki Gregorich, who are going back three spaces in the hope of finding anyone else who…
Looks Unfamiliar 31: Mark Thompson Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time is political commentator Mark Thompson, who's offering his polling predictions for the chances of people remembering hillbilly-themed soft drink Moonshine, the…
A look through Emily's shop window at a couple of things you might have missed if you haven't been following my main site (which you can find here )... And You And I Would Call Them Dragonflies The story of my long search for the original recordings of the music from Bagpuss , with all manner of diversions about 'Acid Folk' and making tapes from off-air VHS recordings of Cable TV repeats, and a…
Looks Unfamiliar Halloween Extra: “Last Play School House On The Left” It’s time for a creepy treat from the archives as Tim Worthington, Ben Baker and Phil Catterall count down the Top Twenty Five Things That You Were Scared Of As A Youngster That Weren’t Supposed To Be Scary! Yes, it’s time to hide behind the sofa from Camberwick Green , Return To Oz , Test Card F, Picture Box , Raggerty, World…
Looks Unfamiliar 30: John Rain Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time is John Rain, host of SMERSH Pod , who’s querying the lack of public recognition for Your Mother Wouldn’t Like It , E.T. Cola Creams, flop one-off charity event…
Looks Unfamiliar 29 - Phil Norman Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time is animator and writer Phil Norman, who’s fairly confident that very few people will recall S-S-S-Single Bed by Fox, terrifying ITV schools show Leapfrog , The…
Looks Unfamiliar 28 - Jenny Morrill Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time is writer Jenny Morrill, who’s rifling through an eighties teenager’s diary in search of any evidence of Boots Global Collection, the Just Seventeen Yearbook, a…
In a special edition of Looks Unfamiliar , Tim Worthington and Ben Baker take a look back at the show that gave this show its name – Looks Familiar . ITV’s light-hearted Denis Norden-fronted nostalgia show is itself the stuff of hazy dust-caked photo-pages-falling-out-of-library-book recollections now, but how does it stand up in a world where irony is more important than accuracy when it comes to…
Looks Unfamiliar 27 - Jack Kibble-White Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time is writer Jack Kibble-White, who’s turning up the trademark TV Cream Lazy Uncritical Nostalgia for a look at Don’t Give Up Your Day Job by Richard Digance,…
Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. This is a collection of highlights from shows nineteen to twenty four, featuring Paul Kirkley on The Kids From Fame Again , Garreth F. Hirons on Sweet 75, Darrell Maclaine on The Brennan JB7, James Gent on When The…
Looks Unfamiliar 26 - Martin Belam Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time is journalist Martin Belam, who’s searching hard for historical evidence of the Laurel And Hardy cartoon, Faith No More being censored by Top Of The Pops , a…
Can’t Help Thinking About Me is a new book by me, full of old features given a new twist. It’s part autobiography, part cultural history, part bewildering manifestos about ridiculous sixties pop records and terrifying television puppets. Inside its massive page count you’ll find… – An introduction from Samira Ahmed – Over a hundred pages – and over three hundred footnotes – with all new material…
Looks Unfamiliar 25 - Tim Worthington Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. This time the guest is Tim himself, who talks to Stephen O’Brien about the fact that almost literally nobody he has ever met has heard of The Only Way by Lisa Stansfield, sixties…
Looks Unfamiliar 24 – Garreth F. Hirons Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim for a second time is musician and writer Garreth F. Hirons, who’s getting puzzled looks whenever he mentions The Yellow Album by The Simpsons, the Frankie Goes To…
Looks Unfamiliar 23: Ros Ballinger Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time is comedian Ros Ballinger, who does her best to convince everyone else of the existence of Henry’s Leg , Waiting For Aliens , Those Ice Creams That Had Real…