1982 - Murun Buchstansangur - Lucky in Love? Telly Viewer 2026-09-23 | 1982 - Murun Buchstansangur - Lucky in Love?
19/09/1983 - BBC1 - Film 83 (Matthew Broderick Interview) Telly Viewer 2024-02-28 | Quick interview with Matthew Broderick as he promotes WarGames on Film 83 with Barry Norman. Found on Betamax.
22/09/1980 - BBC1 - Film 80 Telly Viewer 2024-02-28 | Complete edition of Film 80 from September 1980. Sourced from a Betamax tape, but please note that this is actually a Philips VCR recording which was copied onto a Betamax.
15/09/1983 - BBC1 Continuity and Play School (Partial) Telly Viewer 2024-02-28 | Found at the very end of a Betamax tape, here's a delightfuly slice of BBC1 continuity. Following on from a slide for Scott Free, we're then treated to a rundown of the afternoon's lineup for children - complete with some classic library music - before we get the opening minutes of Play School.
11/02/1983 - ITV - Childrens ITV Continuity and Rainbow Intro Telly Viewer 2024-01-28 | This latest piece of archive footage hails from February 1983 when the Children's ITV slot was only a month old. Matthew Kelly had helmed the January continuity links before handing over the duty over to Isla St Clair for February. These links were pre-recorded and not routinely stored, so this is most likely missing from the archives. This introduction for the late-afternoon children's slot segues into an episode of Rainbow titled Receiving before the tape ran out. Sourced from Betamax.
01/02/1984 - BBC 1 - Pages from Ceefax and Childrens BBC Continuity Telly Viewer 2023-11-19 | An excellent package of ephemera here, starting off with a slides for a Katherine Hepburn film and Dynasty before we're treated to the news headlines courtesy of Ceefax. And, finally, we get some pre-Broom Cupboard continuity for the children's programming that day, back when the BBC Micro was used to design the graphics. Sourced from Betamax,
1983 - ITV - After Hours (Partial) Telly Viewer 2023-11-12 | Arthur Smith introduces this edition of After Hours, from Thames Television, which looks at sexual attraction and features Graham Chapman and Molly Parkin as guests. Sadly, this was at the very end of the tape, so only the first 10 minutes have been captured. Sourced from Betamax.
16/02/1983 - BBC1 - In Front of the Children Telly Viewer 2023-10-27 | Presented by John Craven, this excellent documentary from 1983 takes a look at 60 years of children's programmes on the BBC. Features plenty of archive footage and interviews with those behind the productions. Also includes surrounding continuity for Doctor Who and The Kenny Everett Television Programme. Sourced from Betamax.Please note: one minute of footage had to be edited out due to copyright.
10/03/1983 - BBC1 - Claire Rayners Casebook: Homosexuality Telly Viewer 2023-09-24 | An interesting edition of Claire Rayner's Casebook - a series where she interviewed people who had encountered various problems during their life - which looks at the issues of living as a homosexual in 1983. It's missing the opening few moments, but is 99.9% complete and features Tom Robinson, alongside activist Femi. Also includes the news headlines following the end of the main programme and the start of the World Ice Skating Championships. Found on Betamax.
09/01/1983 - Channel 4 - Closedown Telly Viewer 2023-09-23 | Back in the very early days of Channel 4, they used to have an in-vision continuity announcer saying goodnight to viewers. And here's an example of exactly that, with David Stranks - wearing a smashing jumper - bidding viewers goodnight after letting them know what was coming up tomorrow evening. Sourced from Betamax.
06/03/1987 - ITV - Adverts, Childrens ITV Continuity and Rainbow (partial) Telly Viewer 2023-09-05 | A set of adverts from March 1987 which leads into Gaz Top introducing the Children's ITV late afternoon slot and the first few minutes of an episode of Rainbow. Sourced from Betamax.
20/08/1984 - ITV - Thames News (Leyton Station Crash) Telly Viewer 2023-09-05 | The opening to Thames News on 20th August 1984 which features the day's headlines as well as the lead news story on a train crash close to Leyton station. Sourced from Betamax.
12/02/1979 - ITV - Adverts, Thames Continuity and News at Ten (Partial) Telly Viewer 2023-08-25 | Originating from a Philips VCR recording which was later copied on to a Betamax tape, these four minutes of footage followed on from a recording of Danger UXB. The footage starts with a series of adverts before Peter Marshall brings us some Thames in-vision continuity. Marshall then hands over to Elton Welsby who promotes the upcoming football highlights from the FA Cup and, finally, we get the opening of News at Ten with Reginald Bosanquet.
06/02/1983 - BBC1 - Omnibus (When the Wind Blows Clip) Telly Viewer 2023-08-13 | A very interesting clip from a February 1983 episode of Omnibus which finds Richard Baker taking a look at the radio adaptation of When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs. Includes an interview with Raymond Briggs and footage of Peter Sallis and Brenda Bruce recording the radio production. Also, at the very end of the programme, Baker is joined by Tony Banks for a discussion about the GLC Nuclear Bunker Party theatre production. Sourced from Betamax.
07/04/1983 - Channel 4 - Advert Breaks Telly Viewer 2023-08-05 | All the advert breaks from the April 1983 showing of Two Sisters from Boston. Some absolutely fantastic adverts in here such as the Black & Decker stripper, Babycham, various regional car dealer adverts and many more. Sourced from a Betamax tape.
13/01/1983 - ITV - Looks Familiar Telly Viewer 2023-08-03 | Another complete episode of Looks Familiar from Thames Television, a programmed dedicated to talking a look back at the showbusiness stars of the 1930s. This edition features guests in the form of Roy Castle, Eli Woods and Jim Casey. Sourced from a Betamax tape.
1975 - BBC Training Film - Lenses Telly Viewer 2023-07-21 | Here's a real curiosity, a BBC Television Training Production from 1975 which is an in-house film put together to help budding cameramen understand the way in which camera lenses are utilised in television production. This turned up on a Betamax tape and, according to the label, this was copied over from an earlier Philips N1501 tape.
22/04/1984 - Channel 4 - Darth Vader at Hamleys Advert Telly Viewer 2023-07-15 | A quick advert on Channel 4 from Easter 1984 advertising Darth Vader's upcoming personal appearance at the Hamley's toy store in London. Sourced from Betamax.
18/06/1984 - BBC1 - Blue Peter (Double) Telly Viewer 2023-07-15 | A special edition of Blue Peter from 1984 which was billed as Blue Peter Double, a normal edition followed later on that afternoon hence the 'double' aspect.Anyway, this first part focussed on Peter Duncan's initial four year tenure, which was now coming to a close and features plenty of highlights from his time on Blue Peter. Episode presented by Peter Duncan, Simon Groom and Janet Ellis.Sourced from Betamax.
20/08/1981 - BBC 2 - Ingrid Bergman (Guardian Lecture) Telly Viewer 2023-07-01 | Here we have the complete BBC2 edition of Ingrid Bergman's interview by John Russell Taylor at the National Film Theatre, London in 1981. Part of the Guardian Lectures, this interview finds Bergman discussing her career in front of a lively audience. Also includes opening and closing BBC2 continuity. Sourced from Betamax.
22/09/1980 - BBC1 - Film 80 (John Travolta Interview) Telly Viewer 2023-06-30 | John Travolta sits down with Barry Norman for a quick chat about his new film, Urban Cowboy, and where he sees his future in film. Part of a September 1980 episode Film 80. Sourced from a Philips VCR recording which, at some point in the 1980s, was copied onto a Betamax tape.
25 & 26/12/1976 - BBC1 - Top of the Pops Continuity Telly Viewer 2023-06-29 | Here's a few quick snippets of BBC1 continuity from Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The first clip follows on from the end of the Top of the Pops Christmas special whilst the second clip introduces the Top of the Pops Boxing Day special. These were sourced from a Betamax tape but, as per the label on the video, these have been copied over from a Philips VCR tape.
23/02/1984 - ITV - Afternoon Plus (HRH Duke of Edinburgh) Telly Viewer 2023-06-26 | Complete with Tom Edwards in-vision continuity from Thames, here's a full episode of Afternoon Plus (now titled A-Plus) from February 1984 which features the Duke of Edinburgh in discussion with Gill Nevill. After this, there's a promo for the following day's TV-am (25 minutes of which I found here a few years back: youtu.be/yZ1Kns31HEU) and then a quick Thames slide for Crown Court.
Date Unknown - ITV - Afternoon Plus (Partial) Telly Viewer 2023-06-24 | A real mystery of a clip which appears to be a 2nd generation copy from a Philips VCR tape onto a Betamax tape which I recently picked up. The label on the Betamax tape states that this clip - titled as Ralph's Mum on TV Gardening Prog - was a Philips copy.Anyway, it's part of the long running Thames programme Afternoon Plus and is either from the late 1970s or the very early 80s at the latest. The guy who originally recorded this tape appears to have switched from Philips VCR to Betamax around 1981, so I can't imagine it's any later than that.Any definitive ideas on the date are much appreciated.
28/04/1983 - BBC1 - Jury: Geralds Story Telly Viewer 2023-06-18 | Jury was a courtroom drama which aired on BBC1 in 1983 and, since then, appears to have disappeared into absolute obscurity. Therefore, I was delighted to dig this episode up which looks at the story of juror Gerald (Hugh Lloyd). Sourced from Betamax.
08/04/1982 - ITV - Looks Familiar Telly Viewer 2023-06-17 | Dennis Norden is joined in the Looks Familiar studio by Thora Hird, Matt Monro and Donald Sinden to look back at the entertainment world of the 1930s and 40s. Sourced from Betamax.
08/08/1983 - ITV - Adverts & Thames In-Vision Continuity Telly Viewer 2023-06-14 | A quick burst of adverts from 1983 before Tom Edwards, on in-vision duties, provides an introduction to The Abominable Dr Phibes.
08/08/1983 - ITV - Thames News and Looks Familiar Telly Viewer 2023-06-12 | A bumper upload here featuring Thames News hosted by Tina Jenkins (in full-on Princess Diana mode) before Denis Norden gathers together Bill Owen, Eartha Kitt and Larry Grayson for an edition of nostalgia-fest Looks Familiar. Also contains ad-breaks. Sourced from Betamax.
12/04/1983 - BBC2 - Just Another Day: Sothebys Telly Viewer 2023-06-10 | Another installment from the first series of Just Another Day. This 1983 episode finds John Pitman visiting Sotheby's to find out what happens there during a normal day. Includes continuity, at the beginning, to tell us that Reluctant Chickens is about to start on BBC1. Sourced from a Betamax tape.
15/03/1983 - BBC2 - Just Another Day: Battersea Dogs Home Telly Viewer 2023-06-10 | The very first episode of the BBC's docudrama series Just Another Day, which ran from 1983 - 1986. Narrated by John Pitman, each episode of the series found Just Another Day visiting a day in the life of a specific part of British Life and, on this occasion, it visits Battesea Dogs Home. Sourced from Betamax.
23/04/1987 - ITV - News at Ten and Anglia Continuity Telly Viewer 2023-06-03 | There's a whole lot of fun here with a complete News at Ten, Anglia continuity, adverts and the start of Anglia News. The lead stories on News at Ten focus on nurses being awarded pay rises and the revelation, by Margaret Thatcher, that Sir Maurice Oldfield (the ex-head of MI6 who died in 1981) had been gay. Rescued from a Betamax tape.
10/12/1983 - ITV - After The Day After Telly Viewer 2023-05-30 | Broadcast directly after the UK premiere of nuclear drama The Day After, Robert Kee hosts this studio debate discussing the impact of the film and the contemporary threat of a nuclear war. Includes ad breaks for that authentic viewing experience. Sourced from a Betamax tape.
31/08/1982 - BBC1 - A Day at the Zoo (Partial) Telly Viewer 2023-05-29 | The first 25 minutes of this Esther Rantzen hosted documentary where she takes a look at 24 hours in the life of London Zoo. Also includes the lead up BBC continuity to the start of the programme. Sourced from a Betamax tape, sadly the recording was stopped at the 25 minute mark.
Ragdolly Anna - Theme Tune (Norwegian version) Telly Viewer 2022-12-11 | Norway's re-imagining of the theme tune to Yorkshire Television's children's series Ragdolly Anna. A curious oddity for anyone who's a fan of the magnificent original theme tune by Allan Taylor.
10 Hours of the Chock-a-Block Theme Telly Viewer 2022-07-31 | A whole 10-hour loop of what is probably one of the greatest TV theme tunes ever created: the Chock-a-Block theme by Peter Gosling.
21/05/1984 - ITV - Granada Reports (Everton FA Cup Parade) Telly Viewer 2022-06-02 | Sourced from some Betamax rips which were kindly sent to me, this report from Granada Reports features Everton's FA Cup parade from 1984 including chats with Howard Kendall and various players. Quick appearance from Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan in the studio at the end.
28/12/1984 Channel 4 Adverts & Continuity Telly Viewer 2022-05-24 | A few bits of Channel 4 continuity along with an ad break - featuring Richard Briers in the Ford Sierra - from December 1984. Dug up, if you're interested, on an old Scotch VHS tape.
31/12/1984 - BBC One Continuity Telly Viewer 2022-05-24 | This small helping of BBC1 continuity from New Year's Eve 1984 packs in a slide for Singin' in the Rain, a curious trailer for The Little and Large Show before bringing up the BBC globe and heading into The Morecambe and Wise Classics. Exhumed, as ever, from a VHS tape.
25/11/1984 - ITV adverts and LWT continuity Telly Viewer 2022-05-22 | An advert break from the LWT ITV region just before the 'Max Wall on Beckett' edition of The South Bank Show from November 1984. Interestingly, this advert break starts with a double bill trailer for the premiere of The Bitch and Liverpool vs Independiente - a curious combination if ever there was one. And there's even an LWT slide for South of Watford, a regional oddity which only aired on LWT.
20/09/1984 - Channel 4 Adverts Telly Viewer 2022-05-22 | A fine set of adverts surrounding a showing of the Almonds & Raisins documentary from 20th September 1984 on Channel 4. Includes lots of wine adverts - you don't get many of them on TV now, do you?
22/12/1984 - Channel 4 Adverts & Continuity Telly Viewer 2022-05-20 | All the advert breaks and continuity from Channel 4's showing of the Don Quixote ballet from December 1984. As far as I can see in the listings, this was transmitted on 22nd December, so I'm not sure why there's a Christmas Day animation at the start...
24/06/1985 - BBC2 - Open Space trailer Telly Viewer 2022-04-16 | Dug up on an old VHS, this trailer for an edition of Open Spaces - which focuses on, uh, dogs fouling the pavement - popped up after a repeat airing of The Young Ones.
21/07/1985 - ITV - Adverts and Anglia Continuity Telly Viewer 2022-04-16 | Some footage of ITV from July 1985 which features a couple of adverts, a trailer for The Jimmy Young Television Programme and some Anglia in-vision continuity before Tales of the Unexpected starts up. Found on a VHS tape.
21/07/1985 - BBC1 - Why Do They Call it Good Friday? (clip) Telly Viewer 2022-04-12 | A very short clip, found at the end of a VHS tape, of a one-off BBC drama called Why Do They Call it Good Friday?
20/04/1985 - BBC1 - Doctor Who Continuity Telly Viewer 2022-04-10 | A quick clip of Doctor Who continuity from April 1985 featuring a slide for the following week's showing of Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D, a plug for the latest Doctor Who VHS release and the start of the weather.
The Wombles Play Motorhead Telly Viewer 2022-03-29 | The Wombles bring out a special surprise by playing Ace of Spades.
26/09/1986 - BBC1 - Wogan (Anthony Hopkins interview) Telly Viewer 2022-03-13 | A complete interview with Anthony Hopkins on Wogan from 1986.
23/09/1984 - BBC1 - Continuity and Threads Promo Telly Viewer 2022-03-11 | A slice of continuity that I found at the start of a BBC1 broadcast of The Champ from September 1984. Starts off with an ominous promo for nuclear drama Threads - which was making its debut that evening on BBC2 - before leading into a look at the schedule for BBC1 that evening.
25/08/1986 - BBC1 - Wogan (Michael Brandon interview) Telly Viewer 2022-03-11 | A complete interview with Michael Brandon from an August 1986 episode of Wogan.
1981 - Smithys Kaff Advert Telly Viewer 2022-02-11 | This mysterious advert - broadcast on Anglia Television - was found some time ago by Neil Miles (original rip: youtu.be/AZetqhGVToc) but since then no one has been able to discover the location of Smithy's Kaff. Therefore, I've written an article about it over at http://www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2022/02/a-mystery-from-1981-where-is-smithys.html in the hope that one day we will be able to answer the 40 year old question of Where is Smithy's Kaff?
