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TV, radio, film, Arts

TV programmes from the past.

(100 Posts)
NanKate Thu 06-Nov-25 14:13:38

On Women’s Hour today they asked for listeners to text in saying TV shows they watched and loved from many years ago.

Suddenly Kenny Everett jumped into my mind. He used to do a sketch where he was presenting a pretend DIY Show. It was manic, over the top and he was covered in blood a lot of the time or wearing a sling. My son and I used to roll around with laughter. He often finished the show in drag and was sitting in a large chair throwing one leg over the other saying ‘everything is in the best possible taste’. Absolutely hilarious. I don’t think it would be thought appropriate now.

What were your favourite Shows ?

spabbygirl Sun 09-Nov-25 15:32:27

The Young Ones
Absolutely Fabulous
Follyfoot Farm
Time Team

DeeAitch56 Sun 09-Nov-25 15:43:02

Bonanza
Dixson of Dock Green
Mr Ed
Cracker Jack
Thunderbirds

GrammaH Sun 09-Nov-25 16:07:15

We were gripped by the unnerving Edge of Darkness in the 80s, we wouldn't answer the phone if it rang whilst we were watching! On the other extreme Dear John , written by John Sullivan, had us in fits of laughter and we happened to catch our favourite episode on the Great channel the other day, it was just as funny. Loved many shows already mentioned - Follyfoot, White Horses, the Tomorrow People , the 3 Musketeers and Captain Zeppos as a child then things like Poldark(original), Onedin Line, Howard's Way, The Bill, Blott on the Landscape, Rumpole of the Bailey etc etc. Good we have so many channels where they get an airing

lizzypopbottle Sun 09-Nov-25 16:09:08

NanKate I was in labour with my first and pacing around watching Kenny Everett in the visitors' room. The laughter certainly helped my labour along!

missdeke Sun 09-Nov-25 16:09:50

Personally I didn't like Kenny Everett, slapstick wasn't my sort of comedy. But I did like Dad's Army, just not Clive Dunn. I really liked old series like Upstairs Downstairs, Bread and Poldark. A bit later was the newer comedies, Only Fools and Horses, Goodnight Sweetheart and Fawlty Towers.

Alioop Sun 09-Nov-25 16:10:07

Heidi
White Horses
Banana Splits
Little House on the Prairie
Starsky & Hutch
Dukes of Hazard
Open All Hours
Dinner ladies

lefthanded Sun 09-Nov-25 16:18:42

YorkLady

Drop the Dead Donkey and Blake’s Seven.
I would imagine that neither has aged well!😂😂

I thought I was the only person who could remember Drop the Dead Donkey - a program well ahead of its time. And Blake’s Seven - the first two series were fantastic, after that it lost its way, I think.

The program I would like to see again would be “Man in a Suitcase”. I can still hum the theme tune.

Jaxjacky Sun 09-Nov-25 16:21:33

I loved M*A*S*H*, watched most of them.

rocketstop Sun 09-Nov-25 16:25:18

All the great programmes mentioned here, not so many these days that we'd be able to look back on with such joy.

gwyneth28 Sun 09-Nov-25 16:29:48

Alias Smith and Jones, The Bearcats, with Rod Taylor and Dennis Cole, Cagney and Lacey.

Northernsoulnanna Sun 09-Nov-25 16:47:40

Mackenzie.....(1980s starring Tracey Ullman.)
Alias Smith & Jones
The Flying Doctors.
The Sullivans.
Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Diana......(,nothing to do with Lady Diana)
We'll Meet Again ( Ww2 drama with Susannah York)
Itv couldnt fund a follow up sadsadsad
But i was happy to buy the follow up in book form smilesmile

madeleine45 Sun 09-Nov-25 16:50:42

Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister are old, think they were made in the 70's, but they are as relevant today as they were then. Still funny and such great acting from all of them but especially Nigel Hawthorne and his wonderful , so hard to learn, speeches. A lot of the Dads army, but especially "Dont tell them Pike" episode, Some of the Good Life was execellent too, although you would actually find someone like Tom Good a bit of a pain to live next to. Penelope Keith in her yellow outfit falling over in the garden etc etc. Fawlty Towers of course, Never been interested in any soaps like coronation street or suchlike, but the other things that I loved were Micheal Parkinson, who always did his homework and was usually a very good show to watch but could not be beaten when the great Billy Connolly was on. Parky tried so hard to be ready for anything but Billy would have him corpsing in a few minutes. Billy.s take on life was always worth listening to and would have me crying with laughter when he just said something unexpected and had you looking at things in a very different way. On days when life is tough a look at an old Connolly bit will cheer me even now. So for me life tended to be quite serious and difficult at times and I have been so thankful for music and art and some humour to get me through a rough day.

Northernsoulnanna Sun 09-Nov-25 16:51:08

Diana was a bbc drama starring jenny seagrove and kevin mcnally

Nannan2 Sun 09-Nov-25 17:01:38

Is rewind on sky?

Paperbackwriter Sun 09-Nov-25 17:04:05

grumppa

Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister.

Those are still wonderful. I've seen a few lately and they still seem relevant, politically, today!

Nannan2 Sun 09-Nov-25 17:08:18

Where will i find rewind please?Loved moonlighting the series with Bruce willis and Cybill shepard- used to watch it with my late mum.My daughter found it on STV for me.

Nandalot Sun 09-Nov-25 17:10:39

lefthanded

YorkLady

Drop the Dead Donkey and Blake’s Seven.
I would imagine that neither has aged well!😂😂

I thought I was the only person who could remember Drop the Dead Donkey - a program well ahead of its time. And Blake’s Seven - the first two series were fantastic, after that it lost its way, I think.

The program I would like to see again would be “Man in a Suitcase”. I can still hum the theme tune.

Two of our favourites here.
We went to see Drop the Dead Donkey recently at Nottingham All the original cast except , of course, for Haydn Gwynne. Really enjoyable. Familiar yet brought up to date.

benhamslc Sun 09-Nov-25 17:32:48

Butterflies where they had to all move the cars to park, The Good life and The Likely Lads some of our old favourites.

NannyJan53 Sun 09-Nov-25 17:48:58

Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, Watching, Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Anyone remember Adam Adamant Lives? About a man frozen in Edwardian Britain, and is revived in 60's London and his bewilderment of modern times.

FranP Sun 09-Nov-25 18:05:44

crazyH

Rising Damp
George and Mildred

that is on again now

FranP Sun 09-Nov-25 18:06:51

SO many reruns at the moment

mabon2 Sun 09-Nov-25 18:12:11

The Forsyte Saga, Onedin Line, brilliant series both of them.

NannySue45 Sun 09-Nov-25 19:02:29

Butterflies (Wendy Craig?)
The Cedar Tree - on at lunchtime/early afternoon

Dinah49er Sun 09-Nov-25 20:03:36

The Groves
Compact
No Hiding Place
The Adventures of William Tell

sodapop Sun 09-Nov-25 20:30:28

Mash
Tenko
Emergency Ward 10
Compact
Step toe and son
Doomwatch

So many to remember