davetaylor

Number 86: THE POWER GAME (1965) 8,00 Originally started out as "The Planemakers" in 1963. The Plane Makers focused on the power struggles between the trades union and the management on the shop floor of an (fictional) aircraft factory, Scott Furlong Ltd, as well as the political in-fighting amongst the management themselves. Patrick Wymark proved particularly popular as the anti-heroic Managing Director John Wilder, who was almost a proto–J.R. Ewing in that he became a central character that the other characters and viewers "loved to hate". Wilder is "a bully and a boor", who "is forgiven only if he gets results" (Critchley 1969). Wilder's nemesis in the boardroom was David Corbett (Alan Dobie), though he was supported by his long-suffering wife Pamela (Barbara Murray, with Ann Firbank standing in for a few episodes when Murray was unavailable), his Sales Director and confidant Don Henderson (Jack Watling) and ever-reliable secretary Miss Lingard (Norma Ronald). Their task was to manufacture and sell their aircraft, the Sovereign, to an international market. Lew Grade, head of ATV, reportedly found the series boring because of its factory setting. Believing that the majority of viewers would have had enough of factories after their days' work, he decided the Wilder character should be spun off into a new series.[citation needed] According to another report, it was on Gretorex's advice that the drama "left the factory floor for the executive suite" (Critchley 1969). At the end of the final Plane Makers series in January 1965, Wilder left Scott Furlong after a project for a vertical takeoff aircraft had failed, and took a seat on the board of a merchant bank while also collecting a knighthood (Evans 1995, 413). He returned eleven months later in The Power Game. Bored of being a gentleman of leisure, Wilder uses his influence with the bank on whose board he sits to become Joint Managing Director of an established building firm, Bligh Construction. The first two series of The Power Game in 1965–66 chronicled his attempts to keep control in the face of opposition from the company's elderly founder Caswell Bligh (Clifford Evans), a stern, old-school patriarch who resents what he sees as Wilder's imposition on a family firm, and Bligh's ambitious but inexperienced son Kenneth (Peter Barkworth), who would prefer to be sole managing director, and free of his father's influence. Both Henderson and Miss Lingard were back in harness. Wilder's private life came more to the fore in The Power Game; he has a long-running affair with a civil servant, Susan Weldon (Rosemary Leach), but is aghast when his wife Pamela also plays the field, with engineering expert Frank Hagadan (George Sewell). Patrick Wymark died suddenly in 1970 and it was decided not to continue with the series without its most notorious and memorable character. oynqT3E1_SM

Number 88: PROFESSIONAL BOXING (BBC1 1967) 8.00 Number 87: CINEMA 1967 8.00 ITV'S equivalent to BBC's "Film" series

Number 90: INTERNATIONAL ICE GALA (1967) 8.00 BBC1 with Annual Ice Skating event Number 89: DEATH BY MISADVENTURE (1967) 8.00 From the Anthology series "Playhouse". This was an Associated Rediffusion production shown on Monday 17th July 1967 at 8.30pm, starring Betty Bascomb, David Burke & Lucy Fleming.

Number 92: HELLO DOLLY (1965) 8.00 ITV's take on the latest stage musical Number 91: THE MORECAMBE & WISE SHOW (1966 Edition) 8.00 The ATV series of the twosome (not one of my favourites) I though t they were very kiddish & annoying a-kin to something out of a kids show. You thought you were watching an overdone sketch from Crackerjack!

It probably relates to how individuals were brought up. The Likely Lads? Great. The Liver Birds (without the awful Beryl Character) also great. Wendy Craig in "And Mother Makes Three/Five"....Crap. My fav sitcoms would be Bless This House, FDF, Love Thy Neighbour, No Place Like Home, Sykes, Happy Ever After (better than the tamed down "Terry & June". Also enjoyed "The Upchat Line", Spring & Autumn, For The Love Of Ada, The Rag Trade & many others. But couldn't stand Are You Being Served (it was just a vehicle for John Inman), Dad's Army & any other Perry/Croft sitcom...None were true to life, as they claimed to be. The worst 2 were definately Last Of The Summer Wine & Keeping Up Appearances...like all Roy Clarke's stuff, once you'd seen one episode, you'd see n the lot. Much prefer ITV stuff & was never a fan of David Jason either (aside "A Sharp Intake Of Breath", which he won't allow to be shown). The less said about "Selwyn Froggit" the better. Get Some In was great, compared to the rather silly "Army Game". US sitcoms are an aquired taste. Quite awful, with remakes of UK stuff, a la Threes Company, Lotsa Luck, Too Close For Comfort, Archie Bunker, Sanford & Son, Reggie & the terrible Threes A Crowd. "The Two Of Us" was ok, as a re-make of "Two's Company" wiith Peter Cook. I won't go into The Brady Bunch, Different Strokes, Welcome Back Kotter & Roseanne. Sickly stuff & no resemblance to anything remotely close to "Great" Britain's far-eyed stuff.

Personally I loved it & used to laugh until I cried at Patrick Cargill's inability to confuse & not listen, to what was actually happening with his daughters & the misunderstandings with Nanny. As Thames first sitcom. Great. IMHO much better than Steptoe. And I could not stand (& still can't) Dad's Army. I think we'll see a few worse than Father Dear Father later....

Number 93: EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 1969 8.00m We all tuned in to see a tie on 29th March 69: P_98Lxsr9HM

Number 94: PLEASE SIR (1969 Episode) 8.00 John Alderton stars as Bernard Hedges in the LWT Sitcom, set at Fenn Street School & the dreaded class of 5C: bBf37MmV9_E

Number 96: THIS WEEK (1963 Edition) 7.98 The ITV Current Affairs show, that later became "TV Eye" & then reverted back to "This Week". Number 95: THIS IS YOUR LIFE (December 1969 Edition) 8.00m Eamonn Andrews springs his big red book on the Beverly Sisters JuDo2DrLPYA Here's a complete edition from 1969, with Bobby Charlton: HhjW2a7L3WE

Number 97: CRANE (1964 Episode) 7.96m The series was based around Richard Crane (Patrick Allen) who was a successful city businessman who was tired of the big city rat race. He took his money and retired to the sun drenched shores of Morocco, near Casablanca, investing his money in a beach side café and boat. Having let it be known that his services were available for import and export assignments, he soon found himself involved in minor smuggling activities (tobacco and alcohol, but no drugs). This brought him to the attention of the local chief of police, Colonel Mahmoud (Gerald Flood). The pair developed a healthy respect for each other and there were times when they would join forces against a common enemy. Colonel Mahmoud was assisted by Inspector Larbi played by Bruce Montague. Crane's only real friend was an ex-Foreign Legionnaire named Orlando O'Connor (Sam Kydd), who became his trusted confidant. The glamour in the show was Halima (Laya Raki), a young Arab girl Crane employed to run the bar in his café. n59MFdTu8jw

Number 98: STEPTOE & SON (1965 Episode) 7.95m The BBC Sitcom with Wilfred Brambell & Harry H. Corbett. I always found it annoying personally, but who am I? --OVgrdjuBw

Number 100: NO HIDING PLACE (1965 Episode} The 2nd entry for the Police series/ Number 99: THE AVENGERS (1965 Episode) Emma Peel & John Steed up to their usual adventures: cBHVi8b-gHc

Number 102: PICCADILLY PALACE (1968 Edition) 7.90m Another Variety type show with Millicent Martin & other acts such as Bruce Forsyth, Cliff Richard & a Morecambe & Wise segment. Number 101: THE MUSIC OF LENNON & MCCARTNEY (1965) 7.90m A Granada TV special, showcasing the talents of the 2 Beatles: 82vngjtAXlM

Number 104: ARMCHAIR THEATRE (1963 Episode) 7.88 A series of tales, some that sporned separate spin off series of their own. Such as the (much later) Sweeney series. Number 103: NEWS AT TEN (1968 Edition) 7.90 Alastair Burnett & the gang in 1968. This edition was on the night of the U.S. Elections of 68. The theme through the years: _-ujxnKjxGs

Number 106: EMERGENCY WARD TEN (1966 Episode) 7.85m The 2nd entry for the Hospital Soap. Number 105: FATHER DEAR FATHER (1968 Episode) 7.85m One of my favourite Thames Sitcoms, with Patrick Cargill as the writer Patrick Glover, his 2 daughters & Nanny. UP8_Wpn1El0

Number 107: HIPPODROME (1966 Edition) 7.85m This was a Variety series with Woody Allen, shown on ITV, with various acts. Here's Woody fighting a kangaroo: thDcXxVddO8 And introducing Libby Morris: 7ZOzs3SBsHo

Number 108: STARS & GARTERS (1964 Edition) 7.94m This was a Variety show, set in a Public House. It was introduced by Ray Martine (remember him?) It featured the usual mix of comics & singers, which included Kathy Kirby, Vince Hill, Tommy Bruce, Clinton Ford, Julia Ray & Queenie Watts. Queenie ran a pub called "The Iron Bridge" in East India Dock Road in London, anyway. Here's a clip of Queenie: NRl84kTL6aE http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:/...AQ&dur=2373

Number 109: IT'S TARBUCK (1965 Edition) 7.80m This was a show similar in style to The Benny Hill Show, with stand up, sketches & guests. Amanda Barrie appeared every week. This particular edition also featured Henry McGee, Bob Todd & Tony Holland. All of this show was junked, never to be seen again. It was shown on Wednesdays at 8pm on ITV.

Number 110: DOUBLE YOUR MONEY (1964 edition) 7.80m: Hughie Green introduces the quiz, where contestants can double their winnings, in a similar but easier way than the 64,000 dollar question. The opening to the very first edition: iKU-5CMn1Vs

Number 111: EMERGENCY WARD TEN (1964 episode) 7.80m: The ATV soap series, & the first set in a hospital. The lovely Jill Browne played Nurse Carole Young, before MRSA existed! The original theme: ZyK0OUlCxzI Some clips for a dvd release: SMK9uGfFXG0

Number 112: TWO IN CLOVER (the 1969 series) 7.75m: A sitcom starring Sid James & Victor Spinneti. Sid & Vic abandoned the hum-drum 9 to 5 working life to run a farm in the country. Where Sid keeps going on about his love of fanny...who is a friesian cow, by the way! xat7vgCsXik

Number 113: SPORTSNIGHT WITH COLEMAN (1969 Edition) 7.75m: The midweek BBC Sport show, highlighting the days sporting events, with David Coleman. The opening titles: 7E7_Kk0B_-k And a further clip of the very first edition: 2Im_FnXiCHg

Number 114: THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE (1969 series) 7.75m: An ATV sitcom starring June Whitfield as Mabel Pollard & Harry H.Corbett as Alfred Wilcox. The story revolves around Alfred Wilcox, always getting out of marrying Mabel, as he prefers wealth & prosperity. Apparently this series does actually still exist in various formats, but I could not find any extracts.

Number 115: MISS WORLD 1965 7.75m: The November event, where the beauty queen of the world was chosen. Always big viewing figures. Though shunned for sexism by some today. In 1965 it took place at the Lyceum Ballroom in London & was won by the UK entrant, Lesley Langley. gH77CRwjeds

Number 116: THE FUNERAL OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY 7.75m (1963) the major event of 1963, where the U.S. President was assasinated & this was his televised funeral. dL0iShjpKPw