The latest annual batch of secret papers declassified under the 30-Year Rule* makes, as ever, for great reading. They always do, by...
“Christmas is all around” On Christmas Eve 2007, BBC2 screened The Comedy Christmas – the latest in what appears to be a never-ending...
And a very merry Christmas to all of you at home…
This month’s Word magazine contains ostensibly definitive inventories of both the best and worst Christmas songs of all time. But as usual...
This is more like it: the official BBC group publicity shot for Christmas 1991, with everyone’s favourite Santa – Clive James –...
A solitary question today. Where – precisely – does snow have to fall for it to be officially classed as a white...
It’s more than high time for an appearance from Sir Bob Monkhouse: December 1995“What a peculiar year it’s been. Tory Party Chairman...
It’s guess the ident time (you knew it was coming). Can you match the logo with the correct Christmas? The years to...
Someone’s in for a surprise at the Thames Television Christmas lunch.
Just one question today: Who, in the history of television, has starred in the most number of Christmas specials?
And you thought John Tusa talking about drug addicts was depressing. Here’s the worst Christmas Day line-up of programmes mustered by BBC2,...
Here’s the front cover of the best Christmas single ever released. Three points, as Simon Mayo used to say, to anybody who...
It’s Christmas on BBC2. Cary Grant is “not going back to Yale.” “Not geing beck?” replies his posh compadre. It’s the first...
Pretty much everything from the 1950s isn’t worth remembering, which is why TV Cream has little to do with it. The same...
Ah yes, the Christmas Day comedy special. A chance to wash down the excesses of the day with a dose of light...
A trio of music-related riddles are clearing their throat behind today’s door. 1) Which Christmas number one did journalist David Quantick describe...
Why aren’t there TV bosses like this anymore?
Here’s Michael Palin, recalling his experiences at the BBC Light Entertainment Christmas Party: Sunday 19th December, 1976“Everything in full swing when we...
Where are the quizzes? Right here! TV Christmas specials is today’s theme: a) What was different about the kind of format Coronation...
The new edition of Radio Times features, on its cover, the promise that no fewer than six stars have been assembled to...
Another promotional launch, this time from 1973. Benny Hill, Black Beauty, Sid James, Barbara Windsor, Danny La Rue, Jack Smethurst and Hughie...
Half a dozen unlikely festive telly treats from Christmas Days of old. 1) A GIFT FOR GRACIE (ITV, 1970) 60 minutes of...
Kenneth Williams is waiting behind today’s door, ready to share his memories of Christmas 27 years ago… Tuesday 23rd December 1980“Saw Louie...
The quizzery has been axed. At least for today. Instead, lurking behind today’s door are…the faces of BBC’s 1981 Christmas season! In...
Well, judging by the number of responses so far, this advent calendar thing is clearly going to be a thunderously popular feature....
Hello and welcome to this convenient December blog-filling feature. Every day a seasonal puzzler, photo or pontification will be awaiting your attention,...
Chris Hughes has pointed out that new designs for every coin are being introduced next year, and wonders – rightly – why...
A guaranteed floor-filler, surely.
By way of a belated tribute: HALF A DOZEN VERITY VICTORIES… 1) DR WHO She didn’t want any BEMs – Bug Eyed...
“Just don’t let me see any Bug Eyed Monsters!”
Now that Evan Davis is off to the Today programme – albeit for 12 months – vacancies are open for the position...
If ever there was a time for the sentence “If ever there was a time for a country-wide poster campaign promoting discretion...
Tucked away at the very end of last night’s epic excursion through the 1967 devaluation crisis on BBC Parliament was an edition...
Hmm. In retrospect he probably wished he’d chosen a different turn of phrase. Here’s Brucie confessing “I do feel it is time...
One of these men has worked tirelessly to make the world a better place through inspiring musical statements, mammoth live events and...
John Rivers gets in touch with Creamguide to say: “When giving to charity this week, think not only of Children in Need,...
It’s been a while since the self-styled Bunty Bagshaw got herself in the papers for another “indiscreet remark”. Well, all of a...
(advance apologies for sounding like a particularly smug version of the Guardian’s Media Monkey) Last night’s special event at the British Film...
The Radio Times has, as usual, failed to resist the urge to go overboard on Dr Who and has put next Friday’s...
It’s the last blog entry on Channel 4’s birthday*. By way of a follow-up to that 1992 list of the station’s supposed...
“You say it’s your birthday?”
You might have already spotted this, but on Sunday 18th November BBC Parliament is doing another of its as-it-happened themed anniversary evenings,...
By way of a farewell to this never-before-attempted and rarely-read-since feature, Chris Hughes has unearthed Paul holding forth on Aspel And Company...
To continue the theme, back when Channel 4 turned 10 in 1992, Broadcast magazine drew up a list of what it believed...
The Today programme is 50 years old on Sunday, and to celebrate their website has rightly gone to town. Of particular note...
Hello! I’m Muriel Gray. You might remember me from such Channel 4 hit shows as Switch, The Media Show and The 100...
“And for the most of the country, it all starts on the 2nd of November: all right?” 1) The launch of the...
Here’s the great man securing royal patronage for the drawing of big heads on little bodies.
Steve Williams pointed out below that the edition of Pebble Mill At One shown on the same day as the raising of...
Here’s a concertinad account of events 20 years ago this very night and the following morning, including Nicholas Witchell pontificating shiftily on...
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