Tightrope was a tense Cold War thriller for younger viewers, written by former Doctor Who scriptwriter Victor Pemberton and stars Coronation Street’s John Savident, Timeslip’s Spencer Banks, and future BAFTA-winning producer and director David Munro. Intriguing and, at times, compelling, the series brilliantly captures the paranoia of the Cold War in a setting close to … Continue reading In-Depth Review of Tightrope (1972), the Cold War Classroom Thriller
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Obscure Drama – Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (Network DVD Review)
Contains mild spoilers I collect the DVDs released by Network, even things I wouldn't necessarily have a desire to watch, or even knew existed. I picked up Edward and Mrs Simpson starring Edward Fox, in my local charity shop. It was £1, so at the very least I'd get a DVD with a Network badge … Continue reading Obscure Drama – Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (Network DVD Review)
It’s a Gas! All Gas and Gaiters on DVD and Beyond (A Heavenly Review)
5 Series / 33 Episodes / Original television broadcast 1967 - 1971 / BBC Television Spoiler-free review Between 1968 and 1971, "All Gas and Gaiters" was one of the highest-rated and well-loved shows on television. Set around the fictional Cathedral of Saint Og’s, the series follows The Bishop (William Mervyn) in his attempts to run … Continue reading It’s a Gas! All Gas and Gaiters on DVD and Beyond (A Heavenly Review)
The Daleks’ Master Plan – The Surreal Dream Begins
Where does a lifelong fan of Doctor Who even begin to describe the thrill of anticipation before watching two old but new episodes of my favourite programme on a bank holiday afternoon? Turning up sixty years after their original broadcast, two episodes of the twelve-part Doctor Who story, The Daleks' Master Plan are available to … Continue reading The Daleks’ Master Plan – The Surreal Dream Begins
Review: 1960s Drama Special Branch
Special Branch was highly popular during its tenure as Thames TV's top police show from 1969-1970 and 1973-1974. I had limited knowledge about the series before watching it but vaguely remembered reading about the various changes the show underwent, many of which are evident in Series 1 and 2. The action is centered on members … Continue reading Review: 1960s Drama Special Branch
Outside Edge , Central TV’s cricketing comedy
The BAFTA-winning Outside Edge (made by Central for ITV) is a gentle comedy-drama about a sub-league cricket team captained by Roger Dervish (Robert Daws), assisted by his wife Mim (Brenda Blethyn). Their lives become entwined with a married couple who are vastly different. Kevin (Timothy Spall) and Maggie (Josie Lawrence) couldn’t be more different. It's … Continue reading Outside Edge , Central TV’s cricketing comedy
The Bill & I Part 7: Is the quality slipping? I feel a sob coming on
Continuing to watch the earliest years of the long-running British police drama, The Bill. Since the last entry in this viewing diary, I have watched another five episodes. Before I started this watch-through, I wondered if channels like UK Gold avoided repeating the earliest episodes of The Bill for a specific reason. Maybe these episodes … Continue reading The Bill & I Part 7: Is the quality slipping? I feel a sob coming on
Network DVD review: The Tyrant King – A psychedelic journey across swinging 60’s London
In 1968, Thames Television tested the feasibility of having another in-house production team, making programmes without the use of studios. The 'second unit' would be entirely on location and recorded entirely on Film. Eventually, this set-up became Euston Films, responsible for many films and television shows including The Sweeney and Minder. The Tyrant King was … Continue reading Network DVD review: The Tyrant King – A psychedelic journey across swinging 60’s London
Series Retrospective: The Man in Room 17 – More Than Just a Cool Title?
On the surface, we can say The Man in Room 17 is about two criminologists solving mysteries and uncovering crime from a secret room somewhere in Whitehall (London). Frequently extending the limits or interpretation of their brief, they are the epitome of faceless suits in grey buildings. Nestled in the grey areas between the police … Continue reading Series Retrospective: The Man in Room 17 – More Than Just a Cool Title?
From the archive: Edward & Mrs Simpson DVD review
Ever since Network DVD went into administration in 2023, I have made it my mission to pick up releases from their back catalogue wherever I see one that might appeal to me - for a sensible price of course. Generally speaking, I don’t like biopics. I’m not especially enamored with the Royal Family, and truthfully … Continue reading From the archive: Edward & Mrs Simpson DVD review
Was Douglas Wilmer the Definitive Sherlock Holmes?
Douglas Wilmer played Arthur Conan-Doyle’s world famous detective in thirteen episodes made by the BBC in 1964, so why is his performance still considered by many to be the defitive take on the role?
“Dark Shadows” watch-through – The guilty secret continues
- RANDOM STUFF - I don’t know about you but I’m still in the Halloween mood, so what better time to tell you more about my watchthrough of barmy US soap, Dark Shadows. I promised I’d get back to you and, dear reader, I gladly make good on my promise (whether you like it or … Continue reading “Dark Shadows” watch-through – The guilty secret continues
Agatha Christie full-cast audio review: At Bertram’s Hotel and A Caribbean Mystery
This time, I take a look at two examples of BBC Radio's classic series starring June Whitfield as Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Miss Marple - At Bertram’s Hotel I love Agatha Christie’s books, but I used to have problem with Miss Marple. Something about a lady of senior years who earwigs conversations that seemed a … Continue reading Agatha Christie full-cast audio review: At Bertram’s Hotel and A Caribbean Mystery
Porridge – The surprising facts behind this book based on the classic comedy
A quick look at a book based on the prison-based comedy series, Porridge. This paperback book of the BBC's Porridge was adapted by Jonathan Marshall from Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais’s television scripts. Inside, each of the seven chapters are re-tellings of the television episodes, starting with the 'unofficial' pilot episode, Prisoner and Escort … Continue reading Porridge – The surprising facts behind this book based on the classic comedy
The Omega Factor book
A quick look at The Omega Factor paperback published in 1979. The back cover text: There is a highly-secret government organisation called Department 7. Its existence is known only to the Prime Minister and some members of the Cabinet. Its brief is to investigate the Supernatural—to discover the Omega Factor. Journalist Tom Crane has been … Continue reading The Omega Factor book
Dear Retro TV Diary… Week 11: Dates, delays and decapitations
Contains mild spoilers Splitting Doctor Who: The Space Museum across Saturday and Sunday afternoons, watching two episodes each day, worked quite nicely and suited the pace of this classic Who story. It begins with one of the best opening episodes in all of the Classic Series as the Doctor (here played by William Hartnell) and … Continue reading Dear Retro TV Diary… Week 11: Dates, delays and decapitations
Price Promotion: Environmental thriller Morrison’s Ghost
“Have you ever heard of an anti-gravity generator?” Graduate, find a job, meet someone and settle down. For ‘Jim’ (aka Morrison’s Ghost) it was supposed to be easy, so how did he wind up pursued by secret government agencies, shady corporations and a trigger-happy private eye? This fast paced environmental thriller is now half price … Continue reading Price Promotion: Environmental thriller Morrison’s Ghost
Surprises and New Old Things. The tenth algorithm-free week
For the first time the weekly Retroscopic Roundup is available in Pdf form. I haven't done anything like that before, so I hope it works and looks okay. Please let me know if it doesn't. Retroscopic Roundup W10 Download pdf This diary has been a real eye-opener for me. For example, I failed to realise … Continue reading Surprises and New Old Things. The tenth algorithm-free week
A ginger Mowgli and no songs. VHS memory lane led to obscure anime
It’s funny when something old or nostalgic prompts a fact-finding mission. That’s what happened when I unearthed the Pickwick Video release of The Jungle Book. It all started when I transferred a non-Disney animated version of The Jungle Book from DVD onto my hard drive. To be strictly accurate, it was a DVD-R containing a … Continue reading A ginger Mowgli and no songs. VHS memory lane led to obscure anime
Week 9 of curating my own classic TV line-up
It’s been a supremely busy week of mixed fortunes for me, so I haven’t watched very much this week. Partly due to work, tiredness and some plans coming unstuck. It’s okay, you don’t need to feel sorry for me because I’ve watched some great stuff this week, even if it wasn’t mentioned on the list … Continue reading Week 9 of curating my own classic TV line-up
Retroscopic: Week 8 of curating my own TV line-up
Contains mild spoilers The holiday is over, and I'm back in my favourite armchair, slipping back into familiar viewing habits. Below is my ‘viewing diary’ that I use to kept track of where I am. It's fully expanded for your reading pleasure, with a preview of the week ahead. The full background ‘story so far’ … Continue reading Retroscopic: Week 8 of curating my own TV line-up
