The Official Public Eye Enquiry Agent Playset!

Public Eye is back on British television thanks to those nice people at the Talking Pictures television channel. Quite probably one of the best detective series to come out of the telly box ever, Public Eye debuted in 1965 on ITV and chronicled the exploits of one Frank Marker - a rather grubby looking enquiry agent in a dirty mac three years before Columbo purchased his... 

Obviously its broadcast cannot go without celebration so I've dug up this little gem from the golden age of TV tie-in toys. Devotees of The Man from UNCLE may recognise the product as a thinly disguised version of the UNCLE toy trenchcoat that is now much sought after at collectors fairs and online auction sites. Back in those days, it was almost a tradition that toy manufacturers would merely adapt existing products to suit current trends and licences. And this was no exception. 

Mint versions of the Public Eye Detective Outfit Playset can go for literally tens of pounds these days and are rarely seen intact (if at all). I certainly haven't seen one on sale. 

Ever. 

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10/10/2018: Edited to add this spoof modern Radio Times cover I knocked up for the series and posted on Twitter. 

More Annuals Based On Those Successful Television Series...

I did four more this morning whilst I should've been clearing out my kitchen ready for the builders on Wednesday. 

What a bloody life I lead... 

Crown Court Lives Again!!!

Crown Court was an ITV drama based around fictional legal cases in the equally fictional town of Fulchester. It ran from 1972 until 1984 and was a fixture of ITV's fledgling daytime schedule when they finally decided that viewers were actually at home during the day. 

Each story - comprising of three half hour episodes - took the viewer through the legal proceedings of each case. At the climax of each case, a jury comprised of 11 members of the public and someone with an Equity card decided the verdict based on what they had seen. The verdicts were unscripted. Despite its age, it is still compelling viewing. 

For more information, check out Ivan Kirby's merticulous case-by-case blog here or go out and buy some of the DVDs from Network here. There are already eight volumes available.

The sudden and inexplicable rise in popularity of the 70s afternoon drama Crown Court has taken every body by surprise. But not the crafty merchandisers here at the House of Andydrewz. 

Figurine of Jeremy Parsons QC (Richard Wilson)

Figurine of Barry Deeley (John Alkin)

Crown Court comic - Issue 1

Crown Court comic - Issue 2

The Tingha & Tucker National Party

Tingha and Tucker - the fondly remembered ATV kids series from the 60s is shortly to be available on DVD from the lovely folk at Network - even though only one complete episode exists in the archives.

I have to admit that I was a fresh faced young member of the Tingha and Tucker club and Auntie Jean sent me a membership card, a boomarang and a shiny badge after my mum sent her a shilling for stamps. 

Here's the ad once it was passed through my cynical modern mind...