The Very Best of BBC DVDs...

A Twitter comment about the blandness of early BBC DVD branding prompted someone to recall the "Best of Doctor Who" DVD covers I did a few years ago. That post is here.

So realising that the original gag hadn't gone far enough, I did some broader versions of them with other subjects. I think the joke has finally worn a bit thin now.

Amazing Charity Shop Finds From The World Of Cult TV!

Went to my local charity shop yesterday and found some interesting books in amongst the old Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels and Jane Goldman's X Files Books of the Unexplained. 

Can't think why I missed these gems first time round... 

Some More Recent Question Time Merchandise

They're still trying to peddle this stuff...

The Question of BBC Question Time's Questionable Merchandise...

Back in the 1970s, the BBC's Question Time was one of the popular television programmes in the UK. Millions tuned in to see a studio audience grill the politicians of the day under the watchful bow tie of Robin Day. The show's popularity spawned a mini-industry of merchandise eagerly snapped up by fans. Presented here is a choice selection from the hey day of "Questiontimemania"...

A series of novelisations penned by some of the UK's top science fiction authors and based on the some of the more dramatic episodes.

Children got a chance to act out their own Question Time episodes with a 'Give-A-Show' Projector set. Very few survived.

For one of their 'Election Special' editions, the Question Time crew were joined by a photographer from the popular Viewmaster company who took dozens of 3D images of the show - including the classic moment when Ted Heath nodded off during a lengthy retort from Jeremy Thorpe. Needless to say, the Conservative Party office were not pleased with Reel 3 / Image 4..... 

The official Question Time LP was a popular number two...

Happy Christmas to all our readers!

"Entertainment for Christmas Day here on B B C 1....

"Jon Pertwee opens the phone lines for your calls for a festive Swap Shop at 9.30....

"After The Queen's speech at 3.15, Alexander Armstrong presents a special Pointless Christmas episode of Pointless...



















"Anthony Ainley fires up the Crinkley Tissue Compression Eliminator as he opens the door's to his Christmas House Party at 5.15...

"At 8.15, Doreen Mantle stars as Mrs. Warboys in a spooky Christmas episode of Warboys and Meldrew (Deceased)...

"And with Christmas Question Time with The Krankies at 10.30, that's your Christmas Day entertainment, here on B B C 1 !!" 

This Week Weekly!

I make no apology for this little effort. It was too good an opportunity not to do. 'This Week' is the bizarre BBC political programme hosted by former Times editor Andrew Neil with Diane Abbot and Michael Portillo. 

It broadcasts on Thursday nights following 'Question Time' and I assume its lightweight approach to designed to calm down the viewers infuriated by the live chimps tea party that the aforementioned show usually descends into. 

Many criticise the show for its strange sense of humour. Me? I liken it to a political version of the old kids show 'Crackerjack' and I find myself offering up a paraphrased version of the old 'Doctor Who' excuse... "It's not a political show, it's made by the BBC light entertainment department!" ... which isn't true but seems to sum up their approach to the subject.

Anyhow, I'll give Gareth Roberts' Twitter feed the credit for setting me off on this little road. Thanks. And also apologise to 'Doctor Who Adventures' editor Paul Lang for misquoting him on the cover! Put it down to age. I'm more likely to say 'Crikey!' than 'Yikes!'

There's also a couple of variations on the theme from a few years ago. (NB: I made the same 'Crikey!' mistake back then as well.) 

More caption cards from the BBC Continuity Department (with voice-overs)

"Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton star in a new BBC Classics adaptation of 'The Omen'. That's in forty-five minutes after tonight's 'Songs of Praise'"

"Tomorrow's 'Question Time' on BBC1 is presented by David Dimbleby and not an oily toad as listed in some editions of Radio Times!"

"We'd just like to apologise to viewers in the East End of London. It must be awful for you!"

"Paul Darrow is a National Theatre customer. Next tonight on BBC1, the News performed by Peter Woods!"

"You may like to know that exhibitions of costumes from 'The Apprentice' are currently on display at Longleat House in Wiltshire and on Blackpool's Golden Mile."

"We'd like to apologise to viewers of last week's Barbara Mandrell Show for any distress caused when we inadvertently broadcast the wrong episode."

"Su Pollard, Anouska Hempel and Barbara Dickson join Paul Daniels in his new quiz show after more cat and mouse antics with Tom & Jerry!"

"Tonight's Weather Report will be hot, sweaty...................... and hard!"