Special 500th Celebratory Post!

A few weeks ago on the Twitter I put out a request for ideas for my 500th post. To say I was inundated with suggestions is an understatement. In the end I chose three ideas that tickled my fancy and here they are.

A big thank you to Paul Gibbs ( @gibbspaulus ) for the Threads baby mobile, Simon Hart ( @si_hart ) for the Encyclopaedia of Juliet Bravo - E-K, and Chris Orton ( @chrisorton2011 ) for the Tenko playhouse. Follow them as they seem to share the same sense of the absurd as I do.

Also a big thank you too to everyone who suggested their own ideas.

Soapmania in the 60s and 70s

People forget how huge the soaps were back in the 60s and 70s. You couldn't look anywhere without seeing adverts for Corrie ice lollies and Crossroads sweet cigarettes. Kids couldn't get enough of the escapades of their favourite characters like Elsie Tanner and Amy Turtle. 

Manufacturers couldn't keep up with the demand for the official ATV Crossroads motel playset so Susan Stranks off of Magpie showed everyone how to make their own from old egg shells and potato peelings. 

It was fab. You had to be there. 

Here's some evidence that I haven't just knocked up over the weekend.

If you liked this post (or indeed, any of the 400 odd others I've done over the years), why not buy me a coffee at my Ko-fi profile. The link is here.

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. 

If you liked this post (or indeed, any of the 400 odd others I've done over the years), why not buy me a coffee at my Ko-fi profile. The link is here.















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

The Crown Court Action Playset!!

Originally released in the late 70s (despite the attire of the two youngsters on the cover.), this lovely piece of much sought-after merchandise from TV's Crown Court sold very badly on account of the fact that no action figures were released for it. 

Or something like that. 

It's late and I can't think of anything even vaguely amusing to write to accompany this effort. I'm tired and it's been a long day. 

Oh, and I had a lot of shit on Twitter about Brexit to contend with. I'm going to bed now. Night. x

Presenting the new 'Baby Doll Patrick' doll

As regular viewers know, I am still fascinated by those full page adverts for "limited edition collectors items" that clutter the pages of Sunday newspaper colour supplements. 

About a fortnight ago, I was quite shocked to discover there is now a Doctor Who cuckoo clock on sale. This is a couple a months after I debuted my Official Sydney Newman Doctor Who Cuckoo Clock. Life imitates art. 

Another one of those products that I find genuinely quite disturbing is the life-like baby doll models. These are disturbingly realistic 'dolls' designed to look as cute as possible but in reality have the souless eyes of a shop window mannequin. 

I created one in the image of the first Dr Who William Hartnell about a year ago. It certainly created a bit of a brouhaha with twitter comments ranging from 'I want one!" to "You are now blocked, you sick bastard!" 

I produced a postcard of it for last year's Whooverville convention and I sold well into double figures of it... about fourteen. 

With my medication wearing down over this Spring bank holiday, I decided to create a companion doll for the first one. For this, I apologise. 

Here it is... 

From our factory camp in North Korea to...

...your child's loving arms. Another satisfied customer!

An Real Live Zarbi Farm - for Christmas!

It's that time of the year when the thoughts of the young - and old - Doctor Who fan turn to what they want at the top of their Christmas present list.

I want my own pet Doctor Who monster and to that end I've adapted a popular educational toy into something that will give that dream a reality...

I present the Official Real-Live Zarbi Farm!  

(Mini Zarbi supplied separately!)