Official BBC Fireworks Now Available!

Just arrived by special courier... 

My bonfire party next month is almost complete! 

Now just need to get some friends to attend. 

Or maybe just get some friends. Full stop.... :( 

Click for larger unless you have a magnifying glass...

Happy 60s Dr Who Halloween!

Kids love Halloween and dressing up as their favourite ghost, ghoul, monster or Marvel superhero. Back in the 60s, there was a couple of Dalek dressing-up costumes available. One consisted of a red plastic vinyl skirt and a cardboard laundry basket and looked as much like a Dalek as it did a Taran Wood Beast... Kids of the 60s were less fussy and put up with it.

There were some other 'Doctor Who' costumes available from the same manufacturer. I've just been up into the loft to hunt mine out ready for the big day next week. 

Alas, they are no longer in their original mint condition. The entire Voord costume has decayed and crumbled to dust as is the case of any cheap latex product. 

And the Zarbi is missing its mandibles. 

As for the Monoid, I bought it off Ebay as an original factory-sealed product for a considerable sum of money. There is something inside it but breaking the seal will lower the value of this highly sought-after collector's item. 

And knowing my luck, there's probably just a crappy 'Star Wars' Emperor costume inside it...

Doctor Who's Desert Island Discs

A few years ago, when I was fronting a radio show on Trent Sound with my good friend Steve Hardy, I came across an album by the actor Ray Barrett. (£1 from the Cancer Research shop in Belper!)

Mr. Barrett is well-known to fans of 'Doctor Who' for his seminal role as Koquillion in a 1964 two-parter called 'The Rescue' ("It is Koquillion! You can't come in!!") 

He's also known to cult TV fans as many of the voices in Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's 'Stingray' and 'Thunderbirds'. The latter he provided the voice of the Duchess of Royston in the episode 'The Duchess Affair'. Viewers of 1970s television will also recognise his face as one of BBCTV's 'The Troubleshooters'. 

The LP is titled 'Large as Life' and he gives a creditable account of himself as he sings his way through a selection of ballads and love songs. The title track is the only let down. Much of it is spoken in the voice of the Mighty Titan from 'Stingray'. It sounds odd and I still can't quite fathom what it's about - something to do with a 'larger-than-life' lady he once knew.... or something!

Anyhow, back to my point. There were quite a lot of these sort of LPs produced by the top TV stars of the 60s and 70s including Stuart Damon (from ITC's 'The Champions') and a rather disturbing offering from TV's Jason King alias Peter Wyngarde. (The track entitled 'Rape' is not to be listened to under any circumstances!). 

Some of the cast of 'Doctor Who' attempted to release LPs highlighting their vocal talents but sadly none of them were ever available in good record shops.

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!"

Some On-screen Captions From The Past

Here's a trio of original continuity slides from our favourite soap operas. 

NB The 'Emmerdale' Farm book offer is now closed.