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Alan Briscoe

@alanbriscoe.bsky.social
71 followers 21 following 380 posts

Archive TV aficianado Thriller (ATV) blog thriller-reviews-and-reflections.bl… Shadows of Fear blog shadowsoffearreviewed.blogspot.com Public Eye website www.publiceye1965-1975.uk

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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 3h
One of the presenters from 1976 to 1981 of BBC show "The Sunday Gang" was Jill Shakespeare. She had previously had a small role as a TV channel telephonist in the 1974 Thriller episode "Death To Sister Mary". She also appeared in another ATV show "Golden Hill" (1976) which is now largely lost.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 4h
The Sunday Gang was a BBC religious show for children from 1976 to 1981. Although some items were from a Christian standpoint others had a broader, secular focus, e.g. friendship, teamwork. Tina Heath - already known for Lizzie Dripping - was one of the presenters before she left to join Blue Peter
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Browsing the web I learned that Luanshya Greer died in May. Originally an actress she later wrote extensively for the screen including co-writing with Brian Clemens "In the Steps of a Dead Man", one of the most acclaimed episodes of ATV's Thriller. She was married to actor John Carson. RIP Luanshya.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This is the first image that I can recall seeing when we first got colour TV (rented from Visionhire!) in 1974 - an afternoon repeat of Granada's "A Family at War". Ironically despite this significance I've never watched an episode of the show, not being a fan of wartime dramas.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Sometimes TV shows or films feature books "written" by one of the characters. Such an example is this book on longevity by notorious scientist Morgan C. Devereaux in the Timeslip serial "The Day of the Clone". Devereaux had also featured in the serial "The Time of the Ice Box" set in 1990.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
An unnerving moment for Liz Skinner (Cheryl Burfield) as she meets her mannequin in the opening episode of the final Timeslip serial "The Day of the Clone" (1971).
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Granada had shown "The Long Sleep" in a similar slot a week earlier (14.7.88) but all their other repeats including the other "sensitive content" episodes were weekend lunchtimes so less restrictive than in the 1970s. Needless I didn't know of this repeat either - I wonder how many did see it?
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I didn't even know that Granada had repeated "The Cat With Ten Lives" on 21st July 1988. This listing might explain why and it makes a 12.15 am screening seem positively early! Maybe it also suggests that even in 1988 this was seen as a "sensitive" episode unsuitable for daytime screening...
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
OTD 50 years ago (17 September 1976) UFO received its last 1970s broadcast on Granada with a post-midnight "The Cat With Ten Lives", one of those reserved for late-night screenings. Repeats in some regions such as LWT continued into 1977, the series not to return to ITV until around 10 years later.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Magician David Nixon showing another string to his bow accompanying Anita Harris on double bass during his show "David Nixon's Magic Box" in April 1970.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
The part of Esme in "Sleepwalker" was played by Elaine Donnelly, another young blonde actress who resembled Cheryl in look and voice.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
The sadly-departed Cheryl Hall in the 1974 YTV detective drama "Who Killed Lamb?", a production sometimes wrongly billed as an episode of Thriller Cheryl did not appear in the ATV series but I feel she would have especially suited the role of Esme, the maid in the 1976 episode "Sleepwalker"...
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I was sorry to hear that Cheryl Hall has died. Cheryl was one of those actresses who was very versatile and gave great performances in many shows. This image from sitcom The Fenn Street Gang in 1971 was one of her earliest roles as it was for Jan Francis, both going on to very long careers.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
In the 1987 Doctor Who serial "Paradise Towers" the Doctor remarks on the threats facing him and refers to "a killer in every corner", a phrase very familiar to viewers of ATV's Thriller! It raises the question of other episode titles that might have featured in a dialogue in other shows.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
I've just discovered that actress Marian Diamond died early this year aged 89. She had a brief but important role in the Thriller episode "The Next Scream You Hear" but was a frequent face in archive TV. One of her central roles was as a villainous agent in the 1972 ATV serial Tightrope. RIP Marian.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Moments later Terry goes on to mention "Wait Until Dark" starring Audrey Hepburn. This 1967 film was also about a blind woman being stalked by a killer and was almost certainly an influence on Blind Terror and the two later Thriller episodes about blindness.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
In the "End of an Era" episode (1973) of sitcom Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Bob says he is feeling "blind terror" which Terry notes is a film starring Mia Farrow. Blind Terror (1971) was penned by Brian Clemens & one of the films that set the scene for his series Thriller.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
The Tomorrow People serial "The Heart of Sogguth" (1977) is one of my favourites of the show - Mike's band (played by his actual band Flintlock) have a new manager who secretly has macabre plans for them. This was bold fo its time slot in its depiction of the occult and supernatural possession.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
OTD (30th June) in 1984 LWT repeated the Thriller episode "The Savage Curse" (i.e. Kiss Me and Die). This marked the end of the 1980s repeats across the ITV regions. These repeats were hugely important not just for those who saw them at the time but the recordings which were later seen by many more.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
I bought the Channel 5 UFO Volume 6 in HMV just before Christmas 1990 - it contained "Court Martial" & "Kill Straker!" I'm not sure why I started with that one but it was one of my best-ever purchases. It was the first time I had episodes on video and could rewatch them - which I certainly did!
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
George Drew's literary fame extended beyond Thriller as one of his books appeared in episode 3 of Assignment 5 of Sapphire & Steel a few years later! Clearly his behaviour in "Murder in Mind" did not lead to him being "cancelled"!
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
I'm not quite sure what happened there as the original spreadsheet has the correct details and then it was just copy and paste but obviously something went awry. This update should be correct for Tyne Tees (page 1), the second page is unchanged.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
These grids offer an at a glance guide to the repeats of ATV's Thriller across the ITV regions in the early 1980s. All these appeared in their ITC movie versions which explains why some are under "new" titles with the original in brackets. While some regions showed them all most had some gaps.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
This grid offers an at a glance guide to the first broadcasts of Gerry Anderson's UFO across the various ITV regions in the early 1970s. Some remarkable variations in when different regions first aired certain episodes including STV not showing "The Cat With Ten Lives" until 5 years after ATV!
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
I do still have some VHS tapes on which my Thriller recordings were made like this one but I'm pretty sure the episodes themselves were recorded over when the DVDs were released. It's difficult for me to tell as I no longer have the means to play tapes - superseded technolgy another factor.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Princess Alexandra visits the ATV Crossroads set in 1970. Viewers of Gerry Anderson's UFO will be able to spot Jon Kelley (who played Colonel Masters) alongside co-star Sue Hanson. He had a recurring role at the time in the soap as Frank Adam although I don't think any of his episodes exist
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
One of the more obscure aspects of the Thriller episode "Death in Deep Water" is a brief and uncredited role for stuntman Marc Boyle who plays the man who attacks Gary (Bradford Dillman) at the start. Stuntmen such as him would often feature in fight and other action scenes & appeared in many shows.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
1st June 1996 - satellite channel Bravo repeated the Thriller episode "Death in Deep Water". For those of us who had only just discovered the show via the 4 episodes released on VHS this was the first "new" one we saw. Whether for that reason or not this has always been one of my favourites...
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Blake Butler had a small role in the 1965 Out of the Unknown episode "Some Lapse of Time". It was his character's name that was remarkable - Gerry Anderson! He was only billed as "Anderson" on the credits but the dialogue uses the full name, quite striking given the real Gerry's fame at the time.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
RIP Michael Beint (1925-2026). He played the butler Hawkins in the Thriller episode "One Deadly Owner" & while not one of the show's best-known actors he was the joint longest-lived having just left us at the age of 100 (the late Geoffrey Chater also achieved that distinction a few years ago).
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
This chart shows when each ITV region started and ended its first run of UFO episodes. There are some remarkable variations not just in terms of when they started / ended but how long they took - HTV Wales just over 6 months, Tyne Tees almost 5 years. Some repeats did occur during these first-runs.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
First broadcast episode order for UFO on STV. The channel was quite a late starter in January 1972 but had broadcast most by August '72. However there was a long wait for the "sensitive content" late night ones, most held back until late 1975. STV became the last region to complete the series.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
David Ashford had starred as barrister Charles Lotterby in many stories in the early years of Granada series Crown Court. It therefore seems appropriate that in 1979 he turned up in ATV's Crossroads as - a barrister! Hilary Minster - now best remembered for 'Allo 'Allo - played his opposite number.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
These Daily Record listings for 31.5.75 highlight the confusion over which Thriller episode was to be shown in STV (1st image) & adjacent areas. Ultimately it seems to have been more clear-cut: STV - ITV still off-air; LWT - repeat of "The Eyes Have It"; everywhere else "Murder Motel" rescheduled.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Somewhat odd synopsis for STV broadcast of the "Murder Motel" episode of Thriller, 31.5.75. This was a second attempt after it was postponed in most ITV regions a week earlier due to industrial action. However LWT did show it and instead repeated "The Eyes Have It" which may explain the confusion...
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Profiles of actors & performers due to play in a charity football match in 1974 - quite a few very familar names who were on screen or on the radio back in the early 1970s.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
April 12th is significant in Gerry Anderson's UFO as it is the only specific date noted on screen. In the episode "Survival" we learn that astronaut Bill Grant was killed on April 12th 1981. The episode marked the production debut of Michael Billington as Paul Foster who searches for the killer.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Porter Arnold Capper (John Halstead) again in the bad books of the nurses (played by Sally Knyvette, Carol Hazell & Pippa Rowe) in episode 126 of General Hospital, December 1973. The odd look of the image is because the episode exists as that rare thing - a colour telerecording of the original tape.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
April 2nd for followers of Thriller is "One Deadly Owner Day". Specific dates were rarely mentioned in the show but model Helen Cook (Donna Mills) discovers it was on that day that Mrs Jacey disappeared and set off the fateful supernatural chain of events which were to put her own life in danger.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Mark Curry meets Bonnie Langford - the new Doctor Who assistant Mel - on Blue Peter in September 1986. Both had many of their earliest TV appearances back in the early 1970s on Yorkshire TV's kids' variety show "Junior Showtime". Janet Ellis had guest-starred in Doctor Who back in 1979.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Colette O'Neil & John Carson in the 1974 Thriller episode "Come Out Come Out, Wherever You Are" & then in rather different garb in the 1983 Doctor Who serial "Snakedance"; a young Martin Clunes is alongside them.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Which series of ATV's Thriller are most popular or least popular with viewers? These results are based on IMDb ratings. Probably not a big surprise that Series 3 is easily the best-rated. Series 6 is lowest, maybe reflecting some changes in style & some more low-key stories.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
The viewer ratings for the 43 episodes of ATV series Thriller. It's always interesting to see how these compare to our own opinions - probably broadly similar but with us rating some much higher or lower. "Coffin for the Bride" is clearly in top place with "K Is for Killing" bottom.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
One of the notable features of the Jason King TV series (1971-1972) were the mock-up novels written by Jason about his fictional detective "Mark Caine" and which regularly featured in episodes.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Headed notepaper showing the Hereford address of the Bourne family featured in ATV drama "The Cedar Tree" (1976-1978). ATV shows occasionally referred to less well known parts of the region although in this case I'm not sure there was any filming in the Hereford area or anywhere beyond the studio.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
With regard to that episode I only noticed recently that Annette Woollett who plays "Wendy Two" has five double letters in her name! Surely some kind of record, maybe her parents chose "Annette" as her first name for that very reason!
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
Actress Wendy Gifford in Crown Court in 1972. Wendy appeared in many shows but ATV's Thriller was not one of them. Despite this I can't shake off the idea she appeared in the episode "Good Salary - Prospects - Free Coffin", probably because it features characters called Wendy & one called Gifford!
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
It's always interesting to see pictures - especially in colour - from wiped episodes. These are from "The Old Folks at Home" (August 1973) from Series 1 of ATV police drama Hunters Walk. Actor Ken Jones was best known for his comic roles but like many comic actors acquitted himself well in drama.
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Article extract from June 1974 about Mark McManus. Now best remembered as Scottish detective Taggart it's easy to overlook the variety of roles & accents he employed with great aplomb early in his career. In this extract he offers some fascinating thoughts on work, class and politics....
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Alan Briscoe @alanbriscoe.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
Border TV was the joint first channel to start showing Gerry Anderson's UFO in September 1970. After a strong start though screenings became more sporadic with a few new episodes mixed with repeats. It didn't complete a first run until May 1975, almost 5 years after starting.
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