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Curious British Telly

@curiousbritishtelly.co.uk
1.6K followers 81 following 395 posts
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 02/10/2026
There's some intriguing early-90s recordings lurking on these tapes. Going through them at the weekend.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 26/09/2026
Marks & Spencer Aberdeen Angus Beef & Mustard: They haven't quite replicated Brannigans here, but they've come close. A rich, muscular beef struts proudly round the mouth while the mustard has an exciting sharpness to wake up the nervous system. Make these permanent. Rating: 8.8
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 17/09/2026
What are you doing tonight? Me? I'm going to watch all the Bob Hoskins BT adverts. What a treat.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 14/09/2026
I think it may finally be time to give a few episodes of BSB's Jupiter Moon from 1990 a watch. Who's seen it? Any good?
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 03/09/2026
Back to school...
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 01/09/2026
I'd forgotten that I'd ever made this.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 29/08/2026
There's currently a Bertha advent calendar for sale on eBay. It's £34.99 and, if I had a spare shilling or two, I'd be seriously tempted.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 29/08/2026
I spent many happy afternoons playing Bullseye on my mate's BBC Micro back in the 1990s.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 29/08/2026
Scragtag had the potential to be a great TV puppet, but he was slotted into rather weak and forgettable vehicles. Created and operated by Marcus Kimber - who handled the puppets in The Young Ones - Scragtag had a verminous charm which could have gone far.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 27/08/2026
The very definition of utter lads.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 21/08/2026
Paperback and e-book versions of my new book 172 Forgotten British Children's TV Shows From The 1980s are now available on Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HG3BD7WC
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 10/08/2026
A nice selection of 1980s VHS tapes to dig through. Donations of similar tapes always welcome.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 08/08/2026
One upside of the drought: it’s finally finished off the pesky Triffid that had taken up residence in my kitchen.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 04/08/2026
Erasmus Microman. The Roger the Dog Show. Mag is Mog. Jangles. Just four of the intriguing shows in my new book: 172 Forgotten British Children's TV Shows From The 1980s amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HC3VYL29
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 31/07/2026
4. Bodytalk (BBC1 - 1989) A quite curious programme with Wayne Pritchett - in an eye-catching leotard - teaching children how to contort their bodies through expressive mime to themes such as sports and growing old. Yes, this one genuinely happened.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 31/07/2026
2. Chish 'n' Fips (ITV - 1984 to 1987) Two series wonder courtesy of Central which featured two garden gnomes - Mr Fisher and Mr Wheeler - living out the back of a fish and chip shop and experiencing all manner of mild peril e.g. rescuing a discarded toy from a dustbin.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 31/07/2026
1. Treasures of the Mindlord (ITV - 1986) A TSW production which saw a group of children taking on the intergalactic challenge of Enyon - a Mindlord - to prove themselves worthy of joining his federation. A bit like Knightmare. But a year earlier.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 31/07/2026
Here's four of the curious entries from my new e-book 172 Forgotten British Children's TV Shows From The 1980s (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HC3VYL29) so let me know if you remember them:
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 27/06/2026
Bobby Davro peaked, and I'm being serious here, as George Michael in 1986.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 18/04/2026
Here's Paul Coia - wearing a cracking suit - closing down Channel 4 for the evening on 04/11/1982, the channel's third day on the air. Found on Betamax.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 09/04/2026
New article is Before Streaming: The Magic of Recording TV curiousbritishtelly.substack.com/p/before-str... Videotapes weren’t just clutter. They were an announcement of taste and obsession.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 03/04/2026
New article is I Found a 1985 Anglia TV Closedown on Betamax curiousbritishtelly.substack.com/p/i-found-a-... When television knew how to say goodnight properly.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 21/02/2026
New article is Press Clipping: Doctor Goes Independent curiousbritishtelly.substack.com/p/press-clip... which looks at that momentary glimmer of hope when Doctor Who nearly went indie in 1990.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 19/02/2026
New article is Ragdolly Anna and the Giant Sunflower curiousbritishtelly.substack.com/p/ragdolly-a... a look at this episode from 1982 which features Pat Coombs' comedic talents, a Triffid-like sunflower and a horticultural show.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 16/02/2026
New article looks at the first episode of Monkey Business www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2026/02/firs... a 1985 panel show with biology as its main theme and Floella Benjamin and Jeremy Cherfas as team captains. No, I'd never heard of it either.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 27/01/2026
New article is There Was a Chock-a-Block Comic Strip? curiousbritishtelly.substack.com/p/there-was-... Checking in with Chock-a-Bloke and Chock-a-Girl for this early 80s extension of the series.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 26/01/2026
Has there ever been a busier shirt?
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 18/01/2026
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 18/01/2026
It's time to take a look at Ragdolly Anna and the Pumpkin curiousbritishtelly.substack.com/p/ragdolly-a... an intriguing episode of the series from 1982, with a few creepy visuals thrown in for good measure.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 29/12/2025
New article is Vintage TV Pick of the Day curiousbritishtelly.substack.com/p/29122025-v... which, today, is a quick look at a cracking evening's lineup on BBC in 1982.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 06/12/2025
Rod, Jane and Freddy singing carols. What more could you want at this time of year?
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 28/09/2025
Bagpuss to the theme from Minder.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 20/09/2025
Still don't understand why they can't bring back in-vision continuity announcers. All you need is a comfy chair, a plant and some top-line 80s fashion.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 20/09/2025
It's time to flick through the Boots Freetime Autumn 1985 magazine www.ephemeral80s.co.uk/2025/09/boot... featuring toys, technology, gruesome recipes and some curious tracksuits.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 13/09/2025
Yes, it's another mini-review of a Let's Pretend episode www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2025/09/0312... and this time it's The Broom and the Vacuum Cleaner from 1984.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 06/09/2025
Let's take a look at the EMAP company newsletter from December 1985 www.ephemeral80s.co.uk/2025/09/spla... featuring arm wrestling with Brian Blessed, Linda Lusardi, ghoulish Halloween costumes and lots of advertising executives.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 05/09/2025
Has there ever been a greater pair of lads? Ant and Dec ain't got nothing on these two.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 04/09/2025
We're truly living in The Day Today.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 18/08/2025
Meanwhile, over on Ebay, you can pick up this lovely Puddle Lane pencil set for just £37.08...
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 10/08/2025
An amazing trailer for How to Pick Up Girls, Win Arguments and Influence People - an edition of QED which first aired in 1982. Different times indeed. Found on Betamax.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 07/08/2025
New article looks at 02/11/1987 - Let's Pretend: Fred Midas www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2025/08/0211... a typical episode of the 1980s ITV lunchtime children's programme which I missed, at the time, having recently started school.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 02/06/2025
An excellent example of early 1980s fashion, this is my beloved St Michael knitted track top. Read more about how I wear it into modern day Marks & Spencer stores here: www.ephemeral80s.co.uk/2025/06/st-m...
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 27/05/2025
I've started a new site www.ephemeral80s.co.uk all about forgotten bits and pieces of British life from the 1980s, expect the mundane and the ephemeral.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 25/05/2025
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 25/05/2025
Popped over to the Peterborough Museum today to visit their Adventures in Time and Space exhibition today, featuring all manner of Doctor Who costumes and props. More details here: curiousbritishtelly.substack.com/p/adventures...
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 04/05/2025
A few years ago, I wrote a couple of books on long-forgotten British children's television programmes. You can find them on Amazon at tinyurl.com/cbtbooks
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 03/05/2025
Why is this all I see when I close my eyes at night?
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 18/04/2025
That's Life gives us the public's view on nudity in 1983. Found on Betamax.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 14/04/2025
Brand new from boxes.
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Curious British Telly @curiousbritishtelly.co.uk · 13/04/2025
New article is Bursts of Gaelic Madness: Mag is Mog and Bzzz www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/2025/04/burs... which looks at two Scottish Gaelic children's programmes from the early 1980s which rank among the strangest things I've ever watched.
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