10 Forgotten British TV Shows of the 80s

[@stuviewtv]

Sorry about the lack of sound on the credits for Chocky. The music has been muted for copyright reasons.

[@christ1010B]

Thought chocky was trying to get through to me 😂

[@pappachook]

It's for the best tbh 😅

[@cujimmy1366]

TBH I thought Chocky was quite philosophical.

[@jasonallen6081]

I recommend reading the book. It's a great little story. Anything by John Wyndham, really.

[@hoop5824]

What TV is that intro theme from?

[@jeanlongsden1696]

had to laugh at Noah's Castle ... people looting shops, food prices rocketing and no government. that sounds like the UK now. lol

[@katewolfspirit6722]

Was gonna say the same :-0

[@alanglasgowbassist]

Maybe it was a documentary ;-) !

[@davidhollingdale5408]

​@@katewolfspirit6722So would anyone awake. I never saw this programme...pity; it sounds like my style.👍

[@alisonjordan]

You have taken the words right out of my mouth...😂 I thought the same thing...😂

[@deacondawg1416]

Same

[@barrie5852]

These clips are a reminder of what was lost(especially for children's TV)when regional independent television franchises where absorbed into a national ITV.

[@markwoodhouse4284]

Absolutely. It's only in hindsight that I realised how the geography and weather of the Southern and HTV areas influenced the programming they produced and feed into my childhood memory that it really was always sunny. Conversely my local Tyne Tees area was perfect for the grittier The Paper Lads.

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

Turned it into woke garbage

[@waynereid9471]

@@makeitsonumberone1358and now explain woke I can see one thing missing from these programs I wonder if you can?

[@ErrrorWayz]

I think the 4% of the population you refer to are accurately represented - certainly more fairly than the woke over reaction today.

[@ErrrorWayz]

Using the Merriam Webster definition "politically liberal or progressive (as in matters of racial and social justice) especially in a way that is considered unreasonable or extreme"

[@kins749]

Got to love Glynis Barber

[@foz775]

Still looks good!

[@petercarrington948]

Major crush when I was younger.

[@spartan.falbion2761]

Curious how she was South African, but that detail went under the radar. I think her arse could have been featured better in Blake's 7.

[@davidbowie2046]

Loved Dick Spanner. Tennent's lager tried to use it in their ads, but were refused. So they made their own Lou Tennant character

[@petercarrington948]

@@davidbowie2046 Also reminds me of the Dire Straits video 'money for nothing '.

[@chriswaring5565]

DICK SPANNER SOUNDS LIKE SUMMUT YOU TIGHTEN YOUR NOB WITH

[@m-arky66]

@@petercarrington948 "I want my MTV!"

[@greatestytcommentator]

Reminds me of eating smokey bacon mini pizzas while watching Network 7

[@drsnz]

Gerry Anderson still produced the Tennant's adverts.

[@suededogs9670]

I always remember The Gaffer and the theme song. It was a favourite in our house.

[@stuviewtv]

One of those theme tunes that stick in your head!

[@AndoverIT]

Same here even though it was 40 years ago 😄

[@darryllharden9141]

I found The Gaffer as enjoyable as his previous series Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt as it's ever been.

[@AndoverIT]

@@darryllharden9141 Blimey I remember that one too 😂

[@danieladams9950]

@@suededogs9670 Bill Maynard was immense: strode ITV like a colossus from Selwyn Froggatt to Heartbeat.

[@lynfordcasting7461]

I worked with quite a few of these leading actors... how lovely. Great memories here x

[@eugeneshadwell6596]

Damn, I had forgotten 'Jane'. Being about 12 years old when it aired and having a huge crush on Glynis Barber after her role in 'Blakes 7', well, you can imagine a show with her mainly in skimpy attire would go down a treat with a lad that age!

[@22Phantasm]

I'm a massive John Wyndham fan, obviously owning the book Chocky, but I was completely unaware it was a TV series. Thanks for this info. Loving your content.

[@stuviewtv]

You're very welcome! Many thanks for watching. Glad you are enjoying the content.

[@flankspeed]

Chocky scared the crap out of me as a boy. 😂

[@22Phantasm]

@@flankspeed The book, however, is not scary at all.... it's a little eerie and thought provoking as well as a darn good read.

[@ParaSytius]

I did love the running gag across several episodes in Dick Spanner when a woman's voice would say "Bizarre" out of nowhere. Dick would acknowledge it with a "Who said that?" and in a later episode "Who keeps saying that?".

[@craigbirks7075]

my favourite part too

[@dscott1392]

I was born in 71. And I loved Chocky and equally sci-fi ish. The Tomorrow People

[@Geokinkladze]

Could never work out what The Tomorrow People was about

[@StephenSinclair-d6n]

Remember them both. Big influence on my own writing

[@carlstyth8368]

Loved Chocky. Stig of the Dump too.

[@celesteamberbagley3996]

Still love the tomorrow people. I have 3 of the books and the DVDs.

[@Iffy]

Channel 4 had some quirky and surreal short animation and puppetry back in the 80s, as well as Dick Spanner, there was Murun Buchstansangur and Pob.

[@SNUSNU-lz7dh]

Crapston villas was ace late at night on channel 4

[@MrIrrepressible]

Lol pob, I used to watch that when I was a kid. It was shown on a Sunday if I remember correctly.

[@petercallaghan2948]

​@@SNUSNU-lz7dhLoved Crapston Villas, bought the videos, still got them.

[@danyoutube7491]

Dick Spanner looks brilliant, I never saw it back then.

[@seanmccarthy7954]

Loved The Gaffer. He was great as Selwyn Froggat or should I say Magic😂

[@davecorry7723]

I was 10 in 1980. I thought there wouldn't be any 80s series I wouldn't remember. But wow, so many of these I've zero memory of. Except, of course, Chocky. Chocky was MAGNIFICENT! There was nothing else like it in that after-school period: it was scary. Actually scary. And the title music - _WHAT_ atmosphere. Loved it to bits. If memory serves, there was also a Chocky 2, or some such follow-up.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Dick Spanner was brilliant - I loved it!

[@gulfstream7235]

I never would have thought about watching Chocky as a kid without you bringing it up, major thanks, although I remember sweet F.A. about it

[@pappachook]

Watched quite a few of these as a kid. Another enjoyable video.

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks.

[@traceys8065]

I vaguely remember some of these and some I don't remember at all. I love those blasts from the past, pure nostalgia- thank you

[@stuviewtv]

Glad you enjoy the nostalgia. Many thanks!

[@pcwizardman]

Caught me on the hop there Stu! Some series I have never heard of. Great research and finds. Keep up the good work!

[@stuviewtv]

Yes, a few pretty obscure ones in there! Many thanks for watching.

[@glenjones6980]

The Gaffer is about the only one I remember from these, most date to a time when I'd found cars and girls, that's when things started to go downhill if I'm honest.

[@clivemason-ms8ju]

Hammer House of Horror was shown at primetime on Saturday nights, whereas the later HH of Mystery and Suspense was shown very late at night on weekdays. It didn't get the publicity and fanfare that HH of Horror enjoyed, but there are still some good episodes such as Child's Play.

[@herberthartwig8544]

HH is on tonight Clive on talking pictures around 9.05

[@rosyposy6164]

I wonder whether I was alive (or at least conscious) in the 80s when I see so many programmes I can't remember ever seeing! I know that I must have been as I'm nearly 66! I do remember The Gaffer and I have vague memories of Cuffy, Jane and Long John Silver but I'm amazed that there was a Roy Clarke series I can't remember seeing as we loved everything he wrote. Thanks for the memories (or lack of them in my case!).

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure!

[@TrevBec]

Glynis Barber. Soooooo lovely.

[@geroffmilan3328]

Oh wow, Chocky! Now there's a thing I'd forgotten 😂 Appreciate the reminder! Most of the rest didn't air in my region I reckon, but I'm gonna try & hunt some of these down now for sure.

[@kerbal666]

Born in 82 I only remember catching Dick Spanner a few times if I was up late at night. I only found out a few weeks ago that it was by Gerry Anderson!

[@stephaniemurphy3443]

So many great brilliant programmes thanks for the memories

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure Stephanie. Many thanks for watching.

[@richardspandley6387]

Dick Spanner was my nickname at school for very obvious reasons.

[@jaysmith2858]

I've been called both of those things individually, but never both at the same time.

[@The-Wolf-with-no-name]

These bring back memories... and it makes me feel sad. They dont do TV like they used to. But i suppose they would have said the same thing back then.

[@helenlogan6481]

I remember cuffy & the gaffer. My dad loved bill maynard. One of my favourite programmes when I was a kid was flambards. I absolutely loved it

[@M2Mil7er]

Flambard's theme tune haunted me for years despite not remembering much of the show. I probably spent the best part of 30 years trying to remember what it was called. The internet is great for confirming whether you imagined these things or not!

[@rw8733]

Midnight is a Place. That music!

[@alisonjordan]

@@M2Mil7erYes... I remember “Flambards.” The signature tune was certainly memorable 🎶🎵

[@helenpettey7737]

I would not go anywhere until I had watched Flambards. It’s on KZbin. I watched it again a few years ago

[@suecallaway]

Thanks for mentioning the Talking Pictures TV channel, I haven't watched it before, so didn't know about The Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense, loved it so far.

[@stuviewtv]

That's great to hear. Glad you are enjoying it.

[@Rab-ql6en]

Talking Pictures is a great channel. There's another on Sky called Rewind.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

as a middle aged man, I remember Jane fondly when I was a teenage boy

[@alanglasgowbassist]

Me too :-)

[@AtheistOrphan]

She was a teenage boy?

[@badllama8090]

Used to love this when I was a teen, spotted Bill Maynard in Leicester with my mum one day, he smiled and gave me a cheeky wink lol Brilliant.

[@stuviewtv]

Fantastic!

[@darryllharden9141]

@@badllama8090 "Magic our Maurice!."😄👍

[@apm763]

Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense episodes can be found on the Daily Motion and Hammer House of Horror episodes can be found here on YT.

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks.

[@AtheistOrphan]

The former is broadcast every Friday at 9.10pm on Talking Pictures TV.

[@Blatherskite824]

This is golden Stu. You have evoked memories of children's TV that I totally forgot about....Dick Spanner....that was genius. Great work matey ❤

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks!

[@davesayers9371]

Really love your videos - brings back lots of memories and you obviously do your research and know what you’re talking about! Many thanks for bringing back many fond nostalgic memories.

[@stuviewtv]

So glad you are enjoying the memories. Many thanks for the kind words!

[@numberstation]

Ah, Dick Spanner. I remember watching Network 7 every Sunday morning while nursing a hangover, cheered me up a bit. What I’d give to go back to those days, now…

[@stephenpalmer9375]

Love this ongoing series, sparks so many memories of my early TV watching days. But god, does it make me regret even more the death of Network TV (the DVD company), where so many of these shows were being preserved.

[@stuviewtv]

Yes, Network were an absolute gem.

[@johnklimcke8875]

I hardly remember most of the programmes maybe be only 3. The work you do to present this channel is absolutely brilliant. Keep up the great work stu 👏👏

[@stuviewtv]

So glad you are enjoying the channel John. Many thanks for the kind words.

[@Opus_Fluke]

Thank you for shaking the brain cells awake! I just ordered the 2 Disc DVD set of "The Adventures of Dick Spanner P.I." with a 20% discount. Network7 was terrible pretentious nonsense that cursed the world with "shakey cam" and crash zooms. But I stuck it out to catch the latest episode of Dick Spanner.

[@stuviewtv]

Marvellous!

[@alanglasgowbassist]

Great video Stu. I only remember a few of these. I enjoyed watching The Gaffer and Jane. I don’t think I’ll be in a hurry to track down Rebellious Jukebox. It looks rubbish! 😂

[@stuviewtv]

It's not the best that's for sure! Thanks as always Alan.

[@andycap6786]

Really cant remember many of these but I always liked Dick Spanner. Loved the gags and the subtle humour (often going on in the background so easy to miss) just like, as you said, Police Squad.

[@alanprior7650]

Most of those I don't remember...Jane vaguely but definitely remember The Gaffer with Bill Maynard throwing his traffic tickets onto the back seat 😂

[@GariSullivan]

Your comment was exactly the one I was going to make

[@organfairy]

We had the 'Hammer House of Mystery' on Danish TV in the mid 80's. I particularly remember the episode 'The Tennis Court' where strange things happens in a musty old indoor tennis court - things like exploding lamps, bleeding tennis balls, and flying nets killing people.

[@awall1701]

I was not a fan of Dick Spanner but still watched it. Chocky, The Gaffer and Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense I do remember. Good times. Thank you again for the great video.

[@stuviewtv]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks.

[@greatestytcommentator]

Brilliant episode. Hit me in the nostalgia hard!

[@stuviewtv]

Thanks!

[@martinharris6469]

That's pretty cool... there was a few I'd never heard of... always a pleasure watching ur videos...

[@stuviewtv]

Thanks!

[@dad_jokes_4ever226]

Dick Spanner ! .... I'd completely forgotten this even existed ..... thanks so much for reminding me

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure!

[@spartan.falbion2761]

Dick Spanner was one of my favourites. I looked forwards to it every Sunday. If you rewatch the series, you will see more than a few cameos or 'hat-tippers' to Terrahawks in the shape of those robot cubes, discarded in the street. I remember the Gaffer - it was repeated on C4 in the 90s. I wondered why it didn't go on for longer, as far inferior comedies continued well past their sell by dates...

[@stuviewtv]

Brilliant, thanks. I'll look out for those now.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I’ve tried watching episodes of The Gaffer - I always loved the title sequence. Apart from the always brilliant Bill Maynard in the lead, the writing was very lame, and not Bill’s finest hour in my opinion. For his best sitcom work, I like ‘Oh No - It’s Selwyn Froggat’.

[@alisonjordan]

⁠@@simonhodgetts6530Who remembers “Selwyn Frogett”? MAGIC OUR MAURICE👍👍

[@hpoonis2010]

I had serious hots for Glynis Barber from way back in the Blake's 7 days. I do recall Dick Spanner...and The Gaffer.

[@petercarrington948]

Thanks for another great episode Stu, I have Chocky on dvd, the title was scary as a kid but the music that really freaked me was The Tomorrow People! Do you remember Murphy's Mob and Stigg of the dump? And The Chinese Puzzle?

[@stuviewtv]

I remember Murphy's Mob and Stig of the Dump. I used to like both of those. Not sure I recall The Chinese Puzzle though?

[@petercarrington948]

​​​​@@stuviewtv It, (Chinese Puzzle) was a mid 70's children's drama on the BBC as I remember , very little about it online, but it seems it was based on a group of children that stumbled on a corrupt Chinese gang. Something to do with a disused airfield. All I remember is that it was a scary watch back then. The opening sequence shows a red porcelain Chinese dog exploding. This really is a forgotten kids drama! Hopefully you can shed more light on it 👍

[@markhindmarsh2811]

I remember the credits to the gaffer but I wasn't a big fan so I did the unheard of thing nowadays. I got off the sofa and turned it over🤣 The one show I can never forget is Jane. I was at just the right age to.......... Erm admire the acting abilities of such a beautiful lady 😍

[@Al-iv3mb]

Funnily enough I happened upon Jane only the other day when I was checking out the late Max Wall. The following year Glynis Barber would go in to appear in Dempsey and Makepeace (with future husband Michael Brandon) but to this late teenager she was simply my dream. I do remember some of the other shows and whilst I remember the series about the nightclub I only remember Jools Holland and not Meatloaf but perhaps that was cos I was a huge Squeeze fan. Thanks so much for another memory stirring production

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure!

[@yvonneburns2786]

Glynis was also in Blake's 7 as Soolin

[@Al-iv3mb]

@yvonneburns2786 I never saw Blake's 7, it was on a weekday evening I think and I was always out with my friends

[@stewartfooter3580]

Nice one stu this was great! The gaffer was a great show,i think i remember watching a bit of noahs castle, glynis barber ❤ im watching re runs of dempsey and makepeace at the moment

[@stuviewtv]

Thanks mate!

[@Rob-Robski-Fitt]

I recall Chocky being replayed around 20 years ago on some random TV channel on sky/satellite TV. I tuned in accidentally and had instant flashbacks to childhood trauma😅 I remember hating it when around 5/6 years old, but still watching every episode for some stupid reason😅

[@MrBugs183]

God I remember two episodes of Dramarama when I was a kid. One episode a man rose out of massive pile of leaves,which was great seeing as I lived next to a wood! And another episode about a spooky old tree in a field, oh yea there are loads of trees in the fields opposite our house. I shat myself. Those kids programmes were brutal :)

[@sarahb2652]

Dramarama was great but there were some scary episodes like you say. I remember one episode where some children used a ouija board and ended up with a scary spirit guy haunting them..!!

[@jimmywhyte7181]

The gaffer is very funny. But best of all is seeing inside that smelly old 1970s office that harks back to times even further, totally untouched by micro processors, heaving stacks of yellowed dusty papers, its practically like looking back at how cavemen lived. Hard to imagine people actually lived and worked like that, its amazing.

[@sicilia71]

OMG i loved Dick Spanner but totally forgot about it. Thanks for bringing back the memories

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure!

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

Youre channel is delightful. Im a 48 year old American but i have a weird False Nostalgia for old British TV. I think a lot of it comes from music....for instance The Swell Maps opened my eyes to Thunderbirds. Ive been trying to assemble playlists of as many shows, especially horror

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks!

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

@@stuviewtv very welcome. I love when the little Thames Symbol comes up, or that little clock. Did they actually show the clock at The beginning of shows. You know what I'm talking, about that little countdown they do at the beginning of shows?Didthey actually show that when the series were actually on?

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

@@stuviewtv I have come To the conclusion that the Billy Bragg song "To have and have not".Is based loosely on the z cars theme.I don't know if you're a Billy bragg fan or not but tell me what you think if you are.

[@Daud76]

I fondly remember Voyagers! and many other shows of the 1980s. But Under the Mountain freaked me out. 😄

[@foxesofautumn]

I remember being freaked out about Chocky but I also didn't want to miss an episode and I found the book in my school library. We came close to being banned from watching it though haha. My nan thought it was too scary for us.

[@leedswiggy]

I remember them all. The gaffer opening scene was filmed outside the queens hotel in Leeds city square.

[@JanPhillips-w4u]

Well you got me good Stu, I only remember The Gaffer and watched every episode of it and Oh No it’s Selwyn Froggitt! Adored Bill Maynard. I vaguely remember Dick Spanner, and had forgotten all about it. Another programme I loved was Rosie which straddled the 79s and 80s, I believe.

[@stuviewtv]

Oh yes, Rosie. That's one I may well feature in a future video.

[@TheNightBadger]

Dick Spanner, Gaffer, Chocky - remember those. Theme tune to The Gaffer has been stuck in my head since the 80's.

[@TurnFullCircle]

wow....great work....thank you very much,

[@stuviewtv]

That's good of you to say. Many thanks!

[@TurnFullCircle]

@@stuviewtv Hi, I think is so good that with your help, I can re - remember how many wonderful series we used to have - all the best.

[@marqsee7948]

Dick Spanner was the last thing shown on a Canadian tv channel before it went off the air for the night last century, back when there wasn't enough tv to show on tv. Pleasant memory. I edited all of the series into one 2 hour film on a degrading archaic format called VHS.

[@Mookie-ADR]

Dick Spanner I enjoyed as a child, I can't really say I've ever heard of the other shows. What a blast from the past!

[@acrodave9287]

One thing that sticks in my mind about 'The Gaffer' was that it had a character called 'Bad Back', probably because that's what I've developed in the years since I saw it! Network 7 was one of a raft of 'Yoof TV' anthology type programmes in the 80s along with 'Channel X'. I think Vic Reeves got his TV break on 'Network 7' as a Gameshow Host in a flying harness. I think 'Rebellious Jukebox' also had Gene October from the punk band Chelsea as a bouncer. I think I can also remember something similar with Hazel O'Connor as a club owner, unless it's the same show?

[@Julie-sm7sp]

I remember The Gaffer and Hammer House of Mystery And Suspense but the others seem to have passed me by, then again i was out a lot in the 80s 😁 Dick Spanner looked funny though I'll have to look that one up. Great video thanks Stu.

[@stuviewtv]

Hi Julie. Yes, Dick Spanner is worth checking out. Such a shame really that not many people know about it. Thanks as always!

[@Julie-sm7sp]

​@stuviewtv I'd never heard of it, I've just been looking at some of the clips on here 😂😂 Many thanks as always Stu 🙂

[@rafiqadarr6217]

Michael Brandon from Dempsey and Makepeace was absolutely gorgeous!! My sister and I were talking about him in the past couple of years, I was watching the re-runs of the series on TV.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Ref. Brian Blessed: I can thoroughly recommend his autobiography ‘Absolute Pandemonium’.

[@michaelwebster8666]

Remember Dick Spanner, Chocky & The Gaffer. Didn't realise that Gerry Anderson did Spanner, Chocky creeped me out! 👍

[@danyoutube7491]

I never saw any of these series, but a lot of them look very interesting and inventive (Jane, Dick Spanner, Chocky, Noah's Castle).

[@SNUSNU-lz7dh]

The TRIPODS used to freak me out more than Chocky ,there was also a weird show made for school time tv with a blueish alien kid and his father in silver suits with white hair who made weird noises instead of speaking.

[@rememberwhenUKTV]

I love your content mate, keep up the good work 👍👍

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks!

[@Cornz38]

The Gaffer was brilliant....Quite a few of the others i have never heard of and wonder if they were only available in certain regions.

[@stuviewtv]

Yes, I remember enjoying The Gaffer too. A great performance from Bill Maynard.

[@antonylaws6554]

I need to see Cuffy. Anything with Mr. Cribbins is always a win. I can't believe I missed it when it was on telly.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

Return to Treasure Island was great. It was one of those series like Robin of Sherwood - that ITV didn't repeat(although ITV did with Robin of Sherwood on ITV3), but Sky One did in the early 1990s. Brian Blessed steals the show, and I believe it's his favourite role. I think it was available on physical media for a long time because of rights issues.

[@ianrangers]

I was expecting to see the kids TV show Jossy’s Giants on here. Loved it back in the day or perhaps not that forgotten

[@stuviewtv]

It's on my list of shows to possibly feature in future videos, so you never know!

[@AurumEtAes]

I don’t remember anything about Jossy’s Giants apart from the theme song that stuck in my brain ever since. It rhymed giants and science. “Football’s just a branch of science.”

[@ianrangers]

@@AurumEtAes Yeah it’s engrained in my brain forever 😂

[@christomkinson4174]

Loved thaht show. It was written by darts commentator Sid Waddell

[@l228spn]

Sissys Antjogs?

[@flashtheoriginal]

Dick Spanner was poorly marketed. It could have filled a gap similar to The Simpsons - an adult vibe within an otherwise innocent and quirky animation. Imagine 5 minute segments shown after The One Show (omfg..) before Eastenders. Instant appeal, similar to Roobarb or The Magic Roundabout being on before the news A clear tribute to Sam Spade, with a tremendous, noir Chandler-esque setting. Robert Mitchum apparently loved it.

[@bonpourvous]

The only one I remember was 'Jane', I guess I was at that 'age'. lol.

[@marklines4693]

You couldn't escape Return to Treasure Island during the school summer holidays of 1986, although I do remember it seemed to go on forever.

[@dametrot]

Awww great list I think most of those shows are ones that I do remember but probably haven’t revisited since they originally aired so they’re all a little bit hazy now, however rebellious jukebox I don’t think I ever did see but I guess if it was two episodes, it’s unlikely 🤔 but I’m fascinated to see it now ! Great video

[@stuviewtv]

Many thanks!

[@freddyspizzaboy6754]

I've been trying to remember Dick Spanner for years. I could see it in my mind but forgot the name. Thank you so much. 😊

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure!

[@1967SPAWN]

I remember Dick Spanner but had no idea it was from Gerry Anderson! 😮

[@danmcdaid]

Wild that Dick Spanner was played by Shane Rimmer, when he sounds exactly like Chris Barrie (who played Rimmer) doing his yank accent. Great video!

[@stuviewtv]

Now you've mentioned Chris Barrie, he does sound a bit like him!

[@gillri]

I was born in June 82 and thought I had inadvertently dreamt up Dick Spanner somewhere along the way to 42!!! So glad it actually existed and my subconscious wasn't playing tricks on me

[@phantom_not_chopper]

My PE teacher was called Granville Wilcox apparently who Roy Clarke named his Open All Hours character after. Also David Jason's brother turned up at the school fete. Saw Roger Lloyd-Pack sort of loitering in a shop doorway in Brighton when they were filming Peckham Spring at the back of the Polytechnic allotments

[@jasonclarke7422]

I loved Choky and was also a massive Grange Hill fan 👍

[@malcolmmitchell8538]

I was talking to someone not long ago about the Gaffer, will hunt it down to watch again. Simple times 😂😂

[@Nigel-xp4rf]

Traumatized, speak for yourself, I am a Child of the '80's, I watched Chocky, Chocky's Children and Chocky's Challenge and not once did it effect me in anyway negative except for the music did make me a bit tearful, mainly because of the melody and when I got a chance to rewatch it years after the first time it was aired, I was saddened by the age I was, I probably will feel similar next time I hear the theme tune. On a personal note, I never had a imaginary friend or been visited by a intelligent entity from a far off planet, but I could have done with the help, if I had received some creative inspiration or assistance with my number blindness.

[@roop298]

Nightmare Man. I think I was the only person who watched it. Whenever I describe it to people they look at me like I've been sniffing glue.

[@liverpool_bear]

I have this on DVD. Like with Artemis 81 I hope it emigrated with me to Australia. I know what I am doing today. Checking the boxes with my DVD collection in them.

[@MrOtistetrax]

I remember randomly catching Ken episode of Dick Spanner when I was maybe 11 years old. I thought it was the funniest thing I’d ever seen. I never saw it again.

[@duncancourtney991]

Fantastic, thank you 😂 Return to Treasure Island was also published as a novel. Neither were less than excellent 👍

[@steveallsopp4434]

I had forgotten about Chocky ! its all flooding back now

[@richardm6332]

I remember The Gaffer, but Dick Spanner what a blast from the past.

[@martindehavilland-fox3175]

Having grown up in the UK during the 80s, I remember The Gaffer, and that's it. I must have slept through everything else as I remember nothing of the others 😂

[@jakobgrimminger]

I totally forgot about Dick Spanner. Brilliant series that I watched back in the 80's.

[@DavidNettleton-l3r]

Used to love watching the gaffer & chocky was brilliant but hammer house was scary thank you Stu

[@stuviewtv]

My pleasure as always.

[@cmsxcb]

The Gaffer would have been nothing without Pat Ashton. But it's amazing just how many quality sitcoms Yorkshire Television churned out in the 70's, 80's and early 90's. Beryl's Lot, Fiddler's Three, Hallelujah!, High and Dry, Home to Roost, In Loving Memory, My Husband and I, My Old Man, My Parents are Aliens, The New Statesman, Oh No, it's Selwyn Froggitt!, On The House, Only When I Laugh, Plaza Patrol, Queenie's Castle, Rising Damp, Singles, That's My Boy, You're Only Young Twice. Incredible output from a purely regional television company.

[@stuviewtv]

Some fine shows there.

[@alisonjordan]

Hello Stu😃 They really were forgotten TV 📺 Series from the 1980s. I have VERY vague memories of “Jane” and “The Gaffer.” I loved “Shillingbury Tales” and “Cuffy” at the time. As for Channel 4 series, we did not get the signal for it until 1985... Another drama from 🎭 1985, I remember watching 📺 was “Maelstrom.” If I’m correct, it starred British Actors, and it was filmed🎥 on location in Sweden. Another interesting video 📹

[@stuviewtv]

Hi Alison! Shillingbury Tales and Cuffy were just perfect for Sunday evenings weren't they? Feel-good cosy television.