Marcus Payne

York, probably.

I think you’re right. Just spoke to a colleague who knows the BBC very well and he says it’s fake. If it were genuine it would either say “Transmission” or “Rehearsal”. I’ll inform the shop next time I’m in town and maybe I’ll pick it up at a more reasonable price. Fake or not, it’s still lovely.

An original (I assume) On Air light as used in a BBC studio. From the 1980s would be my guess.

Spotted in an antique shop in Kingston this weekend. Lovely but not lovely enough to make me part with £400.

I like a bit of Krautrock. Can you still call it that these days?

WE WANT SONG!

Can’t believe it’s been a year already. I still think about Ollie regularly, especially when I see something that he would have liked. Hope the day hasn’t been too painful.

Bursting with… what? I’ll pass, thanks.

That “how to do acting for the small screen” routine on Saturday Zoo was the very first Shuttleworth I saw too. It was 1993 and I can still remember it almost word for word!

Blocked by ITV, Jaz. I have a copy on VHS somewhere but God knows where it is now.

TPTV has shown this once before. It’s nothing like Op Knocks: no audience voting or owt like that. It was a vehicle for acts who were up and coming or established but had never done telly. There were 6 episodes but you’re unlikely to see the one featuring Noel Murphy again because, well, Google him.

Thanks!

A terrible photo of Jon Pertwee as Doctor Who. He looks crazy and not in a good way.

From the final issue of TV Action as they try to get you to buy TV Comic next week. What a bizarre choice of photo. Where does it even come from @nothinglane.bsky.social?

A harrowing 1973 pin-up of a band called Middle of the Road. Also, who calls their band that?

Also, who would even want to look at this, let alone pin it on their wall? They’re straight out of Royston Vasey.

A reader letter from Polystyle’s TV Action.

Close up of what a female Dalek might look like. I mean, really…

The past - in this case 1973 - truly is a foreign country.

Pictured on the 18th February 1980, car dealer Mr George Macleod, MD of Distinctive Marks of Hatfield, poses with The Saint’s car number plate, which was presumably for sale.

This remake of The Saint from 1980 was rubbish. Simon Templar drove an Austin Maxi and had a hub cap for a halo.

No. But the Carlton Path is rubbish.

Looks like a vintage Thames Television camera plate, doesn’t it?

But it’s not.

Fooled you.

No problem. It was a good excuse to sort out my “miscellaneous” drawer!

I think it might be this lovely lady:

@transdiffusion.org

Thames TV staff magazine from 1987

A quite chunky ornamental Thames TV logo about the size of a wall clock. It was originally attached to a triangular back plate with a power supply, bulbs, reflectors etc which leads me to think it was probably illuminated. My guess is that it would have been on the wall in reception at Teddington or Euston.

Some more Thames stuff I’ve acquired recently. I’m guessing the logo plate would have been on the wall at Teddington or Euston. Does anyone have any photos of it in situ at the time?

Exterior of a mock paintbox used in a 1988 Thames TV promo

Interior of a mock paintbox used in a 1988 Thames TV promo

Close up of interior of a mock paintbox used in a 1988 Thames TV promo

[2/2] How do I know? Because I’ve now acquired that very paintbox and here it is. It’s very big and very lovely. Now I just need to work out what I’m going to do with it! @transdiffusion.org @tvark.bsky.social

[1/2] Back in 1988 when this promo was made, computer graphics were in their infancy. There was still a need for physical props and rostrum cameras. The paintbox seen here, for example, was a real, specially made object.

Picked this up in a charity shop for £30. I thought why not because I very much enjoyed the series, it’s a nice piece of art and the signatures are genuine. It’ll go up in value, I thought. So on that note, I casually looked it up on eBay and… bloody hell! #DesperateHousewives

I didn’t twig that Rory was so integral to the project. Such a shame in every way. I guess I’ll have to dig my copy of volume 1 out and try and digitise it myself then! FYI, volume 2 is my favourite of all the things you’ve done. It’s simultaneously cool, nerdy, exciting and relaxing. Thank you!

Sorry to be *that* guy but I have a request, Jamie. I still love that DVD of ITV startup recreations you did all those years ago. Is there any chance the oft-mooted volume 3? Or even volume 1 on DVD? (IIRC, volume 1 was only ever on VHS. God, that makes me feel old!)

Oh, yes please!

And then there was this character. OK, so he’s a paedophile, but on the other hand, he’s a great accountant and he’s always got a smile on his face. Different times. #Crossroads

These days, soap operas have serial killers, exploding pubs, planes falling out of the sky… you name it. Back in the 1970s, though, this was Crossroads’ idea of high drama. Imagine the cliff hanger!

There you go. They’re just regular playing cards.