Forces TV, Rewind TV and That's TV

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

The moose's head is actually a deer's head - it's a pun on Dear (deer) John.

I have the boxset of this. It's a bittersweet sitcom written by John Sullivan about a single parent teacher who joins a 1-2-1 club. This was I think just before Only Fools and Horses moved to one hour episodes. Sadly it only lasted 2 series, Ralph Bates then became ill with cancer and died about a year after the second series ended, much too young.

In the second series, you start to find out more about the characters including Kirk, who turns out to be quite different when not at the club...

It's not OFAH, but I still find it amusing rewatching. Plus my dad was a single parent and I was about the same age as the boy when it was shown. So I could see a lot of dad and myself at the time (John Sullivan was a master at identifiable characters though, god rest his soul).

Finished off watching last night, the first episode of sitcom Dear John. And based on what I thought of it, I shall be checking out further episodes. There were a couple of moments when I was literally laughing out loud

[Show spoiler](when the lead character found out he was in the AA club room instead of the dating club room, and again but the other way round with someone else).

When checking out the series on Wikipedia, I discovered (and found out for myself when watching the first episode) that a couple of Beatles songs appeared to be intact (but apparently when the series was released on physical media, there were cuts made). However, the song heard just before the end on Forces TV's screening sounded like a Beatles cover band.

One of the actresses playing a member of the dating club I recognised from something else, but I couldn't remember from where. Then it came to me before the end credits started (which were squashed up but not spoken over), Belinda Lang. She starred in nineties sitcom 2 Point 4 Children.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Finished off watching last night, the first episode of sitcom Dear John. And based on what I thought of it, I shall be checking out further episodes. There were a couple of moments when I was literally laughing out loud

[Show spoiler](when the lead character found out he was in the AA club room instead of the dating club room, and again but the other way round with someone else).

When checking out the series on Wikipedia, I discovered (and found out for myself when watching the first episode) that a couple of Beatles songs appeared to be intact (but apparently when the series was released on physical media, there were cuts made). However, the song heard just before the end on Forces TV's screening sounded like a Beatles cover band.

One of the actresses playing a member of the dating club I recognised from something else, but I couldn't remember from where. Then it came to me before the end credits started (which were squashed up but not spoken over), Belinda Lang. She starred in nineties sitcom 2 Point 4 Children.

Belinda Lang was also James Bolam's ex in Second Thoughts (the sitcom with Lynda Bellingham). There was a time when she was almost ubiquitous on sitcoms. Tall, slim, and posh - inevitably I had something of a teenage crush...

As for the first episode, I think few people other than John Sullivan could repeat a joke twice in 5 minutes , turn it around and make it even funnier the second time around. If you found that funny, you should be amused by the Terrapins and caravan story in episode 3.

Episode 6 is also entertaining.

As with other shows of John Sullivan, there are also moments of pathos and real sadness. All of the characters have suffered in one way or another. When you meet Eric in episode 7, you will likely be shocked for a while. But laughing again soon after.

Ok ya?

[cutback73]

Based on the Virgin TV schedules, the next TV sitcom lined up is "Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggatt", a 70s sitcom starring Bill Maynard (Greengrass in Heartbeat). Later series also seem to include the sadly recently passed Lynda Baron (the legendary Nurse Gladys Emmanuel...)

Spenser for Hire finishes shortly. After which Midnight Caller reruns again 2 hours a night.

The current classic Doctor Who run seems to be replaced by another showing of Man from Atlantis.

They are also rerunning Chimera over 4 nights. A tasty British 90s horror. More gruesome than I remembered!

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

Based on the Virgin TV schedules, the next TV sitcom lined up is "Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggatt", a 70s sitcom starring Bill Maynard (Greengrass in Heartbeat). Later series also seem to include the sadly recently passed Lynda Baron (the legendary Nurse Gladys Emmanuel...)

Spenser for Hire finishes shortly. After which Midnight Caller reruns again 2 hours a night.

The current classic Doctor Who run seems to be replaced by another showing of Man from Atlantis.

They are also rerunning Chimera over 4 nights. A tasty British 90s horror. More gruesome than I remembered!

I saw a clue about a show Forces TV are starting a repeat run of soon (on the channel's Facebook page this week). It must have been about the Bill Maynard series.

[OceanBlue]

Forces TV this week have posted a hint about a series they're showing soon. Then in the comments section, someone posted (with no source) that the channel will start a repeat run of Return of the Saint from Monday 25th April.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Forces TV this week have posted a hint about a series they're showing soon. Then in the comments section, someone posted (with no source) that the channel will start a repeat run of Return of the Saint from Monday 25th April.

I can confirm that the Virgin listings show Return of The Saint weeknights at 10pm from 25 April.

The first half of filming had significant funding from RAI which means episodes shot around Rome and in Venice.
the second half is more UK based. It's a fun series, most remembered now probably for a cracking theme tune.

Which even Alan Partridge likes

You've got 10 minutes Lynn, go give it to her

[cutback73]

A reminder that Return of the Saint starts its rerun from tomorrow (Monday 25th), 4 nights a week.

This week includes an episode filmed entirely in Venice which should be showing on Wednesday night, which is Ian Ogilvy's favourite of those he filmed.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

A reminder that Return of the Saint starts its rerun from tomorrow (Monday 25th), 4 nights a week.

This week includes an episode filmed entirely in Venice which should be showing on Wednesday night, which is Ian Ogilvy's favourite of those he filmed.

I bet though that unlike Talking Pictures TV, the end credits will be partly squashed up and spoken over (if it's like what they did with theie first repeat run of Midnight Caller). I'll still watch the episode above you've posted about. Can pair it up with The Champions from TPTV (which airs on Wednesday nights, having been moved from Tuesday nights).

Am I imagining things, or are Forces TV also doing a repeat run of the series The Bounder (starring the late Peter Bowles)? I'm sure I saw a post on the channel's Facebook page recently about it. And it was one of the series the late Eric Chappell wrote (having checked his IMDb filmography).

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I bet though that unlike Talking Pictures TV, the end credits will be partly squashed up and spoken over (if it's like what they did with theie first repeat run of Midnight Caller). I'll still watch the episode above you've posted about. Can pair it up with The Champions from TPTV (which airs on Wednesday nights, having been moved from Tuesday nights).

Am I imagining things, or are Forces TV also doing a repeat run of the series The Bounder (starring the late Peter Bowles)? I'm sure I saw a post on the channel's Facebook page recently about it. And it was one of the series the late Eric Chappell wrote (having checked his IMDb filmography).

The end credits were squashed on RotS last night but no talking over the theme.

The Bounder run starts on Sunday continuing into next week.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

A reminder that Return of the Saint starts its rerun from tomorrow (Monday 25th), 4 nights a week.

This week includes an episode filmed entirely in Venice which should be showing on Wednesday night, which is Ian Ogilvy's favourite of those he filmed.

Got that episode of Return of the Saint set to record tonight (episode "Duel in Venice"). Watching it with tonight's episode of The Champions, "The Survivors". Have also seen Ian Ogilvy in a couple of episodes of Murder, She Wrote and some of Witchfinder General.

[OceanBlue]

You'd think Return of the Saint would be a shoe-in for a Blu-ray release by Network (like with The Champions, one series/season only). "Duel in Venice" was the first episode of the show I'd seen in full (I have a very vague memory of the bit in the title sequence when the lorry/truck passes under the bridge). They made good use of Venice, with plenty of different locations (not saying anything against Moonraker, as that's one of my favourite Bond films, but not as many locations were used in it compared to the Return of the Saint episode).

Ian Ogilvy does have a bit of a Roger Moore-vibe about him, and it's a pity the show didn't last beyond the one series/season.

Love the theme tune, and I was happy seeing what I assume were the original ad-bumpers.

Only recognised one guest-star, Maurice Colbourne, who several years later would star in drama series Howards' Way.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

You'd think Return of the Saint would be a shoe-in for a Blu-ray release by Network (like with The Champions, one series/season only). "Duel in Venice" was the first episode of the show I'd seen in full (I have a very vague memory of the bit in the title sequence when the lorry/truck passes under the bridge). They made good use of Venice, with plenty of different locations (not saying anything against Moonraker, as that's one of my favourite Bond films, but not as many locations were used in it compared to the Return of the Saint episode).

Ian Ogilvy does have a bit of a Roger Moore-vibe about him, and it's a pity the show didn't last beyond the one series/season.

Love the theme tune, and I was happy seeing what I assume were the original ad-bumpers.

Only recognised one guest-star, Maurice Colbourne, who several years later would star in drama series Howards' Way.

I have the dvd set released in 2008. The original ad bumpers were on the set as an extra. There was no obvious remastering for the set (it looks like the same copies as used for this broadcast) as the episodes are clearly not in HD.

Incidentally the dvd extras also includes the raw footage for the opening title segments without the stick figure. It's kind of amusing seeing a number of takes of the jump into the water which actually show the people at the back of the boat throwing a rock or something to cause the splash. When I was young I was amazed at the titles with the stick figure thinking they had amazing effects that must have taken a long time to make. All my childhood has been spoiled by raw footage now. It's like when you see that clip of the late great David Prowse talking to Carrie Fisher without the voiceover on YouTube... *shudders* haha.

I think with many of these ITC shows, Network have previously suggested that they are not viable financially for Blu Ray releases unless ITV assists with funding.

I wonder whether the viewing figures for the broadcasts of this (and The Champions broadcasts on ITV4/TPTV) might get looked at by ITV when Network next comes to them to talk about future releases. Especially if the original negatives are held somewhere.

[OceanBlue]

Forces TV posted on their Facebook page a couple of days ago that from Tuesday 10th May they'll be showing another Eric Chappell-scripted series, Haggard.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Forces TV posted on their Facebook page a couple of days ago that from Tuesday 10th May they'll be showing another Eric Chappell-scripted series, Haggard.

With Keith Barron, Sam Kelly and Reece Dinsdale, a good cast, it should have been good, however I tried the first episodes of Haggard and found the humour seemed to be "forced", the actors seemed to be "trying too hard" and the humour was not naturally occurring from the situations. To me at least.

Up next starting on Thursday, The Brothers McGregor. All I can remember of this was the "gimmick" that the brothers were one white and one mixed race, including the actor best known as "Denzil" in Only Fools and Horses. I remember watching it at the time, so it must have amused me back then. Will wait and see how it looks 35/40 years later...

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

With Keith Barron, Sam Kelly and Reece Dinsdale, a good cast, it should have been good, however I tried the first episodes of Haggard and found the humour seemed to be "forced", the actors seemed to be "trying too hard" and the humour was not naturally occurring from the situations. To me at least.

Up next starting on Thursday, The Brothers McGregor. All I can remember of this was the "gimmick" that the brothers were one white and one mixed race, including the actor best known as "Denzil" in Only Fools and Horses. I remember watching it at the time, so it must have amused me back then. Will wait and see how it looks 35/40 years later...

You've saved me a job, posting about The Brothers McGregor. Looked up the show this past weekend. Is it correct that it was a spin-off of Coronation Street? Apparently the two lead characters appeared on Corrie in one episode, but when the spin-off happened different actors played them.

[cutback73]

Next up on the long list of sitcoms is Hot Metal, starring Geoffrey Palmer and Robert Hardy, which starts this Friday 10 June.
Have a distant vague memory that I wasnt a fan when originally shown, largely because Mr Hardy lived next to a friend's parents and wasn't well liked as a neighbour...

EDIT Sorry for the tiny text!

[Kieran Seymour]

Bad news.

We already knew there was a chance Freeview would lose Forces TV in June, but they've announced today that they're closing the channel completely on 30 June.

https://twitter.com/forces_tv/status...19135573499904

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Kieran Seymour

Bad news.

We already knew there was a chance Freeview would lose Forces TV in June, but they've announced today that they're closing the channel completely on 30 June.

https://twitter.com/forces_tv/status...19135573499904

Saw Forces TV's post on their Facebook page earlier today about the news of the channel closing down on Thursday 30th June. Sad news and a shame, as it's been one of the best channels which has been showing older TV series which wouldn't have been shown by certain TV channels. I knew (from something I read recently on or off the web) that Freeview is apparently closing down.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

The schedules are now showing for the first week.
Department S at 9am and The Prisoner at 10am weekdays.
Hammer House of Horror 11.05pm on Friday nights
Space 1999. Whicker's World. Monkey!
Thriller at 9.05pm on Saturday night
World in Action
Worzel Gummidge Down Under

And a lot of comedy also. Who's Line Is It Anyway.
Chelmsford 123 - now there's a blast from the distant past on Channel 4.

They also have some early hours movies showing, I noted The Swiss Conspiracy with David Janssen next week for example.

Worth looking up if you have an interest in this kind of TV.

To save starting a new UK TV Shows thread, I've asked for this thread's title to be changed to "Forces TV & Rewind TV". Also, have quoted your post from the Miscellaneous Corner thread from yesterday.

I had a quick look through the Sky TV listings for Rewind TV last night (today through to next Thursday night) and found it slightly overwhelming but interesting.

Spotted the sitcoms Watching and Time After Time as well as the Nigel Havers-starring series The Charmer, and a fair few films which Talking Pictures TV and Legend would show (including the Vincent Price-starring House on Haunted Hill).

The Swiss Conspiracy has had a US Blu-ray release by Film Masters, although some of the comments on here have suggested the transfer doesn't look right.

Spotted a series called The Optimist among the Rewind TV listings. I first heard of it on Facebook (a DVD release may have been in the works).

Worzel Gummidge Down Under, I'll sample a few episodes of.

[OceanBlue]

While checking the Sky TV listings for Rewind TV this past weekend, I spotted the following airing on the channel this week. It's a bit confusing:

- Fantasy Island (it wasn't until I saw that the first pilot TV film is being shown that I realised the original television series is being shown. However, Rewind TV are skipping the second pilot TV film Return to Fantasy Island, and starting showing the first season afterwards (it looks like they are)

- having checked the IMDb, Mysterious Tales (narrated by actor Keith Barron) aired last month. Some episodes are airing this week

- and the Angie Dickinson-starring Police Woman is airing on Rewind TV this week (spotted the first episode "The End Game" in the listings, but sadly the backdoor pilot (an episode of Police Story called "The Gamble") isn't being shown).