Forces TV, Rewind TV and That's TV

[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.