Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 15h

10 October 2010

UKTV channel Dave launched One Night Stand. Featuring comedians such as Tim Vine and Ben Elton.

ITV 2 debuts reality series The Only Way Is Essex.

BBC Two shows Law and Disorder in Lagos. A Louis Theroux documentary filmed in Nigeria.

Dave's One Night Stand is a comedy programme broadcast on UKTV channel Dave from 10 October 2010 until 12 December 2012. 4 series totalling 20 episodes were made.

The series featured stand-up comedians performing in their hometowns with 2 other stand-up's in support.

Headline acts were Ben Elton, Jack Whitehall, Johnny Vegas, Sarah Millican, Russell Kane, Chris Addison, Mark Watson, Dave Gorman, Jason Byrne, Greg Davies, Ardal O'Hanlon, Tim Vine, Reginald D Hunter, Stephen K Amos, Tommy Tiernan, Al Murray, Patrick Kielty, Angelos Epithemou, Andrew Maxwell and Milton Jones.

Support acts included David O'Doherty, Justin Moorhouse, Alun Cochrane, Carl Donnelly, Holly Walsh, Andi Osho, Alex Horne, Isy Suttie, Simon Evans, Roisin Conaty, Gary Delaney, Josie Long, Terry Alderton, Elis James, Henning Wehn, Zoe Lyons, Lloyd Langford, Richard Herring, Andy Zaltzman, Jimeoin, Tom Rosenthal, Chris Ramsey and James Acaster.

An Amigo Television & Phil McIntyre Television co-production for UKTV.

The Only Way Is Essex (often abbreviated as TOWIE) is a reality television series which was first shown on ITV 2 from 10 October 2010 and continues to this day. The series moved to ITVBe in 2014 but moved back to ITV 2 in 2025 when ITVBe closed. Currently on its 35th series. To date, 430 episodes have been broadcast.

The series is based in Brentwood, Essex. It shows "real people in modified situations, saying unscripted lines but in a structured way."

The series was narrated by Denise Van Outen.

A Lime Pictures production for ITV.

Law and Disorder in Lagos is a one-off feature length documentary film by Louis Theroux that was broadcast on BBC Two on 10 October 2010.

Theroux journeys to Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria, to investigate the nature of law and order in the rapidly expanding city. There he follows the Government-run paramilitary task force KAI (Kick Against Indiscipline), notorious union leader MC Oluomo, and young gang members known as "Area Boys" who unofficially run neighbourhoods for money.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 16h

10 October 2005

ITV debuts crime drama Vincent. Starring Ray Winstone, Suranne Jones and Joe Absalom.

10 October 2015

BBC Two shows the one-off feature length documentary Ted Hughes: Stronger Than Death. Looking at the turbulent life of the former Poet Laureate.

Vincent is a television crime drama series that was first broadcast on ITV from 10 October 2005 to 6 November 2006. 2 series totalling 8 episodes were made.

Vincent follows the work of a private detective agency based in Manchester, run by private investigator Vincent Gallagher, who alongside his sidekick Beth, junior PI Robert and fellow team members Gillian and John, investigates cases which the police would either refuse to touch, or have been unable to solve. Vincent also has to deal with his arch enemy, DCI David Driscoll, who begins a relationship with his estranged wife Cathy, resulting in Cathy becoming pregnant.

The cast includes Ray Winstone, Suranne Jones, Joe Absolom, Angel Coulby, Ian Puleston-Davies, Philip Glenister, Sandra Huggett and Eva Pope.

A Granada production.

BBC Two shows the one-off feature length documentary Ted Hughes: Stronger Than Death on 10 October 2015.

The documentary looks at the life of the former Poet Laureate, focusing on his turbulent life and, in particular, his stormy marriage to Sylvia Plath.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 16h

10 October 1965

The BBC Asian service began. Every Sunday, BBC 1 broadcasts the programme "In Logon Se Miliye" which means "Let Me Introduce You."

10 October 2005

Channel 4 launches a new channel More4. It also launches More4 News on weeknights.

tvark.org/more-4-ident

On 10 October 1965, the BBC Asian service began. Every Sunday morning, BBC 1 broadcasts the programme "In Logon Se Miliye" which means "Let Me Introduce You."

The show was renamed Apna Hi Ghar Samajhiye (Make Yourself at Home) in 1966.

The show was renamed again Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan (New Life in Urdu & Hindi) in 1968 before one final renaming in 1982 as Asian Magazine.

More4 was a digital channel from Channel 4 which launched on 10 October 2005.

It was also the launch of More4 News which followed the Channel 4 News at 8pm on weeknights.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 17h

10 October 1955

Alexandra Palace began a 405-line test transmission in colour. Not sure if it was this one.

tvark.org/bbc-experime...

ITV debuted The Granville Melodramas. An anthology of melodramas starring Hattie Jacques and Erik Chitty.

On 10 October 1955, Alexandra Palace began a 405-line test transmission in colour. Not sure if it was this one.

https://tvark.org/bbc-experimental-colour-transmission

The Granville Melodramas was an anthology series that was broadcast on ITV from 10 October 1955 to 25 January 1956. 11 were broadcast sadly all were wiped.

Among the cast were Hattie Jacques, Erik Chitty, Helen Shingler, John Bailey, Victoria Grayson, Kenneth Gilbert, Thane Bettany, John Le Mesurier, Iain Scott, James Bree, Peter Tuddenham, John Vere, Leal Douglas, Daphne Abbott and Frank Thornton.

An Associated-Rediffusion production.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 1d

He is in the cast, so yes.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 1d

In Memoriam

Gordon Honeycombe
27 September 1936 – 9 October 2015
Age 79
Newscaster at ITN, TV-am and The Big Breakfast
tvark.org/gordon-honey...

Julia Jones
27 March 1923 – 9 October 2015
Age 92
Writer for Armchair Thriller and Wycliffe (pilot episode)
Actress in Z Cars

Gordon Honeycombe was born on 27 September 1936 and passed away on 9 October 2015 at the age of 79.

He was a newscaster, author, playwright and stage actor.

Gordon is most famous for being a newscaster on ITN News, TV-am and Channel 4's The Big Breakfast. He also did narration for Arthur C Clarke's series for ITV.

Honeycombe was an author and also wrote scripts for TV, radio and theatre.

Other television roles were in Minty, Comics, Terry and Julian, Spitting Image, Traffik, Blind Justice, London Embassy, Pulaski, First Among Equals, Unnatural Causes, The Glory Boys, Mr Palfrey of Westminster, The Brack Report, The Professionals, The Gentle Touch and The Foundation.

Julia Jones was born on 27 March 1923 and passed away on 9 October 2015 at the age of 92.

She was a television scriptwriter and actress.

Julia wrote scripts for Armchair Thriller, Miss Marple, Wycliffe, Anne of Green Gables, Moody and Pegg, Our Mutual Friend, Tom's Midnight Garden, Animal Ark, The Famous Five, Strathblair, A Likely Lad, The Chestnut Soldier, Emlyn's Moon, The Campbells, The Snow Spider, Echoes, The Bretts, The Cuckoo Sister, Ladies in Charge, The Irish RM, Sharing Time, Juliet Bravo, Nanny, Take Three Women, QED, The Story of the Treasure Seekers, Funny Man, A Little Silver Trumpet, We the Accused, The Swish of the Curtain, The Enchanted Castle, Border Country, The Duchess of Duke Street, The Peppermint Pig, The English Programme, Cottage to Let, Romance, Angels, Within These Walls, Churchill's People, Rooms, Village Hall, Away from It All, Emmerdale, Home and Away, Take Three Girls, City '68, The Gamblers, Boy Meets Girl, Love Story, Thirteen Against Fate and Londoners.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 1d

9 October 1970

ITV debuts sitcom The Mating Machine. Pauline Collins stars.

9 October 1965

BBC 1 debuts the US comedy The Munsters.

tvark.org/munsters-2

8 October 1955

ITV viewers in London saw the newly rebranded ATV ident for the first time.

tvark.org/atv-ident

The Mating Machine was a 7 part comedy series broadcast on ITV from 9 October to 20 November 1970.

In 1970, computer dating was in its infancy, so this series was made about an early computer dating service.

The cast includes Gerald Flood, Dido Plumb, Jan Waters, Sheila Hancock, John Cater, Eleanor Summerfield, Miriam Karlin, Gillian Bailey, Michael Lees, David Lodge, Norman Bird, Sam Kydd, Norman Rossington, Jonathan Elsom, David Wood, Pauline Collins, Duncan Lamont, Jane Hylton, Roger Brierley, Marjorie Rhodes, Stella Tanner, Martin Shaw, John Savident, David Suchet and Oscar James.

An ATV production.

The Munsters is an American sitcom about the home life of a family of benign monsters that first aired in the UK on BBC 1 on 9 October 1965. 2 series totalling 70 episodes were made though it is unclear how many were shown in the UK.

The Munster family are Dad Herman (Frankenstein's monster), his vampire wife Lily, Grandpa (Count Dracula), their niece Marilyn, and their werewolf-like son Eddie. The family pet, named "Spot", was a fire-breathing dragon.

The cast includes Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Beverley Owen, Pat Priest and Butch Patrick.

A Kayro-Vue Production with Universal Television.

On 8 October 1955 was the first time ITV viewers saw the ATV ident as the company rebranded.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 1d

9 October 1995

Animated series Wolves, Witches and Giants debuts on CITV. Narrated by Spike Milligan.

The Learning Zone debuts on BBC 2.

tvark.org/bbc-learning...

9 October 1990

ITV debuts the sci-fi horror series She-Wolf of London. 20 episodes made, 14 in the UK.

Wolves, Witches and Giants is a children's cartoon series of humorous adaptations of classic fairy tales, featuring a collection of villains including the wily wolf, a wicked witch and an enormous giant.

It was shown on CITV from 9 October 1995 to 21 October 1998. 4 series totalling 53 episodes were shown.

Written by Ed Welch and narrated by Spike Milligan.

A Honeycomb Animation production for ITV.

The Learning Zone was an educational strand run by the BBC as an overnight service on BBC Two from 9 October 1995 to 24 July 2015.

It broadcast programming aimed at students in Primary, Secondary and Higher Education as well as to adult learners. Viewers are encouraged to watch programmes after the original broadcast via the use of, originally VHS, then later DVD.

She-Wolf of London is a 20 episode science fiction television series that aired on ITV from 9 October 1990 to 10 April 1991.

Student Randi Wallace travels to Britain to study mythology with Prof Ian Matheson. Randi spends a night on the moors and is bitten by a werewolf. She seeks Ian's help. For the rest of the series, Randi and Ian investigate supernatural phenomena together while they search for a cure for her lycanthropy and he becomes her keeper during her transformations. Randi's curse also draws the attention of various other supernatural creatures.

The cast includes Kate Hodge, Neil Dickson, Scott Fults, Dorothea Phillips, Jean Challis, Arthur Cox, Diane Youdale, Dan Gilvezan, Simon Jessop, Mark Drewry, Rolf Saxon, Pavel Douglas, Sally Faulkner and Jane Cunliffe.

The first 14 episodes were filmed in the UK with the remaining 6 episodes filmed in Los Angeles and renamed Love and Curses.

A HTV production with The Finnegan-Pinchuk Company and Universal Television.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 1d

9 October 2020

Channel 5 debuts Friday on the Farm. With Jules Hudson and Helen Skelton.

9 October 2010

BBC Four shows the adapted poem The Song of Lunch. Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman star.

9 October 2000

Sky One debuts US sci-fi series Andromeda. Kevin Sorbo stars.

Friday on the Farm was a 6 part series with a Christmas special that was broadcast on Channel 5 from 9 October to 24 December 2020.

Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson witness autumn's arrival at Cannon Hall Farm in South Yorkshire, much of which has been filmed by the farmers themselves.

A Daisybeck production for Channel 5.

The Song of Lunch is a television adaptation of Christopher Reid's poem of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Four on 9 October 2010 as part of National Poetry Month.

Starring Alan Rickman as he and Emma Thompson as she.

The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue by the male character.

The play tells the story of a reunion between two former lovers in a Soho Italian restaurant. he is a London book editor who writes poetry in his spare time (unsuccessfully). she is his former lover who left him to marry a successful novelist fifteen years previously.

Also in the cast was Andi Soric, Siubhan Harrison, Joseph Long, Georgina Sutcliffe, Christopher Grimes, Jamie Baughan, Orlando Brooke, David Hayler, Simon Killick, Oscar Ward, James Richard Marshall and David Tennant.

A BBC production with Masterpiece.

Andromeda (aka Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda) is a science fiction television series, based on unused material by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. It was first shown in the UK on Sky One from 9 October 2000.

The series follows Captain Dylan Hunt of the Systems Commonwealth, an intergalactic government that presided over an extended period of peace and prosperity until its destruction from a rebellion led by the warmongering Nietzcheans and parasitic Magog.

The cast includes Kevin Sorbo, Lisa Ryder, Keith Hamilton Cobb, Lexa Doig, Laura Bertram, Gordon Michael Woolvett, Brent Stait, Steve Bacic and Brandy Ledford.

A co-production of Andromeda Productions, BLT Productions, Fireworks Entertainment, MBR Productions and Tribune Entertainment.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 2d

Currently 1,377 episodes.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 2d

8 October 2015

BBC Four debuts 3 part history series A Very British Romance. Presented by Lucy Worsley.

ITV debuts drama series Unforgotten. Sanjeev Bhaskar helps to solve cold cases.

Documentary series Disappearing Britain debuts on More4. With Maureen Lipman and Larry Lamb.

A Very British Romance is a 3 part historical documentary series shown on BBC Four on 8, 15 & 22 October 2015. Hosted by Lucy Worsley.

Worsely explores how our idea of romance has developed since the Georgian period.

Assisting her are AN Wilson, Doug Grant, Kate Summerscale, John Benjamin, Derek Scott, Lesley Hall, Roger Luckhurst, James Pembroke, Dr Sally Holloway, Lawrence Napper, Ann Heilmann, Loraine Fergusson, Lynn Shepherd and Claire Harman.

Unforgotten is a crime drama television series, which aired on ITV from 8 October 2015 and continues to this day.

The series follows a team of London detectives led by DCI Cassie Stuart, DCI Jessie James and DI Sunny Khan as they solve cold cases of disappearance and murder.

The cast includes Sanjeev Bhaskar, Nicola Walker, Sinéad Keenan, Jordan Long, Lewis Reeves, Pippa Nixon, Peter Egan, Jassa Ahluwalia, Colin R Campbell, Carolina Main, Alastair MacKenzie, Georgia Mackenzie, Michelle Bonnard, Janet Dibley, Andrew Lancel and Kate Robbins.

Guest stars included Michele Dotrice, Hayley Mills, Hayley Tamaddon, Sheila Hancock, Kate Williams, Charles Dale, James Fleet, Neil Morrissey, Siobhan Redmond, Bill Paterson, Wendy Craig, Mark Bonnar, David Troughton, Tessa Peake-Jones, Hannah Gordon, Cherie Lunghi, Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill and Tom Courtenay

A Mainstreet production for ITV.

Disappearing Britain is a series shown on More4 from 8 October 2015

A celebration of Britain's outdoors, its history, culture and tradition, that explores our love affair with the nation's heritage and looks at possible threats to its longevity.

Presented by Maureen Lipman and Larry Lamb.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 2d

8 October 2000

BBC One shows one-off feature length drama Care. Steven Mackintosh stars

BBC Two debuts Top of the Pops Plus. A new live music show spin-off.

8 October 2005

BBC One drama Casualty broadcasts its 500th episode.

Care is a single television crime drama film, written by former Tomorrow's World presenter Kieran Prendiville. It was broadcast on BBC One on 8 October 2000.

Care follows Davey Younger, a former childhood resident of Glenavon care home, who is forced to dig up his past when a local councillor, Tony Collins, orders an investigation into reported historical sex abuse, which took place at the home during Davey's years as a resident, following evidence unearthed by journalist Elaine Hughes.

The cast includes Steven Mackintosh, Jaye Griffiths, Maria Pride, Charlotte Cornwell, Peter Wight, Aneirin Hughes, Clive Merrison, Richard Harrington and Rhys Parry Jones.

A BBC Cymru Wales production.

Top of the Pops Plus was a new live music show spin-off from the Top of the Pops format. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 8 October 2000.

The new live show delves deep inside the world of pop music and entertainment with exclusive interviews, live performances, and news of the TOTP all-time Top 40.

Presenters were Josie d'Arby, Scott Mills , Joe Mace, Lisa Rogers and Vernon Kay.

45 shows were made with the last one broadcast on 26 August 2001

On 8 October 2005, BBC drama Casualty broadcasts its 500th episode.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 2d

8 October 1975

ITV debuts sitcom Rule Britannia! With Russell Hunter and Richard Davies.

ITV shows one-off drama It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow. Based on the 1943 Bethnal Green tube station disaster.

8 October 1995

BBC Select ends after 3 years.

tvark.org/bbc-select-i...

Rule Britannia! was a 7 part sitcom which was shown on ITV from 8 October to 19 November 1975.

Described by the TVTimes as "Have you heard the one about the Englishman, Irishman, Scotsman and Welshman? They're all in Rule Britannia!"

An Englishman, bearing up to marriage and life with a stiff upper lip, suddenly remembers his promise to 3 shipmates. The day of their vow to meet 25 years later is almost here, and then the Irishman, Welshman and Scotsman will drink again.

The cast includes Tony Melody, Richard Davies, Russell Hunter, Joe Lynch, Jo Warne, Carol Mills, Ronald Mayer, Françoise Pascal, Patrick Newell, Patsy Smart, Tim Barrett, Keith Chegwin, Brian Oulton, Michael Segal, Nosher Powell and Oscar James.

A Thames Television production.

It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow was a one-off feature length drama that was broadcast on ITV on 8 October 1975.

A recreation of a World War II incident which occurred in London's Bethnal Green underground station in 1943, in which 173 people died when a panicked crowd stampeded as they were hurrying down the steps to take refuge from an air raid.

The cast includes Mario Renzullo, Gwyneth Strong, Ray Mort, Marjorie Yates, Liz Smith, Cheryl Kennedy, Catrin Strong, Rosemarie Dunham, Michael Tarn, Christopher Malcolm, Linda Robson and Robert van Kaphengst.

An ATV production.

BBC Select was launched on 21 January 1992.

It was a subscription service that played on BBC 1 & 2 after closedown.

The service ended on 8 October 1995.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 2d

8 October 1960

BBC Television Service was renamed as BBC TV.

8 October 1965

BBC 1 debuts spy thriller The Mask of Janus. Dinsdale Landen stars.

8 October 1990

Channel 4 debuts Centrepoint. A modern loose retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

On 8 October 1960, the BBC Television Service was renamed BBC TV.

The Mask of Janus was an 11 part spy thriller television series shown on BBC 1 from 8 October to 27 December 1965.

The series was set in the fictional European country of Amalia and dealt with the political interests of the British, American and Communist espionage communities within. The series dealt with more politically oriented plots such as defections to the west, awakening "sleeper" agents and the leaking of official secrets.

The cast includes Dinsdale Landen, Simon Oates, Peter Dyneley, Hamilton Dyce, Lawrence Dane, Derek Benfield, Peter Arne, Richard Marner, Donald Eccles, Julie Paulle, Cyril Shaps, Vernon Dobtcheff, Barry Jackson, Michael Sheard, Michael Graham Cox, Stephen Yardley, Carl Duering, Roberta Tovey, John Woodnutt, Artro Morris, Michael Mellinger, Reg Lye, John G Heller, John Louis Mansi and Edward Kelsey.

Of the 11 episodes made, 7 are missing, believed wiped.

A spin-off series called The Spies, also starring Dinsdale Landen, followed in 1966.

Centrepoint is a 4 part television thriller that was broadcast on Channel 4 from 8 to 29 October 1990.

The series, which loosely retells the story of Hamlet, is set in London's Docklands at the time of its commercial development. Roland Wareing's father Nick has been missing for several years, presumed dead. However, when a mysterious telephone caller suggests that Nick may not be dead after all, Roland sets out to discover the truth behind the disappearance.

The cast includes Jonathan Firth, Murray Head, Cheryl Campbell, Bob Peck, John Shrapnel, Abigail Cruttenden, Veronica Quilligan, Sian Ellis, David Stevenson, Derrick O'Connor, Patrick Fierry, Jennifer Bryce, Joanna Clarke, Adrian Dunbar, Phillip Dogham and Roger McKern.

A Rosso production with Channel 4 Films.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 2d

In Memoriam

Jim Diamond
28/9/1951 – 8/10/2015
Age 64
Sang theme to ITV's Boon
tvark.org/jim-diamond

Richard Davies
25/1/1926 – 8/10/2015
Age 89
Please Sir's Mr Price
tvark.org/richard-davies

Hugh Scully
5/3/1943 – 8/10/2015
Age 72
Antiques Roadshow host
tvark.org/hugh-scully

Jim Diamond was born on 28 September 1951 and passed away on 8 October 2015 at the age of 64.

He was a singer-songwriter from Scotland.

Diamond was part of the band PhD before going solo. He wrote the theme tune to ITV's comedy drama series Boon called "Hi Ho Silver."

Richard Davies was born on 25 January 1926 and passed away on 8 October 2015 at the age of 89.

He was an actor from Wales.

Davies was probably best known for his performance as the exasperated schoolmaster Mr Price in the popular LWT sitcom Please Sir!

He used a broad Welsh accent for much of his work, but had used other accents to play a wide range of characters, in addition to several Welsh stereotypes.

Richard's other television roles were in The Secret Kingdom, Z Cars, Softly Softly, Two in Clover, Coronation Street, Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt, Van der Valk, Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister, Whoops Apocalypse, Give Us a Break, Bottle Boys, Big Deal, That Uncertain Feeling, Doctor Who, Wyatt's Watchdogs, EastEnders, One Foot in the Grave, The Bill, And the Beat Goes On Father Hopkins and 2point4 Children.

Hugh Scully was born on 5 March 1943 and passed away on 8 October 2015 at the age of 72.

He was a journalist, radio and television presenter.

Scully was the host and longest-serving presenter of the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow from 1981 to 2000. He also was the first host of Watchdog when it was part of Nationwide.

Hugh started on TV as a present and reporter for BBC Spotlight South West. He also was the host of Britain's Finest in 2003 on 5.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 3d

7 October 1965

Thirty Minute Theatre broadcast its first production on BBC 2.

7 October 1990

Belgian animated series Bobobobs debuted in the UK on Channel 4.

Japanese animated series Saban's Adventures of Pinocchio made its UK debut on BBC 2.

Thirty-Minute Theatre was an anthology drama series of short plays shown on BBC 2 between 7 October 1965 and 9 August 1973. 291 plays were broadcast, sadly only 50 survive.

The series was used in part at least as a training ground for new writers, on account of its short running length, and which therefore attracted many writers who later became well known like John Mortimer, Jean Benedetti, Charlotte and Denis Plimmer, David Rudkin, Dennis Potter and Jack Rosenthal.

When BBC 2 became the first UK television channel to broadcast in colour in 1967, the series became the first UK drama series to be broadcast in colour.

Bobobobs was a 26 episode animated series from Belgium. It was first shown in the UK on Channel 4 from 7 October 1990.

Set in the distant past, the plot revolves around a group of nomadic miniature humanoids known as the Bobobobs, who live in a part of the universe far away from the Earth. One crew of these Bobobobs, led by Bob Wouter, the captain, sets sail in the Bobular Quest, their spaceship, described as a "galleon with a protective dome". They head towards Earth where they plan to save the humans from being terrorized by dinosaurs. Along the way they encounter a variety of different alien species, some of which are hostile.

Voices were Richard M Dumont, Kathleen Fee, Walter Massey, Rick Jones, Andrew Bednarski, Dean Hagopian, Paul van Gorcum, AJ Henderson, Bronwen Mantel, Michael Rudder, Mark Hellman, Trudy Libosan, Hans Hoekman, Dorian Joe Clark, Fred Butter, Jan Anne Drenth, Hans Pauwels, Maria Lindes, Beatrijs Sluyter and Paul Zakaib.

A BRBI production with TV3 Catalunya.

Saban's The Adventures of Pinocchio is a 52 episode anime series by Tatsunoko Production first aired on Fuji Television in 1972, which was edited by Saban in 1990. It was first broadcast in the UK on BBC 2 from 7 October 1990.

The story is loosely based on the 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Italian author Carlo Collodi.

Unlike the lighter, more cheerful tones of most adaptations, this series has a distinctly darker, more sadistic tone in the veins of Collodi's novel, and portrays the main character, Pinocchio in his personality from the novel, as a bad-behaved troublemaker who only learns his lesson by suffering from constant physical and psychological abuse and freak accidents.

The English language voice cast was Thor Bishopric, Walter Massey, AJ Henderson, Arthur Grosser, Terrence Scammell, Arthur Holden, Dean Hagopian, Rick Jones and Jane Woods.

The English series was narrated by Ian Finlay.

A Saban production with Tatsunoko productions.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 3d

7 October 2015

After a one-off documentary shown earlier in the year, Channel 4 begins a series of Million Pound Properties.

7 October 2010

ITV 2 begins broadcasting in High Definition.

E4 debuts sitcom PhoneShop. Set in a....phone shop!! Starring Javone Prince.

Million Pound Properties started as a one-off documentary programme shown on Channel 4 in 2015.

It was commissioned as a series and began on 7 October 2015.

A million pounds used to be a lot of money. Now, in parts of central London, it’s the price of a one bedroom basement flat. A million quid to live underground, like a mole or a rat! And this was in 2015!

On 7 October 2010, ITV 2 began broadcasting in High Definition.

PhoneShop is a sitcom that was first broadcast on Channel 4 as a television pilot on 13 November 2009, as part of the channel's Comedy Showcase season of comedy pilots. It was commissioned and began broadcasting on E4 from 7 October 2010 to 29 August 2013. 3 series totalling 19 episodes were made (including the pilot).

PhoneShop is set in a mobile phone shop in Sutton, London and follows a graduate named Christopher who goes through a one-day trial and subsequent employment. His fellow employees are Jerwayne, Ashley, Janine and store manager Lance.

The cast includes Tom Bennett, Andrew Brooke, Emma Fryer, Javone Prince, Martin Trenaman, Kayvan Novak, Juliet Cowan and Susannah Wise.

A TalkBack Thames production for Channel 4 (pilot, series 1 & 2).
A Retort production for Channel 4 (series 3).

TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 4d

We have just been informed of the passing of actor John Woodvine at the age of 96.

Narrated the 1984 BBC history series All Our Working Lives.

Appeared on TV in The Dustbinmen, Knights of God, The Tripods, Edge of Darkness and New Scotland Yard.

John Woodvine
1929-2025

John Woodvine was born on 21 July 1929 and passed away on 6 October 2025 at the age of 96.

He was an actor and voice artist.

John has contributed English voices to international shows such as The Water Margin. He also narrated shows such as All Our Working Lives.

On television, his most prolific role was as Chief Superintendent John Kingdom in LWT's New Scotland Yard. Other appearances included The Tripods, Edge of Darkness, Knights of God, Melba, Tell Tale Hearts, Runaway Bay, Medics, A Pinch of Snuff, Finney, Peak Practice, Bob & Rose, The Secret, Distant Shores, The Bill, Casualty, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Midsomer Murders, Hebburn, The Crown, The Haunted House, Call Oxbridge 2000, Champion Road, Danger Man, Pardon the Expression, The Further Adventures of the Musketeers, The Avengers, The Caesars, Z Cars, The Dustbinmen, Doctor Who, The English Programme, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby, Swallows and Amazons Forever, The Prisoner of Zenda and Deceptions.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 4d

6 October 2015

ITV shows Eternal Glory with Richard Bacon.

ITV 2 debuts comedy Glitchy. Ryan Sampson star.

Channel 4 shows My Transgender Kid as part of its Born in the Wrong Body series.

E4 debuts Michaela Coel's sitcom Chewing Gum.

Eternal Glory is a challenge series shown on ITV from 6 October 2015.

Eight sporting stars will face off against each other in a series of challenges.

Richard Bacon hosts the series, with sports scientist and Olympian Professor Greg Whyte providing expert analysis.

The sporting greats will have their mental and physical strength, agility, strategy and skill tested over the course of six one-hour episodes.

Each show will conclude with a 'night duel' in which the two lowest scoring athletes go head-to-head to decide who stays in the competition. One athlete will leave at the end of each show until the champion of the series is crowned.

Matt le Tissier, Fatima Whitbread, James Cracknell, Jade Johnson, Liz McColgan, Shane Williams, Gail Emms and Christian Malcolm compete.

Glitchy is a comedy series shown on ITV 2 from 6 October 2015.

A fast-paced, sketch prank hybrid featuring Ryan Sampson that parodies much-loved and recognisable television shows, throwing them into a surreal and parallel television world. All the television shows are fake but the unsuspecting members of the public believe them to be real. Ryan plays a multitude of characters offering his twisted take on the shows we know and love. The members of the public who participate in each sketch are unknowingly the stars of their very own show.

Joining Ryan is Mona Yousefi, Jason Attar, Gabby Best, Mark Clay, Tim Dann, Colin Hoult and Ellie White.

A TalkBack production for ITV.

My Transgender Kid was shown on Channel 4 on 6 October 2015. It was part of a series of programmes under the theme of Born in the Wrong Body.

The documentary follows two ordinary British families as they attempt to navigate the extraordinary challenges of having a 7 year old child who was born the wrong gender. The parents are faced with decisions few others could comprehend, from changing pronouns to whether to let their kids go transition at school.

Narrated by Gethin Anthony.

Chewing Gum is a television sitcom shown on E4 from 6 October 2015 to 9 February 2017. 2 series totalling 12 episodes were made.

24-year-old shop assistant Tracey Gordon is a restricted, religious virgin, who wants to have sex and learn more about the world.

Chewing Gum starred Michaela Coel (who also created and wrote the series), Danielle Walters, Robert Lonsdale, John MacMillan, Tanya Franks, Kadiff Kirwan, Susan Wokoma, Shola Adewusi, Maggie Steed, Olisa Odele, Sarah Hoare, Abby Rakic-Platt, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey and Vera Chok.

A Retort production for Channel 4.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 4d

6 October 2015

BBC Three debuts sitcom Together. Written by and starring Jonny Sweet.

One-off structured reality programme Close to the Edge is shown on BBC Four. Following a group of pensioners from Bournemouth.

BBC One showed the final new episode of New Tricks.

Together is a 6 part television sitcom shown on BBC Three from 6 October to 10 November 2015.

The series is set in London and focuses on two twentysomethings during the early stages of a relationship.

The cast includes Jonny Sweet (who also created and wrote the series), Cara Theobold, Alex Macqueen, Vicki Pepperdine, Katy Wix and Sarah Daykin.

A Tiger Aspect production for BBC.

Close to the Edge is a one-off structured reality television show that was shown on BBC Four on 6 October 2015.

The show follows a group of pensioners from Bournemouth, with many scenes being improvised. It has drawn comparisons with other structured reality series which follow a similar format.

Taking part in the show were Barbara 'Babs' Fowler, Chris Dowding, Vanessa Coleman, John Seaton, Dee Major, Simon Cowen, Jan Bishop and Beate Braban.

An Electric Ray production for BBC.

New Tricks is a police procedure comedy drama that began as a pilot episode in 2003.

The series was shown on BBC One from 2004-2015.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 4d

6 October 1965

The US cartoon series Hector Heathcote debuted in the UK on BBC 1.

6 October 1985

Channel 4 welcomed Pob to our TV screens. A puppet who welcomed guests every week.

After 4 series and 26 episodes, BBC sitcom Open All Hours ended. It would be revived in 2013.

Hector Heathcote was a US animated children's series which debuted in the UK on BBC 1 from 6 October 1965.

Hector is an 18-year-old orange-haired Colonial era patriot who turned up, often as an unsung hero, during various stages of American history. In later cartoons he was accompanied by his faithful red-and-yellow dog Winston who talked with a slight English accent. Heathcote was also antagonized by a big bully named Benedict, who parodied the infamous American traitor Benedict Arnold.

Additional cartoons in the program included Hashimoto-san, a Japanese mouse, and Silly Sidney the Elephant, a wacky pachyderm whose friends included Cleo the giraffe and Stanley, a cantankerous lion. The show would end with a scene of Hector going to bed.

John Myhers was the voice of Hector.

Pob's Programme is a children's television programme broadcast on Channel 4 from 6 October 1985 to 5 September 1990. 2 series totalling 82 episodes were made.

The programme is presented by a puppet named Pob (played by puppeteer Robin Stevens), who speaks with a speech impediment and who supposedly lives inside the viewer's TV (the casing and red, green and blue electron guns visible behind him). Each week on the programme, a celebrity guest visits Pob's garden, and entertains him, though Pob and the guest never appear on screen together.

Among the celebrity visitors appeared on Pob's Programme included Roy Castle, Jan Francis, Charlie Williams, Madhur Jaffrey, Brian Blessed, Hannah Gordon, Su Pollard, Kathy Staff, John Duttine, Ross Davidson, Spike Milligan, Toyah Willcox. Bill Pertwee, Bernard Hepton, Peter Howitt, Cheryl Campbell, Pat Coombs and Patricia Hodge.

A Ragdoll production for Channel 4.

BBC sitcom Open all Hours began as a pilot episode as part of 7 of 1 in 1973.

It ran for 4 series from 1976-1985.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 4d

In Memoriam

Anthony Newlands
31 January 1925 – 6 October 1995
Age 70
Actor
Appeared on Crime of Passion, The Saints, Driveway and Flower of Evil

Hattie Jacques
7 February 1922 – 6 October 1980
Age 58
Actress
Appeared on Sykes, Carry on Laughing, Celebrity Squares and Jackanory

Anthony Newlands was born on 31 January 1925 and passed away on 6 October 1995 at the age of 70.

He was an actor.

Anthony appeared on television in London's Burning, Till We Meet Again, Small World, Lost Empires, Jackanory Playhouse, Crime of Passion, The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, The Flaxton Boys, The Misfit, Doomwatch, The Champions, The Borderers, The Saint, The Avengers, Letters from the Dead, Driveway, The Queen's Traitor, Send Foster, The Troubleshooters, Softly Softly, The Man in Room 17, The Power Game, Danger Man, Armchair Mystery Theatre, The Plane Makers, The Count of Monte Cristo, Love Story, The Protectors, Crane, Compact, The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre, Saki, Barbara in Black, Flower of Evil, Walk a Crooked Mile, Dixon of Dock Green, Knight Errant Limited, Maigret, The Secret Kingdom, Armchair Theatre, Crime Sheet, The Invisible Man, The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Murder Bag, Kenilworth, New Ramps for Old, The Black Brigand and The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Hattie Jacques was born on 7 February 1922 and passed away on 6 October 1980 at the age of 58.

She was a comedy actress of stage, radio and screen.

Jacques is best known as a regular of the Carry On films, where she typically played strict, no-nonsense characters. She was also a prolific television and radio performer.

On television, she was in Late Joys Revue, No No Nanette, The Granville Melodramas, Tribute to Henry Hall, The Tony Hancock Show, Hancock's Half Hour, Sykes and a..., Our House, Sally Ann Howes Variety Show, Juke Box Jury, Billy Cotton Band Show, Compact, That Was the Week That Was, Cribbins, Jackanory, Sykes Versus ITV, Inside George Webley, The World of Beachcomber, Howerd's Hour, Join Jim Dale, Pickwick, Carry On Christmas, Catweazle, Charley's Grants, Ask Aspel, Doctor at Large, Christmas Night with the Stars, Max Bygraves at the Royalty, Pebble Mill at One, Celebrity Squares, Looks Familiar, Call My Bluff, Wogan's World, Rhubarb Rhubarb and Carry on Laughing.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 4d

6 October 2010

Digital Switchover continued in the UK.

This time it was the turn of Rosemarkie in the Highlands to begin the process.

The transmitter would be fully digital on 20 October.

Digital Switchover continued in the UK on 6 October 2010 with the Rosemarkie transmitter in the Highlands to begin the process.

The transmitter would be fully digital on 20 October.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 5d

Jilly Cooper has passed away at the age of 88.

A writer of many novels, in particular the Rutshire Chronicles series. She was also a journalist and sitcom writer.

Her book Rivals has been adapted for TV recently and shown on streaming service Disney+.

Jilly Cooper
1937-2025

Jilly Cooper was born on 21 February 1937 and passed away on 5 October 2025 at the age of 88.

She was a writer and journalist.

Jilly has written many books in the Rutshire Chronicles series over many years.

Several of her novels have been adapted for television. These are Emily, The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, Riders and Rivals of which she made a cameo appearance.

Cooper also wrote her own sitcom called It's Awfully Bad for Your Eyes, Darling.

Jilly also appeared on This Morning, What's My Line, Pointless Celebrities, The TV Book Club, Richard & Judy, Loose Women, The One Show, BBC Breakfast, Reader I Married Him, Never Mind the Full Stops, Countdown, Through the Keyhole, Hearts of Gold, Television Scrabble, It's Patently Obvious, Blankety Blank, Grumpy Old Women, The Weakest Link, The Car's The Star, Telly Addicts, Call My Bluff, Wogan and Aquarius.

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TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 5d

5 October 2020

Comedy Central debuts panel game Guessable. Hosted by Sara Pascoe.

Channel 4 debuts 4 part drama Adult Material.

BBC Two debuts 3 part documentary In the Face of Terror. The stories of the ordinary people fighting for truth and justice following acts of terror.

Guessable is a comedy panel show broadcast on Comedy Central UK from 5 October 2020 to 17 July 2023. 4 series totalling 44 episodes were shown.

The show is hosted by Sara Pascoe with assistant John Kearns and has team captains Alan Davies and Darren Harriott.

Each episode typically has 5 rounds with a final extra game where the contestant has to guess the identity of a mystery celebrity that has ties to all the answers called in that episode.

A Tuesday's Child production for Comedy Central UK.

Adult Material is a 4 part drama television series concerning a woman's life working in the adult film industry. The show was created by an all female team. The first episode was shown on Channel 4 on 5 October 2020 with all episodes released online on that date.

The series follows Hayley Burrows, ostensibly an ordinary hardworking mum-of-three who has been working as Jolene Dollar in the adult entertainment industry for many years. Her life is dramatically changed by an incident between Amy, a new girl in the industry, and an American hardcore actor, Tom Pain.

The cast includes Hayley Squires, Joe Dempsie, Siena Kelly, Kerry Godliman, Mandeep Dhillon, Julian Ovenden, Rupert Everett, Alex Jarrett, Phil Daniels and Timmika Ramsay.

A Fifty Fathoms Productions for Channel 4.

In the Face of Terror is a 3 part documentary series shown on BBC Two on 5, 12 & 19 October 2020.

Taken hostage in Syria by ISIS, or caught up in the Christchurch massacre in New Zealand, survivors and family members share their fight for truth, justice and closure.

An Expectation Entertainment production for BBC.

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