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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 4d

Pleased to see Radio 4 Extra has a short season of the rarely-repeated News Huddlines (though a good couple of decades before I joined the writing team). Particularly looking forward to the disclaimer before episode 3, which features a Chinese state visit!
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The News Huddlines

Roy Hudd's long-running weekly topical sketch show.

www.bbc.co.uk

Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 4d

Delighted to have an article in the latest edition of Intermission from @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social

'Desperately Seeking Betty' features some new research into Egyptian sand-dancers Wilson, Keppel & Betty - plus a previously unseen picture of the original Betty.

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 7d

Good to see Beryl Reid back on stage.

Chortle @chortle.bsky.social · 7d

The Importance Of Being Earnest

Review of Oscar Wilde's play in the West End, with Stephen Fry as Lady Bracknell

dlvr.it

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 8d

The latest repeat of 'The Right Time' on Radio 4 Extra includes my sketch for Graeme Garden (plus Clive Swift and Paula Wilcox), described on the website as 'a new TV quiz show for the hard of memory'. It starts at 24:58.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Right Time - Series 3 - Episode 2 - BBC Sounds

It's a facelift fracas on the sketch comedy for people growing older disgracefully.

www.bbc.co.uk

Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 8d

Slightly mystified by Amazon's new special offer. I ordered two items and they threw in a Dead Dad poem for free.

Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 14d

Proof that you don't have to chain-smoke like crazy to own a set of radio star cards - you can also binge on Bridgewater Biscuits.

Here's a bit of 30s glamour: impressionist Florence Desmond and two character comedians - Jeanne de Casalis (Mrs Feather) and Suzette Tarri (Our Ada).

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Russty Russ @russtyruss.bsky.social · 17d

From w/c 21 September 1985 : Dusty Bin goes Latin with this 3-2-1 TV Times cover.

#80s

Ted Rogers and Dusty Bin go all latin for this cover.

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 20d

This month is both the 70th anniversary of the start of Crackerjack and of ITV. Trying my utmost not to have favourites, I've celebrated one in Yours magazine and the other in Radio Times.

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 21d

Today in Yours magazine, I manage to cram the entire history of Crackerjack from 1955 to 2021 into a double-page spread.

That surely deserves a Crackerjack pencil.

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Dr Andrea Smith @audioandrea.bsky.social · 21d

Another spotting of #ShakespeareOnTheRadio 💀🎧 in the wild - this time in @waterstones.bsky.social Gower Street, London.
Thank you to @staffordquips.bsky.social for the photos 📘📘📘
@edinburghup.bsky.social
#Shakespeare #RadioDrama #AudioDrama

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 23d

John Henry - trendiest spectacle-wearer of 1923.

'Bigamy Killed the Radio Star' now available from bookshops, online outlets and Zuckerbergia.

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 23d

The book of the radio interview of the TV series is still available from all bookish outlets - shops, online and the odd ice-cream van. 'It's Friday, It's Crackerjack!' tells the entire history of the show from 1955 to 2021.

Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 23d

I was on Good Morning Scotland today, somehow squeezing the whole of Crackerjack (including Peter Glaze) into the final five minutes of the show. Listen here from 2:54:33
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Good Morning Scotland - 15/09/2025 - BBC Sounds

The latest news from home and abroad, along with sport, travel and weather updates.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Georgy Jamieson @georgyjamieson.bsky.social · 23d

It’s such an excellent book and history of a classic children’s TV show. I promise you’ll love it.

Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 23d

In my book 'It's Friday, It's Crackerjack' I talk to everyone from a cameraman on the very first episode to Sam, Mark & team from the 21st century CBBC shows.

Russty Russ @russtyruss.bsky.social · 24d

#OnThisDay 1955 : 70 years ago today, the first edition of Crackerjack was broadcast on the BBC.

The initial run of seires would stay on our screens until 1984 but would later enjoy a revival with Sam Nixon and Max Rhodes at the helm.

#50s #Crackerjack

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 23d

In my book 'It's Friday, It's Crackerjack' I talk to everyone from a cameraman on the very first episode to Sam, Mark & team from the 21st century CBBC shows.

Russty Russ @russtyruss.bsky.social · 24d

#OnThisDay 1955 : 70 years ago today, the first edition of Crackerjack was broadcast on the BBC.

The initial run of seires would stay on our screens until 1984 but would later enjoy a revival with Sam Nixon and Max Rhodes at the helm.

#50s #Crackerjack

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 23d

'Mr Grumble' was Joe Baker's father - and the scriptwriter was Jack Douglas' brother.

Mark Braxton @braxtm.bsky.social · 24d

Crackerjack ("CRACKERJACK!") is 70 years old. It began #OTD in 1955, introduced by Eamonn Andrews. The game "Double or Drop" was a firm fixture from the outset. @radiotimes.bsky.social

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 23d

I was on Good Morning Scotland today, somehow squeezing the whole of Crackerjack (including Peter Glaze) into the final five minutes of the show. Listen here from 2:54:33
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Good Morning Scotland - 15/09/2025 - BBC Sounds

The latest news from home and abroad, along with sport, travel and weather updates.

www.bbc.co.uk

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 23d

Your occasional reminder that the deeds of Broadcasting House forbid certain trades and uses on the premises:
"a meat slaughter-man"
"a quasi-medical or quasi-surgical establishment"
"a brothel or bagnio keeper"
If those are your thing, see ITV.

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 24d

Crackerjack is 70 years old today. Here's Don Maclean (as lean and tall as a Crackerjack pencil) and Peter Glaze (rotund as a cabbage).

Full story of the show - including the 2020s version - in my book 'It's Friday, It's CRACKERJACK!'

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Jenny @bluebox99.bsky.social · 24d

Today in 1955 - The first ever edition of 'Crackerjack' was shown.
Double or Drop?
Crackerjack Pen?
Crackerjackkkkkkkkk

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Dr Andrea Smith @audioandrea.bsky.social · 26d

It's often suggested that Kenneth Branagh has been heavily influenced by Laurence Olivier - but with his recent King Lear and now The Tempest, I'd say he's now in his John Gielgud phase...
@the-rsc.bsky.social
www.rsc.org.uk/the-tempest/

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The British Broadcasting Century podcast @bbcentury.bsky.social · 26d

Our latest podcast is out now - on the first Radio Times.
From that issue:
- the front page
- the first cartoon (on listening at a village hall)
- the first letter (from Spain)
- my favourite ad ("Height increased in 30 days"!)
The podcast awaits your ears. Do it now, whatever your height.

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 26d

No, I'm Britain's reader - you're Britain's podcaster.

Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 26d

I'm currently reading a showbiz autobiography, co-written by someone who describes himself as 'Britain's comedy historian.'

It's a bit of a bombshell for comedy historians like myself and several of my friends to discover that the post of Britain's comedy historian has already been filled.

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Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 26d

He stayed in soft focus, so I never found out. I still think it was Arthur Haynes though.

(I appreciate this makes very little sense if you didn't see my original post.)

Bigamy Killed the Radio Star @staffordquips.bsky.social · 26d

"We shall never come to Ramsgate again!" A gloomy bespectacled John Henry discovers radio stardom doesn't guarantee packed houses.

Read about the triumphs and tragedies of John Henry in 'Bigamy Killed the Radio Star' from all bookshops and online booksellers.

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