Boggen's Advent Calender (Day Seven) - Hooked into Christmas

Music is always the ingredient which adds to Christmas, though never the less you cannot escape it when shopping or on the television as Noddy Holder's bank account gets bigger and bigger much like the ringing of the cash till for Roy Wood. 

So many songs are played to death, they have no meaning what it is to be a Christmas song and yet everyone does one it seems, just because they don't make it onto television and radio, doesn't mean they are not less important at all.  But I have been searching around for some songs which will hardly been heard since they were first put onto turntables.

First of all, its 1981 and after all that went with the Summer of that year came one phenomena. Its name is Hooked on Classics, all the best bits from those famous composers put on one single or album if you're more fancy. Though hold everything, the cash tills are ringing like sleigh bells, so what's the best way to keep the Hooked On.. franchise going? Well, do it at Christmas! Its easy, get those favourite tunes and add in that funky syth-beat, so what have you got? 

Well, actually... A flop...For all its effort, it failed to reach the top 75 chart. so maybe stretching an idea to breaking point isn't a good idea after all then. But just for you, here's it moment in the mid-winter's sun.

"Hooked, line and sunk.."

Second up from the masters of the Can Can is Bad Manners, to get in the festive mood they have reminded is that "Its Christmas Time Again" which sounds more a weary statement than a cheery single. The actual song isn't that bad, but which leaves the question how could this not even challenge for the Christmas Number One. Proving its not an art how to write or make a good song but somehow it must have got swamped by all the rest of the Christmas songs out there. To Buster Bloodvessel, he went and tried something and isn't that better then not trying it at all.

"A-neeny-nani-noo-noo.. A Merry Christmas to you..."

So not every Christmas song is Wizzard or a Fairytale of New York, think of those which haven't been played to death because there's always a surprise or two out there

Boggen's Advent Calender (Day Six) - Going Cold Turkey with Bill Grundy

For all the joy of Christmas, then comes the other side. The true meaning of Christmas, every now and again television puts this into focus with serious debates and discussions. Think Question Time with added three day old Turkey sandwiches. Who can think of anything more festive whilst wrapping presents to have two men talking about the merits of keeping Christmas and who do we spy as the festive Scrooge? Its Mr 'Wot a Rotter' himself Bill Grundy talking about axing Christmas, putting the point across that the festive season is no more an excuse to eat, drink and spending too much on presents. But to put the opposite view is Dr John Rae, the headmaster of Westminster School.

Wait, hang on. Have we been reversed here? A teacher encouraging fun at Christmas? Seems so, Lord Thames though this was a good programme to put out on Christmas Eve. Plus with its title 'Abolish Christmas!' meaning that the fun is being sucked out of Christmas some what. Though I do have a theory about Mr Grundy's grumpiness and its not to do with those 'Sex Pistols' either.

No I think it all stems from a little know series travel films produced by British Pathe in 1972. Telly Savalas got to visit Aberdeen, Birmingham and Portsmouth, Pete Murray went to Nottingham. At least James Mason got to look at some public conviences, but not our Bill. He went to Aylesbury and Windsor, maybe he could see what was coming after all and decided to turn himself into a Dickensian character, sweeping away the comforts for news. 

So let us remember Bill Grundy for what he was before and not what happened in 1976 and so here are two films where Bill Grundy visits...

"Here I am in a pub.."

"Oooh look, its the Queen!"

Boggen's Advent Calender (Day Four and Five): Festive Stuffing (19th December 1998)

Day four sees the first of out look at what was on the television on a certain day before Christmas and we've landed in 1998 at the last Saturday before the big day itself. So Saturday 19th December 1998, well the biggest day of the week for BBC 1 and that means phone-ins, pop and cartoons. Providing that is Live and Kicking with Zoe Ball and Jamie Theakston, now she does Strictly Coming Dancing's accompanying programme and he's now presenting history programmes for the Freeview channel Yesterday. I know, its a strange world isn't it? 

So what did they have to offer on this morning? Boyzone and The Spice Girls, but let's not forget their biggest guest, Brian Blessed hopefully in full 'GORDON'S ALIVE!' mode though knowing Mr Blessed, he would have seen it as great fun to muck about with the likes of Mr Blobby. Is that the last we see of them today, ooh no, not at all. But to bring us down to earth is Grandstand with Steve Rider in the chair featuring Short Track Speed Skating, Skiing from Italy and the annual Show Jumping from Olympia, save for a bit of tinsel in the Grandstand studio. This is hardly very festive at all, you could say snow is festive but then again I know I would have been watching it. Who's the fool then? Ah, OK.

As with most late 90's Saturdays then after the early evening news comes a repeat of a well love sitcom from the David Croft stable, surprising its not Dad's Army. But it is 'Allo 'Allo, where Herr Flick captures Rene and the rest of them for his own pleasure, the Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies must be in there somewhere or as the BBC Genome puts it 'Unknown: Herr Flick'. Talking about unknowns, Jim Davidson turns up with the Generation Game after that. To link 'Allo 'Allo to the Generation Game, comedian Roger Kitter turns up with Bobby Crush and yes, its the second appearance of Brian Blessed on this day. No doubts in full Captain Hook costume and Jim's co-host Melanie Stace dressed as Peter Pan. Hmm, I don't know what to make of that, but hey Brian Blessed again!

Talking of men with beards, Noel and his House Party come onto the air at 7pm, the usual NTV and Gotcha shenanigans happen with interactive fun in Sofa Soccer, the likes of Steve Harper trying to save balls from a mechanical machine firing footballs at the behest of the viewers to win prizes. This was exciting, you know.. As usual someone turns up at the front door to carry on the illusion that they live in Crinkly Bottom with Noel, making it a strange comedy Stella Street or a dramatic Tickle on the Tum. If you were wishing your luck would change, Dale Winton brings the National Lottery draw to life with Drawmaster John Willan in full effect and to bring everyone back to earth is Rick Adams visiting another lottery winner. Lucky them, that's what I say.

After Rick Adams' horror comes Casualty, well you've got to have a Goose at Christmas and Claire Goose would be as good as any around the festive time of the year. But you can always rely on Charlie Fairhead like the passing of the seasons to come up with a festive quip as usual to make it all warm and cosy. But that's not cosy enough at all, The Vicar of Dibley has the true meaning of Christmas as well as cake. If that's sweet enough, be warned the programme of the evening may not be suitable for those of a nervous disposition. As Dale Winton has Winton's Wonderland, very similar to those festive entertainment specials of the past and look who turns up, its only Jimmy Tarbuck who's done so many of these types of programmes he's having flashbacks to that satellite link-up with the stars of Hart to Hart. Well, its almost like 'I remember something about Christmas and seem to have forgotten about it right at this moment..' as Barbara Windsor turns up with Jimmy Nail to make it more like 'A Krusty the Klown Christmas' than any other programme in the past twenty years.

So top off the evening is more news, Match of the Day, Michael Caine as Harry Palmer trying not to blow the doors off in 'Funeral in Berlin' and a repeat of Top of the Pops from the Friday night. A varied back for our first look back at how we built upto Christmasses past, so don't have nightmares about Rick Adams.

Boggen's Advent Calender (Day Three): Little Bill's Big Banana - When Oddie took on Edmonds

For today's door on the advent calender, we go back to 1978. So what's better then first off Bill Oddie larking about in a winter wonderland with the help of some special effects from Southern Television's box of tricks. 

Goodie grief...

Quite a few ITV regions in the late 1970's decided to let Southern go down the short bearded presenter route with Bill Oddie for Saturday mornings, to go up against Swap Shop and so the Saturday Banana is born and meaning that Mr Oddie is catapulted into the world of children's television where he looks ill at ease somewhat. Not really wanting to be there trying to hold the programme together and helped by Metal Mickey, before he went off to get his own series. Though thanks to Southern owning formats which they had brought, at least there was Runaround on a smaller scale and plenty of creature features.

Alas with most of ITV's attempts to stop Noel on the other side, the Banana didn't last that long, eventually with Tiswas taking over the whole country for ITV as ATV Land spread its wings. So for the third day, we bring you over eleven minutes of titles for the Saturday Banana not seen since its broadcast back in the late 1970's

Bananas, everywhere...

Boggen's Advent Calender (Day Two) - Oh no... It Shouldn't Have...

Christmas usually contains so many things, but the ever present has to be pantomime and over the years television has managed to tell these tales in so many different ways. Whether for children or all the family, it was pretty much what you could see in any theater over the festive season.

But good old television loves to do something special and it turns out the idea to such a length meaning the tights and dresses are donned by people usually to be found delivering us serious news all through the year. With one whiff of a mince pie and they are turned into hoofers who can hold their own with any of showbiz's royalty. Which leads us to Westward Television in 1981, on the 31st of December the company itself would disappear from screens but were they to leave a mark before they did. A whole twenty five minutes from the South West's finest lead to well know tales to be mixed upto into one panto, meaning Scrooge (played by Stuart Hutchison) met with Tweedledum and Tweedledee (both played by Peter Forde and Chris Fear respectively). 

Though if its the South West, then Judy Spiers is never that far behind at all. With Ms Spiers playing a Rag Doll, it seems Roger Shaw played to type though, the Chief Station announcer played a station announcer. Hopefully, he was dressed in a railway workers uniform, to least add that more surrealism. Not bad for a Christmas Eve at all, I think.

Hold on though, if Westward was offering their take on panto. then how about a review of the year via the medium of pantomime? Well, the Nationwide team thought this was worthy of an edition on the 19th of December 1977. So Sue Lawley dressed as Dorothy to take the Yellow Brick Road with help from Bob Wellings and Denis Healey. Yes, the Chancellor of the Exchequer appeared as the Wizard of Oz, though this became a regular thing for a couple of years but of course when David Dimbleby arrived all that type of stuff stopped. Quite right too, Mr Dimbleby as the Genie of the Lamp? No, I can't picture it either. 

Local news always loves a bit of thigh slapping action and as far as these two things combined, that Fern Britton was part of the cast during a 1988 performance of Cinderella at the Mayflower Theater taking the title role allowing her to read the news on TVS' Coast to Coast and then do a performance of the panto in the evening. Thus with that, the whole thing was turned into a story for the programme, though with Fern's theatrical background she could take to it like it was her day job. 

So just when you think its safe to switch on your television at Christmas, there might be a panto lurking there and feel safe that the One Show hasn't thought of that idea as of yet...



  

Boggen's Advent Calender (Day One) - Barbecued Turkey with all the Trimmings

As we start another advent season, so the advent calender is once again opened up for business hopefully not finding one of those nutty toffees in there. But Christmas television is usually in December, right? Yes, there is the jokes about repeats in July, even the Mike Yarwood 1978 Xmas Special was shown on Election night 1979. Though what about first run specials, surprisingly they don't appear when there's holly on the tree and the tinsel is flowing.

Well, our first out of season performer is Brian Conley who had his Christmas special shown on 22nd of July 1995. With a guest list of Gerry Marsden, Mike Pender, Shania Twain, Domino and John 'Four Square' Sachs to boot. The ITV management thought this was something jolly to show at that time, but July? I can think of nothing better then a warm mince pie and hot custard in the middle of a heatwave. Conley as a performer was at his peak and by 1997 Carlton gave him the chance to appear a bit nearer the time on 23rd of December, at least the show could touch the festival period rather then stretching to reach it with a elongated broom. 

Though the world of sitcom does not escape from this fact either, on the 27th of July 2000 BBC2 broadcast an even more out of place Christmas special, from the minds of Dominic Anciano and Ray Burdis came one of the most surreal Christmas specials ever. As part of the third series of Operation Good Guys, it is decided by D.I. Beach played by David Gillespie that because they have their own fly on the wall documentary, so thus the Good Guys should have their own Christmas Special as well. Leading to meetings with BBC executives Paul Jackson and Will Wyatt, a load of confiscated cocaine, an angry small actor called Kenny who has the tendency to bite people, a confused Michael Fish and a kidnapped Denise Van Outen who has to act like she is enjoying herself. Not to forget D.I. Beach's attempt at racial harmony as well.

"Merry Christmas from the BBC!"

But for all these specials come the likes of One Foot in the Algarve, Only Fools and Horses which their episode Miami Twice went on location and even Duty Free decided to book into the same hotel again in 1986, meaning seeing characters roasting under a blazing hot sun whilst in the real world the temperature would not barely climb high enough to warm a cold wet piece of cod. 

At least with the Australian soaps, meaning that Turkey on the beach is a regular thing for those Neighbours down Ramsey Street or with the residents down in Summer Bay for Home and Away. Well as the schedulers like everything to match in with each other nowadays, years ago it was not uncommon to see Christmas on Australian soaps in March or April, owing to the lagging behind by a couple of months from the actual Australian broadcasts. 

"Five Harold Bishops..."

So not always does television do its Christmas programmes in December, but yet they are done so they can feel as Christmassy as possible, no matter if the barbecue is cooking up a treat outside. Still at least it would remind us there are only another two hundred odd shopping days to go till the shops shut and that's a good thing isn't it?

The Victory Roll - The Rise, Fall and resurrection of Radio Victory

Mention the names 'Victory' and generally they will think of Lord Nelson's Flagship with a lot of Portsmuthian residents and radio enthusiasts they will think of it as the name of the radio station that brought commercial radio to the South Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight in 1975.

Although with its studios in Fratton, Portsmouth and as the ILR franchise for the city itself. The actual reach of the station took in Southampton as well, making for a pan-Solent approach to programming to cover both cities in news, sport and music as well. With the spread of local radio both via the BBC and Commercially throughout the county, Victory itself was seen to be the competitor to Radio Solent which had started in 1970 finally bringing local radio to the South of England.

In both style and content BBC Radio Solent and ILR's Radio Victory were competing on the same territory, bringing a mixture of music, chat, sport and local personalities. Such with each of them employing staff and DJ's who would go to either station at one time or another. A prime example was Kenny Everett who syndicate a show to Radio Solent at the start of the 1970's, but by the mid-seventies was syndicating one to Radio Victory.

At the time of launch in October 1975, the station had a feeling of want to be part of the community it served and it was little wonder that Victory built up a very loyal audience against Solent and was even topping the BBC's national music stations with the emphasis towards including the community as part of its programming. In particular 'Radio Victory News' looked at all aspects affect local people from planning issues to more deeper debates into local politics. With the area at that time which it served including the Naval Dockyard, never did this come into more deeper focus than in 1982. With job cuts to the workforce at the Naval Base and also the Falklands War as well. So the station during the period of the conflict went to a twenty four hour operation to cover the latest news, keeping locals up to date with breaking stories all the time.

For all its entertainment, Radio Victory was not afraid to try new things in its schedule with 'Navy News' reflecting the city's maritime links, during the first week of broadcasting, presenter Eugene Fraser partook in a live daily reading of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations. This showed the link between Dickens and the city of Portsmouth where he was born. Alongside high culture sat 'The Wibbly Wobbly Wireless Show' presented by children and aided by focussing on what they liked in their day to day lives, plus for older teenagers '7-teen' looked at the issues effecting them.

In Victory playing pop music, its output reflected all types of music including Country and Western, Rhythm and Blues, Heavy Metal and Rock as well as championing new music with these programmes becoming hugely popular, not least 'Folk-Us' with local artist Shep Woolly looking the local and national folk music scene on a weekly basis. For all this success, the station one by one dropped these programmes to become a pop music station to reflect what other Commercial radio stations were doing in the early to mid-eighties. With pop music being such a big part of the output, this meant that they had their own chart show called 'Victory Roll' based on the sales at the local Co-Op department store years before there was a commercial radio chart show of any kind.

Though for being commercially successful did mean that what Radio Victory had done so well in its early years had simply vanished leaving the new DJ's to come through and form new careers for themselves. But this left the station unpopular with the IBA, with one of the problems, the station serving two major cities where as most ILR contracts served one major town or city and its surrounding area. The problem of what to do had reared its head once again, the feeling was that the IBA thought that Radio Victory was somewhat ignoring Southampton, although Victory was the holder of the contract for Portsmouth and not the Solent area as a whole. Somewhat the West Sussex problem had been solved with the launch of Southern Sound in the early 80's, but in this period rather then keep Radio Victory in place and advertise for a new Southampton contract, it was decided that Victory would be stripped of its contract and have it handed to Ocean Sound who were given a bigger area including the city of Southampton to start in October 1986.

Though where as most people would think that would be the end of the Radio Victory name, but one major world event made the station reborn again.

In 1994, the city of Portsmouth became the major focal point for the commemorations for the 50^th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the city's 800^th birthday, the new station called Victory FM was set up by Mark Samways and Kevin Huffer to be able to cover these events with the city's then Lord Mayor Alex Bentley gave space in the city's civic offices to allowing the service to go on the air for a twenty-eight day restricted service licence. This sewed the seeds for the service to be broadcast over Christmas 1994 and in June 1995 for the 50^th anniversary of D-Day both times with RSL Licences.

The name Radio Victory was re-given to the service when it was broadcast on cable television and for temporary FM licences such as to cover the UK Special Olympics in Portsmouth, with the success each time, six further RSL licences were used between 1994 and 1998. When a new ILR franchise was issued to the Greater Portsmouth area, they won it and started to broadcast from September 1999. Though with the station was taken over by The Local Radio Company in late 1999, many of the original staff who had re-set the new permanent station having left the company meant there was a whole change in personalities at the start of the year 2000.

At the turn of the new millennium in not being able to grab a foothold against more established local rivals, meant that Victory re branded twice in a couple of years before Portsmouth Football Club took a major stake in the station allying it to the club itself allowing the station to have the financial support at that difficult time, but when the football faced financial problems themselves this meant that when the station was sold to Celador's radio arm who took the station and made into to the southern offshoot of its Breeze station combining with stations from Winchester, Southampton and Haselmere.

The name of Radio Victory may have gone from radio dials, but the spirit and enthusiasts will live on for a name which meant radio in the city of Portsmouth.