All Tinsel and Turkey... Christmas night in the Stars of BBC and ITV...

Christmas brings many things, presents, food and television in abundance. As the schedules have been released for this year the usual soaps and also big hitting programmes dominate, but it wasn't always like this. At one time there was a one stop shop to see all your stars in, the BBC coming together if you will. The show which dominated the big day itself for more than fifteen years was Christmas Night with the Stars, a place where the stars shone so bright and you could get the likes of Cliff Richard rubbing shoulders with Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. Usually in ten minutes sections of

the most popular sitcoms of the year, the best light entertainment shows and the biggest stars. This was a show of might by the BBC to show the viewers their selection box of personalities.

The first show in 1958 was hosted by magician David Nixon, performing tricks himself as well, the line-up was a stellar one with the cream of British comedy appearing in sketches such as Ted Ray, Charlie Chester, Charlie Drake combing with future stars Tony Hancock and Kenneth Connor, the nature of the show meant that Dixon of Dock Green appeared with Billy Cotton and also the Beverly Sisters performing, though the interest comes in the cast with future Benny Hill writer Dave Freeman performing with Charlie Drake and the writers of the show reads like a who's who of comedy writing. The partnerships of Galton and Simpson are there with Muir and Norden plus Charlie Chester as well. This was the cream of the talent the BBC had, meaning something was there for everyone. To say that the BBC wanted to get a march on the fledgling ITV franchises was an understatement, though this showed ITV on the biggest occasions that the Beeb were willing to fight for their audience. Plus with the Light Entertainment department getting new directing and producing talent into their ranks, this would set the BBC up for the 1960's.

With the BBC's intentions clear to fight for the audience which was out there, the sixties was to be a decade which would change light entertainment for ever. A decade of pushing the boundaries, where Britain would change in itself. At the start of the decade with the opening of the new Television Centre in 1960, one of the newest purpose built television studios in the world. The raising of the standard, made the programmes even better. The first show of the new decade featured Sid James from Citizen James, Harry Worth on film plus regulars David Nixon and Jimmy Edwards. It might seem the programme had hardly changed at all, but by 1962 Eamonn Andrews has taken on the role of presenting The Black and White Minstrels, Dixon of Dock Green and The White Heather Club. But backing these favourites up were two shows which were new and were to show the BBC had started to change in its comedy output. The Rag Trade starring Peter Jones, Reg Varney with support of Miriam Karlin and Esma Cannon, the show had been on the air since 1961 but 1962 was the first time when the honour of appearing on the biggest show of the year was bestowed on it.

By 1964, the programme had moved away from including shows with a dramatic narrative. So Jack Warner became the host as Eamonn Andrews had moved to ABC, but the focus was more about the light entertainment stars. The Black and White Mistrels were present with Billy Cotton, the traditional had there place in there but with pop starting to rule the roost, the show acknowledged this with appearances from Kathy Kirby and The Barron Knights. Two stars who were to become two of comedy's biggest stars performed sketches in the form of Benny Hill and Dick Emery, their comedy seemed the same by the end of the decade Hill had moved to Thames Television and Emery was still present on BBC1. Though with comedians there was a place for the all-round entertainers as well, Roy Castle being one of them. The future Record Breakers host had his own show, singing and dancing showing off his talents on a weekly basis, Castle was very much a British 'Sammy Davis Jnr.' , though his career though bubbling along didn't hit the heights as many people thought he would do at that time. Alongside Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd, Freddie Frinton and Thora Hird performed a shortened version of their sitcom Meet the Wife, but 1964 also saw the launch of BBC2 and one their biggest comedies which had been repeated on BBC1, The Likely Lads was asked to film an insert for the programme with Rodney Bewes as Bob and James Bolam as Terry reflected on the Christmas season in their own inimitable way. It was a sign that a new wave was sweeping through light entertainment.

Come the end of the decade, with the new ITA franchises in place and the BBC looking towards newer talent, it gave the 1968 a new fresh look which would start the new era of light entertainment at the BBC. In this year, the show was a powerhouse, the host being the newly arrived from ATV, Morecambe and Wise hosted the programme. Just having Eric and Ernie on Christmas Day was a bonus, allowing them to perform at their best, though the supporting cast was one which the BBC could be proud of. The personality led variety show had come to define light entertainment by the end of the decade, ITV had led with the Tom Jones show but the Beeb could count on Cliff Richard to do pretty much the same job but in a more boy next door style, the might of pop was important to the very important teenage audience so both Lulu and Petula Clark were included too. Both performers would go on to have their own personality led variety show the same as Cliff Richard with in the next five years following the programme.

Though the biggest star the BBC could offer was Rolf Harris, this antipodean bundle of many talents had his own show on a Saturday night inviting the top singing stars of the day, performing dance routines with Duggie Squires' Young Generation containing a future Blue Peter presenter in Leslie Judd and future Light Entertainment executive who would put his own mark on the genre in the 1990's, Nigel Lythgoe. Add in the combination of jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, comedy from Marty Feldman and with new to that year comedies Not in Front of the Children and more importantly Dad's Army filming sketches for the programme, it is little wonder what the new ITV companies did for 1969, they thought back. They launched the All Star Comedy Carnival, taking the best of what ITV had to offer from all the regional franchises and showcasing them in one place. That first year one of the main attraction was the Granada series 'The Dustbinmen' featuring a pre-Are You Being Served Trevor Bannister.

With the start of the 1970's, it saw the death of Tom Sloan in May 1970. The head of the Light Entertainment group had been influential in bringing so many shows which would define the BBC's output in the 1960's such as Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Dad's Army, the Val Doonican shows and even Dixon of Dock Green. His influence over the BBC's biggest department meant that he could persuade the performers to make appearances on Christmas Night with the Stars, but all backed up with his team behind him like Stewart Morris, Yvonne Littlewood, Roger Ordish, Terry Heneberry, Michael Hurll and most importantly Bill Cotton Jnr. Cotton Jnr. himself had been a producer for in house BBC productions since 1956 including his own father's Band Show, so he was the natural choice to take over the role. The 1970 cavalcade of stars had Cilla Black appearing with Dick Emery, Terry Scott, June Whitfield and Stanley Baxter. But the star power the show had meant, Clodagh Rogers could be seen alongside Nana Mouskori, Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis contributing to give a transatlantic feel but none could top an appearance by Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra that's without noting the 'Galloping Gourmet' Graham Kerr as well. This provided a combination of laughs, music and even cooking as well, all the things for a perfect Christmas party.

So with this wealth of talent on the one programme, what could ITV do for their All Star Comedy Carnival of that year? Well, at 6.30pm, the programme started with the mixture of The Lovers with Paula Wilcox and Richard Beckinsdale, Hark at Barker meant that Lord Rustless would get a place in the Christmas schedules for Ronnie Barker, the Doctors in the House were there from London Weekend with the jokes coming thick and fast from Yorkshire Television's Jokers Wild with Barry Cryer presenting and his future Kenny Everett writing partner Ray Cameron on writing duties. To add in variety, Des O'Connor brought a snippet of his own show with Des singing, even down in Weatherfield there was a seasonal visit to Coronation Street with the regulars of the Rovers Return pondering about the festive season in a especially written mini-episode. This of course pre-cursing the days when the soaps and their story lines would become a integral of the Christmas Day schedules. All linked together by Max Bygraves and with musical accompaniment from Geoff Love and his orchestra as well, even popular BBC sitcom stars Warren Mitchell and Rodney Bewes turned up on the programme. Though it is surprising that the programme that followed the show On the Buses wasn't part of the comedy carnival itself with it being one of ITV's top rated shows at the time, but maybe keeping separate from all the other shows meant the rest of ITV's comedy and entertain could be showcased without them being overshadowed by a mini-episode of such a popular show. On reflection, ITV's effort may have seemed weaker in comparison for that year to the BBC's effort but it did offer an alternative to the BBC though.

1971 saw more change with the BBC's Light Entertainment department bringing new shows to their schedule with the Generation Game, Parkinson and the Two Ronnies, Messrs Barker and Corbett being reunited with each other. Bill Cotton's stamp was firmly on the department now, but come Christmas Day the stars were rolled out once again including mini episodes of Dad's Army, Till Death Do Part sharing the limelight with efforts from Lulu and her show, Mike Yarwood making an impression on the audience both in the studio and at home. It was a show of force once again from the Beeb, but ITV counteracted pretty much with the same shows of the previous years but with the inclusion of The Fenn Street Gang and Please Sir! Which they had left behind, Father Dear Father came from Thames and Lollipop loves Mr Mole from ATV. Plus Les Dawson made a mini-episode of Sez Les which was doing great business for himself and also Yorkshire Television as well. Mike and Bernie Winters hosted this year, they themselves had made a contribution of a music item with Opportunity Knocks' Hughie Green on trumpet/guitar, ITN newsreader Gordon Honeycombe on sax, illusionist David Nixon on double bass, Eamonn Andrews on trombone and the whole of the World of Sport team providing the rhythm section, plus Mike Winters playing the clarinet. This is one of those occasions where you wish the footage has not been lost, just to see this spectacle. Not only for the sight of Dickie Davies on drums or the fact what song they actually played, with the Christmas TV Times of that year handily saying it would be an old favourite.

But with this chance at the BBC came a new policy to do with Christmas television, all the stars who had roughly ten minutes to showcase themselves and their programmes during Christmas Night with the Stars seemed such a tight time to do so. So it was that 1972 was the last Christmas Night with the Stars for another twenty four years, introduced by The Two Ronnies after their success with the own show in the previous year. As in previous years Dad's Army and Mike Yarwood did mini-episodes of their own shows, with this year two additions to the line up of The Liver Birds and The Goodies, themselves fresh from their own success on BBC2. Plus Lulu appeared as well as The Young Generation with this year Nigel Lythgoe being credited as the choreographer of their dance routine, the credits for this show read like a who's who of the BBC Light Entertainment department, the Two Ronnies directed by Terry Hughes, Dad's Army by David Croft, Jim Franklin producing The Goodies as well as Michael Hurll and Sydney Lotterby. In addition to both musical directors Ronnie Hazelhurst and Alyn Ainsworth and a stellar list of writers including Michael Palin and Terry Jones, Barry Cryer and Neil Shand to name a few. This was the way to go out, as from 1973, the Christmas specials would out on their own and longer then before. The BBC worked out that each show could do even more by each production

being able to work on their own efforts, thus focussing the talents of the crew, the writers and the performers. That idea was to have massive success as the Christmas schedules of the BBC would continue to dominate for many years to come.

The swansong for the All Star Comedy Carnival would come for ITV in 1973, up against the BBC's new style Christmas Day schedules. They could offer Jimmy Tarbuck in a mock house with the going on with Man about the House, Les Dawson making another appearance with Sez Les, My Good Woman from ATV and Billy Liar from LWT plus Spring and Autumn from Love Thy Neighbour's Vince Powell. But not even the might of the Wandsworth School Choir and Fyfe Robertson could overthrow BBC1's offering. So it was not surprise that after this year's edition that ITV took the same approach as the BBC of pitching the best of their shows up against each other, for Christmas Night with the Stars, the style of that programme was used for the Funny Side of Christmas in 1982. Again the best of BBC comedy all in the same place and with revivals in 1994 on BBC2 featuring the likes of Steve Coogan performing and again ten years later in 2004 presented by Michael Parkinson, but this version seemed more like an extend version of his chat show. For the All Star Comedy Carnival, the idea has not been revived by ITV and looks likely not to be any time soon.

Some people may say that these programmes, maybe they were of their time. But however without them we would not have got to the Christmas Day schedules today, they were the first to introduce soaps on Christmas Day, they were the first to have the leading comedies of the day back to back, they were the first to have top variety in the same place and they were the first to introduce new comedies to a wider audience. Whatever way you want to look at it, Christmas would not have been brighter places without them.

A slight Crick in the back...

This evening, I decided to plunge into BBC Four's 'Cricklewood Greats' as much of my twitter followers did as well. This mockumentry helmed by Peter Capaldi about a long forgotten British film studios played on the British film industry and what genres it has done well such as Horror and also Comedy as well. 

So much of what was spoofed was recognisable to the discerning lovers of both British movies and Pop Culture, as it might be too close what is fact. But in the suspension of this knowledge, it had so many laugh out moments in the programme. The actual quality of the material had so much owing to Armando Iannucci's style of programme, realistic but also humourous. Which explain's why Capaldi was chosen to lead the piece, with a great supporting cast playing the actors and actresses who worked for the studios.

But by seeing this, it becomes evident why these things are done so rarely just like Norbert Smith - A Life which could be the nearest comparable thing to it. There has has to be love for a subject to be able to spoof so accurately to make it believable, in which this does it spades with also a laugh every time you look either verbally or visually. If you do get chance to see on the BBC I-Player please do, because you'll not regret it...

Boggenstrovia's 12th Bit of Christmas... Dribbled with Brandy Buttered Goodness...

So this is Christmas and what have we done? Another year older and fatter in the tum...


Here we are at the final bit of Christmas, as some of you might have realised there haven't been twelve of them, such as vol-le-vents left over from Christmas Day. You might think I have an idea of what to write about, well I don't. So this is a bit about bits, not necessary about Christmas more a strange experience about how exactly YouTube just changed the experience of viewing. The amount of uploads from VHS and Beta is amazing, where as any shared experiences of any event which may have happened. So hence there are a load of uploads of the Southern Ashtar Command experience and other incidents which may be remembered by people.


Let's take for example, 1981 for example, 30 years ago...

"She was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar..."

The year of the Don't You Want Me Baby, a royal wedding and riots with Manchester City in a Cup Final. Who said that 2011 was any different, but with the time of year came the listings magazines of the Radio and TV Times. Such it was so special, our family had a special folder to put them in. Its never found wanting as much, but even the junior cousin of the TV Times, Look-In made the effort to show itself to be in a festive party mood around this time of year. Though it seems with 1981 everything changed, from flares in New Romantics and with the introduction of the lime green and blue BBC1 globe in September, it was a shuddering halt to the 70's and on into the 80's with technology at the fore front.

Its not so much an innocent age had gone, but had changed with the times...

"Its for you-hooo!"

At that point when the GPO as was were still running telephones and delivering the post on time, there was something to be said about the way that they were promoted. Buzby was on the  telephones side and Postman Pat on the Mail side, they were as big as anyone can imagine now. Its not like that we didn't trust them, but they were a key part of how these things were sold to us as consumers. Their lives of their own made themselves popular, the strategy and the mindset of companies was different, of being friendly and on our side. But thanks to JR and Dallas, we discovered that meaness was a way to go. Through no fault of our own, we had been sucked into the business of business, yet now from think about dramas about business, we watch as real business is being portrayed by people trying to get to a point and hope situation. 

We look at YouTube and see so many different videos of the number of opinions and also thoughts as well, inbetween them there is the recording from Beta and VHS, things which might have been lost for ever but now in cyberspace, sure there are people who try and recreate stuff, badly... Though if it wasn't for that, we would have something to look at to be able to look at old adverts, junctions and bits of programmes. We have become the keepers of the archives, we create our own pasts and future.

So Merry Christmas from me, I'll be back in the New Year with more nonsense to waffle about. But until then, have yourselves a Happy Christmas and don't forget to leave the purple quality street alone...

Boggenstrovia's 11th Bit of Christmas - Baxter's Choice Cuts

Christmas, what does it mean for you? It might be the Christmas spirit, it might be the food, it might be the presents etc.. But it comes as no surprise, that the highlight of Christmas must be the Queen's Speech. But hold on, that's not the Queen...

"I never watch him..."

Stanley Baxter, what can we say about him? Well, for many years he was the highlight of Christmas both on ITV and the BBC as well. Baxter in himself was a master of comedy, but the cream of the crop had to be the Duchess of Brendagh. At that time an impression of the Queen was seen to be taking the mickey of the head of state, never referenced as such in the sketches but such was the influence of Baxter, that staff in the royal household used the the title privately. For nearly 25 years, his specials and series were as good anything and such was the influence that in 2008 when ITV made a retrospective about his shows, young comedians queued up to praise him for what influence that he had on them. Plus Baxter made new sketches for the show, serving as a reminder of what a performer he is.

The shows were made lushious by the orchestration from Alyn Ainsworth but not only that the direction of what was highly technical scenes which may involved Baxter play all the parts being filmed individually piece by piece and the skill in editing as well to stitch it together to make it look as real as possible. The set pieces especially in the Christmas shows were written wonderfully, but captured the essence of what ever movie or television programme they were taking off. A perfect example of this is Towering Quake '75 from Stanley Baxter's Christmas Box, with disaster movies being all the rage at this time, Baxter used this to be able to pull off a perfect parody of the genre. Below is the 9 minutes and 32 seconds of joy which is that, showing what a master he is.

Oh dear, what can the matter be?

All of Stanley's characters are stuck in the lavatory...

But the one sketch which get me is Stanley's Nationwide sketch, taking the process of Nationwide and giving a spin from Stanley... Enjoy and don't forget to pass that cake around the regions.... 

Getting away with it Scot-free...

Back tommorow as we arrive at the 12th and final bit of Christmas, so I do hope you can join me then...

Boggenstrovia's 6th and 7th Bits of Christmas... Cold, damp turkey...

So here we are again after technical problems, back again with the twelve bits of Christmas and in honour of not being able to blog for a few days. This time we are talking Turkey or more like food at Christmas, as its the time of the year when we are meant to eat drink and be merry. But who can be after four days of food? You're usually laid up with the Alka-Seltzer and a gas mask after all of that.


So where can we start? How about some pre-dinner action? Fancy a drink?

"Blimey, I'm so drunk I can see an animated deer..."

Babycham, the bubbly tipple... Often found at the back of cupboards, brought out at Christmas to bring sophistication of the big day. It was often a worry that an animated deer would advertise it, what exactly was that suggesting? Two or three of these and you'll be seeing Bambi and saying "Huey... Lewis and the News.." after more of them. Along with Malibu which would be seen at this time, was it a ploy to think that we were all in some sun-kissed nirvana, rather then looking at drizzle run down a window accompanied with battleship grey skies and sleet? 

Apart from egg-nog, this ranks amongst the drink to curl a lip, but of course the ladies would advertise the more exotic fare, from Tia Maria with the sultry lady to Lorraine Chase wafting back from a week in Marbella for some Campari or even Rigsby and Joan Collins camping it up for some Cinzano. People say that that advert was more popular then the programmes of that time, but the tin foil medal has to go to Jenny Clulow... Ms Clulow, announcer on TVS had spent time advertising Contreau on the television... Wheither she had a bottle hidden under the desk, to help her get through another episode of 'The Littlest Hobo' I don't know...

And now onto the main part of the meal, there's only one Turkey we can have around here...

"Turkey..."

"Oh, stuff it! You've cost us a holiday!"

Yes, Mr Turkey... The truth goes he thought he heard the previous person's answer of 'Name something you can stuff' now from there where exactly did he get that all the answer were Turkey I don't know... Along with the Beethoven/Chopin clip which gets dragged out to show 'Ha, ha, ha! Aren't they stupid contestants' this is one which rankles with me. How exactly was he daft? He got big points for it, it could have been worse he could have dropped trousers and mooned the audience... By being 'dumb' he got smart and this clip is a goto clip for any quizshow blooper compliations, wherever you are Sir, alive or dead. I salute you for being a maverick and showing the way of others to follow.

So you've settled down after your pudding and need something to wash it down with?

How about an Avenger, Aunt Sally and a lady who's now a doctor?

"Keen bedside manner? Just as long as she warmed her thermometer!"

Arriving back not from Luton Airport, but the local cornershop Diane Keen and Una Stubbs come back to Gareth Hunt's pad for some bean shaking with Nescafe, before the Gold Blend couple jumped into bed this was class... Mike Gambit inviting two classy ladies in for coffee, now that sound like the start of a film! But no matter, because a coffee solved it all, with the aroma of the beans and that famous handshake of course. The reputation of the brand was such that Gareth was the long time face of Nescafe, but I'd much rather have him then George Clooney trying to flog frothy coffee to us, but on the opposite side, there's people who hate coffee...

Time for tea anyone? Though the post meal thing can be set off with a nice brew though, for so long the chimps would advertise PG Tips until one day birds took over. Birds, I ask you! If anything birds would remind you of custard and not tea at all... So how do you modernise PG Tips for a new age, still the monkey link? Well, you call on a woolly monkey of course and his friend Al! Now Monkey and Al had been through the ITV digital fiasco, with us thinking that another character gone for a burton, but credit to Mother, the ad agency and Comic Relief that monkey was brought back to his rightful place, advertising tea of course... This made the brand even bigger it was before, with giveaway of free woolly monkeys two Christmas' ago now. Sealing Monkey's place as one of the best characters along with the Smash Aliens and Homepride's Fred as well...So for now, I leave you with Monkey and Al and say bottoms up, thanks for being patient through these technical troubles of the past few days... And cheers!

"Gawd save 'im and all who drink from his mug!"

Boggenstrovia 4th Bit of Christmas... Hulk do sudoku?

In television land for a long time there have been Christmas specials, but some time the festive season pulls up a gem occasionally. After @ThatBenBaker tweeted earlier today that on the 26th of December 1983 at 4.35pm there was a Keith Harris Christmas Special including the likes of Stu 'Oooh, I could...' Francis starring with the Orville handler. Though that put me on a trail of thought, hard I know... But thanks to Charlie Brooker and his Screenwipe programme, Johnny Ball did a gameshow... Johnny Ball Games

"I really hope no-one puts this up on YouTube in 32 years time..."

What, what, what?! I hear you call, but the master of Think of a Number had families competing in Christmas 1979 for a one-off show. His brain teasers were much like the usual thing which he would do for children on his show. He even had back singers to sing the theme tune, classy! But being suited and also booted, it seems strange for Johnny to be presenting a quiz. One end of the day, he would asking questions of Big Ted and at the other asking what the square root of 56 was to children. Its almost as mad as Roy Castle doing the Generation Game... Which he did once for Bruce Forysth when he couldn't do that week's edition, so there you go!


One event which spreads itself over Christmas is The World's Strongest Man, this annual event has been viewing with the Quality Street and Nectarines for over 30 years now. From pulling trucks, lifting cars and flipping tyres. During these events the big men try themselves with feats of strength, usually Hulks of men, there actually was one in 1977 which competed. Lou Ferrigno, of course better known as the Incredible Hulk competed in the first ever one. Though coming in fourth place in the contestant competing in his first ever strongman contest would have a bit of luck attached to it, when CBS made the pilot for The Incredible Hulk, originally the jolly green giant in the pilot was Richard Kiel but when Kiel didn't seem right for the role, the producers had a problem, who was big enough to play the Hulk. First of all they went to Schwarzenegger, but his accent was a problem to understand... OK, so who do you go to next? Ferrigno was the natural choice as he like Schwarzenegger has already been a Mr Universe himself, although with some slight deafness himself, this didn't prove to be a problem to the producers.

"Rrrrr-ip!" 

"Anyone got a needle and thread?"

"Anyone?"

For many years until his death, this was the domain of Donny MacLeod of Pebble Mill at One fame, with his Scottishness proceeding over the commentary until his death in 1984. Never with anything ironic with his delivery, he treated the competitors with as much respect they deserved. The height of its popularity came with ex-shot putter Geoff Capes winning the event in 1983, but its place across the Christmas is set in stone nowadays with Five buying up the rights to it in the early 2000's.

And for the last little bit... Eric and Ernie promoting their show and also Superman III as well. As I bid you fairwell until Friday for more fun, fun, fun!

Boggenstrovia's Bits of Christmas - Number Three... Rude, Lewd and a little bit nude...

Hello again and we are at the three French Hens stage of the countdown, though who let Bridget Bardot, Audrey Tautou and Charlotte Gainsbourg in here is anyone's guess.. There comes a time of year when people like to let their hair down or in Bobby Charlton's case, his two strands... But imagine you are working making programmes all year round for people to watch, as we know though Light Entertainment is a hard business especially to get it right. So for all the staff, they need to let off some steam at the end of the year and have some fun, same goes for the performers as well.

This is where the Christmas Tape or Film, as they were originally called came into its own. As the first earliest examples are of impromptu sketches being filmed at the staff's Christmas party, usually involving a hat or a wig with some shtick of some sort. But later on more and more complicated sequences were filmed involving the stars of the time performing for the staff and even joining in with the fun. Usually the bloopers in later years were taken for out-take shows, generally the more racier stuff was kept in to appeal to the staff and every year a competition was held privately to find out who could put together the best one.

Though when journalists found a skit involving Princess Anne being interviewed by David Coleman had been edited down to make Anne say things out of context to the interview, the tapes were clamped down on more and more as practises in the broadcasting industries were changed. But contrary to belief, these tapes have not gone away, the stars maybe weary about taking part but the staff at television companies and regions still do make them for their own amusement....

Let's a look at what the boys and girls in VT got upto...

1. "Give me a shot of Enge please!"

The legendary Stewart "CUE THE ROLLER!" Morris here directing a piece for the BBC 1979 Christmas tape 'Good King Memorex' partly persuading Engelbert Humperdinck to film a piece with the girl dancers from his show for VT, but also Stewart plays along with the nature of the tape making jokes as he goes. This shows Morris at his best, in control but getting the best out the performers he worked with but also having a laugh as well. Stewart Morris could that so well, knowing that his rapore with the staff he worked with was intact to be able to produce great shots when needed, but loving the cheekyness of the whole thing as well...

2. "I don't believe it! Figgis, why have you got a party hat on?"

Richard Wilson here in full 'Only When I Laugh' mode with James Bolam as well offering good advice on the do's and dont's of Christmas lunch from a 1983 LWT Christmas Tape. Wilson known for appearing 'Only When I Laugh' at that time, acts the same way that his character does to make it sound very genuine. Its his words which make this clip, appealing to the saucy nature of production crew, the laughter from the crew says it all "We get where you are coming from..." or depending on the nature of where the wind is blowing... But seeing this doesn't make Richard Wilson of being other then being a great performer, in fact it adds to it that he can play on the naughty side and still seem believable as his character.... Even with James Bolam not even saying anything, it makes the clip funnier that they just stuck a party hat on him to get into the spirit of things...

3. "Boll-locks!"

The best of the BBC here featuring the late Sir Jimmy Savile, Angela Rippon, Richard Baker and sweary Dalek as they enjoy themselves and show their boobs or should that their goof-ups? When newsreaders are singing and dancing ten-a-penny nowadays, Richard Baker just has to put on a wig to make people laugh. Plus during a break from one of his many shows, Les Dawson treats us to a little tune on the piano but the star has to be Noel Edmonds who has a very little time to tell us what's on Swap Shop that Saturday but in such little time he makes so make goofs much to the amusement of Maggie Philbin and John Craven who are supposed to be dozing either side of him. With one familiar refrain of "Merry Christmas VT!" they know that the mistake which has just occurred will be put on tape ready for the Christmas tape that year.

4. "He's a sports PA and he went onto work for the FA..."

Finally, a musical number about working in the BBC Sports department including Suzie Quatro and her band plus a man who went onto oversee England at the World Cup, one Brian 'You work for the BBC, out you go!' Barwick. Ms Quatro plays a little ditty, installing the virtues of working in the BBC Sports department in the late 70's. Taking on everybody and everyone by the presenters and commentators seemingly not trusting the sports PA's it seems, but also footage from many far flung places such as Munich and also a cold soggy first division football ground as well. Its little wonder why the BBC didn't have any left after this or either that everything was settled with a few pints in the BBC bar... Lager 1 Malt Whiskey.. Two dozen...

So that's another aspect of Christmas wrapped up in protective foil for another time, come back on Wednesday when I'll have part four...

Boggenstrovia's 12 Bits of Christmas - Number Two... An Eerie Presents...

As we stumble our way towards the 25th, the same sort of things come up in everyway... We've been to the panto, not literally.. I don't think I would have a bus big enough for everyone! So what's next on the list?

Well maybe some presents for a start, but with so many stores out there there so much choice and Christmas is a time to hear those cash tills a ringing or beeping as they go. With enough beeps, it would send Dale Winton into a buying frenzy as he goes. But at this time, everyone of them is trying to scramble for cash. With Bruce Forsyth laughing at a weak Andrew Flintoff pun as they go around and around, a lesser man would say that they are disappearing into the abyss of the celebrity merry-go-round. But not me, they are flogging food for a supermarket. Though who's been wanting us to get our cash out of our wallets, well partly to pay for their massive wages, let's take a look...

1. Anita then Harris...

Woolies, gone from the High Street but they new how to lay it on thick to get the wallets out. If there was any more stars in these adverts, it surely would have Sir Patrick Moore complaining they are getting the way of Uranus. In 1981 two of the Goodies, namely the beardy one and the shiny shows one were elf helpers to a woman who had lost her skirt for comedy only a decade and a bit earlier. In looking at they look like they are thinking about the money already as they film the ad during the hottest day of the year, plus with more oriental girls than on a dating site and a load of cossacks as well. It can't be said that effort hasn't been taken in doing the ad, but I suddenly think I want a Bontempi B226 Electric Organ...

Motorway Cops.... The early years.

2. There's a big Boots up the rear...

Boots, the chemist who thought they could do anything they wanted and went back to selling Corn Plasters. Now there was a time when they could do anything hence me being able buy a board game based on the BBC News and a Gameboy during the 1980's there, but the sort of let's all buy a teasmade idea seems odd now. Boots was an Aladdin's cave of gifts, on one floor would could get a new set of saucepans along with a toy kitchen as well. In most adverts it seems people are happy to being getting the items they are getting, compare and contrast to a wet and drizzly Saturday afternoon in Portsmouth. It doesn't seem so glamourous then and if anyone had any of those clothes, it would be like aliens had landed in Commercial Road... Not a case of take us to your leader, more like "I think you need to go to Mr Clive, mate..."

"Oh.. Its a camera.... I wanted a nuclear fission reactor instead!"

3. There's No-One Quite like flogging some carrots...

The St Winifred's School Choir, the mini Nolans... After their Grandma, we love you success. Its seems like the funds were low, so they were trotted out by the Co-Op to flog carrots and swedes with what you would call a medley of songs. But they aren't flogging anything at all! Come on, Co-Op put up a few prices or something. as how are we going to know how much your fruit flans are this year. Nana maybe thiking it all nice and cute, but do they realise that Sally Lindsay is in there? From selling potato waffles to waffling on Loose Women, some career paths take strange routes but surely that's taking the Danish Cookies... In which that a supermarket can show the way towards the cheeseboard, it can get annoying very quickly. By that effect, they might as well pump my veins with chocolate sauce now...

Tri-angling for a daily chat show...

4. "Pull a whopping cracker!"

George 'Doctor' Layton installing the vertues of getting a Telstar record, for the measly price of £3.99. If you want your party to go with a swing, get these! A half of mild, plus Charles and David tinkling on the ivories. Now that sounds like my type of party, atmospherics made to be improved with a knees-up from London's finest. In itself, that sounds like a good idea. But any party made real during the 80's, a equation of Chas and Dave plus stale Sausage Roll equals good times. Looking back on it, it seems surreal really or maybe it was a test of character to be able to see in a nuclear war the masses could survive Chas and Dave records being played as entertainment. As we know they along with cockroaches are the only things that can survive a nuclear blast...

"Its The Sleighriders!"

"Who?"

5. That SWEB Shopping Surprise! 

Lastly, a taste of the regions... Before Mr Big Business got his hands on the Electric Companies, they had shops where you could go and buy your electrical goods there. You not only used their products, but you brought them off them too. But who else could encourage you to buy them than Tom Good, yes Richard Briers lends his vocal talents to this commercial and you could say its the only thing that's glamorous about it. The ripping of the paper almost like there's only one person filming, directing and producing the advert, adding to this effect the sickly santa doll which appears on top of the washing machine makes it seem like an ITV ident put together in the week before Christmas. In that it seems like something has been put into the advert and that is love, love for an advert which seems a reminder why simple is better...

That's the presents sorted then, join me on Monday as we find another load of clips to fill the stocking with...