By Oliver Colling
A celebration of growing up in Britain in the 1970's and the huge part TV played in our lives. You can comment on episodes, suggest subjects for future podcasts and, of course, share your memories
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The podcast currently has 123 episodes available.
Hello, and welcome back to The My 70’s TV Childhood Quiz! This week, I’m bringing you 20 brand new questions across four rounds, all celebrating 1970s television.
In Round One, titled “Variety Pack,” we’ll dive into questions about the Royal Variety Performance, a huge TV event in the 1970s that entertained millions of viewers across the UK.
Next is our “Marathon or Fil Rouge” round, where we look back at topics we’ve covered in previous episodes of the podcast. If you’re a long-time listener, this round should feel like home turf.
Then we’re spinning the wheel again for our famous “Name That Tune” round, where our AI-powered theme tune generator will take us back to TV shows that ended in 1979. I’ll play five theme tunes, and you’ll see how many you can guess!
Finally, we’ve got “TV Times,” a general trivia round with questions covering anything and everything about 1970s television.
Bonus Question: In 2012, the BBC’s Ceefax teletext service was decommissioned. In what month and year did it go live on BBC television? Send your answers to [email protected].
Last Week’s Bonus Question: What was the name of the Dennis Potter play pulled from broadcast in 1976 and shown for the first time in 1987? The answer is: Brimstone and Treacle.
Thank you for joining me for another quiz! Whether you aced it or found it tricky, I hope you’ve enjoyed testing your knowledge of 1970s TV. Don’t forget to like, rate, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
Take care,
Oliver
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Welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood! Today, we're returning to the colourful and somewhat surreal world of Rainbow, one of the most iconic children’s television shows of the 1970s. As regular listeners know, our podcast is all about the magic of growing up in 1970s Britain, when TV was a central part of our daily lives and a source of endless fascination for kids across the country.
Rainbow, a show that first aired in October 1972 on ITV, produced by Thames Television. Unlike many children's shows of the time, Rainbow stood out for its unique format, combining education, music, and a quirky cast of characters who quickly became household names. We’ll look back at the earliest days of Rainbow, starting with the show's original presenter, David Cook, and how it evolved over the years, especially with the arrival of Geoffrey Hayes, who became the face of the show.
One of the show's most memorable aspects was its eclectic mix of characters: Bungle, the oversized bear with a penchant for goody two shoes behaviour (and a somewhat terrifying original costume), Zippy, the loud-mouthed puppet with a zip for a mouth, and George, the shy, soft-spoken pink hippo who often played peacemaker. We’ll explore how these characters interacted, entertained, and occasionally terrified their young audience.
Rainbow was also known for its music, from its psychedelic opening theme to the many songs performed by various musical groups over the years, including the beloved trio, Rod, Jane, and Freddy. Ah, the joys of 70s television!
If you have any memories of watching Rainbow—whether it’s the early episodes with David Cook, the antics of Zippy, or the songs that you still hum to this day—we’d love to hear from you! Visit our blog at www.my70stvchildhood.com, or connect with us on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, or LinkedIn. You can also email me directly at [email protected].
Join us next week for another round of our 70s TV trivia quiz, and don’t forget to tune in for our regular podcast in two weeks' time. Take care, and remember to like, rate, and review us wherever you listen to your podcasts!
Take care,
Oliver
Contact us:
Email: [[email protected]]
Blog: [Link]
Facebook: [Link]
Twitter: [Link]
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Hello, and welcome back to The My 70’s TV Childhood Quiz! This week, we bring you 20 brand new questions across four rounds, celebrating all things 1970s television.
In Round One, “Back to School,” we’re returning to schools, just in time for the Autumn term! Whether you loved or loathed your school days, we’ve got some questions to jog your memory.
Round Two is our "Marathon or Fil Rouge" round, with questions based on topics we've covered in past podcast episodes. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard them all—take your best guess!
In Round Three, we return to the fan-favourite “Spin the Wheel and Name That Tune.” We’ll spin our wheel to pick a random year from the 1970s, and our AI-powered theme tune generator will play five theme tunes from shows that premiered that year.
Finally, in Round Four, we bring you “TV Times,” where anything goes, as long as it’s 70s TV trivia!
And don’t forget this week’s bonus question: What was the name of the Dennis Potter play that was pulled from broadcast at the last minute in 1976 and was finally shown for the first time in 1987? Send your answers to [email protected].
Thank you for playing along—whether you aced it or found a few stumpers, we hope you’ve enjoyed this nostalgic trip back to the 70s!
We’ll be back next week with another podcast episode and in two weeks with the next quiz. Until then, keep enjoying your 70s TV memories, and don’t forget to like, rate, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
Contact us on:
Facebook @My 70s TV Childhood
Twitter @70sTVChildhood
YouTube @my70stvchildhood
Blog at my70stvchildhood.com
Email at [email protected]
Take care,
Oliver
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Welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood! Today, we’re returning to the quirky world of Little Big Time, a show that took a unique approach to children’s television in the 70s. As many of you know, our podcast explores the magic of growing up in 1970s Britain—a time when families gathered around the box, and TV was a relatively new and exciting phenomenon for us Brits.
Today, we’re revisiting Little Big Time, a show that featured a curious blend of pop music and madcap sketches. Unlike today’s stars like Taylor Swift, who fill massive arenas, pop stars of the 70s were more accessible, often appearing on various TV shows, from children’s programming to mainstream hits like Top of the Pops.
One show that stands out in my memory is Little Big Time. Airing on ITV, it was a vibrant, slightly chaotic mix of comedy, music, and dance, set in a circus-like auditorium. The show, which premiered in 1968, was meant to boost Freddie and the Dreamers’ popularity, following their last big hit in 1964. The show included an eclectic range of acts and sketches, and despite its ambitions, it has left only scattered fragments in our collective memory.If you have any insights or memories of Little Big Time—or just want to share your thoughts on 70s TV—drop us a line. Visit our blog at www.my70stvchildhood.com, or connect with us on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, or LinkedIn. You can also email me at [email protected].
Join us next week for our quiz episode, and don’t miss our regular podcast in two weeks. Take care, and don’t forget to like, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts!
Take care,
Oliver
Contact us:
Email: [[email protected]]
Blog: [Link]
Facebook: [Link]
Twitter: [Link]
Youtube: [Link]
Get in touch!
Support the show
Hello, and welcome back to The My 70’s TV Childhood Quiz. This week, we’re celebrating our 25th quiz with 20 fresh questions across four rounds, all focused on the unforgettable TV of the 1970s.
In Round One, "Blue Peter Badge," we’ll start with five questions about the iconic children’s show, Blue Peter. Test your knowledge on one of the most beloved shows of our childhoods.
Next, in Round Two, it’s time for our "Marathon or Fil Rouge" round. We’re diving into questions about topics we’ve discussed in past podcast episodes. Don’t worry if you haven’t listened to them all—you can still take a guess!
For Round Three, we’re combining "Spin the Wheel" with "Name That Tune" in a special mashup. We’ll spin the wheel to select a random year from the 1970s, and our AI-powered theme tune generator will play five theme tunes from TV shows that first aired in that year.
Finally, in Round Four, it’s our "TV Times" round, where anything goes as long as it’s related to 1970s television.
And don’t forget this week’s bonus question: Which of these characters did not appear in the first episode of Grange Hill? Was it Benny Green, Tucker Jenkins, Judy Preston, Michael Doyle, or Alan Hargreaves? Send your answers to [email protected].
Thanks for playing along with us—whether you aced it or found a few tricky ones, we hope you’ve enjoyed the journey through 70s TV nostalgia.
We’ll be back next week with another podcast episode and in two weeks with the next quiz. Until then, keep enjoying your 70s TV memories, and don’t forget to like, rate, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
Contact us on:
Take care,
Oliver
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Support the show
Hello and welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood. Today we’re celebrating one of the most beloved characters from 1970s British television—Basil Brush. Who could forget his signature “Boom Boom!”! Basil Brush was more than just a puppet; he was a TV icon.
In this episode, we explore Basil’s journey from his early days as a sidekick on The Three Scampies to becoming the star of his own show by 1968. With his cheeky humour, sharp wit, and those unforgettable interactions with his human co-stars, Basil captured the hearts of viewers across the nation. He became a symbol of 70s entertainment.
We’ll also take a fond look back at The Basil Brush Show, where Basil’s banter with his human co-stars, most notably Mr. Derek and later Mr. Roy brought laughter and warmth to living rooms across the nation. The show’s blend of humour, music, and storytelling made it a favourite for both children and adults alike.
Basil Brush also subtly reflected the social changes of the 70s, addressing contemporary issues while maintaining a light-hearted and fun tone, delivering laughs and lessons in equal measure.
Join us as we revisit the antics of this iconic character, explore his impact on 70s TV, and uncover why Basil Brush remains a nostalgic favourite to this day.
Don’t forget to share your own memories of Basil Brush or any other 70s TV favourites on our blog at www.my70stvchildhood.com. You can also connect with us on social media or drop me an email at [email protected].
Next week, we’ll be bringing you our 70’s TV trivia quiz, and in two weeks, don’t miss our next episode of My 70’s TV Childhood.
Until then,
Take care
Oliver……Boom Boom!!
Email: [[email protected]]
Blog: [Link]
Facebook: [Link]
Twitter: [Link]
Youtube: [Link]
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Support the show
Although we’re not live from Norwich, we’re still "The Quiz of the Week!"
Hello and welcome back once again to the My 70’s TV Childhood Podcast.
This week’s quiz has a special theme: 1970s quiz and game shows. As always, it’s just for fun and follows the usual format: 20 questions over four rounds, with a point for each correct answer.
So grab a pen and paper, top up your drink and get ready to play.
We start with Round One, called "Quiz Inquisitor," featuring five questions about the hosts of some iconic 70’s quiz and game shows.
Next, we move to Round Two, which is our usual Fil Rouge round with questions based on topics we’ve covered in previous editions of the My 70’s TV Childhood podcast.
For Round Three, we have a special game show-themed edition of our "Name That Tune" round. Our AI-powered theme tune generator is back online, so get ready to identify five theme tunes from classic 70’s UK game shows.
Finally, Round Four is our TV Times general trivia round, but this week, all the questions are related to quiz and game shows.
This week’s bonus question is about the legendary show "Sale of the Century," which achieved the highest-ever rating for an ITV game show on 22nd December 1978. Can you name the unusual event that boosted viewer numbers for this particular episode? Email your answers to [email protected].
So how did you do? Are you ready to play for the car in The Sale of the Century or are you left with only a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen for comfort?" I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s quiz. If you enjoy the quiz and our podcast, please tell your friends and take time to like, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
We’ll be back next week with our next podcast and in a fortnight with our next quiz. Until then, take care, and don’t forget to join us again soon for more from My 70’s TV Childhood and the My 70’s TV Childhood Quiz!
Take care,
Oliver
Contact us on:
Email at [email protected]
Get in touch!
Support the show
Hello and welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood. I’m Oliver Colling, and today’s episode is all about those unforgettable Public Information Films that shaped our lives in 1970s Britain. Remember Edward Judd’s “Think Bike” warning? Or the Green Cross Man, played by Dave “Darth Vader” Prowse? These films were not just memorable but also often shockingly brutal in their messaging.
The Central Office of Information, established in 1946, produced these films to inform the public on various issues from health and welfare to safety. Their archive is now available via the British Film Institute, offering a unique insight into post-war British culture.
Public Information Films were well-made, often featuring celebrities and high production values. They aimed to shape behaviour and keep us safe, albeit sometimes by terrifying us. From the dangers of old fridges to the chilling “The Finishing Line,” these films left a lasting impression.
We also revisited classic characters like Tufty the squirrel and his road safety messages, as well as the infamous Jimmy Savile advising on seatbelt safety. These films taught us everything from road safety to avoiding hazards at home.
Join us as we dive into the nostalgia and impact of these cinematic gems. Don’t forget to share your own memories on our blog at www.my70stvchildhood.com, social media, or via email at [email protected].
Next week, join us for our 70’s TV trivia quiz and in two weeks for another episode of My 70’s TV Childhood.
Contact Us:
Email: [[email protected]]
Blog: [Link]
Facebook: [Link]
Twitter: [Link]
Youtube: [Link]
Get in touch!
Support the show
Hello and welcome back once again to the My 70’s TV Childhood Podcast. Our quiz this week has a theme: Summer holidays. In the UK at the time of recording, schools are breaking up for holidays. To recreate the spirit of a 70’s TV Childhood Summer, all of our questions this week refer to the Summer holidays and the special TV shows that were put on to entertain us during the seemingly endless long school holidays.
This week’s quiz follows the usual format: 20 questions over four rounds, with a point for each correct answer. So grab a pen and paper, top up your drink—I’ve got a gin and tonic this week as I’m recording on a weekend evening—and get ready to play.
We start with Round One, called "Holiday Special," featuring five questions about TV shows shown during the 1970’s Summer holidays.
Next, we move to Round Two, which is our usual Marathon or Fil Rouge round but with a holiday-themed twist. Interestingly, this round is named in honour of It’s A Knockout or Jeux Sans Frontières when it went on its summer holidays! All the questions relate to items we’ve mentioned in previous editions of our podcast, My 70’s TV Childhood.
For Round Three, we would normally have our Spin The Wheel, Name That Tune combo mashup round featuring our AI-powered theme tune generator, but due to the CrowdStrike IT outage, we’ve gone back to pre-digital methods of Name That Tune! We have five signature tunes of shows regularly shown on UK TV during the Summer holidays.
Finally, Round Four is our TV Times general trivia round, but this week, all of the questions have a connection to Summer holiday TV.
This week’s bonus question is about a TV show that, although made in the 60s, was regularly shown during school holidays in the 70s. The Monkees was one such show. Can you name all the members of The Monkees (without cheating)? Email your answers to [email protected].
How did you do? Whether you aced it or found it challenging, I hope you’ve enjoyed this time’s quiz. If you enjoy the quiz and our podcast, please tell your friends and take time to like, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back next week with our next podcast and in a fortnight with our next quiz. Until then, take care, enjoy the Summer, and don’t forget to join us again soon for more from My 70’s TV Childhood and the My 70’s TV Childhood Quiz!
Take care,
Oliver
Contact us on:
Email at [email protected]
Get in touch!
Support the show
Hello and a warm welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood, where we celebrate growing up in 1970s Britain and reminisce about the pivotal role television played in our lives and our families' lives back then. It was an era when TV programs were a communal social experience—before streaming and catch-up services—where being in front of the box at the right time was crucial, or you'd miss out.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their memories with us. Hearing from you means a lot, though I’m a bit behind on replies due to the demands of real life. If you want to reach out, visit our blog at www.my70stvchildhood.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or LinkedIn. You can also email me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear your stories.
Work has been hectic lately, and I’m sure many of you can relate to how it sometimes overtakes our personal time. I always try to switch off on weekends, now opting for a quiet Friday evening at home with my wife, enjoying a gin and tonic and a bowl of crisps—a far cry from my teenage years spent pub-hopping with friends. It's funny how perspectives change with age, isn't it?
Thinking about Fridays in the 1970s as a child, it was always a special time—a break from school and a chance for more playtime with friends, visits to relatives, and, of course, TV. After school, it was home to catch some children’s TV, where one show in particular always reminded us that the weekend had begun:
Crackerjack!
Crackerjack was a whirlwind of comedy, music, and quizzes, all performed live in front of an audience buzzing with energy—thanks in part to the fizzy drinks likely consumed pre-show. The audience's enthusiastic shouts of "Crackerjack!" were a trademark. Michael Aspel, Don Maclean, and Bernie Clifton reflected on its magic in a Radio 4 documentary.
A BBC institution since 1955, Crackerjack had a lineup of legendary hosts: Eammon Andrews, Leslie Crowther, and later, Michael Aspel and Ed "Stewpot" Stewart. Each brought their unique style to the show, which became a Friday afternoon staple.
The heart of Crackerjack was its lively cast: Jan Hunt, Don Maclean (not the singer!), and the unforgettable Peter Glaze. Glaze’s comedic timing and music hall roots made him a standout, whether he was doing a quick double take or enduring Maclean’s drumbeat on his stomach.
The show wasn’t just laughs; it featured big-name musical guests and a beloved quiz segment, Double or Drop, where children from the audience faced off in increasingly difficult questions—balancing prizes with the risk of accumulating cabbages.
As the show closed with its signature pencil giveaway, the weekend truly began. Crackerjack was a Friday institution, spanning generations until its 1984 finale, evolving with new hosts like Stu Francis and introducing quirky acts like The Krankies.
Share your Crackerjack memories with us on our blog, social media, or via email. Join us next week for our 70’s TV quiz and in two weeks for another podcast episode.
Take care,
Oliver
Contact Us:
Email: [[email protected]]
Blog: [Link]
Facebook: [Link]
Twitter: [Link]
Youtube: [Link]
Get in touch!
Support the show
The podcast currently has 123 episodes available.
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