Tonight’s BBCtv… in 1967 

4 July 2018 tbs.pm/66946

Ooh hello! I didn’t see you there. I was just buffing up my U-Bend with Brillo Clearaway!

It’s Tuesday 4 July 1967 and we look at the day’s programming on the BBC, with the advert littered Radio Times.

BBC1 North opens up at 10.45am for Watch with Mother and a trip to Camberwick Green, then it’s back to our friend, Test Card and some music. Over on BBC2, it’s Play School at 11am with Lady Valerie Solti (nee Pitts) and Brian Cant.

We are back on air at 1.20pm, with a quick rundown of The News and The Weather. Then, at 1.33pm prompt, we are transported off to Wimbledon for ‘The Tennis’. BBC2 is back at 2pm for its afternoon coverage of Wimbledon (IN COLOUR).

Afternoon children’s programmes are curtailed slightly, starting at 4.55pm with Boss (Top) Cat. Love the cartoon of TC in the listings… one wonders if copyright laws were a tad slack in those days! BBC Cymru/Wales opts out at the same time with their popular children’s magazine programme Telewele.

A nice piece of education at 5.20pm in Tom Tom, which looks rather interesting and adopts quite a modern approach for the BBC. Made by BBC South & West no less. We end with cartoon adventure with Tin Tin.

An update on The Weather and The News then it’s time to Look North with Stuart Hall on the North transmitters and Mike Neville in the North East. We’re back to Wimbledon at 6.10pm. BBC Cymru/Wales airs their regional news programme at 5.55pm and then Newyddion at 6.10pm and joins the rest of the BBC network five minutes late for Wimbledon.

The evening kicks off with drama in Z Cars. This is the second part of a two-part story, which only lasts 15 minutes rather than the normal 25. Comedy at 7.30pm, headed by Alastair Sims, as Judge Swallow in A.P. Herbert’s Misleading Cases. The series ran for three years in 1967, 1968 and 1971. Sadly, most of the series was wiped, but audio versions of some episodes are available on YouTube. BBC Cymru/Wales gets a programme on gypsies instead.

Our film (either side of the News) is The Passionate Stranger, part of The Love Affair film season, which stars Ralph Richardson and Margaret Leighton. News and Current affairs at 9.55pm with Twenty-Four Hours, hosted by Cliff Michelmore. This popular programme ran from 1965 until 1972. In this particular year, the BBC decided to air the programme at the fixed time of 9.55pm to compete with the brand new News at Ten on ITV. On Wednesday’s however it would be shown at 10.20pm due to the length of The Wednesday Play.

Robert Hardy narrates on a documentary about Umberto Nobile, who tired to fly an airship over the frozen wastes of the North Pole in 1928. The Italia Tragedy is at 10.25pm. BBC Cymru/Wales opts out and airs two programmes, music from the BBC Welsh Orchestra then, at 11.15pm, it’s O Bell ac Agos.

BBC1 North airs another BBC South & West show called Eye on the Countryside, BBC1 Midlands airs Appointment to View and BBC Scotland airs A Thousand Pounds Scots at 11.05pm.

After The Weather at 11.32pm, the BBC Network broadcasts Italy & The Italians followed by the News Headlines and Closedown. BBC Scotland airs Epilogue at 12.02am.

The evening over on BBC2 now and at 7.30pm it’s fun and frolics with Quantum Physics in Outlook. After the News Summary at 8pm, the wonderful Johnny Morris is on hand with tales of his journeys abroad, such simples times eh? You can Take It Or Leave It at 8.50pm, a literary panel game. I think I’ll leave it if that okay with you?

Christopher Chataway introduces this week’s topic on Horizon at 9.05pm and then at 9.55pm, it’s a cheeky second glance at The Forsyte Saga. Match of The Day (no not that one) looks back at the day’s Tennis action at 10.45pm. This is followed by a visit to the BBC Newsroom. And, as per usual, BBC2 closes with Late Night Line Up.

A Transdiffusion Presentation

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8 responses to this article

Dave Rhodes 4 July 2018 at 12:31 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoHEaSySc3o A 1964 edition of ‘Take it or Leave it’ for your consideration

Simon Wise 4 July 2018 at 2:15 pm

TomTom used to be the only place on the BBC you could see F1, sort of. They stopped showing actual footage when Lotus took the Players penny. So the races were recreated on TomTom’s slot track!

Mark Jeffries 4 July 2018 at 9:53 pm

In America, the title “Take It or Leave It” identified a long-running quiz show known more popularly as “The $64 Question.” When it came to television in 1955, it was in a much more slicked up version called–“The $64,000 Question,” which started the big money quiz show fad in America and took a major part for its demise, when the head of the cosmetics company who sponsored the programme took an interest in the contestants he liked (and hated). Since the contestants had been thoroughly tested as to their knowledge of their particularly category, the producers knew what the contestants knew and could skew the questions accordingly. Not like giving the answers directly to the contestants, but still underhanded.

Arthur Nibble 5 July 2018 at 10:19 am

Thanks for that. It looks like Alan Brien has morphed ‘Doctor Who’ style into that well known irascible Scouser, Robert Robinson.

Apart from affluence, why would anyone want a gold-plated U-bend? I can imagine that as the prize in a ‘worst of’-type game show.

Mark Jeffries 6 July 2018 at 6:26 pm

As for TC, I would think that the syndicator would’ve provided the BBC with appropriate art to use to promote the programme and that the Radio Times would have access to said art.

Paul Mason 8 July 2018 at 12:05 pm

Firstly, the sad bits. 2018 has seen the deaths of Camberwick Green animator Bob Bura (also Peter Firmin), Brian Cant and actor Roy Dotrice.
I remember Tom Tom, it was like Blue Peter from my recall. Then, blistering barnacles HERGES ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (or tantan because he was Belgian.

Paul Mason 8 July 2018 at 12:16 pm

How could I forget to mention my late mother’s favourite dramas, The Forsyte Saga. It was broadcast on BBC2, but 625 line sets were pricey and a new aerial was needed. The BBC caved into demand and screened the 26 part series on BBC1 Sunday nights from about late August 1967 into the winter of 1968.

Arthur Nibble 8 July 2018 at 8:45 pm

I like the way we had “Tom Tom” followed by “Tin Tin”. Shame the programmes before or after didn’t have the same type of name to keep the chain going.

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