DE
The final One O'Clock News of the virtual era, with Ed Stourton reminding viewers to expect changes the following Monday:
Five hours later, Martyn Lewis signed off from a BBC bulletin for the final time. Peter Sissons presented that night's Nine according to Genome - I presume that if *he* said anything relating to the changes, then unlike Ed or Martyn he didn't do so on this particular day, as he also presented both late bulletins that weekend.
Five hours later, Martyn Lewis signed off from a BBC bulletin for the final time. Peter Sissons presented that night's Nine according to Genome - I presume that if *he* said anything relating to the changes, then unlike Ed or Martyn he didn't do so on this particular day, as he also presented both late bulletins that weekend.
VM
I found this far funnier than I thought it would be for a first episode. It was hilarious - anyone that's got 23 minutes to spare, give it a watch.
Amazing how little changed presentation-wise from this first episode. Theme tune and the 'TV Highlight of the Week' jingle for instance. Even the set and title sequence are mostly the same.
The format obviously evolved over the years - not sure he would have gotten away with the Bin Laden jokes before the watershed. The 'TV Highlight of Week' choice seemed a bit weak, but it's called back to in a sketch later on which is very funny. The "paper review" at the end really made me laugh.
Really weird to see a Carlton ident before TV Burp though… I associate the show with post-consolidation ITV. Incredible really how long this show was on the air before anyone really gave much notice to it.
Absolutely agree with your comments Phil.
From hazy memories I'm sure that this aired pre watershed between Christmas & New Year 2001, it was when commissioned that it came back at 10:30, then moved around the late schedules for the first couple of series before finding it's place on Saturday evenings.
Oh I didn't realise the pilot went out pre-watershed! That makes those jokes even more surprising to hear. This episode guide says it went out on the 22nd December.
I didn't know about the show until I saw ITV2 repeats of it in 2006.
I found this far funnier than I thought it would be for a first episode. It was hilarious - anyone that's got 23 minutes to spare, give it a watch.
Amazing how little changed presentation-wise from this first episode. Theme tune and the 'TV Highlight of the Week' jingle for instance. Even the set and title sequence are mostly the same.
The format obviously evolved over the years - not sure he would have gotten away with the Bin Laden jokes before the watershed. The 'TV Highlight of Week' choice seemed a bit weak, but it's called back to in a sketch later on which is very funny. The "paper review" at the end really made me laugh.
Really weird to see a Carlton ident before TV Burp though… I associate the show with post-consolidation ITV. Incredible really how long this show was on the air before anyone really gave much notice to it.
Absolutely agree with your comments Phil.
From hazy memories I'm sure that this aired pre watershed between Christmas & New Year 2001, it was when commissioned that it came back at 10:30, then moved around the late schedules for the first couple of series before finding it's place on Saturday evenings.
Oh I didn't realise the pilot went out pre-watershed! That makes those jokes even more surprising to hear. This episode guide says it went out on the 22nd December.
I didn't know about the show until I saw ITV2 repeats of it in 2006.
VM
Here's a three minute clip from an episode of Have I Got News for You where they talk about the changes to BBC News in 1999, which I post here mainly because it features a clip of Martyn Lewis' final sign-off.
Caution: contains Richard Littlejohn, but he doesn't say much.
The final One O'Clock News of the virtual era, with Ed Stourton reminding viewers to expect changes the following Monday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwjcVUhyNDg
Five hours later, Martyn Lewis signed off from a BBC bulletin for the final time. Peter Sissons presented that night's Nine according to Genome - I presume that if *he* said anything relating to the changes, then unlike Ed or Martyn he didn't do so on this particular day, as he also presented both late bulletins that weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwjcVUhyNDg
Five hours later, Martyn Lewis signed off from a BBC bulletin for the final time. Peter Sissons presented that night's Nine according to Genome - I presume that if *he* said anything relating to the changes, then unlike Ed or Martyn he didn't do so on this particular day, as he also presented both late bulletins that weekend.
Here's a three minute clip from an episode of Have I Got News for You where they talk about the changes to BBC News in 1999, which I post here mainly because it features a clip of Martyn Lewis' final sign-off.
Caution: contains Richard Littlejohn, but he doesn't say much.
JA
As you'll notice, from the time that had the BBC1 and 2 logos on the walls of TVC!
The first show of series 3 of Live & Kicking in 1995. Notable as this is the first "appearance" of Mitch Johnson. He was even called Mitchell right at the very start!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9EEIp7cyu4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9EEIp7cyu4
As you'll notice, from the time that had the BBC1 and 2 logos on the walls of TVC!
SW
Indeed it did, but post-watershed - at 9.45pm (on a Saturday, between Pop Idol and The Premiership).
Series 1 and 2 were Thursdays at 10.30, Series 3 Fridays at 11pm, with a Sunday teatime repeat. There was definitely swearing in these episodes, including an F-word in Series 3 (which was excised for the repeat, obvs). Series 4 was the first pre-watershed series.
Oh I didn't realise the pilot went out pre-watershed! That makes those jokes even more surprising to hear. This episode guide says it went out on the 22nd December.
Indeed it did, but post-watershed - at 9.45pm (on a Saturday, between Pop Idol and The Premiership).
Series 1 and 2 were Thursdays at 10.30, Series 3 Fridays at 11pm, with a Sunday teatime repeat. There was definitely swearing in these episodes, including an F-word in Series 3 (which was excised for the repeat, obvs). Series 4 was the first pre-watershed series.
JA
From what I remember, the episode that had the F word in didn't actually have a pre-watershed repeat, as there was something else in that slot that week. Maybe they put it in because they knew there wasn't going to be a repeat.
There was definitely swearing in these episodes, including an F-word in Series 3 (which was excised for the repeat, obvs). Series 4 was the first pre-watershed series.
From what I remember, the episode that had the F word in didn't actually have a pre-watershed repeat, as there was something else in that slot that week. Maybe they put it in because they knew there wasn't going to be a repeat.
NJ
Neil Jones
Founding member
A 1970s episode of Generation Game, this one being the 1973 Christmas Special, featuring such Generation Game regulars as making a hash of the games, contestants going over the top when given a script to read during the end performance and (amongst all the horrible garish 70's colour scheme) a Cuddly Toy! Or two 
JA
I'm quite impressed by that title sequence, knowing what video editing was like in the early 70s.
IS
I'd have thought it would have been done at least in part using film?
I'm quite impressed by that title sequence, knowing what video editing was like in the early 70s.
I'd have thought it would have been done at least in part using film?