Children's BBC veteran Richard Marson joins me for a look at some of the stories behind the making of Jackanory, Play School, Swap Shop, Grange Hill, John Craven's Newsround, Blue Peter and more... timworthington.org/2025/12/15/l...

“It is time to keep your appointment with the Gingerbread Man.”

40 YEARS AGO TODAY: Stanley Baxter's penultimate Christmas Hamper before the BBC realised they couldn't pay for them any more is a prime demonstration of the lengths LE would go to, with The Wizard of Oz and The Jewel In The Crown spoofs.

Starksy Cardigans - late seventies knitting pattern by warehouseload-inspiring fashion craze kickstarted by TV's Paul Michael Glaser and attendant fondness for sporting chunky white cardies with Aztec motifs whilst driving recklessly and collaring villains. timworthington.org/2023/05/16/l...

The 'Yes, ha ha ha... YES!!' I just did seeing Date Everything at the top of this list (also there's some other real bangers in there including several that are on my To Play list)

Good morning! It’s Friday December 26th 2025! Another Boxing Day already? Hurrah! Onwards we go. (Dated this very day in 1970, a mere 55 years ago, The Beano #1484, with its seasonal cover featuring just about everyone.) You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.

I watched Jaws again on BBC2 yesterday. One of those films I always watch if I see it on the TV. Happy 50th anniversary to the film that became the first Summer blockbuster. Who can forget THAT theme, the giant rubber fish and an explosive finale?

@mjowen174.bsky.social @tomjam.bsky.social theshovel.com.au/2025/12/22/e...

The best of my writing in 2025. Ben Elton on The Oxford Road Show, tracing the history of an old joke in Porridge, how the Daily Mirror slagging off Love Thy Neighbour ended up in the show itself, and Fawlty Towers recording schedules. What more could you ask for? www.dirtyfeed.org/2025/12/dirt...

Just watched Celeb Gladiators, and maybe I’d stand a chance of winning if they’re going to provide ladders. Perhaps they should also chain me to the platform for Duel?

Birmingham Bullring wishes all its patrons a very Merry Aptio Setup Utility and a Happy New BIOS Information ✨

It’s important to remember that Christmas isn’t fun for everyone and while you’re celebrating, there will be many people who are doing their best just to get through it. So if you can, please spare a thought for those who’ve received this as a gift today

IT'S CHRISTMAS! The Christmas Ident Calendar is over for another year. I might use some of these next time. You'll just have to wait and see. All of this was made possible by the unique the way the BBC is funded...and me grabbing clips off You Tube. Merry Christmas everybody!

40 years ago today, Christmas Day on BBC1 in 1985.

It's Christmas Day and in 1979 which side will you be turning into? BBC1 or ITV?

IT'S CHRISTMAS! The Christmas Ident Calendar is over for another year. I might use some of these next time. You'll just have to wait and see. All of this was made possible by the unique the way the BBC is funded...and me grabbing clips off You Tube. Merry Christmas everybody!

Best...credit...ever. #ChanceInAMillion

Ever Decreasing Circles is on BBC4. For me, this was the best thing Richard Briers ever did. There's also a nice feature with Penelope Wilton & Peter Egan looking back on the show. It's the final episode originally shown on Christmas Eve 1989. This is how it was introduced.

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 24. Wallace and Gromit crossed to BBC1 in 2008 for 'A Matter Of Loaf and Death' and were given the Christmas ident that year. It turned out to be the biggest programme of Christmas and the year with 16.15m!

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 3 extra! CRIKEY! It IS the 40th anniversary of this 1985 BBC1 Christmas Ident. The golden BBC1 and the robins. The robin perched on top of 'BBC1' broke down and the head stopped turning. Some trivia for you.

One of my TV Picks of the Day from Radio Times: A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower (BBC Two, 10.00pm) #AGhostStoryForChristmas

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 24. Wallace and Gromit crossed to BBC1 in 2008 for 'A Matter Of Loaf and Death' and were given the Christmas ident that year. It turned out to be the biggest programme of Christmas and the year with 16.15m!

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 23. Father Christmas piloted the BBC1 balloon globe in 2000, to deliver presents in this beautiful, magical Ident. Titanic was the big film for BBC1 on Christmas Day (10.04m). No.1 on the day (excl soaps) was Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (10.06m).

I love that this starts by looking like Father Christmas spots the Titanic sinking and decides to scarper.

Not now, haunted Victorian shoes

It’s Christmas Eve Eve not Christmas Steve Steve

WOOHOO! There it is! Ruth wouldn't let us down!

Lee And Herring's Radio 1 show was exactly how you should do comedy on the radio. So many ideas, so much weird and wonderful music that was never treated as being 'above' the jokes, a proper bond with listeners and of course the REAL Rod Hull. HE IS HIM. timworthington.org/2019/12/16/l...

There was a period in the late 80s/early 90s where Radio 1 did comedy series. It was like a cool Radio 4 comedy corner. Blue Jam with Chris Morris, Lee & Herring's Fist Of Fun, The Mary Whitehouse Experience. Good times.

See also That's Life, The Little and Large Show and The Paul Daniels Magic Show...

Weirdly, Dallas, and a number of other TV shows that your memory tells you ended in the 1980s but actually limped on into the early 90s...

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 23. Father Christmas piloted the BBC1 balloon globe in 2000, to deliver presents in this beautiful, magical Ident. Titanic was the big film for BBC1 on Christmas Day (10.04m). No.1 on the day (excl soaps) was Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (10.06m).

Saw the first two episodes of Amadeus and they’re incredible. Episode 2 in particular expands on the play in a way that left me agog. ‘I have just enough talent to know how little I truly possess’.

My kids are making me watch a terrible Christmas movie and I’m telling them the story about how its writer tried to screw me over in an arbitration once (they don’t care)

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 22. BBC1 asked viewers to consider themselves one of us in 2011. Stars sang the song from Lionel Bart's Oliver. Several idents including one with The Gruffalo & child. Christmas Day top 3: Downton Abbey 12.11m, EastEnders 11.33m, Doctor Who 10.77m.

That Wade v Evans match was an absolute belter #WorldDarts

I would consider becoming a celebrity shutter, or vent ... I'm a louvre, not a fighter.

It’s a tradition

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 22. BBC1 asked viewers to consider themselves one of us in 2011. Stars sang the song from Lionel Bart's Oliver. Several idents including one with The Gruffalo & child. Christmas Day top 3: Downton Abbey 12.11m, EastEnders 11.33m, Doctor Who 10.77m.

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 21. Presents delivered themselves & BBC1's '1' in 1992. Christmas Day. Only Fools: 20.14m, Birds Of A Feather: 16.88m. Boxing Day. Noel's House Party was no.1 (15.93m), beating Darling Buds Of May (9.69m)! Wogan with More Auntie's Bloomers was no.1 on Sunday (18.45m).

Not On Your Telly. A collection of thoughts on the television we never get to see - and why. Paperback or Kindle from here. timworthington.org/books/not-on...

Don't know about you, but it never properly felt like Christmas to me until BBC Schools show Watch had done the story of The Nativity... timworthington.org/2019/12/24/c...

The end of A Christmas Carol is clear that Scrooge became famous for his generosity and love of Christmas. And yet his name is still shorthand for miserliness. So really that whole story is proof that you can change all you want but people will still remember you at your worst

If I become famous (I won't become famous), I'd never take part in a celebrity boxing match. I don't want my face punched in, I prefer it out. My face I mean. If I was offered a huge sum I might reconsider but only fight opponents I stand a chance against. So mainly embryos.

Didn’t think we’d be seeing Mary Berry getting touchy feely with Nitro from Gladiators this Christmas but here we are. Who said the BBC schedule was dull?

🚨 Andrew Tate has been BATTERED and comprehensively beaten by a novice boxer, Chase DeMoor

One day something will happen — a wedding, a graduation, a job promotion, Jake Paul getting knocked out, Andrew Tate getting knocked out the next day — and you’ll want the right outfit to celebrate. Buy that special outfit now, so you’re ready when that next unexpected moment arrives.

Yeah, well, we all let ourselves go at Christmas.

Despite running for 12 seasons and 4 TV movies, there's only one Murder She Wrote Christmas episode, which I naturally have to watch every year, despite it not actually having a murder in it. #MurderSheWrote