Before & after the Christmas period, Stephen La Rivière and I have been concocting a mammoth Thunderbirds documentary for Century 21 Films. The first part of this incredibly deep dive into the series' production & legacy is now out on Youtube with LOTS more to follow this year. Link in first reply.

Top tip for tonight: If you hit play on Who Framed Roger Rabbit at exactly 11:36pm, you will miss the chimes of midnight because you will be engrossed in one of the best films of all time. 👍

Well, Lord – it's been a funny old year. I'd predict what you've in store for us next go 'round, but when has presuming to speak on your behalf ever done anybody any good? No, I think I'll turn in and see if Emma is up for any J-J-Jamaican ginger cake. Or whatever the kids are calling it these days.

An evening bump for this piece of news.

The secret is out – my authorised biography of Sir Roy Clarke (Last of the Summer Wine, Keeping Up Appearances, Open All Hours) is to be published by Ten Acre Books in 2026. Getting to know Roy over the years has been a joy and it's a honour to be entrusted with telling his story. Watch this space.

My personal Christmas Eve tradition - A Very Murray Christmas. Emma is off to her parents and me and the cat are bedded down - me with a Moscow Mule - in front of this funny, cosy, melancholy, special with a killer soundtrack. Release it on physical media!

The story of the very first radio drama is not what you may think. The Truth About Phyllis Twigg, written by @paulkerensa.bsky.social & directed/produced by @soundliness.com is on BBC Radio 4 Christmas Eve 2.15pm Find out more on the @radioacademy.bsky.social #podcast audioboom.com/posts/881976...

Legend has it that this moment in the Morecambe & Wise Christmas show 1977 broke television sets up and down the country because of how much star power was onscreen. 🤩

The video version of our Christmas episode is now available on YouTube. Merry Christmas! youtu.be/9q6gjCkMBhw

Suited, booted, and off to save Mrs Kindley's Christmas.

This is fantastic – an interactive listings magazine for Christmas 1975. Click the titles and the shows appear!

I took a road-trip with @Bob_Fischer yesterday in preparation for a project that will be announced next year. This was one of our numerous stops. Please SOMEBODY buy the Open All Hours shop and ensure that it remains operating as a business of some kind. Or give it to us... we have plenty of ideas!

Need a special gift for the classic TV fan in your life? From in-depth histories to initimate biographies, we've got it covered! Check out our range of books at tenacrebooks.co.uk, and here's a rundown of some our great titles…

🧵 It's almost a joke. Entshittification by @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy - I order the book, but it doesn't ship for weeks, despite being 'In Stock'. The expected delivery date is changed to May 26, even though the book is still allegedly 'In Stock'. - It suddenly arrives. The postman doesn't...

RIP to the great Stanley Baxter at the age of 99. 'Upstage Downstage', his take on 'Upstairs Downstairs', remains one of the most finely observed and performed parodies I have ever seen... "Scollops, to you!" www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLq1...

🚨 We've just received a bumper crop of reprints, just in time for Christmas. Biddy Baxter, Totally Tasteless: The Life of John Nathan-Turner, The Quatermass Experiment, Pull to Open and Maximum Power! are all now back in stock. Order now from tenacrebooks.co.uk

Had a lovely few hours with @bobfischer.bsky.social , the @mulgraveaudio.bsky.social crew and the beautiful Sandra Kerr in Who Ray in Stockton. Picked up a signed LP of Patchwuff, which I strongly recommend you purchase right away (also available as digital download). Bob, Patchwuff merch please.

Mulgraves Assemble! L-R: @andrewtsmith.bsky.social, Ethan Warren, Sandra Kerr (with Patchwuff), Aja Dodd, @andreworton.bsky.social and @bobfischer.bsky.social. Thanks to all who came to yesterday's Patchwuff launch at the Who-Ray shop, and to @pinkpopple.bsky.social for the brilliant pic.

Patchwuff has been networking all week with his London media friends, but he's just setting off for the Who-Ray shop in Stockton! Come and join us all at 2pm tomorrow for our free Christmas meet-up?

Fantastic eve at the BFI celebrating the launch of Richard Marson's new book Box of Delights from @tenacrebooks.bsky.social. Hosted by @sophiealdred.bsky.social with guests incl Jeremy Swan, Siri O'Neal & Clive Doig, all of whom provided laughs & the occasional gasp with their colourful anecdotes!😊

The 'Last of the Summer Wine' episode "Concerto For Solo Bicycle" premiered on 5/12/93 and I'd like to take this moment to sing the praises of Edie's lady's circle. They ruled 90s Wine with an iron fist and provided many memorable visual moments along the way #OTD #ClarkeADay

#OTD in history (4/12) there were no premieres of Roy Clarke productions, making it impossible to do a proper #ClarkeADay post. December is a leaner month than most, with 4 blank spots across 31 days, but to make up for this he surely must have set some sort of record for writing Christmas specials!

Compo's sap rose and he met his match in the form of the fabulous Liz Smith in the 'Last fo the Summer Wine' episode "Spring Fever", first screened on 3/12/73 #ClarkeADay

I missed yesterday's #ClarkeADay, but the 3rd of December is fortunately one of these rare days for which there is no corresponding historical broadcast date. So nurrr.

On 1/12/97, Ashley (James Fleet) faced off against the terrifying but sozzled Ursula (Julia Deakin) in the fourth episode of Roy Clarke's serialised sitcom 'Spark' #OTD #ClarkeADay

The Summer Wine trio got dark in "Flower Power Cut", first broadcast on 30/11/77. This is the sort of Roy Clarke scene I adore – Low key, honest, contemplative. And is it just me or does Sallis almost break when Bill Owen moves in towards the coffin? #ClarkeADay

Catching up after a busy weekend. The Black Widow took to two wheel in the 'Still Open All Hours' episode "Hobbies and Pastimes", first screened on 29/11/19 #ClarkeADay

On 28/11/93, Compo, Clegg, and Foggy were "Springing Smiler" from the clutches of Nora Batty in 'Last of the Summer Wine #ClarkeADay #OTD

The pilot for Roy Clarke's 'The Clairvoyant' premiered on 27/11/84. More episodes of the sitcom – starring Roy Kinnear as a used car salesman who believes he has psychic powers – would follow in 1986. #OTD #ClarkeADay

"Daisy's Toyboy" made an impression in 'Keeping Up Appearances' on 26/11/90 #OTD #ClarkeADay

#OTD in 1984 – 25/11/84 – a sketch featuring the 'Last of the Summer Wine' trio was broadcast as part of 'The Royal Variety Performance'. It has been recorded at Victoria Palace Theatre on the 19th. It's an odd beast – like the opening to an episode that never was #ClarkeADay

A delightfully dark 'Keeping Up Appearances' mini-episode screened as part of 'Children in Need' on 24/11/96 and made a big impression on many who saw it that night and would be unable to do so for decades! #ClarkeADay

Panto season comes early in "Jubilee", an episode of 'Last of the Summer Wine' first screened on 23/11/77 #ClarkeADay

One of Brian Wilde's second Foggy era highlights can be found in "Ordeal By Trousers", first broadcast on 22/11/92 #ClarkeADay

November 21st 1993 is a day that will live in infamy. This one episode ensured that 'Last of the Summer Wine' would forever be remembered by many as that show where old people go down hills in baths. "Stop That Bath" can't take all the credit – Vic and Bob have to share blame as well #ClarkeADay

The 20/11/88 saw the dawning of "The Day of the Welsh Ferret" in 'Last of the Summer Wine' #ClarkeADay

On 19/11/90, Hyacinth was let loose in "The Charity Shop" in 'Keeping Up Appearances' #ClarkeADay

The 18th of November is a rare date in that no Roy Clarke productions premiered on that day in history. Here's a press photo of the great man to plug the gap.

On 17/11/76, the 'Last of the Summer Wine' trio were "Cheering Up Gordon" in the second part of a brilliant two-parter set in Scarborough #ClarkeADay

Still catching up with #ClarkeADay, the 'The Wanderer' episode "See No Evil" was broadcast on 16/11/94, but I don't have a clip to hand!

The gang attempts to dispose of incriminating jewellery for Howard in the 'Last of the Summer Wine' episode "Passing the Earring", first broadcast on 15/11/91 #ClarkeADay

On 15/11/93, Foggy's suspicious behaviour attracted the eyes of the law in the 'Last of the Summer Wine' episode "Have You Got A Light Mate". #ClarkeADay

A mega catchup with #ClarkeADay is in order to bring things back up to speed. I've no illustrative material for this one, but on 13/11/73 Roy's play "That Sinking Feeling" – about a wedding day – was screened as part of 'Armchair Theatre'.

Gemma from today's Coronation Street scanning a sandwich with no barcode on it before ignoring a bag of crisps and handing over a card machine without touching a single button on the till – has Dev's shop been upgraded with Amazon technology?

On the 7th Dec, we're throwing a belated launch party for my play, 'Patchwuff', which was released a little while ago. As it's so close to Christmas, we thought we'd turn it into a free holiday gathering – so come along for live music, stories, & other fun stuff added to the mix.

Something special in today's post - a script for a 1978 episode of Roy Clarke's 'Rosie' as owned and scribbled upon by audience warm-up man Felix Bowness of 'Hi-de-Hi!' fame.

Following the broadcast of the pilot earlier in the year, the first proper episode of Last of the Summer Wine, "Short Back and Palais Glide" was screened on 12/11/73. Nobody could have imagined that the series would run until 2010. #ClarkeADay

We're having a little @mulgraveaudio.bsky.social bash to launch 'Patchwuff'! Folk legend and Bagpuss star Sandra Kerr will be playing live, Ethan Warren (Simon Perkins) and Aja Dodd (Fellfoul) are coming too, and it's all free to attend at the Who-Ray shop in Stockton, 2pm on Sun 7th Dec. Join us!

The 11th of November is one of those rare days without a corresponding Roy Clarke broadcast from history, so here is a Radio Times photo of Roy at home with PC Penrose and Rosie star Paul Greenwood just because. #ClarkeADay

Roy Clarke's 'Spark' premiered on 10/11/97 and starred James Fleet as computer wiz facing up to life without his recently departed mother. The black yet cosy comedy eith a great cast ran for six episodes and was Roy's final original sitcom commission. #ClarkeADay