The Scarred For Life Patreon is just £6 a month! Every month you'll get brand new SFL essays as downloadable PDFs, a Show and Tell video taking a deep dive into a beautiful book, and an episode of the Bunker Show podcast - my post-nuclear radio show! Patreon link in bio

If you want to know Why We're All Like This, here's a British schools programme from 1982 with folk music legend Dave Arthur gleefully linking phantom hitchhiker stories to the actual Yorkshire Ripper. Bear in mind, this wasn't just a kids TV show - it was made specifically to be shown IN SCHOOLS.

SESAME STREET: ROBOTS (circa 1986) The Children's Television Workshop's legendary pre-school show was often unintentionally frightening for very young children, but I can think most of us can agree about this eerie sketch, intended to teach kids about new-fangled robots...

Over at @anyoldtat.bsky.social I’ve made a little homage to the show. In the shop as soon as I can list.

THE GOODIES: BIG FOOT (1982) In which the lads go in search of their elusive TV idol - Arthur C Clarke (Mysterious World was a real cultural phenomenon at the time). I love the punchline to this bit :)

ACE OF WANDS (1970): a beautiful title sequence for this children's classic about Tarot, a crime-fighting stage magician (eat your heart out, Paul Daniels). The theme song was by Status Quo member Andy Bown, and it reached no. 15 in the UK vinyl singles chart - in 2024! Better late than never.

SUMMER MINI-TOUR! Me and @bobfischer.bsky.social are bringing the Scarred For Life Folk Horror show to Colchester Arts Centre on 30 July, and Black Shuck Festival in Bungay on 31 July (this one's headed for a sell-out!) (1/2) Box office links below!

Here's what they're saying about our books! Get a big 15% off with the case-sensitive code PAGES15 till midnight tomorrow, Friday July 3! They're a massive trilogy of tomes about the darkest, weirdest pop culture of the 70s and 80s... Store link is in the replies!

CLASH OF THE TITANS (1981) was stop-motion genius Ray Harryhausen's last film, and he went out in fine style with Medusa, a genuinely creepy creation!

Short story pitch: an episode of The Repair Shop where someone brings in the Lament Configuration from Hellraiser.

For all you London @scarredforlife.bsky.social fans! www.ticketsource.com/cryerarts-lt...

NEW ON PATREON! Scarred For Life Show and Tell episode 2: an hour-long page-by-page look at one of the greatest horror comics ever! New English Library's DRACULA ANNUAL (1972), a visual feast that contains some of the creepiest horror images ever. 1/2

The atmospheric, eerie title sequence to OUT OF BOUNDS (1977), a BBC children's drama serial about two teenage gymnasts who become embroiled with a criminal gang (as you do). The music is a bit of Kraftwerk's Autobahn; it haunted me for years before I ever heard the full track.

Here's what they're saying about our books! Get a big 15% off with the case-sensitive code PAGES15 till Friday July 3! They're a massive trilogy of tomes about the darkest, weirdest pop culture of the 70s and 80s... Shop: linktr.ee/scarredforlife

THE FRIGHTENERS: THE CLASSROOM (1972) One of the darkest episodes from ITV's psychological thriller anthology. A retiring teacher (Patience Collier) is locked in her classroom by the former pupil (Clive Swift) she mentally abused decades ago. A fabulous two-hander with a bleak ending...

The Scarred For Life Folk Horror summer mini-tour is coming to Colchester and Bungay!

MTV let animators go wild with some insanely gruesome animated idents from the late 80s to mid 90s...

New! Gareth Randall (@gwr.bsky.social) on Master Maze, Skirrid, Take Hart On Holiday, Captain Micro's Electronic Comic, 'Where's Pepe?', Tim And The Hidden People, Eugene And The Syncopaters and - uh oh - notorious Screen Test Young Film-Maker short Ice Cream... timworthington.org/2026/06/26/l...

In amongst the comedic hijinks, SCOOBY DOO, WHERE ARE YOU! (1969) featured some genuinely creepy monsters. That clown could wipe the floor with Pennywise. Yoinks!

British PIFs in the 1970s: "Clunk click every trip" Irish PIFs in the 1970s:

The pure, uncut hauntology of Programmes for Schools and Colleges

NEW ON PATREON! A brand-new 11-page essay about Melbourne House's bleak text adventure version of The Hobbit from 1982, and a look at the Aging Man PIF, considered lost media for decades! www.patreon.com/posts/161882081?utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=android_share

GIDEON AND THE FERRET (1979): The long-necked duckling, voiced by Tim Brooke-Taylor, turns out to be a right psycho in this episode - he kills a ferret, then sings a song celebrating its demise (the ferret had been a terror, but still!)

Have you read the Scarred For Life books yet? Get 10% off with the case-sensitive code TRAVEL10 till Friday June 26! They're a massive trilogy about the darkest, weirdest pop culture of the 70s and 80s - perfect summer reading! Shop: linktr.ee/scarredforlife

THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS (1984): Beautiful Soviet animated adaptation of Ray Bradbury's classic short story. In 2026, an automated house keeps things spick and span after a nuclear war. But its inhabitants are looking rather the worse for wear...

No, it's not Disclosure Day, it's ONE PAIR OF EYES: CAN YOU SPEAK VENUSIAN (1969), in which Patrick Moore spoke to, ahem, 'independent thinkers' - flat earthers, hollow earthers, a cold sun theorist, and this chap, who reckoned rays were beaming alien languages into his brain...

This week on Patreon! Episode 2 of my new Scarred For Life Bunker Show, in which I talk about Tales of the Unexpected, pay tribute to the director of the Lonely Water PIF, and investigate 'accidental' scars! www.patreon.com/posts/161087327?utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=android_share

The seeds of the Scarred For Life era of the 70s and 80s were planted in the 1960s. Puppets were fertile ground: Captain Scarlet, Candy and Andy, and SARA AND HOPPITY (1962) were each horrifying in their own ways. Hoppity is a real horror before his restoration...

A lot of fun and a lot of great education about folk horror. And if you’re of a certain age, so evocative of tv and PSA of the sixties and seventies

SUMMER MINI-TOUR! Me and @bobfischer.bsky.social are bringing the Scarred For Life Folk Horror show to Colchester Arts Centre on 30 July, and Black Shuck Festival in Bungay on 31 July! We're so excited for these - more dates to come! Colchester: bit.ly/47E8zsY Black Shuck: bit.ly/4oakXI4

The paranormal has always been a huge part of pop culture. This 1980 advert for the Daily Star goes all-in on the Enfield Poltergeist story, complete with cheesy recreation (which I know would have scared me as a kid!). These days, the scariest bit is the cameo at the end. Yikes.

Brilliant sitcom SOAP went fully paranormal in 1979, with overlapping storylines about a UFO abduction a newborn baby possessed by the Devil. Not gonna lie, the Devil baby stuff absolutely terrified me when I was 9!

NEW ON PATREON! The second episode of the Scarred For Life Bunker Show is up: I talk about Tales of the Unexpected, pay tribute to the director of the Lonely Water PIF, and investigate inadvertent whimsical scars - expect Noseybonk, Animal Kwackers, original Bungle and much more! bit.ly/4vLTcIs

CHILDREN'S HEROES: LES GRAY (1976) The Green Cross Code campaign enlisted the help of mid-70s idols like Kevin Keegan, Alvin Stardust, and 'Brickie Glam' band Mud's frontman, here looking like he's doing the walk of shame after a raging stag do. Tiger Feet is a cracking pop song, btw.

Discount time again! Get a big 15% off our books with the case-sensitive code MYBOOKS15 till Friday June 19! They're a massive trilogy of tomes about the darkest, weirdest pop culture of the 70s and 80s... Shop: linktr.ee/scarredforlife

LOOK AND READ: THE BOY FROM SPACE (1971/1980): The Beeb's educational series threw up several unsettling serials, but the tale of alien refugee Peep-Peep took the biscuit. The young alien on the run was just as creepy as his pursuer, the Thin Man!

Double whammy! Me and @bobfischer.bsky.social have been summoned, and now we're bringing the Scarred For Life Folk Horror Show to Burton and Carshalton on the 28 and 29 October, just in time for Halloween! Burton: bit.ly/3P5MT36 Carshalton: bit.ly/4tGK9qS

The Scarred For Life Folk Horror Show is coming to Bungay's Black Shuck Festival! Talk about a meeting of the minds! Me and @bobfischer.bsky.social will be at the Fisher Theatre on Friday 31 July - bring your own goat mask. Tickets: bit.ly/4oakXI4

THE INTRUDER (1972): Deeply sinister children's drama by John Rowe Townsend about a one-eyed stranger (Milton Johns, dressed like Frank Spencer a year before he existed!) who tries to steal a young lad's identity. One of the most adult children's shows ever made.

FOLLOW THE COUNTRY CODE: I adore this cool, jazzy early 70s PIF, with its swinging soundtrack and gorgeous UAP-style visuals. A miniature work of art!

ICYMI: There's a brand-new essay on the Scarred For Life Patreon about the Haunted House pop-up book!

Throughout its long history, the BBC Video idents simultaneously made me feel cosy while giving me the willies. There's a cold, sterile bleakness to them. Pure hauntology.

Quick reminder that this 10% discount off our books ends at midnight tomorrow!

PLANET OF THE APES (1974): the biggest movie sci-fi franchise of the 70s (pre-Star Wars) launched an animated series, books, annuals, toys and games, and this TV series. Its oppressive, eerie titles, Lalo Schifrin's music, and the rifle-toting apes really got to me as a kid.

TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975) TV horror anthology based on stories by Richard Matheson and directed by Dan 'Dark Shadows' Curtis. Karen Black stars in all three stories, and the one about the possessed fetish doll is the absolute standout. I'm not ashamed to say it scared the living stink out of me.

This week on Patreon : a brand-new 10 page Scarred For Life essay about the beautiful oddness of Jan Pienkowski's HAUNTED HOUSE pop-up book! www.patreon.com/posts/160563416?utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=android_share

MONSIEUR MANGETOUT was one of the 1980s' stranger celebrities. Made famous in Britain thanks to his silent movie-style sketches on 'Just Amazing', he could eat just about anything, including crockery and even metal. Break out the Rennies, mum, he's starting on the cutlery!

Get a nice 10% off our books with the case-sensitive code PAGES10 till Friday June 12! They're a massive trilogy about the darkest, weirdest pop culture of the 70s and 80s - here's a tiny sample of what to expect... Shop: linktr.ee/scarredforlife

WEST COUNTRY TALES: MISS CONSTANTINE (1982) Marvellously creepy anthology from BBC South West. Each episode was based on real-life stories sent in by viewers, like a dramatised version of @forteantimes.bsky.social 'It Happened To Me' pages. Here, a dear old lady is plagued by ghostly intruders...

The Two Ronnies had a penchant for blood-soaked comedy sketches, and Kenny Everett's crap DIY man, Reg Prescott, continued that fine tradition. Spraying blood and disembodied digits at 8pm in the evening!