Alone Again Or - Love

Yeah, said it's all right
I won't forget
All the times I've waited patiently for you
And you'll do just what you choose to do
And I will be alone again tonight my dear

Yeah, I heard a funny thing
Somebody said to me
You know that I could be in love with almost everyone
I think that people are
The greatest fun
And I will be alone again tonight my dear

The Double Deckers

This programme may mean nothing to you. But if you were around in the early seventies, and aged anything from 6 to about 14 at the time, it could well have left its mark. The Double Deckers was a vibrant children's show, screened in 1971 in the UK. The energy factor of its content was huge, demonstrated perfectly in the above clip. And the thing I have carried around all these years was the very last piece of each show - ''See you next weeeeeeeeeeeek !! '' It was a catchphrase that I have not forgotten ever since. DD was, simply, a great show.


Alas, it has not become a legend of children's TV culture, in part due to the fact that it consisted of just 17 episodes. It was however a much repeated show, especially during school holidays. Originally broadcast on Fridays, in the Crackerjack spot around 5 o'clock, I actually remember it more from Saturday mornings, which were presumably repeats. The Double Deckers stories were highly inventive, adventurous, funny, happy and cheerful. They contained lots of slapstick. But above all it was the camaraderie of it's characters that made it a winner. Set in a junk yard, the programme follows the exploits of seven children,whose den is a London double deck bus. There was plenty of resource from within the yard for them to use and the fast moving plots involved robots, goblins, ghosts and martians, as well as go-karts and a hovercraft on one occasion. The children were all shapes and sizes with varying talents and it was very easy to be envious of them. We all wanted to be a double decker and join them in their scrapes and tangles.

The characters were as follows : Scooper ( leader of the gang and played by Peter Firth), Brains ( Michael Audreson), Billie ( Gillian Bailey), Sticks (Bruce Clark), Doughnut ( Douglas Simmonds), Tiger ( the youngest child who also had a cuddly toy Tiger and was played by Debbie Russ ), and Spring ( Brinsley Forde). The only regular adult was Albert, a street cleaner ( Melvyn Hayes). I will not attempt to go into detail as to the part they each played. If you do not remember the show it will mean little to you. Watch the clip though and it could trigger happy memories. I must say there is a fantastic Double Deckers web site at http://www.thedoubledeckers.com/ which is an absolute credit to the people behind it.

One other great part of the show was it's music and dance pieces, which were crucial to the overall sunshine feeling of the programme. And many of the seventeen episodes featured some great comedy players of the day : Julian Orchard, Norman Vaughan, Bob Todd, Clive Dunn, Pat Coombs, Hugh Paddick, Frank Thornton, Sam Kydd and Jack Haig. Pretty impressive I should say. One episode also featured a very young Jane Seymour.

It is always interesting with child stars to see where they finished up. Peter Firth went on to be a film and stage actor (Pearl Harbor, Shadowlands, The Hunt For Red October, Letter To Brezhnev). Michael Audreson was in Young Winston playing the great Briton himself aged 13. Brinsley Forde is of course Brinsley Forde, lead singer of Aswad. And the lovely Gillian Bailey was in Follyfoot and the dramatic masterpiece Poldark (where she played the devoted and hard working Jinny Carter). Melvyn Hayes was the marvellous Bombardier 'Gloria' Beaumont in It Aint Half Hot Mum.

The Double Deckers was a fantastic little programme. It enjoyed success both here and in America. Although essentially British in spirit and filmed in and around Borehamwood, it was in fact a co production between the BBC and ABC (in America it had the slightly different title of Here Come The Double Deckers) and so is as much loved over the Atlantic as it is here. The gang also featured in a comic strip in Whizzer and Chips in 1971-1972 and an album of music from the series was also released. Blogging about The Double Deckers and researching for it has been a joy.

I can end in only one way : '' See you next weeeeeeeeeeeek''.

The Truth About Biggles

A sketch from the mid nineties sit-com The Thin Blue Line. Inspector Fowler (Rowan Atkinson) is a big fan of Biggles. But again his old fashioned views are cruelly exposed by one of his officers - on this occasion WPC Maggie Habib (Minar Anwar).




A longer article on The Thin Blue Line can be found on the post dated 16 June 2007.

Gillette Soccer Saturday

Gillette Soccer Saturday is a marvelous football programme that covers all the action 'as it happens'. It is a frantic show, with a team of studio based ex players, and reporters at most grounds, bringing instant news of events around the country. It makes for a fine afternoons viewing.


There are many funnies. This is one from yesterday, as presenter Jeff Stelling goes over to Chris Kamara at Fratton Park for news of a sending off................

Grandstand - Fight, Fight, Fight

Paloma Faith - Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful ?

Paloma Faith - New York

Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober

Paloma Faith - Upside Down

The Legend Of Xanadu - Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch.

This song went to number one in the UK charts in 1968. I was mesmerised by it. I remember watching it on Top Of The Pops week after week, much to the disgust of my Dad who thought it was awful. My older sister thought her young brother might grow up with a few emotional problems (but then she went on to be a Barry Manilow fan, so what can you say!). I don't think watching Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch at such a tender age has had any lasting negative effects on me - not even any whip fetishes. Looking back it was pure theatre .......................and just a few years later glamrock was to take over the UK music scene so possibly this act were slightly before their time.

Football Dives

What happened to the beautiful game?

Citizen Smith

Originally Broadcast : 12 April 1977 to 4 July 1980


Channel : BBC

Written By : John Sullivan

Produced By : Ray Butt, Dennis Main-Wilson, Peter Whitmore

Starring : Robert Lindsay (Wolfie), Mike Grady (Ken Mills), Cheryl Hall (Shirley Johnson), Hilda Braid (Florence Johnson), Peter Vaughan (Charlie Johnson), Stephen Greif (Harry Fenning)

Episodes : 29

Jake Thackray - I Stayed Off Work Today

I posted a few Jake Thackray videos on the original blog, but they were all lifted from You Tube shortly afterwards. So I try again. I was not aware of this song until a couple of years ago, when I requested a 'greatest hits' CD for Christmas. It's a fine example of the great man's work.

A tribute to Jake Thackray can be found on this blog by going to Jake Thackray - posted 3rd July 2007.

The Applejacks - Tell Me When

Tell me when you feel a little blue

Tell me then I'll see what I can do

Just say the word and I'll be there

Anywhere, with lots of love to share

So, tell me when your arms are really free

Free enough to kiss and cuddle me

I'll never fall in love again

As long as there's a chance that you tell me when

Your lips are sweet and if we ever get to meet

I know, I know, I'm never gonna let you go

So, tell me when you've got a little time

Tell me when you're ready to be mine

I'll never fall in love again

So, if you want my love, won't you tell me when

Your lips are sweet and if we ever get to meet

I know, I know, I'm never gonna let you go

So, tell me when you've got a little time

Tell me when you're ready to be mine

I'll never fall in love again

So, if you want my love, won't you tell me when

Won't you tell me when

Won't you tell me when

Won't you tell me when

You're Gonna Die Ives

Possibly the shortest clip you will ever see on this blog...................from the superb BBC series Porridge and featuring 'Orrible Ives who has poison in a rather delicate place - his bottom. Being the most detested inmate at Slade, there were no volunteers to help him with his little problem and Fletch has no problem giving him the bad news ! Ronnie Barker needs no introduction, Ives was played by scouse actor Ken Jones. Fans of the show will remember he started most conversations with 'ere listen' and he remains one of my favourite characters from the series.

Title Music # 2 - Top Cat

Originally Broadcast : 27 Sept 1961 to 18 Apr 1962

Channel : ABC

Produced By : Hanna-Barbera

Starring : Arnold Strang (Top Cat), Paul Frees, Maurice Gosfield, Leo DeLyon, Marvin Kaplan, John Stephenson, Allen Jenkins, Jean Vander Pyl.

Episodes : 30

Cocked That Right Up Didn't We

TV comedy is not solely restricted to sit-com or stand up performers. X Factor is wonderful viewing and never fails to capture the interest of the nation and at times can be very funny. Like the occasion when Welsh singing duo Total Eclipse, real names Fiona Rae Griffiths and Pam Edwards, turned up for the Cardiff audition. Their problems started before they even sang. When asked to which group they aspired, Pam answered 'That's a toughie innit ?' , Fiona adding 'Innit', Pam 'Eh?' and finally Fiona with 'Weren't expecting that question.' Eventually they settled for Abba. They then sang Summer Of 69 but ended it abruptly with Pam declaring 'Oh see! Cocked that right up didn't we' ? Fiona just laughed with Pam adding 'Oh never mind'. The clip shows the reaction of the judges, and notably Simon Cowell who suggested that Fiona reminded him of Vicky Pollard !! Cruel. But these girls took it in great spirit and actually found it in their hearts to laugh at themselves, an attribute so few of us can boast. The very end of the clip is just magic...........note the look of absolute dismay on Fiona's face.

The picture at the top shows the girls after a make-over on the following Monday's edition of ITV's This Morning. They were totally transformed and gave a creditable performance of Dobie Gray's Drift Away.

Thanks girls............a great piece of TV comedy.

Ronnie Hazlehurst - King Of The Comedy Themes

This clip provides us with what is, in my opinion, the loveliest music from any British sit-com past or present. It is of course from the long running Last Of The Summer Wine. Any fan will know from the opening and closing credits that the composer was Ronnie Hazlehurst. But something not so well known is just how prolific he has been in providing us with sit-com theme tunes. Here a list of other Ronnie Hazlehurst compositions (first nine) and arrangements (remainder):

1. Are You Being Served

2. Sorry

3. Yes Minister

4. Wyatt's Watchdogs

5. Three Up, Two Down

6. The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin

7. The Two Ronnies

8. Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

9. To The Manor Born

10. Butterflies

11. Only Fools And Horses

12. Three Of A Kind

13. No Place Like Home

14. Just Good Friends

15. The Likely Lads

Ronnie Hazlehurst's other great claim to fame was as Musical Director of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, 1977 and 1982 (you remember, those days when we occasionally won it). He also conducted the British entry many times, memorably in 1977 when he used a rolled up umbrella as a baton for Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran's Rock Bottom.

Back to this clip, which is an excellent slide show portraying the regular characters from Last Of The Summer Wine. This particular sit-com relies almost entirely on depth of characterisation; many jokes are repetitive and unique to that particular person. Episodes are often a collage of cameo appearances woven between the main story line which always involves the three main characters. I am grateful to imitation700mb who put the slide show together splendidly and gave permission for it to be posted here. It has brought back some wonderful memories, especially of earlier cast members such as Blamire, Wally and Sid, who are, alas, no longer with us.

Frank Spencer - Roller Skates

For most of the 70's, Frank Spencer was a comedy icon. Though the sit-com Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em produced only 22 episodes over three seasons (with, strangely, a five year gap from 1973 to 1978 between the second and third series), the character was perhaps the most mimicked of any in the history of TV comedy. He was a main ingredient in the acts of impersonators such as Mike Yarwood, Bobby Davro and Lenny Henry. Most people could have a reasonable go at an 'Ooh Betty' ; at work, in the pub or the playground.

The above clip comes from the end of the 1973 episode, Fathers' Clinic. Frank (Michael Crawford) and Betty (Michele Dotrice), are looking after two children whose mother is in hospital. A trip to a roller skating rink results in typical mayhem. The scene represents one of the most lasting memories of the show and would arguably be in any list of all time great comedy moments. Believe me, when first viewed it was pretty scary stuff , as were many of Crawford's other stunts in the series. Enjoy it.

Scrumpy And Western

1976 was a hot summer in England. And a novelty act, the likes of which had never been seen before (nor since) hit our charts. They were called The Wurzels. In May they had a number 1 with Combined Harvester, selling over 400,000 copies and the follow up record in September, I Am A Cider Drinker, reached No 3. Their trade-marks were anything Zummerzet ; cider (scrumpy), pitchforks, straw, farmyards, animals, tractors and West country locations. They brought the music genre, Scrumpy & Western to parts of the country that didn't even know it existed. And amid a raging heatwave they brought some new humour to our lives.

The Wurzels had been in existence many years before their national fame, formed in 1966 as the backing group to Adge Cutler , a much loved West country performer who wrote and sung humorous songs to local audiences, and had previously been road manager to Acker Bilk. They had a minor hit in '67 with Drink Up Thy Zider and were hugely popular. Ironically, their major successes came after Adge Cutler was tragically killed in a car crash in Chepstow on his way home from a gig in 1974. The Wurzels needed new material and turned therefore to re-writing other popular tunes, adding their own lyrics and country yokel accents. Melanie's 'Brand New Key' became Combined Harvester, and Jonathan King's 'Una Paloma Blanca' was turned into I Am A Cider Drinker.

Chart acclaim was short lived. The 1977 release Farmer Bill's Batman made it to No 32 and was to be their final hit. The group, Reg Quantrill (banjo), Tommy Banner (accordion) and Pete Budd (lead man with a great jovial smile), made various TV appearances around this time. Whilst they were heavily criticised by music purists, their act was truly original and refreshing and much enjoyed by those who took them for what they were - a bunch of guys having a bit of fun. After their time in the lime-light passed, they returned to performing live concerts and by the end of the 90's had achieved cult status once more, especially amongst students. To this day they remain regular favourites in the West Country and it was recently announced that I Am A Cider Drinker was to re-released for charity with Tony Blackburn sharing the singing duties.

With a discography which includes songs such as Champion Dung Spreader, The Wurple - Diddle - I - Doo - Song, Don't Tell I Tell 'Ee, and The Marrow Song ( Oh What A Beauty), The Wurzels are never going to be taken seriously, are they. But they have provided warm memories for me and no doubt countless others. Cheers lads.............here's to more scrumpy.