Books

Jango - Treacle on Three Fingers

Sole surviving episode of a 1961 ITV detective series.

Based on the Television Playhouse 'Murder Stamp'.

Single disc.

Is Anybody There? [UK postage]

The memoirs of Tom Edwards.

Is Anybody There? [Non-UK postage]

Inside Updown [UK postage]

The Story of Upstairs, Downstairs.

Inside Updown [Non UK postage]

The story of Upstairs, Downstairs.

Inconsequential and Irrelevant

The memoirs of Mike McStay, actor.

History of Associated Rediffusion Ltd

November 1954 - September 1959.

His Lordship Entertains

Episode 1

The only surviving episode of the classic Ronnie Barker sitcom restored to its full glory!

Ronnie Barker's famous character Lord Rustless swapped channels from ITV for this short BBC sitcom set in a hotel.

Originally shown from colour videotape, those recordings were wiped. During ITV's "Raiders of the Lost Archives" campaign in 2007 (which was run by Kaleidoscope) ITV were offered episode one of His Lordship Entertains which was in New Zealand. ITV declined because it was a BBC show. Kaleidoscope accepted and the print was shipped to the BBC and transferred. Due to modern technology Jonathan Coley and his amazing colour restoration processes created a new colour master to be screened at the BFI's annual Missing Believed Wiped on 27th November 2021.

Now you can own it on DVD.

TV Brain exclusive.

Here's a House Volume 2: Play School

Volume two of a history of Play School.

Here's a House Volume 1: Play School

The first volume in the history of Play School.

He Who Would a Writer Be

John Finch was one of the generation of Northern writers who came to prominence in British television in the 1960s, many of them, like Jim Allen, Stan Barstow, Jack Rosenthal and Tony Warren, writing for Granada Television. Recruited by Granada in 1960, Finch was one of the first writers on Coronation Street, for which he wrote 140 episodes, helping to establish it as Britain’s most popular television drama.

Towards the end of the 1960s Finch branched out with other series and single plays, all with a strong Northern flavour, but it was the 52-episode Second World War saga A Family at War that saw him embark on a series of original and highly popular ‘telenovels’ for Granada in the 1970s.

He followed A Family at War with the semi-autobiographical Sam, for which he wrote all 39 one-hour episodes. The story of a boy, like Finch, growing up in the Yorkshire coalfields, Sam was his masterpiece, watched by 20 million viewers every week. He continued to receive letters from viewers thanking him for putting a truthful picture of Northern working-class life on the screen for the rest of his 97 years.

Though his brand of realist Northern drama fell out of favour in the 1980s, John Finch’s contribution to British television drama was enormous. His autobiography, written in the final years of his life, is a testament to a life well lived, revealing a sensitive and accomplished writer who more than fulfilled his dream.

This book is available quickest worldwide by ordering here.

https://www.lulu.com/shop/john-finch-and-les-cooke/he-who-would-a-writer-be/hardcover/product-d9564n.html?q=he+who+would+a+writer+be&page=1&pageSize=4

Hamilton's Hot Shots DVD

David Hamilton trawls through 1950s music clips and links the material with his own anecdotes.

Extras include an interview with Pete Murray and Jackie Trent.

Freewheelers: Calling White Knight

A history of the Southern Television series Freewheelers.

Frankie Howerd - The Lost TV Pilots (DVD)

Various pilots from Canada and Australia. DVD.

LAST COPY LEFT

Dr Finlay's Casebook - Unfit to Marry

Based on the A.J. Cronin books, a lost episode of this classic medical drama series, first shown Christmas Eve 1967.

A lost classic recovered by Kaleidoscope.

Extras:

Subtitles for hard of hearing

Script