Another cracking update !
Not just remote controls. The Sixties vintage Black-and-White set that I "inherited" (after my parents got a Colour TV) had four channel buttons, labelled "BBC 1", "BBC 2", "ITV 1" and "ITV 2".
An Absolutely Fabulous Choice ! Lumley was occasionally proposed as a possible female incarnation of the Doctor (and indeed played one in The Curse of the Fatal Death). About this time OTL, the character of Romana was introduced as a companion who was on a more equal footing with the Doctor, by virtue of being a Time-Lady, to get around some of the complaints that the roles of Doctor and female companion were somewhat sexist. It is possible that Lumley's character could also be a Time-Lady.
This obviously also means that she won't be available to appear in Saphire and Steel. Does this series get made ITTL, and if so who are the leads ? It was another attempt by ITV to make their own "Doctor Who", so it's likely there will be an equivalent series ITTL.
This was the point it Jumped the Shark for me. Like many successful comedies, it went on long after it had used up its originality. There aren't many people like Cleese who are willing to stop when their at the top.
I must admit that I'd forgotten that Arthur English hadn't been in the series from the start.
Cheers,
Nigel.
But a second commercial network would begin airing on January 1, 1982, the result of legislation passed in 1979, though years in the making before that – many remote controls sold as early as the 1960s were labelled “ITV-2” in anticipation of the fourth channel.
Not just remote controls. The Sixties vintage Black-and-White set that I "inherited" (after my parents got a Colour TV) had four channel buttons, labelled "BBC 1", "BBC 2", "ITV 1" and "ITV 2".
The Fourth Doctor himself, Jim Dale, continued past Seymour’s tenure; indeed, he had a hand in choosing the next companion, Joanna Lumley. Lumley portrayed a character more prim and proper than Seymour, and was also older, considerably over the age of thirty. [24] She remained as the principal companion for three seasons, helping to cement the tradition of companions lasting for precisely that long.
An Absolutely Fabulous Choice ! Lumley was occasionally proposed as a possible female incarnation of the Doctor (and indeed played one in The Curse of the Fatal Death). About this time OTL, the character of Romana was introduced as a companion who was on a more equal footing with the Doctor, by virtue of being a Time-Lady, to get around some of the complaints that the roles of Doctor and female companion were somewhat sexist. It is possible that Lumley's character could also be a Time-Lady.
This obviously also means that she won't be available to appear in Saphire and Steel. Does this series get made ITTL, and if so who are the leads ? It was another attempt by ITV to make their own "Doctor Who", so it's likely there will be an equivalent series ITTL.
[15] They went with the second option IOTL, choosing Kenneth Waller – who was 28 years younger than Bennett, young enough to be his son – to play the role of Old Mr Grace, caked in unconvincing old-age makeup. He lasted just one season before they reached the obvious conclusion of depicting Young Mr Grace as an unseen character;
This was the point it Jumped the Shark for me. Like many successful comedies, it went on long after it had used up its originality. There aren't many people like Cleese who are willing to stop when their at the top.
[16] Mr Mash left after the third season when the actor, Larry Martyn, made another commitment which he could not break; he was replaced by Mr Harman, played by Arthur English (the only replacement character on Are You Being Served? to outlast the original, and be better-remembered).
I must admit that I'd forgotten that Arthur English hadn't been in the series from the start.
Cheers,
Nigel.
Last edited: