My 70's TV Childhood

Hello, you lovely lot, and welcome to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz, the trivia quiz from the classic British TV podcast that looks back at growing up in 1970s Britain. This time we open with the animals of our childhood telly: cartoon heroes, farmyard favourites and studio pets we all felt were partly ours. Grab a pen, some paper and a brew, and let's see how you get on. What to Expect Round 1: Animal Magic The animals, real and animated, that shared our screens as children.Round 2: Maratho...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood, the classic British TV podcast about growing up in 1970s Britain and the part television played in our lives. This week we're looking back at Beasts, Nigel Kneale's six-part ITV anthology from 1976. There were no castles or alien planets, just a supermarket, a suburban home, an empty dolphinarium, a country cottage, a pet shop and a film studio. It was scratching behind a wall, rather than anything you actually saw, that followed us up the stairs to ...

Hello, you lovely lot, and welcome to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz, the fun trivia quiz from the classic British TV podcast that looks back at growing up in 1970s Britain. This time we start with the scarier side of the schedules. Looking back, I'm surprised we all turned out so normal, or relatively so, given some of the things we were shown at teatime. Grab a pen and paper and your favourite brew (I'm back on tea today) and let's see how you get on. What to Expect Round 1: Suitable for Chil...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood, the classic British TV podcast about growing up in 1970s Britain and the part television played in our lives. So many of you asked about it after our Wonder Woman episode that this week we're looking back at The Incredible Hulk, the programme that gave British children in the late 1970s a rather alarming lesson in anger management. From Bill Bixby's gentle, haunted David Banner to Lou Ferrigno's unforgettable Hulk, it's a show that shaped a generation, one...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week Round One takes us into the world of the one-hit wonders of television: shows that had everything going for them, except a second series. Some were cancelled. Some ran out of road. One was pulled after just three episodes. We will give you a description of the show and you have to tell us the name. After that, we have our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, the Wheel of Fate landing on 1978 for Name That Tune, and the TV Times general triv...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood! This week we are marking the sad passing of Richard O'Sullivan, who died peacefully at Brinsworth House in Twickenham on 4 September 2026, aged 82. In his time, Richard was one of the most popular and best-known actors on British television, and for millions of viewers he was, quite simply, Robin Tripp. This week Oliver looks back at a career that spanned more than four decades, from a cheeky child actor appearing in Cleopatra alongside Elizabeth Taylor an...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week Round One marks a rather special occasion: the fiftieth anniversary of The Muppet Show, which first aired in September 1976. Five questions about Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Dr Bunsen Honeydew and the rest of the gang. And here is something that often surprises people: the show was actually made here in the UK. After that, we have our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, the Wheel of Fate landing on 1979 for Name That Tune, and the TV ...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood! This week I am heading back to a Saturday afternoon in 1978, when a spectacular American import arrived on BBC One and stopped children in their tracks across the country. The theme music would begin, you would recognise it immediately and then, suddenly, there she was spinning around. One moment a smart businesswoman in a pair of spectacles and the next, Wonder Woman wearing considerably less. This week we are talking about one of the great television ico...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week Round One is dedicated to one of the longest-running and most beloved programmes in the history of British children's television: Blue Peter. Five questions covering Shep, John Noakes, Valerie Singleton, Lesley Judd and one very famous appeal. After that, we have our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, the Wheel of Fate landing on 1971 for Name That Tune, and the TV Times general trivia round to finish. What to Expect: Round 1: Blue Pete...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood! This week, I'm looking back at what many people reckon is one of the greatest British sitcoms ever made. A sitcom that lasted just 12 episodes, and yet more than 50 years later remains part of the British cultural furniture. We're going to Fawlty Towers. What to Expect: The Real Basil Fawlty: I trace the origins of the show back to 1970, when the Monty Python team stayed at the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay and John Cleese encountered one of the rudest men h...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week marks a rather satisfying milestone: our 75th quiz, three quarters of a century of questions about growing up with British television in the 1970s. To celebrate, Round One takes us back to one of the most cherished slots in the history of British children's television: Watch With Mother. After that, we have our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, the Wheel of Fate landing on 1976 for Name That Tune, and the TV Times general trivia round to...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood! This week, I'm looking back at one of the biggest stars of Saturday night television, a man who entertained millions with a remarkable gallery of comic characters. Dick Emery was a fixture on BBC One for over a decade, and his catchphrases entered everyday conversation across the country. From the unforgettable Mandy to the Toothy Vicar, the Bovver Boy to the controversial Clarence, his characters were as familiar as members of our own families. Before we ...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week Round One is all about the summer variety show Seaside Special, a fixture of Saturday night television throughout the mid to late 1970s, plus a few other seaside-related questions. After that, we have our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, the Wheel of Fate landing on 1975 for Name That Tune, and the TV Times general trivia round to finish. What to Expect: Round 1: Seaside Special Five questions about the summer variety show and a few o...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week Round One takes us back to the golden age of 1970s television advertising. I will give you some information from a famous advert and you have to tell me the product or brand it was for. After that, we have our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, the Wheel of Fate landing on 1971 for Name That Tune, and the TV Times general trivia round to finish. What to Expect: Round 1: Commercial Break Five famous 1970s TV adverts. Can you name the produ...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood! This week, I'm delighted to welcome a very special guest, a man I can only describe as a legend of children's television. He's the puppeteer behind Zippy on Rainbow, he was Sweep alongside Harry Corbett, he worked with Jim Henson on Labyrinth, he performed on the Muppet films, and he even became a rave star in the 1990s touring university discos with Zippy and George. Welcome to the podcast, Ronnie Le Drew. But first, our My 70s TV Childhood theme tune qui...

Welcome to the 72nd edition of the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week Round One takes us back to those glorious school holiday mornings in front of the television, with five questions about the shows that filled our summers throughout the 1970s. A quick note before we start: some of the shows mentioned were made before the 70s but were endlessly repeated and very much part of our 70s TV childhood. What to Expect: Round 1: Summer Holiday Five questions about the school holiday mor...

Welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood, a British nostalgia podcast about growing up with classic television in 1970s Britain. This week, I’m heading back to 1974 and one of the most talked-about and controversial programmes in the history of British television. The Family was a BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary series that followed the everyday lives of an ordinary working-class family from Reading, and it changed television forever. But first, a quick reminder that our My 70’s TV Childhood Them...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week Round One takes us back to some of the most watched moments in 1970s television, the great Royal events that brought the nation together around the TV set. After that, we have our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, the Wheel of Fate landing on 1970 for Name That Tune, and the TV Times general trivia round to finish. What to Expect: Round 1: Royal Ratings Five questions about the most watched Royal events on British television in the 1970s...

Welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood, a British nostalgia podcast about growing up with classic television in 1970s Britain. This week, with the World Cup just around the corner, I’m heading back to Argentina 1978, the tournament that made me a lifelong football fan and one of the most dramatic World Cups in history. But first, a quick reminder that our My 70’s TV Childhood Theme Tune Game is coming very soon. It is a nostalgic family game for people who grew up with 1970s British television,...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz. This week we have a bit of a milestone: it is our 70th quiz, which I think gives a very pleasing bit of synergy to our whole 1970s theme. To mark the occasion, Round One is dedicated to the wonderful world of Hanna-Barbera cartoons. I will give you a catchphrase and you have to tell me which character said it. After that, we have our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, a spin of the Wheel of Fate for Name That Tune 1979, and the TV Times general tri...

Welcome back to My 70's TV Childhood, a British nostalgia podcast about growing up with classic television in 1970s Britain. This week, I'm paying tribute to the much-loved TV presenter Judith Chalmers, who passed away this week aged 90. Judith was synonymous with one thing for millions of us who grew up in 1970s Britain, and that was holidays. As one of the original hosts of ITV's long-running holiday show Wish You Were Here, she spent decades opening our eyes to the world beyond Blackpool a...

Welcome back to the My 70s TV Childhood Quiz, or if you're joining me for the first time, a very warm welcome to you. This week I'm casting my mind back to the golden age of television talent shows, specifically the two great ones of the 1970s: Opportunity Knocks and New Faces. Whether it was Hughie Green's legendary sincerity or the famously sharp panel on New Faces, both shows launched some extraordinary careers. Round One asks you to decide which show gave each act their big break. After t...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood! This week, I'm celebrating the 100th birthday of a broadcasting icon, a true national treasure, and seemingly a wonderful man. Sir David Attenborough turns 100, and I'm looking back at his extraordinary life, his career, and in particular, the landmark 1979 series that changed television and changed our relationship with the natural world: Life on Earth. But first, I have some exciting news about our My 70s TV Childhood theme tune quiz game. We're about to...

This week we’re packing our bags. Round One is all about 1970s TV shows set in foreign countries. Can you name where each one was set? Summer holidays start here. What to Expect: Round 1: Viva España! – Five 1970s TV shows, all set abroad. Can you name the country? Round 2: Marathon/Fil Rouge – Questions drawn from our back catalogue of over 200 episodes. Have you been paying attention? Round 3: Name That Tune (1972) – Five theme tunes from shows first broadcast in 1972. You’ll need to listen...

Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood! In this episode, I celebrate one of the most beloved characters in British television history, Basil Brush. He was a fox, a puppet, a national treasure, and a firm Saturday teatime favourite for millions of families throughout the 1970s. But first, I have some exciting news about our My 70s TV Childhood quiz game, which is now in pre-production. If you'd like to register your interest in buying one, please visit www.my70stvchildhood.com and let us know! 💬 ...

This week we’re heading into space. Round One is all about the worlds of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, UFO, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Space: 1999. Strap in. What to Expect: Round 1: Race Into Space – Five questions on Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s sci-fi worlds. A quick note: some of the shows referred to were made in the 1960s but were regularly shown throughout the 1970s. Round 2: Marathon/Fil Rouge – Questions drawn from our back catalogue of over 200 episodes. Have you been paying atte...

Welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood! In this episode, I head off into the final frontier as we explore what space meant to us as children growing up in 1970s Britain, and the television that fired our imaginations along the way. But first, I have some exciting news about our My 70’s TV Childhood quiz game, which is now in pre-production. If you’d like to register your interest in buying one, please visit www.my70stvchildhood.com and let us know! 💬 What to Expect: Back to the Moon: With the A...

🎲 Exciting News – The My 70s TV Childhood Board Game! We have been working on something very exciting behind the scenes. A physical, playable version of our theme tune quiz – something you can sit down with at home, with family and friends. We’re currently in pre-production and getting ready to manufacture. But before we do, we’d love to know whether this is something you’d be interested in buying. There’s no commitment at this stage. We just need to get our production numbers right. If you’d...

Welcome back to My 70’s TV Childhood! In this episode, we dive into the wonderful and wonderfully wonky world of Bob Godfrey — the animator behind some of the most beloved and distinctive cartoons of our 1970s childhoods. 💬 What to Expect: Easter Memories: Oliver shares some nostalgic childhood Easter memories — chocolate eggs, egg hunts, and the eye-watering price of Easter treats today!The World of Roobarb: We celebrate the wobbly green dog who first appeared on our screens in October 1974,...

This week’s quiz is a trip down memory lane for anyone who remembers the regional idents of 70s television. I’ll play you the theme tune for five 1970s ITV franchises, and you just have to name the company! We’ve now recorded 65 quizzes, which means there are over 1,300 questions in our back catalogue. Blimey. If you’re new here, welcome, and good luck catching up! ️ What to Expect: Round 1: Name the Franchise! - I’ll play the ident, you name the ITV company. Rou...

Welcome to a very special episode of My 70's TV Childhood! This is our 200th episode! That's right, we've now published 200 episodes of podcast land's favourite podcast celebrating what it was like to grow up as a child in the 1970s and the important part that television played in our lives back then. We are now into our 7th season, and I still can't believe that we are still going strong, still growing our band of dedicated listeners, and still finding all sorts of things to discuss. 💬 What...

“Here is the News…” 📰 This week’s quiz is all about the newsreaders who brought us the headlines in the 70s. I’ll give you the name of a newsreader, and you just have to tell me whether they were on the BBC or ITN. Simple! We’ve now recorded 64 quizzes, which means there are over 1,280 questions in our back catalogue. Blimey. If you’re new here, welcome, and good luck catching up! We know you can do it 💪 ️ 💬 What to Expect: Round 1: Here is the News — I’ll give you the...

It was silly, it was intellectual, and it was like nothing anyone had ever seen before. This week, we're revisiting the chaotic and brilliant world of Monty Python's Flying Circus. From the Ministry of Silly Walks to the Spanish Inquisition, Monty Python's unique brand of absurd humour revolutionised comedy and left a lasting impact on British culture. In this episode, we explore the origins of the Pythons, the creation of their groundbreaking show, and the sketches that have become legendar...

"I'm free!" "Ooh, you are awful!" "Nice to see you, to see you..." This week's quiz is all about the catchphrases that defined 70s telly. Can you remember who said what? Some are dead easy, others might have you scratching your head. We've now recorded 63 quizzes, which means over 1,260 questions floating about in our back catalogue. Blimey. If you're new here, welcome, and good luck catching up! We know you can do it 💪 💬 What to Expect: Round 1: Catchphrase - I'll give you ...

Theirs wasn't a romance for the ages. But it was one of the most honest love stories on 70s TV. With Valentine's Day just behind us, I've been thinking about the unforgettable marriage of George and Mildred Roper. They started as landlords in 'Man About the House', but their bickering, aspirational, and deeply familiar dynamic stole the show. Their own spinoff, 'George and Mildred', cemented their place as a television institution. In this episode, I explore why their relationship—funny, awkw...

Hands up if you where glued to Wacky Races! This week's quiz is a proper test of your memory. Can you remember who drove what? Some of these are trickier than Dick Dastardly's schemes. We've now recorded 62 quizzes, which means over 1,240 questions floating about in our back catalogue. Blimey. If you're new here, welcome, and good luck catching up! We know you can do it💪 💬 What to Expect: Round 1: Dangerous Drivers - Match the Wacky Races cars to their drivers. The Boulder Mobile? The M...

This made me cry with laughter. That is the honest truth about Ripping Yarns, and it still does nearly 50 years later. Michael Palin and Terry Jones, the creative minds behind Monty Python, took the classic British adventure stories I grew up reading and gave them a brilliant, absurdist twist. Between 1976 and 1979, they created nine episodes that understood their subject so well they could deconstruct it with precision and humour. In this episode, I explore why Ripping Yarns remains on...

Hello and welcome back to the My 70’s TV Childhood Quiz! This is the 61st edition of our fortnightly trivia challenge dedicated to the golden age of British television. Thanks for all your comments on the last quiz. A few of you found it tricky, but with some scores in the high teens, it seems we’re pitching it just right! Ready to test your knowledge again? Grab a pen, paper, and your favourite beverage, and let’s begin 💬 What to Expect: •🎲 Round 1: The Name of the Game - Can you ident...

This week, we’re bracing ourselves for chaos and cringing with affection as we revisit one of the most iconic sitcoms of the 1970s: “Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em”! Join me as we return to the world of the hapless but well-meaning Frank Spencer, brought to life by the incredible Michael Crawford. We’ll explore the jaw-dropping stunts, the unforgettable catchphrases, and the surprisingly heartwarming relationship between Frank and his long-suffering wife, Betty. 💬 What to Expect: •The Man Behind th...

Welcome to the first My 70s TV Childhood Quiz of 2026! Happy New Year! We're back for season seven of the podcast, and this is the 60th edition of our seventies TV trivia quiz. If you haven't played before, it's simple: 20 questions across four rounds, one point per correct answer. Grab a pen, paper, and your favourite beverage, and let's see how you do! What to Expect: 🍹 Round 1: Dry January - Drinks featured in 70s TV shows 📺 Round 2: Marathon or Phil Rouge - Questions about previous ...

Join as we take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, from school sports day memories to the legendary competition that inspired generations of British children. Featuring the iconic Ron Pickering, celebrity sporting guests, and the unforgettable moment when winners got to jump into the swimming pool. What to Expect: 🏃 A personal journey through 1970s school sports days, from creosote-marked running tracks to the infamous high jump rope 🏆 The story of We Are the Champions: how a BBC show turned...

This week, we're joined by longtime listener and friend of the podcast, Lee, to talk about a beloved Christmas tradition: the Christmas Annual! If you overindulged on turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas Day, we hope you're enjoying this time between Christmas and New Year. And if you did get Action Man, Buckaroo, and Cluedo in your stocking this year, then well done! One thing we haven't spoken about that much is the Christmas annual. As children, we loved getting a few annuals alongsid...

Welcome to a very special edition of our 70s TV trivia quiz! This is our pre-Christmas quiz, designed to keep you and your nearest and dearest entertained over the holiday period. And this quiz has a difference: all 30 questions have been provided by you, our listeners! A huge thank you to Russell, Mark F, Lee, Ed, Mark G, Gillian, Andrew, Kath, and Brian for sending in their brilliant 70s TV posers. 💬 What to Expect: 📺 Round 1: Relatively Speaking - questions about TV relatives 📺 Round 2: Sc...

This week, we're getting festive and taking a trip down memory lane to look at the best-selling Christmas toys of the 1970s! From the toys we desperately wanted (thanks to all those adverts) to the ones that actually made it under the tree. 💬 What to Expect: 🎁 A year-by-year rundown of the most popular Christmas toys from 1970 to 1979 📺 The great Christmas Day dilemma: watch Morecambe and Wise or play with your new Subbuteo? 🎮 How toys evolved from Pet Rocks to the Sony Walkman ❤️ A reminder ...

This week, we're testing your memory of the iconic Blue Peter appeals in a round called "And the Totaliser Says..." Do you remember what we were collecting all those stamps, postcards, and bottle tops for? 💬 What to Expect: 📺1: And the Totaliser Says... - questions about the classic Blue Peter appeals 📺2: Marathon/Fil Rouge - questions from previous podcast episodes 📺3: Name That Tune - theme tunes from 1974 📺4: TV Times - general 70s TV trivia Last Chance! This is your final opportunit...

Join me as I dig into the dusty archives to remember a US import that landed on UK screens in a very unusual way: Big John, Little John. This week, we explore this short-lived sitcom about a 40-year-old science teacher who accidentally drinks from the Fountain of Youth and keeps turning into his 12-year-old self. It was a show that flipped the classic "I wish I was a kid again" trope on its head, showing the hilarious chaos that ensues when you have no control over the change. We'll discuss i...

Welcome to Quiz #57! This week, we're taking a trip down memory lane with a round all about classic 70s TV adverts in "Commercial Break." From secret lemonade drinkers to the best lager in the world, we're testing your memory of those iconic ads. What's in this episode: Round 1: Commercial Break - questions about iconic 70s TV advertsRound 2: Marathon/Fil Rouge - questions from previous podcast episodesRound 3: Name That Tune - theme tunes from 1979Round 4: TV Times - general 70s TV triviaBon...

Join me as I dig into the dusty archives of My 70's TV Childhood Towers to explore a little slice of eccentric brilliance: Michael Bentine's Potty Time. This unique episode explores a specific moment in television history when tiny wooden puppets, daft voices, and impossible chaos ruled the screen. From the mind of the "fourth Goon," Michael Bentine, this show brought a handmade charm and gentle surrealism that feels quintessentially British. We'll explore the history of the show, the man beh...

Welcome to Quiz #56! This week, we're taking a look back at the terrifying public information films that haunted our childhoods in a round called "Remember, Remember." What's in this episode: Round 1: Remember, Remember - questions about those infamous public information filmsRound 2: Marathon/Fil Rouge - questions from previous podcast episodesRound 3: Name That Tune - theme tunes from 1978Round 4: TV Times - general 70s TV triviaBonus QuestionExciting News: We still need your questions for ...

Join me as I dig into the dusty archives of My 70's TV Childhood Towers to explore one of the most popular but slightly bizarre double acts in British television: Rod Hull and Emu. If you were growing up in the 70s and early 80s, you'll almost certainly remember the bizarre sight of one man and an arm-length emu puppet tearing through TV studios, visiting school-holiday specials, wrestling chat-show hosts, and generally causing mayhem. Today we'll look at how the act started, why it resonated...