TV Action - The Protectors (Part One)

By the end of 1972 it was becoming apparent that the publication which had started asCountdown - the space age comic was moving further and further away from this claim. Unlike the 1960s where one Gerry Anderson series had followed another on an almost annual basis, UFO was to be the last space adventure orientated production for a few years. With thriller and action series becoming increasingly vogue on television, Anderson's next production - which he admits being thrust upon him by Lew Grade - would have to follow suit, and The Protectors was born. In order to stay afloat and with repeats of Anderson's earlier series like Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the recent UFO becoming increasingly sparce, Countdown had shifted from Countdown For TV Action [Issue 46] to TV Action [Issue 59] While UFO continued to have a high profile throughout, the other Anderson series slowly dwindled away to be replaced by more popular television strips such as The Persuaders [which started the trend in issue 35] Hawaii Five-O and Mission Impossible. After One Hundred issues the Countdown part of the title was dropped altogether to become just TV Action....

The new comic bore little resemblance to its predecessor, being more akin to Polystyle's publication TV Comic. Spiralling economic costs and power strikes at the time affected the industry and this consequently meant cost-cutting. By this time, the comic was already printed in litho offset, rather than the more lavish photogravure of TV21 or the original Countdown, and on cheaper paper.....

The only familiar thing was the rotation of strips, a feature of the comic since its inception, which meant that they alternated between stories, weekly serials being rested for an issue or two. The complete stories, or 'big stories' as they were sometimes known were usually heralded by a colour cover and after a colour photo centrespread introduction in issue 100 this was how The Protectos started.....

The Protectors exist to protect those in peril, its members are the super agents of the world's best detective agencies who now work for a private organisation which is unrestricted by red tape. Money is no object for The Protectors whose methods are as unconventional as they are hazardous!

The Protectors Strip Guide

Boxfull of Trouble:

Issue 101: 20th January 1973

Two men arrive at the Grandchester Hotel in London to collect a large box from Mr Collodi but when there is no reply from his room the Manger allows them in. The departure is watched and the crate is delivered to Harry Rule's office. Inside, Harry finds Bartolommeo Collodi himself, a fugitive from the Camorra or the 'Black Island' an Italian criminal society. Collodi's Brother Carlo was the Chief of the Cammora and wrote a full confession before he died that could lead to their downfall. If he can reach Italy alive he will hand them over to the Police. However, the meeting is being watched and an anit tank shell tears the office apart. Paul Buchet arrives from Paris to be told by Suki that both Harry Rule and Collodi died.

Arrangements are made for Collodi's body to be taken to Italy by Caroline and Chino, Paul takes Harry's body back to America. Caroline's hearse is ambushed by Camorra henchman Gianni, only to find Harry Rule very much alive in the coffin. Gianni and his men are overpowered and left with Chino while Harry and Caroline contact Paul who is now on The Queen Elizabeth 2nd with Colodi, also alive and smuggled in the other coffin. Camorra men posing as Police overpower Paul and steal the coffin but Collodi is no longer inside. At Novamonte in Italy all are reunited at Carlo's grave where the confession is hidden. Colodi, however, wants to take control of the society with the information and is fooled by a fake package handed over by Harry and taken to the Police.

: While the strip is called 'Boxfull of Trouble' the cover title is give an, A Boxfull of Trouble'

: This is the only Protectors strip to feature all three, as well as Suki and Chino.

: Camorra is actually Italian for 'racket' and the term for members 'Camorrista' means 'Racketeer'

: The colour cover would appear to be by Gerry Haylock, following the painted style of his earlier covers for Doctor Who.

Boy Wonder:

Part 1: Issue 104: 10th February 1973

Harry Rule has been hired to protect young pop singer Wee Davey but when he calls on Caroline for assistance a woman enters the building at the same time and gases her. She then gets into the room where Harry and Davey are and gases them too. Abducting the singer, the woman pulls away a mask to reveal......a ,man!

Part 2: Issue 105: 17th February 1973

Whilst his accomplice, Craig, takes Davey, the man now dressed in a suit - wakes Harry and Caroline, asking where the singer is? Caroline recognises him as Brook, Davey's Publicity Manager and tells him to invent a cover story while they attempt to find him. But unknown to them this is supposedly a publicity stunt that Brook and Davey have planned. However, Craig is a real conman and has duped Brook, who has gambling debts and now wants One Hundred Thousand Pounds for Davey's return. With a personal appearance planned for that afternoon Brook has to try his skills as a make-up artist to get Caroline to pass as Davey.....

Part 3: Issue 106: 24th February 1973

Brook's skills show themselves and Harry decides that the ruse is good enough to throw Craig off his stride. Arranging a television interview and with Davey realising the trick and playing along. Craig is fooled into thinking he has kidnapped a look-alike stand-in instead. Harry Tells the worried conman that if he lets Davey go free, he will not tell the Police. Craig, however, wants revenge and will shoot anyone who approaches to collect him.

Part 4: Issue 107: 03 March 1973

Harry and Caroline, still in her 'Davey' get-up arrive at the Deserted Farmhouse where Craig is holding the real singer. Davey manages to slip his gag free and warn Harry just in time. Caroline shows herself and approaches, only to be abducted by Craig who still believes her to be the real Davey. Playing along, Caroline is taken back to the Palace Hotel by Craig, only to be greeted by a crowd of Davey Fans......

Part 5: Issue 108: 10th March 1973

Craig takes Caroline back to the penthouse and jams the lift. Inside, Brook is surprised by their return but realises what has happened and maintains Caroline's deception. Craig tells Brook to get the ransom and sends him down the stairs where he meets Harry and the real Davey. Brook begins to explain what has happened, leaving Harry with only one alternative - to attempt to get to the penthouse by use of a crane. Bribing the driver, Harry is winched up to smash through a sky-light and disarm Craig. The case solved, Davey asks Caroline if she would consider a permanent position as stand-in, in order for him to get some privacy.

Busman's Holiday:

Issue 109: 17th March 1973

Relaxing in a new restaurant, Harry is slipped a drug in his drink which fakes a heart attack. Recovering in a clinic, Harry is propositioned for a job which entails him to work alone. On the pretence of taking a break, Harry boards a seemingly ordinary passenger jet but which is in reality the flying home of eccentric Millionaire Hammond Larson. Hammond bought his Grand - Daughter, Greta, a film company to make her a big name actress but she has joined revolutionaries in the North African state of Syrenen. Unfortunately, royalists have captured her and intend to execute her. Given a local guide called, 'Yussef' Harry fights of rebels and rides by camel to reach the capital city Brahema where the ruler, Abrahem Ben Sadin has Greta prisoner. Posing as a press agency rep and claiming that he needs photographic evidence of Greta's capture, Harry manages to slip the girl a message. The following morning Harry is asked to act as a propagandist for the execution and is able to rescue Greta with an explosive concealed in his camera. Greta is a reluctant rescuee but is grateful to be reunited with her Grand-Father. Harry's explosion acts as a catalyst, causing an uprising which Yussef joins. Back home, Caroline is impressed with Harry's tan!

A Piece of the Moon:

Part 1: Issue 113: 14th April 1973

In a Swiss Bank vault Harry has been shown a piece of moonrock that, being harder than diamond could revolutionise science. However, the next day someone knocks out Paul Buchet and subsequently poses as him in order to arrange the theft of the rock by a 'Mr Scorpio.' Recovering, Paul chases the imposter but loses him. Suspicious that there may have been inside help Harry is outwitted by Scorpio as the rock is taken in a different deposit box. Bank Clerk Larcoise is tricked into believing he is under suspicion and when he contacts his boss, an order is given for him to be eliminated. Watching Larcoise, Paul is shocked when the Clerk is shot as he leaves the bank!.....

Part 2: Issue 114: 21st April 1973

Larcoise is still alive and manages to tell Harry and Paul about Scorpio and his home on Atrones before dying. The assassin nearly shoots Harry before Paul is able to capture him. The three Protectors travel to the island of Atrones, off the South West Coast of Greece, where Harry and Paul evade boat patrols by using scuba gear to get ashore. Scorpio has cameras everywhere and before too long Harry is captured.....

Part 3: Issue 115: 28th April 1973

Harry tries to bluff his way by claiming he is a reporter trying to get a story but Scorpio already knows who he is and has him locked up. Meanwhile, Paul has reached the Villa and broken in but he too is captured just as Harry tricks his guard and escapes. Rescuing Paul, the two men confront Scorpio......

Part 4: Issue 116: 05th May 1973

Harry takes the moonrock but Scorpio has pressed an hidden alarm. Harry and Paul jump out of the window into the harbour and steal a boat. Scorpio in his launch soon gains on them but with their fuel nearly out Harry takes a gamble and aims the boat back at their pursuers. As Harry and Paul jump clear the boats collide and explode. The pair are picked up by Caroline and the three find Scorpio in the water, ready to be brought to justice......

The Dodo is Dead:

Part 1: Issue 117: 12th May 1973

In the Scottish Highlands, Harry and Caroline have been assigned to guard the nest of a rare lesser Auk Bird, thought to have been extinct for over a century. The bird or its eggs would be worth thousands to a fanatical collector, like Sir Henry who has the finest collection of stuffed birds in the world. Sir Henry and his aide, Simms, are watching Harry and Caroline who have camped close to the tree where the Auk is nested and that night they set fire to the bracken to try and get rid of the two Protectors. Harry drives himself and Caroline through the ring of fire in their Range Rover, both jumping free as the tank explodes. Sir Henry and Simms escape but Harry and Caroline are now stranded without radio or transport. Simms hires a local gang to try to scare them off which results in Harry being knocked out and Caroline forced to flee. As Sir Henry climbs the tree to get to the Auk nest Caroline finds a herd of Stag Deer and stampedes them back at the gang. Returning, Caroline overpowers Simms who has Harry prisoner but Sir Henry threatens to destroy the bird and eggs if he can not have them. The returning Father Auk protects its mate and young and a startled Sir Henry falls out of the tree to be caught by Harry and Caroline.....

The Combat Man:

Part 1: Issue 120: 02 June 1973

The Protectors have been hired to protect a valuable exhibition of art at the Liencester Gallery. Having privately set up a Security operation Harry and Caroline travel to Wandsworth Prison where ex-Sergeant Peter Crump is being released after a sentence for taking bribes, on the possibility of offering him a job. Whilst pleased to see Harry and Caroline, Crump already has other arrangements and a lift to the estate of Millionaire Raymond Dunkley. Dunkley shows him his group of chosen men in training but they prove no match for the Judo expert Crump, who says they will have to do far better if they are goling to kill The Protectors!........

Part 2: Issue 121: 09th June 1973

Crump organises a dummy training run to crash one of The Protectors' cars in order to put one of them out of action. After finalising security arrangements at the gallery Paul leaves Harry and Caroline to be jumped by a couple of Crump's men and knocked unconscious. However, one of them thinks they should kill him now and finish the job......

Part 3: Issue 122: 16th June 1973

Crump arrives and stops them, saying it has to look like an accident or the incident will attract unwanted attention. Taking Paul back to his hotel they leave him in his room and then set it on fire. Recovering, Paul's only hope is out of the window but it is a hundred foot drop! On the balcony Paul sees a Fire Engine approaching but the flames are getting closer. Paul leaps for a flag hanging from the side of the building but it starts to tear under his weight......

Part 4: Issue 123: 23rd June 1973

As the flag finally gives, Paul is saved by a Fireman on a ladder. On the ground, he relates what happened to Harry and Caroline. Paul is unable to identify the attackers but recognises the chop to the neck used on him - the same method taught to them by Peter Crump! Harry thinks that there is a connection between this and Crump's lift from prison, so Caroline sets off in her Chauffeur driven Rolls. Caroline's ever alert oriental driver, Chino, notes that they are being followed but before he can do anything the car is rammed and overturned.......

Part 4: Issue 124: 30th June 1973

Caroline and Chino are taken to St. Bart's Hospital and Harry is now certain someone is out to get them. Checking newspaper files on known art collectors Harry recognises a photo of Dunkley as the man who gave Crump a lift from prison. Breaking into Dunkley's home, Harry fights off his men leaving a showdown between himself and Peter Crump. Teacher and ex-student fight but Harry ultimately wins and Dunkley is arrested. At a health resort sometime later the battered and wounded Protectors finalise their security arrangements and ponder that the pupils had eventually got the better of their master!......

The Snowman

The Snowman was a children's book by author Raymond Briggs, published in 1978. In 1982, this book was turned into a 26-minute animated movie by Dianne Jackson for the fledgling Channel 4. It was first shown on Channel 4 late on Christmas Eve in 1982 and was an immediate success. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Short film in 1982. It has been shown every year since and has become a part of British and international Christmas popular culture.

The book is wordless, as is the film except for the song "Walking in the Air". The story is told through picture, action and music. The cartoon version was scored by Howard Blake who wrote both music and lyrics of the song and also composed and conducted the complete orchestral score for the film with his own orchestra, the Sinfonia of London. The film's one song, "Walking in the Air," was written specially for it by Blake and performed by a St Paul's Cathedral choirboy, Peter Auty.

In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, the film was placed 71st. It was voted 4th in UK Gold TV's Greatest TV Christmas Moments.

The Snowman is the tale of a boy who builds a snowman one winter's day. That night, at the stroke of twelve, the snowman comes to life. The first part of the story deals with the snowman's attempts to understand the appliances, toys and other bric-a-brac in the boy's house, all while keeping quiet enough not to wake the boy's parents. The two then venture back outside and go for a ride on a motorcycle, disturbing many animals: pheasants, rabbits, a barn owl, a fox and a brown horse.

In the second part of the story, the boy and the snowman take flight — the song "Walking in the Air" appears at this point. They fly over the boy's town, over houses and large public buildings before flying past the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and Brighton Pier and then out into the ocean. They continue through an arctic landscape and fly past many sights and animals such as penguins. Flying into the aurora they reach their destination.

The two wander hand-in-hand into a snow-covered forest and attend a snowmen's party, at which the boy is the only human. They meet Father Christmas and his reindeer, and the boy is given a scarf with a snowman pattern.

The story ends after the return journey. However, the sun has come out the next morning and the boy wakes up to find the snowman has melted. The boy begins to wonder if the night's events were all a dream, but he discovers that he still has the scarf given to him by Father Christmas. Realising the night's events were real, as the credits play, the boy mourns the loss of the snowman.

The original book has a slightly different plot. While the first half of the story remains the same, the boy and the snowman do not visit Father Christmas. In fact, all of the Christmas elements of the film were not present in the story. Notably, the boy's family does not have a Christmas tree in the house. After the snowman comes to life, they proceed to explore the boy's house. After they see the family car and play with the lights, the boy prepares a feast that the two eat by candlelight. Here the snowman takes the boy outside again, and they begin to fly. Once the boy and the snowman take flight, they only fly as far as the pier seen in the film. They stop there and wait for the sunrise. They hurry back, as the sun is rising, and the boy hurries inside again, like the film. The finale does not show James finding the scarf in his pocket, as they never made the trip to Father Christmas, but he finds the snowman melted in the same fashion.

After the initial showing on Channel 4, and in its initial showings on U.S. television, an alternative introduction was sometimes used. Instead of Raymond Briggs describing how much it had snowed the winter he made The Snowman, while walking through the field that morphed into the animation of the same landscape, David Bowie was shown reciting the same speech after walking into the attic of 'his' childhood home and discovering a scarf in a drawer. This scarf closely resembles the one given to the boy towards the end of the film. The Universal DVD The Snowman & Father Christmas (902 030 - 11), released in the UK in 2000, uses the Bowie opening. (The Bowie intro is actually missing on some Sony DVDs, despite being featured on the packaging.)

To celebrate the film's 20th anniversary, Channel 4 used an alternate opening directed by Roger Mainwood, with Raymond Briggs' interpretation of Father Christmas recounting how he met the boy. Father Christmas is voiced by comedian Mel Smith. Channel 4 have used this opening since 2002. This version is also cropped to 16:9 widescreen.

The song "Walking in the Air" is sung in the film by chorister Peter Auty, who was not credited in the original version, although had a credit added for the 20th anniversary version. The song was covered several years later by Welsh chorister Aled Jones in a single which reached number 5 in the UK charts. Jones is often wrongly assumed to have sung the song in the film (e.g. in a BBC review or the BFI's screenonline website).

Though the boy in the book is unnamed, in the film we discover he is named "James". This is clear on the tag for the present he receives from Father Christmas. As mentioned in the making of documentary that comes on the 20th anniversary DVD this was added by one of the animators who decided to use her then boyfriend, now husband's, name.

In the film, the boy's home seems to be in the South Downs of England, near to Brighton; he and Snowman fly over what appears to be Brighton; the Royal Pavilion and Palace Pier are clearly depicted. Later in the film, the tag on his present confirms this.

The film was produced using traditional animation techniques, consisting of pastels, crayons and other colouring tools drawn on pieces of celluloid, which were traced over hand drawn frames. For continuity purposes, the background artwork was painted using the same tools.

The Snowman has also been made into a stage show. It was first produced by Contact Theatre, Manchester in 1986. The Contact Theatre production was adapted and produced by Anthony Clark. It had a full script and used Howard Blake's music and lyrics. In 1993, Birmingham Repertory Company produced a version, with music and lyrics by Howard Blake, scenario by Blake, with Bill Alexander and choreography by Robert North. Since 1997 Sadler's Wells has presented it every year as the Christmas Show at the Peacock Theatre. As in the book and the film, there are no words, apart from the lyrics of the song "Walking in the Air". The story is told through images and movement. Special effects include the Snowman and boy flying high over the stage (with assistance of wires and harnesses) and ‘snow’ falling in part of the auditorium. The production has had several revisions – the most extensive happening in 2000, when major changes were made to the second act, introducing new characters: The Ice Princess and Jack Frost.

Joe 90 Top Secret (No 7)

No 7 of the Joe 90 Top Secret comic originates back to March 1st 1969 and consisted of 20 pages. Inside the comic there were features on W.I.N. Agents In Action (readers sending in pictures of themselves on "missions") Champions of Sport - George Best, THE B.I.G. R.A.T. Tells the story of Water Factories, World Intelligence Network (quizzes and jokes) Joe's Hobbies (The Story of Space Travel told in Stamps No.7) a competition to win 50 Corgi Lincoln Limousines and Top Ten Racing Cars No.7 - Repco-Brabham. The comic also features a full page advertisement for the Joe 90 Dossier (below)

The Joe 90 Dossier

Want to know more about W.I.N. ? Intrigued by Mac's car? Like a behind the scenes peek at Joe's cottage? Fancy yourself as a Special Agent? Then this splendid dossier was just for you! Only by sending four jar tops of to, 'Sutherlands Spreads' (a brand of sandwich filling made by Quaker Oats Ltd) The closing date was 31st August 1969. Originally came with a covering letter purportedly from Joe 90 himself

Have Broom Will Travel - Remembering Winsome Witch!

Winnie was as ugly an old hag as a cartoon witch ought to be, but personality-wise, she was a lot more like a grown-up version of Wendy the Good Little Witch than, say The Old Witch in EC Comics or the one with the Cauldron that Archie Comics had done. She'd putter around her primitive little cottage deep in the woods, using witchly powers to do the household chores, with the magic words "Ippity Pippity — Pow!" (no doubt completely uninfluenced by those of the good fairies in Disney's Cinderella "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo"). Not once did she poison an apple or shove a succulent child into her oven. In fact, such children as she encountered (there was apparently a modern suburb within walking distance) generally called her "Aunt Winnie".

Winnie's voice was done by Jean Vander Pyl, who is best known for Wilma Flintstone Her other roles include Rosie the Robot in The Jetsons, Marje Huddles and Mrs.Finkerton in Inch Eye, Private Eye. There were no other regular characters in Winnie's segment.

In its second season, the hour-long, two-star show briefly split into two half-hours. Winnie went with Secret Squirrel. Later that same season, the two merged back together. There were 26 episodes altogether. Like a lot of Hanna-Barbera characters, Winnie got a new lease on life as part of an ensemble show, but it took her until 1990. On September 17 of that year, Wake, Rattle & Roll debuted with two cartoon segments — Monster Tails featured all-new characters (pets of classic movie monsters), but Fender Bender 500 featured Winnie, along with Snagglepuss Peter Pottomus, Ricochet Rabbit and several other '60s relics, in a remake of Wacky Races, Vander Pyl reprised her role as Winnie's voice.

Wake, Rattle & Roll didn't last long, and after it folded, Winsome Witch was gone for good.

The Second Doctor Who - Patrick Troughton

Ben (Michael Craze) and Polly (Anneke Wills) try to cope with a newly-rejuvenated Doctor (Patrick Troughton), in this rehearsal shot from 'The Power of the Daleks'.

Patrick Troughton's debut appearance as the new Doctor Who goes almost unnoticed as the Daleks are the focus for 'Radio Times'. As this was the first time 'Doctor Who' had changed its lead actor, the emphasis for this edition of the magazine is very much business as usual. The half-page feature on page 3 reassures viewers that the serial is directed by the same man who brought the Daleks to the screen in their first adventure and that the metal monsters are, once again, voiced by Peter Hawkins. Patrick Troughton's debut is almost an aside.

'Radio Times' Letters Page, 24 November 1966

The 'Radio Times' letters page receives a mixed reception to the new Doctor Who.

Fabulous 208 (September 21st 1968)

This edition of Fabulous 208 dates back to September 1968 and on its cover is DJ Tony Blackburn. Pin ups were of, Tony Prince, Mick (from Dave Dee, etc) Ronnie Lane, Gary Bond and a double page spread of Brendan Boone.

Joe 90 Top Secret (No 6)

This was edition no 6 in the Joe 90 Top Secret comic series. Features on W.I.N. Agents in Action (readers sending in pictures of themselves on "Missions") Joe's Hobbies (The Story of Space Travel Told in Stamps. No. 6) The B.I.G. R.A.T. Tells the story of The Sea Searchers, B.I.G. R.A.T. Examines your reactions to Joe 90 Top Secret (Letters Page, including three that totally pan the comic!) Champions Of Sport - Roger Taylor, World Intelligence Network (quizzes and jokes) a competition to win 100 Corgi Monkeemobiles and Top Ten Racing Cars No 6 - The Eagle.

Secret Squirrel - Eat your heart out James Bond!

Secret Squirrel was a cartoon created by Hanna-Barbera. Secret Squirrel was one of two co-stars of The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show, which debuted in 1965. He was given his own show in 1966, but was reunited with Atom Ant for one more season in 1967. Secret first appeared in a prime-time animated special called The World of Atom Ant and Secret Squirrel, which aired on NBC on September 12, 1965.

The Secret Squirrel half-hours included three individual cartoon segments: "Secret Squirrel," "Squiddly Diddly," and "Winsome Witch." Secret Squirrel's shorts were a parody of the then-popular spy genre, with most of his shorts' elements satirizing those of the James Bond films. Secret Squirrel was also known as "Agent 000". Beginning in 1993, thirteen new Secret Squirrel cartoons appeared in between the 2 Stupid Dogs episodes, with the updated title, Super Secret Secret Squirrel and a new cast. As of 5th September 2011, episode reruns returned on Boomerang from Cartoon Network.

Secret Squirrel (voiced by Mel Blanc) serves as a Secret Agent, taking orders from his superior Double-Q (voiced by Paul Frees) of the International Sneaky Service. His designation is Agent 000. Secret Squirrel is assisted in his adventures by fez-wearing sidekick, Morocco Mole (also voiced by Paul Frees impersonating Peter Lorre). The pair fights crime and evil enemy agents using cunning and a variety of spy gadgets, including a machine gun cane, a collection of guns kept inside Secret's trench coat, and a variety of devices concealed in his fedora (which he almost never removes).

Secret Squirrel's recurring arch-enemy is Yellow Pinkie (also voiced by Frees), a parody of Auric Goldfinger from Goldfinger and Kasper Gutman from The Maltese Falcon. The last episodes introduced Hy-Spy (again voiced by Frees), the master of scientific criminology.

Secret Squirrel's debut was on September 12, 1965 in The World of Atom Ant and Secret Squirrel prime-time special on NBC. The original series was broadcast from October 2, 1965 to September 2, 1967. Secret Squirrel had his own show in 1966 and was then reunited with Atom Ant in 1967 until 1968. Episodes were broadcast in syndication and as part of The Banana Splits variety and compilation series.

The new series Super Secret Secret Squirrel debuted in 1994.

The first seven episodes of the 1960s Secret Squirrel series was broadcast in front of the 1994–1995 season of Hanna-Barbera's 2 Stupid Dogs (1993–1995).

Their shorts have aired from time to time on Cartoon Network's sister cable television station Boomerang. The Secret Squirrel Show returned to Boomerang when Boomerang removed the shows Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear on January 2, 2008. The Secret Squirrel Show was removed on June 30, 2008, but it returned in June 2009 as a filler segment for 2 Stupid Dogs during the summer. The Secret Squirrel Show returned again on August 31, 2009.

Years later, Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole were revived in 1993 for back-up segments of TBS Super Station's animated series 2 Stupid Dogs. Titled Super Secret Secret Squirrel, these new cartoons featured Secret Squirrel voiced by Jess Harnell imitating Mel Blanc and Morocco Mole voiced by Jim Cummings.

These segments featured different artwork compared to the original 1960s cartoons. All the characters inhabiting the world were now animals. Double-Q, called simply the 'Chief' in these shorts and voiced by Tony Jay, is a cape buffalo instead of a man with a balding hairline, and arch-foe Yellow Pinkie was replaced with a sea lion known as Goldflipper (voiced by Jim Cummings). These new shorts also introduced Penny (voiced by Kimmy Robertson), a female squirrel assistant to the Chief (à la Miss Moneypenny) as a possible love interest for Secret (as hinted at in the episodes Queen Bea and Quark). Morocco was given a new color scheme, wears sunglasses, and has an evil twin brother, Scirocco Mole (voiced by Jess Harnell). Secret's art design remained relatively intact, but with a more modern design than the previous animated series' version of the character. His hat has a slightly different style. This new series seems to have fallen under the villain of the week formula and Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole have once appeared on a 2 Stupid Dogs story.

William Hartnell - Doctor Who & The Smugglers

Doctor Who & The Smugglers was William Hartnell's penultimate adventure as the time travelling Time Lord. Joining William as the good Doctor were, Michael Craze as Merchant Seaman Ben Jackson & Anneke Wills as Polly the trendy secretary.

The letter above was written to the Radio Times back in 1965 letting the BBC know just how much the series was being enjoyed.

It's a Knockout - Remembering Stuart Hall

There can be no-one in the history of It's A Knockout who so personified and represented everything that the fun and games were about as Stuart Hall. A gifted wordsmith with an infectious sense of humour and a laugh that millions will never forget, Hall has excelled in a diverse cross-section of broadcasting since the 50s.

Stuart Hall was born on Christmas Day, but the year in question has been subject to speculation. In 1993, he told The Observer that he would be 64 and that can be verified elsewhere. However for some time Who's Who in Manchester used to include an entry for James Stuart Hall, born in 1934. Childhood was spent in the Cheshire town of Hyde and his early life with his father James Stuart, mother Mary and younger brother Keith, encompassed the family business of baking. He was educated at Glossop Grammar School, where he achieved high academic accolades, captained the football team and became head boy. He attended UMIST - the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology - and following his National Service, joined the family business as the Director of Catering.

Sporting endeavours were and are an integral part of his make up and as a young man he played professional football for Crystal Palace FC, playing in the position of wing half. His love of motor sport has remained constant; racing cars around circuits such as Silverstone and Oulton Park. So it was in 1957 at the Cheshire motor sport circuit of Oulton Park that the prowess for a career at the microphone began to blossom. In an interview for Loaded magazine he said he took to commentaries like fresh-water salmon to a river. He joined the BBC in 1959 and contributed to Sports Report, Radio Newsreel, A Question of Sport and Grandstand where in his role as a roving (or should that be raving?) reporter took him to a first assignment at a motorcycle scramble. QuizBall and Pot The Question were other national networked shows in which he took the chairman's seat.

The saga moves on to 1965 and the start of the BBC's production of regional news magazines across Britain. Look North was to be the vehicle from Manchester for all points from Windermere in the North to Crewe in the South. In a quarter of a century under various guises - Look North,Look North West and North West Tonight, Stuart became the face and voice of the region's output. He was to viewers in Blackpool and Rochdale what Alan Towers was in the Midlands, Ian Masters in East Anglia, Mike Neville in the North East and Bruce Parker in the South. He thrived in an environment where the hard, serious news of the day would be read and then anything could happen and usually did. It was the opportunity for Stuart to display his versatility. If you ever meet Stuart, ask him about the 1972 Christmas Pudding disaster and I'm sure you'll get the details at full throttle. As a viewer, what was really special on nights when Jeux Sans Frontières was due to be aired was that he would hand back to Nationwide in London by saying, "and don't forget to join me when Oldham represent Great Britain in Évry at 8.15pm tonight". Fantastic!!!

The BBC changed its local news output in the late 1980s. This was the era of John Birt's regime at the Corporation and Birt had a preference for hard news and little individualism. Other factors came into play too, but the love affair between the BBC and Stuart Hall had ended. It is regrettable that Stuart never got the opportunity to wish BBC viewers a final fond farewell in 1990.

Stuart characteristically bounced back and was soon found appearing rather than presenting on the local ITV news programme Granada Tonight, sparring with former rival Bob Greaves. He has participated in a plethora of programmes for Granada. Travellers Check, Stuart Hall's Christmas in Bosnia, Stuart's Hall of Fame, Quiz Night, God's Gift and The Way We Were are amongst an extensive list.

On radio, Sports Report has remained a constant motif for Stuart. His reports from Anfield (The Coliseum), Goodison Park (The School of Science), Maine Road (The Theatre of Base Comedy), Wembley Stadium (The Slope) etc, etc have now reached legendary status. He tells the listeners the story of the game, but it is wrapped in a language that some cannot comprehend, but others lap up to their heart's content. His descriptions of particular players are mind-blowing but often perceptive: Mick Jones of Leeds United was described as a sweating, plunging Lincolnshire dray, Wolves' Steve Kindon was likened to a runaway wardrobe, while Liverpool's Tommy Smith was compared to a dyspeptic water buffalo. His idiosyncratic reportage is an acquired taste. But when the BBC produced a cassette to celebrate Sports Report's 40th anniversary in 1988, there amongst all the famous events chronicled by some of the greatest exponents of the broadcasting art was Stuart's report on the 1987 Manchester derby match which remains priceless.

In 1998, when the BBC produced a book to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sports Report, a chapter was devoted to Stuart's escapade at the 1977 European Cup Final in Rome. Having used up most of the local BBC funds to get a local view on events in the Eternal City, he was refused permission to enter the Olympic Stadium. The players and management of Liverpool FC thought differently and on the eve of the club's greatest achievement, film and sound equipment was smuggled into the dressing room via kit bags and Stuart was also kitted out with a tracksuit and a shirt with a number 14 on the back. He watched the Final from the substitutes bench alongside legendary striker John Toshack, collected souvenirs such as the shirt of Berti Vogts who had played for the losers of Borussia Monchengladbach, plus the dressing door key and most of all got the film of one of British football's greatest moments.

Also on the wireless, he hosted a regular Friday night programme on BBC Radio 2 from Manchester and for number of years in the 1980's, Stuart Hall's Sunday Sport on Radio 2's medium wave frequency. To give a flavour of the latter here are his opening remarks from a show in September 1987: "Welcome to Stuart Hall's Sunday entombed in the bowels of Broadcasting House in sun-kissed Londinium. The sun blazes down - or does it - and kisses are certainly not prevalent at our three main venues. It's deadly serious and climax time for Europe in the Ryder Cup Singles at Muirfield Village, Ohio - Ian Woosnam leads the charge at 2.30. In Spain, Nigel Mansell with paranoia, ruffled feathers and a $3000 dollar fine must win the Spanish Grand Prix to stay alive and in Brazil - My Boy - Wayne Gardner needs to win to take his first World Championship on two wheels".

So eventually to It's A Knockout and Jeux Sans Frontières. As you will know from viewing the website, Stuart's connection with the series began long before his arrival as main presenter in 1972. But in the decade from then,Knockout and Stuart Hall fitted in place together like a hand in glove. He has admitted that when he joined Knockout he thought the show was very downmarket and the balance between games of physical strength and slapstick needed to be addressed. It happened gradually and with each passing year the dream team of Stuart, Eddie and Arthur pulled in greater viewing audiences and the programme became a staple part of the BBC's summer and autumn schedules. I have yet to hear anyone else on television introduce a programme like Stuart did with Knockout. I have yet to hear any other broadcaster combine the duel tasks of projecting the atmosphere to viewers while maintaining the excitement at the venue so well. He was able to mix high levity and north country wit that gave the show an edge.

There is no doubt that through Knockout, Stuart had become ingrained on the conscience of the British viewing public. It has to be said that it was the famed laugh that brought notoriety and acclaim in equal measure to Stuart. He has described laughter as the safety valve in our often hard and serious lives. Some have suggested that his laugh could be turned on and off like a water tap, but laughter is a natural emotion for everyone and being a man of emotion and passion, for Stuart his hilarity was part of his make up and it became his trademark. The comic writer Barry Cryer once said the famous maxim, "he who laughs last, laughs longest" should be amended to "he who laughs last...is Stuart Hall". Knockout fans I'm certain would testify that the famous Penguins of Aix-Les-Bains in 1974 or the Budgies on show at Sherborne in 1981 would not have been as amusing if it wasn't for Stuart's raucous laughter while at the microphone. There are hundreds of similar examples that could be chosen, but a fitting tribute to the laugh would be from Willi Steinberg the Jeux Sans Frontières games designer for German television who once said to Stuart, "if you laugh, we know the game is good and funny".

In 1999, an early day motion was presented to the House of Commons in celebration of Stuart's forty years in broadcasting. The motion was endorsed by no less than eighty-two members of the club with the famous green benches. It congratulated Stuart Hall on his unique style that has endeared him to millions, his use of the English language in his football reporting that has made him an icon to the youth of today and a mellifluous voice redolent of Sinden and Gielgud intertwining Shakespeare, Keats and Wordsworth. I can only agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments of our elected representatives.

Stuart Hall - a Christmas child, a baker's boy and a television treasure, whose gift was to enrich life for the millions he connected and engaged with, in an illustrious life and career. Though I could never be him, it's never diluted my admiration of him.

Remembering Betty Turpin: 1969 - 2011

With the sad passing recently of Coronation Street legend Betty Driver I thought I'd pay my own tribute to the Rovers Return's greatest & longest serving Bar Maid, Betty Turpin.

Betty Williams (nee Preston, previously Turpin) arrived in Coronation Street to help her sister Maggie Clegg run the corner shop, and has since had a number of storylines which have seen her become twice widowed, and mother to an illegitimate son. Working as a barmaid in the soap's Rovers Return Inn, Betty created a signature dish, known as Betty's hotpot. In 1995, a real-life range of hotpots and pies based on the dish were launched by Hollands Pies, and in 2007, the world's largest Lancashire hotpot was created, based on Betty's recipe. Sadly, Betty Driver died in October 2011. Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson stated on 17 October 2011 that he was working with scriptwriters on Betty's send off.

Betty was born on 4 February 1920 to Harold and Margaret Preston. During World War 2, she had an affair with serviceman Ted Farrell (Gerald Sim), resulting in a son, Gordon (Bill Kenwright; Geoffrey Leesley). Ted left her to return to his family and Gordon was adopted by Betty's sister Maggie (Irene Sutcliffe) and her husband Les Clegg (John Sharp) Betty celebrated the end of the war with her sweetheart Billy Williams (Frank Mills), to whom she had lost her virginity. The two lost touch, and in 1949, Betty married policeman Cyril Turpin (William Moore).

Betty and her husband Cyril move to Coronation Street in June 1969, helping her sister Maggie to run the local corner shop following the breakup of Maggie's marriage to Les Clegg. Maggie, however, resents Betty's interference and persuades landlord Jack Walker (Arthur Leslie) to give Betty a job as a barmaid at The Rovers Return Public House. Betty clashes with the landlady Annie Walker (Doris Speed), who fears that Jack may find her attractive, and fires Betty as a result. Betty takes a job in a rival pub, and returns only when Annie apologises. Betty becomes close friends with fellow barmaid Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear), who on occasion lodges with her, uses Betty as a chaperone on dates, and frequently seeks her advice in running her life.

Cyril's employment as a policeman causes Betty problems when Lucas, a man he has previously arrested, begins stalking her. She initially refrains from telling Cyril, fearing that he will get into trouble. When Cyril finds out, he attacks Lucas with a piece of lead piping and has to leave the police force. Betty has a breakdown when Cyril dies of a heart attack in 1974, leaving her only £859. The same year the truth about her illegitimate son is revealed, and when the community discovers this, Betty finds it difficult to face them. She busies herself by taking in lodgers, and acquiring a ginger cat named Marmaduke for extra companionship. Betty builds a relationship with Gordon, though he upsets her occasionally, particularly when he neglects to invite her to his wedding.

Betty is mugged in 1982 by Ryan Attwood from Ken Barlow's' youth club; she ends up in hospital with a broken arm. This leads to a reunion with Ted, the man who fathered Gordon, though he is unaware of his son's existence. Ted visits Betty in hospital after reading about her mugging in a newspaper. Betty agonises over whether to tell Ted about Gordon, but decides against it, preferring not to stir up the past.

On the fiftieth anniversary of VE Day in 1995, Betty is reunited with her wartime sweetheart Billy. The two marry several months later, and Gordon gives his mother away. They live happily together until Billy also dies of a heart attack in 1997. Betty becomes famous in Weatherfield for her hotpots, which come under scrutiny in the early 1990s when it is believed that they are contaminated. She is cleared of all wrongdoing when it is discovered that beer, not food, is responsible for a spate of stomach upsets. Betty acts as lady mayoress alongside mayor Alf Roberts (Bryan Mosley) when his wife Audrey (Sue Nichols) has no interest in fulfilling her civic duties. This includes accompanying him to receive his OBE from the Queen, much to Audrey's chagrin.

In 1999, Betty celebrates 30 years of working at the Rovers Return with a party attended by all the regulars. She considers retiring in 2002 and briefly moves to Wimbledon to be with Gordon and his wife Caroline. Feeling that Caroline does not want her there, Betty considers moving into a retirement home, however is convinced to stay in Weatherfield by her close friend Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire). Around the time of Betty's fortieth anniversary at the Rovers Return, she is sacked by new manager Poppy Morales (Sophiya Haque) after clashing with her on several occasions. Landlord Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) eventually tires of Poppy's poor treatment of the staff and fires her. Betty is re-instated, and plays the Fairy Godmother in the 2009 Rovers Return Christmas pantomime performance of Cinderella. In early February 2010, Betty has a party in the Rovers celebrating both her 90th birthday and the fact that she is the oldest barmaid in Weatherfield; however it backfires when 91 year old Enid Crump (June Broughton) crashes the party and claims she is the oldest barmaid not Betty. Later Enid becomes sick after Steve serves her a 3-month old hotpot. Betty and Steve are left terrified when they realise that the hotpot could kill her, but she later recovers.

In his 1998 book The Women of Coronation Street, Daran Little describes Betty as an archetypal mother figure. He compares her to one of Coronation Street's original characters Minnie Caldwell (Margot Bryant), as she is "warm and comforting [...] loves cats and has had her share of lodgers"; however, Little notes that "while Minnie wandered through life in a haze, Betty is sharp-witted, blessed with insight and wisdom". Discussing her evolving characterisation, Little writes: "She hasn't always been the incarnation of lovable joviality: when she arrived in the Street in 1969, she was loud, brash and a vicious-tongued gossip."

Betty's two passions in life are darts and food. Playing darts brings out her competitive side, and she enjoys beating her male customers. Cyril frequently protests when Betty attempts to diet, as he prefers her "homely and comfortable" figure. Ultimately, Betty stops trying to lose weight, stating: "I had to chose between losing a few pounds or losing my marital partner. If my Cyril had wanted to marry a skinny rabbit he'd have married one." Betty breaks down when Cyril dies from a heart attack, with Little noting that: "Cyril had been the stabilizing force in Betty's life, and without him she relied heavily on her job and friends at the Rovers – she couldn't face life alone at home". Little has observed that Betty "has a finely tuned sense of right and wrong and has never been afraid to stand up for her beliefs", citing Betty's shock at being mugged in 1982, and calling the NSPCC to report a female neighbour whose children were left outside until nightfall while their mother entertained her boyfriend.

In 2010, Betty Driver discussed her character, saying, "Coronation Street characters tend to fit into one of two camps. Those who have drama after drama and those who muddle through life, often in the background, as sturdy and dependable as the famous cobbles. Betty falls into the latter group. There have been moments of drama, intrigue and even romance – but it has been her presence behind the bar, cutting up pieces of lamb and chunks of potato, that has endeared her to the viewers." When asked about Betty's "sharp tongue", Betty Driver suggested, "Not really sharp. [Betty's] just straightforward. [She's] not nasty to anybody but [she doesn't] suffer fools gladly."

Betty was the longest-serving barmaid of the Rovers Return. She first served behind the bar in 1969 and has been shown to work there for 42 years, as of 2011. There have been brief breaks however, as storylines have led to the character being fired or quitting her post. She was fired by Annie Walker (Doris Speed), who accused her of theft, and she quit her post in 1995 when Jack (Bill Tarmey) and Vera Duckworth (Liz Dawn) took over as landlords. In the summer of 2009, Betty was sacked again temporarily by manager Poppy Morales. A Coronation Street insider reassured The Sun that Betty was not being written out of the show, however, stating: "She’ll be here for a long time to come – she’ll just be on the other side of the bar for a change". In a storyline that aired in February 2010, Betty – at 90 years old – was named Manchester's Oldest Barmaid. In a plot twist, a 91 year old rival came forward, resulting in Betty fearing she killed her, when the rival consumes a two month old hotpot.

During her time on Coronation Street, the character has become synonymous with her signature dish at the Rovers Return, Betty's Hotpot. ITV have described the dish as "the stuff of legends" and in 1995, pie manufacturer Hollands Pies launched a real-life range of hotpots and pies based on the dish, called "Betty's Kitchen". The idea for the range originated with the firm's marketing director, Dilys Day, who explained: "I was brought up on hotpot and Coronation Street. So when I joined Holland's a year ago, it seemed right to put the two together with Betty's hotpot." Day added that: "We are all very excited about Betty's Kitchen products. Holland's is a strong northern brand, with mass market appeal and wholesome, honest values - the same can be said for The Street."

In his book Marketing Communication, Richard J. Varey used the product range as an example of a company capitalising on a form of product placement or "stealth advertising", writing that "Viewers don't realize that they are, in effect, watching an advertisement". Betty Driver said of the range's launch: "Betty Turpin's hotpots have become something of an institution at the Rover's and she's very proud of her reputation for good, wholesome food. I think it is a lovely idea that people will be able to buy them in supermarkets now." Betty discussed her astonishment at the general level of interest in her character's hotpots, disclosing: "I was on a cruise on the QE2 a few weeks ago, and everyone was asking me about it. Then one day, they served hot pot on the menu and everyone thought it was mine!"

Farewell Betty. We'll all miss you!....