Valiant: 1962-1976

Valiant was the title of a British boys adventure comics anthology which ran from 1962 to 1976. It was published by IPC Magazines and was one of their major adventure titles throughout the 1960s and early 1970s.

The title went through a number of name changes and mergers, although eventually returning to its simpler one-word name. It merged with Knockout in 1963, Smash! in 1971, TV21 in 1972 and Lion in 1974.

After many years, Valiant began to seem old-fashioned when the first of a new type of comic was launched, the first issue of Battle Picture Weekly, in 1975. It suffered further when Pat Mills launched Action in February 1976. Attempts by John Wagner to update the title were initially successful, but it struggled to find a place in the market against these tougher adventure titles. Valiant limped on for a few months, but finally merged with Battle Picture Weekly in October 1976.

Valiant contained a mix of conventional war stories, such as Captain Hurricane, which was a humorous strip set in World War 11 about a massive ex-sea skipper who became a Captain in the Royal Marines, and who could be provoked into "ragin' fury" berserker rages which gave him great strength; classic humour strips, such as Billy Bunter and classic detective strips, such as Sexton Blake.

But it also had a number of innovative new heroes. In Kelly's Eye, for instance, Tim Kelly wore a jewel called the Eye of Zoltec (obtained from a Mayan idol) around his neck, which protected him from all harm, making him invulnerable. Adam Eterno (who originally appeared in Thunder) was thousands of years old, and could only be slain by a fatal blow from a weapon made of gold. The House of Dollman featured an inventor who constructed remote controlled "dolls", or puppets, with strange abilities, such as stretching, drilling, and vision powers, that helped him in his fight against crime.

The celebrated anti-hero, The Steel Claw, with his fantastic power of invisibility and the capability to electrocute his enemies, due to his body's ability to store electric current, would influence comic creators such as Alan Moore and David Lloyd. Mytek the Mighty, a giant robot ape, started out as a villain in the hands of a criminal, but eventually became a hero who battled other robots and giant creatures.

There was also a two-page text story titled Jason Hyde, about a character from whose eyes poured light blue rays (he normally wore dark sunglasses) that allowed him to see through things and read minds. He had many strange adventures: including deep inside the Earth; in another dimension; fighting giant spiders; and fighting a man with incredible powers.

The stories were well written, being mainly 2 or 3 pages long, and in black and white (apart from the coloured covers). Many of them continued week after week, with cliff-hanger endings.

Several of Valiant's characters have made appearances since the comic's cancellation. Alan Moore and Alan Davis used several (renamed) characters in their Captain Britain strip. Also, Quality Comics released a four issue mini-series of The Steel Claw in 1986, featuring recoloured reprint material, with new material drawn by Garry Leach that acted as a framing device. The Steel Claw and several of IPC's 1960s heroes were also featured in Zenith in 2000 AD , followed by a one-off special featuring old Valiant and IPC characters.

In 2005 many of IPC's characters were featured in a mini-series called Albion, published by the Wildstorm imprint of DC Comics and plotted by Alan Moore.

Figaro - Brotherhood of Man: 1978

By 1978, Brotherhood Of Man had experienced a certain amount of chart success in both the UK and Europe, notably so with "Save Your Kisses For Me" and "Angelo". Following this, came the surprise failure of their next single "Highwayman" (released in late 1977). In January 1978, they released this song, which borrowed the title-idea from their previous No.1 "Angelo". The song became a No.1 hit in February, spending one week on top of the charts in the UK and becoming one of the twenty best selling singles of the year. This was to be Brotherhood of Man's final No.1 single. It was awarded a Gold Disc by the BPI in February 1978.

"Figaro" was written by band members Lee Sheriden and Martin Lee along with their manager Tony Hiller, who also produced the track. The lead vocals are sung jointly by members Sandra Stevens and Nicky Stevens. The distinctive opening drum roll on the song was performed by Clem Cattini of the 1960s band The Tornados.

The song tells of a (presumably) Spanish cabaret singer who is intent on gaining the interest of young ladies. As co-writer Hiller stated; "That came about because my daughter went on holiday and came back talking about all the dishy Spanish waiters trying to pick up the girls." Musically, the song has been reported on many occasions of its similarity to ABBAs "Fernando", and while this may be partly true of their previous No.1 ("Angelo"), stylistically, these particular songs are very different apart from similar titles. Member Sheriden denies these allegations. Ironically however, it was ABBA themselves who knocked Brotherhood Of Man off the top of the charts in the UK, with their single "Take A Chance on Me".

"Figaro"
Single by Brotherhood of Man
from the album "B for Brotherhood"
B-side	"You Can Say That Again"
Released	6 January 1978
Genre	Pop
Length	2.57
Label	Pye Records
Writer(s)	Tony Hillier /Lee Sheriden /Martin Lee
Producer	Tony Hiller
Brotherhood of Man singles chronology
"Highwayman" (1977) "Figaro" (1978) "Beautiful Lover" (1978)

Figaro" became a hit in many European countries, including Ireland, where it was also a No.1 hit. The song featured on the group's album B for Brotherhood and was followed up by top 20 hit "Beautiful Lover". "Figaro" went on to be voted best song of the first half of 1978 by readers of Look-in magazine and best song of the year by viewers of TV's Magpie. A cover version was recorded for the Top of the Pops album series, appearing on Volume 63 and The Best of 1978.

Preceded by "Uptown Top Ranking" by Althea & Donna

UK No 1 Single 11 February 1978

Succeeded by "Take A Chance on Me" by Abba

Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) - Episode Sixteen: When the Spirit Moves You!

"When the Spirit Moves You" is the sixteenth episode of the classic 1969 ITC British Television Series, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) starring Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope & Annette Andre. This episode was first broadcast on 2 January 1970 on ITV and was Directed by Robert Tronson.

Jeff becomes involved with a bumbling alcoholic conman named Bream and a stash of $125,000 of stolen bonds from the United States that a criminal racket are after. Jeff goes ahead with a deal to exchange the bonds that he and Bream have for $125,000 of the criminal racket's cash. When Jeff and Bream manage to double cross them they turn the tables and come within seconds of blowing up Jeff with the safe that he deposited the money in.

In this episode Marty finds that he is able to communicate with the alcoholic conman Bream (Anton Rodgers) but only when he is very drunk from whisky. This is also one of the first episodes where Marty physically threatens to haunt somebody as a traditional ghost would, to force him to give Jeff a helping hand.

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.