Christmas 1979

1979 was the end of the decade and I remember watching a lot of shows at the time that discussed what the 1970s were like and hoping what the 1980s would offer.

I can answer the latter, a deep recession and lots of unemployment. Grimness was provided in 1980 with the one off play The Blackstuff. It's later sequel series very much encapsulated the 1980s to me.

The BBC put on a review of what television was like in the 1970s presented by Penelope Keith. Just like the one Grace Dent fronted but Grace has better legs.

The most watched festive show in 1979 was To the Manor Born, it was warm and lovely but not very funny. Unlike The Last of the Summer Wine which did put humour into its comedy.

Doctor Who was on the Christmas period but it was just a regular episode featuring a Minotaur and a hammy Graham Crowden rather than an actual Christmas Day special.

It was odd to see Basil Brush having a kiddies show where his guest is Sacha Distel and they sing about seducing women.

Then you have female children presenters who danced like showgirls. This included Baroness Floella Benjamin.

The highlight was Michael Parkinson nearly getting guillotined by Tommy Cooper. Legend has it that Cooper was too drunk and had not put a safety catch on. It was still a good routine although less blood soaked. You had to wait for the 1980s to start for video nasties.