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, awkward, and wonderfully real—resonated with so many families in the seventies. We look at the incredible actors who brought them to life, Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce, and why their on-screen chemistry felt so authentic.

What to Expect:

🎭 Brian Murphy's Early Life: From entertaining troops during the war to training at RADA.

🎪 The Theatre Workshop: How Joan Littlewood's famous theatre group shaped his career.

🏠 Man About the House: The controversial sitcom that introduced the world to the Ropers.

📺 The George & Mildred Spinoff: How the nation's love for the couple led to their own hit show.

❤️ A Love Story for the Ages?: We discuss why their marriage struck such a chord with viewers.

I'd love to know what you think! Were you more of a 'Man about the House' fan, or did 'George and Mildred' win you over? Did their relationship remind you of anybody in your own life? Let me know!

And if you love chatting about this stuff with people who remember it just like you do, come and join our My 70s TV Childhood Facebook community.

Take care,

Oliver

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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 Mean Machine? Let's see what you remember.
• Round 2: Marathon/Fil Rouge - We're digging into our archives. Have you been paying attention?
• Round 3: Name That Tune - The best TV theme tunes from 1978. You'll need to listen to the podcast for this one!
• Round 4: TV Times - General 70s telly knowledge. No theme, just solid trivia.
• Bonus Question - One final challenge to separate the casual viewers from the true 70s TV obsessives.

Grab a pen and paper, settle in with your favourite brew, and let's see how many you can get right!

Send your score to: quiz@my70stvchildhood.com

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This is a Worth A Listen Production

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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 one of the most underrated comedy dramas of the 1970s. From "Tomkinson's Schooldays" where new boys fight grizzly bears, to "Golden Gordon" with its legendary football drama, to "Roger of the Raj" which turns the British Imperial dream on its head, each episode is a masterpiece.

The cast included Ian Ogilvy, Liz Smith, Roy Kinnear, Frank Middlemass, Denholm Elliott, and Joan Sanderson. These were top British actors who clearly relished the material. The historical setting, the brilliant writing, and the exceptional performances ensure these episodes remain genuinely funny after nearly 50 years.

What to Expect:

🎬 Why this show still makes me laugh today

📚 The classic British adventure stories that inspired the series

🎭 Highlights from key episodes

🎪 The brilliant casting and performances

💭 Why British humour at its finest is self-deprecating and unafraid to question our own absurdities

📲 Connect & Follow

📝 Blog: https://my70stvchildhood.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/my70stvchildhood

🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/70sTVchildhood

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my70stvchildhood/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@my70stvchildhood

Don’t forget to like, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts!

It helps us grow and keeps the spirit of 70s television alive.

Take care,

Oliver

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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 identify the 70s gameshow from a simple description?

•📺 Round 2: Marathon or Fil Rouge - Questions about topics we’ve covered in previous podcast episodes.

•🎵 Round 3: Theme Tune Spin (1973) - We spin the wheel and test your knowledge of five classic theme tunes from 1973.

•🎬 Round 4: TV Times - Anything goes in our general 70s TV trivia round!

•🎁 Bonus Question - We reveal the answer to last week’s question and pose a new challenge.

How will you score? Send your results to quiz@my70stvchildhood.com!

Take care,

Oliver

📲 Connect & Follow

•Blog: https://my70stvchildhood.com

•Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/my70stvchildhood

•X/Twitter: https://x.com/70sTVchildhood

•Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my70stvchildhood/

•YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@my70stvchildhood

Don’t forget to like, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts!

It helps us grow and keeps the spirit of 70s television alive.

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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 the Beret: A look at Michael Crawford’s diverse career, from West End star to the accident-prone Frank Spencer.

•Nationwide Anxiety: Why the entire country would watch through their fingers as Frank attempted even the simplest of tasks.

•The Stunts: How did they get away with it? We discuss the most memorable and dangerous physical comedy moments, all performed by Crawford himself.

•“Ooh, Betty!”: A tribute to the endlessly patient and loving Betty, the calm in the eye of Frank’s storm.

What are your favourite Frank Spencer moments?

Did you cringe with embarrassment or laugh until you cried?

Share your memories with us!

Oliver

📧 Email us: oliver@my70stvchildhood.com

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•Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/my70stvchildhood

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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 podcast episodes

🎵 Round 3: Theme Tune Spin - Identify five 1979 TV theme tunes

🎬 Round 4: TV Times - General 70s TV trivia

📝 Bonus Question - A challenge from our last quiz

Ready to test your 70s TV knowledge?

📧 Send your score to: quiz@my70stvchildhood.com

Take care,

Oliver

📲 Connect & Follow

Blog: https://my70stvchildhood.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/my70stvchildhood

X/Twitter: https://x.com/70sTVchildhood

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/70stvchildhood/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@my70stvchildhood

Don't forget to like, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow and keeps the spirit of 70s television alive! Tell your friends about the show and invite them to join the fun.

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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 school sports days into prime-time television

🎤 Ron Pickering's legendary hosting and the celebrity athletes who appeared on the show

🏊 The swimming pool finale that brought controlled chaos to children's television

📺 Comparisons with other iconic shows like It's a Knockout and Superstars

What are your memories of We Are the Champions? Did your school ever compete on the show?

Share your memories with us!

Take care,

Oliver

📧 Email: oliver@my70stvchildhood.com

📲 Connect & Follow

Blog: https://my70stvchildhood.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/my70stvchildhood

X/Twitter: https://x.com/70sTVchildhood

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/70stvchildhood

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@my70stvchildhood

Don't forget to like, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow and keeps the spirit of 70s television alive! Tell your friends about the show and invite them to join the fun.

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Support the show

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 alongside our presents, and this time between Christmas and New Year was spent not only playing with toys but also reading the new annuals from cover to cover.

💬 What to Expect:

📺 Lee's memories of being a "TV child" with all the TV tie-in toys and annuals

🎁 The sheer number of annuals produced (15 Magic Roundabout annuals!)

📖 What made a 70s annual: space facts, board games, comic strips, and questionable jokes

😱 The infamous 1976 Doctor Who annual with truly bonkers artwork

❤️ How annuals connect us to our childhood memories and family

What was your favourite Christmas annual?

Share your memories with us!

Happy New Year!

Oliver

📲 Connect & Follow

• Email us: oliver@my70stvchildhood.com
• Blog: https://my70stvchildhood.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/my70stvchildhood
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