Self Isolation and Self Indulgence

The present situation doesn't feel any different my end.

That's not really the right thing to say, but save for a daily visit from support
for an hour, every Monday to Friday, it's just me here in my Margate flat.

Many are suggesting that radio is vital for these challenging times especially
local radio.

Familiar voices, information and entertainment, which to my ears immediately
translate into condescension, tedium, and many presenters who badly
want to be either Steve Wright or Alex Lester.

The latter I've never got, and the former, well, he used to be good in 1989.

My radio is barely switched on all day as it is, and there's very little elsewhere
on the dial that will make me want to switch from either Greg James first
thing in the morning, or Charles Carroll, Susan Rae et al last thing at night.

They may not be within a distance of easy reach from my flat,
but that's my source of reassurance and familiarity.

And not to say that inane items are fully out of bounds, as if they're
done confidently with presenters willing to send them up, then that's fair game.

None finer than Radcliffe and Maconie's "Crisps On The Radio" a staple
of their 6 Music weekend breakfast show, recently performed live to observant
crowds in Camden.

Podcasts are also worthy a listen. Many changing perspectives on presenters I've
not warmed to on the radio alone, such as Edith Bowman's amazing "Soundtracking" series and Fearne Cotton's "Happy Place".

Cotton not quite letting the radio bug escape, having recently started
a "Sounds Of The 90s" show on BBC Sounds, also airing on Radio 2,
though I'm rather frustrated by the on air trailer for the show,
as there's a snippet of the Thames Television ident in it.

An ident that was dropped in July 1989, and hadn't been seen
for even longer outside of the London region.

But without the tiny bugbears, radio wouldn't be as interesting.

And with everything as it is, it's more vital than ever, wherever
your preferred spot is on the dial.

The Blamires Trunk Of Telly - Adult TV (Not In That Way)

Though there may be a few smidgeons of strong language in

the offerings below.




Branching outside children's presentation, and the wider offerings
of the four big terrestrial channels from the 90s into the 00s.

Starting with the BBC, featuring amongst other randomness,
two Newsnight openings.



Oddly enough there was another in between both of them which only
lasted around 18 months, featuring a poor synth rendition of
George Fenton's long running theme tune.

Having dropped it's long standing ident in 1996, Channel 4
underwent another rebrand three years later, replacing the circles
with a square.

The first day of it's use can be seen here, as well as the below
montage.



Including Josie and Dermot with the school holiday schedule filler
"The Bigger Breakfast", and more T4 with their coverage (if you can call it that)
of the 2000 "Party In The Park".

Where an unscheduled appearance from a foul-mouthed technician
earned them a slap on the wrist from then regulator the ITC,
not to mention many negative e-mails to Heat magazine's
letters page over there being more padding, than actual performances.

And last of all ITV, both regional and national, spanning 10 years
of trails, idents and the odd show snippet.



Including towards the end, the desperate daytime shambles
that was "Loose At 5.30!".

A dissection of said rush-job can be read here, via the old "Off The Telly" website.

The Blamires Trunk Of Telly - (Not Entirely) Wasted Youth

To say it's currently a tough time would be understating it a bit.

But in such instances, it's impossible to resist the urge to go back,
and through televisual means definitely.


For too long I've resisted the urge to transfer my mountain of VHS tapes,
but they're all stored in my little orange box, waiting to be uploaded,
starting with a venture into children's presentation from the then all four
terrestrial channels.

First up mid 90s CBBC shenanigans, featuring a very young Dick
from Dick and Dom, or "Richard" as he was known in 1996.




The editing may be shoddy in places, but that's the result of
12 year old me either being impatient, or trying to save space on a
180 video cassette.

A montage below of stuff from "the other side", the ever changing
face of CITV from the late 90s to mid 00s.



GMTV was always a bit cartoon-heavy for my liking growing up, yet still
felt the urge to tape the odd smidgeon of stuff in between.



You'll meet a very young Fearne Cotton on "Diggit" and a very
hyperactive Jamie Rickers "Up On The Roof".

And the piece de resistance, nay a late 90s obsession T4.



An assemblage on the ever changing Sunday strand from the
relaxed wit of Dermot and Margherita, to the scripted sarcasm of
Steve Jones and Miquita Oliver.

Towards the end, there's a personal highlight from the early years
when the New Radicals made a run from 124 Horseferry Road in March '99.

They'll be plenty more to come from "adult television" in the coming days,
though not in that way.

Loads more continuity and pres bits guaranteed.