British broadcaster Jamie Dyer discusses vintage American television from the 50s-70s.
A Brit Talks Vintage TV
Claim This Podcastby Jamie Dyer
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17 episodes
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Podcast Overview
British broadcaster Jamie Dyer discusses vintage American television from the 50s-70s.
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Publishing Since
7/2/2019
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Recent Episodes
January 16, 2026
Corriedale: From a Classic Soap Perspective
<p>I don't know about you, but I enjoyed ITV's recent Coronation Street and Emmerdale Corriedale crossover, a special episode to promote the new “power hour” of soaps broadcast every night on the channel. I haven't watched either soap regularly for years, but I tuned in because it was an event. An opportunity to see popular characters converse, and perhaps the hope of the history of both shows being honoured in some way.</p><p>Excitingly, my hopes were answered. The cinematic presentation of the car crash, and the way these characters came together, was well put together for what it was. Clearly, a lot of thought had gone into the execution, and the cast delivered. For me, a throwback fan of both shows' past, the moment of WOW came when Ken Barlow and Eric Pollard shared a scene for the first time. It was a throwaway scene that didn't add much to the plot, but it was necessary. Even if you've never watched either show, you'll know of Ken and Eric. They are a constant and a route back to each show's respective origins.</p><p>Bill Roache has been in Coronation Street since the first episode in 1960. Viewers have watched Ken's life unfold and shared in every piece of drama he has endured. Chris Chittell joined Emmerdale Farm in 1986, and Eric has been a man of many guises and eras. Both characters witnessed the evolution of their shows, from kitchen sink teatime fodder to today's soapy tension roundabout of secrets and murders. When I watched the episode of Emmerdale before Corriedale, I was struck by the difference in feel to the show of yesteryear. A far cry from the kitchen table of Annie Sugden.</p><p>Allow me to digress a little here with Ma Sugden in mind, that I ask...What would Corriedale have looked like 40 years ago? 1986 was a time when both shows sought to reinvent themselves. The arrival of Alan Bradley in one, and the car crash death of Pat Sugden in another. What could have happened in a crossover? Perhaps a car crash could've involved the Sugdens and Barlows, with Jack, Joe and Ken at odds with one another. Perhaps Mike Baldwin has a business deal with Alan Turner? Or maybe, when thinking of the era, there was a cricket match involving Seth Armstrong and Jack Duckworth, what would Seth have made of Vera, Rita, Mavis or Ivy Tilsley? Such scenarios are only reserved for fan fiction, as we ponder what Amos Brearly and Henry Wilkes would've made of Bet Lynch's Rovers Return.</p><p>The other thing that makes the whole thing pure fantasy is that such a crossover would've never happened because of the logistics of that time. Emmerdale Farm, as it was then, was mostly a daytime or early evening show that began to go primetime in the late 80s. Corrie was made by Granada, Emmerdale by Yorkshire Television, two different regional companies. They could've worked together, but it was unlikely. Both shows had different styles and approaches, each coming from different roots. I would argue it was only possible now because while each show has an identity, the gap isn't as wide as it used to be.</p><p>I'm sure there are many critics for the crossover that did happen, but I was fairly impressed. There may have been other times it would've been excellent, such as during the era of the Tates in the early 90s, but they chose to do it at the right time. It was event television that is sorely needed in the age of declining viewership of linear television. It was an intriguing proposition to bring two titans of British soap together, and do so with drama and a hint of nostalgia. It may not be the golden years for either show, but there was enough of both DNA through the prescience of Barlows, Sugdens, Platts, Websters and Dingles to make any longtime soap fan cry with joy. Ken and Pollard? The icing on the cake.</p><p>So what else is there to say? I've said enough. If you have anything to say about the shows mentioned in this podcast, you can email <a href="mailto:Jamie@OldTimeReview.co.uk">Jamie@OldTimeReview.co.uk</a>, tweet @OldTimeReview on Twitter or check out the Facebook page, Old Time Review. </p>
March 30, 2024
Happy Birthday Mary Berry
<p>Hello there, and welcome to <em>A Brit Talks Vintage TV</em>, with me Jamie Dyer.</p> <p>Now I'm going to ask you a question, and I want you to answer out loud. Like, state your answer in the air. Right? Got it? Good! Who would you say was your favourite all-time TV chef? Fanny Craddock? Delia Smith, Julia Child? Perhaps one of the younger contingents like Jamie Oliver or James Martin? I wonder how many of you said out loud the name Mary Berry. There has to be at least one.</p> <p>Mary Berry has always been a fascinating figure to me. For my generation, she seemed to come out of nowhere. Like she was a nobody plucked from obscurity and placed as a judge on The Great British Bake Off. The truth is that she wasn't at all she'd had a career spanning many decades before she became known for pointing out soggy bottoms. </p> <p>Aside from the many documentaries, cooking shows and fly-on-the-wall reality shows, nowhere is this more evident than in the many vintage clips that appear on social media and YouTube. Not long ago, the ITV Archive shared a clip of Mary Berry on Yorkshire Television's Farmhouse Kitchen discussing wine. She's also regularly seen cooking recipes in clips from Thames TV's Good Afternoon; Much of it is timeless and of use today.</p> <p>Mary was born in 1935. She studied catering at college. At the age of 22, like Julia Child, Mary attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Later, she became food editor of Housewife Magazine in 1966, then at Ideal Home Magazine from 1970-1973. She has published over 75 Cookery books. These are just a few of her accomplishments, there is so much more to discover. She was made a dame in 2021.</p> <p>It was Mary's birthday this week, in which she turned 89 years old. Wishing Dame Mary Berry a belated Happy Birthday. And you, dear listener a Happy Easter.</p> <p>So what else is there to say? I've said enough. If you have anything to say about the shows mentioned in this podcast, you can email <a href="mailto:Jamie@OldTimeReview.co.uk">Jamie@OldTimeReview.co.uk</a>, tweet @OldTimeReview on Twitter or check out the Facebook page, Old Time Review. This is Jamie Dyer signing off.</p>
March 22, 2024
Remembering Ernie Wise
<p> </p> <p>Hello there, and welcome to <em>A Brit Talks Vintage TV</em>, with me Jamie Dyer.</p> <p>On the 21st of March 2024, it was the 20th anniversary of the passing of comedy legend Ernie Wise. His comedy partner, Eric Morecambe, had died 15 years before him. The two of them continue to live on in reruns, as I shall explain later.</p> <p>Ernie Wise was born on the 27th of November 1925. He first met Eric Morecambe, then Bartholomew, in 1940. They quickly struck up a friendship and began performing as a double act. Their first TV series, Running Wild, was a flop on the BBC in the early 50s. They were then snapped up by ATV in the early 60s, for a show called Two of a Kind. It was on the BBC from 1968 to 1977, that they enjoyed their greatest successes.</p> <p>Every Christmas without fail, my family and I still sit down to watch the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show. Starting in 2019, we've watched every BBC special on the fiftieth anniversary of their original broadcast. We've seen a giant dummy, Hannah Gordon get blown away and even Andre Preview. Their comedy, mostly written by the wonderful Eddie Braben, never fails to make us laugh.</p> <p>I can't say I have a favourite of the two, they each brought their own strengths. Eric was quick witted and very good with little physical touches. Ernie played the straight man comedy role to perfection, and was also an excellent dancer. This can be seen in their classic Singing in the Rain sketch, possibly the best one they ever did.</p> <p>The beauty of this sketch is that it reads in two ways. Yes, Morecambe being doused unexpectedly several times with water is very funny. However, the magic comes with Ernie's dance routine. He plays it absolutely seriously, as though he's doing the actual musical. His mimicking of Gene Kelly may not be the funniest thing ever put to tape, but it's enough to put a smile on your face. Bring you sunshine if you will. Not bad for a little Ern with short fat hairy legs... It just doesn't sound right when I say it does it!?</p> <p>It shouldn't be surprising that the work of Morecambe and Wise continues to be rerun and appreciated. Much of it has also been brought out on DVD, even the ATV and Thames years. I didn't realise until recently just how much work they put into each and every second. I knew about the well-documented rehearsals with guests. What I wasn't aware of, was the amount of time it took them to actually film things! I'm sure they said on a recent rerun special with Michael Parkinson, that their famous Breakfast Stripper sketch took several hours to film. It just demonstrated how much work went into it, for me.</p> <p>What do you think it was that made the two of them so good? Perhaps it was all those nights performing in theatres up and down the country, honing their craft? Maybe the excellent writers they had around them at various times. Could it be the production team or the guest stars? Or perhaps its the friendship the two of them shared for decades. They truly were two of a kind.</p> <p>Following Eric's death, Ernie did a little work here and there. He's in episodes of What's My Line, along with Countdown. He also made a guest appearance in an obscure American Ted Knight sitcom called Too Close for Comfort in 1985. Ten years later after health issues, he retired from showbusiness at age 70. 29 years later, and we're still talking about him, the plays what he wrote and his mate Eric Morecambe.</p> <p>So what else is there to say? I've said enough. If you have anything to say about the shows mentioned in this podcast, you can email <a href="mailto:Jamie@OldTimeReview.co.uk">Jamie@OldTimeReview.co.uk</a>, tweet @OldTimeReview on Twitter or check out the Facebook page, Old Time Review. This is Jamie Dyer signing off.</p>
17 total episodes available
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