On Christmas Day 1995, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a short documentary on Oliver Postgate (pictured below) and Peter Firmin (pictured above), entitled Trumpton Riots.
Presumably intended as a Christmas filler, it turned out to be one of the best radio documentaries of the year.
Over the next five days, they continued to broadcast these beautifully produced programmes, presented by such luminaries as Brian Cant, Sally James and Fred Harris, discussing the history of TV shows including Crackerjack, Blue Peter, Vision On, The Clangers, Camberwick Green, Pogle’s Wood and Magpie. Two more programmes followed in 1997.
Here is the opportunity to once more hear these wonderful programs, which are a credit to the production team involved. If you haven’t yet heard them, download them now and wallow in nostalgia.
Nogs, Togs & Clangers
Oliver Postgate & Peter Firmin
Produced by Laura Druce
Transmitted 25 December 1995 19.9 MB MP3 file
Today Is Saturday
Caron Keating on Tiswas
Produced by Laura Druce
Transmitted 26 December 1995 21.0 MB MP3 file
Through The Arched Window
Maggie Philbin on Play School
Produced by Laura Druce
Transmitted 27 December 1995 20.3 MB MP3 file
Val or Sue, John or Tommy?
Sally James on Blue Peter & Magpie
Produced by Laura Druce
Transmitted 28 December 1995 26.1 MB MP3 file
Pugwash, Windy & Barney McGrew
Presented by Fred Harris
Produced by Laura Druce
Transmitted 29 December 1995 22.0 MB MP3 file
We Cannot Return Your Paintings
Fred Harris examines Vision On
Produced by Laura Parfitt
Transmitted 25 December 1997 26.0 MB MP3 file
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Jenny Hanley on Crackerjack
Produced by Laura Parfitt
Transmitted 26 December 1997
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Over the next five days, they continued to broadcast these beautifully produced programmes, presented by such luminaries as Brian Cant, Sally James and Fred Harris, discussing the history of TV shows including Crackerjack, Blue Peter, Vision On, The Clangers, Camberwick Green, Pogle’s Wood and Magpie. Two more programmes followed in 1997.
