Breakfast tv now in full swing. The idents actually now deserve a mention but still don't appear until quite late on Christmas Eve (and this selection) . This may have tempted fate as on part 2 the BBC1 ident gets stuck.
Did anyone else look forward to getting the Xmas bumper edition of the Radio Times magazine or TV Times? My sister and I used to get it two weeks before and sit and plan out Xmas Eve, Xmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and Day all to the second. A list of days, times and shows would be made every year, and of course we never got to see it all (unless we hadn't moved from in front of the tele), but the excitment at doing it and then trying to watch things on the list was amazing. It used to be planned from like 0500 until about 2200. Little things like that used to be so amazing!!!
Radio and TV Times were BBC and ITV only when I was little so it was a major scheduling task! I don’t think ANYONE else in my rather large family appreciated having their viewing dictated to them - but it was Christmas. I often came back from the toilet to find a disruption to programmes!
Yes I did too at the time. Of course at the time in 1983, the Radio Times covered BBC1 and BBC2 on tv as well as BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4; whilst the TV Times covered ITV-all areas, and by then Channel 4 also. It was not until March 1991 that they and the other magazines that then started were able to do a full listings of all the channels as they do now then. I always felt that it was an odd set up although newspapers were allowed to print the same day listings too at the time. But yes I do remember. In fact, I think 1983 Christmas time was the first time I remember too having both in advance also and planning what to see also. But yes, as others have said too, then somehow was less commercial, if that is the word, than it is today in comparison really. A shame of course, but I guess that is how it is now then. Thank you anyway!!
Personally didn’t do it, but loved Christmas TV from the era I was a kid - between 1994-1996 was probably the golden time of it for me. I’ve since grabbed the Christmas Radio Times from these years off eBay to reminisce. Honestly think TV was so much better back then - was wholesome, and the whole family would gather around the living room TV. Nowadays, we’re spoiled for choice with kids on their phones, tablets or whatever else watching Netflix, Disney+ or RU-vid and it’s really taken out that feeling of togetherness we had once upon a time.
Those graphics and idents are so warm. I daresay at the time they felt cutting edge and modern, but it feels so much more like Christmas than the modern versions of what we’re fed.
@@Embracing01 Probably nostalgia talking, as I daresay back in 1983 these look very clean and modern; wonder if kids born later who grew up with the current BBC indents will share the same nostalgic feeling for the modern style as we do for the older style? Either way - all the old BBC stuff on RU-vid make me feel so much more festive than anything from the last 15-20 years.
@@digitalmediafan I think it’s that basic look that gives off so much charm; calls back to days long lost in the past when the world was a different place, ya know?
Much better times than now, i was 15 in Xmas in 83 as a kid u felt the warmth & the excitement of Christmas coming up & the Christmas tv was much better & looked Christmassy unlike now. Was simpler times but much more exciting & people were happier back then. Memories too as my parents were still very much with me along with my sisters still at home & my sister waking me up on Christmas morning. Great times & memories
Agreed. For me, that ‘perfect’ period was the early to mid 90s. I think the advancement of technology has led to the decline of the old traditional Christmas’ that we remember and love. With the amount of on demand content out there now, coupled with the fact everyone has ways of watching media on their phones, tablets, etc, I think the idea of all crowding round the set over Christmas to watch TV as a family is becoming less and less traditional. It’s sad really. Honestly feel that we were better off with less channels available to us. The quality was better due to the competition between BBC and ITV - nowadays, there are too many players out there vying for attention which has led to a dramatic decline in quality.
It's funny the memories that this brings back. Watching BBC Breakfast instantly made me feel cold - flashbacks of having to get up in winter to go to school.
@silva geko I went to Heolddu (Heol thee) Comprehensive school in Bargoed (Bar-goyd) in Wales from 1980 to 1985 and I would wake up to Terry Wogan in the morning, starting up just after Ray Moore, this was 1980. By 1983 my stepdad started watching BBC breakfast and TV am, so many memories of those days, some good, some not so good. I still think back to those days when I'm reminded of a particular 1980's song or clips like this video.
@silva geko By the time I left school in 1985 I started my YTS near Caerphilly so I had to get up earlier so I had stopped watching TV am and saw very little if any Big breakfast, can't stand Chris Evans and Zig and Zag was just as annoying as Roland Rat LOL
Loved the Christmas telly growing up in the 1980s, they were simpler and less complicated times, and the excitement and build up to the festive season and Christmas day tv was always a fun time of year......miss those great times.
Chris Evans why Christmas has to start at the beginning of December (on tv) and ruin was ideal for three days binge tv I’ll never know. Thank you itv (who never do any good out it anyway)
Exactly so agree Christmas 1982 and 1983 were wonderful Christmas always a build up to Christmas over the weeks plus great Christmas TV programmes. Much happier simpler times
I was seven years old what a great time it was to be a kid miss those xmas's now more than anything since losing my mum reminds me of much happier times when life was simple and Xmas was filled with presents Xmas dinner tins of roses or quality street lots of laughs and brilliant films cartoons and tv shows you always looked forward to the xmas announcements to see what was showing over the xmas period
Maggie Smith acting with David Niven 0:17! I was 16 in ‘83. Hearing the theme tunes to TVAM and Breakfast time took me right back to my school days. Where did all my school mates go? Didn’t like school much...but what I would do to go back to those days!
Flash Gordon - what a film. Remember having the old VHS ready for that. I think as there were only 4 channels, more effort was made with the programming. Now all you get is reality shows, cooking shows and the X Factor.
@@Strawberry_pjs I attended Peter Duncan's funeral and it was heartache. He was the life and soul of Blue Peter and the BBC Television Centre. I remember designing his white and green chequered suite for him and I felt so honoured when he wore it on tv! This was the same suite he was clothed in at his funeral. At his request they put him (his body) into the suite. They played the famous Blue Peter theme then we all cryed!
Thank you for the pleasant thoughts, memories and emotions which this video evoked. The original theme tune and Title design for Breakfast Time were as always tremendously moving, the topping being Frank Bough. The quintessence of Gentlemanly Professionalism whilst maintaining the presence of a homely uncle. At the risk of repetition, thank you once again.
I love watching TV programmes, voice announcers & commercials from this era. They are soft, well spoken, not rushed, not in your face, quieter, relaxing, warm and comforting vice announcers, adverts & prorgammes. They seem less *cold* than adverts, announcers & programmes today which are hard, loud, common (some times more ghetto sounding due to diversity quotas) fast paced, slap bang wallop editing, in your face, full on CGI effects, tense, rushed and as a result just so so 'cold' just like today's world. So I switch these on for some comfort and reassurance.
I agree with you there. Television back then was so much better and more calm than it is today. In Ireland, the national broadcasters (RTE, TV3, etc) only broadcast reality programmes, violent soap opera's, lifestyle programmes, current affairs and gameshows. Back then, there was something for everyone and the adverts and continuity before programmes was so much better and more personal than it is today. I hate nowadays. I miss the past.
I watched Flash Gordon that Christmas Eve on a portable black and white telly with my sister. I was 7 she was 12 or there abouts. I remember it well but would never have been able to date it but for this.
I can't wait to get out of this hell hole at Christmas. Its as if everyone thinks they're missing a bargain and have to be at the shops at 5am boxing day to fight over a tv they don't need. I save up all year to go to spain or Portugal rather chill with a beer
@@donna1420 I'm looking at tenerife next Christmas it's supposed to be warmer than mainland Spain and Portugal. I'm not far from Barcelona this Christmas. You enjoy yourself 👍
I was in my final year at school, leaving in May 1984, & I remember the brilliant diversity of programmes across the 4 channels. I remember watching the TV premiere of Flash Gordon on Christmas Eve on BBC ONE, followed by the live stereo simulcast on Paul Young's concert on BBC TWO & Radio 1 before concluding the night with Santa Claus vs The Martians (no kidding) that was the concluding film in Channel 4's "The Worst Of Hollywood" season. A world away from the banal, one-dimensional schedules today
I was 12 back then but I remember all these programs clearly.. I know I was a kid but I loved Christmas then.. Things seem so uptight now.. I often think a trip back in a time machine for just one more 80s Christmas......,,,,
Val Doonican seemed to be a Christmas presence for most of the 70s and 80s. He bounced between working for BBC and ITV during the years, but was nearly always on over each festive season with his usual dollop of Christmas soup for the soul.
“The Circus World Championships’ Or as it’s known today, “Britain’s Got Talent “ Think this for me is the worst of the 80s Christmas ident, still a fantastic video, and thanks for uploading
+richard mattocks All those cans with the Christmas programmes in. Imagine the duty monkey opening one up like The Two Ronnies and - SHIT! IT'S EMPTY! WHAT DO I PUT ON NOW?!
Thanks so much for this excellent quality upload, don't know how I haven't seen it before. BBC Breakfast was such a class act, the titles done in only the way the BBC could do it, just lovely, I could watch it all day; it was so very sad when they went to the formal news format, it seemed like a death at the time!! Amazing to see the making of the idents & the actually see them on screen well done David, the BBC1 star was stunning. My only criticism or suggestion, this clip show is great, but why not upload whole shows, you seem to have them & in very good quality, I'd love to see hours of this, as I'm sure would many, it would be a great archive addition to YT - PLEASE ;-) Subbed!
Before Sky's cheque book appeared we had to wait a minimum of 5 years before a TV showing and then it went to the highest bidder - usually bundled with a load of back catalogue stuff to sweeten the deal. Disney went rogue years before. Seeing the Christmas value of his movies he refused TV showings of the classic ones and made tv crawl for the rest
@@bdavebaldwin First it was 5 years, then 3 (with some exceptions - Tim Burton's Batman had its TV premiere 2 years after its cinema release), then 1... now it's usually about 6 months.
@@FranzSanchez-ky9up Looking back, it wasn’t the biggest movie for Christmas Day! But because of the build up and the slot it was in, I’ve never forgotten it. Although Temple of Doom and Back to the Future in the same slot in later years were slightly better movies 😂
Funny, I remember Tv-Am being on ITV. I was only six years old at the time so I probably don't remember what I was watching but it was probably more fun than it would appear to have been. 😉
The BBC would probably prefer if it was edited out, pretend it never happened, forget they covered it up for so many years. I prefer it left untouched.
The Breakfast Time weather graphics were decades ahead of their time. It's very similar to the style that the BBC use today. Remember, this was an age where weather forecasters placed cloud shapes cutouts onto a board.
I'd just turned 17 when these were broadcast, had left school earlier in the year, and was spending my first Christmas as an A Level college student. I always look back on those days with great nostalgia, but watching this now, I have to say that it don't 'alf look stuffy! 😁
I always remember a movie in my head , a Christmas movie. I don’t know the name, but it had an alien disguised as a human , but left green footsteps where it has walked in the snow
In 1983 BBC Breakfast Time had a break for their first Christmas. Their last edition before Christmas was on Friday December 23rd, and they would not return until Wednesday December 28th. Their commercial rival TV-am had no such break. They were on air everyday no matter whether it was Christmas or not.
Although it's been said many times (and even though 4 channels were up and running by 1983) viewers really did have to take what they were given (essentially BBC1 v ITV) or switch off..
Hahaha! Love the trailer for Khartoum - with Laurence Olivier as "The Mad Mahdi" - clearly written by Lance Corporal Jones - "Them Fuzzy-wuzzies don't like it up 'em!"
I recorded over most of the programme because I quite honestly thought it was a waste of tape. Last year the daughter of one of that group wanted a recording as no other copy exists and she wanted a memory of her dad. Ooops.
BBC Breakfast is so corporate neutral today. Sorry, I know Uncle Frank had his problems but I much preferred the production values of this era. Today, much as I like Sally Nugent et.al I feel like I'm watching a corporate training dvd on manual handling.
@@bdavebaldwin I saw a video on here the other day of the BBC 2 premiere of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in late 1988... that's 13 years after it had been originally released! I'm guessing the delay was more due to the film's controversial subject matter, though.
@@FranzSanchez-ky9up when Alien was shown on itv, any swear words were simply cut out leaving a jump in the film. Soldier Blue likewise. For many years the dream sequence in Oklahoma was chopped out by the BBC because they reckoned it bored people.
@@bdavebaldwin The overdubbing they did for some of those T.V edits have become legendary for how pathetic they were ; a lot of them were American network television cuts that BBC/ITV would import, rather than do their own cutting (though they did sometimes). For years, I associated NTSC transfers with editing... like the censorship just made them sound like that :-)
