Join us as we take a look back in our ByGone Christmases at some of the UK’s favourite TV shows of the eighties.
From Eastenders to Challenge Anneka, 80’s television left a definite mark on the population of the UK. Who could forget the sniggers from the kids on Blockbusters when they asked Bob Holdness ‘could I have a ‘P’ Please Bob?’
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Vintage quiz shows like 3-2-1 (I still can’t get that hand movement right) and US action heroes such as Bruce Willis who single handedly saved an airport tower taken over by a host of bad guys, had us glued to our screens.
Soaps played a big part in our TV viewing and the 1980’s saw the arrival of some of our all time favourites,many of which have stood the test of time and those who were never seen again after just one series. Doof,doof,doof, doof – who doesn’t know the dramatic endings to one of the UK’s favourite soaps Eastenders. This award winning soap was first seen in 1985, Dot’s hardly changed at all and Christmas 1986 saw dirty Den give Angie divorce papers! Ken Barlow and Hilda Ogden continued to walk over the Coronation Street cobbles, while in 1982 over on channel 4 the folks from Brookside tackled socially challenging storylines.
Christmas TV viewing wouldn’t have been complete without some extra special seasonal programes and who didn’t watch Val’s (Doonican) Special Years of Christmas or the Mike Yarwood Christmas Show. Tenagers across the UK would be glued to the set as they eagerly watched Top of the Pops to find out who had the Christmas No 1 slot before everyone got together for the Queen’s Christmas Speech at 3pm and The Snowman took to the air for the first time, in a 1982 boxing day broadcast.
Set in a small-town café in Nazi-occupied France during World War II the wartime drama ‘Allo, ‘Allo! had us rolling on the floor as we laughed along to the awful (awfully funny!) accents, who didn’t wait for the gendarme to arrive and start talking broken English, or the fallen madonna with the big boobies episode – priceless comedy at its best.
Action and adventure was always a popular choice and many families settled down to watch soldiers of fortune B.A. Baracus (Mr.T) and Hannibal Smith – ‘ If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team‘. David Suchet as french detective Poirot solved all Agatha Christie’s mysteries and crime drama and political thriller, Edge of Darkness had us on the edge of our seats.
Count Duckula was guaranteed to keep the kids amused and peace and quiet reigned on Saturday mornings as Noel Edmonds broadcast over three hours of ‘Multi-Coloured Swap Shop’
With so many iconic shows to choose from it’s difficult to say which TV shows perfectly defined the eighties.
Which 80’s TV show was/still is, the one you just wouldn’t miss and looked forward to each week?
Get in touch below and tell us about your 80’s TV memories.
