The Strangest Regional Programmes

My enduring memory of TSW's network output was an episode of "Sounds Like Music" with Bobby Crush, where TSW managed to send the first 15 minutes of the programme to the network with the soundtrack replaced by music, interlaced with clicks and what I think was Ian Stirling's voice talking to transmission on occasion..... Tyne Tees were having a torrid time trying to work out whether to transmit the sound from network or fade it out, and kept replacing the standard "there is a fault" caption with more informative messages such as "there is a sound fault due to circumstances beyond our control" and a number of others, whereas I recall YTV just replaced the whole thing with a slide for the duration and the odd apology!

The Grampian Sheepdog Trials - so captivating.

After HTV West did Keynotes for the network, in association with Reg Grundy Productions in the early 90s, it appears Reg Grundy gave them Press Your Luck.

This quiz was successful in the US, and I think HTV thought they would try it locally and hope for a network slot. They spent the budget on having Paul Coia presenting, as the jackpot was £200. It was the worst programme ever. Contestants had to press their button to stop the board, and had to avoid the 'whammie' squares (little creatures that looked like raisins i think). The audience had to shout 'Whammie!!' if they landed on that square. It was so American and just didnt work in the UK.

It started in the 7.30pm slot then was moved all around the schedules to eventually Saturday afternoon.

If you ever meet Paul Coia, ask him what the worst programme he has ever presented and I'm sure he'll say Press Your Luck!

I bet only the likes of us would remember who presented Keynotes - Alistair Divall. He made headlines with his boasts that he tupped his wife five times a day without fail - then in 1995 (ie. when Keynotes was long gone) appeared round this way in an all-star football match.

Also playing was one Craig Kelly, who at the time hadn't even made his first appearance as Dr Daniel Perryman in Casualty - yes it was that sort of "all star" match!

Paul Coia was given his own chat show by Grampian TV in the mid to late 80s. I think Graham Chapman actually appeared on it once!

Sky High on Central, an enjoyable helicopter programme made strange by Marie Ashby and the pilot landing in a random place at the end and having a cup of tea.

Central's "Hit the Town" was the first programme I worked on (as a work experience lad). It was a slightly odd What's On Guide crossed with a Gameshow type of programme and had a Sunday afternoon slot. Two teams of contestants sat in 'cars'; each one parked at the end of a motorway sliproad that went around the back of the set. I think it may have been inspired by Spaghetti Junction... The teams would be shown a short VT of a theatrical production opening that week at a theatre in the MIdlands, or a band appearing that week, or some other piece of entertainment that had started life as a press statement in the office's in tray. The teams then had to answer quick-fire questions about what they'd just seen along with some general knowledge ISTR. The catchphrase (remember, they were sitting in the front of two 'cars') was "OK teams, Hands on Horns..."

It was presented by Rory McGrath and ran for at least a couple of series. It was made at Lenton Lane. Met Bob Holness in the bar afterwards too... because Blockbusters was being done in the studio next door...!

My job as work experience lad ...? (A) Filing the Press Statements from hundreds of theatres, clubs, pubs and schools, and (B) finding a studio audience for that week's programme... ! Never forget where you started - it was great experience all in all!

does anyone remember a STV soap Mackiec? it was geliaic

it was strange with half it in English, also one of the story line was two main land boys in the shops and there complain about the fact the Mag's where weeks out of date, Old shop lady states that the newish ones she got

That should read: "...made by the strange Marie Ashby" ! BTW Lucy Kite did the last two series (I don't think another is forthcoming) of Sky High when MA switched to BBC East Midlands; Lucy didn't continue the odd habit of landing in off-beat places for a cuppa !

I reckon that was either a Carlton idea, or if it was before the take-over, then it was an idea that Carlton pinched.

Both HTV West and Westcountry had very similar programmes, also with <insert name of not-very-famous local personality> and the pilot having the cup of tea.

Hmmm, so there was a UK version of PYL!! Shame it sounds so naff.

I've seen a few eps of the US version, and always thought it was a great idea crying out for a UK version. Seems it just didn't work then.

PYL was actually a repackage of a much older US gameshow, was it called Second Chance or something?

The Westcountry version (presented IIRC by Ruth Langsford) was called, oddly enough, Westward High, though whether that was intended to stir a little nostalgia or whether it was just a very weak pun I was never sure.

I used to like Westcountry's late night topical discussion show which the great Ron Bendall presented propping up the bar in a different pub every week. Sounds like my kind of pitch for a programme! The idea must have worked as the format has been reused for Westcountry's version of Soccer Night.