TV Heaven

Channel 4's 'T.V. Heaven' set the gold standard for nostalgia shows. Each edition was devoted to a particular year, with programmes, title sequences, news footage and commercials, all ably introduced by the late, great Frank Muir. A few hailed from his time at L.W.T., such as 'Please Sir!'. Among the treats on offer were the aptly-named 'The Strange World Of Gurney Slade' starring Anthony Newley, 'A Magnum For Schneider' starring Edward Woodward ( the pilot for 'Callan' ), 'Lena O My Lena' starring Billie Whitelaw, 'The Odd Job Man' starring Ronnie Barker and David Jason, an episode of 'Police Surgeon' starring Ian Hendry ( the inspiration for 'The Avengers' ) and a smattering of shows from the ITC stable, such as 'The Saint', 'Danger Man' and 'The Prisoner'. Compared with B.B.C.-4's recent 'T.V. On Trial' ( which was little more than an excuse for trendy media types to sneer at the past ), 'T.V. Heaven' was a class act. A second series, mooted at the time, sadly failed to materialise.