How to find old TV programmes on the internet

[porp]

I'm just not so good at finding things. Appreciate any tips on how to search more effectively for

1. I once caught a repeat on BBC4 of a 1970 s documentary about an episode of evangelical revival on the Isle of Lewis. I was spellbound by the psalm singing, but also the lack of editorial intrusion in the narrative.

2 In a different key, a truly shit Channel 4 series from the late 90 s about a group of stereotypes doing community service. Lashings of bad sex in transit vans.

Any ideas on scratching these itches gratefully received.

 

[Wookey]

Oooh, I love a telly challenge!

Someone else very clever will have this sorted for you in a jiffy!

 

[Reno]

Old TV programmes which aren’t hugely popular aren’t always that easy to get hold of online. Maybe someone can help you with the titles, but that may need a bit more information. Then you can have a look on YouTube. Probably too obscure for torrent sites.

 

[porp]

Thank you both. Is there like a library of TV recordings, like the British library but not for books IYSWIM

 

[Reno]

Thank you both. Is there like a library of TV recordings, like the British library but not for books IYSWIM

Unless they’ve been released on DVD, which seems unlikely, then only the TV channels themselves would have them. Otherwise YouTube is still your best bet.

 

[gentlegreen]

Probably not the same programme :-



Radio programme. :-

 

[krtek a houby]

Thank you both. Is there like a library of TV recordings, like the British library but not for books IYSWIM

BBC archives have a wealth of content (apart from the wiped stuff) and has been mostly transferred to digital format but it's in house and not for the general public. Not sure what C4 do, I presume pretty much the same. There is the 4 on demand service as well, if that's still going.

 

[gentlegreen]

Had a glance at those programmes ... I can see why people living that life might have found excitement in religion - a bit like French peasants and cathedrals ...

 

[Idris2002]

Does anyone remember this one? Late 70s series about an investigative journalist doing a story on renewable energy, who comes to the attention of Big Oil, and not in a good way. I think it was called "The [something] report".

 

[danny la rouge]

1. I once caught a repeat on BBC4 of a 1970 s documentary about an episode of evangelical revival on the Isle of Lewis. I was spellbound by the psalm singing, but also the lack of editorial intrusion in the narrative.

If you have iPlayer, you could look up BBC4 -> documentaries -> A-Z list, and see if you recognise the title there.

I can recommend a CD of Hebridean psalm singing, if you’d like.

 

[skyscraper101]

I recently found a TV show I’d been looking for after around 30 years of only remembering one vague plotline and what the intro titles looked like. Not even the name of the show or episode. Just that it was something in the 80s I watched when I was like 8 years old and found one scene really funny as a kid that I kept rewinding it over and over at the time.

Turned out it was an episode of Tales of the Unexpected. Was well happy when I got to watch it again after so long.

 

[krtek a houby]

I recently found a TV show I’d been looking for after around 30 years of only remembering one vague plotline and what the intro titles looked like. Not even the name of the show or episode. Just that it was something in the 80s I watched when I was like 8 years old and found one scene really funny as a kid that I kept rewinding it over and over at the time.

Turned out it was an episode of Tales of the Unexpected. Was well happy when I got to watch it again after so long.

Always a treat when you rediscover something you've been looking for, for ages. There was an ep of TofU which has a homeless bloke who happens to have a rare tattoo on his back by a famed artist. He's befriended by a seemingly nice curator type who takes him in and feeds him. Iirc, the tat ends up being displayed in a gallery and the unfortunate bloke is no more

 

[skyscraper101]

Always a treat when you rediscover something you've been looking for, for ages. There was an ep of TofU which has a homeless bloke who happens to have a rare tattoo on his back by a famed artist. He's befriended by a seemingly nice curator type who takes him in and feeds him. Iirc, the tat ends up being displayed in a gallery and the unfortunate bloke is no more

Heh, I never saw that one.

The one I’d been looking for had Patricia Routledge of Hyacinth Bucket fame, playing the wife of a recently laid off illiterate church vicar. The vicar decides to set up a traditional English tea room after having a particularly bad experience in his local cafe. The amusing scene for me as an 8 year old was the vicar getting freaked out by a fruit machine being played on by a punk rocker in the cafe blaring out tuneful but aggressive noises to stop him enjoying his tea.

 

[Pickman's model]

try searching the radio times archive Issues - BBC Genome to identify the programme.

 

[a_chap]

I realise it's not free but Network On Air have tons of old and odd TV programs and films for sale.

Network On Air

I've spent way too much money on that site in the past...

 

[Pickman's model]

people who are in higher education can have a look at bob - box of broadcasts Learning on Screen · Opening up access to moving image and sound since 1948

 

[yield]

1. I once caught a repeat on BBC4 of a 1970 s documentary about an episode of evangelical revival on the Isle of Lewis. I was spellbound by the psalm singing, but also the lack of editorial intrusion in the narrative.

This?

In 1979 the BBC's Everyman series broadcast a documentary about religious belief on the Isle of Lewis. This programme offers a unique opportunity to see The Last Stronghold of the Pure Gospel and also find out what happened to some of those featured in the original programme.

Clip BBC ALBA - Last Stronghold of the Pure Gospel: An-Diugh, A’ bhuaidh a bh’ aig an t-soisgeul air Leòdhas

 

[DaveCinzano]

I'm just not so good at finding things. Appreciate any tips on how to search more effectively for

1. I once caught a repeat on BBC4 of a 1970 s documentary about an episode of evangelical revival on the Isle of Lewis. I was spellbound by the psalm singing, but also the lack of editorial intrusion in the narrative.

2 In a different key, a truly shit Channel 4 series from the late 90 s about a group of stereotypes doing community service. Lashings of bad sex in transit vans.

Any ideas on scratching these itches gratefully received.

The second one was Offenders and was IIRC not truly shit

Offenders (TV Series 2002– ) - IMDb

 

[porp]

I recently found a TV show I’d been looking for after around 30 years of only remembering one vague plotline and what the intro titles looked like. Not even the name of the show or episode. Just that it was something in the 80s I watched when I was like 8 years old and found one scene really funny as a kid that I kept rewinding it over and over at the time.

Turned out it was an episode of Tales of the Unexpected. Was well happy when I got to watch it again after so long.

lol at mention of intro titles of ToTU. That was some heady eroticism for a sheltered upbringing child like me. Guaranteed parents walk into the room moment.

 

[porp]

This?

Clip BBC ALBA - Last Stronghold of the Pure Gospel: An-Diugh, A’ bhuaidh a bh’ aig an t-soisgeul air Leòdhas

Thanks so much this may be the one.

 

[porp]

The second one was Offenders and was IIRC not truly shit

Offenders (TV Series 2002– ) - IMDb

You genius you. This looks likely. Fair enough it may only have been a bit shit.

 

[porp]

If you have iPlayer, you could look up BBC4 -> documentaries -> A-Z list, and see if you recognise the title there.

I can recommend a CD of Hebridean psalm singing, if you’d like.

Thank you. I get my fix from Youtube clips but a recommendation would be welcome

 

[porp]

Heh, I never saw that one.

The one I’d been looking for had Patricia Routledge of Hyacinth Bucket fame, playing the wife of a recently laid off illiterate church vicar. The vicar decides to set up a traditional English tea room after having a particularly bad experience in his local cafe. The amusing scene for me as an 8 year old was the vicar getting freaked out by a fruit machine being played on by a punk rocker in the cafe blaring out tuneful but aggressive noises to stop him enjoying his tea.

Did you find it? There are times when a good ToTU hits the spot. Macabre but cosy.

 

[danny la rouge]

Thank you. I get my fix from Youtube clips but a recommendation would be welcome

Ridge RR024

 

[skyscraper101]

Did you find it? There are times when a good ToTU hits the spot. Macabre but cosy.

I did. Forgot to say it has Richard Briers in it too. The scene in the cafe is around the 7 minute mark

 

[porp]

Ridge RR024

View attachment 163622

Ta