What was on the telly when I was dropped?
I’m always fascinated by finding out what was the Number One song in the UK charts when someone was born.
Now, thanks to the BBC Genome Project we can do exactly the same for television shows…
Thanks to some very patient people at the BBC every copy of the TV listings magazine, The Radio Times, has been uploaded online so anyone can check any BBC radio or TV schedule between 1923 and 2009. I couldn’t wait to find out what TV show was being broadcast the very second I came into this world…
I was born at 08:38 on the 22nd March 1978 but sadly the BBC used to have times when there were no programmes on at all – this was called Closedown. During Closedown they would usually show a Test Card so it’s “highly likely” something similar to this is what was playing on telly as I was born…
Now that’s not very exciting is it? So what was the first actual show to be broadcast during my first hours alive?
I was very, very pleased with the answer. It could easily have been something boring like Jackanory (which was the second programme) but luckily it was one of my favourite cartoons – Roobarb. The title of the episode was “When Roobarb was being Bored then not being Bored” and here it is…
Other shows included Playschool, Mr. Men, John Craven’s Newsround and Touché Turtle.
In the hit school drama, Grange Hill, this was what was going on…
“Ann has a good chance of being elected to the school council, but she reckons without the rather unorthodox tactics adopted by Micky Doyle, a newcomer to Form 1 Alpha. “
The Wednesday Film was “The Brain”, there was a documentary about the Hong Kong police and comedy was provided by The Liver Birds…
It was then sport, news weather and shutdown. What an exciting first day I had.
I found this really interesting. If you can do it, try it and share with me as I’d love to find out “your first Telly”
This is amazing! Rugby, a Parkinson episode with Peter Sellers and Swap Shop
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooo swap Shop. Must have been a Saturday then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Steve Says….
LikeLike
Oh, I loved Roobarb. He had a friend called “Custard” and the theme music but just so hip what with that electric guitar.
You were born in a great year, Steve, cause that was the year I left school! Now I’m showing my age as well. Oh, and I have a CD called “Test Card Music” – yep there is actually a CD of the music they were playing when you were born.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved it too but i can see how you could either love or hate the theme music!
LikeLike
When I was born TV was just starting to get broadcast in New Zealand, and there wasn’t even a test card. Oops, does that give my age away. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. Was it steam driven too? Lol
LikeLike
As I was born just after midnight, I was a test card baby for sure! The first thing on BBC 1 that day however, was rather appropriate: For Schools and Colleges – Discovering Science: Air and Breathing, Introduced by MICHAEL UNDERWOOD
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to be able to know how to breathe lol
LikeLike
Had a head start, all thanks to the BBC, clearly…
LikeLiked by 1 person