Distinct Nostalgia

It's Episode 4 of Series 6 of the Distinct Nostalgia Mind of the Month Quiz and our fourth  contestant is Caroline Heywood. Caroline has picked Dinner Ladies as her specialist subject but will she be a match for Kurt who was tested on Father Ted, Andrew who remembered Frasier or Mark who was tested on Only Fools and Horses (all still available to hear on Distinct Nostalgia, just scroll down the fee).  Caroline also faces 10 ge...

We're broadcasting a special interview never heard before with the creator of Crossroads, the pioneering female TV executive Hazel Adair. Ashley Byrne conducted Hazel's very last interview and met her son Charles Marriot back in 2015. Hazel's memory wasn't what it had been but she did remember plenty of key points from her long career in radio, tv and film. There's a few surprises along the way as Hazel tal...

As the TV drama Nolly goes live on ITVX find out the real story behind Crossroads and Noele Gordon here as we re-release our special interview with Nolly's friend Tony Adams who played Adam Chance in the hit ATV drama serial which began in 1964 and ran for 24 years the first time round.

In a candid and often very funny look back, Tony talks to Ashley Byrne about joining the soap in 1978 and recalls some of the great a...

It's Episode 3 of Series 6 of the Distinct Nostalgia Mind of the Month Quiz and our third contestant is Mark Burrows. Mark has picked Only Fools and Horses as his specialist subject but will he be a match for Kurt who was tested on Father Ted or Andrew who remembered Frasier in Episodes 1 and 2 (still available to hear).  Mark faces 10 general knowledge entertainment related questions plus a grilling from a celebrity - this ti...

The Distinct Nostalgia Mind of the Month Quiz hosted by Andy Hoyle returns for Series 6. In Episode 2 contestant Andrew is put through his paces on his knowledge of his special subject, the sitcom Frasier, before answering questions about entertainment - tv, film, radio - more generally.  See how you do compared to Andrew.

Future series will include the chance to win a Distinct Nostalgia mug and T Shirt.  Enter your intere...

We're re-releasing our interview with Early Doors star John Henshaw to coincide with the show's full two series repeat on BBC 4 on Saturday nights.

John played landlord Ken in the brilliant sitcom - a gem of a comedy penned by Craig Cash and Phil Mealey.  John recalls how it all started and how he got the part as well as what he thinks was the secret behind its success. Only running for 2 series, did Early Doors...

Back to the Crown Court is a special documentary remembering one of the iconic TV shows of the 70s and 80s. People across the generations loved this ground breaking and unique show which was broadcast thrice weekly on the ITV Network. Using a real jury, the drama was played out in real time with a plethora of big name actors together with many cutting their teeth in telly for the first time. One of the first daytime TV shows, it wa...

Wrong Side Out
NEW COMEDY/DRAMA
by Janice Fryett

Betty lives in genteel Yorkshire (suburbia!) She might be an Octogenarian but she still uses her good looks to get out of tricky situations. If only her daughter, Julie, wouldn't keep trying to shove her into a care home. Betty's younger daughter, Lin, understands she is an independent woman who can cope on her own. But who is right? A tale of an evo...

The Distinct Nostalgia Mind of the Month Quiz hosted by Andy Hoyle returns for Series 6. In Episode 1 contestant Kurt is put through his paces on his knowledge of his special subject, the sitcom Father Ted, before answering questions about entertainment - tv, film, radio - more generally.  See how you do compared to Kurt.

Future series will include the chance to win a Distinct Nostalgia mug and T Shirt.  Enter your interes...

In a Christmas week special, Ashley digs through the Distinct Nostalgia archives for an interview that was never broadcast with Ruth Madoc. She remembers her time on Hi De Hi and how she got the part of Gladys in the first place. Ruth sadly died earlier this month at the age of 79 after a fall. We're all going to miss her. Keep listening at the end of the interview to find out what else is in store from Distinct Nostalgia over...

For Christmas, we're broadcasting a special interview never heard before with the creator of Crossroads Hazel Adair. Ashley conducted Hazel's very last interview and met her son Charles Marriot back in 2015. Hazel's memory wasn't what it had been but she did remember plenty of key points from her long career in radio, tv and film. There's a few surprises along the way. Enjoy!


Distinct Nostalgi...

Channel 4 turns 40 . The first programme was Countdown with Richard Whiteley, Brookside launched that night, Channel 4 News and the careers of several well known comedy actors in The Comic Strip Presents.... Ch4 also launched an independent tv production sector and a new British film industry. Here Ashley reminisces with the first voice on Ch 4, announcer Paul Coia. Enjoy!

Distinct Nostalgia is an MIM Production. 

t began as Emmerdale Farm in 1972 and soon became a staple of the ITV schedules. Produced by Yorkshire Television and created by Kevin Laffan it had strong characters from the very start. And Distinct Nostalgia is celebrating those early years when the farm and farming was the main focus with a series of interviews and reunions. Here we deliver a near two hour treat for Emmerdale Farm fans as we bring you a reunion of the iconic Ma...

It began as Emmerdale Farm in 1972 and soon became a staple of the ITV schedules. Produced by Yorkshire Television and created by Kevin Laffan it had strong characters from the very start. And Distinct Nostalgia is celebrating those early years when the farm and farming was the main focus with a series of interviews and reunions. Second up, it's Jane Hutcheson who played Sandie Merrick who is reunited here with her screen brot...

It began as Emmerdale Farm in 1972 and soon became a staple of the ITV schedules. Produced by Yorkshire Television and created by Kevin Laffan it had strong characters from the very start. And Distinct Nostalgia is celebrating those early years when the farm and farming was the main focus with a series of interviews and reunions. First up Diana Davies who played Mrs Bates (brought in to tame NYEstates boss and Emmerdale Farm nemesi...

He played one of the most popular sitcom characters of the 1980s in one of the biggest shows of the decade. Graham Bickley landed a role in Bread and the rest is history. Here he talks to Ashley about what it was like to take over playing a huge character from someone else. And he tells us about Carla Lane's general premise and hopes and wishes for the show which was set in her native Liverpool.
 
If you'd like t...

Another great sitcom interview from the Distinct Nostalgia team. This time with John Henshaw who played Ken in the brilliant Early Doors - a gem of a comedy penned by Craig Cash and Phil Mealey.  John recalls how it all started and how he got the part as well as what he thinks was the secret behind its success. Only running for 2 series, did Early Doors end too soon? And what of all those fabulous character creations. Lots of great...

In Part 2 of our interview, Mike Grady remembers the three legends of Last of the Summer Wine - Bill Owen, Peter Sallis and Brian Wilde as well as other iconic regulars like Kathy Staff who played Nora Batty and Jean Alexander who played Auntie Wainwright. He also talks about what it was like to play Barry for so many years.

Photo credit: Brandon Bishop

If you'd like to suggest an interview (or reunion) wit...