Thames Television programmes
Thames TV was the powerhouse of the Independent Television network from August 1968 until its franchise ended on 31 December 1992.
The ITV London Weekday television franchise was the wealthiest and most important in the UK and it was therefore Thames TV's job to provide a significant proportion of networked programming (along with Granada TV, Yorkshire TV, ATV and then Central, and London Weekend Television).
Thames produced an impressive range of programmes, from serious documentaries and award-winning current affairs, to children's shows, situation comedies, drama, chat shows, magazine programmes, music and light entertainment spectaculars.
Children's
Chorlton and the Wheelies
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| Made for Thames Television by animators Cosgrove Hall Productions, this children's series ran from 1976 until 1979. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
Jamie and the Magic Torch
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| Another popular children's cartoon, made for Thames Television by animators Cosgrove Hall Productions, from 1976 until 1979. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
Magpie
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| Thames Television's long-running and highly popular children's magazine series, Magpie, ran between 1968 and 1980. Presenters included Tony Bastable, Susan Stranks, Jenny Hanley, Mick Robertson and Tommy Boyd. The show rivalled the BBC's Blue Peter but was less 'middle class' in content. Magpie was replaced by CBTV Channel 14.(Click on the image for a video clip). |
Rainbow
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| Titles from the first episode of Rainbow, screened in 1972. The much-loved programme ran until the end of 1992, ending when Thames lost its franchise. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
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| More familiar opening titles for Rainbow, used through most of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, fondly remembered by several generations of children. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
Comedy
The Benny Hill Show
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| Slapstick comedy, gentle satire, and 'end of the pier' smut, The Benny Hill Show was produced by Thames Television from 1969 until 1989, when it fell out of favour for being politically incorrect. The Show was phenomenally successful and was sold to 140 countries. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
Morecambe and Wise
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| Thames Television controversially poached comic legends Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise from their long run on the BBC. The two starred for Thames in the early 1980s, and here is one of their Christmas specials. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
Man About The House
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| Highly popular comedy series that ran for six years from 1973, starring Richard O' Sullivan, Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett. It generated two spin-offs - George and Mildred, and Robin's Nest. Re-made in the US as Three's Company. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
George and Mildred
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| George and Mildred, starring Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy, was the spin-off from Man About The House. Re-made in the United States as 'The Ropers'.(Click on the image for a video clip). |
Documentary
The World at War
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| The World at War was first aired in 1973/1974, taking four years to make after it was commissioned. One of the most acclaimed documentary series of all time, The World at War was produced by Jeremy Isaacs and narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
Drama
Minder
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| Opening and closing titles for Minder, the comedy-drama series set in the London underworld, which ran from 1979 until 1994. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
The Sweeney
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| First version titles (from 1976) of the gritty police action series which ran on the ITV network originally between 1975 and 1978. The show is often repeated, currently on ITV4 at different time slots. (Click on the image for a video clip). |
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| Second version titles (from 1978) from The Sweeney. |
Local
Thames News
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Thames News opening titles from 1982. Visit our section on Thames News. |
