Explore TV Series

Go behind the curtains as Kermit the Frog and his muppet friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.

The New Avengers is a British secret agent fantasy adventure television series broadcast during 1976 and 1977. It is a sequel to the 1960s series The Avengers and was developed by Albert Fennell and Brian Clemens. A joint United Kingdom-France-Canada production, the show picks up the adventures of John Steed and his team of Avengers fighting evil plots and world domination. Whereas in the original series Steed had almost always been partnered with a woman, in the new series he had two partners: Mike Gambit, a top agent, crack marksman and trained martial artist, and Purdey, a former trainee with The Royal Ballet who was an amalgam of many of the best talents from Steed's previous female partners.

Acclaimed blackly comic historical drama series. Set amidst a web of power, corruption and lies, it chronicles the reigns of the Roman emperors - Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and finally Claudius.

In Victorian London, Louisa Leyton works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietress of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel in Duke Street, St James's.

Rentaghost was a British children's television comedy show, broadcast by the BBC between 6 January 1976 and 6 November 1984. The show's plot centred on the antics of a number of ghosts who worked for a firm called Rentaghost, which rented out the ghosts for various tasks.

An anthology series of six contemporary plays from writers at relatively early stages in their careers.

A series of benefit shows staged initially in the United Kingdom to raise funds for the human rights organisation Amnesty International. The shows started in 1976 featuring popular British comedians but later included leading musicians and actors. The Secret Policeman's Ball shows are credited by many prominent entertainers with having galvanised them to become involved with Amnesty and other social and political causes in succeeding years.

In this mini-series in six parts from 1976 the Indian actor Kabir Bedi plays the lead role. Carol Andre plays Lady Marianna Guillonk and as Sandokans best friend Yanez de Gomera we see Phillipe Leroy. The noble prince Sandokan is a fighter of the first rank who are cruel to their enemies, but always loyal to his friends.

Open All Hours is a British television sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke, starring Ronnie Barker as penny-pinching corner-shopkeeper Albert Arkwright, and David Jason as his nephew and assistant Granville. The programme originated as a 1973 episode of Barker’s comedy anthology Seven of One, and later ran for 26 episodes; the first series broadcast on BBC2, the remaining three series broadcast on BBC1.

Clayhanger is a British television drama based on Arnold Bennett's novel series of the same name, published between 1910 and 1918, dramatised by Douglas Livingstone for ITV. Produced by Associated Television, the 26-episode programme is a coming-of-age story set in 19th century England. Edwin Clayhanger aspires to be an architect but is expected to join his father's printing business. His personal growth, eventual acceptance of the family business, and his romantic entanglement with Hilda Lessways are explored. Clayhanger was ITV's longest-ever drama at the time. While some found the pacing slow, it was nonetheless praised for its faithful adaptation, excellent acting, and atmospheric sets.

A middle-aged housewife feels frustrated with her mean and miserable husband, the married couple adapting to life in an up-market housing estate.

When the Boat Comes In is a British television period drama produced by the BBC between 8 January 1976 and 21 April 1981. Taking place between 1919 to 1937, Jack Ford is a veteran of The Great War who returns to his poverty-stricken (fictional) town of Gallowshield in the North East of England. It dramatises the interwar political struggles of the 1920s and 1930s, and explores the impact of national and international politics upon Ford and those around him.

Laurence Olivier Presents is a British television series made by Granada Television which ran from 1976 to 1978. The plays, with the exception of Hindle Wakes, all starred Laurence Olivier. Some of the plays were based on productions staged at the National Theatre during the period when Olivier was Artistic Director. In addition to distinguished English actors, the casts assembled for these productions included several Hollywood stars, such as Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner, Joanne Woodward and Maureen Stapleton.

Following the death of the sitting Labour Party Member of Parliament, Bill Brand is selected as Labour candidate for a Lancashire textile constituency.

Disillusioned after a long career at Sunshine Desserts, Reginald Iolanthe Perrin endures a midlife crisis and fakes his own death. Returning in disguise after various attempts at finding a 'new life', Perrin gets his old job back and finds nothing has changed. He is eventually found out, and later finds success with a chain of junk shops. However, it becomes so successful that he feels he has created a monster and decides to destroy it.

The classic British children's animated television series based on the Paddington Bear stories written by Michael Bond. Broadcast from 1976 to 1980, the series was scripted by Bond himself, and produced by FilmFair. It was narrated by Michael Hordern, who also voiced all of the characters.

Beasts is a series of six television plays by Manx writer Nigel Kneale, unconnected but for a bestial horror theme, made by ATV for ITV in the United Kingdom and broadcast in 1976.

Star Maidens is a British-German science-fiction television series created and written by Eric Paice. Utilising a 'battle of the sexes' and role reversal scenario, the planet Medusa, home to a highly evolved and technologically advanced humanoid race, was already ruled by its women when a rogue comet (as seen in the opening credits) knocked it out of its orbit around Proxima Centauri. Drifting through space, the orphan planet's surface became uninhabitable, with the inhabitants surviving in huge underground cities. Jointly produced by Portman Productions, Scottish Television, and Werbung im Rundfunk for ITV, filming took place at Bray Studios and on location in Windsor and Bracknell, Berkshire, and Black Park, Buckinghamshire. The series ran for 13 episodes from 1 September to 1 December 1976.

Paddington Bear is a series of British animated shorts based on the Paddington Bear book series by Michael Bond produced by FilmFair. This was the first television series based on the popular children's book Paddington Bear. In the United States it was usually shown on pay television as filler in between programs. Its narrator was actor Michael Hordern. It was one of the few television programmes to combine a puppet show with cartoon - Paddington himself was a puppet, but other characters in the series were depicted as cartoon characters. The series has a very distinctive art style. Paddington himself is a stop-motion animated puppet who moves within a 3-dimensional space and interacts with 2-dimensional animated drawings of the human characters, buildings, etc. The series, along with all other FilmFair productions is currently owned by DHX Media of Canada.

The Cedar Tree was a television serial that ran from 1976-1979 on ITV in the United Kingdom. It involved the story of the Bourne family, hailing from an aristocratic background, before the turn of the Second World War. The Cedar Tree was an ATV Production and recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham. Two established cast members were the veteran actress Joyce Carey and Susan Skipper, who played one of the Bourne family's daughters. In February 2013 it was announced the first 1976 series was to be released on DVD.

Journey back more than 400 years to 16th century Sicily, where the small Italian islands have fallen victim to corruption, intimidation, extortion, and brutality.

Featuring dramatised versions of true stories that shocked mainstream Victorian society.

The Ghosts of Motley Hall is a British children's television series written by Richard Carpenter and produced and directed by Quentin Lawrence for Granada Television, and broadcast between 1976 and 1978 on ITV. Five ghosts occupy the titular Motley Hall. Each hails from a different era and all—with the exception of newly deceased Matt—are unable to leave the confines of the building.

Ivor the Engine is a British children's animation by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin's Smallfilms company. It is a children's television series relating the adventures of a small green locomotive who lived in the "top left-hand corner of Wales" and worked for The Merioneth and Llantisilly Railway Traction Company Limited. His friends included Jones the Steam, Evans the Song and Dai Station, among many other characters.

A British television comedy series, written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. Following an initial pilot episode in January 1976, it ran for two subsequent series of five and three episodes in October 1977 and October 1979 respectively. Each episode had a different setting and characters, looking at a different aspect of British culture and parodying pre-World War II literature aimed at schoolboys.

A 13-episode miniseries from Yorkshire Television, about Charles Dickens, by now an internationally renowned novelist, during an 1869 tour of America, looking back over his life.

The Fosters is a British sitcom created and written by Jon Watkins and Eric Monte. It showcases the early work of Lenny Henry as the budding artist son of easygoing family man Samuel Foster (Norman Beaton). The series follows the day-to-day trials of Samuel, his lively wife Pearl (both immigrants from Guyana) and their three children on a South London housing estate.

After his father's will stipulates he must marry Bella Wilfer to inherit his fortune, John Harmon fakes his death to avoid the marriage and the threats on his life. He returns as John Rokesmith and becomes the secretary for the Boffins, who inherit Harmon's estate following his alleged death.

One Man and His Dog is a television series in the United Kingdom featuring sheepdog trials, originally presented by Phil Drabble, with commentary by Eric Halsall and, later, by Ray Ollerenshaw. In 1994, Robin Page replaced Drabble as the main presenter. Gus Dermody took over as commentator. At its peak, in the early 1980s, it attracted audiences in excess of eight million. The last regular series aired in 1999; however, the same year also saw the first of a series of Christmas specials, which continued annually until 2011, which have been contested by teams of shepherds from the four nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, in the three categories of Singles, Brace and Young Handlers. Dermody has remained as a commentator ever since. The main hosts have been Clarissa Dickson Wright, followed by Ben Fogle with co-host Shauna Lowry, and Kate Humble. Matt Baker joined the programme as a co-commentator in 2006, and additionally became the main host in 2011. In 2012, the show was broadcast in two parts in September, and Baker was joined as a main presenter by Michaela Strachan. In July 2013, it was announced that One Man and His Dog is to have a new home on BBC One, as part of rural affairs show Countryfile.

Personal anecdotes as told to Dick Hills.

Second Verdict is a six-part 1976 BBC television series, a dramatised documentaries of classic criminal cases and unsolved crimes from history re-appraised by fictional police officers. Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor reprised for a final time their double-act as Detective Chief Superintendents Barlow and Watt, hugely popular with TV audiences from the long-running series Z-Cars; Softly, Softly; and Barlow at Large.

A pioneering show starring Maurice Colbourne as Birmingham gangster John Kline. The show was noted for its gritty true-life quality, and often graphic violence.

Yanks Go Home is a British sitcom about U.S. Army Air Forcemen stationed in Lancashire, England in the Second World War. It was produced and directed by Eric Prytherch for Granada Television and broadcast on ITV between 1976 and 1977. The series ran for 2 series and 13 episodes in total before its cancellation.

Popular and ratings-winning BBC sketch and impressions series with Mike Yarwood.

Rock Follies, and its sequel, Rock Follies of '77, was a musical drama shown on British television in the 1970s. The storyline, over 12 episodes and two series, followed the ups and downs of a fictional female rock band called the "Little Ladies" as they struggled for recognition and success. The series starred Rula Lenska, Charlotte Cornwell and Julie Covington as the Little Ladies, with support from Emlyn Price, Beth Porter, Sue Jones-Davies, Stephen Moore and Little Nell among others. The series was made with a very low budget for Thames Television, with a style inspired by fringe theatre. The series was a success, winning three BAFTA Awards and the soundtrack album reaching No.1 in the UK Charts.

The XYY Man is a 1976–77 British crime thriller television series created by Kenneth Royce, based on his novel series about reformed cat burglar William 'Spider' Scott, recruited by British intelligence for secret missions due to his unique genetic makeup (an extra Y chromosome), which supposedly predisposes him to crime. The plot follows his reluctant work for the secret service and his constant pursuit by the dogged Detective Sergeant George Bulman, leading to spin-offs like Strangers and Bulman.

Two children travel back in time and attempt to help a Black slave boy who possesses strange powers.

Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk is a children's cartoon series produced by Bob Godfrey's Movie Emporium.

The Crezz is a British television drama produced by Thames Television and shown on the ITV network in 1976. Created by Clive Exton, The Crezz was set in a fictitious West London crescent, Carlisle Crescent. The series was 12 one-hour programmes each focused on a different household.The series was broadcast on ITV at 9pm to start with but midway through it was put back to 10.35pm because the series didn't quite get the viewing figures that were hoped for.

3 Part Mini-series based on novels by John Moore on life in a Gloucestershire town.

Animated cartoon series for children based on the canine character from the long-running comic strip in the UK's Daily Mail and several overseas publications. Twenty five-minute episodes were produced.

Family life is turned upside down when it's revealed that the daughter's pregnant by her teacher.

Series of reconstructions of real murder trials, based on official transcripts.

The Phoenix and the Carpet is an eight-part British miniseries based on E. Nesbit's 1904 fantasy novel of the same name. Produced by the BBC, it aired from 29 December 1976 to 16 February 1977. Four Edwardian children find a strange egg in their newly-arrived Persian carpet. It hatches into a Phoenix bird that grants wishes and also transforms the rug into a magic carpet, which takes them on a series of adventures all over the world and at home.

The Glittering Prizes is a six-part British television drama written by Frederic Raphael, broadcast on BBC Two in 1976. From the 1950s to 1970s, a group of Cambridge University students explore their changing lives and the 'glittering prizes' of success, academia and personal fulfillment in a shifting Britain.

A quintessentially British comedy-of-manners. Based at the fictional Yeovil College of Lifemanship, Richard Briers plays Stephen Potter and is joined by Peter Jones as the snooty Gatling-Fenn and Frederick Jaeger, complete with monocle, playing Cogg-Willoughby. "The world is divided into two types of people," Potter says, "winners and losers, the one-up and the one-down. He who is not one-up is surely one-down".

Adaptation of John Buchan's novel, set in the 1920s, about three members of the English establishment who seek excitement by poaching on the estates of Scottish landowners.

Long-running series for schools and colleges produced by Thames Television which comprised classic plays, contemporary dramas, poetry anthologies, documentaries and other material suitable for English language and literature syllabuses.

Wally and Lil Briggs have moved from the caravan site where they lived for many years and now live in a council house. Wally has even got a well-paid job on a building site and life is looking good for them. The arrival of Benny, Wally's younger brother, spoils their happiness as he sponges off Wally while looking for a permanent place to stay. Lil is all too aware of his tricks even if the gullible Wally is not ...

Nobody's House is a 1976 British children's fantasy-drama programme produced by Tyne Tees Television for ITV. The seven-episode series follows a mischievous ghost named Nobody, a teenage Victorian orphan who haunts a house, visible only to the two children of the newly arrived Sinclair family.

A gritty six-part mystery thriller serial from 1976, starring John Gregson as Bill Kirby. Bill is an insurance salesman travelling back to the UK from France. Accompanied by Laura Marshall (Prunella Ransome), he has to evade the two armed agents that are following him. A series of murders follow and Bill tries to unmask who's behind them.

The Feathered Serpent is a British children's television series. Set in Aztec Mexico and starring former Doctor Who Patrick Troughton as the scheming High Priest Nasca, two series were made for ITV by Thames Television and transmitted in 1976 and 1978.

Lucky Feller is a 1976 ITV sitcom written by Terence Frisby and produced by Humphrey Barclay. It featured David Jason and ran for just one series of 13 episodes. It is reported that London Weekend Television later tried to revive it in the 1990s but Jason did not agree to this as he felt at the time he was being over-exposed. About two brothers in South-East London, the basic set-up can be seen as a dry run for Only Fools and Horses, except with David Jason playing the nerdy "Rodders" part, Shorty Mepstead. The other brother, Randolph Mepstead, was played by Peter Armitage. In the sitcom, Jason was in love with a girl, who was sexually infatuated with - and indeed pregnant by - Randolph Mepstead. Despite her feelings for Randolph, she was engaged to Shorty and had to bed him before the end of the series to make sure that he would think he was the father. But despite her best attempts, and Jason's feelings for her, the consummation never quite happened. Guest stars included such names as Pat Heywood, Prunella Scales and Mike Grady as well as international stars such as Bert Kwouk and Saeed Jaffrey. The show was directed by both Gerry Mill and Mike Vardy and was mainly filmed in and around South London. The show was offered a second series, however writer Terence Frisby didn't feel he had enough ideas for the series to continue and therefore the show was axed after the final episode.

It happens in almost everyone's life. There is a special day - a day of unusual significance. A turning point in life, perhaps in career, romance or fortune; a day to remember. This anthology of plays, each as individual as the people and events portrayed, looks at seven such Red Letter Days.

Chorlton and the Wheelies is an animated children's television series that ran from September 1976 until June 1979 on British Television Channel. It followed the adventures of Chorlton, a fictional happiness dragon, in Wheelie World. Chorlton and the Wheelies was created by Cosgrove Hall for the ITV station Thames Television, and the eponymous lead character gets his name from the suburb of Manchester in which the Cosgrove Hall studio was based: the legend "Made in Chorlton-cum-Hardy" is found written on the inside of the egg from which he hatches in the very first episode of the series.

Jamie and the Magic Torch was a British children's drama animated television series, made by Cosgrove Hall for Thames Television and shown on the ITV network, running from 1976 to 1979. It was shown again in the 1980s to a new audience of children. It was written and narrated by Brian Trueman, who later wrote shows such as Dangermouse and Count Duckula. Kate Murray-Henderson supplied the voice of Jamie's Mother and the character Nutmeg.

Kizzy is a six-part 1976 BBC television miniseries based on Rumer Godden's novel The Diddakoi. It starred Vanessa Furst as orphan traveller (or Romani girl) called Kizzy, who faces persecution, grief and loss in a hostile, close-knit village community.

Laurence leaves Linda and moves in with his mistress Gemma. What ensues is a bitter divorce and fight over the custody of their five-year-old son Jason.