In this opinion piece, broadcaster podcaster and writer Jamie Dyer discusses five underrated shows on Rewind TV
Since the launch of Rewind TV on Freeview late last week, a whole new audience has been exposed to this archive channel’s unique offerings, previously only available on Sky.
I am one of the many viewers who learned about the channel months ago but had no way to access it. I have been impressed by the selection from the beginning, with a nice balance of well-known and obscure titles.
In this list, I want to discuss the channel’s underrated offerings and how they fit into its schedule. Please note that this is all from my personal point of view.
That’s My Dog (1984-1988)
A notable aspect of Rewind TV scheduling is the frequent airing of shows sourced from the archives of TSW, an ITV regional company that operated in the southwest of the UK from 1982 to 1992. The programming often had a regional focus and made minimal contributions to the overall network. As a result, many of these shows have not been seen for quite some time.
One network contribution, which is getting an airing, is the 1980s daytime game show That’s My Dog. This is a program which has possibly never been repeated, probably because not all episodes exist and it’s a game show about dogs.
That’s My Dog first aired in 1984, running for 78 episodes over 8 series. This game show featured dogs and their owners competing in a variety of fun and often silly challenges, showcasing not only the dogs’ abilities but also the bond between pets and their humans. The show featured Derek Hobson as host, with Louise Burton as the hostess.
My family and I had heard negative things about this show, but we love it. Something of a guilty pleasure, we love watching as dogs tackle the maze and the agility course round, while the owners demonstrate their ability to look after their pooch. The presentation style perhaps hasn’t aged particularly well, but it’s a pretty solid show that features different breeds.
The celebrity round also offers intrigue, as we find out that Liz Fraser owned a basset hound, while Ernie Wise owned a poodle with “short fat hairy legs”. Overall it’s probably worth it just for this. That’s My Dog is broadcast weekdays on Rewind TV at 10am and 5pm.
Watching (1987-1993)
This underrated sitcom has been available on ITV X for some time but is usually only confined to the first two series.
This may not be the best sitcom on Rewind TV, but it does sit nicely alongside the other selected titles. I’ve had wonderfully nostalgic and humorous mornings with The Cuckoo Waltz, Watching and Surgical Spirit. They all fit together nicely, the mark of excellence gets scheduling. The same could be said for the evening, when classic sitcoms such as A Fine Romance, Time After Time and Trouble in Mind are on offer.
Watching first aired in 1987, running for 56 episodes over 7 series. It was produced by Granada Television. The sitcom followed the lives of Brenda Wilson and Malcolm Stoneway, an odd couple from Liverpool and the West Midlands, respectively. Their contrasting personalities and awkward relationship were the focal point, providing humour and heart. The show featured Emma Wray, Paul Bown, Patsy Byrne, and Liza Tarbuck.
This is one of those sitcoms which probably works better when watched once a day. The show mostly follows a will-they-won’t-they narrative, which is executed in a very engaging manner. What might grate is the characteristics of Brenda, whose fantastical conversations can become tiresome, and everso slightly annoying.
That being said, the show holds up remarkably well with its intriguing story and likeable characters. Be sure to look out for a pre-EastEnders Perrie Fenwick, who plays a work colleague of Malcolm.
The Zoo Gang (1974)
The schedule of Rewind TV contains a lot of programming which originated from ITC Entertainment. Viewers can watch titles such as The Prisoner, Department S and Return of The Saint. The mainly cult selection of titles gives the schedule an air of mystery, not least because of one rarely-seen series.
The Zoo Gang first aired in 1974, running for 6 episodes over 1 series. This adventure drama centred on four former members of the French Resistance who reunite to battle crime and right wrongs, using their wartime code names based on animals. The show featured John Mills, Brian Keith, Lilli Palmer, and Barry Morse.
The cast of this short-lived series is enough to tempt any viewer. The calibre of this show is incredibly high, meaning it’s not all about the faces.
Dick Turpin (1979)
The promise of a channel like this is the broadcast of big-name shows that haven’t seen the light of day for a while. Dick Turpin is one such production which slips under the carpet when discussing old TV drama. It is one which I have been intrigued about, not least because of the appearance of Richard O’Sullivan.
Dick Turpin first aired in 1979, running for 31 episodes over 4 series. It was produced by London Weekend Television. This historical drama followed the exploits of the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin, as he roamed 18th-century England evading capture while righting wrongs in a Robin Hood-esque manner. The show featured Richard O’Sullivan, Michael Deeks, Christopher Benjamin, Richard Carpenter and Alfie Bass.
After watching the first episode of this show, I can highly recommend it. Being scheduled in the daytime, there is a chance this show will slip under the radar. Do not make that mistake!
It has a surprising amount of depth to it, helped by storytelling and acting from the stellar cast. It may appear quaint by modern standards, but was darker than expected. O’Sullivan is perfect in this role, playing a good-looking and intelligent hero with tiny flashes of humour.
Documentaries
This is a bit of a cheat entry, but it seemed unfair to single out just one. Following the trend of other archive channels, Rewind has made an effort to feature vintage documentaries, both one-offs and series.
Some of these derive from the aforementioned Westward and TSW archives, while others come from the heart of ITV and others. The two series currently showing, which fit into this genre are Wicker’s World and Arthur C Clarke’s World of Strange Powers.
These two series offer a glimpse into the past, much of it unseen for many years. I have found myself tuning in randomly to Alan Wicker’s program, usually finding an intriguing peace of social history. While this kind of content won’t be on everyone’s list, I have to upload rewind for attempting to offer variety.
Rewind TV is available to watch on Freeview channel 95 and Sky channel 190