Virtual Murder: A Dream Of Dracula

They say bad things come in threes, and that's certainly true as Doctor Velvet and Blackout chalk the final circle to complete this year's trilogy of terror on the eve of Samhain.

Because it's not really Hallow'een without some Draculas, and it's not really The Peggy Mount Calamity Hour without Peggy Mount, dark gods conspired (in 1992) to combine the two in Virtual Murder: A Dream of Dracula, and it certainly takes potions of hitherto unparalleled strength to sit through this hour of supernatural mayhem...

How do a pair of (admittedly amateur) horror-obsessed cultural historians manage to completely miss the definitive televisual translation of one of cinematic and literary-culture's most enduring villainous touchstones? How does Mount always manage to get hallucinogenic head-decoration into her contract? And how does something this colon-clenchingly cheap get on the actual BBC telly when people will be watching, though?

Load up on the garlic, candlesticks and holy water bottles filled with port, then press Play to find out...

WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING:

Programme: Virtual Murder: A Dream of Dracula
Broadcast: Friday 21 August 1992, 21:30
Production/Channel: Pebble Mill Studios / BBC One
Writer: Bennett Sims
Music: Harry Robertson
Producer/Director: Brian Degas, Harry Robertson / Phillip Draycott
Starring: Kim Thomson, Nicholas Clay, Peggy Mount, Jill Gascoine, Tessa Wyatt, Alfred Marks, Hugh Quarshie, Sam Kelly, Phillip Whitchurch, Ronald Fraser, Julian Clary, Stephen Yardley, Alan David

And herein be the terror...

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The Peggy Mount Calamity Hour is a free podcast from iPorle Media, which holds production copyright. Opinions and recollections expressed are not to be taken as fact. The title and credit music is by Doctor Velvet, with additional live accompaniments by Ozzy Bognops. Audio segments from television programmes are presented for review and informational purposes only under fair use, and no ownership of these is claimed or implied by this show. Email enquiries to PeggyMountPod@gmail.com

Mister T / Robin's Nest

In the spirit of camaraderie, co-operation and consideration, those kind gentlemen at Mountpeg Towers have lent their facilities to an up-and-coming rival podcast (albeit on strictly limited Soundcloud-only terms). And in the spirit of agile, responsive and seat-of-their-slacks media production, The Margaret Rutherford Misadventure Marathon chose the subject-matter of their copycat drunken analysis on the results of a Twitter-poll. Democracy continues to have much to answer for...

There are, as is traditional, two televisual treats under the microscope, the first of which could not be covered on PeggyMountPod for predictably practical reasons. Yes, Mister T finally makes a full animated appearance as 'The Cap Cod Caper' (or 'Mystery', if you prefer) is chosen for dissection. It's certainly a way to work up an appetite of course, and how better to sate this craving than dropping into Robin's Nest for a bite to eat and some light farce?

How bored and easily distracted are the New England staff-reporters at a gymnastics convention? How much comedy-milage can two sitcom writers be expected to wring out of a Chinese restaurant? And will Proctor Helmet and Cackout be allowed back in Pod Producer Ken's studio after the way they went on?

Press Play and see what you think...

The Peggy Mount Calamity Hour · Mister T / Robin's Nest

WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING:

Programme: Mister T
Broadcast: 1983 (US), 1984 (UK)
Production/Channel: Ruby Spears, ITV
Writer: Janis Diamond
Music: Rudy Larriva
Director: Rudy Larriva
Starring: Mister T, Alan Young, Phil LaMarr

Programme: Robin's Nest
Broadcast: Tuesday 11 January 1977, 20:30
Production/Channel: Thames Television, ITV
Writer: Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke
Music: Richard O'Sullivan / Brian Bennett
Producer/Director: Peter Frazer-Jones
Starring: Richard O'Sullivan, Tessa Wyatt, Tony Britton, John Barrett, Hilda Braid

You can Subscribe, Like, Follow, Rate and Review on:



The Margaret Rutherford Misadventure Hour is a subsidiary of The Peggy Mount Calamity Hour is a free podcast from iPorle Media, which holds production copyright. Opinions and recollections expressed are not to be taken as fact. Audio segments from television programmes and associated title music are presented for review and informational purposes only under fair use, and no ownership of these is claimed or implied by this show. Email enquiries to PeggyMountPod@gmail.com