The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show (1978)

In a return to the traditional enactment of yesteryear-viewing endemic to pre-1990, Velvet and Blackout play host to a Christmas guest who accompanies their scrutiny of an abundance of archetypes courtesy of Michael Yarwood and his Christmas Show of 1978. Not a politician nay a celebrity of the day is safe from the posturing, posing and parodying of the mimicking Mike and his arguably fundamental partnership with Janet Brown. Did said entertainment make an impression, or did it hang limply from a top lip like a Basil Fawlty prop that’s well passed its prime?

Just how much residual static lurks in that dinner suit? When and where did Anni-Frid Lyngstad meet Mark (Bez) Berry, and is their encounter documented in Tatler? Can we buy a jumper from Tom O’Connor? ‘Haway the lads’ and listen in…

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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. 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

A Ghost Story For Christmas: A Warning To The Curious (1972)

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a ghost story, some say, and oft finding an appetite for the seasonally supernatural our heroes Velvet and Blackout set off to Norfolk to excavate the crowning glory of Christmas Eve, 1972 on the BBC. Yes, the televised adaptation of M.R. James’ A Warning To The Curious lures us into a malevolent and malignant mood, courtesy of an avaricious ex-convict and the whipping-boy of an over-zealous social-climber.

Is there an unequivocal connection between the beaches of the United Kingdom, waterproof outer-garments and demoniacal sociopaths? Does the clock shop also sell boxes of fudge with Grouty’s face on the lid? Does anyone still own a pair of plus-fours? The answers to these and less, are inside…

To note:



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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. 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

Kenny Everett's Christmas Carol (1985)

It is said that Christmas is a time for tradition, and there’s no better setting for Velvet and Blackout, than Dickensian London, as they visit Auntie Beeb’s seasonal offering from 1985 in the form of Kenny Everett’s Christmas Carol. With such a fine supporting cast (God bless them, every one), and two highly-revered script writers behind him, Cuddly Ken can’t possibly fail to guarantee giggles aplenty in this Yuletide televisual feast, right? Right?!?

Have you ever seen B.A. Robertson and Rob Brydon in the same room? Was Cleo Rocos in that very room? Does that same room contain cassettes with pre-recorded sessions of convincing audience laughter? Listen on…

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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. 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

Max Headroom's Giant Christmas Turkey (1986)

Substituting the traditional motifs of moss green and Santa-red for garish neon and pastels, Velvet and Blackout alight from a horse and carriage ride with a ‘ho ho ho’ as they experience the ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Come-To-Our-Screens in the form of 1980s avant-garde and adroit avatar Max Headroom, in his Giant Christmas Turkey from 1986. Are the limiting physical parameters of a television screen a metaphor for actual events that present themselves to the audience, or can the eclecticism of the guest-list save the day?

Just how prophetic can forty minutes of rushed-television really be? If this was a peep into a video conference-led future, are the script writers due some renumeration? Just how much of a good time is T. Turner actually having? None of these answers and more, are here…

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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. 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

Russ Abbot's Christmas Madhouse (1984)

It’s Day Five of the constant Christmas content from Velvet and Blackout and the atmosphere is that of an all-night holiday once they step inside Russ Abbott’s Christmas Madhouse courtesy of London Weekend Television in 1984. The titular star is joined by an Avengers assemblage of contemporary vaudevillians to assist in the delivery of quick-fire, slapstick hilarity but is this enough to keep you ‘living it up’, or will it have you reaching for the Basildon Bond to complain?

Can the pre-Mavis Riley, comedy impersonation days be looked-upon as golden and precious yet long since forgotten? Does neon and pastel really pass as period set-dressing? Should we forgive all of the above on account of the wearing of silver slacks? Listen on, and decide for yourself…

To note:

Just don't hurt the dog...


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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. 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