60. Challenge Anneka (1989-1995) This entertainment program was devised specifically as a vehicle for Anneka Rice, who had become very popular in the UK off the back of the Channel 4 game show Treasure Hunt. The concept was trialled in 1987 as … Continue reading 100 Years of the BBC: #60-51

70. Cracked Actor (1975) Tasked with covering David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs tour, director Alan Yentob (later controller of BBC1 and ultimately creative director of the whole BBC) was granted full backstage access. Combining behind the scenes observations, sit-down interviews, and excerpts from … Continue reading 100 Years of the BBC: #70-61

80. Star Cops (1987) In 1987 writer Chris Boucher – who had created Leela for Doctor Who and script-edited all four seasons of popular classic Blake’s 7 – created his own science fiction series Star Cops. It had a terrible title, and it wasn’t helped … Continue reading 100 Years of the BBC: #80-71

90. Extras (2005-2007) It’s not Ricky Gervais who made Extras sing, it is the mind-boggling array of famous and respectable actors and singers willing to ridicule themselves in name of comedy. Whether it was Patrick Stewart pitching a movie where everybody’s … Continue reading 100 Years of the BBC: #90-81

The BBC was founded on 18 October 1922, originally as a radio broadcaster and – from 1929 – as a television service as well. I grew up in regional Australia, which meant all I got to see as a child … Continue reading 100 Years of the BBC: #100-91