TSW - The Opening Show01.01.1982 While most of the ITV Network offered big name entertainment on New Year's Day, TSW viewers suffered this self-indulgent "meet the team" affair. Even TSW's MD, Harry Turner, mocked the show. And who better to present it than someone with no connections to the region - Lennie Bennett!
Gardens For All1982
This is the one. TSW's immensely popular gardening show ran throughout its ten years and made a star of bearded Morris dancer Terry Underhill. The music, "Country Air" by Ed Welch, was infectious too. After TSW Terry went into oblivion, but for a time was the gardening correspondent for a now-defunct North Devon newspaper.
A Day In The Life Of...Beryl Cook1982 One of TSW's first award-winning documentaries, focusing on saucy Plymouth artist Beryl Cook. A Day In The Life Of...was an offshoot of TSW's documentary strand, Scene South West. The programme was repeated on TSW's last day.
Owzat!1982 Big names from the world of cricket including Ian Botham featured in this Sunday morning series.
Mr TSW1982 Highly popular in the 70s and 80s were the local Miss Westward/Miss TSW competitions, and their male equivalents. They were broadcast at prime time on Saturday evenings - an impossible feat these days - and appropriately, Judi Spiers was host of the men's competition. Our clip is from 40 Years of ITV, broadcast in 2001.
Scene South West: Lazy Daze1983 The award-winning Scene South West documentary focusing on the annual Elephant Fayre at St Germans, Cornwall. Hippies of the world unite!
Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdaysc. 1983 Gus Honeybun would never have made it to TSW if the company stuck to its original plans. TSW were determined to sever links with Westward but in the event, TSW had to run Westward during its last six months and soon realised they couldn't do without Mr Honeybun.
Gus's slots did change - but for the better, with more SFX to entertain viewers. Ian Stirling presides over this edition. Does anyone recognise the PIF featured at the start? Even better, do you have a full copy?
Miss TSW1984 Meanwhile, David Rodgers has the pleasure of introducing the hopefuls in the Miss TSW competition. Sadly there were only a few Mr and Miss TSWs before insane political correctness forced regional beauty pageants off the air in the late 1980s.
Judi1984 The South West's favourite funnygirl got her own late-night show in 1984, complete with infectious theme tune. Highlights included spaghetti-making and Judi's attempt at being a one-man band.
Holiday Happenings1984 Can't remember this myself but it appears to be a what's on guide for visitors to the region, with the emphasis on foreign tourists as Rene Wyndham demonstrates her multilingual talents.
What's Ahead1984 Not much you can say about this really - TSW's weekly what's on guide shown every Friday. Originally What's Ahead had its own titles but within a few years that was ditched in favour of footage connected with items featured in the programme.
The Sands Of Silence1984 Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the D-Day landings, David Rodgers narrates this documentary in which Devon pensioners recall the landings.
Judi Goes On Holiday1985 We just couldn't get enough of our Judi! The following year she was let out of the studio to visit the South West's top holiday attractions.
Scene South West: A Nip In The Air1985 Another light-hearted documentary, telling the story of a fly living on the River Stour in Blandford, Dorset. The insect, normally found in the Himalayas, attacks only the women folk of the town. Ouch!
Amoebas to Zebras1985 Nigel Rees presented this nature-based panel game which brought all sorts of creatures into our living rooms.
TSW Farming Weekc. 1985 Before he was famous...Ron Bendell, himself a farmer, presented TSW's weekly agricultural round-up. He remained there for years barely noticed until Westcountry made him a celebrity as their weatherman.
The Sheep Walk1985 A documentary recreating the famous cross-country sheep walk of the seventeenth century, and making imaginative use of the TSW logo!
TSW Sportsweek1986 A stunt plane heralds the start of the weekly sports roundup By 1990 the programme was dropped.
Freeze Frame1986 While the rest of the network had their own Saturday morning show TSW gave us Freeze Frame, a locally-produced magazine for youngsters. Originally called "The Saturday Show", it was renamed when Central launched a show with the same name (there was a slight overlap period, forcing the CITV presenter to warn South West viewers they'll get a different show to everyone else). Ian Calvert presented, with Joss Cook, Rachel Watkiss and later Carrie Gray (seen here).
Treasures of the Mindlord1986 TSW was not known for its contributions to Children's ITV. But in 1986 it produced a groundbreaking adventure game, Treasures of the Mindlord, setting the precedent for shows such as Knightmare. Yes, this really was hi-tech stuff for its time, even the BBC Model B micros. Jeremy Curry, TSW relief announcer and voiceover man, played some of the characters.
That's My Dog1986 One of TSW's few exports to the network, this embarrassing quiz was hosted by Derek Hobson. Families would try and get their pooch to win cash prizes. The series ran from 1984 to 1988.
The Gus Honeybun Song1987 After surviving the axe in 1982 Gus Honeybun remained as popular as ever, and in 1987 Ed Welch wrote "The Gus Honeybun Song" to introduce the rabbit's tea-time slots. This catchy little number was also released as a single and even got its own pop video, which can be seen here in its entirety. Well most of it anyway - sorry for the truncated start. Sing along with Gus and his announcer friends as they take a whistle-stop tour of Plymouth.
Bats In The Belfry1987 A forerunner to the popular "Cobblestones, Cottages & Castles" in which David Young looked at obscure and strange buildings in the South West. This edition focuses on strange burial plots!
Interpub '871987 Good clean fun down at the local as teams compete against each other in rounds of arm-wrestling, general knowledge and skittles. Pete Barraclough presents, assisted by Ron Bendell and Ruth Langsford.
The Gus Honeybun Christmas Song1987 Actually, the same song as before but with a more festive video. Gus helps local postmen get the Christmas deliveries out on time!
Gus's Magic Birthdays01.01.1988 Happy New Year from Gus and Ruth Langsford, as we join them in Gus's Christmas wonderland.
Postscript1988 One of the highlights of TSW's late nights was Postscript, the daily religious comment which began with picturesque slides and a nice selection of library music. Sadly even this could not escape modernisation, and in 1988 Postscript got its own title sequence.
That's My Dog1988
We're back in the doghouse, two years later. In 1991 an Oracle viewer said TSW's franchise loss was "a fate they well deserved just for making That's My Dog"! Ending our look at the proverbial dog's dinner is probably the show's only saving grace - the credits - both clips are from the same episode.
Friday People1988 It's the end of the week, so Kenneth MacLeod brings us this variety magazine featuring a host of local entertainers and characters.
Tube Mice1988
A rare network offering and the first of several collaborations with local animators Honeycomb Animation. Tube Mice, shown on CITV, was the tale of two streetwise mice, Vernon and Toaster, who lived in the London Underground tunnels. George Cole and Dennis Waterman provided the voices.
Gus's Magic Birthdays1989 Jennifer Clulow was a TSW favourite before moving to TVS in 1982, and nationally she was better known as the Cointreau lady. Occasionally she was still seen on TSW, here she is reunited with Gus.
Cobblestone, Cottages and Castles1990
David Young's highly popular series in which he explored the architectural beauty of the South West. Tim Freke provided the memorable theme tune; this was the only TSW programme which survived the transition to Westcountry. We present both the titles and closing credits; featuring David and Oliver walking off into the sunset.
TSW Community Action1992 TSW's weekly ten-minute slot was presented by Rene Wyndham, and looked at various social action and community issues.
TSW Nightcall1992 With TSW forced by the IBA to introduce round the clock broadcasting (TSW was opposed to such a move and was one of the last regions to go 24 hours), the future of Postscript, TSW's nightly religious sign-off, hung in the balance. However, TSW still wanted the slot to exist so they changed the name to "Nightcall", which would continue to be broadcast late at night or after News At Ten. And there Nightcall stayed until the end of 1992. These are the second set of titles.
TSW Crimestoppers1992 Many ITV regions were adopting Crimestoppers and, as always, TSW added its own touch to the idea. TSW Crimestoppers used locally-produced titles and the inserts were presented by WPC Sharon Newman.