The first recording today is Space 1999 – The Full Circle. Another one that I’ve seen on a tape.
Media Centre Description: Sci-fi drama series featuring the intergalactic adventures of the Moonbase Alpha team. The Alphans travel through a time warp.
Recorded from ITV4 on Saturday 15th December 2007 15:13
After this, the recording stops during an episode of The Professionals.
The next recording starts with a trail for Ballet Shoes. And the BBC One ident is, I think, the first appearance of the Christmas idents.
Then, another episode of Robin Hood – Treasure of the Nation.
Robin and the gang intercept a large shipment of food. Enough for an army. As they’re putting it away some men attack them, but as they’re fighting their leader recognises Robin. Robin also recognises him as Legrand, a messenger from the king.
The message is rather cryptic – just a picture of the king with an eye above him. Legrand tells them it’s something to do with Thesaurus Patriae – latin for Treasure of the Nation.
There’s another part to the message, held by a man called Paxton. It’s just as cryptic.
Robin smells something on the message and holds it up to heat. Some markings appear. “It’s a star map, I’m telling you. Look, Djaq. That’s the moon, this is the night sky and those are the stars.” “Mmm… No, Much, they don’t work that way. Wrong shape. That’s not a moon, anyway. It’s the sun, if anything.” This is like me trying to work out a cryptic crossword clue.
But putting them both together gives more of a clue.
Marian tells Robin about Locksley village. Gisborne has thrown all the villagers out and made it a garrison. Also, Allan tipped him off where they’d stored the food supplies they stole, so that’s all gone. Robin tells her he can’t help with Locksley because he’s got his treasure hunt to do. “And Marian…promise me you won’t do anything in Locksley alone. Marian?” “I promise. I promise I won’t do anything. But… the Nightwatchman might.”
When Robin gets back to the gang, they’ve set up something that matches the markings in the message. Robin spots it immediately. “The Standing Stones at Hathersage Heath.” John tells Legrand “I told you he’d get it!”
Paxton, the man with the second part of the clue, tells Robin he as to leave. “I need to leave you now. But I will prepare a ship to leave tomorrow night from Hull with the treasure.” “Thank you, the King is in your debt.” “I am proud to have been of service.” But he’s looking so shifty he’s definitely a traitor.
They visit the standing stones. Robin notices notches in some of the stones and shoots an arrow through the hole they make when they line up.
The arrow hits a tree in the forest, and nearby they find an underground chamber. Legrand tries to get a door open, but even with the help of his two men it won’t open. Robin asks Little John to help, who’s been having a bit of ‘big man’ envy since Legrand turned up, and he cracks his knuckles to help and accidentally triggers the door opening mechanism. Inside, they find another map. “It’s a cross, it’s at Kirklees. Sign of the cross at Kirklees. Kirklees Abbey.” But then the Sheriff looks in at them, having been brought by the unsurprisingly traitorous Paxton. They close the big stone door and leave them trapped as they head to the abbey.
Marian visits Locksley as the Nightwatchman, but Gisborne finds her so her cover’s blown.
All looks bleak for the gang trapped in the chamber. Legrand tries with the door. “And this rock won’t move for anyone.” John snorts and looks at Robin. Robin says “Go on, John.” So John puts his back into it, pulls up the stone door and wedges himself under it so the rest of them can escape. But he can’t get out. “If he does he’ll be crushed.” Legrand asks him “A hand?” John nods and the two of them are able to move the door enough for John to get out safely.
John and Legrand seem to have resolved their staff envy. (It’s all about the hugs.)
Robin has worked out that the church on the map isn’t the abbey, so they get to the actual church before the Sheriff, and there they find the actual Treasure of the Nation – it’s Eleanor of Aquitaine, played by Lynda Bellingham. She’s the Mother of King Richard and Prince John. “My son Prince John invited me to spend Christmas with him. Festive celebrations entailed locking me in the tower of Pontefract Castle.” “So, Prince John announces your allegiance to him and secures the army of Aquitaine to fight against King Richard.”
She takes quite a shine to Little John.
Marian tries to bargain for her life with Gisborne. “I stayed at your side when Prince John’s men were threatening Nottingham. I could easily have left you!” “You are nothing to me.” “So, you would rather I was put to death? Lose everything we’ve ever had or ever could have?”
Robin and the gang are ambushed in the forest by the Sheriff and his men. There’s a big fight, in which Legrand is mortally wounded. John says “A stronger man I never knew.” Gordon Kennedy is always good in this.
The Sheriff returns to the castle, keen to watch the Nightwatchman hang. He hasn’t been told it’s Marian, and she’s there waiting. But then the Nightwatchman appears on the battlements, having “escaped”.
Guards chase him but can’t find him. And when he takes his mask off, it’s Allan. Since Gisborne says nothing, it’s clear this was done with his agreement.
Queen Eleanor bids them goodbye. As she leaves she says to John “Remember your invitation, Big Bear.”
Marian gets to thank Allan and Gisborne. He says “Will you do something for me now?” “Name it.” “Stay…and make this place bearable.” “I will stay. Thank you.”
Media Centre Description: The King’s guard Legrand arrives with a vital mission for Robin. As Robin joins the quest to unravel the coded clues leading to the mysterious Thesaurus Patriae, Marian decides to act alone in helping Locksley villagers. The Sheriff is hunting the Thesaurus Patriae, too. Everyone’s in for a surprise when King Richard’s treasure turns out to be neither gold nor jewellery.
Recorded from BBC ONE on Saturday 15th December 2007 19:13
BBC Genome: BBC ONE Saturday 15th December 2007 19:15
After this, there’s a Strictly voting reminder and trails for Oliver Twist and Liverpool Nativity.
Then the recording stops with the start of National Lottery Who Dares Wins.
The next recording starts with a short behind the scenes featurette to promote Mad Men. I think it’s possible this was exactly the promo for Mad Men I saw which made me not want to watch it at all. For some reason it just came across as incredibly smug.
Then there’s a repeat of Lead Balloon – Sick from a couple of days ago.
Media Centre Description: Sitcom about ex-celebrity comedian Rick Spleen. The women in Rick’s house are sick, and he is forced to take over. Rick promises to field his partner Mel’s work calls, but does more harm than good. Magda makes matters worse by arriving with her home made soup. All these distractions are stopping Rick from working with Marty on the game show they want to pitch to a broadcaster: ‘Lying or Flying’.
Recorded from BBC FOUR on Saturday 15th December 2007 20:58
BBC Genome: BBC FOUR Saturday 15th December 2007 21:00
After this there’s a trail for the BBC Four Dance Season.
Then the recording stops with the start of Dawn French’s More Men Who Do Comedy featuring Ken Dodd.
Here’s the ad breaks from Space 1999.
Adverts:
- Homebase
- Irn Bru – The Snowman
- JML Disc Clinic
- iPhone
- Energizer Lithium
- Magners
- Currys
- trail: Blind Fury
- Stella Artois
- Olympus Tough
- Sony Bravia
- Currys
- JML Classic Pen Set
- National Lottery
- Morrisons
- Armani Code
- Homebase
- H. Samuel
- Post Office – Westlife
- Garmin
- iPhone
- HMV
- National Lottery Christmas Bonus
- Energizer Lithium
- trail: Jericho
- Homebase
- WKD
- Sony Bravia
- AA