Hello, and welcome to another episode of My 70’s TV Childhood!
It’s great to have you back! As you know, our podcast takes a nostalgic trip through the golden era of 1970s British television, exploring the shows that shaped our childhoods and the unique role TV played in our lives. It was an era when families would gather around the set, and conversations at school or work would inevitably revolve around what was on TV the night before.
Today, we’re revisiting Little Big Time, a show that featured a curious blend of pop music and madcap sketches. Unlike today’s stars like Taylor Swift, who fill massive arenas, pop stars of the 70s were more accessible, often appearing on various TV shows, from children’s programming to mainstream hits like Top of the Pops.
One show that stands out in my memory is Little Big Time. Airing on ITV, it was a vibrant, slightly chaotic mix of comedy, music, and dance, set in a circus-like auditorium. The show, which premiered in 1968, was meant to boost Freddie and the Dreamers’ popularity, following their last big hit in 1964. The show included an eclectic range of acts and sketches, and despite its ambitions, it has left only scattered fragments in our collective memory.
A particularly strange segment of the show was “Oliver in the Overworld,” a surreal blend of fantasy and whimsy featuring Freddie and a talking grandfather clock named Oliver. Imagine a low-budget, psychedelic adventure reminiscent of H.R. Pufnstuf—that’s Oliver in the Overworld for you.
The series continued into 1971, delving deeper into its bizarre fantasy world. Characters included the heroic Oliver, the Clockwork King, and various quirky figures like Chief High Pipe and Windy Bill. The plots are a bit hazy in my memory, so I’m reaching out to you, our listeners, to help fill in the gaps.
Sadly, Little Big Time ended in 1974, and much of its footage was erased to save money—a common practice at the time. What remains is a fond, if somewhat muddled, memory of a show that was as whimsical as it was short-lived.
Looking back, Little Big Time reflects a transitional period in TV. While the 70s saw the rise of new idols, the show’s quirky charm reminds us of a time when TV was an adventurous, if unpredictable, medium.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Little Big Time. What do you remember? Share your insights and help me piece together the missing elements of this peculiar show.
That’s all for now. Join us next week for our quiz episode, and don’t miss our regular podcast in a fortnight. Take care, and don’t forget to like, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. See you soon for more from My 70’s TV Childhood.
Take care,
Oliver
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One of my earliest memories.
Is me and my Sister, stomping round the front room. Chanting ” We are the Hungry Drains, We are the Hungry Drains!” With our dinner knifes & forks for hands!
Thanks for sharing that Mick – “We are the Hungry Drains!”
How weird was that? All seemed perfectly reasonable at the time….
Yes, bit scarey, I remember. But I liked anything like that. I think it came on after Roberts Robots. Or around the same time.
The “Little Big Time” (LBT) show itself was recorded in Southampton University’s Nuffield Theatre. “Oliver in the Overworld (OITO) was, ironically, very much of it’s time and ahead of it (a bit like “The Strange World of Gurney Slade” back in 1960, although conventional audiences of the time couldn’t handle that concept). The music for Oliver was penned by Mike Hazelwood and Albert Hammond, writers of many hits, including “I’m a Train”. The 1971 hit song “Gimme Dat Ding” by the Pipkins came out of OITO (about a metronome who has lost her ding). The theme tune to LBT was composed by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander, who also had lots of hits through various artists. If you already know all of the above, please accept my apologies, but every little helps as I always say! Other british shows of the time that, in my opinion, pushed the boundaries, were “Timeslip” and “Ace of Wands” (taking Dr. Who for granted naturally). For further info, another show in the early 70’s, which was very similar to LBT, was “The Coal Hole Club”. This was the BBC1 show that originally brought the Grumbleweeds band to a wider audience. I understand why a lot of programmes of the period were erased to create recording space but it created a horrible legacy.
Thanks Tom – that’s great insight for us which we didn’t know about. Little Big Time was, as you say, very much ahead of its time. Given most of the recordings no longer exist and I was very young when I saw it broadcast, it sometimes feels like I dreamt it. Lots of our listeners agree.
Thanks for all the comments and sharing your memories. We have featured Timeslip on the podcast but not Ace of Wands or The Coal Hole Club so more for us to consider for the production plan. I also agree on the wiping of videos – what a tragedy. But I suppose it was still the early days of television and who would imagine there would be people wanting to rewatch a show fifty years later!
Thanks for listening and especially for taking the time to get in touch. All the best,