Do you remember the Eighties? Do you!? Aaah! Such a wondrous time of recession, Rubik Cubes, rioting, Cabbage Patch Dolls, keytars and mullets. Madonna and Michael Jackson ruled the raio airwaves and every female fancied Don Johnson from Miami Vice? There’s no question that the world lost its penchant for taste in the Eighties, but for nostalgia fiends, it’s still worth plundering… and believe or not, some decent TV was made too.

In the second of three one off specials, Fern Britton is joined by a different guest host to present That’s What I Call Television. On July 7th, Matthew Kelly picks his fave TV shows, moments, ads and themes from TV’s golden age of 1979 -1989… I could’ve done a better job… but I’m not bitter…

You see, this show sent out feelers for people to talk about the Eighties. So I replied, thinking that I might be able to offer the flipside to the often sycophantic horseshit offer up by talking heads on these shows. “Oooh! Crimping! Wasn’t that hilarious!?” I’m certainly handsome enough for TV (I’m better looking than Jimmy Carr or Paul Morley at any rate) and lived through the Eighties with my eyes and ears wide open. However, it seems that I’m not even close to being right for this show as they didn’t even get in touch to tell me to piss off. This is why ITV are known in certain circles as ‘Has-Been-TV’. You could have seen this scribe wittering on about that Turkish Delight advert and Telebugs (value for money I’m sure).

Anyway, enough of my gripes, and back to our lovable Matthew. Matthew’s favourites are brought back to life with a bang. Jean Boht has another slice of Bread as a Boswell, the stars of Game For A Laugh pay a visit and Miss World makes a return. Matthew and Fern recite the classic line “suffused with herbs and spices from four continents” as they recreate the infamous Cinzano advert originally played by Leonard Rossiter and Joan Collins.

Fern commented: “The 1980’s was a rich decade for television and talent. So many marvellous careers were established then by people who are still familiar faces on television today. I have many vivid memories of TV shows of that time. They include the wonderful Coronation Street, which I have watched since 1977. I would be absolutely lost without it.” [Mof Gimmers]