British Television in the 1980s. Multiple Choice Quiz | Television

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The very popular 1986 British mini-series "Map and Lucia" starred Prunella Scales and Geraldine McEwan as Mapp and the recently widowed Lucia. Lucia had newly arrived in the provincial English village for the summer. Almost immediately, the battle lines were drawn between these two formidable adversaries, who vied for control of society. But, what was the name of the town?

Answer: Tilling on Sea

The series was based on some of E.F. Benson's stories . Prunella Scales was perhaps best-loved for her other role of this decade the dragon lady Sybil Fawlty in "Fawlty Towers". The sniping interchanges between Scales and McEwan produced moments of great hilarity and literary punch. The series was also produced as an audio book and is equally enjoyable (to me at least) in that medium.

2. With a huge cast and breathtaking location photography, this romantic dramatic series contained recurring references within its plot to symbols such as Daphne's bicycle, a length of butterfly lace, and a picture of Queen Victoria on an Indian throne which appear and reappear, linking people and events throughout the years of the plotline. What was the TV series called?

Answer: The Jewel in the Crown

This romantic dramatic series was first broadcast by ITV (Granada) in 1984. Granada TV produced the hugely expensive but highly successful 13-part series "The Jewel in the Crown" which was entirely shot in India. Many critics thought that it one of the best films ever made for television.

The main actors were: Peggy Ashcroft, Derrick Branche, Charles Dance, Geraldine James, Rachel Kempson and Tim Pigott-Smith.

3. The 1980s represented a period when some very expensive classic drama was produced, including this drama produced by the ITV (ATV) and which gained notoriety because it was about the public beheading of a Saudi princess and her lover. What was it called?

Answer: Death Of A Princess

The Saudi government tried to stop it being transmitted in the UK and banned its importation to Saudi Arabia. A diplomatic incident occurred and the Saudi Ambassador was recalled. The ITV company (ATV) refused to apologise despite some alleged pressure from the UK Government of the day.

4. This series, actually continued later with a slightly modified title following the promotion of one of its main characters, was cited by political commentators of the day as involving the study of structure and process in government - or any equivalent system that attempts to assure safety, fairness, and closure across a broad range of risks and access to a broad range of commons for its human charges. It was at times brilliantly funny. What was the original series called?

Answer: Yes, Minister

In a tribute programme to the series, screened by the BBC in early 2004, it was revealed that the series writers, Jay and Lynn, had drawn on information provided by two insiders from the governments of PM Harold Wilson and PM James Callaghan, namely respective press secretaries, Marcia Williams and Bernard Donohue.

5. Can you identify this crime drama series which had a Chinese actor cast in the leading role for first time on British Television?

Answer: The Chinese Detective

David Yip was cast as Detective Sergeant John Ho, a role which was essentially modelled on the internationally successful Charlie Chan character from the popular films of the 1930s. A maverick detective who doesn't play the rules and uses his connections within the Asian community to solve cases.

The casting of Yip enabled greater accessibility to the character for audiences, as the actor bore a resonating Cockney accent and was understandable to all in the UK.

6. Can you please name this series which was a rare BBC Wales drama serial about the professional and personal lives of the men and women working for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution?

Answer: Ennal's Point

Alun Richard was the author and scriptwriter. The series was highly praised for its technical authenticity based on the input of the Mumbles Lifeboat coxswain and crew. The series starred Philip Madoc with Glyn Owen, Gerald James and James Warrior in support.

7. Throughout and the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and into the 1990s and beyond this versatile actress has starred in many TV and radio comedy programmes. But in the 1980s she also re-established herself as a radio star working with comedian Roy Hudd in 'The News Huddlines' in which she demonstrated a hitherto unknown talent for impersonation, particularly for her 'Margaret Thatcher'. Who was this actress?

Answer: June Whitfield

June Whitfield was a well known comedic performer throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s as well as the 80s and 90s. For example, she was the nurse in the famous, and oft-quoted 'Blood Donor' sketch with Tony Hancock, and apart from numerous films, also starred alongside Terry Scott in the very successful TV series 'Terry and June'. The British 'new wave' of comedy which began to make serious inroads into British television in the 1980s provided Whitfield with further opportunities. Comediennes Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders used the actress in their sketch show, 'French And Saunders' (1987-, BBC), and Jennifer Saunders later chose her for the role of 'Mother' in 'Absolutely Fabulous' (1992-95, BBC).

8. Thatcher's government had relaxed advertising regulations controlling ITV and Channel 4 commercials and so in the 1980s the first interactive adverts started to appear. Who was the first manufacturer to have an interactive advert broadcast on British TV?

Answer: Mazda

Mazda cars were the first to advertise interactively. In the late 1980s viewers were instructed to video record the advertisement and play it back frame by frame. On doing so, they were able to take part in a competition to win a Mazda car.
First Direct Finance ran similar advertisements shortly after the Mazda initiative.

9. What was the name of the Welsh language TV soap, which first appeared in the 1980s, that gave Hollywood heart-throb Ioan Gruffudd his first big break?

Answer: Pobol y Cwm

'Pobol y Cwm' (Welsh for 'people of the valley') in 2004 was awarded one of the top honours in British television in recognition of its status as one of the UK's longest-running TV soaps. It won a 'Hall of Fame' award at a special gala evening in Cardiff on October 17 2004 to celebrate the series' 30th birthday.
'Hob y Deri' means 'the pig under the oaks' in Welsh and is from a well-known folk song. According to William Cole this song is related to 'Hai Down ir Deri Dando', which is an old song of the Druids.
'Cwm Deri' means 'the valley of the oaks' in Welsh and is now the name of a famous Welsh vineyard.

10. One night in October 1984 a news report on the critical famine situation in Africa appeared on British television screens and shocked viewers into action and changed government policy overnight. Can you name the BBC news reporter?

Answer: Michael Buerk

It was Michael Buerk's report, with Mohammed Amin's haunting photography that told a story that until that night had been a tragedy unfolding in East Africa but one that had gone largely ignored. Aid agencies had tried for months to alert the rest of the world. Buerk's report and pictures, on the BBC's Nine O'Clock News brought home the enormity of Ethiopia's famine. Within days food aid by the ton had reached Ethiopia from Europe and North America, and Western celebrities were supporting Bob Geldof's pledge to raise millions of pounds to 'Feed the World'.

Source: Author bracklaman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ArleneRimmer before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

British Television in the 1980s. Quiz

British TV in the 1980s took advantage of the slackening of governmental controls under PM Thatcher. This quiz looks at some of the TV programmes first broadcast in the 1980s.

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