UK TV J Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jamie and the Magic Torch

The 70s really were a different time for kids programmes. Jamie climbed out of bed each night, shone his torch and he and his toque wearing English sheepdog, dropped through the hole on the floor onto a helter skelter to reach the psychedelic world of Cuckooland.
Characters they met there included Mr Boo, who flew everywhere in his "submachine" and loved to count and Officer Gotcha, the policeman who ate truncheons and rode a unicycle.
There was also Wellibob the cat, who did everything backwards and The Yoo-hoo Bird, who was constantly running from Officer Gotcha after playing tricks on him.
The show was narrated by Brian Trueman and ran from 1976 to 1979.

Answer: Jason King

Peter Wyngarde played the title character, well remembered for his bespoke clothing, porn star moustache and so many one night stands that he made James Bond look like a monk. King was former British Intelligence officer, now working as a novelist, whose books are transcribed by Anne Sharp as Nicola Harvester. King's old government department, Department S, can't do without him though and he is often blackmailed to return with threats of revealing his unpaid taxes by Ryand and Sir Brian, played by Ronald Lacey and Dennis Price respectively. "Jason King" ran for just one season between 1971 and 1972, but is very fondly remembered.

Answer: Jenny's War

"Jenny's War" was a 1985 TV show that was loosely based on a true story. Dyan Cannon starred as Jenny Baines, an American teacher living in London, married to a German who has gone back to Germany to fight in WWII. She has a son from her previous marriage, Peter, played by a young Hugh Grant who, while an airman in the RAF, is shot down over Germany. Jenny is determined to get her son back, but with little help from her husband, and even less help from the authorities, must act alone. Eva Gruenberg played by Elke Sommer is a pro British, German friend of Jenny's who assists her efforts while Robert Hardy as the local Gestapo chief Klein, does his best to thwart them.

Answer: Jimbo and the Jet-Set

Based at the fictional London airport, "Jimbo and the Jet-Set" (1986-87) was about the adventures of Jimbo the plane. Jimbo's back story was that he was supposed to be a jumbo jet, but his designer got confused between imperial and metric measurements, so he ended up much smaller than a jumbo.
Jimbo was assisted in his adventures by characters such as Phil the Fuel Truck, Claude Catering, Tommy Tow-Truck and Amanda Baggage whose names reveal much about their airport tasks.
The voices on the show were contributed by Peter Hawkins and Susan Sheridan.

Answer: Joe 90

How "Joe 90" (1968-69) only ran for one season has always been a mystery to me as it was quite probably the best Gerry Anderson produced show. Professor Ian "Mac" McClaine, voiced by Rupert Davies developed a machine capable of transferring knowledge from one human brain to another. He allows this knowledge to fill the brain of his nine year old adopted son Joe, who is then able to become a top spy, test pilot, brain surgeon or pretty much anything he wants to be. This attracts the attention of the World Intelligence Network (WIN), who recruit him with the title "Most Special Agent".
WIN's London office was headed by Shane Weston, voiced by David Healy and the Deputy Head of WIN was San Loover, voiced by Keith Alexander.
An interesting note too, is the McClaine's housekeeper, Mrs Harris was voiced by Sylvia Anderson, wife of Gerry and also the voice of Lady Penelope in "Thunderbirds" (1965-66).

Answer: Joking Apart

"Joking Apart" (1993-95) was a sitcom, but an odd subject of choice for a sitcom as it documented a relationship falling apart. The show starred Robert Bathurst, who would go on to star in "Cold Feet" (1997-2020), as Mark Taylor, a script writer whose wife Becky, leaves him for an estate agent named Trevor played by Paul Mark Elliott.
Robert and Tracy Glazebrook played by Paul Raffield and Tracie Bennett are Mark and Becky's friends who offer support in their own way to both parties, but as neither is especially bright, the advice they offer isn't always the best.
In season two, Trevor discovers that Becky has been cheating on him also, and she leaves him to start a relationship with her solicitor.
It doesn't sound funny but this really was a great show, as you would expect with an actor as good as Robert Bathurst in it.

Answer: Jonathan Creek

Jonathan Creek, after whom the show was named, designed illusions for stage magician Adam Klaus, played by Stuart Milligan. He is befriended by investigative journalist Maddy Magellan, played by Caroline Quentin, who uses his knowledge of seemingly impossible illusions to help her solve crimes in the form of "locked room" mysteries.
Caroline Quentin left the show after the third season and her character was replaced by Carla Borrego, played by Julia Sawalha, best known for her role in "Absolutely Fabulous" (1992-2012) for one season before being replaced by the great Sheridan Smith, playing the character of Joey Ross.
"Jonathan Creek" ran from 1997 to 2016 and reruns of the show continue to be hugely popular.

Answer: Joshua Jones

"Joshua Jones" (1992) was a kids show about a Romani, canal boat dwelling handyman named Joshua Jones. He lived on his boat with a dog named Fairport and when not working for retired Admiral Bapu Karia, he spent his days helping out his neighbours such as Joe Laski the farmer and Sharon Cope, along with her boyfriend Spanner Wilkins.
The voices for the show were all performed by Barbara Flynn and George Layton.

Answer: Just Good Friends

"Just Good Friends" (1983-86) was the must watch show of he 80s in UK. Actor and pop star Paul Nicholas starred as Vincent Pinner who jilted his fiancee Penny Warrender, played by Jan Francis at the altar.
The show picked up the couple when they met by accident, years after the (non) event and started dating, much to the annoyance of Penny's mother, Daphne, played by Sylvia Kay.
This hit show was written by John Sullivan who also wrote "Only Fools And Horses" (1981-2003).

Answer: Juliet Bravo

One of the first UK police procedural shows with a female lead, "Juliet Bravo" (1980-85) was set in a fictional Lancashire town and originally starred Stephanie Turner as Inspector Jean Darblay, radio call sign, "juliet bravo".
Inspector Darblay was replaced after three seasons by a new female inspector, Kate Longton played by Anna Carteret, but whichever inspector was in charge, they could always rely on Sergeant Joseph Beck played by David Ellison.