BBC One

The Dark Side of the Sun

A tale of supernatural terror, concerning the discovery of a secret brotherhood of international financiers and politicians meeting clandestinely on Rhodes. The head of the brotherhood, Raoul Lavalliere, had his own secret concerning his ancestor Tibald de Montrefort, a particularly unpleasant individual from the middle ages when the Knights Templar settled on Rhodes.

The Mad Death

A French visitor to Scotland smuggles her cat into the country, sparking a terrifying outbreak of rabies which threatens to engulf an entire community.

Fun to Imagine

Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist, enjoys thinking aloud about the adventures science can offer. Back in 1983, the BBC aired Fun to Imagine, a television series hosted by Richard Feynman that used physics to explain how the everyday world works – “why rubber bands are stretchy, why tennis balls can’t bounce forever, and what you’re really seeing when you look in the mirror.” In case you’re not familiar with him, Feynman was a Nobel prize-winning physicist who had a gift for many things, including popularizing science and particularly physics.

Blackadder

Black Adder traces the deeply cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders throughout British history, from the muck of the Middle Ages to the frontline of the First World War.

Just Another Day

Just Another Day is a BBC documentary series, shown over twenty thirty minute episodes. The series follows John Pitman observing a typical day in the life of places, businesses and institutions that are considered part of the British way of life.

Ceefax AM

On 28 February 1983, BBC1 started to air a selection of Ceefax pages every weekday morning at 6.00am called Ceefax AM which would lead into the start of Breakfast Time at 6.30am. It is first mentioned in the Radio Times on 21 March.

The Machine Gunners

BBC adaptation of Robert Westall's acclaimed novel. In a small seaside town in northern England during World War II, a young boy discovers the remains of a German aircraft - with the dead pilot still inside.

The Citadel

A faithful ten part BBC adaptation of A.J. Cronin's book of the same name published in 1937 about a young Scottish doctor (Ben Cross) trying to find a place for himself in the dysfunctional medical system of Wales and England in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Dombey and Son

Dombey and Son is a television mini-series produced by the BBC in 1983. It was based on the book Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens. It was adapted by James Andrew Hall and directed by Rodney Bennett.

Skorpion

Gabrielle, formerly member of a terrorist cell, flees to England after an attempt on her life. Fearing that Gabrielle may betray it to the authorities, the cell sends the hitman Constant Delangre after her. Will Delangre find Gabrielle before the local police can defend her?

Making the Most of the Micro

Making the Most of the Micro was a TV series broadcast in 1983 as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project. It followed the earlier series The Computer Programme. Unlike its predecessor, Making the Most of the Micro delved somewhat deeper into the technicalities and uses that microcomputers could be put to, once again mainly using the BBC Micro in the studio for demonstration purposes. The series was followed by Micro Live.

The Fourth Arm

Starring Paul Shelley in a role reminiscent of his Secret Army character in all but name, this 12-part serial follows a team of secret agents parachuted into occupied Europe during World War II, exploring their recruitment, training, and first mission behind enemy lines.

Captain Zep – Space Detective

Captain Zep – Space Detective is a British television children's series produced by the BBC between 1983 and 1984. Constructed as part drama and part quiz game, Captain Zep featured mysteries that would be solved by the child audience in the studio, along with a write-in competition for viewers. The child audience were dressed in futuristic clothes and had gelled hair. The series was also notable for its combination of live action and animation, where the cast would interact with drawn alien characters amidst drawn backgrounds. Paul Greenwood played the titular Captain Zep in the first series, to be replaced by Richard Morant for series two. Zep was assisted by Professor Spiro who was also replaced in series two by Professor Vana. The only cast member to appear in both series was Ben Ellison as Jason Brown. The theme tune "Captain Zep" was written by David Owen Smith and Paul Aitken and performed by The Spacewalkers.

The Tale of Beatrix Potter

Beau Geste

Television miniseries based on the novel by P. C. Wren of brotherly love, self-sacrifice and death-or-glory adventure in the French Foreign Legion.

Squadron

Squadron is a British television series produced by the BBC in 1982. The series dealt with the adventures of the fictional 370 Rapid Deployment Squadron of the Royal Air Force. The Squadron operated a mix of operational RAF aircraft including the Harrier GR Mk 3, Hercules C Mk 1, Puma HC Mk 1 and the first episode, Phantom FGR Mk 2. One series of ten episodes was made. The leading cast members included Michael Culver, Malcolm Stoddard, Derek Anders, and Catriona MacColl.

Carrott's Lib

Carrott's Lib is a British satirical comedy series broadcast between 9 October 1982 and 30 December 1983. It starred Jasper Carrott and a cast of many comedians. The show was not just a satirical comedy, it was also a sketch show with many comedians of the future, most famously Chris Barrie & Jan Ravens. Unlike most comedy series it was broadcast live, albeit with some pre-recorded elements.

The Hound of the Baskervilles

When a nobleman is threatened by a family curse on his newly inherited estate, detective Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate. A British television serial based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel.

The Late, Late Breakfast Show

The Late, Late Breakfast Show was a BBC television light entertainment show broadcast live on Saturday evenings from 4 September 1982 to 8 November 1986. It was presented by Noel Edmonds, initially with co-host Leni Harper and also featured Mike Smith and John Peel. It is remembered for several accidents during its regular "Give It A Whirl" stunt slot; in particular, the 1986 death of Michael Lush.

An Inspector Calls

A made-for-television adaptation of the J. B. Priestley play of the same title.