Patrick Fyffe

Most opera houses ring in the New Year with Johann Strauss Jr.'s most popular operetta--the festiveness of which is appropriate for the occasion--and this December 31, 1983, Covent Garden performance follows suit. An exceptional cast--led by Hermann Prey and Kiri Te Kanawa as the couple whose marriage survives the comic indiscretions of three long acts--obviously has as much fun as the audience. Plácido Domingo leads the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House through its paces with panache. Prince Orlofsky's Act II party is always a splendid opportunity to pull out all the stops with surprise "guests," and this performance makes the most of its chance: entering the proceedings to sing one of his tailor-made chansons, "She," is French crooner Charles Aznavour, who is followed by dancers Merle Park and Wayne Eagling, their delightful pas de deux flashily choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton.

Albert Steptoe and his son Harold are rag-and-bone men, complete with horse and cart to tour the neighbourhood. They also live together at the junk yard. Harold, who likes the bright lights in the West End of London, meets a stripper, marries her and takes her home. Albert is furious and tries every trick he knows to drive the new bride from his household.

Chat show hosted by Terry Wogan, featuring live studio interviews with famous and notable personalities.

Dennis and Gnasher is an animated British TV series based on characters from The Beano comic, It features the daily adventures of the rebellious schoolboy Dennis the Menace and his dog Gnasher.

Dear Ladies is a series of half-hour episodes starring Dame Hilda Bracket and Doctor Evadne Hinge, portraying a genteel English inter-war world of cucumber sandwiches, bell ringing, bowls tournaments, church fetes and old-fashioned values recalled through the ladies, who live in the small town of Stackton Tressell.

Four hour-long comedy specials with a variety of sketches, songs and stand-up routines.

After many years of entertaining the inhabitants of Stackton Tressell with their Gala Concerts, Dame Hilda Bracket and Dr. Evadne Hinge were thrilled to be invited by the BBC to take their very individual style of concert performance to a wider audience. These events, recorded between 1977 and 1981 at the Royal Hall, Harrogate and the Opera House, Buxton, feature the dear ladies with full orchestral and choral support. The ladies perform a wide range of music from Gilbert and Sullican to Verdi. Of course, Dr. Hinge has a few pithy remarks to make, while Dame Hilda remains her usual irrepressible self.