Distinct Nostalgia MIM

George Layton is prolific - he's done the lot - and he's still working in his early 80s. Both an actor and screenwriter, his career stretches from the early 50s and Children's Hour and working with Violet Carson (who played Ena Sharples in Coronation Street), through years as a star on shows like Doctor in the House and It Aint Half Hot Mum, via cameos on The Likely Lads and semi regular roles in Minder and more. He's also a big friend of Richard O'Sullivan, so we'll no doubt find out h...

A very special interview here with Lord Grade (Michael Grade) whose fingerprints are all over British TV - from the days when his uncle Lew ran ATV to his own stewardship of LWT, BBC, Channel 4 and Later ITV again. Michael has launched (and axed) some of Britain's most popular TV shows. Here he takes Ashley through a whistle stop potted history of his career, stopping off to reminisce about his time at each of the Britain's terrestrial channels along the way.EastEnders, Neighbours, Mind Your ...

Karen Grassle who played Caroline celebrates 50 years since the launch in 1974 of Little House onThe Prairie. The then new show from America would pull in huge audiences all around the world including in the UK where it had a prime time slot.Here Ashley talks to Karen about working with Michael Landon (which was fraught for a time), her child co stars who grew up during the course of the 9. year series and the impact making such a huge show had on her life. Presented and produced by Ash...

Why Don't You?! played to millions of kids in the school holidays on BBC1. It began in 1973 and lasted until 1995, meaning the show touched several generations over nearly a quarter of a century.Among the presenters Ant from Ant and Dec, among the producers - Russell T Davies but there were dozens more who cut their tv teeth on this show presented by children.Here Ashley meets one of them down at the Midland Hotel in Manchester - Phil Noble was in the Liverpool gang from 1987.Phil tells us ho...

She was the voice behind one of the most well loved kids series of the 70s.Gay Soper was the person who brought to life the world of The Flumps. Pootle, Perkin, Posie, Ma and Pa Flump and Grandpa Flump all became real characters thanks to her tremendously talented acting.But though kids of the 70s remember the Flumps fondly, there was actually only 13 episodes in total.Here Gay tells Ashley where The Flumps came from and how she came up with their voices, developed their characters and naviga...

A special interview and another real treat here for all fans of cult Australian drama series Prisoner Cell Block H.The show first aired twice a week down under in 1979 and quickly began pulling in huge figures.The big star from the start was the legendary Val Lehman who played the iconic Bea Smith.The character quickly became known as top dog or 'Queen Bea' for the way she ruled the roost in Wentworth Prison.In this episode of Distinct Nostalgia, Val tells Ashley how she landed the role which...