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Ste Gordon

@sgordonthe87.bsky.social

250 followers 110 following 1.7K posts

Was @sgordon_the87 at the other place. Observing the bits in between the TV programmes, YouTube and occasionally the football. Responsible for uploading lots of late 90s TV pres videos to YouTube. https://youtube.com/@steviegtvreturns?si=-ZotGmha-FrbhkNY

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 21h

Anything that Paddy McGuinness can’t commit to.

Reposted by Ste Gordon

TVARK @tvark.bsky.social · 1d

Philip Elsmore gave the first announcement on Thames Television on 30 July 1968. He also gave the final announcement on 31 December 1992.

It was announced in the last hour that he had passed in August 2025 at the age of 87.

Philip Elsmore
1937-2025

tvark.org/philip-elsmore

Philip Elsmore was born on 16 November 1937 and passed away on 3 August 2025 at the age of 87.

He is an actor and former broadcaster.

Philip is best known for his role as senior continuity announcer for Thames Television. He made the station's first continuity announcement on 30 July 1968, and its final announcement on 31 December 1992. He has also done continuity announcing for Border, Tyne Tees, Southern, ABC Weekend and Westcountry.

Elsmore has also acted in Doctors, Casualty, EastEnders, The Governor, Lovejoy, The Bill, Lytton's Diary, Astronauts, Rainbow, Whodunnit?, Late Night Drama, Armchair Theatre, Love Thy Neighbour, Harriet's Back in Town, Pardon My Genie, Two in Clover, The Kenny Everett Video Cassette and Eric & Ernie's last ever Christmas Show for Thames where he tries to announce while Morecambe and Wise are ridiculing the shows he's announcing.

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 1d

It’s a bit like when ITV2 shows the Family Guy/The Simpsons crossover episode, seeing the Springfield universe with an ITV2 bug on the top left doesn’t sit right.

Neil Norman And His Cosmic Orchestra @fubsyshabaroon.bsky.social · 1d

Dunno if it’s just me, but my brain does a little wobble every time I see this.

Star Trek? On ITV? Surely it should be 6pm at Wednesdays on BBC Two?

SUN 19
itv1
22:20 - 23:20
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 1d

There still feels like a licence to print money attitude from STV here. They compare themselves to Wales and UTV, but as said Scotland has always had 3 companies, and they’re only complaining about that obligation now. Surely there’s only so much profit to squeeze out of an ITV1 rebroadcast + news.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 1d

Likewise, never seen the appeal, not saying it’s shit, but it doesn’t do it for me. I don’t feel I’m missing out on anything either despite it being the dominant TV show right now.

The wife had to explain yesterday why Charlotte Church’s frontage is a meme at the minute.

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

A bit late to the party, just finished watching Fawlty Towers The Play. Surprisingly works okay as a one off for TV. I will say the actors who play Basil and Polly really get John and Connie to a tee. Was a bit weird to see three episodes mashed up, but I can forgive that as it was enjoyable.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

I know very few people south of the M62 corridor give a shit, but it’s great for rugby league when Wigan don’t win it. Well done Hull.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

Reach plc standard of journalism:

a) it’s not £170 not £200
b) the original notice was £60 but he chose to ignore it and not appeal it, so they added debt recovery charges
c) parking bastard strikes again

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

And now an I’m A Celeb… based gunge competition skit, where the presenters are doing their best Ant and Dec impression.

Saturday morning TV has come full circle.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

Kids are watching Saturday Mash Up rn, interactivity is still there, but it’s a QR code now which I don’t think you can do a jingle about.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

Just remember that if you’re dialling before April 1995 please remember to remove the 1.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

Kids are watching Saturday Mash Up rn, interactivity is still there, but it’s a QR code now which I don’t think you can do a jingle about.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

Just remember that if you’re dialling before April 1995 please remember to remove the 1.

Saturday Mornings @saturdaymornings.co.uk · 2d

Dial carefully.
#saturdaymornings

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 2d

Just remember that if you’re dialling before April 1995 please remember to remove the 1.

Saturday Mornings @saturdaymornings.co.uk · 2d

Dial carefully.
#saturdaymornings

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 3d

The Spitting Image YouTube reboot has been more miss than hit, but the Riyadh comedy festival skit is superb.

youtube.com/shorts/mTXMd...

Welcome to the Riyadh Comedy Festival…

YouTube video by Spitting Image

youtube.com

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 3d

Another gem, thank you John, I wouldn’t have known anything about this. Crazy read, yet makes perfect sense.

Reposted by Ste Gordon

John J. Hoare @dirtyfeed.org · 3d

Brand new on Dirty Feed: what was special about the Fawlty Towers episode "Basil the Rat"?

Short version: it had two days in the studio, while every other episode only had one.

Long version: www.dirtyfeed.org/2025/10/tc8-...

Fawlty Towers, "Basil the Rat": the Major spots the offending creature in the bar.

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 3d

Go on Grappenhall!

Fact, Grappenhall gave the world Tim Curry.

You’re welcome.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 3d

Good question and my answer is that I don’t know. Certainly as said CentralSouth and Halfbrick were ones that spring to mind. Unfortunately lots of earlier stuff has been removed, so I cannot remember sadly. Definitely a different YouTube back then when the videos couldn’t be more than 10 mins.

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 3d

Also, Skydance probably want a few dollars back from their acquisition. (Most likely in this case)

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 3d

MTV’s channels always felt on borrowed time once Channel 4 closed down The Box channels.

FWIW MTV does have channels on Pluto TV that play music. I can see that being the way forward for them. Less music, more ads and fewer transmission costs.

The TV Room @thetvroom.com · 4d

🟦 CLEAN FEED | It's being reported in the press tonight that MTV is planning to close all but one of its linear channels in the UK.

MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and Live HD will close on 31st December.

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 4d

Nice finish from Scotland. Certainly more entertaining than the match on th’other side.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 5d

Reposted by Ste Gordon

Steve Williams @skillagesteve.bsky.social · 6d

Best ever World Cup theme

Jonathan Bufton @jonabuft.bsky.social · 6d

I love that there was one week in UK chart history where Destiny’s Child were outsold by the theme tune to ITV’s World Cup coverage #totp

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Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 7d

Yes, we all know about everything to do with the 1991 franchise round and we all know the ending, but it’s definitely worth an hour of your time.

Mark GJ @brokentv.uk · 7d

I don't think I'm making any spoilers by pointing out Matthew Harris' third and final documentary on ITV franchise auctions (this time 1991 to now) gets off to a very strong start. Currently Patron-only, I assume on YouTube very soon.

A man - who happens to be playing a cabinet minister who oversaw the 1988 Broadcasting Act - is sitting at a restaurant table, being greeted by a waiter - who happens to be imperial phase Stephen Fry. If you know, you know.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 7d

It’s never too late to learn. I passed first time at 17 in 2004. Knowing what I know now, I’d rather learn now more so when technology is on your side too.

And don’t buy into of the must purchase of a car when you pass, just having that pink card is the main thing and you’re good to go at anytime.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 7d

Diana’s funeral must be one. Unless you were watching Channel 4, it was hard to avoid.

Ste Gordon @sgordonthe87.bsky.social · 9d

Here’s something that’s totally passed me by… How long on BBC Sounds there has been a separate station just for News? I managed to listen in a bit earlier and it just seems like an audio feed of the NC, plus the newsier output from R4 and R5L.