Una McCormack parachutes in to compare three thrilling episodes of British TV from the cathode ray era. Leonard Rossiter wants to retire but... Death Is A Good Living (1966), Never Turn Your Back on a Friend in an electrifying episode of Espionage (1963), and the powerful debut of The Sandbaggers (1978-1980) rounds off our menu.

Plotters, Pen Pushers and Pensions

You're nearly half an hour late, Hannah. What happened?

Hannah's Suspicion of Being Followed

Ray's Cafe and D-Ops Investigation

Recruitment of Una McCormack

Introduction to British Spy Series Discussion

'Death is a Good Living' Series Overview

Comparing Sandbaggers to James Bond

Espionage Characters' Appeal

Discovery of 'Death is a Good Living'

Broadcasting Time and Plot of 'Death is a Good Living'

Character Dynamics in 'Death is a Good Living'

Filming Locations and Leonard Rossiter's Casting

Era's Smoking Influence and Character Analysis

Moral Ambiguity in 'Death is a Good Living'

Lynch's Trainee and Training Importance

Supporting Characters and Casting Choices

1966 Context: Wages and Housing

Smoking Portrayal in Contemporary Shows

Unique Qualities of 'Espionage' Series

Powell's Influence and Cinematic Style

Plot and Themes in 'Espionage'

Nazi Ideology and Guest Stars in 'Espionage'

Drunken Character Portrayal

'The Sandbaggers' Reputation and Ian McIntosh's Influence

Tone and Relevance of 'The Sandbaggers'

Character Relationships in 'The Sandbaggers'

Production Value and Popularity

Technological Changes and Current Relevance

Field Operations vs. Office Decisions

Interest in Revisiting 'The Sandbaggers'

Shannon Airport's Historical Significance

Power Dynamics and Burnside's Background

Series Preference and Box Set Discussions

Raising Awareness for Underappreciated Series

Welcome to the café where the CRT telly in the corner is always on.

Join Hannah, Pete and guests as we delve into a smorgasbord of British television history. Every episode we pick a new theme and settle into Ray's café to chat about 3 different episodes of CRT-era television programmes.

Whether you've seen these TV shows or not, join us at Ray's and we'll give you plenty of reasons to enjoy more TV. We love nothing more than sharing great/interesting/baffling shows with other people. 

Ready to become a regular at Ray's? You'll find us sitting in the corner with a cuppa - new customers always welcome.

Get in touch: https://cathoderays.co.uk/

Find us on Bsky: cathoderays.bsky.social

Logo artwork by Mammoth Creative Works

Cathode Ray's