069 - MITCH BENN - THUNDERBIRD ONE IS BLUE YOU WEIRDO

October 20, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is musician, comedian and writer Mitch Benn, who’s hoping for another viral hit with his recollections of chocolate bar 54321, the Logan’s Run television series, Matchbox Zoomy Balloonies, King Swamp, Action Man spinoff figures Atomic Man and Bullet Man, and the inexplicable craze for fifties nostalgia in the seventies. Along the way we’ll be finding out where REM didn’t get their name from but secretly did, celebrating the Official Mike Lindup From Level 42 Toothbrush, and wondering whether it’s actually physically and legally possible to prevent Paul McCartney from dressing up as a Teddy Boy.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

THE BEST OF LOOKS UNFAMILIAR 11 - THIS CAR HAS ABILITIES BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF AN ORDINARY CAR

October 9, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

This is a collection of highlights featuring Justin Lewis on the original Only Fools And Horses theme tune, Jane Hill on His Land, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch on The Llŷn Peninsula Earthquake, Carrie Dunn on Too Close To The Sun, Tom Williamson on Samurai Pizza Cats and Bob Fischer on Eighties Tabloid Celebrities. Along the way we'll be finding out what evasive manoeuvres to take if Cliff Richard’s guitar starts falling over in church, querying where Matt Goss might actually have watched a very old wall crumble, puzzling over how New York can be ‘The Citiest Of Cities’, recalling Joan Collins’ scandalous affair with Ian Revolution 9-Smith, and holding a Bad Musicals Support Group meeting during the interval of another bad musical. Plus there's something you may not have heard before - Tim on It's An S Pod Thing! talking to Sophie Davies about S Club 7's ridiculous feature-length time travel escapade S Club 7 - Back To The '50s!

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Just please don't order one from S Club 7's time-travelling diner. That would just be impractical.

068 - MIC WRIGHT - A VERY FALL TYPE SWEET

September 19, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is journalist Mic Wright, who's noticed that no newspaper front pages include anything about The Adventures Of Pete And Pete, Army And Navy Sweets, Emergency by 999, Rock On by David Essex, the early nineties Thunderbirds comic, and the murky origins of a certain unsavoury playground rumour. Along the way we'll be admiring Jeff Wayne's skateboarding skills, assessing the viability of Ian Pick and Ian Mix's retirement plan, and recounting Melissa Joan Hart's little-known stint as a the Fifth Beatle.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/,

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. If there's a trendy fancy hipster Army And Navy Blend, though, please avoid it at all costs.

067 - MARK THOMPSON - IT ENDED UP UNDERNEATH THE LEG OF A CHAIR

August 23, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is political commentator Mark Thompson, who’s intercepting encrypted transmissions from the mothership in search of V: The Series, bullying-themed children’s storybook Dirty Dick, Channel 4 cloning sitcom oddity The Giftie, dystopian BBC drama The Mad Death, The Different Story (World Of Lust And Crime) by Peter Schilling, and handheld video game Space Shuttle. Along the way we’ll be debating the difference between Game And Watch and Game And Time, revealing how Jeremy Beadle would have outsmarted The Visitors, and querying the provenance of tapes that ended up in ‘Dave’s Video Van’.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help support the show by buying us a coffee here. Do not leave it underneath the leg of a chair.

066 - BOB FISCHER - IT WAS UNTHINKABLE YOU WOULD HAVE AN 'R' IN AN EIGHTIES TABLOID

August 2, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is broadcaster and writer Bob Fischer, who’s scouring the Sunday newspaper magazines for any gossip about Ralph Halpern, ‘Hunky Plasterer Terry’, Emma ‘Wild Child’ Ridley and other examples of the eighties ‘Tabloid Celebrity’ phenomenon, Accidentally Kelly Street by Frente!, The Two Ronnies’ mini-drama ‘Mileaway’, Rude Food and other books labelled ‘Explicit Content’ in book club adverts, BSB talk show Suggs On Saturday, and the mysterious origins of inexplicably widely known ‘School Folk Songs’. Along the way we’ll be recalling Joan Collins’ scandalous affair with Ian Revolution 9-Smith, revealing how TV’s Alf Stewart reacts to a small hours fire alarm, finding out how Ronnie Barker can ruin two franchises at once, and expressing some serious reservations about Suggs’ grasp of basic mathematics.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

065 - JANE HILL - IT WAS QUITE A DUNGAREE BASED FILM

July 15, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is comedian Jane Hill, who’s on the lookout for anyone else who remembers gymnastics-heavy Children’s BBC thriller Out Of Bounds, a mystery Saturday Morning Cinema serial about pirates, Cliff Richard documentary movie His Land, Showell Styles’ ‘Simon And Mag Hughes’ mountain adventure novels, rig-bound BBC drama Oil Strike North!, and artificial mystery meat product Breakfast Slices. Along the way we’ll be finding out what evasive manoeuvres to take if Cliff Richard’s guitar starts falling over in church, questioning the entire purpose of Sweet Pebbles, and trying not to get caught reading a Green Dragon book when you’re actually Red Dragon age.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Swipe Simon and Mag’s flask if you have to. They’re probably ‘plucky’ enough to improvise around it.

THE BEST OF LOOKS UNFAMILIAR - THAT TERRIBLE STEREOTYPED EVIL JAMES GALWAY LOOK

July 4, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

This is a collection of highlights from Looks Unfamiliar featuring Shanine Salmon on the 1993 version of the EastEnders theme, Lydia Mizon on Stoppit And Tidyup, Jenny Morrill on The Elvis Special 1983, Al Kennedy on Steve Jackson's Battle Cards, David Smith on Little Clowns Of Happytown, Lisa Parker And Andrew Trowbridge on Furzlin' With Shag Connors And The Carrot Crunchers and Meryl O'Rourke on The International Shoparound Exotic Glamourwear Catalogue. Along the way we’ll be finding out what happens if you play the EastEnders theme backwards, how to cope with an anxiety dream about The Fiddly Foodle Bird, why you would need to pass a wordsearch test in order to become an Elvis Presley fan, whether there is such a thing as a Non-Advanced Combat Card, how many different ways Shag Connors can spell his own name, why less underwear costs more, and generally trying not to think too much about the operational logistics behind party invites reading ‘Graham is bringing his porn’. Plus there's something you might not have heard before - Tim on TV Cream Stays Indoors talking to Graham Kibble-White about Space Sentinels.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Don't get MO to deliver it though, or you'll probably just end up having to get a replacement one.

064 - CARRIE DUNN - THEY JUST SHOVED PEOPLE INTO SWIMMING POOLS

June 28, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is sports writer Carrie Dunn, who’s trying to keep score of her recollections of The Glam Metal Detectives, Handful Of Promises by Big Fun, The Rocky Horror Show sequel Shock Treatment, Ernest Hemingway musical Too Close To The Sun, The Karen Carpenter Story and Chris Tarrant game show Man O Man. Along the way we'll be questioning how many hoodies you can wear at any one time, puzzling over how New York can be 'The Citiest Of Cities', and holding a Bad Musicals Support Group meeting in the interval of another bad musical.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Because let's face it, anyone watching The Glam Metal Detectives will need one.

063 - JUSTIN LEWIS - TOMMY VANCE'S PAGES FROM CEEFAX

June 22, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is writer Justin Lewis, who’s knocking up a When Was Things? card featuring the original Only Fools And Horses theme tune, Anglo American by Golden, The Rock Year Book, Joy by Isaac Hayes, forgotten Watch With Mother show Thomas, Stand In Line by Impellitteri, sitcom sequel Selwyn and the Glamorgan Tiles advert. Along the way we’ll be critically evaluating Isaac Hayes’ Toilet Flush Orchestra, making placards for Teddy Edward’s Yippie Uprising, and bidding a fond closedown to Algernon Lunchbiscuit and everyone at BBC2.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. I can confirm that I want the best one and I won't ask questions, only with a slightly different theme tune.

062 - GABBY HUTCHINSON CROUCH - HE WAS CONDEMNED FOR BEING A TIME YEWTREE

June 7, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is writer and author Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, who’s hoping history won’t be too horrible about high concept BBC Saturday Morning show Parallel 9, The Llŷn Peninsula Earthquake, the 2002 film adaptation of The Revenger’s Tragedy, Terry Pratchett computer game Discworld Noir, Feed The Tree by Belly and Irish-themed alcopop Craic. Along the way we’ll be finding out how many cartoons about Rude Dogs there were, querying where Matt Goss might actually have watched a very old wall crumble, and enjoying the great taste of freshly mown grass.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

061 - TOM WILLIAMSON - A BAND MY WORD PROCESSOR HATES

May 30, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is historian Tom Williamson, who’s consulting dusty tomes for evidence of Children’s ITV game show Knightmare, Samurai Pizza Cats, Add N To (X), Civilization spinoff Colonization, post-rock band Mogwai, and Jeff Goldbum-starring discovery of DNA biopic Life Story. Along the way we’ll be debating whether Knightmare fans are actually more frightening than Knightmare itself, attending an in-store promo appearance by the Anglia Knight, getting a Mogwai: Are Bloody Loud And Horrible t-shirt printed, and learning about the risks that chewing gum poses for historical accuracy.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. It's either that or you fund a biopic on the invention of caffeine.

060 - DAVID SMITH - EVERY THIRD WORD IS THE WORD CLOWN

May 15, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is quiz expert David Smith, who gets an R Tape Loading Error every time he asks anyone about Earthworm Jim, PC game Torin’s Passage, Bowie-featuring teen movie Bandslam, ideologically dubious ZX Spectrum game City Bomber, Little Clowns Of Happytown, Sega Megadrive pinball spinoff Sonic Mountain Quest, and techy partwork magazine Real Robots. Along the way we’ll be finding out how much money Norbit shouldn’t have made, the two biggest mistakes you can make when building a robot, whether it’s actually possible to get past Level 179 of Lemmings, and why Little Johnny Jewel by Television is directly responsible for the worst crime ever committed against both music and superheroes.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/. You can also find David on Looks Unfamiliar talking about Have I Got Unbroadcastable News For You, Stranger In This Town by Richie Sambora, 28 Acts In 28 Minutes, Billy Connolly’s World Tour Of Australia, Sega Game Gear, Grand Theft Auto Vice City Official Soundtrack Box Set, Police Squad!, Bart Simpson’s Guide To Life and Duck Tales The Movie – Treasure Of The Lost Lamp here.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. No I would not like it to be delivered by the Little Clowns Of Happytown.

059 - LISA PARKER AND ANDREW TROWBRIDGE - ONCE UPON A TIME GYLES BRANDRETH WAS QUITE A COOL NAME

May 5, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time are podcasters Lisa Parker and Andrew Trowbridge, who are heading back round the archives again in search of spooky BBC sitcom So Haunt Me, ZX Spectrum strategy game Stonkers, Atari Indians Jones-riffing side-scroller Pitfall!, Furzlin’ With Shag Connors And The Carrot Crunchers, Marion Chesney’s ‘Six Sisters’ novels and translated comedy book Le Petit Nicolas. Along the way we’ll be querying how many different ways Shag Connors can spell his name, reading about Barbara Cartland’s trip to Borley Rectory, and debating which is more of an ocular irritant out of the Ken Dodd’s Diddymen Annual design aesthetic and Mr. T on Sesame Street insert film that someone has deliberately trodden on.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Yes I know it's probably a bit modern and metropolitan and sophisticated for Shag Connors but even so.

058 - SHANINE SALMON - MAYBE HE FELT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE NEW MODERN HYMN

April 21, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is theatre critic Shanine Salmon, who's hoping not to have booked a restricted view for the ill-advised 1993 refit of the EastEnders theme, E4 old vs. new comedians reality show Kings Of Comedy, Channel 5 stand-up showcase Club Class, hard-hitting anti-drug campaigns aimed at schoolchildren, BBC Three workplace game show Sack Race and Jerry Hall's dating show Kept. Along the way we'll be finding out what happens if you play the EastEnders theme backwards, the real reason why Bernard Manning never did Reality TV, how much 'Entertainment' could legitimately be found in The Ian Wright Entertainment Show and why you should always steer clear of women in Marc Almond eyeshadow.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/. You can also find Shanine on Looks Unfamiliar talking about Married For Life, Habbo Hotel, Blouse And Skirt, Renegade, Night And Day and Neopets here.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. I won't, ahem, just say no.

LOOKS UNFAMILIAR ANNUALS EXTRA: "WE DON'T WANT TO LEARN A HISTORY OF SODDING CUTLERY"

April 12, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim to take a browse through some of her favourite baffling children’s annuals is writer Jenny Morrill, who’s trying unsuccessfully to play the board games in The Elvis Special 1983, The Home And Away Special 1990, The Sun Annual For Girls 1974, The Daily Mirror Book For Girls 1980 and The V Annual 1986. Along the way we’ll be finding out why you need to pass a wordsearch test in order to become an Elvis Presley fan, wondering whether Sally from Home And Away ages in real time, and debating the best way of getting on a bus upstairs. Plus there’s yet another inexplicable appearance by The Real Thing…

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Please don't go anywhere near any of the coffee-making tips that are no doubt in that Daily Mirror book somewhere.

057 - AL KENNEDY – MAGGIE THATCHER IS COMING TO STEAL YOUR GOLD COINS

April 6, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is podcaster Al Kennedy, who's trying to scratch off and win 'Remembering' points for Alias The Jester, Steve Jackson's Battle Cards, Marblehead Manor, Joe's Apartment, early Eddie Izzard vehicle Channel Hopping, Puddle Lane and legendary ZX Spectrum game Advanced Lawnmower Simulator. Along the way we'll be finding out about the least necessary key change ever, whether there is actually such a thing as a non-Advanced Combat Card, which die has the evillest number of sides, and what constitutes an appropriate punishment for the programmers of Count Duckula 2.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/. You can also find Al on Looks Unfamiliar talking about The High Life, Flipsiders, the SAM Coupé, The Golden Cagoule, Explorer 12, Steeleye And The Lost Magic and Genis-Vell here,

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/outonbluesix. I would like to remind you that 'Steve Jackson's Coffee Cards' are not legal tender.

LOOKS UNFAMILIAR REQUEST SHOW EXTRA

March 23, 2020

This is a collection of highlights from previous editions of Looks Unfamiliar aimed at new listeners, so I thought I’d ask the current listeners what they thought should go in it. And there were more suggestions than I could even keep track of, including some pleasantly surprising favourites. I couldn’t get everything in – and believe me I did try – so here are the twelve most popular guests and choices as voted for by you, the Looks Unfamiliar listening public.

So enjoy another listen – or maybe even the first listen for some of you – to Bob Fischer on Giant Hogweed, Samira Ahmed on Havoc, Jenny Morrill on Boots Global Collection, Mitch Benn on Two-Stage Self-Assembly Ice Cream Cones, Mark Thompson on A. Mazing Monsters, Vikki Gregorich and Jeff Lewis on The Last American, Justin Lewis on Orbit, Emma Burnell on Split Second, Gillian Kirby on Teletext After Hours, Phil Norman on The Country Life Christmas Box, Andy Lewis on Vintage Anti-Enoch Powell Graffiti, and Rae Earl on Cheese And Onion. It’s every bit as eclectic as Anne Nightingale’s Radio 1 Request Show. Which reminds me, nobody’s chosen Win A Night Out With A Well-Known Paranoiac by Barry Andrews yet, have they…

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Just not a two-stage self-assembly one. Not after last time...

056 - MERYL O'ROURKE - THE SOUP OF THE UNDERWEAR WORLD

February 26, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is comedian Meryl O’Rourke, who’s literally rooting through her drawers as we speak in search of BBC Schools programme Sam On Boff’s Island, early portable television the Roadstar, early word processor the Canon StarWriter, Thames Television’s kids club magazine Telereporter, LWT magazine show The Six O’Clock Show, Tom Hanks sitcom Bosom Buddies, and The International Shoparound Exotic Glamourwear Catalogue. Along the way we’ll be estimating how many pills make Michael Rosen larger, failing to impress Russell Harty in a lift, considering the audience Venn Diagram for Dramarama: Spooky and Button Moon, puzzling over why less underwear costs more, and trying not to think too much about the operational logistics behind party invites reading ‘Graham is bringing his porn’.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Just please don't order one from that catalogue.

055 - LYDIA MIZON - THERE WAS NO DICAPRIO RHYME

January 1, 2020

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim this time is QI Elf – and Only Connect champion – Lydia Mizon, who’s hoping that the klaxon buzzer thing doesn’t go off when she mentions Stoppit And Tidyup, Acorn Archimedes game Fervour, Children’s ITV programme Alphabet Castle, Roseanne And The Magic Mirror by Virginia Ironside, VHS-assisted board game Party Mania, and a book about a girl called Lydia who hated cress. Along the way we’ll be finding out how to cope with an anxiety dream about The Fiddly Foodle Bird, recalling Hale And Pace’s classic ‘Irony Virginiaside’ sketches whether they actually existed or not, trying to work out what rhymes with Leonardo Dicaprio, and definitely not playing the The Weakest Link PlayStation game.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/. You can also find Lydia on Looks Unfamiliar talking about Look Around You, Mongrels, Karma Hotel by Spooks, The Smurfs Go Pop!, Lift Off, Secret Agent: The Hunt For Red Rock Rover, Math Rescue, Ceefax Backchat and 4-Tel MegaZine here.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Remember to put the receipt in the bin as we don't want Tidyup... well, we just don't want Tidyup.

LOOKS UNFAMILIAR CHRISTMAS EXTRA: "JUST CROSS THAT FOUR OUT AND PUT A FIVE IN"

December 23, 2019

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to.

Joining Tim for a special Christmas edition is writer, broadcaster and quizmaster Ben Baker, who’s looking back to the original Now - The Christmas Album from 1985, which has since been quietly consigned to Christmas Past for all manner of reasons - and some of them are more 'problematic' than others. Along the way we'll be revealing the identity of 'The Anti-Tim Song', debating what we would have put on a second volume instead of just shuffling the same songs around again and again, exchanging some very frank opinions on Fairytale Of New York, and unveiling our new foolproof scheme for alluding to now-disgraced celebrities without actually naming them.

You can find more editions of Looks Unfamiliar at http://timworthington.org/.

If you enjoy Looks Unfamiliar, you can help to support the show by buying us a coffee here. Like a caffeine-addicted Paul McCartney, I would enjoy simply having one.