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The TV That Made Me - Episode Guide

Season 1

Eamonn Holmes

Episode: 1x01 | Airdate: Aug 3, 2015

Eamonn Holmes

Broadcasting legend Eamonn Holmes joins Brian Conley to take a nostalgic look back at the classic TV that helped make him the breakfast television star he is now.

Brian's vintage sitting room makes the perfect setting for Eamonn to kick back and enjoy all the shows he used to watch. From classic wartime drama Colditz to the daddy of all sci-fi series, Star Trek, via the children's TV classic Animal Magic, watching the programmes triggers Eamonn's early memories of life at home in Belfast, giving Brian a rare insight into the young Eamonn Holmes.

Eamonn also regales Brian with tales of how his mother ensured no-one in the house watched Benny Hill, a programme she considered far too risque for a good Catholic boy, and the part her love of fellow Belfast boy and presenter Eamonn Andrews played in gaining our Eamonn his own place on our screens and in our hearts.

It's not all about what's on TV. The two of them enjoy an ice cream treat - something Eamonn and his family often indulged in while watching the box. Together, they piece together how these television shows from his past helped set Eamonn on the road to small screen fame.

Sandi Toksvig

Episode: 1x02 | Airdate: Aug 4, 2015

Sandi Toksvig

Legendary entertainer Brian Conley takes radio and TV presenter Sandi Toksvig on a trip down memory lane to enjoy a nostalgic look at the classic television moments that made her into the one-woman comedy powerhouse she is today.

Sandi joins Brian on the sofa in his vintage sitting room to relive her childhood memories through the television that shaped her as she grew up. Along the way, we learn about the lengths she went to in order to watch Top of the Pops, why the television coverage of the moon landings has such a special place in her heart and why on earth she was so disturbed by the nation's favourite stuffed fox, Basil Brush.

They talk about the classic British programmes which helped her understand the UK when she moved here in her teens, from the eccentric British public in That's Life to the vagaries of the class system in The Good Life. Brian also surprises her with a snack her dad used to bring home after his trips abroad, which she hasn't had in decades.

Brian discovers how all these TV influences came together to bring her to our screens for the first time in the kids' show Number 73 and finds out whether she can still play the sandwich game.

Natalie Cassidy

Episode: 1x03 | Airdate: Aug 5, 2015

Natalie Cassidy

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy joins comedy legend Brian Conley to take us through the television moments that helped shape her into one of our best-loved soap actors.

Settling in for some nostalgic TV viewing in Brian's vintage-inspired sitting room, Natalie reveals the importance of telly watching to her and her family as she grew up in London in the 80s. From the genius of the Trotter brothers in Only Fools and Horses to the anarchy of Mr Blobby in Crinkly Bottom, the Cassidy household has always loved a laugh. But it wasn't all fun and games - Natalie's favourite show in the world was and still is none other than University Challenge.

While Natalie relives her TV favourites, we gain a revealing insight into her childhood and home, sharing everything from her memories of watching telly with her sadly departed mum to the snacks she used to enjoy and the TV-inspired games she would play as a little girl.

This warm-hearted look back through Natalie's childhood years offers a rare glimpse into the influence her telly choices had on her as she grew up.

Jo Wood

Episode: 1x04 | Airdate: Aug 6, 2015

Jo Wood

Comedy legend Brian Conley takes Strictly Come Dancing star Jo Wood on a trip down memory lane, revisiting the classic archive TV from her early years that helped make her into the much-loved celebrity she is today.

Miss World and Twiggy played a big part in her formative years, but how did her love of a spy thriller with a twist, a female comic with attitude and an early TV chef in a ball gown and pearls help set her on the path to a life of rock and roll, music and fashion?

Linford Christie

Episode: 1x05 | Airdate: Aug 7, 2015

Linford Christie

Superstar sprinter Linford Christie joins comedy star Brian Conley for a nostalgic look at the archive TV that helped set him on the path to Olympic success. From the crazy kicks and amazing flicks of 1970swrestling to the antics of those loveable Geordies in The Likely Lads, via a pocket-sized crime-fighting ant, these were the shows that had one of the fastest men on the planet glued to his sofa as a small boy.

Rory McGrath

Episode: 1x06 | Airdate: Aug 10, 2015

Rory McGrath

Comedian and script-writer Rory McGrath joins entertainer Brian Conley to look back at the classic archive TV that helped shape him into one of Britain's funniest men.

What was life like in the McGrath household as he grew up in rural Cornwall, and what inspirational television programmes helped set him on his future career path? Will Rory's on-the-spot audition for the role of Doctor Who be a success? And who will win in Brian's version of Ask the Family as the Conley takes on the McGrath? Brian will find out all these things and more as Rory and he settle down on the sofa to take a nostalgic look back at Rory's childhood telly choices.

Comedy has always played an important part in his life - with early inspiration coming from The Telegoons and the legendary Frankie Howerd - but how did he end up writing for his comedy hero in his very first job? And how did the unique talents of Bob Blackman, the forgotten tale of Cyrus the Seahorse and the wanderings of the Doctor all help him on his own journey onto the small screen?

Carol Kirkwood

Episode: 1x07 | Airdate: Aug 11, 2015

Carol Kirkwood

Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood joins Brian Conley on a journey back in time to revisit the TV memories that helped make her the person we love to wake up to.

From the epitome of cool 1970s cop series Starsky and Hutch to the classic comedy of The Liver Birds, and from Play School to the Generation Game, how did the TV she loved help Carol go from being a shy girl in a remote Scottish village to a perennial fixture on every TV screen in the land? And why was The Old Grey Whistle Test judged to be unsuitable viewing in her house?

Lesley Joseph

Episode: 1x08 | Airdate: Aug 12, 2015

Lesley Joseph

Brian Conley takes Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph back to revisit the TV moments from the past that helped make her one of our best loved comic actors. What was it about shows as diverse as the earlypuppetry of Muffin the Mule, the costumes and classy drama of David Copperfield and the perfect comedy timing of June Whitfield that gave Lesley the inspiration to pursue a life on the stage and on our screens?

Helen Skelton

Episode: 1x09 | Airdate: Aug 13, 2015

Helen Skelton

Former Blue Peter presenter and intrepid adventurer Helen Skelton joins Brian Conley for a trip down memory lane, enjoying the classic archive TV that made her the go-getter she is today.

How did long-running children's news programme Newsround, the early antics of Geordie duo Ant and Dec and the extreme challenges of The Krypton Factor all come together to set Helen on the path to TV presenter and endurance record breaker combined? And what part did the wordless, flightless, animated bird Pingu have to play in her success?

Gok Wan

Episode: 1x10 | Airdate: Aug 14, 2015

Gok Wan

Style icon Gok Wan joins Brian Conley to look back at the classic TV memories from his past that helped make him the star we all love today. From the magic and mystery of Japan's classic children's drama Monkey to the pan-European quiz show Going for Gold, via groundbreaking anarchic pop series The Tube, Brian takes Gok down memory lane to uncover how his early TV influences set him on the path to fame.

Pam Ayres

Episode: 1x11 | Airdate: Aug 17, 2015

Pam Ayres

Writer Pam Ayres shot to fame on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1975. She joins comedy legend Brian Conley to look back at the classic archive TV moments from her past that helped shape her into one of the nation's best-loved poets and entertainers.

Pam's younger years contained a wealth of great telly, but what does the combination of her love of a dancing, juggling dog, not one but two of our favourite boys in blue and one of the scariest series every broadcast on British TV tell us about her? And how did a fast-paced comic singer influence her future career?

Stephen K Amos

Episode: 1x12 | Airdate: Aug 18, 2015

Stephen K Amos

Comedian extraordinaire Stephen K Amos joins legendary entertainer Brian Conley to look back at the classic TV that shaped him into one of Britain's funniest men.

From the slightly surreal singing pig pop stars Pinky and Perky to the terrifying, spine-tingling Tales of the Unexpected, by way of the stunningly gorgeous entertainer Danny La Rue, Stephen's early television influences are wide and varied... but why does he believe he owes his entire career to TV adverts for vacuum cleaners?

Adil Ray

Episode: 1x13 | Airdate: Aug 19, 2015

Adil Ray

Writer and comedy actor Adil Ray joins legendary entertainer Brian Conley to enjoy the classic TV moments from his past that helped put him on the path to TV stardom. How did the anarchic Young Ones, thegroundbreaking Why Don't You?, and the long-running kids' drama Grange Hill shape him as he grew up, and what part did a show like Bread, featuring the Boswell family from Liverpool, play in inspiring him to become the creator and star of Britain's first ever Asian sitcom, Citizen Khan?

Ann Widdecombe

Episode: 1x14 | Airdate: Aug 20, 2015

Ann Widdecombe

Legendary entertainer Brian Conley takes former politician and Strictly star Ann Widdecombe back through the classic TV moments that helped make her that rarest of creatures, a former government minister we are actually fond of. Ann treats us to a host of small-screen classics, from epic biblical drama Paul of Tarsus to steamy scenes in the boatyards of Howards' Way. But what part did the swinging tunes of the Six Five Special and the smouldering looks of Dr Kildare play in shaping her into the person she is today?

Martin Roberts

Episode: 1x15 | Airdate: Aug 21, 2015

Martin Roberts

Homes Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts joins legendary entertainer Brian Conley to look back at the early TV moments that set him on the path to being the man he is now.

On his trip down memory lane, Martin reveals that his early inspiration came from two very different men - the first, none other than Keith Chegwin in his Multi-Coloured Swap Shop days, and the second, Michael Palin as he journeyed Around the World in 80 Days. Martin's TV tastes were certainly eclectic, from the anarchic comedy of The Goodies to early animation in the shape of Trumpton, via the classic word game Call My Bluff. But how did all of these influences come together to make Martin one of our best-loved daytime presenters?

Gyles Brandreth

Episode: 1x16 | Airdate: Aug 24, 2015

Gyles Brandreth

Broadcaster and brainbox Gyles Brandreth joins legendary entertainer Brian Conley to reminisce about the early TV moments that helped set him on the path to fame and make him one of our best-loved televisionpersonalities.

From the coronation of Queen Elizabeth to a badly behaved, untruthful schoolboy, and from one of the earliest children's TV shows on our tellies to some truly groundbreaking political satire, all of Gyles' favourites have one perhaps surprising thing in common - tune in to find out.

Penny Smith

Episode: 1x17 | Airdate: Aug 25, 2015

Penny Smith

Comedy legend Brian Conley takes newsreader Penny Smith on a journey through the classic TV that helped to shape her into one of our favourite early-morning presenters, and finds the answers to some questions about her telly-watching habits.

What impact did one of our greatest ever comedy duos have on her? Why did she look forward to East German children's programme The Singing Ringing Tree, even though it scared her, and why did she hide her love of the long-running, much-respected documentary series Horizon from her friends at school?

Vanessa Feltz

Episode: 1x18 | Airdate: Aug 26, 2015

Vanessa Feltz

Radio and television broadcaster Vanessa Feltz joins legendary entertainer Brian Conley for a nostalgic look at the archive TV that helped set her on the path to small-screen stardom.

From crying at natural history programmes and laughing at early adverts to screaming along with the kids on Crackerjack, television has always played a large part in Vanessa's life. But what emerges is the thing she was most enthralled by from a young age - anything to do with relationships. Classic soap Crossroads and groundbreaking drama Bouquet of Barbed Wire both fuelled her fascination, even if she did have to put up with being sent out of the room every time the going got racy.

Duncan Bannatyne

Episode: 1x19 | Airdate: Aug 27, 2015

Duncan Bannatyne

Entrepreneur and former Dragon Duncan Bannatyne joins comedy legend Brian Conley to revisit the classic TV that helped shape him.

Duncan's take on the first game show to offer cash prizes on British TV, Take Your Pick, gives us an insight into the workings of his business brain. Our longest-running soap, Coronation Street, and a classic police drama, Z Cars, both bring back memories of life growing up in Glasgow. We discover how these TV shows and others set Duncan on the path to his own business empire and a place on our TV screens. But the big question is, how will he get on playing the legendary Yes No Game?

Rebecca Adlington

Episode: 1x20 | Airdate: Aug 28, 2015

Rebecca Adlington

One of our most decorated athletes ever, Rebecca Adlington, joins comedy entertainer Brian Conley for a nostalgic look at the archive TV that helped set her on the path to Olympic success.

Among the TV shows that Rebecca loved growing up were the ultimate sitcom, Fawlty Towers, the original dating show, Blind Date, and one of the first viral adverts, featuring the Cadbury's gorilla. Rebecca also reveals her tactics for winning at Ready Steady Cook, tales of getting in on the Art Attack action with her sisters, and what it takes to become Britain's greatest ever distance swimmer.

Season 2

John Thomson

Episode: 2x01 | Airdate: Mar 7, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined on the sofa by John Thomson. John talks about how his love of horror helped bring him closer to his Dad. And why the 1960s Batman series felt like such a treat. Will Brian be able to help John resolve his hatred of Bungle from Rainbow? John will also be talking about how he feels about the return of Cold Feet.

Dame Esther Rantzen

Episode: 2x02 | Airdate: Mar 8, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined on the sofa by Dame Esther Rantzen. Brian transports Esther back to her childhood with 1950s television. We find out which iconic American television show gave Esther her laughs, and which 1960s gritty drama made a huge impression on her. Esther will be talking about the start of consumer television and why the little box in the corner is a powerful tool for our lives.

John Prescott

Episode: 2x03 | Airdate: Mar 9, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined on the sofa by John Prescott. We find out why John's memories of the Queen's coronation were not so found, and how his admiration for a politician influenced him in those early days. He will talk about his favourite cop drama featuring his favourite actor, Brian Blessed.

Nina Wadia

Episode: 2x04 | Airdate: Mar 10, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined by Nina Wadia. Nina talks about her love for an American classic, Moonlighting, featuring a young Bruce Willis. Brian will show her some clips of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, a show which had a big influence on her. The actress will also discuss her role on the legendary sketch show, Goodness Gracious Me.

Mariella Frostrup

Episode: 2x05 | Airdate: Mar 11, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined on the sofa by Mariella Frostrup. We found out about her love a children's show featuring a cross-eyed lion, and how it made a huge impression on her during those early days. Mariella talks about her close-up with a comedy legend. She will also talk about what it was like to work on shows like Absolutely Fabulous.

John Hannah

Episode: 2x06 | Airdate: Mar 13, 2016 (45 min)

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John Hannah joins Brian Conley on the sofa as they chat about The Champions, The Sweeney and Brian shows John a clip of his big break in a gritty drama.

Alison Hammond

Episode: 2x07 | Airdate: Mar 15, 2016

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Alison Hammond joins Brian Conley on the sofa.

Johnny Ball

Episode: 2x08 | Airdate: Mar 16, 2016

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Johnny Ball joins Brian Conley on the sofa.

Alex Jones

Episode: 2x09 | Airdate: Mar 17, 2016

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Alex Jones joins Brian Conley on the sofa.

Joe Swash

Episode: 2x10 | Airdate: Mar 18, 2016

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Joe Swash joins Brian Conley on the sofa.

Myleene Klass

Episode: 2x11 | Airdate: Mar 21, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined by Myleene Klass. Brian makes a visit to television classic Fraggle Rock as well as paying homage to Australia soap Neighbours. Brian and Myleene revisit The Wonder Years, which had a big influence on a young Myleene.

Richard Ridings

Episode: 2x12 | Airdate: Mar 22, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined by Richard Ridings.

Paul Martin

Episode: 2x13 | Airdate: Mar 23, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined by Paul Martin.

Kirsty Wark

Episode: 2x14 | Airdate: Mar 24, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined by Kirsty Wark.

Amanda Abbington

Episode: 2x15 | Airdate: Mar 25, 2016 (45 min)

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Brian is joined by Amanda Abbington.

Anita Dobson

Episode: 2x16 | Airdate: Mar 28, 2016 (45 min)

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Actor Anita Dobson joins Brian Conley on the sofa to talk about the TV that helped make her the person she is today. With both Fred and Ginger and Television Dancing Club amongst her TV choices, it's no surprise when she and Brian take to the floor to show off their own dancing skills. The question is, what prompts Brian to produce a banana xylophone and can he persuade Anita to play it? Plus the seminal moment on EastEnders when Dirty Den presents Angie with divorce papers, and we find out which children's programme launched Anita's TV career.

Richard Arnold

Episode: 2x17 | Airdate: Mar 29, 2016

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Good Morning Britain's Richard Arnold joins Brian Conley on the sofa to talk about the TV that shaped him. They start with a visit to Hector's House, before Brian ramps up the nostalgia when he presents Richard with a dressing gown as part of a Dallas-themed homage. The fashion theme continues when Brian surprises Richard with a clip of House of Eliott, before revealing the iconic car advertisement that left a mark on Richard. Plus a tribute to one of the greatest broadcasters ever to grace these shores, Sir Terry Wogan. Richard talks openly about his childhood and the stars that inspired him to become an entertainment journalist. Plus his first big break in television on The Sunday Show.

Rachel Khoo

Episode: 2x18 | Airdate: Mar 30, 2016

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TV chef Rachel Khoo joins Brian Conley on the sofa to talk about the TV that helped shape the person she is today. Brian finds out if Rachel can channel her inner Jilly Goolden when he gives her a wine tasting test. Will her taste buds be a match for the queen of wine? From a lasagne-loving cat to a duck that lived in a broom cupboard, this show has no end of surprises. Just don't mention duck a l'orange.

Kate Garraway

Episode: 2x19 | Airdate: Mar 31, 2016

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Presenter Kate Garraway joins Brian Conley on the sofa to talk about the TV that made her the person she is today. She explains which finger puppets hold a special place in her heart, which daytime TV show helped her fall in love with television and looks back at the fashion drama that had a huge influence on her as a teenager. Kate talks candidly about her career and opens up on her big break, when the nation woke up to her presenting alongside Eamonn Holmes.

Hazel Irvine

Episode: 2x20 | Airdate: Apr 1, 2016

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Sports broadcaster Hazel Irvine joins Brian Conley on the sofa to talk about the TV that made her the person she is today. Proceedings start with a look back at the 1972 Olympics, an event that made headlines both on and off the track, whilst also cementing a young Hazel's love for sport. There's even time for a spot of indoor golf as Hazel reveals what it was like to become the youngest ever presenter of iconic sports programme Grandstand.

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