Chock-a-block 30.7.1981 - missing, but uploaded

[Koen Br]

Probably not the kind of stuff anyone gets wild about these days, but an episode of Chock-a-block has been uploaded to one of the popular file sharing sites.

The uploader notes, "According to lostshows.com - this episode is MISSING from the official BBC archives. A likely casualty of the Children's TV purges that went on right up until the early 90's", which clearly indicates he knows something about the whole missing television, er, scene. Thought I'd mention it anyway.

The recording, an off-air VHS, appears to be complete. Quality seems pretty good, considering source and age.

[John Fleming]

The same torrent site has S01E05 from 18/06/81. Not only does the poster know about its missing status, but he/she says

"I contacted lostshows, who contacted the BBC on my behalf, who are not interested in obtaining my copy."

This goes to prove that the BBC's attitude towards recovering missing TV is that it is only worthwhile if they can make money out of it from DVD sales. Worse still, I was told recently that the BBC were offered a copy of the 500th TOTP by one of their ex-engineers but they turned it down.

The BBC should remember that they are a public service organisation, not a profit-making business.

[cperry]

As I understand it, there was a large large sum of money involved if the BBC bought the 500th TOTP show and unsurprisingly the BBC do not spend taxpayers' money on acquiring old copies of their shows.

We did offer the BBC those VHS copies of Chock a Block but they declined them. The BBC still hold all of Chock a Block as VHS offairs, so they didn't need back another set of VHS off-airs, it's just the 1" copies that were not retained.

Personally I agree that the 1" should have been retained aswell but the view from the BBC sixth floor was different.

c

[Paul Cooksley]

So what does exist of Chocablock on it's original vt? Not much I guess?

[Rich Cornock]

quote "Worse still, I was told recently that the BBC were offered a copy of the 500th TOTP by one of their ex-engineers but they turned it down"

Interesting that there seem to be a few copies floating around of the 500th episode of TOTP. i assume the engineers copy was different from the one held in the PVL? if so i wonder what condition it was in and whether it was an off air copy or on the original master tape