From EastEnders to The Muppet Show: The Elstree Centre programmes

Shine On Harvey Moon (ATV/Central)

In 1981 ATV embarked on a sitcom based around a family, the Harvey’s. Set in 1945 the story follows the head of the household returning from war to his East End London home where he tries to settle back down into ‘everyday’ life. The first series was given a studio audience (or possibly a laughter track) with the emphasis more on the humour than any dramas.

The first series of six half-hour episodes were transmitted in 1982. Central Television took over the production for series two onwards and transformed the show into a comedy-drama, increasing the format to an hour and ditching ‘the audience’.

Sapphire and Steel (ATV)

This fantasy series, with a touch of science fiction for good measure, starred David McCallum as Steel and Joanna Lumley as Sapphire. The duo battling evil, as always, and protecting the world through time travel.

The show ran from 1979 to 1982, when Central Television took over and decided that its dramas should be earthy, gritty and serious and in no way fantasy or sci-fi – after all that was far too much like ATV and that just wasn’t right in the serious 1980s.