Five things you never see on TV any more

THE speed at which technology changes means it’s hard to notice nuggets that have fallen off our cultural radar. So are here are five you may have forgotten...

By David Behrens

Published 1st Jul 2015, 18:38 BST

The National Anthem used to accompany the BBC1 globe at closedown

1. Show jumping. Once a staple of BBC1 late weekday evenings, with commentator Raymond Brooks-Ward lamenting riders who had “fallen orf”.

2. British professional wrestling. ITV Saturday afternoons weren’t complete without a grunt-and-groan session featuring Giant Haystacks, Masambula and other unlikely sportsmen.

3. Interlude. In the fifties and early sixties, the sight of the potter’s wheel was a cue to make a cup of tea, while the BBC cued up the next programme.

4. God Save The Queen. BBC transmissions used to end with the national anthem, as did movies in cinemas.

5. The Epilogue. Round-the-clock programming has done away with the need to bring a clergyman into the studio to declare a solemn end to the day’s transmissions.

ITV