5 go back to the 1970s with series of specials

From the things we ate, to the ways we worked, played and even how we paid for it all. Across multiple weekends this spring, we’re going to be packing our bags for a series of fun-filled, nostalgia-packed weekenders taking in quizzes, entertainment, documentaries, history, adventure and experiment.

In addition to the previously announced 1970’s Diet with Josie Gibson, further shows in this seventies celebration include Sally Lindsay’s 70’s Quiz Night.

A fun-filled nostalgia-fest celebrating the best, biggest and funniest bits of the 1970s.  Host Sally will be joined by team captains John Thompson and Shaparak Khorsandi, along with their teams of celebrity guests. With questions to answer, games to play, and classic clips to enjoy, the two teams will go head-to-head to find out who remembers the most about the 1970s. They’ll compete across a series of fun rounds, based on topics from sitcoms to scary children’s programmes, food to pop music, gameshows to the biggest headlines of the decade.

Sally Lindsay:

“Being born in 1973 all my early childhood was memories of orange teacups, massive flares and 3 bar electric fires, and what memories they are! Absolutely thrilled to lead a quiz that take a fun, nostalgic trip right back to that special time with friends of mine battling it out to be the ultimate 70’s champion! Come and join us and see what you remember!”

Government promo release: decimalisation, the changes from shillings to pence / ATV Archive

The 70s Big Night In invites three modern families to enjoy a good, old-fashioned night in front of the telly, as they sit down to a night of prime-time TV from the Golden Age of Saturday night schedules; family entertainment as it was 50 years ago, when shows such as Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em dominated the airwaves, drawing 25 million viewers at its peak. We’ll offer a fascinating lens on 70s family life and society – celebrating a time when Saturday night TV brought families together and captivated the nation.

Then in The 1970s School Disco viewers can discover or remember how the school dance was a rite of passage for every kid in the ‘70s. In this film, a host of 70s movers and shakers, experts, historians and pupils of the decade recall the anticipation, joy and embarrassment of the social event of the school year. From the tunes to the outfits; the drinks to the dance moves, we unpack the key elements that made it so special, with a nationwide poll revealing the nation’s 5 top favourite 70s disco tunes!

In 1971: When Britain Went Decimal 5 digs into the weird and wonderful story of the decimalisation of British currency in 1971 – the biggest change in UK monetary history – when the ancient system of pounds, shillings and pence was replaced with decimal currency. Years in the making, this gargantuan operation involved minting billions of coins, converting millions of machines, and teaching the entire nation how to cope with this colossal conversion. It sparked the largest public information campaign the country had ever seen, complete with gritty TV dramas, saucy, scantily clad ‘Decimal Dollies’ and a bizarre yet catchy song by Max Bygraves…

ATV stars: Kermit the Frog and Bruce Forsyth in the 1970s / ATV Archive

In November 1979 the Queen was embroiled in the scandal of the decade as 5 discovers in The Queen and the Traitor: A Great British Scandal. The late queen was shook to her crown when her longstanding courtier and trusted insider, Anthony Blunt, was exposed as a Russian spy.

This bombshell revelation shook the British royal family and the establishment to its core.

Once upon a time Benny Hill was the biggest thing on British TV – with more people tuning into his show in 1969 than the moon landings – as The Cancellation of Benny Hill discovers. He went on to sing number one hits, break America and become an unlikely hero to Michael Jackson, and even the gangster rap community.

Despite his worldwide popularity, his shows are rarely on TV nowadays – having been criticised for containing racist, sexist, risqué and vulgar content which would be deemed unacceptable by today’s standards. In this no-holds-barred, exclusive documentary, 5 delve into the past of one of Britain’s most unlikely family entertainers – a man whose mere theme tune is enough to bring back memories for anyone of a certain age.

The documentary will tell the story of his irresistible rise, his controversial reign as Britain’s king of comedy, and his eventual downfall, when his incredibly expensive show was finally cancelled by ITV in the late 80s.

Benny Hill in a thoughtful pose during his time with ATV in the sixties / ATV Archive

The show digs into the Thames Television archives and revealing unseen footage that can’t – under normal circumstances – get played on TV today… And 5 will also be showing this material to a generation gap of viewers – from fans who loved Benny at the time, to Generation Z, who simply can’t believe what they’re watching. The Cancellation of Benny Hill explores the prevailing social attitudes that gave rise to some of his most popular material, and ask whether it’s time to bring Benny out of the comedy cold, or whether he should stay ‘cancelled’?

And also, with Paul Daniels – You’ll Like This the channel remember the man who brought magic to television audiences across the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Guy Davies, Commissioning Editor, Unscripted, 5:

“Paul Daniels became the most famous magician in the world, but it was a tough journey through the 70s showbiz world. With access to his family and his magical legacy this is the full unfiltered story of the man who is now seen as a trailblazer in a world where younger magicians would become global superstars. But before that Paul Daniels was the only, and best, show in town.”

He was the ‘Godfather of Magic’, Mr Saturday night, with almost 20 million viewers by the late 80s. But behind the showbiz success story, there’s an origin story – promiscuity, fallouts and firing, all set in the school of hard knocks in 70’s light entertainment Britain.

So who was the real Paul Daniels? Now, for the first time, this feature-length biography tells the extraordinary story of Paul’s life and legacy told through the eyes of his wife and magician’s assistant; Debbie McGee, his first wife and his children and a stellar cast of contemporaries, celebrities, the magic elite and friends and family.

Paul Daniel’s entertains on ATV’s Celebrity Squares / ATV Archive