#BOTD in 1935 the late comedian and puppeteer Rod Hull, who was rarely seen without Emu. Image with Des O’Connor, 1986. #rodhullandemu

#onthisday in 1973 the first episode of the classic sitcom Man About The House was transmitted on ITV. It ran for 6 series and starred Richard O'Sullovan, Sally Thomsett and Paula Wilcox as unlikely flatmates. #manaboutthehouse #richardosullivan #sallythomsett #paulawilcox

Happy birthday to actress and Magpie presenter Jenny Hanley. Image from the Magpie set, 1974. #JennyHanley #botd #magpie #oneforsorrow

#onthisday in 1983 the first ever episode of the pilot for the long running series The Bill aired on ITV. Called Woodentop, this one off drama featured Trudie Goodwin as PC June Ackland and Mark Wingett as PC Jim Carver. #thebill #woodentop

This weekend saw the return of #PremierLeague football so here's an image from Magpie with guest George Best. Taken in 1969, Best appears alongside presenters Tony Bastable, Susan Stranks and Pete Brady. #georgebest

The much loved late actress Yootha Joyce, best known for her role as Mildred Roper in Man About The House and it’s spin-off series George & Mildred, was #botd in 1927. Clip from her guest role in a 1976 episode of Looks Familiar. #yoothajoyce #georgeandmildred #looksfamiliar

Remembering the late actress Honor Blackman who was #botd in 1925. Image from Minder on the Orient Express.

#fridayfun with comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, featured with guest Terry Wogan. #MorecambeAndWise #TerryWogan

Singer-songwriter Elvis Costello turns 70 today. Image from ‘Mavis Catches Up With’ from 1989 with the late Mavis Nicholson. #ElvisCostello #maviscatchesupwith #botd

Today is #nationaldogday – image of Yootha Joyce and her adorable dog Truffles from the sitcom series in which she starred alongside Brian Murphy #georgeandmildred

#botd in 1930 the British actor Windsor Davies. Image from his role as Oliver Smallbridge from the long running comedy series Never The Twain. The show ran for 11 series from 1981 to 1991 and also co-starred Donald Sinden. #windsordavies #neverthetwain #donaldsinden

Sending birthday wishes to Sir Lenworth George Henry CBE – with a four-decade distinguished career traversing comedy to Shakespeare and co-founding Comic Relief, Sir Lenny Henry is 66 today. Images from a guest appearance on Des O’Connor Tonight in 1995. #lennyhenry #botd

Remembering the late James Hunt, the British racing driver who won the Formula One World Championship in 1976 who was #botd in 1947. Clip from his interview on Magpie with Mick Robertson in 1976. #JamesHunt #FormulaOne

#BOTD in 1932 the all round entertainer Roy Castle OBE. Much loved and missed, he appeared on Des O'Connor Tonight in 1986. #roycastle #desoconnortonight

Happy 78th birthday to singer, record producer, songwriter Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb CBE AC. The last surviving member of the iconic band The Bee Gees is pictured alongside his sibling twins Maurice and Robin from their 1991 episode of This Is Your Life. #barrygibb #botd

Brian Trueman (1932 – 2024) R.I.P - Brian was an English broadcaster, writer and voice actor. He was known mainly for his work with the animation studio Cosgrove Hall. He wrote and/or narrated children's cartoon series, mostly during the 1970s and 1980s.

Remembering the music icon Freddie Mercury who was #bornonthisday in 1946. Sketch from a 1980 episode of the Kenny Everett show. #freddiemercury #kennyeverett #queen

George and Mildred was first broadcast #onthisday in 1976. A popular sitcom spin-off from Thames TV’s Man About the House, the show followed a feuding and ill-matched couple George and Mildred Roper – played by the fabulous Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy running for 5 series.

#onthisday in 1981 the sitcom series Never the Twain was first broadcast on Thames TV. Running for 11 series it followed the antics and one-upmanship between two curmudgeonly rival antique dealers, Simon Peel (Donald Sinden) and Oliver Smallbridge (Windsor Davies). #neverthetwain

Celebrating his 64th birthday today is British actor Hugh Grant. Image from a 1997 episode of Des O’Connor Tonight when Hugh Grant joined Des for a chat on the sofa. #botd