The Sullivans - Opening - UK TV

[MySilverr]

I always wanted Dave Sullivan to be my T.V. dad.

[RaikenXion]

Okay, now does any1 remember the series "Bread??" remember the opening intro and music? lol

[fulcilover]

Oh on, not The Sulivans

[Kelly14UK]

Don't care if it's Aussie versus Japan, it's very much a part of our British TV culture, Oh yes...

[pogue34]

My favourite was Uncle Harry played by the wonderful Michael Caton. If you have a chance see him in a fantastic film called the Castle. Its a real joy of a film.

[coventrygardens]

i used to watch this, mainly because of the peculiar accent. it & cell block h were likely the only things on my tv that had it. this reminds me about a question that i wish to ask the australians & the english. i wonder whether the australians & english have any trouble telling the difference between a typical canadian accent and a typical northern u.s. accent. i was raised along the border, & i don't hear much difference on the 2 sides. (southern u.s. accents are in a different category.)

[reticulan5]

@coventrygardens As mentioned by me an episode was shot at my house back in 77.I got hooked with the

filmmaking process from the experience.I worked with Val Lehman alias Bea Smith on a unsold TV Pilot I shot

called "Business and Pleasure" She played a CEO of a fashion magazine.She's right into the arts,opera,fine wine and food.Nothing like her character.I'm Rick Idak IMDB.(rickidaksgrips@gmail.com­)

[coventrygardens]

@reticulan5 what you said is interesting, but i think you wrote to me by mistake. i think maybe you meant to respond to someone else. well, maybe you did mean to write to me. your first statement "as mentioned by me " makes me think you thought you were writing to someone with whom you had already spoken. anyway, if you were writing to me, then what about the question i asked ?

[reticulan5]

@coventrygardens Re-Accents,most Australians cannot tell the difference between northern U.S accents and that of Canadian.Hopefully with all the GFC problems around the world will get some more migration from the U.S and Canada and will be able to tell the difference.

[coventrygardens]

@reticulan5 when i was a kid, we had about 6 or 7 tv channels that came in well , & 1 channel was broadcast from right across the border, in canada. i think both sides of the border sounded very much the same. furthermore, americans from other parts of the u.s. can often think that i have a canadian accent. when i mention where i was raised, some people say, "oh, that's pretty much the same as canada." i spent a bit of time in canada. in case you're wondering, canada now drives on the right.

[SuperJimdeb]

running home from school at dinner time and watching it with my mam great days but like all wonderful things they must come to an end mam i miss you and think of you every day until we are together again R.I.P

[suzytheQ]

@SuperJimdeb Ditto I miss mine too!! x

[MrDjc1970]

remember watching this in the early 80's during school lunchtime, then along came neighbours and then they invaded England with every soap and popsong going lol. loved miss mangle/jessop.

[MyJackdempsey]

What a cheesy program

[MrConsiderateguy]

And yes i must be a dull person not to be a fan of the sulivans! Shame on me at the age of 5 not to show an interest in the program! Lol

[MrConsiderateguy]

You must have every episode on VHS kinghotdog.....sorry that i upset you, it's an exciting program really! Lol

[MrConsiderateguy]

Its funny how at a young age of 5 you think it's incredibly boring and now im at the age of 30 and still think its dull and boring!! Lol

[KingHotdog]

@MrConsiderateguy maybe ur just a dull and boring person DO THE MATH

[iusetaloveher]

Was on Irish TV as well. All I remembered was the boy running off and the father's grimace for the camera. Little did we know the torrent of Australian soaps that would come after that :-)

[MrConsiderateguy]

I remember this being on after rainbow, it depressed me even as a 5 yr old boy!! Lol

[hoffmanshades]

This was my pre-school equivalent of a come-down. I still remember the feeling of depression it gave me after watching King Rollo or whatever was on offer that day. Yes, I'm a TV baby. Wouldn't have it any other way. :)

[lotuspoint]

This so reminds me of being at my nans, either during school holidays or If i was off sick,, used to be on at around 1230 I think?

[WhovianRed]

I remember always watching the opening titles after Rainbow, but it was such a dull programme and held no interest for a 6-year old!

[pufferfishish]

@WhovianRed Me too. I was always fascinated by the girl pulling the boy's cap down before he runs after her, even though I knew it happened every time. Crown Court was on next I think, and it was just as boring to five year old me. :)

[abhard6]

It's funny how a particular theme tune or opening of a programme can bring back memories for everyone

Again like many others I used to watch this eating my lunch after Rainbow had finished, but always had to leave 10 minutes before it ended to catch afternoon registration at school.

[Longi1974]

When I was a child, this would be on after the two kid's programmes (usually Playschool and Rainbow) normally shown on weekday lunchtimes.

[unku2007]

Thank you for posting this nostalgic tune! I remembered far too well in the late 70s when I was about 12 watching this programme religiously every Thursday evening on my own. Btw this was back then in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

[reticulan5]

The crew shot an episode in our house and back yard from the first season.I still have an old polaroid that a continuity girl took of me with Paul Cronin and Richard who played his youngest son.It's the episode where Paul Cronin joins a vountary fire brigade of sorts in case of bombings and his first job was to put out a fire in an outside toilet someone was smoking and newspapers don't mix.A lot of fun and I remember the toilet engulfed in flames and the local brigade hired to put it out.

[CaptainSiCo]

@reticulan5 I watched that episode not long ago! Terry kept getting scolded for calling the outhouse the 'dunny' lol.

[reticulan5]

@CaptainSiCo That old house is gone now.I went by and saw 2 flats in it's place.For anyone interested.The house was on 12 Purdy avenue Dandenong West.Sandown taxi base had their radio station on the corner there.

Quite a few character's homes were in the area as well as other suburbs.I was surprised and delighted when the location scouts first came and asked permission to shoot at our house.The production company paid mum $55

back then.Mum went out and bought the cast and crew beer for lunch.

[JFredUK]

Next watched it. After Rainbow, (or whatever), finished, I'd be off outside or up into my bedroom to read a comic, when this came on. The 12.30 -1.00 slot on ITV generally had that effect on me, though.

[TIGERDO100]

Oooh, I so remember this theme tune. Used to go home for dinner from school and it was always on every lunch time. Good times, wish I could still be back in those times sometimes.

[Franks559]

The Sullivans is such a part of my childhood. Love it.

[yawnblahblahblah]

Pigeon Street,Chockablock, Lets Pretend,Button Moon , Mr Benn possibly finger mouse and Jamie and the magic torch...

If you went home for lunch mid 80's join the select club.....you know who you are...!!! lol

[MovieMad007]

@yawnblahblahblah ermmm not me lol....ermm ok busted sorry mum!!!!! got found out by someone on youtube..........lol

[stealth74]

@FrankiUK

excellent. Great to see there's some of us about still who remember the great stuff that used to be on the tv

[stealth74]

never thought i'd hear or see the intro to the sullivans again,great. Thanks for posting. Really takes me back

[DaveyC95]

I remember this show.And the guy who played Kitty's brother with the cap on died of motor neurone disease.

[FrankiUK]

striderm78 - YES! You must be about my age - I used to do exactly that - come home for lunch and watch it together with cockleshell bay. Oh, and also King Rollo and Pigeon Street.

[ibriman]

I remember it being really dull then interspersed with a good bit of flash back to a war. 2nd, Korean war? Vietnam? Can't remember

[striderm78]

This intro used to mean Back to school. always went home for lunch when I was at primary school to have a proper lunch & I watched rainbow, cockle shell bay or puddle lane. Also remember going back to school to watch a video about the danger of climbing electric pylons but turning over to neighbours instead! Those where the days

[JFredUK]

Showed at 12.30 after the 2 children's programmes to fill in the gap before News at One. As a child, this theme was the cue to go and do something else other than watch TV before having to go back to school at around 1pm!

[miko1975guitar]

Hated this show as a kid, and yep still hate it now.

[RetroGirl1974]

Haha, God that girl who pulls the boy's cap down and runs off always really peed me off... even that young!! Funny to see this again. :)

[Charlotte345]

I used to go to my nanas for dinner from school on a lunch time and she always used to have this on. Brings back happy memories. :'o)

[vigerfa]

A lovely series... brings back so many memories... no doubt, the Australian soaps have to be the best of all..

[Cryten1974]

used to watch this at school (or a programme very similar) was for a lesson but can't remember which one

[ChrissyboyH44]

omg I'm 30 now and aint seen this on lunchtime tv since i was 5 lol.. Thames Television we used to have back then!

[xboxmodder02]

@ChrissyboyH44 same lol im 30 too doesnt time fly by being 5 dont seem that long ago lol

[dark108x]

Funny that for an Australian show, all the comments are from Brits :)))

[opencurtin]

Two of the actors have died since it was made they played Terry and Alice sad .RIP

[springsteen75]

@MrMorgansgoat With you there! This and sons and daughters.. two more depressing tv shows u couldn't imagine!

[MsFanmail]

What time did this used to be on tv and what year was it shown here in the uk

[Glenn1967ful]

@MsFanmail

It started on Border in 1977 and was usually shown at 3.30. Tyne Tees showed it at 12.30 until they cancelled it in 1986.

[RTWUROTTS]

Off sick from school ,there was little else to watch , those were the days !

[buzzybee77]

home dinners for lunch, forced to watch this and eat cod in sauce with mashed potato!

[MrDeepdale]

@buzzybee77 Same here. Would watch all of the episode and run back to school and get back just in time. Magical days that I wish I could relive just once more

[pamcel]

aw. Only got to watch this if I was off school. 

[FlamingFairy]

Home from school for dinner, managed to watch the first part of The Sullivans before I had to make my way back. Only got to watch the second part if I managed to skive off with a "migraine" or something.

[klisher]

ooohh !! that takes you back. as others say just after rainbow. those three guys stuck in the woods with the resistance in the war for what seemed like forever

[kamelion7]

I saw this opening every day for what seemed like forever when i was little but can never remember watching the actual programme!!!

[n136ha]

i wouold like to know what happened when the boy caught up with his sister

[MegaDave1973]

a classic soap of the eighties

[bhpgray123]

Remember watching this in my lunch break then rushing back to school for afternoon lessons........happy days

[timpatjoe]

wasnt one killed by the japs in ww2 !havent seen this since got knows jack charlton was still the irish manager!!

[Sloney1969]

This was the sad part of the day when off school.... no more kids TV till 3.55 when playschool started.. lol

I too used to try to smile like the Dad but now as I am older it is just natural... Part of getting older me thinks......

[zepsterboy]

haha remember watching this load of old bollocks if i skived off school hehe, wasnt it after Rainbow?? Never watched it for long tho just until the kids ran up the street. crap lol

[COLONEL961]

i used to go home for lunch-and watched it at 12.30pm i think-after bungle and zippy

[wesmatron]

WOW I remember this from when I was a kid. I wasn't the only one who thought the bit at 0:28 was funny when it takes a black and white pic of Mr. Sullivan and the bit of the porch roof makes him look like he's got a huge-brimmed hat on

[moveitbetts]

The episodes that stick in my mind are the ones where Tom almost gets blown to bits by a Japanese soldier on VJ-Day, 15th Aug 1945 and the very last which is heartbreaking.

[spackertube]

Mrs Jessop was my fave, Mrs Gossip my Mum called her.

Went on to become Mrs Mangle in Neighbours.

I used to practice the Daddy Sullivan upside down smile but never mastered it.

[col227]

Mrs Jessop was always my favourite too. I remember writing to Vivean Gray who played her when she was in Neighbours as Mrs Mangel and she replied saying She likes to think Mrs Jessop and Mrs Mangel were sisters, only Mrs Mangel had the more malicious streak!

[Franks559]

@col227 Yeah, and don't forget 'Uncle Harry'.

[shyaman1]

Well I watched it from Sri Lankan television in 1980s in black and white (the only version of the tv at that time in Sri Lanka) when I was a student. It was one of my favourites. 10.30 pm once a week, but I never missed it. love to see it again and it also bring back lots of sweet memories of my teenage.

[bigbustyboop]

one of best tv programmes ever lol

[balckbettystack]

One of these 'young gentmen Sullivan son's' works here now as an ambulance driver.

When I first saw him I just about fell over!But it was good to chat with him.(He was working)

[jghatora1]

Oh this brings back so many memories of the mid 1980s. Like most home from School then back again and then back home for Sons & Daughters.

[ryolite38]

I had to listen to the Sullivans on full volume because my Grandmother was tone deaf.

[Rawlinson18]

Home to lunch from school in the early eighties, watch this then run back, good times.

[TheRustylocks]

my brother and me used to act out the 'hat' bit - how great to see it again.

[Johindes]

Oh wow great memories thank you x

[Cool2BCeltic]

A cross between Neighbours and A Family at War.

[gluepot66]

Holly f.....g s..t. having lived in the states I thought I had heard it all. From 'oh your from England did you drive here' to 'Oh your from England where did you learn too speak English' but no, I never cease to be utterly utterly awstruck by the naivety and earthshattering ignorance of Americans. Its no wonder this guy covertet to the pope he probably belives in the tooth fairy as well.

[alexelliottwelch]

I've seen that on Southampton TV in 2003.

[VasGuy]

is the war still on; i remember this from the 80s & 90s i taught it would never end

[kpuc1973]

me too, finished in 89 as i left school. have the last one on video somewhere.

[m8rkk]

i used to watch this when i was about 8 or 9 - wow memories

[wrestlingnewsdesk]

i should know i was watching it..

[wrestlingnewsdesk]

yes in the 80's sullivans on lunchtime on itv terrestrial tv channel in the uk then replayed on satellite/cable channel uk gold.

[spmcghee]

ohh what a lovley prog to remember i am shedding a tear or two watching it.

[Lauraloos1981]

we used to watch this every friday afternoon bringing tears to my eyes as im watching it

[bdowd74]

Wow I remember the sullivans. It was on Irish TV in the late 70's / early 80's.

[riggburn]

i remember this when i was off school ill..... or so i made out lol...

[bellimbopinni]

'The Sullivans' on UK TV? C'mon, this didn't happen. Tell me more.

[trimmytrab]

When we play poker at home if someone has a good hand they do the Sullivans Dad Face to show them who's the daddy

[KevL75]

I was about 4 or 5 when it was on.

For some weird reason that final photo of the mum and dad has never left my memory.

I often think of it.

It's nice to see it on YouTube.

I don't know why I didn't look for this earlier.

[LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH]

I remember 'The Sullivans,' from childhood. I remember an episode that covered the invasion of Crete by the German Fallschirmjager (Paras!). It portrayed the Aussie contingent giving Fritz a bloody good scrap- which is exactly what they did do! It would be good to see this show again :)

[Xxfancythat79xX]

This used to be on on Channel 4 every sunday in the 80's

[tishhope]

That was The Waltons! This was on ITV from the late-1970s to the late 80s/early 90s (depending on where you lived), and later on satellite...

[Xxfancythat79xX]

No I remember the Waltons! I watched it in the late 80's I think but you're probably right about it being on ITV....sorry!!

[NAT4TONY]

The sound of our toilet flushing always reminded me of the start of the Sullivan's theme, when I was little!

[SPURSO1]

best show that australia ever exported, before sons and daughters/prisoner neighbours etc. this show put australia on the map for me and made bunking off worth the effort.

[creeball]

used to love that show myself as a kid. do you remember also the young doctors, speaking of which?

[allyplumb]

The opening sequence is really iconic as people have mentioned was always on during the school lunch break...

[peterbareford]

I loved the Sullivans watched it first in UK and then in Singapore where the series started again, but I never got to see the last episode. anybody got it on video?

[maggieforbes001]

loved this, lorainne baly who played grace the mum was my favorite.

[STARPOWER1974]

I remember this. it was on when i was a kid, but i have forgoton everything about the show. o my i feel old, lol

[DrKincade]

Wow it's great to see this again. Like pommie784 I used to watch this on my dinner break when I went to my Gran's. Everything had to be cooked and eaten before 1230 so she could see "The Sullivans". Marvelous memories of days long gone... (sigh)

[whispperson]

What Memories.

Its Great to see This Opening again.

[pommie784]

i used to watch this when i got home for lunch from school

[Snapper4298]

Thank you so much...takes me back.

[simonjamesbeer]

my mum used to watch this while she was doing the ironing

[nimajji]

Simon, That is so raw/pure/unfiltered/unvarnishe­d a comment. Thank you....the show used to come in the afternoons (around 4.00 pm-ish) in India in the early 90's on Star TV. I loved the dresses, the backdrop, the civility of the characters....so many memories...

[1969speedbunny]

I used to watch this when i was a kid,it was usually on ITV at about 12.30pm.Thanks for uploading;)