Rewind TV, the retro-focused Freeview (and Sky) channel, is opening the vaults this autumn with a collection of films that haven’t graced British television screens in decades – if ever.
The channel is launching an “After Hours” season featuring cult classics and cheeky documentaries from the 1960s and 70s, including Russ Meyer’s Fanny Hill, Mary Millington’s True Blue Confessions, and two Kenny Everett specials that have never been shown on British television.
But the late-night programming represents just part of Rewind TV’s autumn schedule.
The channel is also bringing back brilliant British drama like Wish Me Luck and Shine on Harvey Moon, 1960s sci-fi gem The Champions, and a rediscovered 1950s puppet show that’s been missing for over sixty years.
Rewind TV’s Growing Archive of British Television
Since launching on Sky in May 2024 and expanding to Freeview that September, Rewind TV has carved out a niche as a channel for classic British programming that would otherwise remain locked in archives.
You can currently find it on Freeview Channel 81, Sky Channel 182 (satellite only), and Freely Channel 141 (though you’ll need an aerial connected for that last one).
It’s still absent from Sky Stream, Sky Glass, and Freesat – which feels like a missed opportunity given the current appetite for nostalgic content.
Retro channel competitor Talking Pictures TV is finally making the jump to streaming, with confirmation they’ll arrive on Freely in 2026. Rewind TV remains a traditional broadcast-only operation for now, though whether that changes as streaming platforms expand remains to be seen.
Rewind TV has made its name digging up television that hasn’t been seen since it first aired. Back in August, they brought us rare Doctor Who documentaries and Tony Hancock material from 1956 that had been missing for seventy years.
That Hancock discovery highlighted the regulatory tightrope smaller broadcasters walk these days. Rewind TV ended up premiering one episode exclusively on YouTube rather than Freeview, citing fears about Ofcom sanctions over period language and attitudes.
Co-founder Jonathan Moore noted that “many broadcasters live in permanent fear of falling foul of Ofcom guidelines,” with smaller companies feeling potential fines most keenly.
Which makes this autumn’s “After Hours” season all the more interesting – they’re clearly willing to push boundaries when the content warrants it.
After Hours: When British Cinema Got Cheeky
The late-night film collection represents a fascinating slice of British entertainment history that many modern viewers have never encountered.
The lineup includes the outrageous horror spoof Bloodbath at the House of Death, a 1984 comedy featuring Kenny Everett, Pamela Stephenson, and Vincent Price.
There’s Eskimo Nell, The Great British Striptease with Bernard Manning, and a host of provocative titles that defined a freer, wilder era of British cinema.
Films like London in the Raw and Primitive London offer glimpses of 1960s urban culture, whilst Naked as Nature Intended represents the “naturist documentary” genre that thrived in this era.
Queen of the Blues and Sex and the Other Woman round out the collection – films that sit somewhere between sociological curiosity and cheeky entertainment.
Russ Meyer brings his distinctive visual style to Fanny Hill, whilst Mary Millington‘s True Blue Confessions documents the life of Britain’s most famous adult film star from the era.
The Kenny Everett material is different entirely – The Kenny Everett Naughty Joke Box and The Kenny Everett New Naughty Video have never been shown on British television despite Everett’s mainstream popularity.
They’re comedy rather than titillation, though definitely of the adults-only variety.
What ties all these films together is that they represent a specific moment in British entertainment history – after the old censorship rules collapsed but before the home video era changed everything.
They were made for cinema release, aimed at adult audiences, and reflected a brief period of unusual freedom in British film.
Rewind TV hasn’t announced specific broadcast dates or times yet, but given the content, expect late-night slots with appropriate warnings attached.
More British Gems Coming This Autumn
In addition to the After Hours films, you can expect these titles in the coming weeks:
Hank The Cowboy
Starting October 19 at 3:35pm, Rewind TV brings us something genuinely rare – a 1950s children’s show that’s been missing for over sixty years.
Hank The Cowboy represents early television at its most charmingly makeshift.
It’s a hybrid affair mixing ventriloquism, animation, and Western adventure – the sort of thing that would have captivated children in the days before fancy production values became the norm.
That any of this survived is remarkable. Most early television was broadcast live and either never recorded or got wiped later when videotape was expensive and reusable.
The show has been recently rediscovered after more than six decades in obscurity, now restored and capturing the charm of early television.
The show airs Sundays at 3:45pm.
Star Maidens
From October 30 at 11:00am and 5:00pm, you can catch one of the most wonderfully bizarre sci-fi series of the 1970s.
Star Maidens is set on the planet Medusa, where traditional gender roles are completely reversed – women rule whilst men serve. When two male fugitives escape to Earth, chaos and hilarity ensue.
The series was a British-German co-production, which partly explains its distinctive visual style. It’s fabulously kitsch, with costume and set design that screams 1970s sci-fi in the best possible way.
Part feminist satire, part space opera, Star Maidens is visually wild and completely unique.
Boon
Starting November 5 at 3:00pm and 9:00pm comes one of ITV’s most successful dramas from the late 1980s and early 90s.
Michael Elphick stars as Ken Boon, a former firefighter turned freelance troubleshooter, tackling crime and injustice with wit and heart. Neil Morrissey co-stars as Rocky, adding warmth and humour to this Midlands-set mix of drama and gentle comedy.
The show was hugely popular throughout its run, becoming a British TV favourite. With his trusty motorbike and strong moral code, Boon is the everyman hero audiences couldn’t help but root for.
The series ran for seven series between 1986 and 1992, pulling in millions of viewers.
Wish Me Luck
This critically acclaimed wartime drama arrives November 6 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm.
Wish Me Luck tells the story of female British agents parachuted into Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Starring Kate Buffery, Suzanna Hamilton, and Jane Asher, the series is based on real-life accounts of women who undertook extraordinarily dangerous secret missions.
The series follows their secret missions, dangerous alliances, and the emotional toll as they fight behind enemy lines. It’s tense, thrilling, and deeply human – a moving tribute to courage under fire.
The series originally aired on LWT between 1987 and 1989, running for three series.
Shine on Harvey Moon
Also starting November 6, at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, comes this beloved period drama set in post-war East London.
Shine on Harvey Moon follows Harvey Moon, a working-class war veteran returning home in the 1940s. As he rebuilds his life and reconnects with his family in a changing post-war Britain, Harvey’s story blends humour, politics, and pathos.
With memorable characters and authentic detail, the series paints a heartfelt picture of hope, hardship, and working-class resilience.
It captures a very specific moment in British history – the immediate aftermath of war, when victory had been won but the hard work of reconstruction was just beginning.
The series ran from 1982 to 1995 across four series, with gaps between them as Harvey’s story moved through the late 1940s and into the 1950s.
The Champions
Starting November 7 at 3:00pm and 9:00pm comes a proper cult classic from the golden age of ITC adventure series.
The Champions follows three secret agents who survive a plane crash in the Himalayas and gain superhuman powers from an advanced civilisation. Combining Cold War tension with futuristic flair, the series became a fan favourite thanks to its stylish production, intriguing plots, and proto-superhero premise.
Created by Monty Berman and Dennis Spooner, it sits alongside other ITC classics like The Avengers and Department S in the pantheon of British spy-fi. The series featured Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo, and William Gaunt in the lead roles.
The series only ran for one season in 1968-69, producing 30 episodes before ending rather abruptly.
The Brian Conley Show
From November 8 at 7:00pm, you can catch one of the brightest stars of 1990s British light entertainment in his prime.
Brian Conley‘s self-titled variety show was a fast-paced mix of stand-up comedy, musical numbers, character sketches, and celebrity guests. The show showcased Conley’s unique energy and broad appeal – he could sing, dance, do impressions, and switch between characters with impressive ease.
The show ran from 1992 to 1995 on ITV, pulling in big audiences who appreciated its family-friendly entertainment. It’s a brilliant throwback to the golden days of British light entertainment.
McCallum
This slick crime drama arrives November 9 at 9:00pm.
John Hannah stars as Dr. Iain McCallum, a forensic pathologist with a talent for uncovering the truth and a tendency to get too close to danger. Set against the gritty backdrop of 1990s London, McCallum combines sharp procedural storytelling with emotional depth and moral complexity.
The series ran from 1995 to 1998 across five series, originally on ITV. The show also featured Nathaniel Parker as McCallum’s police contact DI Bracken, with their professional relationship providing much of the series’ dramatic tension.
With cases that blur the lines between life, death, and justice, it gained a reputation for intelligent writing and strong performances.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Starting November 10 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm comes this award-winning adaptation of Muriel Spark‘s iconic novel.
Geraldine McEwan stars as Jean Brodie, the fiercely independent and controversial teacher who inspires and manipulates her young pupils in 1930s Edinburgh. Passionate, flawed, and unforgettable, Miss Brodie is one of literature’s most compelling characters.
The 1978 television adaptation aired as a seven-part serial, giving space for the story to breathe. The series is richly acted and emotionally complex, exploring themes of influence, idealism, and betrayal.
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Coming in December (specific date and time to be announced) is this charming musical comedy-drama.
Robson and Jerome star in this production set in wartime Britain, following a group of entertainers sent to perform for the troops during World War II. With its mix of romance, humour, and classic swing tunes, Ain’t Misbehavin’ delivers a nostalgic tribute to the spirit and sacrifice of a generation.
The series aired in 1997, capitalising on Robson and Jerome’s massive popularity following their chart-topping musical success after appearing together in Soldier Soldier.
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