Editing Do Not Adjust Your Set

{{short description|British television series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = DO_NOT_ADJUST_YOUR_SET.jpg
| caption            =
| camera             = 
| runtime            = c. 25 minutes (excluding commercials)
| creator            = 
| developer          = 
| executive_producer = {{plainlist|
*[[Humphrey Barclay]] (series 1)
*Ian Davidson (series 2)}}
| starring           = {{plainlist|
*[[Denise Coffey]]
*[[Eric Idle]]
*[[David Jason]]
*[[Terry Jones]]
*[[Michael Palin]]
*[[Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band]]}}
| narrated           = 
| opentheme          = 
| endtheme           = 
| country            = United Kingdom
| language           = English
| network            = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| first_aired        = {{start date|1967|12|26|df=yes}}
| last_aired         = {{end date|1969|5|14|df=yes}}
| num_series         = 2
| num_episodes       = 29
| company           = {{plainlist|
* [[Associated-Rediffusion|Rediffusion London]] (Series 1)
* [[Thames Television]] (Series 2)
}}
| location           = {{plainlist|
* [[Wembley Studios]] (Series 1)
* [[Teddington Studios]] (Series 2)
}}
| related            = ''[[At Last the 1948 Show]]'' (1967) 
}}

'''''Do Not Adjust Your Set''''' is a British television series produced originally by [[Associated-Rediffusion|Rediffusion, London]], and then by the fledgling [[Thames Television]] for British commercial television channel [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] from 26 December 1967 to 14 May 1969. The show took its name from the message (frequently seen on the TV screen in those days) that was displayed when there was a problem with transmission or technical difficulties.

It helped launch the careers of [[Denise Coffey]], [[David Jason]], [[Eric Idle]], [[Terry Jones]] and [[Michael Palin]]; the last three became members of the [[Monty Python]] comedy troupe soon afterwards. Although originally conceived as a children's programme, it quickly acquired a fandom amongst adults,<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilmut |first=Roger |title=From Fringe to Flying Circus: Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960–1980 |publisher=Eyre Methuen |date=1980 |page=185}}</ref> including future Python members [[John Cleese]] and [[Graham Chapman]].

The [[Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band]], a [[Political satire|satirical]] comedy/art/pop group, also performed songs in each programme and frequently appeared as extras in sketches. The programme itself comprised a series of satirical sketches, often presented in a surreal, absurd and discontinuous style – anticipating ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', which began five months after the last episode of ''Do Not Adjust Your Set''. Several surreal animations between sketches were crafted for the second series by [[Terry Gilliam]], who soon graduated to ''Python'' along with Palin, Jones and Idle.

One recurring feature of the show was ''[[Captain Fantastic (TV series)|Captain Fantastic]]'', a [[superhero]] parody featuring David Jason in [[farcical]] and morbid adventures against [[villainess]] Mrs. Black (Coffey). These segments were shot entirely on location in London. The feature was so popular with the young audience that after ''Do Not Adjust Your Set'' itself ended, ''Captain Fantastic'' briefly continued in its own capacity in the children's magazine show [[Magpie (TV series)|''Magpie'']].

Only 14 of the original 29 episodes currently exist.

== Awards ==
In June 1968, an episode of ''Do Not Adjust Your Set'' was submitted to the 1968 Prix Jeunesse International Television Festival in [[Munich]]. It won first prize in the 12–15 years category.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set |url=https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/adjust-set/#:~:text=Do%20Not%20Adjust%20Your%20Set%20won%20first%20prize%20in%20the,shown%20on%20Christmas%20Day%201968. |website=Nostalgia Central| date=24 June 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcus |first=Laurence |date=December 7, 2018 |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set |url=https://televisionheaven.co.uk/reviews/do-not-adjust-your-set |website=Television Heaven}}</ref>

==Home media==
Nine of the 14 episodes from the first (Rediffusion) series were released on DVD in the UK and the US on 25 August 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2005 |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/do_not_adjust_your_set/shop/2282/do_not_adjust_your_set/ |website=British Comedy Guide}}</ref> Both releases use the same [[NTSC]] Region 0 discs made from [[telerecording]]s of the original videotapes. In this DVD release, the episodes are numbered 1 to 9, although, in fact, they are episodes 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 from series 1 <ref>{{Cite web |last=Thorn |first=The |date=May 9, 2015 |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set |url=https://thecriticaleye.me/2015/05/09/do-not-adjust-your-set/ |website=The Critical Eye}}</ref> (a similar fault was made on the release of ''[[At Last the 1948 Show]]'').<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thorn |first=The |date=May 2, 2015 |title=At Last the 1948 Show |url=https://thecriticaleye.me/2015/05/02/at-last-the-1948-show/ |website=The Critical Eye}}</ref> The sole surviving episode from series 2 and ''Do Not Adjust Your Stocking'' were not included.<ref>{{cite web |title=Missing Episodes website |url=http://www.btinternet.com/~m.brown1/dnays.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011194036/http://www.btinternet.com/~m.brown1/dnays.htm |archive-date=11 October 2012}}</ref> Contrary to claims on the packaging, Terry Gilliam's animations also do not appear on this release, although Gilliam does appear as one of the additional writers in the credits for episodes 3 and 4. The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band was seen playing their song "[[Death Cab for Cutie (song)|Death Cab for Cutie]]" (also performed in [[the Beatles]]' film ''[[Magical Mystery Tour (film)|Magical Mystery Tour]]'') on the DVD in episode 7.

On 16 September 2019, the [[British Film Institute]] released a comprehensive DVD set of the surviving videos and animations from both series.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://shop.bfi.org.uk/pre-order-do-not-adjust-your-set-3-disc-dvd-set.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623154435/https://shop.bfi.org.uk/pre-order-do-not-adjust-your-set-3-disc-dvd-set.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2019 |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set |date=2019 |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=28 June 2019 |id=BFIV2121}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2019 |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set |url=https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/dvd/do-not-adjust-your-set |website=HMV}}</ref> It includes the previously missing fourth episode of the first series, which was rediscovered (but only after the earlier DVD release) when it was noticed that a copy had been sent to the jury of the Prix de Jeunesse award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Missing Episodes website |url=http://www.thiswaydown.org/missing-episodes/dnays.htm}}</ref> This edition survives as a domestic recording on a Phillips 1500 cassette made by [[Thames Television]] in 1976, which was discovered by Kaleidoscope in 2015, when a copy was returned from Munich.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perry |first=Chris |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set - Collectors Edition |publisher=BFI |date=September 16, 2019 |location=London |pages=32 |language=English}}</ref> It is thus the only series 1 episode with magnetic rather than optical sound quality. The BFI release features episodes with their original numbering. They include the Christmas special and some Terry Gilliam animations (restored from his own masters) that appeared in otherwise lost episodes.

==Episodes==

===Christmas Special (1967)===
The very first episode, an introductory special meant for [[Boxing Day]] 1967, was accidentally switched with the first regular episode in all regions except for London.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kitching |first=Ian |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967-1969 ITV) |url=http://www.iankitching.me.uk/music/bonzos/dnays.html |website=Ian Kitching}}</ref>

{{Episode table |background=#8B0000 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=46 |aux2=22 |aux2T=Archival Status |airdate=22 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 1
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = A Happy Boxing Day and a Preposterous New Year
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1967|12|26|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #8B0000
}}
}}

===Series 1 (1968)===
The first series was produced by Rediffusion, thirteen episodes were broadcast from 26 December 1967 to 28 March 1968, on Thursdays at 17:25. Three episodes from this series are currently missing from the archives, nine episodes survive as telerecordings and a further edition ''(Episode 4)'' survives on a domestic tape recording. Several cast changes occurred over the course of this series, [[Tim Brooke-Taylor]] filled in for Michael Palin for the studio recording for Episode 9, as the latter was having his [[Appendix (anatomy)|appendix]] removed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2019 |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set – BFI DVD Review |url=https://archivetvmusings.blog/2019/09/17/do-not-adjust-your-set-bfi-dvd-review/ |website=Archive TV Musings}}</ref> The following edition, [[Neil Innes]] was absent from the taping since he had the flu, so Eric Idle filled in for him when performing the vocals/ piano parts for the Bonzo's musical number ''<nowiki/>'Love is a Cylindrical Piano'<nowiki/>''.    {{Episode table |background=#FFA500 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=46 |aux2=22 |aux2T=Archival Status |airdate=22 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 2
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Episode 1
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|1|4|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 3
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Episode 2
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|1|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 4
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = Episode 3
| Aux2            = Missing
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|1|18|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 5
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = Episode 4
| Aux2            = Exists <ref>This episode survives as a domestic Philips 1500 recording.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|1|25|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 6
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Episode 5
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|2|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 7
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Episode 6
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|2|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 8
| EpisodeNumber2  = 7
| Title           = Episode 7
| Aux2            = Missing
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|2|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 9
| EpisodeNumber2  = 8
| Title           = Episode 8
| Aux2            = Missing
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|2|22|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 10
| EpisodeNumber2  = 9
| Title           = Episode 9
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|2|29|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 11
| EpisodeNumber2  = 10
| Title           = Episode 10
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|3|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 12
| EpisodeNumber2  = 11
| Title           = Episode 11
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|3|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 13
| EpisodeNumber2  = 12
| Title           = Episode 12
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|3|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 14
| EpisodeNumber2  = 13
| Title           = Episode 13
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|3|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #FFA500
}}
}}

===Specials (1968)===
A summer special was broadcast on 29 July 1968. It was the last episode to be produced by Rediffusion, since it was transmitted on their final day of broadcasting before Thames Television took over as the franchise holder for the London region (weekdays only) the following day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Martin |date=July 30, 2018 |title=A Brief History of Thames |url=https://networkonair.com/features/2018/07/30/a-brief-history-of-thames/ |website=Network}}</ref> The Christmas special was the first episode to be produced by Thames. For a 1986 repeat, David Jason demanded to be removed from the show, thus creating an abridged version of 25 minutes. This edition  was also notable for featuring the first animated sketch by Terry Gilliam, who would go on to contribute further material for the subsequent series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Bill |date=December 25, 2016 |title=Merry Christmas – Terry Gilliam style, circa 1968 |url=https://tellyspotting.kera.org/2016/12/25/merry-christmas-terry-gilliam-style-circa-1968/ |website=KERA Tellyspotting}}</ref>  {{Episode table |background=#483D8B |overall=5 |series=5 |title=46 |aux2=22 |aux2T=Archival Status |airdate=22 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 15
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Special
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|7|29|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #483D8B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 16
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Do Not Adjust Your Stocking
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1968|12|25|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #483D8B
}}
}}

===Series 2 (1969)===
The second and final series, thirteen episodes were broadcast from 19 February 1969 to 14 May 1969, on Wednesdays at 17:20. Most of the episodes from this series are currently missing from the archives, although audio recordings survive from several missing episodes <ref>{{Cite web |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set |url=https://www.tvbrain.info/tv-archive?showname=Do+Not+Adjust+Your+Set&type=lostshow |website=TV Brain}}</ref> Only Episode 2 survives intact, it's also the only episode from the entire series run to exist on its original 2" master videotape. Animated sequences by Terry Gilliam including ''<nowiki/>'Beware of the Elephants'<nowiki/>'' and ''<nowiki/>'Learning to Live with an Elephant'<nowiki/>'' also exist on b&w 35mm film.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Do Not Adjust Your Set - Collectors Edition |publisher=BFI |date=September 16, 2019 |location=London |pages=26 |language=English}}</ref>  {{Episode table |background=#3CB371 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=46 |aux2=22 |aux2T=Archival Status |airdate=22 |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 17
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Episode 1
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A short audio clip survives but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|2|19|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 18
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Episode 2
| Aux2            = Exists
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|2|26|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 19
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = Episode 3
| Aux2            = Missing
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|3|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 20
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = The Loose Denture Show
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A domestic audio recording of the soundtrack survives, but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|3|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 21
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Your Permanent Wave Looks OK to Me
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A domestic audio recording of the soundtrack survives, but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|3|19|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 22
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = It's Sundown at the Usual Time
| Aux2            = Missing
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|3|26|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 23
| EpisodeNumber2  = 7
| Title           = The Show with Knobs On
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A short audio clip survives but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|4|2|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 24
| EpisodeNumber2  = 8
| Title           = N.U.T.S.
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A short audio clip survives but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|4|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 25
| EpisodeNumber2  = 9
| Title           = The Original Broadway (Ealing) Cast
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A short audio clip survives but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|4|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 26
| EpisodeNumber2  = 10
| Title           = Episode 10
| Aux2            = Missing
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|4|23|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 27
| EpisodeNumber2  = 11
| Title           = The Whizzo-Eazi-Probe
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A domestic audio recording of the soundtrack survives, but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|4|30|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 28
| EpisodeNumber2  = 12
| Title           = The Interplanetary Crossword Puzzlers
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A short audio clip survives but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|5|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 29
| EpisodeNumber2  = 13
| Title           = The Last Post
| Aux2            = Missing <ref>A domestic audio recording of the soundtrack survives, but the complete episode is missing from the archives.</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1969|5|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = 
| LineColor       = #3CB371
}}
}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
*{{cite book |last=Currie |first=Tony |title=A Concise History of British Television 1930–2000 |publisher=Kelly Publications |year=2004 |page=64 |isbn=1-903053-17-X}}
*{{cite book |last=Wilmut |first=Roger |title=From Fringe to Flying Circus: Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy, 1960–1980 |publisher=Eyre Methuen |year=1980 |page=183}}

{{portal|1960s}}

==External links==
*[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/515090/index.html BFI Screenonline Article]
*[http://www.popmatters.com/review/do-not-adjust-your-set/ A Review of Do Not Adjust Your Set!]
* {{IMDb title|0061247|Do Not Adjust Your Set}}
* [https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/do_not_adjust_your_set/ ''Do Not Adjust Your Set''] at [[British Comedy Guide]]

{{Monty Python}}
<!--Need to check the full cast list-->

[[Category:1967 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1969 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1960s British television sketch shows]]
[[Category:ITV sketch shows]]
[[Category:Monty Python]]
[[Category:Television series by Fremantle (company)]]
[[Category:Television shows produced by Associated-Rediffusion]]
[[Category:Television shows produced by Thames Television]]
[[Category:Television shows shot at Teddington Studios]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]