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Cult TV: the 1970s

For anyone growing up in or living through the 1970s there were plenty of series on TV to watch, despite the limited numbers of channels available at the time. Enduring classics such as Doctor Who, which began in the 1960s and continues to this day, to crime dramas such as The Sweeney and its follow-up Minder, not to mention The Professionals and The New Avengers, to comedies like Monty Python’s Flying Circus, The Goodies, The Good Life, To the Manor Born and Fawlty Towers, as well as science fiction dramas such as Blake’s 7 and Space 1999, the 70s was a rich decade in terms of television production. So, if you want to forget the oil crisis, power cuts, the 3-day week and the ‘winter of discontent’, but remember Punk, Ska and a whole host of what are now seen as ‘cult’ TV programmes, then put on your donkey jacket and your beige flares, mount your Raleigh chopper bicycle (sadly I was only allowed a ‘Jeep’) and join me for four weeks of 70s nostalgia.
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Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.

  • Start Date: 17 Sep 2025
    End Date: 08 Oct 2025
    Wed (Daytime): 14:00 - 16:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 4 sessions (over -4 weeks)
    Course Code: HF365
    Tutors:  Paul Sutton
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
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Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
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What is the course about?

This course will examine the context for TV production during the 1970s, considering the historical, social, cultural and political events that shaped the decade. It will explore the various influences that were reflected in the programming of the period, their relationship with the popular culture of the time and it will look at the legacies of some of the most popular shows broadcast. Each week we will screen an episode from one of the key series from the decade as a means of thinking through some of the key concerns relevant to the programme and to the 1970s more broadly and as a means of facilitating considered discussion.

What will we cover?

• The relationship between television serials/programmes and the popular culture of the 1970s
• The thematic concerns of the decade that range from tensions between tradition and modernity, shifting perceptions of gender roles and the political effects of the Cold War and economic crisis.
• The various genres that were prevalent in 1970s TV programming, such as science fiction, crime, comedy and fantasy
• The exploration of the aesthetics or visual style of television programmes from the 1970s
• The status of various programmes from the 1970s as ‘cult TV’.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Have an understanding of the history of various television series from the 1970s
• Have a sense of the relationship between these series and the popular culture of 1970s Britain
• Demonstrate familiarity with some of the key themes and concerns of the some of these 1970s TV series
• Analyse and discuss the visual style of a number of key TV series from the 1970s.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for television and film.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

An introduction by the tutor, the screening of an entire episode from a chosen TV series each week, and group discussion after the episode has been screened.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.

Paul Sutton

Dr. Paul Sutton is an independent film scholar who has taught Film Studies in UK higher education for over 25 years. His research covers psychoanalytic and film theory as well as Italian and French cinema and critical theory. He has published articles in journals such as Screen, French Studies and the Journal for Cultural Research. He is currently writing a psychoanalytic book on film spectatorship, Afterwardsness in Film, and has recently published work on television as a form of palliative care, and an assessment of the films of the Italian experimental filmmaker Ugo Nespolo.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.