Articles by Jo Foster

Paddington Bear is one of the best-loved children's animated characters in the world. Written by British author Michael Bond, the Paddington books have been translated into 30 languages, selling more than 30 million copies worldwide. The British public's love affair with Paddington goes back to 1958, when Bond introduced the bear from “deepest, darkest Peru” in his first Paddington novel, A ...

With Halloween fast approaching, kids everywhere are looking forward to a night filled with ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night. Everyone wants their annual celebration on 31st October to be filled with more treats than tricks but particularly children, who associate Halloween with plenty of goodies, such as bags brimming over with sweets or spooky cakes! If you want to make ...

Known as the first celebrity gardener, British horticulturist, broadcaster and writer Percy Thrower was the face and voice of gardening for many years. He was the predecessor of today's television gardeners, such as Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don, starting his broadcasting career in the 1950s. Percy's own father was a horticulturist, working as the head gardener at country residence Horwood H...

The critically acclaimed American drama series created and written by Aaron Korsh, Suits has been running for six years, with its popularity showing no signs of waning. Continuing the tales of the busy New York legal firm, series seven kicked off in the States in July and is currently available on Netflix in the UK. The central plot revolves around Mike Ross (Patrick Adams), who finds work a...

Cheers is one of the most popular and enduring American sitcoms of all time, running for 11 seasons and making its stars household names. With a record 111 nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards, it won 28; and with 31 Golden Globe nominations, it won six. Set in a Boston bar called Cheers, the comedy revolved around a group of locals who went to relax and socialise while enjoying a bit of ba...

The legendary BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers has been called the benchmark by which all other sitcoms are judged. Despite being first broadcast in the 1970s, it has stood the test of time and still causes great hilarity when viewed today. Although only 12 episodes were ever made, from 1975 to 1979, in two series of six episodes each, Fawlty Towers won multiple awards and was number one in the list...

Blue Peter plays a significant part in British culture, as it began in an era when there were few children specific programmes on TV. Having Broadcast almost 5,000 episodes since its launch in 1958, it's also the longest-running children's show to date. Blue Peter was created by John Hunter Blair, with its name relating to the blue and white flag that's hoisted when a ship is ready to set sa...

Car boot sales are thought of as a British institution, with thousands of people typically setting off early on a Sunday morning to either sell their wares or pick up a bargain. Their popularity has spread across much of the world, with car boot sales being held in most parts of Europe, Australia, Canada and the US. © Alexey Fedorenko / Adobe Stock However, enthusiasts may be su...

Some people hear the term 'metal detecting' and automatically picture a lone guy walking up and down the beach, a device in his hand, looking somewhat eccentric but as fans of metal detecting will tell you, there's much more to it and it's a surprisingly addictive hobby. There are even metal detecting clubs and groups, where enthusiasts can get together and share ideas or deliver news of their ...

The popular BBC drama series Waterloo Road was set in a comprehensive school. It ran for nine years and won a host of awards until it came to an end in 2015. First broadcast in March 2006, it went on to run for ten series, comprising 200 episodes and attracting an average 4.5 million viewers. The plot of the first series didn't bode well for the future when head teacher Brian Vasey suffered a ...