Scarred For Life

Was your childhood traumatised by Worzel Gummidge, Doctor Who and Day of the Triffids? Stephen Brotherstone and Dave Lawrence, writers of the acclaimed Scarred For Life books, join broadcaster Bob Fischer to discuss the scariest telly of the 1970s and 80s.

Did you spend your childhood being traumatised by Hartley Hare, Children of the Stones and the Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water? Were you terrified of the Usborne Book of Ghosts in your school library, given nightmares by Horror Top Trumps and Game of Jaws, and then handed a Dalek’s Death Ray lolly to calm you down?

The children who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s were placed in the unenviable position of being scared by virtually everything. In this show, Stephen and Dave will give a hilarious talk about the TV, films, music, comics, board games, books, adverts and crisps (no, really) that blighted all of our childhoods. All accompanied by a slide show of some of their most potent childhood fears!

There'll be explicit talk about the giant spiders from Doctor Who, discussion of the bloodthirsty ending to Blake's 7, a rummage through the gruesome Public Information Films that haunted all our nightmares... and even a Top 10 Chart Countdown of the best British hit singles to be inspired by the prospect of impending nuclear Armageddon.

So come and join us for the ultimate celebration of vintage terror! You are – of course – at liberty to watch from behind your fingers, although sadly we’re unable to provide a sofa to hide behind.

The evening will be hosted by Fortean Times writer Bob Fischer, who spent the entirety of 1978 convinced that his family dog had rabies after glimpsing an appallingly irresponsible poster next to the headmaster’s office door in his primary school reception.