Creepy TV show/advert from early 90s ish - anyone know what I'm taking about?

[BobaTeaPoops]

Some roadworks today made me have a flashback to something that was on TV - I think quite frequently - when I was quite young. So I'm going to guess around early 90s?

I think** it was an advert but could be wrong. Or could have been a "be careful" sort of an ad.

It really used to scare me/make me uneasy and although I can't remember much of it I can remember the scared feeling it gave me.

So it was daytime on a standard British high street and there was a little sort of road works tent. My head is making me think the tent thing was red and white?

It could've been maybe for gas works or something?

Also linked to it in my head is the creepy 'end of transmission' little girl and clown screen that would come on. But then being linked in my brain doesn't mean they are.

Hopefully some of that makes sense to someone!

Don't know, but I'm curious...

Sounds familiar - wasn’t it a be careful and watch where you walk when you’re out or you risk falling down the hole?

That deffo rings a bell. One of those public service announcements that have given me a lifelong fear of pylons and escalators

I kind of remember.
Did the advert have a barbie doll in it?

My brain is trying to tell me it was something to do with those ill-advised tango ads - you know the ones with the slapping and the lemon cult? 🤷‍♀️

That's ringing a bell!

Ah yes you could be onto something there!

And reading your reply to my DH who originally didn't know what I was talking about has made him think maybe he does remember!

I think it was earlier than the tango guy.

But my DH says there was a tango advert with one of those tents.

Didn't Roland Rat start with one of those roadwork tents? Not sure it was creepy though!

Ooh!!!

Now you see Roland Rat was creepy to me!! And my older cousin loved him.

Will Google and report back!!

I think it may have been an advert for a bank?

So this is the exact kind of tent.

Some places online call it a BT Tent. But searching BT ads hasn't helped.

Roland Rat did indeed start with one. Watched the intro but that wasn't it.

Strange those little tent things weren't they?

I remember the Newman and Baddiel sketch-

You know when you see roadworks, and there's a small stripy tent in the middle of the road?

I have seen such things yes

That's your house, that is

I thought it was for skips as in the crisp?

you know the ones with the slapping and the lemon cult?

^

Hahaha 😂😂😂

The little tents are indeed BT - they cover the engineer working either in a small chamber in the doorway, or covering a metal street cabinet. the latter means sitting on a little stool and joining cables, so the little tent means you are weather safe, and don’t trip anyone up…

(sorry i can’t help with the OPs query but I work in telecoms so thought I should clarify. No such luxuries these days as little tents!!)

Footway not doorway - autocorrect!!

I remember an advert for possibly a comedy tv show featuring a spoof of the bbc test card.

And yes, I always thought it was spooky too. Still love looking at it though. Have attached it!

Hold on. Maybe it was Mr Benn?

It wasn't a 'Charley says' one was it?

Oh!!! This rings a bell!

Was Charley a child? Is that why they're linked for me?

Off to Google.

Ah have googled Charley Says.

It wasn't animated the thing I'm remembering.

Charley was a cat who "spoke" in yowls and the wee boy who owned him translated what Charley said. It was all stuff like "don't get into a child molestor's car" or "don't drink bottles of bleach".

It was used in a few dance music tracks.

All of the old public safety films are available for free on the BFI website. All of the Charley ones are on there. Tufty as well.