NTL supply me with far more television channels than I actually need. I could hone my requirements down to about 15 or so, but NTL don't allow me to pay for a mere 15 each month. It appears to be all or nothing. I'm resigned to this, although if UKTV Food were available on Freeview I'd cancel my subscription immediately. But it's not. So, in the meantime, I attempt to make the most of my money by hopping. Channel hopping. Ideal World, FTn, UKTV Bright Ideas, Granada Men & Motors (who, incidentally, appear to have removed all the soft porn shows from their schedules – which doesn't inconvenience me personally, but I'm interested in the decision making process behind it.) Hopping, and flicking. Skimming, and zapping. On Sunday evening, during a marathon session, I landed on BBC Parliament. When the House Of Commons isn't actually sitting (the majority of the year, it seems) BBC Parliament entertains us with unmissable television moments, such as re-runs of thrilling action from the Welsh Assembly: mild bi-lingual arguments about the merits of the Llanelli bypass, or Clwyd's net contribution to the EU butter mountain. But on Sunday, they gave us something a bit special.

Between 10pm and midnight, they showed a repeat of the live results coming in after the 1975 referendum called by then prime-minister Harold Wilson on whether the UK should stay in the EEC. As blocky computer type hovered in the middle of the screen informing us that “Huddersfield says Yes” or “Recount in Avon”, a youthful, brown-haired David Dimbleby held together a show which was surprisingly similar to election specials 30 years later. With finger in ear, he would go across to a colleague at the Waldorf Hotel, who was surrounded with “Yes” supporters in smart flared trousers and floral print dresses, looking delighted that they were surging ahead to a 65% / 35% victory. “The mood here is upbeat,” Dimbleby was informed. Back to the studio, where the 1975 equivalent of Peter Snow delivered precise analyses of the vote in Reading, Rutland and the Rhondda, , impaired by a speech impediment which today only Jonathan Ross can get away with. In an adjoining studio, Robin Day grilled various politicians and trade unionists including Enoch Powell and Jim Prior, who were candid and straightforward in their answers, occasionally even giving “Yes” or “No” repsonses to simple questions. Day reminded Powell that he had once said that Britain would never join the EEC, and pointed out that Britain was already in the EEC. Powell stood by his statement, saying that we weren't actually in the EEC, because the vote of the British public had been based on a campaign of misinformation. By Powell's reckoning, we probably still aren't in it today; fortunately the confused old racist is dead.

Anyway, it was a glorious programme, and very relaxing to watch large black numbers slowly rotate mechanically behind Dimbleby's head. Not once did Stuart Maconie's head zoom onto the screen to laugh knowingly at the cut of Edward Heath's suit. Mel & Sue didn't cackle over Robin Day's sharp intakes of breath and bowtie, pretending that they remembered the original broadcast when in fact they'd been shown a snippet of it on VHS, 10 minutes previously. It was true television nostalgia. NTL should consider running a channel which broadcasts 20, 30 or 40 year old evenings of television in real-time, with no interruptions. Perhaps then I wouldn't keep moaning about the subscription.