TV Flashback

Tudur Owen rewinds the funniest, most fascinating clips from half a century and more of TV. This time, he's on a Welsh world tour, and on his travels he meets flying tea ladies, American tourists and globetrotting gnomes.

For over 25 years, Noddy and Big Ears were perched in a Buckley garden, content with watching the world go by, but in 1988 the garden ornament duo were stolen and taken on a trip of a lifetime around Europe. Their owners were updated on their adventure via postcards as they travelled to Cannes, Paris and finished in the Swiss Alps. The pair finally returned to their puzzled owners in Flintshire before the Noddy-nappers called the local radio station to say that the ornament will be joining them next year for a visit to Italy.

In 2012, the largest cruise ship to have visited Welsh shores docked in Holyhead harbour filled with over 3,500 budding explorers keen to tick north Wales off their bucket lists. The main attraction for the day is Caernarfon Castle and despite the weather and the unrealistic expectations, the visitors are astounded by the medieval structure.

Meanwhile in 1984, the Lord Mayor of Swansea flagged away a convoy of teams aiming to make their way to Paris with a one pound pack of laver bread. On their journey to the French capital, they undertook a range of laver bread tests including pub games and poem-writing about their beloved cuisine. But what makes the rally so special? Organisers say it's to celebrate the latest harvest of laver bread and to repay the French for sending over their best beaujolais.