This nostalgic ‘Great Britain’ post prompted some brilliant detective work to pinpoint the exact day it’s talking about

John Plunkett. Updated January 24th, 2020

You might have come across this nostalgic post harking back to a simpler time when, apparently, Britain really was Great Britain.

If you haven’t – but even if you have – here it is.

And it prompted this fantastic response by @RufusHound.

No. That's when you were a child. It's when you were unaware of how messy, complicated and hard the world (and living in it) is.

The thing you're trying to get back to isn't a time when Britain was great.

It's childhood. pic.twitter.com/nGCTIDWXFZ

— Rufus Hound 🌨 (@RufusHound) January 23, 2020

But that’s not why we’re here. We’re here because the post prompted comedian @FrizFrizzle to put on his deerstalker and get out his magnifying glass to work out exactly what day they were talking about.

And it’s brilliant.

I am determined to find out which year (and potentially which DAY) this "when Britain was great" post is about. pic.twitter.com/kziHnnAJ0q

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Okay, so Gladiators aired between 1992-2000. Baywatch first aired in the US in 1989, so this post is DEFINITELY about the 1990s. Surprisingly later than I thought!

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Channel 5 started in 1997. So this is about 1990-1996.

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

"Not a computer in sight". The PlayStation is the 5th highest selling games console. This was released in December 1994, and i assume a lot of people got this for Christmas. We are down to 1990-1994. pic.twitter.com/uSZJtNPnhE

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Gladiators first aired in 1992! How come I forgot I already said that.

We've whittled it down to 1992-1994. pic.twitter.com/9gzXZj4PDy

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Gladiators aired 44 episodes between 1992 and 1994. We'll call it 43 episodes though, as that last week coincides with everyone playing their newfangled computer playstation. pic.twitter.com/WbXPOXTp0Z

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

61 episodes of Blind Date aired during those times. AND BOTH SHOWS STARTED ON THE SAME DATE! 10TH OCTOBER 1992!!

10th October 1992 – 24th December 1994. pic.twitter.com/29rDVSZ9AX

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

With this data, there are three blocks of time we can extrapolate

10th Oct – 5th Dec 1992
18th Oct 1993 – 1st Jan 1994
1st Oct 1994 – 24 Dec 1994

Whichever it is, we're looking at 34 possible Saturdays.

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Oh! But vandalism was only on school desks! School doesn't happen during Christmas break! Let's say, Christmas break is two weeks. We can knock off five potential days.

10th Oct 92 – 5th Dec 92
18th October 93 – 20th Dec 93
1st Oct 94 – 17th Dec 94 pic.twitter.com/LR6wKLYKDx

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

I really can't continue until I know when Baywatch aired in the UK.

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

These are the dates the clocks went back on those years.

With this data, there are three blocks of time we can extrapolate

10th Oct – 25th October 1992
18th Oct 1993 – 24th October 1994
1st Oct 1994 – 23rd October 1994

WE HAVE WHITTLED IT DOWN. pic.twitter.com/C4UL4GBz10

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Britain was great on one of the possible days:

10th October 1992
17th October 1992
24th October 1992
18th October 1993
23rd October 1993
1st October 1994
8th October 1994
15th October 1994
22nd October 1994.

That's NINE POSSIBLE DAYS.

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

We still have to add The Baywatch Paradigm to this data. It might not help, but that's where we are at the moment.

According to this ridiculous post, Britain was Great on one Saturday in October between 1992 and 1994.

Thank you.

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

If you're confused about why I did the "clocks going back" thing, it's because I was given this info: pic.twitter.com/1iJh9LQb6p

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Thank you @russty_russ. We have found out that Baywatch did NOT air during the 1992 dates.

Britain was great on one of the possible days:

18th October 1993
23rd October 1993
1st October 1994
8th October 1994
15th October 1994
22nd October 1994.

That's SIX POSSIBLE DAYS.

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Baywatch did, however, air on the same nights as some Blind Date/Gladiator repeats… BUT ONLY UNTIL 9TH OCTOBER 1993.

2nd October 1993
9th October 1993
1st October 1994
8th October 1994
15th October 1994
22nd October 1994.

That's still SIX POSSIBLE DAYS. pic.twitter.com/gGhesTIIGz

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

But @tvark tells us… https://t.co/Iv0YAMvvL5

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

So that means that we have whittled it down to FOUR DATES.

2nd October 1993
9th October 1993
15th October 1994
22nd October 1994.

Four possible days.

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

I am happy to confirm the results.

This stupid nostalgic Facebook post is talking about four possible Saturdays in the 1990s. 2nd October 1993, 9th October 1993, 15th October 1994 or 22nd October 1994.

I will not be taking any further questions. pic.twitter.com/OJQTA53E88

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 23, 2020

Just beautifully done!

This thread is GLORIOUS https://t.co/5RBZNasm2K

— Charlie Stross (@cstross) January 24, 2020

Absolutely incredible detective work in this thread. My hat is doffed. https://t.co/NkOjA51x0I

— Seb Patrick (@sebpatrick) January 24, 2020

Thread of the day. An excellent debunking of nostalgic bullshit. Now is infinitely better. https://t.co/dFgJvt3lhk

— Kipper McFish (@KipperMcFish) January 24, 2020

Not everyone appreciated it.

I've seen this around a lot today – the people posting it aren't nostalgic for a certain time, or year – they are nostalgic for childhood. That's what's being described.

This wasn't how life was any time for adults, this is a child's description of their childlike world.

— Ali 👀 (@Muggsy14) January 24, 2020

But they were wrong, obviously.

Just a fun thread though, innit?

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 24, 2020

And you can follow @FrizFrizzle on Twitter here!

Also, I'm at the Leicester Comedy Festival next month. Come see it. It's silly songs and stories. I won't be talking about twee nostalgiashite diatribe splurges. pic.twitter.com/tTwzGLHQUS

— Friz Frizzle (@FrizFrizzle) January 24, 2020