Talk:The Idiot's Lantern (TV story)

This episode got it wrong!

The British flag was actually first called the Union Jack. Actually, it was first called "the Jack" or "the British flag". But it has been called the Union Jack for around 150 years before the jackstaff was invented in he 18th century. It was called the Union Jack no matter where it was flown - land or sea.

The common name used for the flag was ratified in Parliament in 1908. It is also called the Union Flag, but the popularity of that name wasn't as high until recent year. No idea why it became more popular, but popularity doesn't replace the name Union Jack, which is how it is officially known.

Sorry Rose! You were right in spirit, if not all the facts!