Category: Blog

Debut on Two – TX Card from Dave Bushell

Debut on Two TX Card

Debut on Two TX Card reverse

Debut on Two was a series of six dramas produced at Pebble Mill in 1990 for BBC 2, to promote the work of writers new to television.  Two of the dramas were shot on location, the other four were studio based.

Michael Wearing was the executive producer, Vicky Licorish and Philippa Giles the producers, Diana Patrick and Bob Landgon the directors.  A company of established actors including Pete Postlethwaite, Hilary Sesta and Adrian Dunbar, appeared across the six different plays.

The plays in the series were:

  • The Conversion of St Paul
  • Breast is Best
  • The Wake
  • Window of Vulnerability
  • Kingdom Come
  • A Box of Swan

Thanks to Dave Bushell for keeping the TX Card safe, and for sharing it.

King and Company – photos by Gail Herbert

Photos by Gail Herbert – no reproduction without permission.

King and Company was a series produced at  Pebble Mill by  executive producer John King.  It featured wildlife cameraman, Simon King (John’s son) on wildlife filming assignments with different celebrities.  It went out in 1988.  The featured celebrities included Wendy Richard, Liza Goddard, Mark McManus, David Essex, Toyah Willcox.  The filming subjects included deer, dormice, frogs, salmon, and golden eagles.

Gail’s photos show filming taking place, and the crews involved.  Gail was the production assistant, Tony Rayner the producer.  The cameramen include John Couzens, Alan Duxbury, John Williams, Dave Evans, Keith Froggatt, sound recordists include Alex Christison and Tony Wass.

Sebastian the Golden Eagle

Midlands Today – photos from Annie Gumbley

Copyright resides with the original photographer, no reproduction without permission.

Midlands Today presenters 1977

This photo shows the Midlands Today presenters from 1977, front row, left to right, Guy Thomas, Kay Alexander, Peter Windows, David Stevens, back row, Michael Hancock, Tom Coyne.

Midlands Today started broadcasting on 28 September 1964, from a studio in Broad Street, Birmingham, and moved to Pebble Mill when the building opened in 1971.

Pebble Mill newsroom 1978

The second photo shows the newsroom itself and includes: Paul Freeman (standing on left), Jo Dewar (on phone), Annie Gumbley (slightly bent over), Julia Gray (Simpkin).

I wonder if the hand bell (foreground) was for organising meetings!

‘Fair Game’ – photos by Bev Dartnall

Photos by Bev Dartnall, no reproduction without permission.

Fair Game was a Pebble Mill drama transmitted in 1994.  It was set recorded in Italy and Britain.  The photos look like Florence.  Michael Wearing was the executive producer, Alan Dosser the director, Carol Parks the producer, and Stephen Bill wrote the script.

The drama starred: Massimo Bellinzoni as Marco, Lena Headey as Ellie, Julian Kerridge as Carl, Prunella Scales as Marjorie and Anita Zagaria as Maria.

The BFI database describes the synopsis of the storyline:

‘It is 1970, there is World Cup and General Election fever. Marco, a wealthy Italian has come to England to discover his true identity. Carl, a student is torn between canvassing for the Labour party, watching the World Cup or going on a walking holiday with his girlfriend Ellie. Their paths cross in Preston library and the three take an epic journey across the Pennines.’  http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/495778?view=synopsis

'Fair Game'

‘Best of Brass’ – photo by Tony Swift

Best of Brass crew photograph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo, by Tony Swift, is of the Best of Brass crew.  David Short (cameraman) who made the photo available thinks it was taken at the Derby Assembly Rooms.

Best of Brass was a knockout competition where brass bands competed against each other.  The finals were sometimes held at the Assembly Rooms, Derby, so this photo is may be from one of those occasions.  Ken Griffin was the producer, and Gerald Harrison the presenter.

Best of Brass went out between 1979 and 1988.

The photo includes Chris Harris in the middle towards the right with the dark beard, along with Ian Collins (VT editor) at the back, John Allinson (lighting director) and Phil Vaughan centre left and Dave Ballantyne and Bob Meikle centre right. Next to Chris could be Andy Mosedale and is it James French (camera) bottom left? Possibly Mahendra Chauhan? in the centre and Pete Eggleston on the left. Kay Alexander is next to James bottom left.  Terry Powell (costume) is next to Shelley Webber (make up). Possibly Norman Steemston with the beard next to the Camera bottom right. AFM Debbie Hood is also in the picture. (Thanks to Stuart Gandy, Dave Bushell, Lesley Weaver, Julian Hithcock and Terry Powell for identifying people).

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