Factual – Page 121 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Why Did the Chicken? – photos by Lynda Kettle

Photos by Lynda Kettle no reproduction without permission. Lynda Kettle was a Production Designer at BBC Pebble Mill, working on factual, entertainment and drama shows in studio and on location. The photos were taken as records of the Sets.

‘Why Did The Chicken?’ was an animal quiz show for children presented by TV vet Mark Evans. The contestants had to answer questions about farm animals and won eggs rather than points. The show ended with an egg hunt against the clock in the shape of a chicken. There were two series, the first started going out 6/4/1994, with the second series starting exactly a year later in April 1995. It was recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill. The series was produced by Jane Tarleton and the executive producer was Judy Whitfield.

Production Designer, Lynda Kettle also worked as a theatre designer and an artist, and now runs courses from her art studio http://www.lynda-kettle.com. She is a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham Water Colour Society. Midland Pastel Society and Birmingham Art Circle . She exhibits her paintings several times a year at selected galleries.

Lorraine Chase at Pebble Mill

Photograph copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.

I’m not sure which programme this still of actress Lorraine Chase is from – probably ‘Pebble Mill at One’, but please add a comment if you can identify it. She was presumably wafted here from Luton Airport!

Thanks to Gail Herbert for making the photo available.

Points of View – blog by Sue Watson

My main claim to fame while working at Pebble Mill was renting a hotel room by the hour with Sir Terry Wogan. Every Thursday afternoon we would meet in the hallowed portals of Lady Astor’s former home, Cliveden and as the twinkling eyed Sir Terry entered the bedroom I would greet him from the four poster bed, ready and waiting for our time together. Lying with the ghosts of the sixties Profumo scandal (and under the firm hands of Nick Patten), I would tell Sir Terry exactly what I wanted him to do.

This of course was in my capacity as the Producer of ‘Points of View,’ and for about twelve months the programme was filmed at Cliveden on Thursday afternoons. Far from being the Christine Keeler of my day, I was merely producing a weekly TV programme albeit with a wonderful team and one of the best presenters I’ve ever worked with.

Once the crew (and catering) had arrived, there wasn’t much room for the producer, so the best place for me to see Terry and be out of shot was on the elaborately dressed bed. This became my regular position; the cameraman would place the monitor at the bottom of the bed and I would take my place. Imagining I looked ‘Pre Raphaelite,’ (in reality more ‘Beryl Cook!’) I would drape myself seductively across the counterpane and for several hours I would ‘produce,’ Sir Terry until he couldn’t take any more.

Hard times at Pebble Mill… a tough job, but someone had to do it!

Sue Watson

Sue is involved in the online auction, Authors for Japan; To make a bid log on to http://authorsforjapan.wordpress.com/tag/sue-watson/

Sue’s first novel, Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes out on July 8^th is a humorous and heartbreaking tale TV, love, revenge – and cake.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Girls-Fairy-Cakes-Watson/dp/0956536824/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300209306&sr=1-1

Sue Watson

Golden Oldie Picture Show – He Ain’t Heavy

Photos by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

The Golden Oldie Picture Show ran from 1985-88 and was presented by Radio 1 DJ, Dave Lee Travis. The show consisted of specially shot music videos, created for popular hits recorded before music videos were routinely made. Individual directors suggested the tracks they’d like to create videos for, so there were a myriad of styles of both videos and music, linked by DLT.

These photos are from a shoot which cameraman John Williams directed for the hit ‘He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother’. It was shot at a centre for young people with disabilities which John had a connection with. The resulting film was poignant and uplifting. There are several versions of the ballad, including recordings by The Hollies and Neil Diamond. I’m not sure which version was used for the film.

The photos show John Williams (white shirt, pale blue trousers), grips Jimmy Monk (bent over by Variety Club van) and Keith Schofield (crouched by van).

Thanks to Gail Herbert for sharing the photos.

John Williams, Jimmy Monk, Keith Schofield

John Major – photo from Gail Herbert

Gail Herbert meeting John Major

Prime Minister John Major visited Pebble Mill in the 1990s and appeared on Good Morning with Anne and Nick for a sofa chat. He is shown here meeting Gail Herbert, Chair of the BBC Club and P.A., outside the front of Pebble Mill Reception. Between Gail and John Major is David Wayne, the Head of Building.

You’ll notice that John Major has signed the photo for Gail, who was a supporter of his.