Saturday Night at the Mill – Bhasker Solanki

Photos by Bhasker Solanki, no reproduction without permission

Bob Langley presenting

Donny MacLeod presenting

Photos by camera operator, Bhasker Solanki, of Saturday Night at the Mill (1976-81), the late night entertainment show, which was a spin off from Pebble Mill at One.

Camera crew in the Club

Photos by cameraman Bhasker Solanki of the camera team relaxing in the BBC Club after a recording. The photos were taken on 17th August 1984. The event was Bhas Solanki’s leaving do. He was going to work in London.

Photos by Bhasker Solanki, no reproduction without permission

Jim and Julia Gray, John Moorcroft, Simon Bennett

Keith Schofield, Jane Weir, Philip Thickett, Bhasker Solanki

Pebble Mill at One fashion item, with the lighting crew

Here are some photos from cameraman Bhasker Solanki of the lighting crew on Pebble Mill at One, setting up for a fashion item on the banks of the River Rea.

Andy Frizzell at the back, Peter Booth in front, Keith Bullock holding the lamp stand. Photos by Bhasker Solanki, no reproduction without permission

Keith Bullock and Andy Frizzell on lighting, possible Jack Rook on camera

Peggy Lee Entertains 1981

Photos by Bhasker Solanki, no reproduction without permission

These photos of the US performer, Peggy Lee are from a show called ‘Peggy Lee Entertains’ from 1981.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Maggie Humphries: That’s me in the middle audience with Aunt and Uncle, it was an amazing night and I was just talking about it a couple of days ago, great music, great memories.

Jane Mclean: I PA-ed it. THINK Bob Langley presented it.

Annette Martin: I Vision Mixed the show. It was a wonderful evening in the 80s. Peggy had difficulty walking so she rehearsed in a wheelchair with an assistant moving her to the various positions on the stage! It was surreal but come the show she moved superbly- what a pro and her voice was fabulous- a VM highlight for me and everyone involved. I think John Smith Directed and Jim Dumighan was involved.

David Ian Bellinger: Worked with Pete Moore, her MD all week – first in the radio studio for Radio 2 and then that weekend – one of my most memorable times in 25 years at the Mill, No band could have been more prepared for that diamond of a TV Music Show ….. Oh – so many memories of this. When Pete asked me to add strings to a Paul Whiteman original arrangement I nearly passed out – finished it with minutes to go – yes the ink was still wet! Didn’t sleep for three days. My time at the Mill? I’d have paid the Licence Payers (Bless’Em) for the honour and spending my time with my second family every day at work.

Carole Haysom: Yvonne Brockbank was the make up designer.

Kiki Dee on Showaddywaddy Show

Photos by cameraman, Bhasker Solanki, no reproduction without permission

These photos are of Kiki Dee appearing on the Showaddywaddy show from Christmas 1980.

The following comments and information were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Colin Fearnley: She was a guest on “Showaddywaddy Show” recorded in the 1980’s, the camera is an EMI 2001 which would correspond with that period and it looks like whoever is sitting bottom right of the camera is wearing one of the silly hats the crew and the audience were given. I was on racks and I think John Abbott lit it. Found in my 1980 diary, recorded in Studio A, Sunday 30th November and Monday 1st December. Kiki Dee inserts recorded on the Sunday, then live audience in for the Monday night. My hours 1030-2215 both days. John Kimberley on colour match And Peter Wood-Fisher on lighting desk (Q-File). The reason I remember it so well was that I had just escaped a very long course at Wood Norton!