Tag: Pebble Mill at One

Why the ‘6.55 Special’ came from a Radio Studio – Mark Kershaw

Why was “6.55 Special” made in Radio Studio 1?

When the lunchtime programme Pebble Mill at One was first broadcast it was “serviced” by the galleries and cameras of the two proper TV studios at Pebble Mill. Studio A on a Tues and Friday, while the studio was being reset between dramas etc (“All Creatures”, “Basil Brush”, “Great Expectations” etc) and Studio B on a Mon, Wed and Thurs, because its cameras could be re-rigged back from the Foyer in time for the evenings “Midlands Today”.

PM@1 was only on the air Sept to mid May, so for the whole summer the production staff were potentially under-utilised. So in 1982? (not sure when) 6.55 Special was sold to BBC2, a weekday early evening live entertainment and chat show, 6.55-7.30 (I think).

But it couldn’t use the existing studios which were incredibly busy in the evenings.

And that is why Radio Studio 1 (the one used for classical recitals etc) was turned into a TV studio, with an audience rostra and a permanent set with a sofa chat area (seen in the photo for the 6.55 Special post) and a stage as performance area. The sound was mixed in the radio sound control room, where the mobile lighting control desk was also rigged. The “lightweight” OB scanner CM2 was parked outside just off the fire track and used as production and vision control, with VT as well played from the scanner, but also connected up to Pebble Mill’s VT area.

Eventually when the Standby TV Network Continuity Suite needed refurbishing, the area was re-modelled as a full TV gallery – Gallery C (not sure the date but early 80’s).From then on Pebble Mill @ One or any of it’s spin offs came from that discreet gallery, but before then the studio equipment at Pebble Mill was some of the most utilised kit in the whole of the BBC!

6.55 Special moved into the courtyard after the famous movable roof was installed. And that is why for the first series, at least, 6.55 Special came from a radio studio.

Mark Kershaw

Mark Kershaw directing Pebble Mill at One

‘The Clothes Show’ – photo by Gail Herbert

Clothes Show 1990 Beachy Head

Photo by Gail Herbert.

The Clothes Show (1986-2000) was a hugely popular fashion magazine show transmitted on Sunday afternoons.  It started as a spin off from fashion items on Pebble Mill at One and was the brainchild of Exec Producer, Roger Casstles.  The producers included Clare Stride, Jane Lomas and Colette Foster.  Directors on the show included Clive Wagner, Tim Langford, Alex Fraser, Paul Vanezis.

Regular presenters included Selina Scott, Jeff Banks, Caryn Franklin, Brenda Emmanus, Margherita Taylor and Tim Vincent.

The title music was part of the Arthur Baker remix of the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘In The Night’.

The show was so popular that a BBC magazine of the same name was launched, as well as the annual ‘Clothes Show Live’ event at the NEC, which is obviously still a fixture.

The television series became renowned for the fast pace of its editing, and creative use of digital video effects.  The post production team won a BAFTA for their video editing in 1989.

Tim Langford was the director of this particular insert.

Jane Green comments about working on The Clothes Show: “I FM’d on some of the first Clothes Shows with Selina and Geoff. We did the first ever Bride of the Year in Bradley, Staffs, with Lindka Cierach designing the dress, and Trevor Sorbie and Barbara Daly, hair n make-up. Years later I was a director – at the British Fashion Awards I met a new young model called Kate Moss, a crazy Vivien Westwood and Philip Treacy, and a grumpy Naomi Campbell. My 11 year old daughter finds it hard to believe mummy had such a cool job. It was hard slog but great fun. Roger was a genius.”

Peter Seabrook’s Gardening Week – Gail Herbert’s photos

Peter Seabrook presented many gardening programmes at Pebble Mill including Gardeners’ World in the 1970s, Pebble Mill at One in the 1970s and 80s, and the gardening advice show: Peter Seabrook’s Gardening Week in the 1990s.  These photos from Gail Herbert, who was the production assistant on the series, feature the production team, probably from 1996.  Gail is wearing the red scarf on the first photo, on the left of Gail is Kathy Bryant, and Rachel Innes-Lumsden is crouched down.  Rachel went on to become BBC Head of Development Factual and Learning in 2006, and won a BAFTA for her work on The Tower – A Tale of Two Cities in 2008.

Peter Seabrook's Programme Team

Seabrook team - Kathy Bryant & Rachel Innes Lumsden

Queen’s Visit to Pebble Mill

The Queen visited Pebble Mill to celebrate the building’s tenth anniversary in 1981.  She went on the set of Pebble Mill at One and talked to several members of staff.  She is pictured with Phil Sidey, Head of Pebble Mill in photos 2 & 5, Jim Dumighan in photos 3,4 & 7, the man with the glasses is Mahendra Kaul OBE, one of the Asian Unit producers at the time, and in photos 5 and 10 the man on the extreme left is probably the late Alan Ford from the Postroom.

One person who was there but not pictured is the late John Pickles demoted from his job as head of BBC Scotland after his “Queen is dead” prank inevitably backfired.He was reduced to the ranks as manager of Radio WM & was definetly lurking wisely out of camera given the circumstances!He later took over BBC Hereford&Worcs.

Lynn Cullimore remembers: “I was stood with some of the cleaners and saw her quite close up. Did not get introduced though – don’t think I was grand enough for that. I remember we were designated where we could stand.”

Thanks to Ian Collins from post production for making these shots available, and to Conal O’Donnell, Jayne Savage, Jane McLean and Dave Milligan for providing additional information.

The Queen visiting Pebble Mill in 1981

Last ‘Pebble Mill at One’ 1986 – Terry Powell (costume)

Selected bits from YouTube of the last ‘Pebble Mill at One’ show. The programme starts and Five Star perform in the distinctly unglamorous surroundings of the Pebble Mill building (including the scene dock, canteen, on the roof, switchboard area and an untidy office). But it’s nicely done and an interesting peek behind the scenes. I was there, it was a sad day. Then Anne and Nick’s show took over.

Terry Powell (costume)