Terrance Dicks – Page 2 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Jane Eyre 1983

Photo by Neil Wigley, no reproduction without permission.

Jane Eyre was an eleven part, BBC London drama series hosted by Pebble Mill. It went out between 9th October and 18th December 1983.

Julian Amyes was the director; Barry Letts, the producer; Terrance Dicks was the script editor; Alexander Baron the script writer; Michael Edwards the designer; Gill Hardie the costume designer; with music by Paul Reade.

The series starred Zelah Clarke as Jane, Timothy Dalton as Rochester, Andrew Bicknell as St John Rivers, Colin Jeavons as Briggs, Morag Hood as Mary Rivers, and Elaine Donnelly as Diana Rivers.

Thanks to the BBC Drama Village for sharing the photo.

Great Expectations

Photo from Kevin Lakin, no reproduction without permission.

‘Before’ and ‘after’ shot, of how a stone cottage was turned into a wooden one, for the 12 part BBC drama series: Great Expectations. The Charles Dickens adaptation was transmitted in 1981. I think this series was a London production, hosted at Pebble Mill.

The BFI database lists Michael Edwards as the production designer, and the film cameraman as John Kenway. The director was Julian Amyes; the producer, Barry Letts; script editor, Terrance Dicks; the adaptation by, Andrew James Hall; music by Paul Reade. http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/223977.

Thanks to Kevin Lakin for sharing the photos.

The Franchise Affair – photo by Dave Bushell

The ‘Franchise Affair’ was a 6 part serial, which I think was hosted at Pebble Mill from London. It was transmitted in 1988. Terrance Dicks was the producer, Leonard Lewis the director, and Phillippa Giles the script editor. Dave Bushell was the lighting director and Rob Hinds the production designer.

The story was about a mother and daughter, living in a house called The Franchise, who are accused of kidnapping a 15 year old girl and making her work as a servant. See BFI database: http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/417012

‘Took this shot while we were shooting ‘The Franchise Affair’ at Bewdley station in 1988. I don’t think any work is going on – just three guys examining a very large ‘Boy’s Toy’. I think it’s Tom Beach (Props Buyer) on the left with Keith Moreton (chargehand electrician) and Eric Crouch (electrician).’

Dave Bushell

Vanity Fair – photos by Ian Collins

Photos by video editor Ian Collins, no reproduction without permission. The photos show the filming of a carriage from a low loader.

‘Vanity Fair’ was a 16 part BBC serial hosted out of Pebble Mill. It was transmitted in 1987. Terrance Dicks was the producer, Phillippa Giles the Script Editor, and Dairmuid Lawrence the director. Alexander Baron adapted Thackeray’s novel. Dave Bushell was the director of lighting, Gavin Davies was the production designer, Joyce Hawkins the costume designer, and Lesley Perry the make-up designer.

The series starred Eve Matheson as Becky Sharp, Rebecca Saire as Amelia Sedley, James Saxon as Jos Sedley, Benedict Taylor as George Osborne and Simon Dormandy as Dobbin.