The Clothes Show 100th episode – Ivor William’s photos

The Clothes Show cake

Photos from Ivor Williams, no reproduction without permission.

This cake was made to celebrate the 100th episode of The Clothes Show.  Ivor Williams was one of the VT editors who worked on the popular Sunday afternoon fashion magazine show.  The spelling of IROV on the cake was an in-joke.  The ‘SM’ on the cake, I think stands for Steve May, also a VT editor.

The Clothes Show went out between 1986 and 2000.  It was executively produced at Pebble Mill by Roger Casstles. Series producers included Colette Foster and Jane Lomas. The show grew out of ‘Pebble Mill at One’ fashion items, and became a huge brand, leading to the BBC magazine of the same name and the annual ‘Clothes Show Live’ exhibition at the NEC.

Breakfast Time’s Selina Scott and designer Jeff Banks  were the series’ first presenters.  Other presenters over the years included Caryn Franklin, Tim Vincent, Brenda Emmanus, Richard Jobson, and Margherita Taylor.  The show included catwalk and high street fashion, including make-overs.  The title music was a remix by Arthur Baker of the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘In the Night’ (off the 1986 ‘Disco’ album).

What really set the show apart were the high production values and innovations in digital video editing.  The editing team were rewarded with a craft BAFTA award.

Saturday Night at the Mill – photos by John Burkill

Photos by John Burkill, no reproduction without permission.

‘Saturday Night at the Mill’ was a live entertainment show that went out between 1976-81. It was set in the courtyard behind the Pebble Mill foyer (where ‘Pebble Mill at One’ was situated).

An ice rink seems to feature in this episode of ‘Saturday Night at the Mill’, and Bob Langley is the host.  Presenter Donny MacLeod is also featured, and it is possibly Anita Harris who is skating.

Please add a comment if you recognise other people in the photos, or can add other details.

Thanks

Vanessa

Saturday Night at the Mill

Morte D’Arthur – photos from Bob Jacobs

Morte D’Arthur was a drama adaptation of the book by Sir Thomas Malory, based on John Barton’s adaptation.  It was transmitted in 1984, under Robin Midgley’s leadership of the English Regions Drama Department at Pebble Mill in Studio A.  It was directed by Gillian Lynne (seen in both photos here) and produced by Robin Midgley.  Bob Jacobs (behind Barbara Kellermann in the top photo) was the 1st Assistant Director.

The drama featured: Barbara Kellerman, David Robb, Anton Dolin, Jeremy Brett and Nickolas Grace.

‘Date with Fate’ – Lynda Kettle’s photos

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.

‘Date with Fate’ was a game show, transmitted in 1998, where a top astrologer was put on the spot to see if they could predict the behaviour of two contestants. It was presented by Esther McVey, with astrologer Jonathan Cainer.  There were 28 episodes for BBC 1 Daytime, produced at Pebble Mill by Steve Weddle and Katie Wright; it was directed by Merrick Simmonds.

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.

Lynda Kettle

Dub 1 – photos by Ben Peissel

Photos by Ben Peissel, no reproduction without permission.

These photos are of Dub 1 at Pebble Mill.  Dub 1 was often used for mixing dramas, as you can see by ‘Doctors’ on the viewing screen.  There are also photos of Dub 1 under construction, and of the various mixing desks.

Dub 1