Category: Factual

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)

‘Pebble Mill at One’ – Bugs Bunny Cartoon from Kevin Lakin

'Bugs Bunny' cartoon by Chuck Jones

This sketch was done by Chuck Jones… the inventor, producer, director of Bugs Bunny and many other cartoon characters.   He was on Pebble Mill at One in 1979, being interviewed by, I think, Bob Langley….. and while being interviewed, he was sketching and throwing them on the floor. After the show, he signed this one and gave it to me. I have been offered £500 pounds for this sketch, but I’m keeping it for now.

Kevin Lakin

‘Pebble Mill at One’ Running Order 1981 – David Short

Here is a running order that I kept from my first day as a trainee camera assistant at Pebble Mill. I had arrived from the training dept at Evesham and reported for duty on Monday, 21st September, 1981. I was taken up to the floor where the old bar used to be, to meet the crew (led by Keith Salmon) who were playing snooker before rehearsals began. “Landed on my feet here”, I thought!!

David Short – Cameraman at Pebble Mill from Sept. 1981 until May 1985 (when I transferred to TV Centre)

(The producer of this episode was Stephanie Silk, the director Tony Rayner, and the PA probably Jane McLean)

'Pebble Mill at One' - Running Order

Telly Addicts – photo from Ian Collins

Telly Addicts figure

Telly Addicts was a studio based game show presented by Noel Edmunds.  It was produced at Pebble Mill and recorded in Studio A.  Two teams, sat on sofas, were pitted against each other in a test of their TV knowledge.  The format mostly involved seeing clips of different TV shows and being asked questions afterwards.  The series began in 1985, with the final episode going out in 1998.  There were some celebrity specials (especially in the later years), but most of the early episodes involved families.  There were generally around 16 episodes a year.  The format changed a little over time.  The early years saw the winners of the previous week staying on and being challenged by a new family.  From 1987 there was a tournament style format involving 16 teams in 8 qualifying heats, the winners of which then went forward to quarter finals, then semi finals and concluding in a grand final.

There were a number of different producers and directors over the years.  Producers included Tim Manning, John G Smith, Richard Lewis and Helen Lott, and directors included Annette Martin, Nick Hurran and Sue Robinson.  John King was the executive producer.

Thanks to Ian Collins from Post Production for taking a photo of this Telly Addicts figure!

Song for Christmas – 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.

Song for Christmas was an annual children’s carol competition, and part of Pebble Mill at One.  Mark Kershaw was the director of the Song for Christmas shown in the photos, and David Weir was the producer.  Lynda Kettle designed the set in Studio A.  I’m not sure which year the photos are from, but probably 1985 0r 1986.

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.

Song for Christmas