Television – Page 210 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Drama Production in the 1970s & 80s – Janice Rider

Specially shot video interview with costume designer, Janice Rider. No reproduction without permission.

In this interview Janice talks about television drama production in the 1970s and 80s, and compares the timescales to contemporary productions.

Here are a couple of comments from the Facebook page:

Paul Taylor: ‘Ahhh….. that mythical term in modern TV… Production Values. Unless the value is in ££s, the accountants don’t care!’

Kevin Lakin: ‘Agreed, very much so Paul, creative people were moved out of management, and replaced with penny pinching accountants.’

Pebble Mill at One – photo from Maggy Whitehouse

Photo from Maggy Whitehouse, no reproduction without permission.

The photo features key members of the Pebble Mill at One presentational team: (left to right) Magnus Magnusson, Paul Coia, Marian Foster, Bob Langley, Josephine Buchan. It probably dates from the mid 1980s. It was taken at Peta Newbold’s house in Selly Park, where everyone ended up after the very last Pebble Mill at One.

Run for the Lifeboat – photo from John Greening

L to R: Noel Paley (cam), John Greening, Douglas Livingstone (director)

The 1988 Screen Two drama was based on the Penlee lifeboat disaster, seen from the point of view of those left on the shore. It was shot on location on Anglesey. Carol Parks was the producer, and Douglas Livingstone wrote the script and directed it.

Small Town Gardens

‘Small Town Gardens’ was a garden design series which ran for three series, from 2001-3. The first series was produced by London and presented by Rachel De Thame, the programme was then handed over to BBC Birmingham. The second and third series were produced at Pebble Mill.

I really enjoyed being the series producer, they were great series to work on. The producer/directors included Mark Scott, Kate Dillon & Paul Vanezis. Sarah Wilkin, and Emily Rusted were researchers, Sarah Costigan and Joanne Gray were PAs.

The second series was presented by garden designer Joe Swift, with the final series presented by James Alexander Sinclair. The premise of the show was to re-design small urban gardens, employing professional garden designers, taking them and the garden owners on inspirational visits, and shopping trips.

The first photo is of Joe Swift with garden designer Annie Guilfoyle, who designed a garden in Brighton for the series.

The second photo shows garden designer Andy Sturgeon with one of the contributors and Joe Swift. The garden Andy designed was in East Sheen, in West London. Both photos date from 2002.

The series went out on BBC 2 at 8pm on Friday nights in autumn 2002.

Vanessa Jackson

The Sheik of Pickersgill – Janice Rider

Specially shot video with costume designer, Janice Rider, talking about the 1978 Pebble Mill drama, ‘The Sheik of Pickersgill’.

‘The Sheik of Pickersgill’ was written by Mike Stott. ‘Sheik Fahmi wants to learn to speak English in three weeks in the soccer centre of the world. When he arrives at the Academy, with his supply of banknotes, the residents of Pickersgill cannot believe their luck.’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/345272.

The play was directed by Alan Dosser. It starred Anthony Sher, Richard Wilson, Diana Davies, and Eileen O’Brien.