Copyright resides with the original photographer, no reproduction without permission.
The photograph shows Mark Kershaw directing in Gallery C, for a Pebble Mill at One, circa 1984. Dave Bushell lighting director is at the far end, a Vision Mixer on attachment from Northern Ireland (I forget the name), me and production assistant, Jane Mclean.
Mark Kershaw
Mark Kershaw directing 'Pebble Mill at One'
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.
In the 1980s presenter and craftsman Richard Blizzard made several studio based series showing viewers how to make wooden toys. Some of the series were produced by BBC in London and hosted at Pebble Mill, whilst the 1987 series Blizzard’s Wooden Toys was produced at Pebble Mill by Mary Clyne and directed by Philip Thickett, and the 1989 series Wood Works with Blizzard was exec produced by Stephanie Silk and directed by Bob Davies.
I’m not sure which series is shown in Lynda’s photos – possibly the 1987 Blizzard’s Wooden Toys.
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.
Blizzard’s Toys
Photos copyright of Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.
Top Gear, now known as ‘old Top Gear’, was produced at BBC Pebble Mill from 1977-2001. It was a 30 min magazine show about cars and motor transport. The presenters included Noel Edmunds, Angela Rippon, Jeremy Clarkson, Tiff Needell, William Woollard, Michelle Newman, Chris Goffey, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Barlow, Tony Mason and Quentin Willson.
When production of Top Gear moved to London in 2002 some of the Birmingham production team, and presenters (Vicki Butler-Henderson, Adrian Simpson, Tiff Needell) moved to Fifth Gear on Channel 5.
Thanks to Gail Herbert, who was a production assistant on Top Gear for making her photos available. The photos date from around 1990 and include shots of presenters William Woollard and Tiff Needell, producer Ken Pollock, directors Dennis Jarvis and David Wheeler, cameraman John Williams, sound men Tony Wass and Alex Christison, and production assistants Gail Herbert and Sophie Marsh.
David Wheeler, who is featured in these photos, sitting on a donkey, makes the following comment:
Tony Mason thought it would be amusing to do a PTC from a “4×4” for use on the sand at Weston-Super-Mere. But when I called his bluff he requested that I test drive the thoroughbred before he risked his rally-bred bottom on the beast! After some reassurance he delivered the PTC… ending: “… but I don’t think Nellie here is quite up to it, so I’ll have to find some better transport”. I seem to remember tracking from an open land rover and editing the piece to Echo Beach (Martha and the Muffins) which has a great intro and fab sax solo! Great memories.. enhanced by my trip home in the Astra 2litre, 16valve GTE… “space rocket” as I recall Gail called it!
Gail test driving a Porsche
Copyright resides with the original photographer, no reproduction without permission.
This photo is of Pebble Mill producer Andy Meikle. The tricycle was used for the film he directed on the Golden Oldie Picture Show. The Golden Oldie Picture Show was presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis, the exec producer was John King. Guest directors were asked to create music videos for popular hits which had never had videos made. The song he was creating a video for was “Down, Down” by Status Quo and it was shot at Tatton Park in Cheshire. The story was about a load of rockers fighting over a girl in a hay rick!
Andy actually drove the bike up and down the M6.
(Thanks to Annie Gumbley for making the photo available, and to Gail Herbert for the information).
Andy Meikle test drives the props!
Gavin Davies on Dead Head
Photo copyright Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.
Dead Head was a four part thriller produced at Pebble Mill. It went out between 15th January and 5th February 1986. It starred Denis Lawson as a minor villain who becomes linked to a gruesome murder, when he discovers a severed head in a hat box he is meant to deliver.
The series was produced by Robin Midgley, directed by Rob Walker and written by Howard Brenton. Dave Bushell was the lighting director, Vivien Oldham the make-up designer and Kathryn Ayerst the costume designer and Keith Salmon the camera supervisor. Gavin Davies, shown spraying down a traffic mirror in the photo was the production designer.
The series also featured George Baker, Simon Callow, Peter Attard, Lindsay Duncan and Norman Beaton.