All Creatures Great and Small – Page 6

Why the ‘6.55 Special’ came from a Radio Studio – Mark Kershaw

Why was “6.55 Special” made in Radio Studio 1?

When the lunchtime programme Pebble Mill at One was first broadcast it was “serviced” by the galleries and cameras of the two proper TV studios at Pebble Mill. Studio A on a Tues and Friday, while the studio was being reset between dramas etc (“All Creatures”, “Basil Brush”, “Great Expectations” etc) and Studio B on a Mon, Wed and Thurs, because its cameras could be re-rigged back from the Foyer in time for the evenings “Midlands Today”.

PM@1 was only on the air Sept to mid May, so for the whole summer the production staff were potentially under-utilised. So in 1982? (not sure when) 6.55 Special was sold to BBC2, a weekday early evening live entertainment and chat show, 6.55-7.30 (I think).

But it couldn’t use the existing studios which were incredibly busy in the evenings.

And that is why Radio Studio 1 (the one used for classical recitals etc) was turned into a TV studio, with an audience rostra and a permanent set with a sofa chat area (seen in the photo for the 6.55 Special post) and a stage as performance area. The sound was mixed in the radio sound control room, where the mobile lighting control desk was also rigged. The “lightweight” OB scanner CM2 was parked outside just off the fire track and used as production and vision control, with VT as well played from the scanner, but also connected up to Pebble Mill’s VT area.

Eventually when the Standby TV Network Continuity Suite needed refurbishing, the area was re-modelled as a full TV gallery – Gallery C (not sure the date but early 80’s).From then on Pebble Mill @ One or any of it’s spin offs came from that discreet gallery, but before then the studio equipment at Pebble Mill was some of the most utilised kit in the whole of the BBC!

6.55 Special moved into the courtyard after the famous movable roof was installed. And that is why for the first series, at least, 6.55 Special came from a radio studio.

Mark Kershaw

Mark Kershaw directing Pebble Mill at One

‘All Creatures Great and Small’ – Kevin Lakin

These photos were taken while filming ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. We were filming at a horse race stables in the Yorkshire Dales, we had a sure fire tip from the Head Lad, we all won and took the local bookmaker for £1000. Those are £50 notes by the way, there were some very sore heads in the morning. Terry Ford the guy in the dark jumper, has passed away, the other guy is Stan Morgan, ( in stripped shirt ) I think he has passed away too.

Kevin Lakin

Stan Morgan & Kevin Lakin

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Studio A – photos by Tim Savage, John Kimberley and Ivor Williams

Photos by Tim Savage, John Kimberley and Ivor Williams, no reproduction without permission.

The photos include the Pebble Mill, Studio A, EMI 2001 cameras line up, the line up gallery, the lighting gallery, the colour matching desk, the lighting gantry, and the production gallery. Also included are several photos of the ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ set in Studio A.

EMI 2001 line up

All Creatures Great and Small – Les Podraza’s photos

Photos from Les Podraza, no reproduction without permission. Les was a scene hand on ‘All Creatures Great and Small’, which was filmed on location around Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales, with the interiors being recorded in Pebble Mill Studio A. The series was produced by the BBC in London, but hosted out of Pebble Mill.

There were 91 episodes of ‘All Creatures’ which were transmitted between 1978 and 1990. Christopher Timothy starred as James Herriot, with Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon and Peter Davidson as Tristan Farnon. Carol Drinkwater played the role of Helen Herriot until Lynda Bellingham took over in 1988. The series follows the adventures of vet James Herriot in the 1930’s Yorkshire Dales, when he is working for Siegfried Farnon’s practice.

Les’s photos feature Carol Drinkwater and Christopher Timothy, as well as other members of the cast and crew. Also included are shots of the crew’s digs in Askrigg, the special effects team at work, and the camera rig on James Herriot’s car .

Les with Carol Drinkwater

Paul Balmer – Memories of working at Pebble Mill

I worked at Pebble Mill for 17 years from 1974.

I initially worked as a sound guy on many of the continuing dramas including many Second City Firsts and Classic Serials.

I also worked developing the soundscapes for the BBC’s first stereo drama serial – Juliet Bravo.

As a musician I was the ‘off screen’ guitarist for Alison Steadman in ‘Nuts In May’ – Mike Leigh’s direction was “No! No, worse much WORSE!” (difficult for a trained classical guitarist). I was in the dubbing suite for ‘The Boys From The Blackstuff’.

Alan Platers ‘Curriculi Curricula’ was also a major undertaking – the first lightweight on location electronic drama also with stereo sound – ‘hand synced’ by Roger Guest and videoed on location at Birmingham University!

I stood next to the writer on the very first ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ as the horse produced copious manure and the props guys argued over whether poo was an action prop or litter?

I also wrote music for Pebble Mill at One films – McClouds Mysteries – re enacted ghost stories! – Great fun. I have VHS copies somewhere!

I became a radio producer for Radio 1/2/3 and 4 and eventually a TV director having moved to Television Centre writing and directing multi camera drama for BBC Schools TV.

At Pebble Mill In 1976 I had met Stephane Grappelli – the great violinist and wrote his biography, produced a 1 hour biog on Radio 2 and a two hour DVD which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2002.

I also directed the multi award winning ‘Africa I Remember’ – shot on location in Africa.

Pebble Mill was an amazing place to work – in the same day you could work on Radio 3, The Archers and the local news!

One day I staged a ZULU charge on the front lawn.

Faintly bizarre in hindsight! But truly wonderful.

I now work as a full time writer.

All the best

Paul Balmer,

Author ‘The Haynes Guitar Manuals’, Penguin Encyclopaedia of Music, Julian Bream etc