A Date with Fate

Photo by production designer Lynda Kettle, no reproduction without permission

Photo by production designer Lynda Kettle, no reproduction without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Thanks to Steve Weddle and Julia Versluis for the information here about A Date With Fate. The BBC1 Daytime series was transmitted in May and June 1998, at 9 or 10am).

“A Date With Fate is possibly the world’s only Astrology based Game Show, starring Jonathon Cainer and future [now former] Tory Minister, Esther McVey. Contestants used to get a consolation Date With Fate plate.

Jonathan Cainer, sadly passed away not that long ago. He was massively rich as a result of his astrology telephone lines, and at the time of recording was by his own admission searching for a new wife. One particular member of the production team was in his sights, but the planets obviously weren’t suitably aligned.”

Steve Weddle

“A Date With Fate was so funny. I remember we lost power in the studio. Jonathan Cainer was standing next to me while I was doing autocue and said something along the lines of, “well you know why we lost power? It was due to Saturn being in conjunction with Jupiter” – all I could think was it would have been helpful for him to have told us all before it happened but I just smiled and waited for the power to come back on!”

Julia Versluis

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‘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