Maggie Thomas – Page 2 – What Was Pebble Mill?

David Copperfield

This BBC serial of Dickens’s novel David Copperfield, was transmitted in 1986. Barry Letts was the director, with Terence Dicks the producer. Bob Chaplin was lighting director, Gavin Davies the production designer, Ann Arnold the costume designer, Maggie Thomas the make-up designer, Nigel Evans was the VT editor, and Alastair Askham the sound supervisor.

David Copperfield was played as a child by David Dexter, Nolan Hemmings, when slightly older, and as an adult by Colin Hurley. Jeremy Brudenell played Steerforth, Reggie Oliver played Mr Mell, and Simon Callow played Mr Micawber.

Thanks to the BBC Drama Village for sharing the photo.

The World of James Herriot – exhibition

Photos copyright of ‘The World of James Herriot’, no reproduction without permission.

‘The World of James Herriot’ in Thirsk in North Yorkshire celebrates the life of ‘James Herriot’ (James Alfred Wight). It is currently staging a special exhibition about ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. The series was filmed on location in Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales, with the interiors recorded in Pebble Mill’s Studio A.

Several months ago the organiser of the exhibition asked permission to use some of the ‘All Creatures’ photos posted on this website – which the takers of those photos were happy to agree to. Tim Savage had taken photos of the Studio sets, and Maggie Thomas of the locations. Several people who worked on the series are also quoted in the exhibition, including make-up designer, Maggie Thomas and sound technician, Paul Balmer.

The organiser of special exhibition sent me these photos of the display, and you can see Paul and Maggie’s contributions on one of the boards.

Costume and Design – photos by Laura McNeill

Photographs copyright of Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.

These photos feature various costume and design staff at Pebble Mill, amongst others – mostly taken at parties. They include: Terry Powell, Paul Gooch, Ray Holman, Peter Lloyd, John Ellis, Jacqui Pratt, Maggie Thomas, Diane Lester, Al Barnett, Tracey, Sally Holden, Cathy Ayerst, Lesley Thomas, Carl Dolan, Conrad Fletcher.

‘The Brothers’

'The Brothers' Cast & Crew

The Brothers was a long running series about a family in the road haulage business.

There were 8 series in all, going out between 1970 and 1976, including 92 x 50 min episodes.

The final series was directed by Mary Ridge, and produced by Bill Sellars.

The drama starred Jean Anderson as Mary Hammond, Richard Easton as Brian Hammond, Robin Chadwick as David Hammond, Jennifer Wilson as Jennifer Kingsley, Derek Benfield as Bill Riley, Margaret Ashcroft as Gwen Riley, Patrick O’Connell as Edward Hammond, Colin Baker as Merroney, Carole Mowlan as Claire Miller, and Kate O’Mara as Jane Maxwell.

It was a hosted drama at BBC Pebble Mill. The final series was recorded at Pebble Mill, I’m not sure if any of the earlier ones were – please add a comment, if you can give more information.

Lynda Kettle was the production designer http://www.lynda-kettle.com and make up artist Maggie Thomas also worked on the series.

Poldark Cast and Crew

Thanks to Paul Balmer for this photo of the cast and crew of Poldark, taken in Pebble Mill Studio A circa 1975. Pushing the sound booms around on Poldark was Paul’s first job in television; he is on the back row on the extreme right. The series was filmed on both location and in studio, where it was recorded ‘as live’. It was produced in London, but ‘hosted’ by Pebble Mill, using Birmingham crews and facilities. The crew included designers Gavin Davis and Michael Edwards, cameraman Michael Williams, John Gilbert on sound and make-up artist Maggie Thomas.

The series went out between 1975-77, and starred Angharad Rees, Robin Ellis, Jill Townsend, Paul Curran, Mary Wimbush, Judy Geeson, Ralph Bates, Clive Francis, Hugh Dickson and Richard Morant. The drama was set in Cornwall and included mining, smuggling and shipwrecks!