Tag: Stuart Gandy

Move to the Mailbox

Mailbox move SG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.

The article from the Birmingham Post circa 2002, explains how the move from Pebble Mill to the Mailbox was going to be a positive one, enabling technology and the studios to be improved. The move from the ‘leafy suburb’ of Edgbaston would apparently make BBC Birmingham more in touch with its audience!

Unfortunately these aims were not realised, and the move proved to be symptomatic of the decline of BBC Birmingham.

Thanks to Stuart Gandy to sharing this cutting.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Andy Marriott: ‘Unfortunately pretty much every move is a downsizing event, and it’s not just the BBC. I’ve been helping a friend out with a project at the old Granada site in Manchester and it’s depressing to see the facilities that existed there that they simply don’t have at their new site.’

Jean Palmer: ‘I’m sure that those who worked there could have told them it wouldn’t work. Shame we lost Pebble Mill’

Carolyn Davies: ‘All very sad….BBC Wales about to relocate….hope the same doesn’t happen…..’

Sue Farr: ‘I always suspected that London was jealous of Brimingham’s success and that was what was behind the decisions that were made. None of us believed any of it was going to benefit the Midlands, did we?’

Andrew Langstone: ‘Seems The Mailbox is the BBC’S dumping ground for things it doesn’t know where to put them.’

 

Lottery show

copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This crew sheet is from a lottery show, which contains lots of familiar Pebble Mill names.

Thanks to Stuart Gandy for sharing the sheet.

Playing for Time

playing for time0001 playing for time0002 playing for time0003 playing for time0004 playing for time0005 playing for time0006 playing for time0007 playing for time0008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.

There is a studio schedule for Playing for Time, which was recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill.

Playing for Time was a daytime general knowledge quiz hosted by Eamonn Holmes. There were at least two series of the show, which went out in autumn 2000 and spring/summer 2001.

Thanks to Stuart Gandy for sharing the schedule.

John Last on Juliet Bravo

 

John Last on Juliet Bravo

John Last on Juliet Bravo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.

The photo shows actor, John Last getting ready for a recording of Juliet Bravo at Pebble Mill, Studio A.

Juliet Bravo was a police series, which went out on BBC1 from 1980-85; it was a London production, hosted at Pebble Mill. Here is an entry on the BBC Genome project, which gives Radio Times listings for an episode: http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3f15aa86430649128412852960d4776a.

“My connection with Pebble Mill is rather a humble one, i.e. as a jobbing Equity member (actor) I seemed to end up at the studios on all manner of productions as an equally humble ‘walk-on’.  It’s a rather tedious story, but the long and short of it is basically an association with a pretty long period of production therein.  This is a ‘selfie’ (before the term was even thought of) taken in the downstairs dressing room for an episode of Juliet Bravo.  A rather good series I feel.   Strange to think just how long ago it all was?”

John Last

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Susan Astle: ‘I was make up designer on this for a while, Lesley Weaver (Perry)was my assistant. Sue Peck, Nicky Deely and Joy were in wardrobe. Good times at The Sparrow Hawk!’

Stuart Gandy: ‘I remember it well, being in TV ops in the early 80s. Another of the many prime time shows made at the mill Good memories.’

 

List of Pebble Mill programmes

Photo by Ben Peissel, no reproduction without permission

Photo by Ben Peissel, no reproduction without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This a list of factual television programmes, described as ‘current’, was produced before the closure of Pebble Mill, around 2004. The list is included in a document housed in the BBC Archives in Caversham.

BBC One:

Points of View, Animal Sanctuary

BBC Two:

Gardeners’ World, Gardeners’ World Specials, Gardeners’ World Live, RHS Tatton, Gardener of the Year, Small Town Gardens, Rachel’s Country Garden [I don’t think this series was actually made], Million Pound Property Challenge, SAS Survival Secrets, Big Dreams – The Secrets of Asian Success, How I made My Property Millions

BBC Three:

The Brief: India and Pakistan, Greatest Eunuch Show, Black Beauty

BBC One Daytime:

Countryfile, Call My Bluff, To Buy or Not to Buy, Trading Up, Big Strong Boys, Sunday Garden, Trading Up in the Sun

 

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘I worked on 10 of those programmes! And don’t forget all the Radio programmes that were also being currently made …’

Simon Vaughan: ‘Pebble Mill was an amazing production centre – why on earth decommission it and pull it down, such an absolute waste. Just like TVC, their like will never be seen again.’

Carole Lowe: ‘Miss Pebble Mill a great building I worked on Anne and Nick and other programmes. Sad loss to BIRMINGHAM.’

Stuart Gandy: ‘Proper broadcasting centre.’

Pete Simpkin: ‘..and of course all the Radio…Live music , recorded music, Radio 2, Radio 3, amazing amount of Radio 4 ….drama, features, documentaries, the Archers and all the Local Radio as well!’

Judith Markall: ‘A sin to knock the building down!’