Tales of Television Centre ; BBC4
Discussion
did anyone catch this last night? Bluddy great stuff, exactly how a documentary SHOULD be made! And 90 minutes, too. Some great stories from the 50's and 60's (and 70's and 80's!), plus some very unusual out-takes from various programmes which were nice to see. It's repeated on BBC4 quite a bit, try and see it.
Thanks for that heads up. I've now set the planner to record the next showing. I like a lot of people have a fond afinity with TV centre from years of childhood tv and the big fundraiser shows like Children In Need & Comic Relief using TVC as one of the stars of the show.
It will be a terrible shame if the BBC do pull out of TVC and move everything up to Salford.
It will be a terrible shame if the BBC do pull out of TVC and move everything up to Salford.
I don't know who this programme was aimed at, other than people who worked there at the time
I'm not sure who would be interested.
Bizarrely for me (who worked there from '70 -'79) one of the 6 VT clocks that were shown right at the start of last night's show (there must have been thousands of them to choose from) was written out by me
I'm not sure who would be interested.
Bizarrely for me (who worked there from '70 -'79) one of the 6 VT clocks that were shown right at the start of last night's show (there must have been thousands of them to choose from) was written out by me
Edited by Elderly on Friday 18th May 19:14
Edited by Elderly on Friday 18th May 20:43
Morf said:
Can you remember which year it was? There's no date on the board.
What was your involvement then? Presumably you weren't just the man with the chalk and did something else as well!
It was 1977, the one with James Hunt. After that they moved to ITV What was your involvement then? Presumably you weren't just the man with the chalk and did something else as well!
.I was a Floor Assistant - and as such was responsible for making sure that the
actor/politician/musician/celebrity appearing on whatever show, was on the right set at the right time, in the right frame of mind, having been through the right channels of make-up, costume etc etc.
It was a GREAT job; loads of unforgettable memories, such as having to 'chaperone' Keith Moon
whilst in the BBC Club bar :thereisnosmilieforthat:.
Elderly said:
It was 1977, the one with James Hunt. After that they moved to ITV .
I was a Floor Assistant - and as such was responsible for making sure that the
actor/politician/musician/celebrity appearing on whatever show, was on the right set at the right time, in the right frame of mind, having been through the right channels of make-up, costume etc etc.
It was a GREAT job; loads of unforgettable memories, such as having to 'chaperone' Keith Moon
whilst in the BBC Club bar :thereisnosmilieforthat:.
Sounds fantastic! I was only a teenager at the time so enjoyed it from the other side of the camera so to speak..I was a Floor Assistant - and as such was responsible for making sure that the
actor/politician/musician/celebrity appearing on whatever show, was on the right set at the right time, in the right frame of mind, having been through the right channels of make-up, costume etc etc.
It was a GREAT job; loads of unforgettable memories, such as having to 'chaperone' Keith Moon
whilst in the BBC Club bar :thereisnosmilieforthat:.
Keith Moon in the BBC Club bar.... I don't hink I can even start to imagine what that was like!
Elderly said:
It was 1977, the one with James Hunt. After that they moved to ITV .
Dug the episode out this morning and had another watch of it. .Part way through the episode, as part of a completely different sketch about Eric and Ernie moving flats, E&E get into a mini, which is then driven around the town like a maniac - knocking down barriers, driving on pavements...
When they stop, the car door is opened by the driver who turns out to be James Hunt in a chauffeur's uniform.
James Hunt: "Here, what about a tip then?"
Eric: "Certainly. Leave the women alone."
...and that's it! Ex-World Championship on screen for about 10 seconds!
Elton John is also in the episode, again only appearing fleetingly, walking round television centre looking for the studio. At least Elton did perform at the end - after the credits, to E&E dressed as cleaners, the show having supposedly finished. He sings the song, and at the end says:
Elton: "That was what I was going to sing on the Morecambe and Wise show"
Eric (as cleaner): "It's a good job you didn't!"
Angela Rippon also makes an appearance as a chorus line dancer (this is the year after her famous "There may be trouble ahead..." dance number), then at the very end does the continuity link for the next show, still in costume and apparently out of breath from dancing.
I loved the way they could get famous people on the show just to be the punchline for a single gag.
It also has the newsreaders "Anything like a Dame" dance number which is frequently repeated.
Those of about my age will also remember it as the episode with "Starkers and Krutch" - the "Starsky and Hutch" spoof at the beginning - in a red mini with a white stripe!
Great stuff Elderly, you truly are a PH hero now!
Edited by Morf on Sunday 20th May 12:53
Edited by Morf on Sunday 20th May 12:55
I caught a good chunk of it last night, and couldn't help feel that making programmes in that era would have been 'magical' and to workat the BBC in those days would have been a right laugh. You also got the feel that there was such a pool of talent collected in one place - technical as well as 'stars' that anything was possible.
Think about it - most of the programmes comissioned then (and by ITV as well) would never be comissioned these days - either financially or nobody would take the risk.
I thought the story about Robert Powell and how he met his wife, who he is still married to 36-odd years later was quite sweet.
I watched a coule of the 70's TOTPs that followed - I'd forgotten how fit Pan's People were - mind you I was only a nipper in them days!!
Think about it - most of the programmes comissioned then (and by ITV as well) would never be comissioned these days - either financially or nobody would take the risk.
I thought the story about Robert Powell and how he met his wife, who he is still married to 36-odd years later was quite sweet.
I watched a coule of the 70's TOTPs that followed - I'd forgotten how fit Pan's People were - mind you I was only a nipper in them days!!
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