The Grove Family - Episode One - Part One
The first ever episode of the first soap, or television serial, to reach Britain's screens. This the "The Grove Family", a rather orfinary soap of middle class family who live in Hendon, London. The episode is entitled "Cure and Prevention", and this is only 1 of 3 episodes that still exist in the archives, all the rest have been scrubbed.
Showing posts with label Soaps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soaps. Show all posts
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Brookie: Die Harder
Brookside explosion 1.mp4
The soap genre returns in some style tonight, as we see one of the more memorable moments from Merseyside soap "Brookside" on Channel 4. Hollywood couldn't have done it better! This is the gas explosion that occurs on Brookside Parade(an extension to Brookside Close since 1993), thanks to Ron Dixon (Vince Earl) trying to keep the pounds in his pocket and trying to fix the gas leak himself. Was he the daft so-and-so? Well, the background story is, Sinbad (Michael Starke), a Brookie favourite, being a suplier of kitchen equipment and such, sold Ron the gas cooker, for his new flat above his shop.
So this a 2-parter of the event, but not a full episode. Watch out for the shock second explosion after all the hysteria burdgen on, near the end of the second part. Only one dies from the gas explosion and that is Candy the dog, of the new family of the Shadwick's. It's a great episode, it features all of the main characters from the time but no Jimmy Corkhill I see, but the rest of his family is there, like daughter Linda (Claire Sweeney), possibly the most hysterical of the bunch as the fear of her daughter Kylie still inside the complex. There's your old favourites like Jackie Corkhill (Sue Jenkins), Mick of the pizza parlour fame and Max Farnham, who gets caught in the rubble also with anothe regular. In this period, there were 6 fires and explosions over a 5 year period, unbelieveable for a tiny corner of Liverpool. The soap depended more and more on sensationalism rather than realistic hard-hitting issues in it's final years. This was followed by a bomb detonation in the local nightclub "Millenium Club" (or vice versa, but I think it's in the right order).
The soap genre returns in some style tonight, as we see one of the more memorable moments from Merseyside soap "Brookside" on Channel 4. Hollywood couldn't have done it better! This is the gas explosion that occurs on Brookside Parade(an extension to Brookside Close since 1993), thanks to Ron Dixon (Vince Earl) trying to keep the pounds in his pocket and trying to fix the gas leak himself. Was he the daft so-and-so? Well, the background story is, Sinbad (Michael Starke), a Brookie favourite, being a suplier of kitchen equipment and such, sold Ron the gas cooker, for his new flat above his shop.
So this a 2-parter of the event, but not a full episode. Watch out for the shock second explosion after all the hysteria burdgen on, near the end of the second part. Only one dies from the gas explosion and that is Candy the dog, of the new family of the Shadwick's. It's a great episode, it features all of the main characters from the time but no Jimmy Corkhill I see, but the rest of his family is there, like daughter Linda (Claire Sweeney), possibly the most hysterical of the bunch as the fear of her daughter Kylie still inside the complex. There's your old favourites like Jackie Corkhill (Sue Jenkins), Mick of the pizza parlour fame and Max Farnham, who gets caught in the rubble also with anothe regular. In this period, there were 6 fires and explosions over a 5 year period, unbelieveable for a tiny corner of Liverpool. The soap depended more and more on sensationalism rather than realistic hard-hitting issues in it's final years. This was followed by a bomb detonation in the local nightclub "Millenium Club" (or vice versa, but I think it's in the right order).
Friday, 19 February 2010
Lovely Christmas Day Viewing in Famed Eastenders Fare
Arthur has a breakdown on Christmas Day - EastEnders - BBC
In the last of our Eastenders appreciation during it's 25th anniversary celebrations(and now after), here is another unforgettable and iconic moment from it's early days. It's from the same episode of the "Den's Divorce Papers", and it the aftermath is featured in this clip. Forgive me for not vastly expanding time periods of the clips in our Eastenders special, but I have never seen someone who is virtually at the end of their tether so brilliantly performed by Bill Treacher, who plays the honest-working but suffering Arthur Fowler. Hassled by the law, wife Pauline (Wendy Richards) and mother-in-law Lou Beale (Anna Wing).
Arthur suffers a mental breakdown as he is flailing to support the family and his health deteriorates. In his desperation, although known for being warm and reliable, he steals the residents Christmas Club money. The "Chritsmas Club" was a programme stemmed by bank sing the 1930s Great Depression, a desposit for savings to be unleashed and spent every Christmas. Anyway, this was a brilliant slow-burning storyline that results in Arthur, completely losing his rag and everything in that living room needs postage for air mail. This was watched by 30.1 million viewers, a soap all-time ratings best.
In the last of our Eastenders appreciation during it's 25th anniversary celebrations(and now after), here is another unforgettable and iconic moment from it's early days. It's from the same episode of the "Den's Divorce Papers", and it the aftermath is featured in this clip. Forgive me for not vastly expanding time periods of the clips in our Eastenders special, but I have never seen someone who is virtually at the end of their tether so brilliantly performed by Bill Treacher, who plays the honest-working but suffering Arthur Fowler. Hassled by the law, wife Pauline (Wendy Richards) and mother-in-law Lou Beale (Anna Wing).
Arthur suffers a mental breakdown as he is flailing to support the family and his health deteriorates. In his desperation, although known for being warm and reliable, he steals the residents Christmas Club money. The "Chritsmas Club" was a programme stemmed by bank sing the 1930s Great Depression, a desposit for savings to be unleashed and spent every Christmas. Anyway, this was a brilliant slow-burning storyline that results in Arthur, completely losing his rag and everything in that living room needs postage for air mail. This was watched by 30.1 million viewers, a soap all-time ratings best.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Celebrating Eastender 25th Anniversary: The 'Enders Highest Rated Cliffhanger!
EastEnders / Dirty Den gives Angie divorce papers for Christmas - EastEnders - BBC
Oh, you should know already! The most talked about as they say now "duff, duff" moment was when Dennis "Dirty Den" Watts shocked the unbeknownst Angie Watts by handing over those divorce papers after 20 years of marriage! This was the climax to the already heated, thunderous and argumentative relationship between the 2. despite the fact Den had a mistress in early 1986, being the name of Jan Hammond, he was a popular character, and the viewers wanted to see Angie getting a come-uppance after blatently lying about the fact she was dying from cancer and only had six months to live. This was her twisted plot to keep the marriage alive. Den was skeptical at first, but was taken in by Angie's ill...and suicidal behaviour. The famous scene on Christmas Day 1986 that took place in the narrow back hall of the Queen Vic pub, was set in stone, once Den discovered, on holiday in Venice, Italy with Angie, having overheared her admittance to the cancer being all one big lie!
Despite the fact Eastenders had only ran the year before, and even if you take into account everybody only had 4 channels. The success and media press of the show at that time that helped catapult their initial viewer ratings of 17 million, to nearly double that, for this Christmas special episode. It achieved 30.1 million viewers, the highest ever achieved by a British soap, and still is the record. It's amazing, it's up there with the death of Princess Diana and the '66 World Cup! The gritty realism that was displayed in Eastenders, helped many viewers to be able to relate to the characters very much so.
Oh, you should know already! The most talked about as they say now "duff, duff" moment was when Dennis "Dirty Den" Watts shocked the unbeknownst Angie Watts by handing over those divorce papers after 20 years of marriage! This was the climax to the already heated, thunderous and argumentative relationship between the 2. despite the fact Den had a mistress in early 1986, being the name of Jan Hammond, he was a popular character, and the viewers wanted to see Angie getting a come-uppance after blatently lying about the fact she was dying from cancer and only had six months to live. This was her twisted plot to keep the marriage alive. Den was skeptical at first, but was taken in by Angie's ill...and suicidal behaviour. The famous scene on Christmas Day 1986 that took place in the narrow back hall of the Queen Vic pub, was set in stone, once Den discovered, on holiday in Venice, Italy with Angie, having overheared her admittance to the cancer being all one big lie!
Despite the fact Eastenders had only ran the year before, and even if you take into account everybody only had 4 channels. The success and media press of the show at that time that helped catapult their initial viewer ratings of 17 million, to nearly double that, for this Christmas special episode. It achieved 30.1 million viewers, the highest ever achieved by a British soap, and still is the record. It's amazing, it's up there with the death of Princess Diana and the '66 World Cup! The gritty realism that was displayed in Eastenders, helped many viewers to be able to relate to the characters very much so.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Bawdy goings-on in an Eastenders off-set Episode...
Eastenders in Spain 1995 Part 1
A real treat here, with a full episode in 7 parts of an Eastenders 1995 special, special as they're on holiday in sunny Espana. Featuuring the Mitchell Brothers, Phil and Grant (Steve McFadden & Gary Kemp), with more hair, and Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen), son of Frank, with even more hair. This is an exclusive focus on 6 of the cast members also overlooking David Wicks (Michael French), Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and the the lesser-known Steve Elliot. The episode begins set on the plane towards Terremolinos, Spain.
Basically, the episode sets the standard for the the recent phenomonom (at the time) for badly behaved Brits abroad, labelled the "18-30 club" culture or the "Loaded Generation", primarily to get laid with the opposite sex. Maybe many times over on one holiday. However, this is of course a family show, so a much more tamer version of what you see on reality/voyeur/fly-on-wall late night programmes.
So what were the background to the characters back then? Ricky and Bianca are having a rough ride in their relationship, but shortly marry after the holiday. The Mitchell brothers do some searching for their little sister Sam, who had been missing from the soap for 2 years, after leaving Walford after her marriage break-up with Ricky, and being a constant pain in the neck. It was really because the soap's ratings were falling and the producers were bringing back some of the bigger characters. David Wicks history was Bianca was a weird one. After entering the soap in 1993, he made a pass at the young Bianca, but both later find out, from Carol Jackson, that they are father and daughter. Steve Elliot was played by Mark Monero from 1991-1996. The character did not have an on-screen family, and was known for being unlucky with women. He had recently bought a slice of income from the Bridge Street Cafe, which put him into a business rivalry with Ian Beale.
A real treat here, with a full episode in 7 parts of an Eastenders 1995 special, special as they're on holiday in sunny Espana. Featuuring the Mitchell Brothers, Phil and Grant (Steve McFadden & Gary Kemp), with more hair, and Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen), son of Frank, with even more hair. This is an exclusive focus on 6 of the cast members also overlooking David Wicks (Michael French), Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and the the lesser-known Steve Elliot. The episode begins set on the plane towards Terremolinos, Spain.
Basically, the episode sets the standard for the the recent phenomonom (at the time) for badly behaved Brits abroad, labelled the "18-30 club" culture or the "Loaded Generation", primarily to get laid with the opposite sex. Maybe many times over on one holiday. However, this is of course a family show, so a much more tamer version of what you see on reality/voyeur/fly-on-wall late night programmes.
So what were the background to the characters back then? Ricky and Bianca are having a rough ride in their relationship, but shortly marry after the holiday. The Mitchell brothers do some searching for their little sister Sam, who had been missing from the soap for 2 years, after leaving Walford after her marriage break-up with Ricky, and being a constant pain in the neck. It was really because the soap's ratings were falling and the producers were bringing back some of the bigger characters. David Wicks history was Bianca was a weird one. After entering the soap in 1993, he made a pass at the young Bianca, but both later find out, from Carol Jackson, that they are father and daughter. Steve Elliot was played by Mark Monero from 1991-1996. The character did not have an on-screen family, and was known for being unlucky with women. He had recently bought a slice of income from the Bridge Street Cafe, which put him into a business rivalry with Ian Beale.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
"Aye, Aye, What's Going on Here Then?"
28 feb 1985
So what will it be Lofty, Sharon or Angie? From the 4th episode of the East-end London's soap first year in 1985, first off, we see a very frisky (and permed) 17 year old Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), adopted daughter of Dennis "Dirty Den" and Angie Watts, whose epic arguments were very much the bread and butter of Eastenders in the 80s. Here we a fleeting, not-well-profiled clinch between Lofty or rather George Holloway -nicknamed for his tall stature- and Sharon in the Queen Vic pub. Mother Angie catches this playful behaviour between employee and daughter. However, at the scene of this late-night party taking place behind the scenes and not in the actual pub, once Dirty Den has his "eye off the ball" as they say, Angie is making a play for Lofty! Lofty had only just appeared for the first time in the previous episode, and being really the only young male in the serial, and well, the pond wasn't very big!
"Lofty" was an affectionate but isolated character, whose physical-looking awkwardness matched his social attributes. Depicted as weak and vulnerable, he was bullied by his boss Dirty Den. he would soon fall in love with teenage mum Michelle Fowler, although, that wasn't always returned. A reluctant marriage ensued, while Dirty Den continued to make Lofty's life a misery, by discovering he was the father of Michelle's child, and he paid to abort Michelle's next baby, via Lofty's handiwork. Lofty became a distant and bitter but still participating in the local community, however, he couldn't stand the sight of Michelle any longer in his life, so left for Bedfordshire in 1988, to work as a handyman for a children's home. He never came back.
So what will it be Lofty, Sharon or Angie? From the 4th episode of the East-end London's soap first year in 1985, first off, we see a very frisky (and permed) 17 year old Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), adopted daughter of Dennis "Dirty Den" and Angie Watts, whose epic arguments were very much the bread and butter of Eastenders in the 80s. Here we a fleeting, not-well-profiled clinch between Lofty or rather George Holloway -nicknamed for his tall stature- and Sharon in the Queen Vic pub. Mother Angie catches this playful behaviour between employee and daughter. However, at the scene of this late-night party taking place behind the scenes and not in the actual pub, once Dirty Den has his "eye off the ball" as they say, Angie is making a play for Lofty! Lofty had only just appeared for the first time in the previous episode, and being really the only young male in the serial, and well, the pond wasn't very big!
"Lofty" was an affectionate but isolated character, whose physical-looking awkwardness matched his social attributes. Depicted as weak and vulnerable, he was bullied by his boss Dirty Den. he would soon fall in love with teenage mum Michelle Fowler, although, that wasn't always returned. A reluctant marriage ensued, while Dirty Den continued to make Lofty's life a misery, by discovering he was the father of Michelle's child, and he paid to abort Michelle's next baby, via Lofty's handiwork. Lofty became a distant and bitter but still participating in the local community, however, he couldn't stand the sight of Michelle any longer in his life, so left for Bedfordshire in 1988, to work as a handyman for a children's home. He never came back.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
All Very Heartbreaking, But One Gripe..
The end of Tiffany Mitchell - EastEnders - BBC drama
Transmitted on the 31st December 1998, we see popular character Tiffany Mitchell (née Raymond), played by Martine McCutcheon. It's a well fondly remembered moment, but how could Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) in the car, not see ahead, when the street was empty. Sure, Tiffany was lying down on the ground, but quickly got back up, but with the amount of time from that to impact, and looking at the somewhat slow speed Buther's car was going, it looked just that little bit unrealistic, maybe Tiffany was weakened by the earlier blood clot, while most of the scene is superb.
Tiffany Mitchell's turgid relationship and marriage with Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) was a disaster waiting to happen. It all began murkily, they had a fling, then they got back together again to marry when realised the kid Courtney was his (questionable), Grant has an affair with Lorraine Wicks, they fall out, then get back together. Tiffany later asked for a divorce after making advances to police officer, Beppe Di Marco, and a fight ensues over the custody of her daughter Courtney. Tiffany wants to leave for good with the child, but then accidentally falls down the stairs, but Tiffany and Bebe try to work against the evidence to make it look like it was Grant that pushed her down the stairs. Then we come to this, she leaves Hospital, to tale Courtney away, but is surprised to see Grant who is on bail. Grant's determined to hold onto Courtney.
Martine McCutcheon who played Tiffany Mitchell, is a terribly, terribly lucky actress, that has escaped the grasp of being either stereotyped from her soap character or confined to be forever attached to that Soap, after bombing in other roles. Despite this, her future talents/successes were not seen on the box, but in the theatre and music studio. Before Eastenders, she was a member of an obscure girl pop group named "Milan", usually a wram-up act for "East 17". Having had some acting parts in "The Bill" and being a model, she was invited to be in the Walford soap. After that she almost instantly did very well for herself, getting a No.1 hit in 1999.
Transmitted on the 31st December 1998, we see popular character Tiffany Mitchell (née Raymond), played by Martine McCutcheon. It's a well fondly remembered moment, but how could Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) in the car, not see ahead, when the street was empty. Sure, Tiffany was lying down on the ground, but quickly got back up, but with the amount of time from that to impact, and looking at the somewhat slow speed Buther's car was going, it looked just that little bit unrealistic, maybe Tiffany was weakened by the earlier blood clot, while most of the scene is superb.
Tiffany Mitchell's turgid relationship and marriage with Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) was a disaster waiting to happen. It all began murkily, they had a fling, then they got back together again to marry when realised the kid Courtney was his (questionable), Grant has an affair with Lorraine Wicks, they fall out, then get back together. Tiffany later asked for a divorce after making advances to police officer, Beppe Di Marco, and a fight ensues over the custody of her daughter Courtney. Tiffany wants to leave for good with the child, but then accidentally falls down the stairs, but Tiffany and Bebe try to work against the evidence to make it look like it was Grant that pushed her down the stairs. Then we come to this, she leaves Hospital, to tale Courtney away, but is surprised to see Grant who is on bail. Grant's determined to hold onto Courtney.
Martine McCutcheon who played Tiffany Mitchell, is a terribly, terribly lucky actress, that has escaped the grasp of being either stereotyped from her soap character or confined to be forever attached to that Soap, after bombing in other roles. Despite this, her future talents/successes were not seen on the box, but in the theatre and music studio. Before Eastenders, she was a member of an obscure girl pop group named "Milan", usually a wram-up act for "East 17". Having had some acting parts in "The Bill" and being a model, she was invited to be in the Walford soap. After that she almost instantly did very well for herself, getting a No.1 hit in 1999.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
A London Routemaster and a Lorry Introduce "The Eastenders"
Eastenders Promo 1985 - UK TV BBC1
If you didn't know the show, it would be hard to grasp what the show would be about watching this preview clip. It's a soap, a programme about people and their lives and relationships, but all that is shown is an non-affectionate steering of a London Routemaster and a Lorry with the Eastenders logo printed on it's side, as it encounters a roundabout, along with the famous drum of the Eastenders theme, and the whistling bit. I mean, this just shows how emotionally unattached the 1980's could be, but yeah, it makes sense having the London routemaster, but you watch the clip, it builds up to the climax, and you think what's going to happen, will the lorry and the bus collide, or perform sychronised waltzing driving with other look-a-likeys, creating the "Eastenders" title from a bird's eye view? No.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Eastenders, I'll be posting (more extensive) clips from EE down the years soon!
Presently, Eastenders are on the cusp of celebrating their 25th Anniversary as advertised heavily on the BBC, the looming of what viewers are casting as their favourite "duff duff's"- pretty corny - as well as seeing the climax of a much-anticipated storyline/whodunnit? scenario, but let's delve on what was probably one of the best "duff duff's", here in this very short preview before the show came on air. The duff's mean the big drums that hit at the end of each cliffhanger, which are epic of course. It give a moment to reflect on the character receiving this blow/shock/unhappiness to their life, and then onto the credits.
If you didn't know the show, it would be hard to grasp what the show would be about watching this preview clip. It's a soap, a programme about people and their lives and relationships, but all that is shown is an non-affectionate steering of a London Routemaster and a Lorry with the Eastenders logo printed on it's side, as it encounters a roundabout, along with the famous drum of the Eastenders theme, and the whistling bit. I mean, this just shows how emotionally unattached the 1980's could be, but yeah, it makes sense having the London routemaster, but you watch the clip, it builds up to the climax, and you think what's going to happen, will the lorry and the bus collide, or perform sychronised waltzing driving with other look-a-likeys, creating the "Eastenders" title from a bird's eye view? No.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Eastenders, I'll be posting (more extensive) clips from EE down the years soon!
Presently, Eastenders are on the cusp of celebrating their 25th Anniversary as advertised heavily on the BBC, the looming of what viewers are casting as their favourite "duff duff's"- pretty corny - as well as seeing the climax of a much-anticipated storyline/whodunnit? scenario, but let's delve on what was probably one of the best "duff duff's", here in this very short preview before the show came on air. The duff's mean the big drums that hit at the end of each cliffhanger, which are epic of course. It give a moment to reflect on the character receiving this blow/shock/unhappiness to their life, and then onto the credits.
Friday, 29 January 2010
Mister Baaaarlow
Ken Balow's Coronation Crush 1960s
One of the longest-lasting actors on Coronation Street, William Roache as Ken Barlow, has appeared in the show from the very first episode in 1960, up to the present, as of 2010. Known as a ladies charmer and sometime philanderer, Barlow has had an amazing 27 girlfriends in the course of the show's run. This 10 minute clip from what I believe to be 1965, focuses on a schoolgirl's crush on a young and married Ken Barlow, asking for his photograph too. The sound quality isn't too great. Also, a young Emily Bishop or "Miss Nugent" features. Ken is married to Valerie Tatlock at this time. This episode also runs close to the Elsie Tanner gets evicted from her house storyline.
You may see "Dad's Army" star Arthur Lowe appearing as lay preacher Leonard Swindley, in the black suit and black bowler hat in the Gamma Garments store at 1 min 53secs in, speaking to Street legend Albert Tatlock (Jack Howarth). The character Swindley appeared in a couple of spin-offs in 1966 and 1967, after leaving the show in 1965 (storyline was he was promoted to higher management in the Gamma Garments company) "Pardon The Expression" comedy sitcom (1965-1966) and "Turn Out the Links" (1967), a comedy sitcom spin-off of a spin-off.
One of the longest-lasting actors on Coronation Street, William Roache as Ken Barlow, has appeared in the show from the very first episode in 1960, up to the present, as of 2010. Known as a ladies charmer and sometime philanderer, Barlow has had an amazing 27 girlfriends in the course of the show's run. This 10 minute clip from what I believe to be 1965, focuses on a schoolgirl's crush on a young and married Ken Barlow, asking for his photograph too. The sound quality isn't too great. Also, a young Emily Bishop or "Miss Nugent" features. Ken is married to Valerie Tatlock at this time. This episode also runs close to the Elsie Tanner gets evicted from her house storyline.
You may see "Dad's Army" star Arthur Lowe appearing as lay preacher Leonard Swindley, in the black suit and black bowler hat in the Gamma Garments store at 1 min 53secs in, speaking to Street legend Albert Tatlock (Jack Howarth). The character Swindley appeared in a couple of spin-offs in 1966 and 1967, after leaving the show in 1965 (storyline was he was promoted to higher management in the Gamma Garments company) "Pardon The Expression" comedy sitcom (1965-1966) and "Turn Out the Links" (1967), a comedy sitcom spin-off of a spin-off.
Monday, 25 January 2010
The Best Boat Porn I've Ever Seen!
Howards' Way - opening intro
Simply fantastic!
Look at those boats glittering in the sunlight!
Going "zoom" along the sea!
The titles of the short-lived BBC soap "Howards Way", running from 1985-1990. It's not hard to see why when you look at how times changed during those five years. It evolved around an upper-class leisure and business activity - Yachting. Back in the mid-80's and up to "Black Monday" in 1987, it was cool to be rich and upper-class, it envisaged greed and power, what was felt, and still is to a degree, to climb the career ladder. Britain had never had it so good, until oh, 9-10 years later, but that's another story. By 1990, recession was looming and soaps of the rich like the USA's "Dallas" and "Dynasty", were increasingly looking like pure fantasy.
Simply fantastic!
Look at those boats glittering in the sunlight!
Going "zoom" along the sea!
The titles of the short-lived BBC soap "Howards Way", running from 1985-1990. It's not hard to see why when you look at how times changed during those five years. It evolved around an upper-class leisure and business activity - Yachting. Back in the mid-80's and up to "Black Monday" in 1987, it was cool to be rich and upper-class, it envisaged greed and power, what was felt, and still is to a degree, to climb the career ladder. Britain had never had it so good, until oh, 9-10 years later, but that's another story. By 1990, recession was looming and soaps of the rich like the USA's "Dallas" and "Dynasty", were increasingly looking like pure fantasy.
The theme tune to "Howards' Way" does though feel rather soothing, with no vocals. You could hum to that tune easily. However, it also feels like there are vocals missing, which can easily be arranged with that fanfare-like horn/synth thingmygig.
The show is usually confused with an earlier 80's boats 'n champagne-calibre type serial, which was called "Triangle", which also starred Kate 'O Mara. The show was filmed and set in Southern England, filmed in various places along the southern coast, including Southampton. The most well-known actors to star in this, were again mentioned before, Kate 'O Mara as Laura Wilde, introduced into the show in 1989, increasing the link between Howards' Way and the high-class glamour of "Dynasty". Anthony Head (of the Maxwell "will they or won't they" 80's ads fame, and "Little Britain") starred only in the first series as Phil Norton.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
HAAAAAAROLD! Not Steptoe, the Other One!
harold bishop drowns (neighbours)
One of the genuine sore moments for the Neighbours viewers in it's early days, was the mysterious dissappearance of loveable Harold Bishop (Ian Smith), when himself and wife Madge (Anne Charleston), who go visit the coast or "surf". Once Madge's back is turned, she can't see him anymore and that is left is his glasses washing up on the rocky shore, leaving the impression that he had drowned. I'm afraid this clip is really short, and just really the aftermath. Wish I could see a more extensive clip but, anyway, it seemed Harold was gone for good, but his body was never found. End up, he returns to Ramsay Street 5 years later with amnesia, and Harold lives on impressively, becoming one of the longest-running characters, after leaving the soap in 2009.
Australian soap "Neighbours" began on 18th March 1985, and was very nearly a goner 4 months later, but was picked up by another Australian TV channel "Network Ten", and not only that, the BBC picked it up in 1986, and the soap became a great success, focusing on the happening and goings-on of Australian family life in an almost perfect surburbia with the sort of hot weather, many Brits fantasise about, called Ramsay Street, in Erinsborough. Neighbours actually became a bigger hit in the UK than it did in it's native Australia. What was unusal about the BBC scheduling was, it was shown twice every weekday, first in the early afternoon after 1pm I think maybe 1.35pm, and then showed immedietely after CBBC in the early evening, to suit those coming home from work about 5.35pm. So the show wasn't terribly slumbered as a show for "students, the unemployed and housewives" like "This Morning". When some of the show's younger actors moved into the world of Pop in the late-80's, you know, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and erm..Craig McLachlan. Neighbours' influence was huge at that point, in 1989-1991.
One of the genuine sore moments for the Neighbours viewers in it's early days, was the mysterious dissappearance of loveable Harold Bishop (Ian Smith), when himself and wife Madge (Anne Charleston), who go visit the coast or "surf". Once Madge's back is turned, she can't see him anymore and that is left is his glasses washing up on the rocky shore, leaving the impression that he had drowned. I'm afraid this clip is really short, and just really the aftermath. Wish I could see a more extensive clip but, anyway, it seemed Harold was gone for good, but his body was never found. End up, he returns to Ramsay Street 5 years later with amnesia, and Harold lives on impressively, becoming one of the longest-running characters, after leaving the soap in 2009.
Australian soap "Neighbours" began on 18th March 1985, and was very nearly a goner 4 months later, but was picked up by another Australian TV channel "Network Ten", and not only that, the BBC picked it up in 1986, and the soap became a great success, focusing on the happening and goings-on of Australian family life in an almost perfect surburbia with the sort of hot weather, many Brits fantasise about, called Ramsay Street, in Erinsborough. Neighbours actually became a bigger hit in the UK than it did in it's native Australia. What was unusal about the BBC scheduling was, it was shown twice every weekday, first in the early afternoon after 1pm I think maybe 1.35pm, and then showed immedietely after CBBC in the early evening, to suit those coming home from work about 5.35pm. So the show wasn't terribly slumbered as a show for "students, the unemployed and housewives" like "This Morning". When some of the show's younger actors moved into the world of Pop in the late-80's, you know, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and erm..Craig McLachlan. Neighbours' influence was huge at that point, in 1989-1991.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Still One of the more Bizarre Eastenders Storylines...
Eastendes: Joe goes mental when he hears about Pat's accident
Joe Wicks (Paul Nicholls) become one of the central characters of Eastenders in 1996, and this clip is a small branch of what he got up to. He only lasted for a year in the soap. Maybe that was just enough, as the character was pretty much exhausted by then. He's a schizophrenic runaway, who's arrived in Albert Square to find his father, David Wicks (Michael French). Living with suffering mum Lorraine Wicks (Jacqueline Leonard). His behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre, as his room has been graffitied with writing by himself, and is covered in newspaper articles, talking about aliens and UFO's, an issue he was obsessed by.
Joe Wicks (Paul Nicholls) become one of the central characters of Eastenders in 1996, and this clip is a small branch of what he got up to. He only lasted for a year in the soap. Maybe that was just enough, as the character was pretty much exhausted by then. He's a schizophrenic runaway, who's arrived in Albert Square to find his father, David Wicks (Michael French). Living with suffering mum Lorraine Wicks (Jacqueline Leonard). His behaviour becomes increasingly bizarre, as his room has been graffitied with writing by himself, and is covered in newspaper articles, talking about aliens and UFO's, an issue he was obsessed by.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Emmerdale - THAT Plane Crash Disaster Episode - 4 Main Characters Die
EMMERDALE - PLANE CRASH 1993 PART 1
Sound and video quality isn't very good, as it's just recorded off the TV screen. It's something anyway, and it's one of the soap's most seminal and defining moments, since it began as "Emmerdale Farm", back in 1972. Before this event, Emmerdale was known to be a more genteel soap to the more gritty Eastenders, Brookside and Coronation Street. Due to falling unimpressive viewer ratings, and having made a previous effort to make it appear more up-to-date with the times (dropping "Farm" from the title), this was a shocking change in direction. The episode pulled in an astonishing 18 million viewers.
Sound and video quality isn't very good, as it's just recorded off the TV screen. It's something anyway, and it's one of the soap's most seminal and defining moments, since it began as "Emmerdale Farm", back in 1972. Before this event, Emmerdale was known to be a more genteel soap to the more gritty Eastenders, Brookside and Coronation Street. Due to falling unimpressive viewer ratings, and having made a previous effort to make it appear more up-to-date with the times (dropping "Farm" from the title), this was a shocking change in direction. The episode pulled in an astonishing 18 million viewers.
As for the variant of the disaster, it trailed along sensitive ground, bearing a resemblance to the 1988 Lockerbie disaster. The Emmerdale characters that died were: Leonard Kempinski (played by Bernard Archard), Elizabeth Pollard (played by Kate Dove), Mark Hughes (played by Craig McKay) and Archie Brooks (played by Tony Pitts). This is how Chris Tate, son of Frank Tate, ends up in the wheelchair. Also, the stables were burned amongst a huge fireball, as result of the crash and the Woolpack's windows were blown in.
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Youtube Soaps Sweepstake
1st Episode ever of Coronation Street, 1960
Absolute brilliance uploaded here. Whoever uploaded this should get a gold star. Stars a very young Ken Barlow, along with such greats like Elsie Lappin,
Florrie Lindley & Elsie Tanner.
Brookside Half Episode from 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq-jGVaGkz8
A wedding takes place between Sammy & Owen. rom November 1991. Also features Brookside favourites Sinbad, Mike & Frank Rogers. Episode begins with a bizarre coversation about having a preference for "little fat frogs". Marvellous!
Peggy & Pat, FIGHT!
Classic moment from 1996. A serious conflict between pocket rocket Peggy Mitchell ("Carry On" films star Barbara Windsor) and undefeated heavyweight Pat Butcher(Pam St. Clement), but by god is it unintentially hilarious! Glasses are thrown and slaps are exchanged in a stilted, almost sportmanship manner. Non-sensical running to the doorbell ends the scene!
Absolute brilliance uploaded here. Whoever uploaded this should get a gold star. Stars a very young Ken Barlow, along with such greats like Elsie Lappin,
Florrie Lindley & Elsie Tanner.
Brookside Half Episode from 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq-jGVaGkz8
A wedding takes place between Sammy & Owen. rom November 1991. Also features Brookside favourites Sinbad, Mike & Frank Rogers. Episode begins with a bizarre coversation about having a preference for "little fat frogs". Marvellous!
Peggy & Pat, FIGHT!
Classic moment from 1996. A serious conflict between pocket rocket Peggy Mitchell ("Carry On" films star Barbara Windsor) and undefeated heavyweight Pat Butcher(Pam St. Clement), but by god is it unintentially hilarious! Glasses are thrown and slaps are exchanged in a stilted, almost sportmanship manner. Non-sensical running to the doorbell ends the scene!
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