Blind Date - Pilot Episode 1985
Valentine's Day themed post time! Here is a newly uploaded rare clip of the pilot version of ITV dating show "Blind Date" from 1985. It's our "chuck" Cilla Black at the beginning of the peak of her powers shortly before "Blind Date" became a Saturday night primetime ratings jauggernaut. Forget about her singing career in the 1960s and 70s, this was her definitive moment. The user says there was an alternative version of the show being piloted, presented by comedian Duncan "Oooh, chase me" Norvelle. I think we're all glad who took the upper hand there. The clip begins with continuity from the old LWT ident (London Weekend Television).
The one major change between the pilot and the regular series, is the relatively nice, glazed-looking pink set with the magical door, is replaced with a terrible, placid dim brown with a streak of darker grimy brown stripes under a sky blue luminary above, and then there's the middle elbowing out, with an outline of a man's hooked nose. Also add to that, a catchphrase-less, slightly more subdued looking Cilla Black (less egomaniacal?) in a black transparent, silver frock. Now that sounds more exciting the way I've said it, but no.
It's believe by the owner of the clip, that the pilot episode was never fully shown on ITV, only highlight clips, presumably on nostalgia-reminiscing shows.
"Blind Date" was ITV's jewel in the crown from 1985-2003(18 series) for most of it's run. At it's peak in the 80s, the programme garnered 18 million viewers. The show was inspired by similar dating shows like "The Dating Game" in the US. Each episode would star a single and unattached male and female over the course of the show. They would seperately ask 3 members of the opposite sex questions, sitting on the other side of the sliding door. The choice of questions would be extremely flirtacious but good-natured. Question could be "If you were a flavour of ice cream, what would you be". Cue someone witha terrible pun. Were these answers scripted or thought-on-the-spot, that's what I would like to know.
The single man/lady would choose who they like the sound of best, and then suck in the joy/despair, as they their identities are revealed to one another. The couple would pick a card at random from Cilla, to choose their holiday, and would come back next week to tell the usually cringeworthy and incompatible goings-on, however for a few, it was the case of "Mr Right Meets Mrs Right". Cilla would try to tempt more out of the couple, after they confess the truth in a pre-recorded confession box-style interview, being shown to the other partner for the first time, with a camera on his/her face to show their reactions. Their time on holiday would What we all wanted to know was "Did you kiss?", as queried by Cilla. I can't put my finger on it, but why did all the couple only seem to kiss on holiday? Some couples must've had a good hard sh...
Cilla Black was not alone as the furniture of the show. We also had off-screen announcer Graham Skidmore, who would sum up witty comments about our 3 contestants who are trying to get lucky, ending it with the catchphrase "The Choice is Yours!"
By 2003, the show had run out of stream, was no longer seen as edgy light entertainment, and Cilla blurted out live on TV, it would be the last ever series. The show did try to modernise, with the "Ditch or Date" option, maybe that guy/woman she/he chose were more akin to breaking a mirror, however, it was a horrible new element to the show, but these were the times now. It felt though, like it was crapping all over the legacy of the show, and it didn't feel right with our Cilla on board. There were plans for a new presenter at the end of the run, but that's like trying to rip a shell off a Tortoise. Cilla was the show.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Donald Duck Sounding Tentacle-Fingered Octopus Art Lovers
Paperplay
From Thames Television, this was disturbing but quite weirdly funny. Alright the finger puppets are actually 2 spiders, blook more like tiny octopus. Set in studio fantasyland, "Paperplay" is much like "fingerbobs" but with has no musical element and the finger puppets can fully communicate with an on-screen presenter, who is former "Magpie" presenter Susan Stranks, who came up with the idea of this show also. The puppeter is not seen, who is Norman Beardsley, camoflaged in the black background, and it's a good effect. In this episode, under the influence of a rather inconcisely titled book called "The Dangerous Sort", and they create a hot-air ballon from paper and yes, a balloon.
The 2 spider's names were Itsy and Bitsy, clear inspiration from the nursery rhyme "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Itsy was the Donald Duck-sounding red male, and Bitsy was the squeaky, human trumpetting yellow female. Other puppets also featured like Boris the Ladybird, Cardew the Caterpillar and Katie the bird.
"Paperplay" ran from 1974-1981 on weekday lunchtimes, so it was by no means, an oscure show.
From Thames Television, this was disturbing but quite weirdly funny. Alright the finger puppets are actually 2 spiders, blook more like tiny octopus. Set in studio fantasyland, "Paperplay" is much like "fingerbobs" but with has no musical element and the finger puppets can fully communicate with an on-screen presenter, who is former "Magpie" presenter Susan Stranks, who came up with the idea of this show also. The puppeter is not seen, who is Norman Beardsley, camoflaged in the black background, and it's a good effect. In this episode, under the influence of a rather inconcisely titled book called "The Dangerous Sort", and they create a hot-air ballon from paper and yes, a balloon.
The 2 spider's names were Itsy and Bitsy, clear inspiration from the nursery rhyme "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Itsy was the Donald Duck-sounding red male, and Bitsy was the squeaky, human trumpetting yellow female. Other puppets also featured like Boris the Ladybird, Cardew the Caterpillar and Katie the bird.
"Paperplay" ran from 1974-1981 on weekday lunchtimes, so it was by no means, an oscure show.
"Well mate, It's either Watching this or Reaching for the Top Shelf at the Local..."
Tiswas - Phantom Flan Flinger - Legs & Co, Dennis Waterman
"Tiswas" (which stands for "Today is Saturday, Watch and Smile) was the first ever Saturday morning kids show to be shown in Britain in 1974. This pioneer was one of the best of these programme that could pull in not only kids, but with a knowing "wink,wink" to adults, and from this clip, especially for men. Unlike future Swap Shop's and Motormouth's, it was never clean-cut in presenation but a fairly unpredictable, custard-pie-laden glorified food fight, you might see at a school dinner hall.
This clip features a (fixed!) quiz section, quizzed by the face of the show, Chris Tarrant, between actor/singer Dennis Waterman and the present dance troupe of the definitive British music chart show "Top of the Pops", which was "Legs & Co.". They were a normally six-girl group who replaced "Pan's People" in 1976. Legs & Co. practically get caked in water and cream pies or "flans", from an absurdly crossdressed Phantom Flan Flinger. Waterman then finds it hard to contain himself, getting quite hyperactive, with a front seat view to the action. It was simple maths really for the show. Only 3 TV channels, the viewing audience would be kids but then some. Perhaps alot bored hot-blooded men before they go to the footie or pub to watch the footie, but at all the same time, the production staff and crew were all really having a laugh, entertaining themselves too. "Watch and Smile" you say? More like Watch and W...
Legs & Co. consisted of Lulu Cartwright, Gillian Clarke, Patti Hammond, Rosemary Hetherington, Susan Menhenick & Pauline Peters. The dance troupe lasted on TOTP from 1976-1981. One dancer replacement later, the dance troupe in it last year, recieved less attention as they were swept into the background, along with the "partying" audience in new changes for the show. They were rpelaced by another dance troupe by the name of "Zoo", but the show having a dance troupe was on it's "last legs", no pun intended.
Dennis Waterman at the time, was in his heyday, after the success of "Sweeney", he had already appeared in 2 series of Minder as, along with a his theme-tune writing prowess being showcased on again mentioned, TOTP, achieving a No.3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.
"Tiswas" (which stands for "Today is Saturday, Watch and Smile) was the first ever Saturday morning kids show to be shown in Britain in 1974. This pioneer was one of the best of these programme that could pull in not only kids, but with a knowing "wink,wink" to adults, and from this clip, especially for men. Unlike future Swap Shop's and Motormouth's, it was never clean-cut in presenation but a fairly unpredictable, custard-pie-laden glorified food fight, you might see at a school dinner hall.
This clip features a (fixed!) quiz section, quizzed by the face of the show, Chris Tarrant, between actor/singer Dennis Waterman and the present dance troupe of the definitive British music chart show "Top of the Pops", which was "Legs & Co.". They were a normally six-girl group who replaced "Pan's People" in 1976. Legs & Co. practically get caked in water and cream pies or "flans", from an absurdly crossdressed Phantom Flan Flinger. Waterman then finds it hard to contain himself, getting quite hyperactive, with a front seat view to the action. It was simple maths really for the show. Only 3 TV channels, the viewing audience would be kids but then some. Perhaps alot bored hot-blooded men before they go to the footie or pub to watch the footie, but at all the same time, the production staff and crew were all really having a laugh, entertaining themselves too. "Watch and Smile" you say? More like Watch and W...
Legs & Co. consisted of Lulu Cartwright, Gillian Clarke, Patti Hammond, Rosemary Hetherington, Susan Menhenick & Pauline Peters. The dance troupe lasted on TOTP from 1976-1981. One dancer replacement later, the dance troupe in it last year, recieved less attention as they were swept into the background, along with the "partying" audience in new changes for the show. They were rpelaced by another dance troupe by the name of "Zoo", but the show having a dance troupe was on it's "last legs", no pun intended.
Dennis Waterman at the time, was in his heyday, after the success of "Sweeney", he had already appeared in 2 series of Minder as, along with a his theme-tune writing prowess being showcased on again mentioned, TOTP, achieving a No.3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.
Friday, 12 February 2010
One of the Giants in ITV/Channel 4 Schools Programming...It's Kinda Sad to Say That but it's True!
Stop Look Listen "Railways"
I was going to post about a titles only video about the same programme, but even better, I found a full episode from 1986. "Stop Look Listen" was an ITV Schools programme which educated and helped children to learn about the outside world, really. Although the title and opening credits come across as a glorified public information film about crossing the road, being wary of cars. This episode doesn't distance too much away from the subject of transport, with the focus on trains. You may hear a well-known voice, it's Chris "Do you want to Ask the Audience, Phone a Friend or 50/50?" Tarrant, who was a large presence on the show throughout the 1980s. Tarrant featured as an out-of-vision narrator since the second series in 1975. However the show's first series was in 1971.
In this clip, we see probably one of the best regional idents at the time, of Central Television, formerly ATV. The beginning credits are cut off, which were fairly interesting. The episode, it's a fairly mundane task for a teacher and his pupils, who are taking a trip in a train from Birmingham to Kidderminster. However, Tarrant vocally and visually point us to the inner workings of the railway, how a signal box works etc. Which was what certain school programmes were good at, making mundane items more compelling, without too of a fuss or budget or any great frills, and no need for a sexy host!
It's hard to find much information about the later years of "Stop, Look and Listen" (IMDB only lists it as a 1977 show), but the programme survived the jump to Channel 4 in 1987, still under the "ITV Schools moniker", and the end of ITV Schools on Four in 1993. It ran into the 2000's along with other not-so long running programmes like "Scientific Eye" until Channel 4 decided to turn it's attention from children to the unemployed "yoof" in 2007.
I was going to post about a titles only video about the same programme, but even better, I found a full episode from 1986. "Stop Look Listen" was an ITV Schools programme which educated and helped children to learn about the outside world, really. Although the title and opening credits come across as a glorified public information film about crossing the road, being wary of cars. This episode doesn't distance too much away from the subject of transport, with the focus on trains. You may hear a well-known voice, it's Chris "Do you want to Ask the Audience, Phone a Friend or 50/50?" Tarrant, who was a large presence on the show throughout the 1980s. Tarrant featured as an out-of-vision narrator since the second series in 1975. However the show's first series was in 1971.
In this clip, we see probably one of the best regional idents at the time, of Central Television, formerly ATV. The beginning credits are cut off, which were fairly interesting. The episode, it's a fairly mundane task for a teacher and his pupils, who are taking a trip in a train from Birmingham to Kidderminster. However, Tarrant vocally and visually point us to the inner workings of the railway, how a signal box works etc. Which was what certain school programmes were good at, making mundane items more compelling, without too of a fuss or budget or any great frills, and no need for a sexy host!
It's hard to find much information about the later years of "Stop, Look and Listen" (IMDB only lists it as a 1977 show), but the programme survived the jump to Channel 4 in 1987, still under the "ITV Schools moniker", and the end of ITV Schools on Four in 1993. It ran into the 2000's along with other not-so long running programmes like "Scientific Eye" until Channel 4 decided to turn it's attention from children to the unemployed "yoof" in 2007.
Scrummy Scrum Action 50 Years ago
Challenge Cup Finals 1960-62
Alright, that post title sounded a bit gay. Anyway, our first Rugby post before we descend into Winter Olympics hysteria(!) for the Sports section. It;s hard to believe that 1960 is now 50 years ago, the decade of peace and love. This is good old classic footage from the Challenge Cup Finals 1960, 1961 and 1962. This is an annual knock-out tournament for the Rugby Football League, and it is still running today. The competition between British clubs was founded back in 1896.
This clip seems to a be a more recent recording, harking back to the 1960's, like a VHS compilation perhaps. Notice in the clip,s how bare the Rugby pitch is, in the meaning of there being no sign of any advertising boards or pitch ads. If you watch the clip, you'll find out the scores, but here are the line-ups:
1960: Wakefield Trinity vs. Hull
1961: St.Helens vs. Wigan
1962: Wakefield Trinity vs. Huddersfield
Alright, that post title sounded a bit gay. Anyway, our first Rugby post before we descend into Winter Olympics hysteria(!) for the Sports section. It;s hard to believe that 1960 is now 50 years ago, the decade of peace and love. This is good old classic footage from the Challenge Cup Finals 1960, 1961 and 1962. This is an annual knock-out tournament for the Rugby Football League, and it is still running today. The competition between British clubs was founded back in 1896.
This clip seems to a be a more recent recording, harking back to the 1960's, like a VHS compilation perhaps. Notice in the clip,s how bare the Rugby pitch is, in the meaning of there being no sign of any advertising boards or pitch ads. If you watch the clip, you'll find out the scores, but here are the line-ups:
1960: Wakefield Trinity vs. Hull
1961: St.Helens vs. Wigan
1962: Wakefield Trinity vs. Huddersfield
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Oh, Stop All this Canoodling! I'm trying to Eat my Pop Tart!
Paula Yates and Micheal Hutchence on the Big Breakfast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHI_G1QFfIs
A classic moment from the show, which in hindsight, has a sense of the bittersweet and tragic. This is from Channel 4's "Big Breakfast", that really did break new ground as regards to weekday mornings, giving a more fun and sometimes surreal edge compared to mugs and woolly jumpers, and middle class P's and Q's that were a feature on TV-AM (ITV really) and the BBC's comparative shows.
Can Paula Yates be in any more head-over-heels love with "INXS" singer Michael Hutchence, with that long-winded introduction? This was a slighty edgy segment for morning TV, where Yates was a seconadary presenter on the show and starred in an interview section called "In Bed With...". This is from 1994, regarded as the "golden age" of the show when Chris Evans and Gaby Roslin were the main presenters. Yates established a relationship with hutchence, although being married to musician and charity fund-raising machine Bob Geldolf. It's rumoured that it was in this moment, was when it began, however, Wikipedia claims it started some time before. They seem helluva cosy in support to that.
Michael Hutchence was the lead singer of Australian rock-pop band "INXS". They had success in the 80s, with a range of hits including "Need You Tonight", "Devil Inside" and "New Sensation". Hutchence had met Yates back in the 80s, when she presented "The Tube". The tragedy is, that to complete surprise, Hutchence was found dead in an hotel room, hanging himself with a belt. Depression and drugs were the main factor over the strained relationship with Yates, the pressure to get married and hassle with Geldof's fight for custody of Paula's daughter Tiger Lilly. However the famed cause of death was that Hutchence had died accidentally, according to many from Erotic asphyxiation. This is attempting to cut off oxygen from the brain to increase sexual arousal in the person.
What was even more tragic, is that Paula Yates was never really the same after Hutchence's death, who she clearly loved. No longer appearing as the quirky and bubbly personality we once saw, she appeared emotionally drained up to her tragic death. She continued to look after her daughter, until her own death, from drugs too, but this was accidental. A sad demise to one of Britain's most natural female presenters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHI_G1QFfIs
A classic moment from the show, which in hindsight, has a sense of the bittersweet and tragic. This is from Channel 4's "Big Breakfast", that really did break new ground as regards to weekday mornings, giving a more fun and sometimes surreal edge compared to mugs and woolly jumpers, and middle class P's and Q's that were a feature on TV-AM (ITV really) and the BBC's comparative shows.
Can Paula Yates be in any more head-over-heels love with "INXS" singer Michael Hutchence, with that long-winded introduction? This was a slighty edgy segment for morning TV, where Yates was a seconadary presenter on the show and starred in an interview section called "In Bed With...". This is from 1994, regarded as the "golden age" of the show when Chris Evans and Gaby Roslin were the main presenters. Yates established a relationship with hutchence, although being married to musician and charity fund-raising machine Bob Geldolf. It's rumoured that it was in this moment, was when it began, however, Wikipedia claims it started some time before. They seem helluva cosy in support to that.
Michael Hutchence was the lead singer of Australian rock-pop band "INXS". They had success in the 80s, with a range of hits including "Need You Tonight", "Devil Inside" and "New Sensation". Hutchence had met Yates back in the 80s, when she presented "The Tube". The tragedy is, that to complete surprise, Hutchence was found dead in an hotel room, hanging himself with a belt. Depression and drugs were the main factor over the strained relationship with Yates, the pressure to get married and hassle with Geldof's fight for custody of Paula's daughter Tiger Lilly. However the famed cause of death was that Hutchence had died accidentally, according to many from Erotic asphyxiation. This is attempting to cut off oxygen from the brain to increase sexual arousal in the person.
What was even more tragic, is that Paula Yates was never really the same after Hutchence's death, who she clearly loved. No longer appearing as the quirky and bubbly personality we once saw, she appeared emotionally drained up to her tragic death. She continued to look after her daughter, until her own death, from drugs too, but this was accidental. A sad demise to one of Britain's most natural female presenters.
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.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
What we Woked up to in the 1980s!
Storm in an Eggcup - documentary about TV-am part 1 of 5
This was a 1992 documentary made on the "TV-AM" breakfast TV franchise that became a massive success in the 1980s, after it's first few faltering steps, whoring us, at first of course, with an orgy of ageing but distinguished heavyweight line-up of David Frost, Michael Parkinson and Angela Rippon. Despite the show being resucitated by a rapping, snearing puppet, Roland Rat, and Anne Diamond (who must've been the most weepingly adored woman after Princess Diana, at the the time), the show seemed never far away from backroom squabbles and walk-outs. This is profiled in this brilliant documentary, presented by Lloyd "Now, wheeoooo wuuuld live in a house like thiiiis" Grossman. The title of the documentary refers to the classic icon of the show's blue/white striped eggcups, that adorned the actual studio building in Camden, London, (see this at the beginning of the clip) as well as at the end of programming, weirdly addressing the year it is at present. Just a style/fad thing?#
Nearly 10 years later, the programmes talk to the likes of Parkinson, Frost and Robert Kee about the failure of the first year. It's all good having high-calibre presnters, but if there is no chemistry, that's the issue. Many sackins ensued until Greg Dyke was enlisted as the director of programmes for ITV, and ratings gradually improved. He is mainly joked about as introducing us to Roland Rat, in an effort to appeal to younger viewers. It worked, plus another reason was the holy alliance and chemistry of new presenter Anne Diamond and Nick Owen. Even after that it still wasn't smooth sailing for the franchise. Much criticism was directed at it's news coverage. More trouble came in the light of Australian business tycoon Kerry Packer, which led to a 24 hour strike in 1987, over reduction in staff, after much winded bloatings from his new TV executive Bruce Gyngell about the superiority of camera lighting and modern video recording defended this. It ended with bad blood, Gyngell firing the strikers, and bringing in overseas workers who didn't have these rights, not affiliated with any unions.
Just when TV-AM was pounding a re-formatted BBC in the early 90s, thanks to a reform law made by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, another budding morning franchise could snatch TV-AM's slot out of the blue, despite TV-AM having a strong reputation as a popular show. So GM-TV, then known as Sunrise Television, outbidded TV-AM to become the next franchise to run morning TV after 1992.
This was a 1992 documentary made on the "TV-AM" breakfast TV franchise that became a massive success in the 1980s, after it's first few faltering steps, whoring us, at first of course, with an orgy of ageing but distinguished heavyweight line-up of David Frost, Michael Parkinson and Angela Rippon. Despite the show being resucitated by a rapping, snearing puppet, Roland Rat, and Anne Diamond (who must've been the most weepingly adored woman after Princess Diana, at the the time), the show seemed never far away from backroom squabbles and walk-outs. This is profiled in this brilliant documentary, presented by Lloyd "Now, wheeoooo wuuuld live in a house like thiiiis" Grossman. The title of the documentary refers to the classic icon of the show's blue/white striped eggcups, that adorned the actual studio building in Camden, London, (see this at the beginning of the clip) as well as at the end of programming, weirdly addressing the year it is at present. Just a style/fad thing?#
Nearly 10 years later, the programmes talk to the likes of Parkinson, Frost and Robert Kee about the failure of the first year. It's all good having high-calibre presnters, but if there is no chemistry, that's the issue. Many sackins ensued until Greg Dyke was enlisted as the director of programmes for ITV, and ratings gradually improved. He is mainly joked about as introducing us to Roland Rat, in an effort to appeal to younger viewers. It worked, plus another reason was the holy alliance and chemistry of new presenter Anne Diamond and Nick Owen. Even after that it still wasn't smooth sailing for the franchise. Much criticism was directed at it's news coverage. More trouble came in the light of Australian business tycoon Kerry Packer, which led to a 24 hour strike in 1987, over reduction in staff, after much winded bloatings from his new TV executive Bruce Gyngell about the superiority of camera lighting and modern video recording defended this. It ended with bad blood, Gyngell firing the strikers, and bringing in overseas workers who didn't have these rights, not affiliated with any unions.
Just when TV-AM was pounding a re-formatted BBC in the early 90s, thanks to a reform law made by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, another budding morning franchise could snatch TV-AM's slot out of the blue, despite TV-AM having a strong reputation as a popular show. So GM-TV, then known as Sunrise Television, outbidded TV-AM to become the next franchise to run morning TV after 1992.
James Bellamy Meets His End, in one of the finest Periodical Drama's...
Upstairs, Downstairs - James's suicide
Near 11 minute clip from the last series of the critically-acclaimed period drama "Upstairs, Downstairs". War veteran James Bellamy life burns to ashes, as his fortune made over in America invested using a deceased relative of house maid Rose Buck's Will money given generously, all comes to blows as it's 1929, the event of the "Wall Street Crash", which began "The Great Depression" in the 1930's. This was all too much to bear for Bellamy, not to mention his First World War experiences, which he could never try to comprehend and get over. His father Richard Bellamy at the beginning here, is very disappointed in his son's (lack of) handiwork.
The scene is very well-acted, and it's tastefully done. The seres charts the Bellamy family through 5 series (1971-1975), which starts in 1903 and up to 1930 in chronological order. The series is set in a large Edwardian townhouse of the wealthy Bellamy family. they are the masters "Upstairs", while their servants are "Downstairs". It highlights the mood of the early 20th century of high and low-class living standards, the trial of the First World War and the Politics scene at the time. David Langton plays as Robert Bellamy, 1st Viscount Bellamy of Haversham, and Simon Williams plays a ex-Major James Bellamy.
Near 11 minute clip from the last series of the critically-acclaimed period drama "Upstairs, Downstairs". War veteran James Bellamy life burns to ashes, as his fortune made over in America invested using a deceased relative of house maid Rose Buck's Will money given generously, all comes to blows as it's 1929, the event of the "Wall Street Crash", which began "The Great Depression" in the 1930's. This was all too much to bear for Bellamy, not to mention his First World War experiences, which he could never try to comprehend and get over. His father Richard Bellamy at the beginning here, is very disappointed in his son's (lack of) handiwork.
The scene is very well-acted, and it's tastefully done. The seres charts the Bellamy family through 5 series (1971-1975), which starts in 1903 and up to 1930 in chronological order. The series is set in a large Edwardian townhouse of the wealthy Bellamy family. they are the masters "Upstairs", while their servants are "Downstairs". It highlights the mood of the early 20th century of high and low-class living standards, the trial of the First World War and the Politics scene at the time. David Langton plays as Robert Bellamy, 1st Viscount Bellamy of Haversham, and Simon Williams plays a ex-Major James Bellamy.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Back to a Time when Politicians were Much Respected and Admired...
UK General Election 1950 - Election Night Report
At present, here is our is earliest TV nostalgia moment from 1950. Nowadays, especially with the shocking revelations of the Expenses scandal, bursting one of many confort bubbles for our pampered politicians. With a General Election now just months away, many voters are more apathetic that ever, despite the fact this might be a very close election, and the fact that a good deal of voters are in the mood for a change of party, the trust and respect in our MP's have dropped fairly dramatically. It's now hard to imagine a time when politicians did not have inflated wages, and were deemed honourable, admired and respected by the public.
Well, is a BBC information video on the campaign for the 1950 election, such as how votes are counted and organised, what goes on, in election night. Here we have 2 of the greatest British Prime Ministers facing each other. In one corner was Labour's Clement Attlee, who in this administration, brought some huge changes in state welfare, such as the introduction of the free National Health Service (NHS). In the other, was the Conservatives leader Winston Churchill, looking to get back into Government after his election defeat in 1945. He was thought to be a great leader in times of war, but not in peacetimes, in the public's view.
The film shows much enthusiasm for the election process, a gala night to commemorate the election, a large outdoor crowd watching the election score. Politics would crave for that kind of interest these days, but that is a long shot now, especially after dodgy dealings spending taxpayers money on duck moat homes, or whatever you call them.
At present, here is our is earliest TV nostalgia moment from 1950. Nowadays, especially with the shocking revelations of the Expenses scandal, bursting one of many confort bubbles for our pampered politicians. With a General Election now just months away, many voters are more apathetic that ever, despite the fact this might be a very close election, and the fact that a good deal of voters are in the mood for a change of party, the trust and respect in our MP's have dropped fairly dramatically. It's now hard to imagine a time when politicians did not have inflated wages, and were deemed honourable, admired and respected by the public.
Well, is a BBC information video on the campaign for the 1950 election, such as how votes are counted and organised, what goes on, in election night. Here we have 2 of the greatest British Prime Ministers facing each other. In one corner was Labour's Clement Attlee, who in this administration, brought some huge changes in state welfare, such as the introduction of the free National Health Service (NHS). In the other, was the Conservatives leader Winston Churchill, looking to get back into Government after his election defeat in 1945. He was thought to be a great leader in times of war, but not in peacetimes, in the public's view.
The film shows much enthusiasm for the election process, a gala night to commemorate the election, a large outdoor crowd watching the election score. Politics would crave for that kind of interest these days, but that is a long shot now, especially after dodgy dealings spending taxpayers money on duck moat homes, or whatever you call them.
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