BACKGROUND BOBBY

I seem to have amassed a few followers already, so before I mention the Mr. Blobby "Gotcha" filmed on 2nd August 1994,  let me vaguely recall the 31st July 1955 when I travelled down to the STV studios in Southampton to take part in an episode of "Call Red", a series about a helicopter rescue service that was being filmed on the Southampton University campus and I had been asked to take my teenage son Chris because there was a large call for all ages.
I do not remember much about the first day other than we had to seek accommodation for one night in that area.
On the second day 1st August1995, one of our number was selected to play a security guard and was taken to be fitted with a uniform. After a few minutes the young man returned with one of the "runners" who was looking for a similar person who did not have tattoos on his arms. Chris was chosen because he fitted the size of the uniform and so became the second member of our family to be "Walk On".
Although I have retained a vivid memory of most of my days on location or in the studio, I cannot recall much of what happened on those two days 18 years ago.
Similarly on 1st August 2000 I was involved in one of the numerous episodes of "Peak Practice", but with being involved in 25 episodes between 1993 and 2001, all that I can recall are the happy days I spent on location in the Peak District and the fun we all had, as some of us had formed friendships that have continued to the present day.
Some of you readers who worked on "Peak Practise" could never forget that famous grin of 1st Assistant Director George Gerwitz who I had earlier worked under in "Boon" between 1993 and 2001. On one occasion we were filming an episode of  "Peak Practice" involving the start of a mini-marathon. I was standing near to the athletes and George remarked to one of his assistants,"Keep your eyes on that one, he has an uncanny knack of disappearing when I call "Action".
On another episode being filmed at Crich, the unit base was located at the Tram Museum car park and a mini-bus was transporting the Supporting Artistes to the location in the village which was used for the "Beeches Medical Centre". I was the last one to attempt to board the mini-bus but it was full, so I was given a lift in a separate vehicle being used to take the make-up team.
When  the filming had been completed by lunchtime the vehicles returned to the unit base for lunch but because I had not been on the original S.A's mini-bus I was left to find my own way back to the base. It was 4 miles away and uphill and I arrived about one hour later to be told that everyone had eaten and the catering wagon had closed down. I mentioned that I was not happy about the situation but received little sympathy ( Ah well, that's Show Business).
So its back to recalling Noel's House Party tomorrow then the following day will be the first mention of "Emmerdale" and how being involved with Yorkshire TV first began.

"Going for a take - sound running? - camera running ? - AAAND ACTION".
My first experience as a Supporting Artiste for Film & Television was in 1985 for a Training Video for Kodak being filmed at Eastwood Studios near Nottingham.
The main Character was being played by Sean Wilson who played Martin Platt in Coronation Street.
The video was demonstrating how to be polite to the customer and I was the customer who attempted to head-butt the Manager being played by Sean.
Having been an Entertainer since leaving School I had begun as a Guitar/Vocalist, later adding Comedy & Impressions and enjoying reasonable success in the Working Mens Clubs throughout the country from 1960 until 1991.
There are hundreds of people like me who are known by various titles. Extra,Supporting Artiste,Background Artiste, or, as the late talented Pete Postlethwaite called us, "South Africans" (S.A's).
I have compiled a comprehensive diary of all my Film and Television engagements over the past 28 years and will attempt to share those experiences with you in a humorous way over the next few months or more.
I have appeared in 4 films - a Judge at the Albert Hall in "Brassed Off", a butler in "Mrs Brown" with Billy Connolly, a mmber of a male voice choir in " Velvet Goldmine" and a Wedding Reception guest in the latest musical version of "Les Miserables".
My only TV credit to date has been as a Boxing M.C./Referee in episode 23 of Casualty in 1997 having also appeared in over 600 TV programmes as a Supporting Artiste.
My first Television appearance was filmed on 3rd April 1985 in a programme called "Marjorie and Men" starring Patricia Routledge and Paul Freeman which was filmed on location at an hotel in Cromer.
Filming later that morning was interrupted by the sound of snoring because one of us had fallen asleep under the hot lights on set. That was my first lesson - even though you have got to get up and begin your journey at 3.30 am. to be at the venue for your call time - DO NOT FALL ASLEEP ON SET.
I shall begin with August 2nd 1994. I was booked to be a part of a "Gotcha" on Noel's House Party and attended the BBC rehearsal studios in Acton.
A group of us were going to pretend that we were part of a musical group who were singing "Oklahoma" at a fair in Chesham that was  to be opened by Dennis Quilley. After we had completed our morning session of rehearsals we were taken to Wardrobe to be fitted with cowboy outfits. As we walked through the area, there was the Mr. Blobby outfit on a hanger. One of the Ladies with us said "Oh, I do think that the Mr. Blobby character is a most ridiculous creation". A man in our group whispered to me "That's not very flattering is it? because I'm  Mr. Blobby". I said " You must be Barry Killerby, I thought you were a Shakesearian actor, not a singer" He replied that he had accepted the part of Mr. Blobbybecause it had given him regular work on a popular TV show and nobody ever saw his face.
More about the actual day of the "Gotcha" on my next item on 3rd August recalling this day 19 years ago.