Between 1991 and 1996, I was in 10 episodes of the TV Police series "The Bill".
On 31st August 1994, I travelled to London by train, then as usual took the Underground connection to South Wimbledon. I then walked to Merton where the studio was located for that series.
I was usually a "passer by" in the street scenes which were filmed in and around Croydon and as I was not clearly featured in any of those episodes I can only remember one scene which involved an arrest outside a Bank in Croydon.
One of the characters in those days was WPC June Ackland who was played by Trudie Goodwin.
Trudie is currently playing the mother of the Sharma family in "Emmerdale". She doesn't appear to me to have changed in appearance since those days.
Saturday 31 August 2013
Thursday 29 August 2013
"BERNARD'S WATCH" - 2000
The 30th August 2000 was the only day I worked on an episode of "Bernard's Watch", a Children's TV drama about a boy called Bernard who had been given a magic watch that froze time, except for him, so that he could alter situations and then use his watch to unfreeze time back to the present moment.
The programme ran for 7 series between 1997 and 2005 and I was in an episode of Series 4 which starred David Peachey as Bernard and was narrated by Liza Goddard.
My scene was filmed outside a house on the banks of the River Trent in Nottingham.
The programme ran for 7 series between 1997 and 2005 and I was in an episode of Series 4 which starred David Peachey as Bernard and was narrated by Liza Goddard.
My scene was filmed outside a house on the banks of the River Trent in Nottingham.
"OLD DEVILS" 1991:"DALZIEL & PASCOE" 1995:"MISSING POSTMAN" 1996
I could not report anything yesterday because I have never been involved in any Film or TV production on any 28th August since 1985.
However, on 29th August 1991, I was at Paddington Railway Station to be part of an episode of "Old Devils", a BBC mini-series of 3 episodes adapted from the Kinsley Amis novel and starring John Stride.
On 29th August 1995, I was again in Birmingham to be in my first episode of "Dalziel & Pascoe". My second day of involvement was to be 3 months later on November 5th when I travelled to Huntingdon, all future episodes were then filmed in and around Birmingham.
On 29th August 1996, I had travelled down to Wareham in Dorset to be in an episode of "The Missing Postman", a TV movie starring James Bolam as the postman and also featuring Alison Steadman, Jim Carter( Carson from Downton Abbey) and Larry Lamb. The story was about a postman who was about to be made redundant so on his last delivery he travelled throughout the entire country delivering all the letters by hand.
During my involvement in filming "Old Devils", "The Missing Postman" and "House of Elliott", I was in the company of a very nice older couple and the lady had asked me several questions over those previous days of filming."What was the overtime rate?""How much do you get for Special skills?"How much do you get for a shorthaircut?" etc. At one point I asked her how she became involved with Show Business and she told me that her father had been a Comedian. I said that my father also had been a professional comedy tap-dancer with the "Lynton Boys" in the 1940's, so who was her father. She said Arthur Askey and I replied then you must be Anthea Askey? she said yes and my husband is Will Fyfe Junior.
It was a privilege and a pleasure to be in their company over those weeks of filming and the reason Anthea had asked me about the different payments was because her involvement with her father had previously been on the Radio - not Television.
There are many other people employed as Supporting Artistes on Film & Television who have been famous in one way or another and it is interesting to talk to them to hear their fascinating stories of earlier days in the limelight of Show Business.
However, on 29th August 1991, I was at Paddington Railway Station to be part of an episode of "Old Devils", a BBC mini-series of 3 episodes adapted from the Kinsley Amis novel and starring John Stride.
On 29th August 1995, I was again in Birmingham to be in my first episode of "Dalziel & Pascoe". My second day of involvement was to be 3 months later on November 5th when I travelled to Huntingdon, all future episodes were then filmed in and around Birmingham.
On 29th August 1996, I had travelled down to Wareham in Dorset to be in an episode of "The Missing Postman", a TV movie starring James Bolam as the postman and also featuring Alison Steadman, Jim Carter( Carson from Downton Abbey) and Larry Lamb. The story was about a postman who was about to be made redundant so on his last delivery he travelled throughout the entire country delivering all the letters by hand.
During my involvement in filming "Old Devils", "The Missing Postman" and "House of Elliott", I was in the company of a very nice older couple and the lady had asked me several questions over those previous days of filming."What was the overtime rate?""How much do you get for Special skills?"How much do you get for a shorthaircut?" etc. At one point I asked her how she became involved with Show Business and she told me that her father had been a Comedian. I said that my father also had been a professional comedy tap-dancer with the "Lynton Boys" in the 1940's, so who was her father. She said Arthur Askey and I replied then you must be Anthea Askey? she said yes and my husband is Will Fyfe Junior.
It was a privilege and a pleasure to be in their company over those weeks of filming and the reason Anthea had asked me about the different payments was because her involvement with her father had previously been on the Radio - not Television.
There are many other people employed as Supporting Artistes on Film & Television who have been famous in one way or another and it is interesting to talk to them to hear their fascinating stories of earlier days in the limelight of Show Business.
Monday 26 August 2013
"DALZIEL & PASCOE" 1996 & 1998 : " THE WYVERN MYSTERIES" 1999
On 27th August 1996, I was in Birmingham once again to be in another episode of "Dalziel & Pascoe", starring Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan.
I was first in the company of Warren Clarke in "Nice Work" when I spent 4 nights on location in Great Bridge, Birmingham and a day shoot at Birmingham University.
On on of my four night scenes I was in a smoke filled room with Warren Clarke, Hadyn Gwynn, John Forgeham and others. I was a member of the Board of Directors and I was directed to keep eye contact with John Forgeham, who was playing a very aggressive character. The look he was giving me was so fierce that I had to look away on the first take. The Director called for another take and I was told to keep eye contact with John as I was close up in the shot. The Assistant Director was William Hartley, who I was to work with many more times on " Dalziel & Pascoe" and "Dangerfield". Whenever I have been with him since that day, he has always introduced me to others by saying "Bobby was in that smoke-filled boardroom scene that we filmed for "Nice Work".
On 27th August 1998, I was again in Birmingham for another episode of " Dalziel & Pascoe". Between 1995 and 2004 I was involved in 16 days filming on that programme.
Exactly one year later on 27th August 1999 I was in Thame, near Oxford for a scene in the TV Film "The Wyvern Mysteries" starring Naomi Watts and Derek Jacobi.
The scene I was in began with a shot of a ripe cornfield and as the camera panned back, t revealed an eerie scene of us walking out from within the cornfield in period costume. This Gothic film was released in 2000 and received a two star rating from IMDb.
I was first in the company of Warren Clarke in "Nice Work" when I spent 4 nights on location in Great Bridge, Birmingham and a day shoot at Birmingham University.
On on of my four night scenes I was in a smoke filled room with Warren Clarke, Hadyn Gwynn, John Forgeham and others. I was a member of the Board of Directors and I was directed to keep eye contact with John Forgeham, who was playing a very aggressive character. The look he was giving me was so fierce that I had to look away on the first take. The Director called for another take and I was told to keep eye contact with John as I was close up in the shot. The Assistant Director was William Hartley, who I was to work with many more times on " Dalziel & Pascoe" and "Dangerfield". Whenever I have been with him since that day, he has always introduced me to others by saying "Bobby was in that smoke-filled boardroom scene that we filmed for "Nice Work".
On 27th August 1998, I was again in Birmingham for another episode of " Dalziel & Pascoe". Between 1995 and 2004 I was involved in 16 days filming on that programme.
Exactly one year later on 27th August 1999 I was in Thame, near Oxford for a scene in the TV Film "The Wyvern Mysteries" starring Naomi Watts and Derek Jacobi.
The scene I was in began with a shot of a ripe cornfield and as the camera panned back, t revealed an eerie scene of us walking out from within the cornfield in period costume. This Gothic film was released in 2000 and received a two star rating from IMDb.
"OUTSIDE EDGE" 1993:"PEAK PRACTICE" 1994:"EMMERDALE" 2004
It was on 26th August 1993 that I made my final visit to Nottingham to be in my 6th and final day on "Outside Edge". I enjoyed every day on that series and, although it was hampered with rain on occasions, I learned a lot about television comedy acting from observing Timothy Spall, Josie Lawrence, Brenda Blethyn, Robert Daws and Denis Lill at close quarters.
Exactly one year later I arrived at the large old mill in the centre of Belper in Derbyshire, which had been converted into sections, one of which was a complex used by the "Peak Practice" production team.
Towards the end of "Peak Practise" the offices moved to an industrial unit in an area of Ripley in the Amber Valley, where I was about to visit a few times before the series finally came to an end a couple of years later.
Ten year after that, in 2004, I was in Leeds again for my 49th day of involvement in " Emmerdale" and even now, nearly ten years later, I am very pleased that I am being given the opportunity of working on that very popular programme.
Exactly one year later I arrived at the large old mill in the centre of Belper in Derbyshire, which had been converted into sections, one of which was a complex used by the "Peak Practice" production team.
Towards the end of "Peak Practise" the offices moved to an industrial unit in an area of Ripley in the Amber Valley, where I was about to visit a few times before the series finally came to an end a couple of years later.
Ten year after that, in 2004, I was in Leeds again for my 49th day of involvement in " Emmerdale" and even now, nearly ten years later, I am very pleased that I am being given the opportunity of working on that very popular programme.
Sunday 25 August 2013
"SHELL" 1988-"BOON" 1992-"OUTSIDE EDGE"1993-"EMMERDALE"2009
The 25th August 1988 was my second day on the Shell advert with the Cosworth Racing Car team at Ladybower Dam which I described yesterday.
The 25th August 1992 was a day I was in Nottingham for an episode of "Boon" starring Michael Elphick, Neil Morrissey and David Daker. Between 1986 and 1992 I was in 8 episodes of "Boon" which had begun being set in Birmingham as a story about a motorbike dispatch rider and his mate and continued being filmed around the Nottingham area when the ATV studios closed in Birmingham.
I was back in Nottingham again on 25th August 1993 for another day on "Outside Edge", being my 5th day of involvement in that production. My 6th and final day was to be the next day.
16 years later on 25th August 2009, I was in Leeds again to be in another 3 episodes of "Emmerdale".
As I have mentioned before, being involved regularly in "Emmerdale", a lot of memories of earlier years all merge into one and as this day was 4 years ago therefore I cannot recall anything memorable about this certain day.
The 25th August 1992 was a day I was in Nottingham for an episode of "Boon" starring Michael Elphick, Neil Morrissey and David Daker. Between 1986 and 1992 I was in 8 episodes of "Boon" which had begun being set in Birmingham as a story about a motorbike dispatch rider and his mate and continued being filmed around the Nottingham area when the ATV studios closed in Birmingham.
I was back in Nottingham again on 25th August 1993 for another day on "Outside Edge", being my 5th day of involvement in that production. My 6th and final day was to be the next day.
16 years later on 25th August 2009, I was in Leeds again to be in another 3 episodes of "Emmerdale".
As I have mentioned before, being involved regularly in "Emmerdale", a lot of memories of earlier years all merge into one and as this day was 4 years ago therefore I cannot recall anything memorable about this certain day.
Friday 23 August 2013
" SHELL PETROL ADVERT" 1988 - "PRESTON FRONT" 1994
On the 24th August 1988, I arrived at the side of Ladybower Dam in Derbyshire, the area where the famous Dam Busters squadron did their low-level training for their mission to blow up the German Dams in the Second World War.
A group of us had assembled there to be part of an advert for Shell petrol which featured the Ford Racing Car team and we were the spectators.
This was our first day of two and at the opening of the advert, I can be seen, with my son Chris, walking away from the camera looking at these stationary cars before the event.
At the end of that day's filming we were all in a group and the Director asked who was able to return to the location for a second day. Most of us raised our hands and as we were picked out we had to shout out our names for the casting list. One very successful Supporting Artiste, Roger Bill was with his wife and the Director said " What is her name ? " Roger was a very humorous man and replied " Mo Bill " which raised a huge laugh from most of us because the name of a rival petrol to Shell in those days was Mobil.
On the 24th August 1994 I arrived at a location near to Stafford to be in a programme called " All quiet on the Preston Front" starring Colin Buchanan who went on to play Pascoe in "Dalziel and Pascoe" with Warren Clarke.
One of our number was a little bit late for the call time to managed to get to the location before we started filming the scenes. I will not name him but those of you who read this and were in that programme will remember him with fondness because he was always frieindly and polite and you will know who I mean when I say that his excuse for being late was because " I didn't see any unit signs on the M6 ! ".
All I can remember about that episode, which was a comedy, was that a scene that we observed being filmed involved an outside toilet exploding and a character emerging with smoke covered face and ripped clothing.
That was the first day of two that I spent on that series which I really enjoyed being a part of.
A group of us had assembled there to be part of an advert for Shell petrol which featured the Ford Racing Car team and we were the spectators.
This was our first day of two and at the opening of the advert, I can be seen, with my son Chris, walking away from the camera looking at these stationary cars before the event.
At the end of that day's filming we were all in a group and the Director asked who was able to return to the location for a second day. Most of us raised our hands and as we were picked out we had to shout out our names for the casting list. One very successful Supporting Artiste, Roger Bill was with his wife and the Director said " What is her name ? " Roger was a very humorous man and replied " Mo Bill " which raised a huge laugh from most of us because the name of a rival petrol to Shell in those days was Mobil.
On the 24th August 1994 I arrived at a location near to Stafford to be in a programme called " All quiet on the Preston Front" starring Colin Buchanan who went on to play Pascoe in "Dalziel and Pascoe" with Warren Clarke.
One of our number was a little bit late for the call time to managed to get to the location before we started filming the scenes. I will not name him but those of you who read this and were in that programme will remember him with fondness because he was always frieindly and polite and you will know who I mean when I say that his excuse for being late was because " I didn't see any unit signs on the M6 ! ".
All I can remember about that episode, which was a comedy, was that a scene that we observed being filmed involved an outside toilet exploding and a character emerging with smoke covered face and ripped clothing.
That was the first day of two that I spent on that series which I really enjoyed being a part of.
Thursday 22 August 2013
"BETWEEN THE LINES" 1994 - "HEALTH COUNCIL DOCUMENTARY" 1995 - "EMMERDALE" 2010
On 23rd August 1994, I was in Westminster to be in an episode of " Between the Lines".
All I can remember about this day was that we were in the street looking across to the frontage of Westminster Abbey with the Central Hall behind us.
Similarly, on 23rd August 1995, I was at Crystal Palace to film a documentary about the Health Council, which again I cannot recall anything about that day other than walking around that vast complex and the facilities within it.
On 23rd August 2010, only 3 years ago, I was in Leeds for my 144th episode of "Emmerdale".
As I have been involved in many episodes, it is difficult to recall any specific incident at that time, even though it is only 3 years ago.
Later on this month,I will be reflecting on "Shell petrol" advert, "Dalziel & Pascoe" and "Old Devils".
More of the various programmes that I have been involved with over the past 28 years.
All I can remember about this day was that we were in the street looking across to the frontage of Westminster Abbey with the Central Hall behind us.
Similarly, on 23rd August 1995, I was at Crystal Palace to film a documentary about the Health Council, which again I cannot recall anything about that day other than walking around that vast complex and the facilities within it.
On 23rd August 2010, only 3 years ago, I was in Leeds for my 144th episode of "Emmerdale".
As I have been involved in many episodes, it is difficult to recall any specific incident at that time, even though it is only 3 years ago.
Later on this month,I will be reflecting on "Shell petrol" advert, "Dalziel & Pascoe" and "Old Devils".
More of the various programmes that I have been involved with over the past 28 years.
Wednesday 21 August 2013
" EMMERDALE" 2012 & Yesterday
On the 22nd August last year 2012 , I was at the YTV studios in Leeds to be part of another episode of "Emmerdale".
Yesterday the 21st August 2013, saw me there yet again for my latest recording of 3 more appearances in scenes to be shown later in the year.
I was with some fellow artistes that I have only met recently and one that I have known for about 20 years and in between the shots it was nice to be able to catch up on the programmes that we have been involved with earlier this year. It was a most enjoyable day yesterday and the scenes that we were involved with contained a very interesting story line.
I was up early and left home at 4.30 a.m. arriving at the studio at 7.10 a.m. We were wrapped at 4.30 p.m. and I arrived home at 6.30.p.m. a 14 hour day but they say that time flies when you're having fun ( and being totally professional at the same time).
Yesterday the 21st August 2013, saw me there yet again for my latest recording of 3 more appearances in scenes to be shown later in the year.
I was with some fellow artistes that I have only met recently and one that I have known for about 20 years and in between the shots it was nice to be able to catch up on the programmes that we have been involved with earlier this year. It was a most enjoyable day yesterday and the scenes that we were involved with contained a very interesting story line.
I was up early and left home at 4.30 a.m. arriving at the studio at 7.10 a.m. We were wrapped at 4.30 p.m. and I arrived home at 6.30.p.m. a 14 hour day but they say that time flies when you're having fun ( and being totally professional at the same time).
Tuesday 20 August 2013
"GROWING RICH" 1991 - "HEARTBEAT" 1998
On August 21st 1991, I was in Chatteris in Cambridgeshire to be in a programme called "Growing Rich", a comedy drama written by Fay Weldon about 3 young women ho dream of escaping their dull existance and how their lives are all changed by mysterious driver.
On August 21st 1998, I was already in a hotel in Headingley, Leeds, having been in an episode of "Emmerdale" the day before and stopping over to be in "Heartbeat" for the fourth time.
I believe this episode was one where I played the part of a Magistrate, which was filmed in an old court house near the Cathedral in Ripon. The episode has been repeated many times over the past few years and quite a few people have told me that they have recognised me sitting on the bench facing Sylvia Sims who was playing a part in that scene, with Bill Maynard in the dock.
I am writing this earlier than usual because I need to be back up at the YTV studios in Leeds tomorrow morning at 7.30 am. for another episode or two of " Emmerdale" in the Woolpack.
For obvious reasons it is not possible for me to say what we will be recording at this point in time/
On August 21st 1998, I was already in a hotel in Headingley, Leeds, having been in an episode of "Emmerdale" the day before and stopping over to be in "Heartbeat" for the fourth time.
I believe this episode was one where I played the part of a Magistrate, which was filmed in an old court house near the Cathedral in Ripon. The episode has been repeated many times over the past few years and quite a few people have told me that they have recognised me sitting on the bench facing Sylvia Sims who was playing a part in that scene, with Bill Maynard in the dock.
I am writing this earlier than usual because I need to be back up at the YTV studios in Leeds tomorrow morning at 7.30 am. for another episode or two of " Emmerdale" in the Woolpack.
For obvious reasons it is not possible for me to say what we will be recording at this point in time/
Monday 19 August 2013
"THE SINS" 2000 - "HEARTBEAT" 1995 - "EMMERDALE" 1998
On the 20th August 1995, I was again in Leeds for my 3rd episode of Heartbeat.
I have previously mentioned that my introduction to Yorkshire TV was through Bill Maynard but I am not too sure if it was on this day that I was in a scene with Bill and Derek Fawldes in a hospital ward that was filmed in Otley. Bill had been joking and playing the comedian all morning with quite a bit of swearing involved and when we broke for lunch I approached him to thank him for giving me the contact details for the programme. He then exclaimed " Good God, you're the boxing M.C. " , or words similar to that expression, but after lunch on our return to the set he was a lot more sedate, I don't think that it was anything to do with me being there because he did not appear to be too concerned what he said in anyone's company.
Similarly on 20th August 1998, I was at the YTV studios for my 18th episode of Emmerdale and with having now been to Leeds on numerous occasions, only a few days remain strong in my memory other than the most recent ones over the past three months.
On 20th August 2000, I was on location in Greenwich to be in a scene in an episode of " The Sins" starring Pete Postlethwaite. At lunch time I approached him and asked him if he enjoyed playing the part of Danny in "Brassed Off". He then said that he had noticed me on set and thought that my face was familiar. I told him that I had spent two days standing behind him in the scene where he refuses to accept the Cup at the Albert Hall where I was playing the part of one of the judges with Ronnie Stevens. I had also been with him in the late 1980's in a programme called "Tales of Sherwood Forest". This scene can be viewed by typing in "Brassed Off", Danny's speech" on google where I am the judge standing on the far left of the shot.
Danny's speech was taken in one shot and no one other than the Director had seen Pete rehearsing the words. When we went straight into the recording the Director wanted everyone's expressions to be of genuine surprise and Pete's delivery of that speech was extremely emotional and moving. What a great actor he was.
I have previously mentioned that my introduction to Yorkshire TV was through Bill Maynard but I am not too sure if it was on this day that I was in a scene with Bill and Derek Fawldes in a hospital ward that was filmed in Otley. Bill had been joking and playing the comedian all morning with quite a bit of swearing involved and when we broke for lunch I approached him to thank him for giving me the contact details for the programme. He then exclaimed " Good God, you're the boxing M.C. " , or words similar to that expression, but after lunch on our return to the set he was a lot more sedate, I don't think that it was anything to do with me being there because he did not appear to be too concerned what he said in anyone's company.
Similarly on 20th August 1998, I was at the YTV studios for my 18th episode of Emmerdale and with having now been to Leeds on numerous occasions, only a few days remain strong in my memory other than the most recent ones over the past three months.
On 20th August 2000, I was on location in Greenwich to be in a scene in an episode of " The Sins" starring Pete Postlethwaite. At lunch time I approached him and asked him if he enjoyed playing the part of Danny in "Brassed Off". He then said that he had noticed me on set and thought that my face was familiar. I told him that I had spent two days standing behind him in the scene where he refuses to accept the Cup at the Albert Hall where I was playing the part of one of the judges with Ronnie Stevens. I had also been with him in the late 1980's in a programme called "Tales of Sherwood Forest". This scene can be viewed by typing in "Brassed Off", Danny's speech" on google where I am the judge standing on the far left of the shot.
Danny's speech was taken in one shot and no one other than the Director had seen Pete rehearsing the words. When we went straight into the recording the Director wanted everyone's expressions to be of genuine surprise and Pete's delivery of that speech was extremely emotional and moving. What a great actor he was.
Sunday 18 August 2013
"EMMERDALE" 1999
On the 19th August 1999, I arrived at the YTV studios in Leeds to take part in my 40th episode of "Emmerdale".
Later this week I will again be in Leeds to be in scenes in the Woolpack, my 166th episode in 20 years.
My most recent visit to the studios was to film two scenes in the, which I understand may be screened later this week. At one point I was the only Supporting Artiste on the set with the characters Eric, Val, Nicola, Jimmy, Declan, Andy, Bernice, Diane, Steve and Kerry. The Principals and crew are all very friendly and I always look forward to my every visit to be a part of that "Emmerdale" family.
Tomorrow will be 18 years since I was again in Leeds to be in my second episode of "Heartbeat" on 19th August 1995.
Later this week I will again be in Leeds to be in scenes in the Woolpack, my 166th episode in 20 years.
My most recent visit to the studios was to film two scenes in the, which I understand may be screened later this week. At one point I was the only Supporting Artiste on the set with the characters Eric, Val, Nicola, Jimmy, Declan, Andy, Bernice, Diane, Steve and Kerry. The Principals and crew are all very friendly and I always look forward to my every visit to be a part of that "Emmerdale" family.
Tomorrow will be 18 years since I was again in Leeds to be in my second episode of "Heartbeat" on 19th August 1995.
Saturday 17 August 2013
"BORN TO RUN" 1996- WILMSLOW
The 18th August 1996 and I have driven up to Wilmslow for my second day of involvement in "Born to Run".
The programme starred Billie Whitelaw, Keith Allen, Terence Rigby and John McArdle.
We were in a street in Wilmslow, filming inside and outside of a large house in that area.
These were the days before sat-navs and my journey had seemed to take longer than I expected which took me interestingly close to the Jodrell Bank telescope after I had left the M6 and travelled via Alderley Edge to the location. According to my records it was a 260 mile round trip, starting at around 4 am. and returning home the same day at about 10.30pm. There have been quite a few days like that over the past few years where the car that I was driving has stood up well to the mileage that was required of it.
The series was about a marathon runner, but I do not remember the Production team telling us anything about the story0line other than the scenes that we were involved with.
The programme starred Billie Whitelaw, Keith Allen, Terence Rigby and John McArdle.
We were in a street in Wilmslow, filming inside and outside of a large house in that area.
These were the days before sat-navs and my journey had seemed to take longer than I expected which took me interestingly close to the Jodrell Bank telescope after I had left the M6 and travelled via Alderley Edge to the location. According to my records it was a 260 mile round trip, starting at around 4 am. and returning home the same day at about 10.30pm. There have been quite a few days like that over the past few years where the car that I was driving has stood up well to the mileage that was required of it.
The series was about a marathon runner, but I do not remember the Production team telling us anything about the story0line other than the scenes that we were involved with.
Friday 16 August 2013
"HOUSE OF ELLIOTT" 1992
On the 17th August 1992, I was again in Bristol to be part of an episode of " House of Elliott".
I was involved in 6 days work on that programme in that year and I was either - a billiards referee, a passing cyclist, a ballroom dancer, passenger on a bus, diner in a restaurant, or passer by in the street.
The billiards referee part, I have previously mentioned in detail. The passing cyclist episode involved me in cycling uphill on an old boneshaker, for which I was paid special skills. Also as a ballroom dancer, I was paid special skills to dance a waltz and a two-step. As a passenger on a bus, a passer by and a restaurant diner, I was employed at the standard walk-on rate.
Tomorrow, the 18th August 1996, I recall my second day on "Born to Run", when I was involved in filming in a street scene in the affluent area of Wilmslow.
I was involved in 6 days work on that programme in that year and I was either - a billiards referee, a passing cyclist, a ballroom dancer, passenger on a bus, diner in a restaurant, or passer by in the street.
The billiards referee part, I have previously mentioned in detail. The passing cyclist episode involved me in cycling uphill on an old boneshaker, for which I was paid special skills. Also as a ballroom dancer, I was paid special skills to dance a waltz and a two-step. As a passenger on a bus, a passer by and a restaurant diner, I was employed at the standard walk-on rate.
Tomorrow, the 18th August 1996, I recall my second day on "Born to Run", when I was involved in filming in a street scene in the affluent area of Wilmslow.
Thursday 15 August 2013
"CIRCLES OF DECEIT" 1989 - "EMMERDALE" 1994 - "BORN AND BRED" 2002
On 16th August 1989, I arrived at Kingston Bagpuise House , a stately home in Oxfordshire, to be in a scene being filmed for the Screen Two TV series "Circles of Deceit", season 6 episode 9 starring Edward Fox and Jane Lapotaire.
The reason I remember this day is because it was my last day of working for my first television agent , who had booked me for my first job, the Kodak Training film in February 1985.
On 16th August 1994, I arrived at the Yorkshire Television studios for my second day on "Emmerdale".
I do not recall much of that day in particular because I have now been involved in 63 episodes since that date.
On 16th August 2002, I arrived at a school in High Wycombe to take part in my first of the 5 episodes that I was involved with in "Born and Bred". It was a scene in a Marquee for a Wedding Reception which ended up with a fight. I was in 2 episodes filmed in 2002 and 11 days filming other episodes at Bray Studios near Windsor in 2003. The programme starred James Bolam, Michael French, Maggie Steed, John Henshaw and Clive Swift.
I enjoyed being part of a regular in that series and was sorry when the series was completed. I was only in the first and second series, there were three series, the first episode was broadcast on 21st April 2002 and the final episode on 3rd August 2005.
The reason I remember this day is because it was my last day of working for my first television agent , who had booked me for my first job, the Kodak Training film in February 1985.
On 16th August 1994, I arrived at the Yorkshire Television studios for my second day on "Emmerdale".
I do not recall much of that day in particular because I have now been involved in 63 episodes since that date.
On 16th August 2002, I arrived at a school in High Wycombe to take part in my first of the 5 episodes that I was involved with in "Born and Bred". It was a scene in a Marquee for a Wedding Reception which ended up with a fight. I was in 2 episodes filmed in 2002 and 11 days filming other episodes at Bray Studios near Windsor in 2003. The programme starred James Bolam, Michael French, Maggie Steed, John Henshaw and Clive Swift.
I enjoyed being part of a regular in that series and was sorry when the series was completed. I was only in the first and second series, there were three series, the first episode was broadcast on 21st April 2002 and the final episode on 3rd August 2005.
Wednesday 14 August 2013
"BETWEEN THE LINES" - "PEAK PRACTICE"= EMMERDALE" and " HUGO BOSS ADVERT"
The 15th August 1993, I travelled by train to London to be in an episode of "Between the Lines", a programme set in the Compaints Investigation Bureau - the department responsible for investigating other Police Officers -of London's Metropolitan Police. The series starred Neil Pearson and Siobhan Redmond and this particular scene was filmed in a Restaurant in Ladbroke Grove and I was a customer sitting at a table next to Siobhan Redmond.
On 15th August 1994, I had travelled to Shepperton Studios to be part of an Advert for a "Hugo Boss" advert, I will expand on this day in a moment.
On 15th August 1996, I was in Crich, Derbyshire for the episode of " Peak Practice" which I have mentioned in an earlier report, where I was left to walk 4 miles back to the unit base at the end of the shoot.
On 15th August 2000, I was again in Leeds for my 28th day of being involved with "Emmerdale".
Returning to the " Hugo Boss" advert, I had arrived at the Shepperton Studios to find that I had parked my car next to the car of a colleague of mine who only lives 20 miles from me. We had both driven 100 miles in our cars and could have shared a vehicle if we had both known we were working on the same project.
We were filming on a set that was three-quarters the size of a football pitch and were supposed to be at a World cup function at Wembley. It was an amazingly true to life set and those of us that were acting as football fans created a real life-like football crowd.
At lunchtime we walked across to the studio canteen, past a studio that was being used to film "Judge Dredd" with Silvester Stallone". No one was allowed to go inside unless they were employed to be on that production. However, in the studio canteen there were some extras from that film who were dressed in futuristic uniforms which looked quite scary but made sense to me about a year later when I saw the film.
Tomorrow I will be recalling "Circles of Deceipt", "Emmerdale" and "Born and Bred".
On 15th August 1994, I had travelled to Shepperton Studios to be part of an Advert for a "Hugo Boss" advert, I will expand on this day in a moment.
On 15th August 1996, I was in Crich, Derbyshire for the episode of " Peak Practice" which I have mentioned in an earlier report, where I was left to walk 4 miles back to the unit base at the end of the shoot.
On 15th August 2000, I was again in Leeds for my 28th day of being involved with "Emmerdale".
Returning to the " Hugo Boss" advert, I had arrived at the Shepperton Studios to find that I had parked my car next to the car of a colleague of mine who only lives 20 miles from me. We had both driven 100 miles in our cars and could have shared a vehicle if we had both known we were working on the same project.
We were filming on a set that was three-quarters the size of a football pitch and were supposed to be at a World cup function at Wembley. It was an amazingly true to life set and those of us that were acting as football fans created a real life-like football crowd.
At lunchtime we walked across to the studio canteen, past a studio that was being used to film "Judge Dredd" with Silvester Stallone". No one was allowed to go inside unless they were employed to be on that production. However, in the studio canteen there were some extras from that film who were dressed in futuristic uniforms which looked quite scary but made sense to me about a year later when I saw the film.
Tomorrow I will be recalling "Circles of Deceipt", "Emmerdale" and "Born and Bred".
Tuesday 13 August 2013
"UNNATURAL CAUSES" - Commander Dalgleish ( Roy Mardsen)
August 14th 1992, I travelled to Norwich to be in the TV movie " Unnatural Causes".
The story line was about Commander Dalgleish of Scotland Yard, ( played by Roy Marsden), investigating the apparent murder of a well-known author who is found floating in a dinghy with his hands chopped off.
Again, I do not remember a lot about that day other than recognising Roy Marsden on the coach taking us from the studio to the location.
I will be able to recall more tomorrow when I reflect on being involved with "Between the Lines" in 1993," A Hugo Boss Advert" being filmed at Shepperton next to the Studio where "Judge Dredd" was being filmed on a closed set,"Peak Practice" in 1996 and "Emmerdale" in 2000.
The story line was about Commander Dalgleish of Scotland Yard, ( played by Roy Marsden), investigating the apparent murder of a well-known author who is found floating in a dinghy with his hands chopped off.
Again, I do not remember a lot about that day other than recognising Roy Marsden on the coach taking us from the studio to the location.
I will be able to recall more tomorrow when I reflect on being involved with "Between the Lines" in 1993," A Hugo Boss Advert" being filmed at Shepperton next to the Studio where "Judge Dredd" was being filmed on a closed set,"Peak Practice" in 1996 and "Emmerdale" in 2000.
Monday 12 August 2013
"LOVEJOY" 1985 - "OUTSIDE EDGE" 1993 - "PICKING UP THE PIECES" 1998 - EASTENDERS 2002
The 13th August 1993 was my 5th and final day on "Outside Edge", which I have mentioned in detail in my previous accounts.
The 13th August 1998 was a day that I travelled to Nottingham to be in an episode of " Picking up the Pieces", a series of stories about a Paramedic team involved in life or death cases.
Other than that, I cannot recall anything memorable about that day's filming.
I can, however, recall in more detail the 12th August 1995, it was my first day of being involved in "Lovejoy", that very popular series about a dodgy antiques dealer starring Ian McShane.
I was in three episodes in 1985, one in 1990, one in 1991, three in 1992 and one in 1993.
On that first day in 1985, we were filming in a street in Newmarket and on arrival it was breakfast time. I was aware that someone was behind me and turned around to see that it was Dudley Sutton who played the part of "Tinker Dill".
I had never met him before and only seen him in various films playing the part of a young thug.
However, on that morning he directed me to where I could eat my breakfast in a more comfortable area and from that day I found him to be a very polite and helpful person.
It was really enjoyable in those days to be filming in and around the picturesque towns and villages of Suffolk with a great cast including Ian McShane, Dudley Sutton, Phyllis Logan, Chris Jury and Malcolm Tierney. I was sad to see the end of that programme but actors are always looking for other parts to play rather than getting type cast as a certain character.
I was in 8 more episodes during those 8 years and I enjoyed being in every one of them.
The next time that I was to see Chris Jury was on 29th October 2002 when he was the Director on an episode of "Eastenders", when I was one of the Wedding Guests at the Wedding of Little Mo to Billy.
I had previously played a Councillor in a scene with Bill Treacher ( Arthur Fowler) and a second episode as a hospital patient with Ross Kemp and Martine McCutcheon.
The 13th August 1998 was a day that I travelled to Nottingham to be in an episode of " Picking up the Pieces", a series of stories about a Paramedic team involved in life or death cases.
Other than that, I cannot recall anything memorable about that day's filming.
I can, however, recall in more detail the 12th August 1995, it was my first day of being involved in "Lovejoy", that very popular series about a dodgy antiques dealer starring Ian McShane.
I was in three episodes in 1985, one in 1990, one in 1991, three in 1992 and one in 1993.
On that first day in 1985, we were filming in a street in Newmarket and on arrival it was breakfast time. I was aware that someone was behind me and turned around to see that it was Dudley Sutton who played the part of "Tinker Dill".
I had never met him before and only seen him in various films playing the part of a young thug.
However, on that morning he directed me to where I could eat my breakfast in a more comfortable area and from that day I found him to be a very polite and helpful person.
It was really enjoyable in those days to be filming in and around the picturesque towns and villages of Suffolk with a great cast including Ian McShane, Dudley Sutton, Phyllis Logan, Chris Jury and Malcolm Tierney. I was sad to see the end of that programme but actors are always looking for other parts to play rather than getting type cast as a certain character.
I was in 8 more episodes during those 8 years and I enjoyed being in every one of them.
The next time that I was to see Chris Jury was on 29th October 2002 when he was the Director on an episode of "Eastenders", when I was one of the Wedding Guests at the Wedding of Little Mo to Billy.
I had previously played a Councillor in a scene with Bill Treacher ( Arthur Fowler) and a second episode as a hospital patient with Ross Kemp and Martine McCutcheon.
Sunday 11 August 2013
"OUTSIDE EDGE" 1993 day 4 & "BORN TO RUN" 1996 day 1
12th August 1993 and I again arrived at the Central Telwevision Studios in Lenton Lane, Nottingham to be taken to Thrumpton cricket ground for my fourth days involvement in the comedy series "Outside Edge".
The experience of being in the company of such fine actors and actresses was invaluable as well as being very enjoyable.
On 12th August 1996, I was a lot further north as I arrived in Manchester to be part of a 6 week series called "Born to Run", a true story about a female marathon runner.
This was to be my first day of only two where our location was beside part of the Manchester ship canal in the middle of the city.
My second day was to be 6 days later on 18th August, when our location was outside a large house in the very affluent part of Wilmslow.
My involvement on that first day was not very busy for me and I remember having the time to walk along the edge of the canal, under roads and railways and taking in that busy city atmosphere.
I see from the credits that my old friend, Mike Eastman, played the part of a mechanic in four of those episodes. I have been on set with him many times over the past few years but did not realise that he had such an extensive IMDb listing. Mine is currently only one entry for my part of a Boxing MC/Referee in episode 23, "Taking Sides", of "Casualty" in 1997.
I will be writing about this experience on 11th December,which will then have been 26 years since that filming day.
You may ask yourselves "Why hasn't he been offered any other small parts since then?", but, as I keep saying, "That's Show Business".
The experience of being in the company of such fine actors and actresses was invaluable as well as being very enjoyable.
On 12th August 1996, I was a lot further north as I arrived in Manchester to be part of a 6 week series called "Born to Run", a true story about a female marathon runner.
This was to be my first day of only two where our location was beside part of the Manchester ship canal in the middle of the city.
My second day was to be 6 days later on 18th August, when our location was outside a large house in the very affluent part of Wilmslow.
My involvement on that first day was not very busy for me and I remember having the time to walk along the edge of the canal, under roads and railways and taking in that busy city atmosphere.
I see from the credits that my old friend, Mike Eastman, played the part of a mechanic in four of those episodes. I have been on set with him many times over the past few years but did not realise that he had such an extensive IMDb listing. Mine is currently only one entry for my part of a Boxing MC/Referee in episode 23, "Taking Sides", of "Casualty" in 1997.
I will be writing about this experience on 11th December,which will then have been 26 years since that filming day.
You may ask yourselves "Why hasn't he been offered any other small parts since then?", but, as I keep saying, "That's Show Business".
Saturday 10 August 2013
"OUTSIDE EDGE" day 3 1993, "SILENT WITNESS" day 2 1995 & "SMALL WORLD" 1987
August 11th 1993 was my third day on "Outside Edge" which I have mentioned in detail on a previous item.
August 11th 1995 was my second day on "SILENT WITNESS" in filmed in Cambridge and was also mentioned yesterday.
August 11th 1987, although 26 years ago, is still strong in my memory.
I was involved in the filming of an episode where we were in an aeroplane that was supposed to be crashing. The programme was an episode of "Small World", a six hour adaption of David Lean's books being filmed by Granada TV.
The scene was part of a dream sequence and the plane was supposed to be crashing and we were the distraught passengers showing various states of panic, hysteria and general mayhem.
The episode was filmed at the Duxford Air Museum in Cambridgeshire in one of the first Concordes to be built. The windows were blacked out, the air conditioning was switched off, so that there was no noise during the filming of our scene, and the aircraft never left the ground.
It was the first time that I had ever stepped into an aeroplane and it was quite an experience but also rather off-putting to be called upon to act as though I was terrified as the plane plummeted to earth.
In reality my first experience of flying was in a helicopter in 2001.Followed by a second helicopter flight in July 2002 and my first flight abroad in November 2008.
Tomorrow, I will recall "Born to Run" a series filmed in Manchester about a Marathon Runner, then over the next few days I will publish items from " Lovejoy", "Born to Run" and "Heartbeat".
August 11th 1995 was my second day on "SILENT WITNESS" in filmed in Cambridge and was also mentioned yesterday.
August 11th 1987, although 26 years ago, is still strong in my memory.
I was involved in the filming of an episode where we were in an aeroplane that was supposed to be crashing. The programme was an episode of "Small World", a six hour adaption of David Lean's books being filmed by Granada TV.
The scene was part of a dream sequence and the plane was supposed to be crashing and we were the distraught passengers showing various states of panic, hysteria and general mayhem.
The episode was filmed at the Duxford Air Museum in Cambridgeshire in one of the first Concordes to be built. The windows were blacked out, the air conditioning was switched off, so that there was no noise during the filming of our scene, and the aircraft never left the ground.
It was the first time that I had ever stepped into an aeroplane and it was quite an experience but also rather off-putting to be called upon to act as though I was terrified as the plane plummeted to earth.
In reality my first experience of flying was in a helicopter in 2001.Followed by a second helicopter flight in July 2002 and my first flight abroad in November 2008.
Tomorrow, I will recall "Born to Run" a series filmed in Manchester about a Marathon Runner, then over the next few days I will publish items from " Lovejoy", "Born to Run" and "Heartbeat".
Friday 9 August 2013
"OUTSIDE EDGE" day 2 - 1993 & "SILENT WITNESS" day 1 - 1995
Yesterday I recounted the story of my involvement in "Outside Edge" when I played the part of an umpire in one of the episodes. The 10th August 1993 was day 2 of my involvement and the journey from home to the studio in Nottingham was only 54 miles but took well over an hour on a twisty road through Leicestershire and South Nottinghamshire. We were again taken out to the cricket ground in Thrumpton and continued filming different scenes of the episode which was constantly being disrupted by rain.
On 10th August 1995 I arrived for the first of my two days on location in Cambridge for an episode of "Silent Witness" starring the attractive Amanda Burton. This episode was one of the last ones where Amanda was involved but other than that I cannot recall much else about those two days.
I remember being in an earlier episode which was filmed in a high rise block of office flats overlooking the Houses of Parliament in Westminster and when we were not filming I would go up to the next floor to enjoy the magnificent view of that part of London.
I regret that my recollection of both these days has failed me again but there does not appear to have been any incidents that have left a lasting impression on me.
Tomorrow, relating 11th August 1993, my third day on "Outside Edge" and 1995 my second day on "Silent Witness" in Cambridge may turn out to be one of my less interesting stories to relate to you. I wish I could recall most of the events from every day over the past 28 years of filming but I hope that you find most of my items interesting and amusing.
"There's no Business like Show Business".
On 10th August 1995 I arrived for the first of my two days on location in Cambridge for an episode of "Silent Witness" starring the attractive Amanda Burton. This episode was one of the last ones where Amanda was involved but other than that I cannot recall much else about those two days.
I remember being in an earlier episode which was filmed in a high rise block of office flats overlooking the Houses of Parliament in Westminster and when we were not filming I would go up to the next floor to enjoy the magnificent view of that part of London.
I regret that my recollection of both these days has failed me again but there does not appear to have been any incidents that have left a lasting impression on me.
Tomorrow, relating 11th August 1993, my third day on "Outside Edge" and 1995 my second day on "Silent Witness" in Cambridge may turn out to be one of my less interesting stories to relate to you. I wish I could recall most of the events from every day over the past 28 years of filming but I hope that you find most of my items interesting and amusing.
"There's no Business like Show Business".
Thursday 8 August 2013
" HOUSE OF ELLIOTT" 1992 and " OUTSIDE EDGE" 1993
On 9th August 1992, I arrived in Bristol to appear in my 6th episode of " House of Elliott", I had been involved in the filming of 3 episodes in 1991, 6 in 1992 and finally 2 in 1993.
There were 3 series made of the programme about 2 sisters who ran an haute couture fashion house in the 1920's. The two sisters were played by Stella Gonet and Louise Lombard.
The episode I recall most vividly was in series 2 and filmed in Bristol where I was engaged to play the part of a Billiards Referee in a game between Jack Maddox ( played by Aden Gillet ) and an American film producer as they discussed a future filming project whilst they were playing a game of billiards.
I had arrived at a location in a street near to the Bristol Zoo at 7.am. and been fitted with my costume - Dress shirt, Dress trousers, Silver encrusted white waistcoat, white box and white gloves. I then approached the catering wagon and asked for a sausage and egg roll to which I added some tomato ketchup.
I took one bite and the tomato ketchup dripped onto my waistcoat, I took my handkerchief out of my pocket to wipe away the ketchup and,to my horror, realised that I had used one of my white gloves.
I returned to the wardrobe van and explained what had happened. The assistant then cleaned the waistcoat with a "wet-wipe" and told me to stay outside until it had dried. I then pulled the stained glove from my pocket and said " What about this?". The assistant was definitely not happy and I will not repeat his reply.
He did supply me with another pair of white gloves.
The following year on 9th August 1993, I arrived at the Central studios in Lenton Lane Nottingham for my 1st day of 5 in an episode of " Outside Edge".
We were taken to a cricket ground in the village of Thrumpton overlooked by the power station near the River Trent.
We were part of a cricket team which included Timothy Spall, Robert Daws and Denis Lill and the spectators included Josie Lawrence and Brenda Blethyn.
I played the part of an Umpire and only had one word of dialogue - "Over".
I was told to deliver the word and remain in position as the credits rolled over a shot of me standing behind the wicket.
I have a copy of the video in my collection but have not watched it for a few years.
It was a privilege to be in the company of some excellent actors and I learned a great deal during the filming over those 5 days.
There were 3 series made of the programme about 2 sisters who ran an haute couture fashion house in the 1920's. The two sisters were played by Stella Gonet and Louise Lombard.
The episode I recall most vividly was in series 2 and filmed in Bristol where I was engaged to play the part of a Billiards Referee in a game between Jack Maddox ( played by Aden Gillet ) and an American film producer as they discussed a future filming project whilst they were playing a game of billiards.
I had arrived at a location in a street near to the Bristol Zoo at 7.am. and been fitted with my costume - Dress shirt, Dress trousers, Silver encrusted white waistcoat, white box and white gloves. I then approached the catering wagon and asked for a sausage and egg roll to which I added some tomato ketchup.
I took one bite and the tomato ketchup dripped onto my waistcoat, I took my handkerchief out of my pocket to wipe away the ketchup and,to my horror, realised that I had used one of my white gloves.
I returned to the wardrobe van and explained what had happened. The assistant then cleaned the waistcoat with a "wet-wipe" and told me to stay outside until it had dried. I then pulled the stained glove from my pocket and said " What about this?". The assistant was definitely not happy and I will not repeat his reply.
He did supply me with another pair of white gloves.
The following year on 9th August 1993, I arrived at the Central studios in Lenton Lane Nottingham for my 1st day of 5 in an episode of " Outside Edge".
We were taken to a cricket ground in the village of Thrumpton overlooked by the power station near the River Trent.
We were part of a cricket team which included Timothy Spall, Robert Daws and Denis Lill and the spectators included Josie Lawrence and Brenda Blethyn.
I played the part of an Umpire and only had one word of dialogue - "Over".
I was told to deliver the word and remain in position as the credits rolled over a shot of me standing behind the wicket.
I have a copy of the video in my collection but have not watched it for a few years.
It was a privilege to be in the company of some excellent actors and I learned a great deal during the filming over those 5 days.
Wednesday 7 August 2013
"BROKE" 1990 & "SWEET MEDICINE" 2003
I have a vague memory of being on location in Birmingham on 8th August 1990 for an episode of "Broke" starring Timothy Spall and Larry Lamb.
A crowd of us were in a large room for a scene with Larry Lamb ( who was later to star in "Eastenders").
The series was about " A man and his wife, who are proprietors of a struggling window covering business who agree to install curtains in an exclusive club patronised by a wealthy friend of theirs.
After completing the job, the shop owner has great difficulty collecting payment for the work. His "friend" becomes scarce and Spall finds he has no legal foot to stand on since there is no written record of the informal transaction. With the couples business floundering due to mounting debts, and their former friend's crass attitude towards their predicament, anger and frustration reach the boiling point".
I seem to recall that there was quite a tense atmosphere in the room during the filming of our scene.
Thirteen years later on 8th August 2003, I travelled to Wirksworth, near Matlock in Derbyshire to be in a scene in "Sweet Medicine" which was intended as a replacement for "Peak Practice". This series was also about a Doctor's Surgery in the Peak District and starred Patricia Hodge and Jason Merrells ( who now plays the character of Declan Macey in "Emmerdale").
I was involved in two scenes on that day, the first being shot in Wirksworth and the second at nearby Carsington Water, a very picturesque setting on a bright and sunny day.
That was the only day that I worked on that programme because there was only one series commissioned.
Tomorrow I recall my involvment with "House of Elliott" in 1992 and the first of five consecutive days in 1993, where I played the part of an Umpire on the programme "Outside Edge" featuring Timothy Spall, Josie Lawrence, Brenda Blethyn, Roberts Daws and Denis Lill.
A crowd of us were in a large room for a scene with Larry Lamb ( who was later to star in "Eastenders").
The series was about " A man and his wife, who are proprietors of a struggling window covering business who agree to install curtains in an exclusive club patronised by a wealthy friend of theirs.
After completing the job, the shop owner has great difficulty collecting payment for the work. His "friend" becomes scarce and Spall finds he has no legal foot to stand on since there is no written record of the informal transaction. With the couples business floundering due to mounting debts, and their former friend's crass attitude towards their predicament, anger and frustration reach the boiling point".
I seem to recall that there was quite a tense atmosphere in the room during the filming of our scene.
Thirteen years later on 8th August 2003, I travelled to Wirksworth, near Matlock in Derbyshire to be in a scene in "Sweet Medicine" which was intended as a replacement for "Peak Practice". This series was also about a Doctor's Surgery in the Peak District and starred Patricia Hodge and Jason Merrells ( who now plays the character of Declan Macey in "Emmerdale").
I was involved in two scenes on that day, the first being shot in Wirksworth and the second at nearby Carsington Water, a very picturesque setting on a bright and sunny day.
That was the only day that I worked on that programme because there was only one series commissioned.
Tomorrow I recall my involvment with "House of Elliott" in 1992 and the first of five consecutive days in 1993, where I played the part of an Umpire on the programme "Outside Edge" featuring Timothy Spall, Josie Lawrence, Brenda Blethyn, Roberts Daws and Denis Lill.
Tuesday 6 August 2013
"POIROT" 1991
On 7th August 1991, 22 years ago, I travelled to London by train and then by Underground to Sloane Square. I then walked from Sloane Square to Battersea Park via the Royal Chelsea Hospital, Chelsea Embankment and the Albert Bridge. I was glad that I had given myself plenty of time to enable me to be at the location in time for my "call time" for an episode of "Poirot" starring David Suchet.
The scene was shot near to a couple of fairground stalls situated near to the Pagoda.
My recollection of this day is overshadowed by the memory of that trek to and from Battersea Park from Sloane Square which must have taken me an hour each way at least.
There may be times like this during the next few weeks when my memory of events on those filming days desert me.
Tomorrow I will have more detail about the TV series "Broke" in 1990 with Timothy Spall and Larry Lamb and also "Sweet Medicine" in 2003 with Patricia Hodge and Jason Merells ( who is currently playing Declan Macey in Emmerdale).
The scene was shot near to a couple of fairground stalls situated near to the Pagoda.
My recollection of this day is overshadowed by the memory of that trek to and from Battersea Park from Sloane Square which must have taken me an hour each way at least.
There may be times like this during the next few weeks when my memory of events on those filming days desert me.
Tomorrow I will have more detail about the TV series "Broke" in 1990 with Timothy Spall and Larry Lamb and also "Sweet Medicine" in 2003 with Patricia Hodge and Jason Merells ( who is currently playing Declan Macey in Emmerdale).
Monday 5 August 2013
"BACK-UP"
There were two series made of a programme called "Back-up".
The first one, consisting of 8 episodes, was made in 1995 and the second series followed in 1997.
I was involved in an episode recorded on 6th August 1995. The programme reflected "Lives and action packed adventures of the nine men and women aboard a police Operational Support Unit van that was responsible for going anywhere and doing anything in support of operations carried out by the other branches of the West Midlands Police".
All I can recall of events that day is that I travelled to a location in Birmingham and that one of the Principal actors was Nick Miles, whose character was P.C. John "Thug" Barrett.
Nick Miles is currently playing the character of Jimmy King in "Emmerdale".
I am sorry that this mornings reflection is rather short but I remember some days better than others and tomorrow may be very similar when I recall the 7th August 1991, when I travelled to London by train and remember walking a long way from Sloane Square to Battersea Park via The Royal Hospital Chelsea, Chelsea Embankment and the Albert Bridge to be involved in an episode of "Poirot" with David Suchet.
The first one, consisting of 8 episodes, was made in 1995 and the second series followed in 1997.
I was involved in an episode recorded on 6th August 1995. The programme reflected "Lives and action packed adventures of the nine men and women aboard a police Operational Support Unit van that was responsible for going anywhere and doing anything in support of operations carried out by the other branches of the West Midlands Police".
All I can recall of events that day is that I travelled to a location in Birmingham and that one of the Principal actors was Nick Miles, whose character was P.C. John "Thug" Barrett.
Nick Miles is currently playing the character of Jimmy King in "Emmerdale".
I am sorry that this mornings reflection is rather short but I remember some days better than others and tomorrow may be very similar when I recall the 7th August 1991, when I travelled to London by train and remember walking a long way from Sloane Square to Battersea Park via The Royal Hospital Chelsea, Chelsea Embankment and the Albert Bridge to be involved in an episode of "Poirot" with David Suchet.
Sunday 4 August 2013
DANGERFIELD
The date is 5th August 1999 and I have arrived in Edgbaston to be part of episode 61 of "Dangerfield", starring Nigel le Vaillant who I first met when I was involved in episodes of "Casualty".
I had received a phone call from 1st Assistant Director William Hartley, who I first met when I worked with him on "Nice Work" in 1989 and later on "Dalziel & Pascoe" from 1995 to 1998, both starring Warren Clarke. William asked me if I could operate a sit-on mower for a scene in the episode. I said that I was available on the day and capable of operating the machine.
As I had never driven a sit-on mower, I arranged to have a practice on one that was owned by my wife's uncle who lived only a few miles away.It was a modern one and I did not take long to master the controls of the machine.
When I was taken to the location in Edgbaston, I discovered that I was the only one in front of the camera.
Then I was introduced to the mower. It was very basic, very old, creaky and heavy to handle.
I was told to give it a test run to the end of the field and back so that they could see that I was capable of driving it. On my return William said "Would you like to do that again? but this time don't look so scared".
I tried to look more confident and the Director seem to be pleased.
My character was supposed to be mowing the grass and notice that a shed door had been broken, I switch off the engine and walked to the shed , opening the door, and discovering a stolen vehicle that the police are looking for. I was asked to do it three times until the Director was happy with the shot.
The moral of this story is that, if you do not possess the required "Special Skills" make sure that you try to obtain some expertise to qualify you to be worthy of that extra payment.
The previous time I was on my 6th episode of "Dangerfield", I played the part of a Special Protection Officer for a Member of Parliament. The M.P. was played by Nigel Havers. Although all these details are being taken from my personal records since 1985, all that I can remember from this day is that the location was at
Tanworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire, which was earlier used for the exterior scenes of "Crossroads" in the 1980's. It is the only time that I have been in the company of Nigel Havers who I found to be a very polite and friendly gentleman.
Tomorrow is likely to be a very short piece where I recall 6th August 1995 when I went to Birmingham to be in an episode of a police drama called "Back-up". I will probably put two days together the following day and mention 7th August 1991, when I was involved in an episode of "Poirot" being filmed at Battersea Park.
I had received a phone call from 1st Assistant Director William Hartley, who I first met when I worked with him on "Nice Work" in 1989 and later on "Dalziel & Pascoe" from 1995 to 1998, both starring Warren Clarke. William asked me if I could operate a sit-on mower for a scene in the episode. I said that I was available on the day and capable of operating the machine.
As I had never driven a sit-on mower, I arranged to have a practice on one that was owned by my wife's uncle who lived only a few miles away.It was a modern one and I did not take long to master the controls of the machine.
When I was taken to the location in Edgbaston, I discovered that I was the only one in front of the camera.
Then I was introduced to the mower. It was very basic, very old, creaky and heavy to handle.
I was told to give it a test run to the end of the field and back so that they could see that I was capable of driving it. On my return William said "Would you like to do that again? but this time don't look so scared".
I tried to look more confident and the Director seem to be pleased.
My character was supposed to be mowing the grass and notice that a shed door had been broken, I switch off the engine and walked to the shed , opening the door, and discovering a stolen vehicle that the police are looking for. I was asked to do it three times until the Director was happy with the shot.
The moral of this story is that, if you do not possess the required "Special Skills" make sure that you try to obtain some expertise to qualify you to be worthy of that extra payment.
The previous time I was on my 6th episode of "Dangerfield", I played the part of a Special Protection Officer for a Member of Parliament. The M.P. was played by Nigel Havers. Although all these details are being taken from my personal records since 1985, all that I can remember from this day is that the location was at
Tanworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire, which was earlier used for the exterior scenes of "Crossroads" in the 1980's. It is the only time that I have been in the company of Nigel Havers who I found to be a very polite and friendly gentleman.
Tomorrow is likely to be a very short piece where I recall 6th August 1995 when I went to Birmingham to be in an episode of a police drama called "Back-up". I will probably put two days together the following day and mention 7th August 1991, when I was involved in an episode of "Poirot" being filmed at Battersea Park.
Saturday 3 August 2013
"EMMERDALE" and "MIDDLEMARCH"
On 4th August 2010, I arrived at the YTV studios in Leeds to take part in an episode of "Emmerdale".
The first episode of "Emmerdale" that I had been involved in was on 14th June 1993.
It all came about in the early 1990's when I was the M.C. for a charity Boxing Show held at the Grand Hotel in Leicester. Bill Maynard was the Guest of Honour and during the evening he said " Someone tells me that you are a Supporting Artiste, I'm filming a new series called Aidensfield, I play a rogue, I'm very good at that you know. If you ring Yorkshire TV they may give you one or two days work on the programme".
When I called the next day with the number Bill had given to me, I was told that I was speaking to the Department that only dealt with the booking of Principal Artistes and the programme was actually going to be called "Heartbeat" but they did ask me to send my CV which they would pass to the relevant section.
In July 1991, I received a call from them and was offered one days work on "Stay Lucky". I was delighted to accept and arrived in Leeds on 17th July to be taken to a Working Mens Club near Leeds which was being used as a set for that episode. I was part of the audience of a show being compered by Tony Peers, who I had met before at Butlin's Hotel in Saltdean in the 1960's when he was compering the Semi-Finals of the "Miss She" competition, which was held in those days, where my wife Barbara was one of the semi-finalists.
I cannot recall any of the story line but remember that it involved Dennis Waterman and Jan Francis.
It was another 2 years before I heard from the studios when I was offered my first day on "Emmerdale", the 14th June 1993. We were taken to Esholt, which is the village where the outside scenes were filmed at that time. The scene was outside the Woolpack and it was the introduction of the Windsor family, when Vic, Viv,
Scott and Donna walk down the street and have a word with Seth Armstrong ( played by the late, well respected, Stan Richards).
Since that first date in 1993, I have appeared in over100 episodes of "Emmerdale" as well as being in 9 episodes of "Heartbeat", in one of which I played the part of a Magistrate.
Also on 4th August 1993, two months after my first "Emmerdale", I was on location in Stamford for an episode of "Middlemarch" which involved Robert Hardy and Rufus Sewell.
The town was an ideal setting for that period drama but small alterations to building facades had to be made for authenticity. The scene involved a political speech being made by the Robert Hardy character and heckled by the Rufus Sewell character. I was in the scene as one of the onlookers at a point where an egg
was thrown and hit Robert Hardy. The Director was not happy with the shot and neither was Robert when asked to go and clean the egg off his clothes and return for a second "take". The second take was more realistic and the production team were finally happy with the scene.
Tomorrow I will recall the 5th August1999, the 7th and final day when I was involved with "Dangerfield"
between 1994 and 1999 where I played a Security Guard for an M.P. being played by Nigel Havers.
The first episode of "Emmerdale" that I had been involved in was on 14th June 1993.
It all came about in the early 1990's when I was the M.C. for a charity Boxing Show held at the Grand Hotel in Leicester. Bill Maynard was the Guest of Honour and during the evening he said " Someone tells me that you are a Supporting Artiste, I'm filming a new series called Aidensfield, I play a rogue, I'm very good at that you know. If you ring Yorkshire TV they may give you one or two days work on the programme".
When I called the next day with the number Bill had given to me, I was told that I was speaking to the Department that only dealt with the booking of Principal Artistes and the programme was actually going to be called "Heartbeat" but they did ask me to send my CV which they would pass to the relevant section.
In July 1991, I received a call from them and was offered one days work on "Stay Lucky". I was delighted to accept and arrived in Leeds on 17th July to be taken to a Working Mens Club near Leeds which was being used as a set for that episode. I was part of the audience of a show being compered by Tony Peers, who I had met before at Butlin's Hotel in Saltdean in the 1960's when he was compering the Semi-Finals of the "Miss She" competition, which was held in those days, where my wife Barbara was one of the semi-finalists.
I cannot recall any of the story line but remember that it involved Dennis Waterman and Jan Francis.
It was another 2 years before I heard from the studios when I was offered my first day on "Emmerdale", the 14th June 1993. We were taken to Esholt, which is the village where the outside scenes were filmed at that time. The scene was outside the Woolpack and it was the introduction of the Windsor family, when Vic, Viv,
Scott and Donna walk down the street and have a word with Seth Armstrong ( played by the late, well respected, Stan Richards).
Since that first date in 1993, I have appeared in over100 episodes of "Emmerdale" as well as being in 9 episodes of "Heartbeat", in one of which I played the part of a Magistrate.
Also on 4th August 1993, two months after my first "Emmerdale", I was on location in Stamford for an episode of "Middlemarch" which involved Robert Hardy and Rufus Sewell.
The town was an ideal setting for that period drama but small alterations to building facades had to be made for authenticity. The scene involved a political speech being made by the Robert Hardy character and heckled by the Rufus Sewell character. I was in the scene as one of the onlookers at a point where an egg
was thrown and hit Robert Hardy. The Director was not happy with the shot and neither was Robert when asked to go and clean the egg off his clothes and return for a second "take". The second take was more realistic and the production team were finally happy with the scene.
Tomorrow I will recall the 5th August1999, the 7th and final day when I was involved with "Dangerfield"
between 1994 and 1999 where I played a Security Guard for an M.P. being played by Nigel Havers.
Friday 2 August 2013
Dennis Quilley "Gotcha" extra
Those of you that have read my blog about the "Gotcha" story from Noel's House Party in 1994 may like to see the video that can be found on Google at "Dennis Quilley Gotcha 1994".
When we get to the part where the "Wind in the Willows" sequence is being played out, the character of "Moley", who is falling all over the place and making a nuisance of himself causing Dennis to lock the car door is being played by Barry Killerby ( Mr. Blobby). In the sequence of the singing of Oklahoma I am the silver grey- haired cowboy wearing a yellow tabard, to the left behind Dennis.Then on the "Wind in the Willows" float I was "Badger".
When we get to the part where the "Wind in the Willows" sequence is being played out, the character of "Moley", who is falling all over the place and making a nuisance of himself causing Dennis to lock the car door is being played by Barry Killerby ( Mr. Blobby). In the sequence of the singing of Oklahoma I am the silver grey- haired cowboy wearing a yellow tabard, to the left behind Dennis.Then on the "Wind in the Willows" float I was "Badger".
"Dennis Quilley, GOTCHA"
It's early morning on 3rd August 1994 and I have arrived at the unit base in a field near Chesham to be part of a "gotcha" on Noel's House Party.
A group of us had been rehearsing the previous day at the BBC rehearsal rooms in Acton, we are going to be dressed in Cowboy outfits and pretend to be part of an Operatic Society that is shortly to be performing "Oklahoma" and are advertising the show by being on a Carnival Float on its way to Amersham. Our float has broken down in a lay-by a few miles from the town and the road is on the route of the car that is taking Dennis Quilley to open the Carnival. THERE IS NO CARNIVAL !
We have been told that he is a very keen fan of Musicals and that we are going to ask him to notify the organisors that we would be late but before he leaves us we must persuade him to join in with us and sing "Oklahoma".
When he has left us, the Chauffeur will pretend to get lost and drive around the area returning to the same site 10 minutes later. During that time our float will be replaced with a float containing characters from "Wind in the Willows". The car carrying Dennis is due to bring him into the same field also with the intention of taking a short cut.
The afternoon has arrived and we have taken up our positions on the float in the lay-by (these are the days before mobile phones) and staff are monitoring the progress of the car carrying Dennis via two way radios or "walkie talkies" as they were called in those days .He is not too far away, cameras are hidden in hedges around the lay-by ready to film the "gotcha" and as we hear the car approaching we begin singing halfway through the song pretending that we are having a final rehearsal.The car pulls up alongside the float and Dennis alights from the car looking quite concerned. Barry Killerby (obviously dressed as a Cowboy, not in the Mr. Blobby costume) tells Dennis the sad tale about us breaking down on our way to the Carnival that he is under the impression he is on his way to open.Dennis agrees to inform the organisers that we are not too far away but Barry persuades him that it would be a privilege for us if he could join in with us as we sing the song. He agreed and seemed to enjoy joining in.He then wished us all good luck and got back into the car. The car disappeared into the distance and we were taken to a nearby field where the second float had been placed and changed into our "Wind in the Willows" costumes. Eventually the car carrying Dennis came into the field and pulled up a few yards from our float. The driver told him that we had punctured a tyre trying to take a short cut through the field. At that moment there was a loud sound of aircraft overhead and a few moments later we could see parachutes descending onto the field. They were the "Red Devils" parachute team and they all landed within yards of each other. Then Noel Edmonds emerged from a hedge at the edge of the field and approached a bemused Dennis. Noel took off his flying helmet and said "Dennis Quilley, Gotcha". Noel then explained to him that there was no Carnival and this was all one huge hoax. The first thing that Dennis said was "Do the Operatic Society know that there is no Carnival?" At that point we removed the heads of our costumes and he then realised that we were the same people. He took the hoax in very good humour and it was a privilege to meet him and be a part of that very unusual day in my life that I will never forget.
A group of us had been rehearsing the previous day at the BBC rehearsal rooms in Acton, we are going to be dressed in Cowboy outfits and pretend to be part of an Operatic Society that is shortly to be performing "Oklahoma" and are advertising the show by being on a Carnival Float on its way to Amersham. Our float has broken down in a lay-by a few miles from the town and the road is on the route of the car that is taking Dennis Quilley to open the Carnival. THERE IS NO CARNIVAL !
We have been told that he is a very keen fan of Musicals and that we are going to ask him to notify the organisors that we would be late but before he leaves us we must persuade him to join in with us and sing "Oklahoma".
When he has left us, the Chauffeur will pretend to get lost and drive around the area returning to the same site 10 minutes later. During that time our float will be replaced with a float containing characters from "Wind in the Willows". The car carrying Dennis is due to bring him into the same field also with the intention of taking a short cut.
The afternoon has arrived and we have taken up our positions on the float in the lay-by (these are the days before mobile phones) and staff are monitoring the progress of the car carrying Dennis via two way radios or "walkie talkies" as they were called in those days .He is not too far away, cameras are hidden in hedges around the lay-by ready to film the "gotcha" and as we hear the car approaching we begin singing halfway through the song pretending that we are having a final rehearsal.The car pulls up alongside the float and Dennis alights from the car looking quite concerned. Barry Killerby (obviously dressed as a Cowboy, not in the Mr. Blobby costume) tells Dennis the sad tale about us breaking down on our way to the Carnival that he is under the impression he is on his way to open.Dennis agrees to inform the organisers that we are not too far away but Barry persuades him that it would be a privilege for us if he could join in with us as we sing the song. He agreed and seemed to enjoy joining in.He then wished us all good luck and got back into the car. The car disappeared into the distance and we were taken to a nearby field where the second float had been placed and changed into our "Wind in the Willows" costumes. Eventually the car carrying Dennis came into the field and pulled up a few yards from our float. The driver told him that we had punctured a tyre trying to take a short cut through the field. At that moment there was a loud sound of aircraft overhead and a few moments later we could see parachutes descending onto the field. They were the "Red Devils" parachute team and they all landed within yards of each other. Then Noel Edmonds emerged from a hedge at the edge of the field and approached a bemused Dennis. Noel took off his flying helmet and said "Dennis Quilley, Gotcha". Noel then explained to him that there was no Carnival and this was all one huge hoax. The first thing that Dennis said was "Do the Operatic Society know that there is no Carnival?" At that point we removed the heads of our costumes and he then realised that we were the same people. He took the hoax in very good humour and it was a privilege to meet him and be a part of that very unusual day in my life that I will never forget.
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