On 21st December 1994, I arrived at the Fountain Studios in Wembley, North London to play a minor role as a Pawnbroker in a scene in one of the 12 episodes of Series 5 of " Shine on Harvey Moon ".
My call time was 7 am. and I was taken immediately into wardrobe for my costume followed by being hastily ushered into the make -up department where Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson were also being attended to. They asked me if I was the Pawnbroker and then told me that it was the first scene to be shot that morning, the reason for the urgency to get me ready for the shot.
The scene was inside the Pawnbroker's shop and one of the characters came into the shop to redeem his trombone, I only had to delivery 4 words, and my line was " There you are, sir ", which was a category E role, one below that of a main credited role. The scene was shot a few times and I was back on the road home by 10 am, only 3 hours work in the studio for a very nice fee.
" Shine on Harvey Moon " was set in the East End of London shortly after the 2nd World War.
Upon being demobbed, R.A.F. serviceman Harvey Moon, played by Kenneth Cranham, returns home and finds his family involved in various troubles. His wife Rita, played by Maggie Steed, is not interested in resuming their relationship and works in a seedy nightclub frequented by American Servicemen. He then becomes involved with the Labour Party and the Union movement.
The name of the series is a word play on the popular song " Shine on Harvest Moon " which was made more popular, after it was written in 1908, when Laurel & Hardy sang it in the 1939 film " The Flying Deuces ".
Saturday 21 December 2013
Friday 20 December 2013
" THE CHIEF " 1989
On 20th December 1989, I arrived at the Anglia Television Studios in Norwich to be in my first episode of
" The Chief " starring Tim Pigott - Smith, Martin Shaw and Judy Loe.
My call time was 11.am. and we finished at 6.30pm that evening.
The series ran from 1990 to 1995 and between this, my first day in 1989 and my final day on the 7th November 1994, I appeared in 6 episodes.
It was set in the fictional Eastland , in East Anglia and focussed on the politics at the top of a typical English Police force in its continual battle to solve the problems of the times.
" The Chief " starring Tim Pigott - Smith, Martin Shaw and Judy Loe.
My call time was 11.am. and we finished at 6.30pm that evening.
The series ran from 1990 to 1995 and between this, my first day in 1989 and my final day on the 7th November 1994, I appeared in 6 episodes.
It was set in the fictional Eastland , in East Anglia and focussed on the politics at the top of a typical English Police force in its continual battle to solve the problems of the times.
Thursday 19 December 2013
" The Guilty " 1991 - " Crimewatch File " 1993
On 19th December 1991, I arrived at the Central TV Studios in Lenton Lane Nottingham to be in a TV Film " The Guilty " starring Michael Kitchen.
Nikki Lennon ( Caroline Katz ) is raped by her boss Steven Vey ( Michael Kitchen)
Steven is up for a job as a Judge. Nikki tells Steven to resign or she will tell everyone about the rape.
Steven contacts his illegitimate son and pays him £5,000 to murder Nikki.
Complications arise which result in Steven getting into trouble with the Lord Chancellor.
On 19th December 1993, I was at the Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham to be in a " Crimewatch File" for the BBC.
The scene was a Tribunal about the boss of a company mis-treating one of his work staff.
I was a " wing member " ( one of two magistrates that sit either side of the chairman of the bench).
The scene was shot in one of the studios in the sound department close to where the " Archers " used to be recorded.
One of the directors asked if I had ever served as a magistrate, because I was acting as if I knew what I was doing. I did not inform him that I had been under consideration some years earlier as a candidate to be appointed to the bench, but I eventually declined that opportunity.
I therefore left the director thinking that I was a better actor than I actually was.
Nikki Lennon ( Caroline Katz ) is raped by her boss Steven Vey ( Michael Kitchen)
Steven is up for a job as a Judge. Nikki tells Steven to resign or she will tell everyone about the rape.
Steven contacts his illegitimate son and pays him £5,000 to murder Nikki.
Complications arise which result in Steven getting into trouble with the Lord Chancellor.
On 19th December 1993, I was at the Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham to be in a " Crimewatch File" for the BBC.
The scene was a Tribunal about the boss of a company mis-treating one of his work staff.
I was a " wing member " ( one of two magistrates that sit either side of the chairman of the bench).
The scene was shot in one of the studios in the sound department close to where the " Archers " used to be recorded.
One of the directors asked if I had ever served as a magistrate, because I was acting as if I knew what I was doing. I did not inform him that I had been under consideration some years earlier as a candidate to be appointed to the bench, but I eventually declined that opportunity.
I therefore left the director thinking that I was a better actor than I actually was.
Monday 16 December 2013
" THE JAMES GANG " 1996
On 17th December 1996, I arrived at Cricklewood in, North London, to be in a scene in " The James Gang".
" The James Gang " was a 95 minute Comedy, Crime, made for \television Film by the BBC.
The location was a shopping complex next to the railway station on the Intercity Main Line North of St. Pancras Station.
The film was about a woman called Bernadette who, with her four children, who go to London to find her husband and father of her children, Spendlove, who left them alone some while back.
When she finds him, her brother- in - law, Frank, offers Spendlove some money to return to Edinburgh with his family. But soon, one night, Bernadette unexpectedly robs a jewellery store and then have to head north with obsessive policewoman Julia Armstrong on their tail.
Spendlove was played by John Hannah, Bernadette by Helen McCrory, Frank Jones by Jason Flemying and Julia Armstrong by Toni Collette.
The film was screened on 7th November 1997. The scene that I was in was filmed in one of the shops in the shopping complex, very early in the morning, before the shops were open to the public.
" The James Gang " was a 95 minute Comedy, Crime, made for \television Film by the BBC.
The location was a shopping complex next to the railway station on the Intercity Main Line North of St. Pancras Station.
The film was about a woman called Bernadette who, with her four children, who go to London to find her husband and father of her children, Spendlove, who left them alone some while back.
When she finds him, her brother- in - law, Frank, offers Spendlove some money to return to Edinburgh with his family. But soon, one night, Bernadette unexpectedly robs a jewellery store and then have to head north with obsessive policewoman Julia Armstrong on their tail.
Spendlove was played by John Hannah, Bernadette by Helen McCrory, Frank Jones by Jason Flemying and Julia Armstrong by Toni Collette.
The film was screened on 7th November 1997. The scene that I was in was filmed in one of the shops in the shopping complex, very early in the morning, before the shops were open to the public.
Sunday 15 December 2013
" THE CHIEF " 1993 - " EMMERDALE " 1995 and 2003
On 15th December 1993, I arrived at the Anglia Studios in Norwich and was taken by bus to NorthWalsham, to a location 8 miles south of Cromer on the East Coast, for an episode of " The Chief ".
My total mileage for the round trip to Norwich and back, on that cold December day was 248 miles.
Since the beginning of this series, the part of the main character previously played by Tim Pigott-Smith had been replaced by another main character played by Martin Shaw.
My first episode on " The Chief " had been filmed on 20th December 1989 and between that date and 7th November 1994, I was only in 6 episodes of that series.
On this same day in 1995 I was in Leeds for my 5th day on " Emmerdale " and by this day in 2003 I was again in Leeds for my 79th day on that programme.
I have now made 95 trips to Leeds for " Emmerdale " since my first one on 14th June 1993, the most recent visit having been on 27th September 2013.
My total mileage for the round trip to Norwich and back, on that cold December day was 248 miles.
Since the beginning of this series, the part of the main character previously played by Tim Pigott-Smith had been replaced by another main character played by Martin Shaw.
My first episode on " The Chief " had been filmed on 20th December 1989 and between that date and 7th November 1994, I was only in 6 episodes of that series.
On this same day in 1995 I was in Leeds for my 5th day on " Emmerdale " and by this day in 2003 I was again in Leeds for my 79th day on that programme.
I have now made 95 trips to Leeds for " Emmerdale " since my first one on 14th June 1993, the most recent visit having been on 27th September 2013.
Saturday 14 December 2013
" INTO THE FIRE " 1994
On 14th December 1994, I had arrived in Richmond, West London to be in a scene in " Into the Fire ".
The location was at an Hotel on Richmond Hill and the view from that height was stunning. The River Thames below, winding it's way towards London from Buckinghamshire in the West.
" Into the Fire " was a three part BBC Drama TV Mini Series which was screened in 1996 starring Sharon Duce and David Morrissey.
It was about a Local Businessman and Magistrate who is brought to account for his one disgraceful act in an otherwise blameless and respectable life.
Later in the day , we were taken to a second location in Richmond Town Hall, where scenes were filmed in the cells below the the old Courthouse that was within that building.
The location was at an Hotel on Richmond Hill and the view from that height was stunning. The River Thames below, winding it's way towards London from Buckinghamshire in the West.
" Into the Fire " was a three part BBC Drama TV Mini Series which was screened in 1996 starring Sharon Duce and David Morrissey.
It was about a Local Businessman and Magistrate who is brought to account for his one disgraceful act in an otherwise blameless and respectable life.
Later in the day , we were taken to a second location in Richmond Town Hall, where scenes were filmed in the cells below the the old Courthouse that was within that building.
Wednesday 11 December 2013
" CASUALTY" 1997 - Credited Part
On 11th December 1997, I arrived at the BBC Studios in Bristol to be in episode 23 of the 12th series of the Medical Drama Casualty.
My first episode as a supporting artiste had been on 5th April 1988 and now , after appearing in 36 more episodes over 9 years, I was given my first credited role in the series.
I first appear as the opening credits are rolling, and am introducing two women boxers into the ring.
(In the late 1990's women boxing was a controversial issue but today it is acceptable to the governing body of the sport.)
Later in the episode, the action returns back to the scene where one of the women boxers is getting a severe beating and a few illegal punches are being thrown. The outcome of that boxing match then results in the boxers being taken to Holby City Hospital for one of them to receive treatment.
This episode 23 was screened on 7th February 1998 and is my only entry to date on IMDb, where a click on to Bobby Civil IMDb and a further click on to " click onto full credits) will show my name at the bottom of the cast list.
It has now been 16 years since that event, and I have been in quite a few more minor roles including being a Security Guard, a Press Reporter a Pawnbroker and a New Year Party-goer.
My first episode as a supporting artiste had been on 5th April 1988 and now , after appearing in 36 more episodes over 9 years, I was given my first credited role in the series.
I first appear as the opening credits are rolling, and am introducing two women boxers into the ring.
(In the late 1990's women boxing was a controversial issue but today it is acceptable to the governing body of the sport.)
Later in the episode, the action returns back to the scene where one of the women boxers is getting a severe beating and a few illegal punches are being thrown. The outcome of that boxing match then results in the boxers being taken to Holby City Hospital for one of them to receive treatment.
This episode 23 was screened on 7th February 1998 and is my only entry to date on IMDb, where a click on to Bobby Civil IMDb and a further click on to " click onto full credits) will show my name at the bottom of the cast list.
It has now been 16 years since that event, and I have been in quite a few more minor roles including being a Security Guard, a Press Reporter a Pawnbroker and a New Year Party-goer.
Sunday 8 December 2013
" THE BIG MATCH " DAY TWO 1992
On 8th December 1992, I arrived back to Hendon Football Ground in North London for my second day of filming in the Television Advert for British Telecom.
My call time the previous day had been 3pm, and my call time on this day was 2.30pm. The lateness of the call was because we were filming a night shoot and it allowed some time for rehearsals to take place while it was still light.
Because the floodlights were one during those two evenings, some supporters of Hendon Town arrived at the ground to see if there was a re-scheduled football match being played by their team.
The advert appeared on National television channels during the early months of 1993, 21 years ago.
My call time the previous day had been 3pm, and my call time on this day was 2.30pm. The lateness of the call was because we were filming a night shoot and it allowed some time for rehearsals to take place while it was still light.
Because the floodlights were one during those two evenings, some supporters of Hendon Town arrived at the ground to see if there was a re-scheduled football match being played by their team.
The advert appeared on National television channels during the early months of 1993, 21 years ago.
Saturday 7 December 2013
" THE BIG MATCH " British Telecom TV Advert 1992
On 7th December 1992, I drove to Hendon Football Ground in North London to be in a scene from a Television Advert for British Telecom called " The Big Match ".
A group of us were in the main stand next to the main characters and we were all watching a football match.
The grandfather figure was sitting with his grandson and reflecting on his past footballing achievements when he was a player. Then the scene switch to seeing him on the telephone to another member of the family, who had remained at home, to tell them the result of the game. Thereby suggesting the advantages of using the telephone facility to relay quick messages in those days.
21 years later, with mobile phones and instant texting, to the younger generation of today, this must seem an archaic system that we used at that time.
The scene took two days to film, the first day was from 3pm to 10 pm and the second day from 2.30pm to 10pm.
A group of us were in the main stand next to the main characters and we were all watching a football match.
The grandfather figure was sitting with his grandson and reflecting on his past footballing achievements when he was a player. Then the scene switch to seeing him on the telephone to another member of the family, who had remained at home, to tell them the result of the game. Thereby suggesting the advantages of using the telephone facility to relay quick messages in those days.
21 years later, with mobile phones and instant texting, to the younger generation of today, this must seem an archaic system that we used at that time.
The scene took two days to film, the first day was from 3pm to 10 pm and the second day from 2.30pm to 10pm.
Thursday 5 December 2013
" CORNETTO ADVERT " 1990
On 5th December 1990, I arrived at a Warehouse in Feltham, North- West London, to be part of a TV advert for " Cornetto", the popular parody of the Italian song " O Sole Meo " - " Just One Cornetto - give it to me " etc.
It was a cold December morning and heating blowers were used to warm the large area that we were filming in but were switched of for each "take". We were all dressed in summer clothes and were supposed to be somewhere in Italy listening to a tenor singing " Just one Cornetto". At the end of his song, we all stood up and threw roses onto the stage where he was singing.
That particular advert was very popular when it was shown during the following year, as it was the follow up advert to the original " Cornetto " advert of the Gondolier singing as he was on one of the canals in Venice.
It was a cold December morning and heating blowers were used to warm the large area that we were filming in but were switched of for each "take". We were all dressed in summer clothes and were supposed to be somewhere in Italy listening to a tenor singing " Just one Cornetto". At the end of his song, we all stood up and threw roses onto the stage where he was singing.
That particular advert was very popular when it was shown during the following year, as it was the follow up advert to the original " Cornetto " advert of the Gondolier singing as he was on one of the canals in Venice.
Wednesday 4 December 2013
" THE RITZ " 1986
On 4th December 1986, I arrived at the Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham to be in an episode of " The Ritz", a six part BBC TV series that was aired in 1987.
It was a comedy drama set in a night club. It centred on three bouncers, Chike, played by Paul Rider, Skodge, played by Andrew Dunn and Kenny, played by Andrew Livingstone. They helped to protect the newly formed Ritz night club from a rival club owner, Mad Mick, played by Richard Ridings.
The scene that I was involved with was in Episode 5, called " Fancy Dress Night: Kenny's Nightmare ", and I was in the night club dressed in the costume of a " Rocker", a character from the days of the Mods & Rockers.
The episode was screened on 22nd May 1987.
It was a comedy drama set in a night club. It centred on three bouncers, Chike, played by Paul Rider, Skodge, played by Andrew Dunn and Kenny, played by Andrew Livingstone. They helped to protect the newly formed Ritz night club from a rival club owner, Mad Mick, played by Richard Ridings.
The scene that I was involved with was in Episode 5, called " Fancy Dress Night: Kenny's Nightmare ", and I was in the night club dressed in the costume of a " Rocker", a character from the days of the Mods & Rockers.
The episode was screened on 22nd May 1987.
Monday 2 December 2013
" SPATZ " 1991 - " CASUALTY " 1995
On 3rd December 1991, I had arrived at Greenford TV studios in London to be in an episode of " Spatz ", a Thames TV 30 minute TV series set in a hamburger bar.
33 episodes were shown between 1990 and 1992 and starred Vis Blackwood as Dexter, Paul Michael as T.J. Strickland and Jonathan Copestake as Stanley.
4 years later, in 1995, I was in Bristol to be in my 5th episode of " Casualty ", the BBC medical drama that is still running today. My first episode had been on 5th April 1998 and it would be two more years ( 10 more episodes) before I would get my first speaking , and credited role, of the Boxing M.C. / Referee in episode 23 which was recorded on 11th December 1997.
33 episodes were shown between 1990 and 1992 and starred Vis Blackwood as Dexter, Paul Michael as T.J. Strickland and Jonathan Copestake as Stanley.
4 years later, in 1995, I was in Bristol to be in my 5th episode of " Casualty ", the BBC medical drama that is still running today. My first episode had been on 5th April 1998 and it would be two more years ( 10 more episodes) before I would get my first speaking , and credited role, of the Boxing M.C. / Referee in episode 23 which was recorded on 11th December 1997.
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