Going for a Song – What Was Pebble Mill?

Going for a Song cast and crew

Save

Thanks to Gill Thompson for sharing this photo of the cast and crew of Going for a Song, the antiques panel game show.

Included are: Michael Aspel (presenter), Eric Knowles (antiques expert), Claire Hobbs (producer, front, black jacket), Helena Taylor (series producer, sat on the camera), Dave Wilkins (camera), Toby Horwood (camera), Mark Scott (director), Gill Thompson (audience organiser, pink top behind camera), Adam Schoon (antiques consultant), Dave Bushell (lighting director), Keith Knowles (engineer) in orange top next to Dave Bushell, Pete Eggleston (with beard, engineer), Dave Ballantyne and Keith Salmon (cameras) on the right, Sue Russell (production secretary and hospitality, left-handside, beige patterned top), Dave Brazier (blue shirt and tie, floor manager), Ron Poston from the BBC Club is next to Dave. Back row, top left in pink is Chris Reely (sound), Jim Gray (camera, back row, black jumper, moustache), James French (camera, black top, centre back), at the back on the left is Dave Savage (black top with white stripes) and Chris Reeley in the red t-shirt is at the top left – both Senior Audio Supervisors

Thanks to the following for their help in identifying people: Shareen Worthington, Dave Bushell, Jane Mclean, Jan Poston, Steve Admans,

Save

Going for a Song – titles

Save

Going for a Song was a long running popular quiz show about antiques. The original series went out between 1965-77, and was made in Bristol. John King directed on the original series, and it was him who was responsible for reinventing the show and bringing it to Pebble Mill, when he was executive producer of the Entertainment Department. The relaunch was between 1995-2001 for BBC1 Daytime, with presenters Michael Parkinson (1995-9), Anne Robinson (2000), and Michael Aspel (2001). Eric Knowles was the antiques expert.

The show was recorded in Studio A.

Sue Robinson directed many of the shows, with Helena Taylor being one of the series producers, as well as Claire Hobbs. Vicky Jepson and Kate Southcott (now Hillman) worked on the series, as did gallery PA, Jane Mclean.

Thanks to Ian Collins for making this titles grab available.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Dave Bushell: ‘I had the pleasure of not only working on the Pebble Mill series but also the original when it was produced in Bristol Studio A in the late 60s/early 70s.’

Mike Hayes: ‘There was an incident with a hand wound electrical generator that some guest put his finger in, his partner then just wound it up giving a shock and a good laugh for everyone else.’

Sue Johnson: ‘I did the autocue for this and remember Dave brazier telling us how happy Michael P was with the production team – very fond memories.’

Helena Taylor: ‘I was the Series Producer and great fun it was too and a great team both in front and behind the camera.’

Michael Wood: ‘First TV show I ever saw get recorded – Anne Robinson was presenting. Made me realise I really wanted to work in telly!’

Save

Andy Payne

Photo from James French, no reproduction without permission

Andy Payne, shown on the left here, sadly died on Friday 22nd July 2016, of acute myeloid leukemia. Andy was a brilliant cameraman, of both studio and single cameras. He could shoot drama, factual or live multi-camera. I remember that camera operator, and director, Karen Lamb, said to me once that Andy was the best BBC Birmingham cameraman, which in such illustrious company is quite an accolade. He was a quiet and thoughtful man, and a great person to have in your crew. Andy was just 55.

Andy worked on a whole variety of programmes including, Pebble Mill at One, Pebble Mill, Going for a Song, and latterly, Doctors.

On the right of photo is Dave Farline, who died in 2008, also of cancer.

Thanks to James French for the photograph.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Bob Davies: ‘This is such sad news. Almost unbelievable. Two lovely men who were brilliant camera men, both loved their work and always gave of their best. I was lucky enough to have them on my crew on many occasions. Andy was often my camera supervisor – never got flustered, always smiling, good natured, full of positive advice and enthusiasm. He and Dave were a terrific team in the studio, on location and as hand held operators.’

Karen Lamb: ‘Andy had the warmest smile and talent in abundance which he got working with the infamous and slightly scary but sexy crew 3 – camera supervisor Tony Wiggly, John Couzens (just Wow!) Jim Gray & Barry Foster. I don’t think it would have been as kind a fit for me welcoming the first girl cameraman to their crew (which I believe was considered) as Crew 5 the wonderful Keith Salmon, Dave Ballantyne, Norman Steemson & Lovely James French, thank you all for the amazing memories, Pebble Mill was the best.’

Ruth Barretto: ‘I first met Andy in the 80’s when I started working at Pebble Mill. I knew him and his dad. So lovely, true professional. Everyone always sang his praises.’

Graham Sherrington: ‘Andy guided me through my first ever outing as a drama Director on Doctors years ago. He was kind, generous and an incredibly talented DP.’

Jane Green: ‘I was very upset to hear about Andy. I was lucky enough to work with him on PM@1, drama, news. OBs – everything really. A really lovely man, with a super Brummie humour.’

Bryan Sharpe: ‘I remember Andy working on Midlands Today.. great guy and always helpful…. as I started out on my directing career.. sad loss!’

Save

Toby Horwood in Studio A

Here’s a mug shot of yours truly. This in in Studio A. Judging by the presence of audience seating it would have been a Call My Bluff or Going for a Song or something similar.

Very happy days. Still in the Beeb. Still Happy.

Toby Horwood

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:

Stuart Gandy: ‘As it is a Sony camera, it must have been after the refurb to widescreen.’

Going for a Song group photo

Going for a Song team

Photo from Jane Mclean, no reproduction without permission.

The photo includes left to right:

Standing: Harry Middleton (on screen porter, red coat), Vicky Jepson (AP), Clair Sawtell (researcher),Dave Balllantyne (cam), Lee Harrigan, Keith Salmon, Dave Ashton, Dave Bushell (lighting director), James Patterson, Louise Willcox (sound), Mark Smithers, Sue Needs, Dave Brazier (FM), John Carney (lighting director) left of Michael Parkinson (Pres), Adam Schoon (antiques consultant), Eric Knowles (Pres), Natalie (AFM in black behind Jane Mclean), Herbie Donnelly (sparks, next to Eric), Dave Farline (long hair), Ian Cull, Mike Johnson, Nick Harris (studio director, at back, blonde hair, glasses), Dougie (warm up guy in yellow shirt), Paul Woolston (beard, Cam supervisor), Juliet Henson? (in front of Paul, in black).

Seated: Claire Hobbs (SP), Cathy (Parkinson’s PA), Parkinson’s mother, Jayne Mclean (PA), Andy Payne (camera), Howie Dartnall (camera)