Terry Powell – Page 4 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Survival of the Fittest – front page and cast

Here is the script front page, and cast information for the 1990, ‘Screen One’ drama: Survival of the Fittest.

Here is the synopsis from the BFI Film and TV Database:

‘Dark comedy that looks at what happens when a fiercely-independent 80-year-old widow becomes too frail to live alone. Molly Cowper is dettermined to stay in her own home, even though she has recently had a mild heart attack. Not wanting to be alone at night, she makes elaborate plans to ensure that neighbours will sleep in her house. Supervised by her long-suffering son Geoffrey an agreement is drawn up so that Chris Trinder and Eileen Blackett will stay there at agreed times. Her arrangements begin to fall apart however, when Chris dies of a heart attack adn her dog is run over. Although Geoffrey tries to sort things out Molly still tries to enforce her wishes, riding roughshod over all of them with devastating consequences.’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/446261?view=synopsis

The script was written by Julian Mitchell, Martyn Friend was the director and Carol Parks the producer.

The drama starred Jean Anderson as Molly Cowper, Timothy West as Geoffrey Cowper, Nerys Hughes as Betty Trinder, Timothy Davies as Chris Tinder, Elizabeth Spriggs as Eileen Blackett, Ben Porter as the young Chris Tinder, Joanna Brookes as June Trinder, Andrew Groves as Richard Blackett, Steven Sherwood as Mr Towse, Doc O’Brien as the taxi driver.

Thanks to Willoughby Gullachsen (Gus) for keeping the pages safe all this time.

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

Terry Powell: ‘Again another show I worked on really enjoyed it can’t believe how menu shows a year we did now only really work on 2 or 3 a year. As home life is now so important.’

Annie Toy: ‘Goodness, that brings back memories. I used to catalogue all Gus’s pictures after they’d been up on the board on the downstairs corridor. They were brilliant.’

Victoria Trow: ‘Andy Netley won a Bafta last year.’

John Greening: ‘Brilliant -especially as I’m currently directing Tim West on EastEnders!’

Steve Saunderson: ‘Gus, what a talented artist, I try day by day to achieve great images but great images just poured out of his camera. Not a bad line-up is it?…and yes John a great cast including Timothy West…the last time I bumped into Dir. Martyn Friend, I was on a massive night shoot (lots of lights and sparks) for Midsomer Murders and he passed by and assured the producers that they were in very good hands, v. kind of him.’

The Ritz publicity brochure

Thanks to costume designer, Janice Rider for sharing this publicity brochure for The Ritz, the 1987 comedy drama series by John Godber, set in a Northern disco. The series was a television adaptation of the theatre play, Bouncers.

The series was directed by John Godber and Martin Shardlow, and produced by Chris Parr.

The series featured: Andrew Dunn, Andrew Livingston, Jacqueline Beatty, Julia Ford, Mark Addy, Martin Ronan, Paul Rider and Richard James Lewis.

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

Jeremy Gartland: ‘I only sat and watched ‘The Ritz’ a couple of weeks ago – fantastic! I was lucky enough to be invited to Pebble Mill to watch Episode 5 ‘Fancy Dress Night’ being filmed… I must try and dig out the photos we took during our trip.’

Jo Mainwaring: ‘I was the production secretary on this show! Thanks for finding the pics, Janice.’

Ruth Barretto: ‘I remember going into the canteen and seeing all the actors dressed up. The blonde guy in the pic was the Incredible Hulk!’

Terry Powell: ‘Ps big Mick is living round the corner from me such a small world. One of the best shows I worked on always have very fond memories it was ahead if its time it would be a huge hit now with the likes of Benidorm and Miranda out there.’

Janice Rider: ‘Well said Terry and look how well Andrew Dunn , Mark Addy , Rich Ridings and last but not least Tracie ‘Broadway ‘ Bennett have done since! Great fun show to design.’

The Ritz – Janice Rider

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Specially shot video with costume designer, Janice Rider talking about the 1987 Pebble Mill drama series: ‘The Ritz’.

The series was written by John Godber, who along with Martin Shardlow, directed it. It was produced by Chris Parr. The comedy drama was set in a newly acquired nightclub in the North of England. It was based on the play, ‘Bouncers’, by John Godber.

The series starrred Richard James Lewis, Paul Rider, Andre Dunn, Andrew Livingstone, and Richard Ridings.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page about ‘The Ritz’:

Mary Sanchez: ‘I was secretary to Chris Parr at the time and went along to Libertys nightclub to watch some of the filming. ( my first time on a film set) Mark Addy also starred in it who as you know is v well known now and also andrew dunn . A fun production to be involved in!’

Terry Powell: ‘I loved this show one of the best things I worked on we were such a happy team.’

Costume and Design – photos by Laura McNeill

Photographs copyright of Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.

These photos feature various costume and design staff at Pebble Mill, amongst others – mostly taken at parties. They include: Terry Powell, Paul Gooch, Ray Holman, Peter Lloyd, John Ellis, Jacqui Pratt, Maggie Thomas, Diane Lester, Al Barnett, Tracey, Sally Holden, Cathy Ayerst, Lesley Thomas, Carl Dolan, Conrad Fletcher.