Timothy Spall – What Was Pebble Mill?

Broke TX Card

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

Thanks to Ann Chancellor-Davies for sharing this TX card for the drama Broke. Ann’s husband, Gavin, was the production designer on the production.

The drama was part of a series called ScreenPlay; it was transmitted on 10th July 1991, at 9pm on BBC2.

There is the entry from the Radio Times, courtesy of the BBC Genome project:

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8c31098b76534c8c8cd27660354c29be

“Starring
Timothy Spall
Winner of the Radio Times
Drama Awards, this week’s
ScreenPlay is a black comedy written by Stephen Bill. It is the story of a small businessman and a deal that is about to break his family.
Producer Barry Hanson, Director Alan Dossor”

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Gregory M Hallsworth: ‘I went down to Leamington Spa one Sunday morning to do an OB for CWR from a film location for this production’

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Broke – Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

‘Broke’ was part of the BBC 2 ‘Screenplay’ anthology series, being transmitted in 1991. It was written by Stephen Bill, directed by Alan Dosser and produced at Pebble Mill by Barry Hanson.

The BFI database includes the following synopsis:

‘Ken Bannister is a wealthy, self-made man, who gives some work to his friend Francis Meeks, whose own small business is just getting oof the ground, commissioning him to refurbish the country club. However, when he asks for his money, Ken can’t pay, having been declared bankrupt, although this doesn’t seem to affect his affluent lifestyle in any way. Francis stands by helpless, watching his business and home go to rack and ruin, until his determined wife Melanie steps in.’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/460448

‘Broke’ starred Timothy Spall, Sheila Kelley, Larry Lamb, Susan Wooldridge, and Leo Bill.

The photo of the crew includes Alan Dosser (director), Steve Saunderson (camera), Tim Everett (sound), and Bob Jacobs (1st AD).

Terry Powell (dresser) remembers that ‘Broke’ was the 1st time he worked with Timothy Spall, and through it became good friends. When he left the BBC to go freelance he worked with Tim on many a show and still sees him today.

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‘Dread Poets Society’ – TX Card from Dave Bushell

Dread Poets Society

TX card for ‘Dread Poets Society’

This was a hosted production shot on location at Oxley Carriage Sidings, Wolverhampton. Two railway carriages were rewired by Derek McCulloch and his sparks so that I could reproduce my take on what it would feel like to be in a train during a thunderstorm. The weather was appalling, as I remember, and we had to deal with a number of equipment problems. Still it was interesting to do (and I like trains!).

Producers were George Faber and Estelle Daniel, director Andy Wilson and the cast were Benjamin Zephaniah, Timothy Spall, Alex Jennings, Dexter Fletcher, Alan Cumming and Emma Fielding. Transmission was in 1992.

Dave Bushell