Tom Beach – What Was Pebble Mill?

Martin Chuzzlewit script front page

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This is the script front page for the 1994, BBC2, drama serial: Martin Chuzzlewit, adapted by David Lodge from Dickens’ original. Chris Parr was the producer, and Pedr James the director. This must be an early version of the script, because not all the crew are named. The rehearsal period was about ten days, in Acton, with filming taking four months.

Thanks to Ann Chancellor-Davies, the widow of production designer, Gavin Davies, for making the page available.

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The Franchise Affair

Thanks to Roger Guest for sharing this script front page, from the 1988, six part drama series: The Franchise Affair, by Josephine Tey. The series went out between September-Nov 1988, on BBC1.

Here is the link to the entry in the Radio Times, for episode one of The Franchise Affair, from the BBC Genome project: http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bcbdbb487b894908a9120d1acd02b909

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

Dave Bushell: ‘I enjoyed working on this – a touch of film noire style and location shoots in Church Stretton and on
the Severn Valley Railway.’

Winnie O’Brien: ‘I remember it well, I did the opening title sequence and graphics. It was a wonderful project to work on.’

The Franchise Affair – photo by Dave Bushell

The ‘Franchise Affair’ was a 6 part serial, which I think was hosted at Pebble Mill from London. It was transmitted in 1988. Terrance Dicks was the producer, Leonard Lewis the director, and Phillippa Giles the script editor. Dave Bushell was the lighting director and Rob Hinds the production designer.

The story was about a mother and daughter, living in a house called The Franchise, who are accused of kidnapping a 15 year old girl and making her work as a servant. See BFI database: http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/417012

‘Took this shot while we were shooting ‘The Franchise Affair’ at Bewdley station in 1988. I don’t think any work is going on – just three guys examining a very large ‘Boy’s Toy’. I think it’s Tom Beach (Props Buyer) on the left with Keith Moreton (chargehand electrician) and Eric Crouch (electrician).’

Dave Bushell