Trading Up in the Sun

List of Pebble Mill programmes

Photo by Ben Peissel, no reproduction without permission

This a list of factual television programmes, described as ‘current’, was produced before the closure of Pebble Mill, around 2004. The list is included in a document housed in the BBC Archives in Caversham.

BBC One:

Points of View, Animal Sanctuary

BBC Two:

Gardeners’ World, Gardeners’ World Specials, Gardeners’ World Live, RHS Tatton, Gardener of the Year, Small Town Gardens, Rachel’s Country Garden [I don’t think this series was actually made], Million Pound Property Challenge, SAS Survival Secrets, Big Dreams – The Secrets of Asian Success, How I made My Property Millions

BBC Three:

The Brief: India and Pakistan, Greatest Eunuch Show, Black Beauty

BBC One Daytime:

Countryfile, Call My Bluff, To Buy or Not to Buy, Trading Up, Big Strong Boys, Sunday Garden, Trading Up in the Sun

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

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘I worked on 10 of those programmes! And don’t forget all the Radio programmes that were also being currently made …’

Simon Vaughan: ‘Pebble Mill was an amazing production centre – why on earth decommission it and pull it down, such an absolute waste. Just like TVC, their like will never be seen again.’

Carole Lowe: ‘Miss Pebble Mill a great building I worked on Anne and Nick and other programmes. Sad loss to BIRMINGHAM.’

Stuart Gandy: ‘Proper broadcasting centre.’

Pete Simpkin: ‘..and of course all the Radio…Live music , recorded music, Radio 2, Radio 3, amazing amount of Radio 4 ….drama, features, documentaries, the Archers and all the Local Radio as well!’

Judith Markall: ‘A sin to knock the building down!’

Trading Up in the Sun – Portugal

Photo from Joanne Kenyon, no reproduction without permission.

The photo is of the Trading Up in the Sun team in Portugal, 2003. The photo includes, left to right: Eugene Keogh, Keith Schofield (cameraman) with the red top, Russell Minton (in front of Keith), Amanda Lowe (series producer) Lorne Spicer – presenter, Jo Kenyon in the pink top, next to Caroline Ossowaskia, Gordon Whistance – designer, between Jo and Caroline, Rob Leveritt (sound), Sangeeta Sedhev (seated), Ketrina ? next to Sangeeta.

Jo Kenyon, Colin McAllister, Justin Ryan, Sharon Fisher

The team bump in to Danny La Rue in a bar

Colin, Justin, Craig Phillips, ?, Tom Slee, ?

Colin, Justin, Craig Phillips, Robbie Williams, Tom Slee, ?

Justin with Sharon, Tom Slee in the background

Justin, with Colin in the background

Photos from Joanne Kenyon, no reproduction without permission.

The photos are from the BBC1 Daytime production, Trading Up in the Sun circa 2002. The series was presented by interior designer duo, Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister, with Craig Phillips (the Big Brother winner), doing some of the DIY. These photos are from the first series, which was filmed in the Costa del Sol.

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

Ruth Barretto: “I was the PC on that production back at base . Wasn’t it the EL PInar hotel that you stayed in. Which you all renamed. Amanda Lowe was the SP! The good old days!”