Veronica Butt – What Was Pebble Mill?

All Over The Shop

Thanks to Ian Collins for making this titles grab of the series, All Over The Shop available.

All Over The Shop was a shopping and consumer panel game show, presented by Paul Ross, in 1997-9. Panelists included actors and celebrities. It went out on BBC1 Daytime at 12.25pm. The producer was Caroline Jones, and the exec, Steve Weddle.

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

Steve Weddle: ‘It was a London creation – the second series was shipped in to Pebble Mill for reasons I can’t recall. So we inherited the format – flimsy, to say the least – and tried to make a half decent telly show out of it. I think we just about succeeded, but there was so much politics behind the scenes,given the half London/ half Birmingham set up. It did however open up channels for some PM production people to work in Events in London, especially Veronica Butt.’

Veronica Butt: ‘Linda Flavell Michelle Furey Ellena Stojanovic Yvonne Stevenson Julia Versluis Merrick Simmonds, Andrea Miller, Caroline Jones and Steve Weddle worked on it’

Julia Versluis: ‘I had fun trying to get Paul’s script onto all those lovely cards. Hours of fun! as well as trying to dodge the rest of the office printing on my labels before I could shout “no-one print” I do believe I have a photo of Veronica Butt, Paul Ross and myself at the end of show BBQ. I’ll see if I can find it.’

Caroline Jones: ‘Wow now that’s a blast from the past clearing all those logos was a copyright nightmare and all the guest who suddenly developed allergies to the items slated for the taste tests! Weird commission shipped up from London to stop us from closing the first time!’

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Enterprising former BBC colleagues

Emma Clarke, copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

(This article is from the Bromsgrove Advertiser: http://www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/news/14321710.)

Five former staff from the BBC who were made redundant from the company, and moved on to try out new interests and careers are organising a spring market in Bournheath Village Hall to show off some of their wares.

Emma Clarke studied for a bachelor’s degree in Podiatric Medicine after leaving the BBC, and now has clinics all over Bromsgrove and the surrounding area. She plans on bringing some tempting treats for feet to the market, along with foot care advice.

Michelle Doidge moved on to run a business specialising in aloe vera health, nutrition and skin care products, while Ruth Barretto, who still works in television as a freelancer, also makes home-made cupcakes which she’ll be bringing along.

Lyn Flavell now runs ‘Lin’s Bakeaways’ a successful catering business, which supplies tea-shops, butchers and delicatessens in Worcestershire.

Finally ex-BBC producer, Veronica Butt, now runs her own cards and stationery business.

She said: “A number of former BBC staff have pursued other interests and careers since leaving the BBC including local Bromsgrove author, Sue Watson, as well as people becoming life coaches, running their own mobile spa, running an interior design business, a catering business and a wedding photography business – we even have a vicar.

“We hope that many more of us who are exploring new careers will be available for an event in the future so people can see that it’s never too late to try something new.”

Between them the five had more than 100 years of experience at the company before moving on to their new lives, and they will be showing f a range of products in Bournheath Village Hall in Claypit Lane on Sunday, March 20 from 2-4pm.

Entrance to the fair is free, and there will be free tea, coffee and biscuits on offer, as well as the chance to buy homemade pies, quiches, cupcakes; greetings cards, giftwrap, stationery; aloe vera health and beauty products and professional foot care emollients and ointments.

Warren Clarke 1947-2014

Actor Warren Clarke died 12 Nov, aged 67, after a short illness. Warren Clarke appeared in several BBC Pebble Mill dramas including: Battle of Waterloo 1983, Nice Work 1989, and perhaps most famously, Dalziel and Pascoe 1996-2007.

Warren was born in Oldham, and began acting at the Liverpool Playhouse. He appeared in the controversial, 1971, Stanley Kubrick film, A Clockwork Orange. He has been described as having a ‘hangdog’ expression, perfect for rather grumpy character parts, like Vic in Nice Work, and the detective, Dalziel, in Dalziel and Pascoe.

I remember seeing Warren Clarke at several Midlands, Royal Television Society Awards ceremonies, where he was frequently nominated, and often won awards – he seemed to enjoy a good party!

(Copyright on the photographs resides with the original holders, no reproduction without permission)

Warren Clarke and Haydn Gwynne. Nice Work

Warren Clarke, Battle of Waterloo

Warren Clarke, Nice Work

Warren Clarke, Colin Buchanan, Dalziel & Pascoe

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

Julia Jones: ‘Very sad. I worked with Warren on four series of Dalziel and Pascoe. He certainly did enjoy a party and was always a great supporter of Pebble Mill.’

Mark James Southall: ‘Was a great friend of Pebble Mill and was one who was always fond of the talent that was in the area.’

Chris Marshall: ‘Nice Work was fabulous and Warren Clarke was fabulous in everything he did.’

Steve Peet: ‘Was lucky enough to see the great man at work on D and P back in 2002/3, a complex soul and totally committed to the role, but in a sometimes difficult arena when you’re the trainee he found time for a chat and words of encouragement.’

Patricia Hodge Robinson: ‘He also starred in ‘The Locksmith’ with Chris Gascoyne and a very young John Simm. Made by Fair Game Films but staffed out of Pebble Mill. I have very fond memories of working with him on this and D & P. He leaves behind an impressive body of work and was an excellent character actor.’

Veronica Butt: ‘I went to meet Warren from B’ham New Street when he appeared as a guest on the pilot series of The One Show, created in Birmingham! He insisted we had a couple of drinks at the bar at the Malmaison before we went through! He was a lovely, down to earth man and a great actor.’

Nick Hennegan: ‘My partner was an actor in The Locksmith and a mentor produced D and P. He was a lovely man.’

Roulla Xenides: ‘He and Nigel Havers were guests on Pebble Mill together when they appeared as Soviet agents in the BBC1 comedy drama Sleepers in 1991. I remember we used some outtake clips of them talking in Russian. I think the series concept was Warren’s.’

Friday Night at the Mill – end of an era party

On the 3rd September 2004 the closure of Pebble Mill was celebrated with a party for current and former staff, to mark the end of an era.

The party was a lavish affair, on the back lawn, with differently themed areas, including games and a very impressive chocolate fountain!

Thanks for Veronica Butt for sharing the end of Pebble Mill party invite.

Call My Bluff 1996

This is a production and presentation team photo of Call My Bluff from May 1996.

Included are: Ros Holness (Bob Holness’s daughter), Clara Hewitt, Jane Hudson, Veronica Butt, Caroline Marshall, Sue Williams, Richard Lewis, Helena Taylor, David Weir, as well as presenters Sandi Toksvig, Bob Holness, and Alan Coren.

Thanks to Ronnie Butt for sharing the photo.