Lost episodes of The Avengers to be remade by Big Finish Productions

BIG FINISH Productions is delighted to announce that it has signed a licence with STUDIOCANAL to produce full cast audio productions of 12 lost episodes of the classic TV series The Avengers.

Lost for over fifty years, the missing episodes from the first series of the cult classic have been lovingly recreated on audio from the original scripts.

The Avengers first launched in 1961, and starred Ian Hendry as Dr David Keel and Patrick Macnee as the elusive and suave John Steed. Beginning with the murder of Keel’s fiancée, and his sworn intent to avenge her death, that first year comprised 26 episodes. Sadly, only two of them exist in their entirety as film prints (Girl on the Trapeze and The Frighteners), while just the first act remains of the opening episode, Hot Snow.

Working from the surviving scripts, Big Finish will be presenting the adaptations in three four-disc box sets. The scripts will be adapted, with minimal changes, by John Dorney, the director is Ken Bentley and the producer is David Richardson. The executive producers are Nicholas Briggs and Jason Haigh-Ellery.

“We are absolutely thrilled to add this wonderful series to our catalogue,” says David Richardson, “and we look forward to faithfully recreating those classic lost episodes. We have two brilliant, high-profile actors for the roles of Dr Keel and John Steed – look out for an announcement of the casting once recording begins in July.”

“This opportunity confirms the enduring appeal of this classic TV series and the resonance of the SC collection in the context of British Film and Pop culture,” says John Rodden, General Manager Home Entertainment at STUDIOCANAL.

Volume 1 of The Avengers: The Lost Episodes will be released in January 2014 (and includes a full recreation of Hot Snow), with Volumes 2 and 3 following in July 2014 and January 2015.

Each person who pre-orders will be entered into a draw to win a copy of The Avengers: Series 1 and 2 on DVD box set, containing the remaining three first series episodes.

For for more information visit www.bigfinish.com

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New book explores the strange case of The Avengers’ missing episodes

IN THE mid-Sixties, The Avengers proved itself to be a cultural phenomenon. Despite its quintessential Englishness, it transcended international barriers, and established itself as British television’s most successful export of the day.

Today, it remains hugely popular, perhaps because of the schizophrenic nature of the show as it developed; it was a series of many colours, with something for everyone. But the earliest episodes of the show – produce by ABC Television and pairing Ian Hendry as Dr David Keel alongside the mysterious John Steed (Patrick Macnee) – have, since their 1961 broadcast, disappeared from view, the vast majority of the recordings lost forever.

The Strange Case of the Missing Episodes lifts the lid on that first year, and retells the stories in extended synopsis form, covering twenty-four episodes, often with script extracts, in greater depth than ever before. The book also boasts a detailed introduction, which explores how these much sought after programmes came to be lost, and a detailed retelling of an alternative, untransmitted version of the episode Double Danger.

The Strange Case of the Missing Episodes – The Lost Stories of The Avengers is available in hardcover (£19.99) and paperback (£14.99) from Hidden Tiger. Visit www.hiddentigerbooks.co.uk

Read an interview with authors Alan Hayes, Alys Hayes and Richard McGinlay about their fantastic new book.

Kaleidoscope event to screen rare and recently recovered Associated-Rediffusion shows

“This is Rediffusion, broadcasting on the London station of the Independent Television Authority.”

Kaleidoscope’s 25th year begins with Rediffusion Rewind, an event celebrating the London broadcaster of the fifties and sixties. As well as a special panel on Sexton Blake, we have former Rediffusion continuity announcer Keith Martin on stage to discuss his time at the company and a video interview with veteran director Christopher Hodson. Little of Associated-Rediffusion and Rediffusion’s programming survives today and we are pleased to present a schedule full of rare items, including some recent recoveries by The Tim Disney Archive and Kaleidoscope.

The event will take place on Saturday 9th March 2013 between 12:00 – 7:00pm at our usual venue, The Talbot Hotel, High Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 1DW. Admission is free, but voluntary donations to our designated charity, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are encouraged.

THE MAIN ROOM

• 12:00 pm Recreated Associated-Rediffusion start up – the famous London broadcaster lives again, thanks to some modern technical wizardry…
• 12:05 pm Crime Sheet – “The Superintendent Hedges A Bet”. Ordinarily the second Associated-Rediffusion series to feature Raymond Francis as Det. Supt. Tom Lockhart, due to Francis contracting mumps this fourth episode featured Chief Supt. Carr, played by Gerald Case. An episode of No Hiding Place, the third Lockhart series can be seen in the Second Room at 1.00pm (TX: 29/04/1959).
• 12:30 pm Hodson’s Choice – in this comprehensive video interview, veteran director Christopher Hodson reminisces about his career with particular focus on his years at Associated-Rediffusion and Rediffusion.
• 1:00 pm Our Man at St. Mark’s – “A Previous Conviction”. Recovered by The Tim Disney Archive and Kaleidoscope in 2012, this rare episode of the sixties ecclesiastical comedy stars its original lead, Leslie Phillips. Rev. Parker’s attempt to give an ex-convict a new start has unexpected complications. Also featuring Joan Hickson, Warren Mitchell and Freddie Jones (TX: 23/10/1963).
• 1:30 pm Half Hour Story – “George’s Room”. John Neville and Geraldine Moffatt star in a two-hander scripted by Alun Owen and directed by Alan Clarke. Made in 625-line colour as an engineering experiment, only the last twelve minutes survive, shot directly on film rather than telerecorded. A rare chance to see material in colour from this period, including a colour Rediffusion animated ident (TX: 30/08/1967).
• 1:42 pm Break
• 2:00 pm Guest Panel – Sexton Blake Lives! – A celebration of the much loved Rediffusion adaptation. Roger Foss, Tinker in the series and other surviving cast members talk with Paul Ross, author of a forthcoming book on Sexton Blake. The panel also features surviving clips and photographs from stories now lost.
• 3.00 pm Break – accompanied by Fusion, a compilation of classic Associated-Rediffusion and Rediffusion moments and title sequences including Benny Hill, Woody Allen, The Rat Catchers, Boyd QC and Object Z.
• 3:30 pm Betjeman’s London – “The Royal Mint”. Future Poet Laureate John Betjeman presents this documentary series covering the landmarks of his home city. Copies of the original Rediffusion publicity booklet for the whole Betjeman’s London series will be available to own on the day, in return for a donation to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. There will also be duplicated copies of the final Rediffusion programme schedule, a very colourful leaflet giving details of the final month of the station’s output, again available for a donation to our designated charity.
• 4:00 pm Guest Panel – This is Rediffusion… – Continuity announcer Keith Martin talks about his time at the company and others later in his career. Keith also has the distinction of being one of the regulars “in the bar” on Stars and Garters! Some very rare examples of Rediffusion continuity will feature in the panel.
• 4:30 pm Uncle Charles – “Gentle Counsels”. Based on the stories of Nigel Balchin, Uncle Charles is the endearing rogue and raconteur propping up the bar, always with a compelling tale to tell. Raymond Huntley heads the cast, supported by David Morton, Alfie Bass and Dudley Foster. This programme was recovered by The Tim Disney Archive and Kaleidoscope in 2012. The series, which has never been shown in the Midlands before now also features music by Ron Grainer (TX: 13/01/1967).
• 5:30 pm Stars and Garters. The hugely popular Rediffusion variety show hosted by comedian Ray Martine and set in a fictional public house. This edition features The Alan Braden Band and Quartet, Susan Maughan, Kim Cordell, Steve Perry, Luciano, Johnny Sheldon, Sulky Gowers, Tommy (Pudden) Wright and Diana Dors (TX: 01/02/1965).
• 6:00 pm Maps & Men – “Falkland Islands”. An Associated-Rediffusion schools programme (TX: 20/01/1959).
• 6:10 pm Small Time – Wally Whyton sings in the sole surviving clip, located as an insert in an ITV programme. Followed by Muskit and Dido, the only remaining adventure of this loveable duo.
• 6:15 pm The Hippodrome Show. Rediffusion variety show, with Frank Foster as the Ringmaster and also featuring Alan Sherman, Linda Bennett, The Zombies, The Herculeans, Alma Paia, Tagora, Moni The Elephant, The Three Ghezzis and The Band of The Grenadier Guards (TX: 20/10/1966).
• 7:00 pm Closedown – coverage of the 1959 General Election coverage ends with the Associated-Rediffusion clock and a closedown announcement from Redvers Kyle.

 

THE SECOND ROOM

• 12:00 pm Blackmail – “Cut Yourself A Slice Of Throat”. Dramatic anthology drama with stories constructed around the theme of blackmail. This episode features Diane Cilento, Aubrey Richards, Dudley Jones and future Doctor Who producer Derrick Sherwin in an acting role (TX: 15/10/1965).
• 1:00 pm No Hiding Place – “The White Stick”. An early episode of the celebrated drama series following the cases of Det. Chief. Supt. Tom Lockhart, played by Raymond Francis. Lockhart is assisted by Det. Sgt. Harry Baxter (Eric Lander). Also featuring Terence Alexander, Pauline Jameson and Jack Smethurst in a script by Bill Strutton (TX: 14/07/1961).
• 2:00 pm Women in Love – a series of short plays on the theme of women in love, with linking introductions by the actor George Sanders. The plays are After So Long by Bridget Balfour, Song Without Words by Michael Meyer and The Stowaway by Charles Terrot. Produced by Peter Graham Scott and directed by Julian Amyes, Peter Graham Scott and Ronald Marriott (TX: 24/09/1958).
• 3:00 pm At Last the 1948 Show. Before Monty Python or The Goodies, John Cleese and Tim Brooke-Taylor edited this famous satirical show, bringing Cambridge Footlights humour to a wider audience. Masterminded by David Frost, the programme was written by and starring John Cleese, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman and also featured Aimi MacDonald. The edition presented here was not on the DVD release or seen in more recent repeat showings (TX: 31/10/1967).
• 3:30 pm Orlando – “Dangerous Waters 3: Rhyme – But No Reason”. Sam Kydd’s character from Crane, ex-Foreign Legionnaire Orlando O’Connor was so successful he was granted his own spin-off series, aimed at children and young adults. An episode of Crane also featuring Orlando will be shown at 6.00pm (TX: 12/10/1966).
• 4:00 pm Badger’s Bend – “The Animal Hotel episode 1”. First episode of the children’s serial about a girl who moves to the country and becomes interested in caring for animals (TX: 04/01/1963).
• 4:30 pm Double Your Money – a later edition of the long running quiz show, in its day one of the most popular programmes on British television. Presented by Hughie Green, assisted by Monica Rose and Audrey Graham (TX: 22/11/1966).
• 5:00 pm The Dickie Henderson Show – “The Maid”. Sitcom starring the famous entertainer at the height of his fame. Also featuring June Laverick as Dickie’s wife and John Parsons as Richard, his son (TX: 10/04/1961).
• 5:30 pm London – A New Look. Brian Connell presents a discussion programme about the plan to replace the old London County Council with the proposed Greater London Council. Guests are Sir Edwin Herbert KBE, Lord Morrison of Lambeth, Sir Percy Rugg, Professor W. A. Robson, Sir Cyril Black MP, Alderman Leslie Room OBE, Alderman G. A. Pargiter and Alderman W. J. Ridd. This programme has survived on original 405-line videotape (TX: 24.11.1960).
• 6:00 pm Crane – “The Cannibi Syndicate”. An early episode of the adventure series starring Patrick Allen as Richard Crane. As well as series regulars Sam Kydd, Gerald Flood, Bruce Montague and Laya Raki, David Graham and Derek Benfield also feature (TX: 16/04/1963).
• 7:00 pm Closedown

 

All material at Kaleidoscope events is screened with the permission of the copyright holders.
Programmes and timings may be subject to change before the day.
Guests appear subject to professional and personal commitments.

In 2013 Kaleidoscope is supporting the
Royal National Lifeboat Institution once again.

Lost behind-the-scenes James Bond footage comes in from the cold

LOST BEHIND-THE-SCENES footage from the making of James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me has been found in time for the secret agent’s 50^th anniversary.

The rare footage comes from a recently recovered edition of children’s TV show Clapperboard — “ Behind the Scenes on The Spy Who Loved Me” — dedicated to the making of the film.

The 25-minute programme (Tx 17/1/77) also includes a lost interview with famed Bond set designer Ken Adam, who was nominated for a BAFTA for his work on the movie.

Notably, the 1977 film starring Sir Roger Moore as 007 featured a supertanker set which was the largest sound stage in the world at the time it was built.

The show is one of two editions of ITV’s Clapperboard passed on to classic TV organisation Kaleidoscope by a contact involved in the making of a new James Bond documentary being produced for the film franchise’s 50^th anniversary.

The other, from 14/2/77, also features Adam — who made his name with his innovative, semi-futuristic sets for the James Bond films of the 1960s and ’70s — but looks more at his other work such as “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Sleuth” with Michael Caine and Laurence Oliver.

Both episodes come from 91-year-old Adam’s personal collection and have now been transferred from the original U-Matic broadcast tapes to digital format.

Out of Town – The Lost Episodes with Jack Hargreaves

OVER 30 lost episodes of Out of Town featuring presenter Jack Hargreaves have been released on DVD for the first time, after being tracked down by TV enthusiasts.

For over 20 years Out of Town was a television programme that provided a window on country life in rural Britain.

Fishermen and farriers, horsemen and horticulturalists were prominently featured as presenter Jack Hargreaves took the Southern Television cameras around the country, in the 1960s, ’70s and early ’80s, to explore pursuits and activities many of which have long since disappeared.

When broadcast by ITV, these programmes soon won a large following for the entertaining and informative way that they gave a gentle insight into country life, but as time has passed since the last transmission in 1981 they have become a nostalgic, historical, record of life in Britain from a bygone age.

Hundreds of programmes were broadcast by Southern Television but they were feared lost when the company lost its ITV franchise in 1981. Apart from 28 episodes that were recreated by presenter Jack Hargreaves in 1986, using extracts from films used in the original TV programmes with new footage filmed by Jack, it was presumed that all other examples of the original Out Of Town series had been lost forever.

In 2012, after extensive research by Jack’s stepson Simon Baddeley, Simon Winters, the classic television organisation Kaleidoscope, and Southern Television archive expert David King, 34 complete original episodes of Out Of Town – not seen since their original broadcast in 1980 & 1981 – came to light and are now being made available on DVD by Delta.

Over twenty eight hours of Out Of Town are presented on 10 DVDs. Only edited versions of some of the location films that are included have been seen on DVD – featured in the 28 programmes produced in 1986 – but the significant part of them are being presented in their original form for the first time since they were broadcast three decades ago.

Each disc also includes a special feature which allows the viewer to enjoy off-air studio comments and countdown clocks.

The limited edition collectors’ box set comes in an engraved presentation box with an exclusive booklet which offers an insight into Hargreaves’s life and how the lost episodes were discovered, and includes charming photos of Jack whilst filming on location.

The contents of the ten DVDs are as follows:

Volume 1: Coarse Fishing and seven other original films

Coarse Fishing / Yerro’s Operation

A River for All Seasons / Bass Fishing

Pebbles / Tidal Mill

Chalk Hills / Chalk Springs / Stagecoach

Volume 2: Gean Tree Furniture and seven other original films

Gean Tree Furniture / Southern Television Sea Angling Championships

Garden Competition / Dry Fly Fishing

Model Making / Teaching Fly Fishing Techniques

The Theft of the Countryside / Fell Ponies

Volume 3: Heavy Horses and six other original films

Heavy Horses / Fly Fishing in June

Gypsy Caravans / Fishing for Pollock

21st Anniversary Programme

Sheep Farming / Bite Indicators

Volume 4: Into the Past at Appleby Fair and seven other original films

Into the Past at Appleby Fair / Private Rivers

Fishing for Barbel / Ferrets

Pigeon Decoy / Fishing with a Dog Knobbler

Freeze Branding / Perch Fishing

Volume 5: Pony Riding and eight other original films

Pony Riding / Next Generation / Wild and Cottage Gardens / Sheep Fair / Barbel

Pannage / Dry Fly Fishing on the River Test

Wheels / Grayling Fishing

Volume 6: Sheep Dogs and five other original films

Sheep Dogs / Guns

Multiplier Reel Casting / Hounds

Corn Threshing / Eden Vale

Volume 7: Blackmore Vale and five other original films

Blackmore Vale / Breeding Lurchers

Annual Agricultural Show / Pheasant Shooting

Old Railway Line / Cloudburst at the Agricultural Show

Volume 8: Pigeons and six other original films

Pigeons / Fishing for Next To Nothing

Fishing for Minnows / Kingfishers / Corn Flail

Summer Fishing / Village Fair

Volume 9: Fish Hooks and five other original films

Fish Hooks / Gardening Earthworm Farm

Southern Fishing Competition In Ireland / Rabbit Catching

Observing The Country / Working Dog Show

Volume 10: Saving The Countryside and five other original films

Saving The Countryside / Going to Market

Sheep Farming / Centenarian Angler

Parsonage Down / First English Culture

• Out of Town – The Lost Episodes with Jack Hargreaves is out now, priced from £149.99. For more information visit www.outoftown-dvd.co.uk/

KALEIDOSCOPE presents MIDLANDS MEMORIES

CLASSIC TV organisation are pleased to announce the schedule for their autumn event – taking place this Saturday, September 1.

Titled “Midlands Memories”, it is devoted to ATV and Midlands broadcasting.

KALEIDOSCOPE presents MIDLANDS MEMORIES

Saturday 1st September 2012, 12:00 – 7:00 pm
Function Suite, The Talbot Hotel,
High Street, Stourbridge,
West Midlands DY8 1DW, UK
Free Admission

In association with Pipkins – “The Help People” and H (R) H Enterprises

Guest panels compered by Wes Smith

A BROAD STREET

* 12:00 pm ATV start-up – coming up today on ATV…
* 12:05 pm TISWAS – long unseen and previously missing footage from a
November 1980 edition of the anarchic Saturday morning children’s show.
Returned to Kaleidoscope in 2007, it features Chris Tarrant, Sally
James, Lenny Henry and Frank Carson (TX: ??/11/1980).
* 12:30 pm A Shower of Shot – A tribute to the hugely popular and
long-running game show The Golden Shot, produced by archive television
specialists Farcical Films.
* 1:15 pm Reporting the Midlands. Bob Warman has been the face of
Midlands news for four decades. Sadly, he cannot be with us in person
today but discusses his long association with local broadcasting in this
pre-filmed video interview.
* 1:30 pm Tingha and Tucker – the puppets meet Uncle Cliff (aka Cliff
Richard) at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in this full edition from 1962,
which was previously missing from official archives.
* 1:40 pm New Faces – The first appearance of a teenage comedian
called Lenny Henry on the talent show, which he would go on to win. Long
thought lost, this private recording was made by Bob Monkhouse who was a
great fan of Henry. Lenny Henry got to see it again for the first time
since its original broadcast courtesy of Kaleidoscope at our Bob’s Full
House event in 2009.
* 1:45 pm Break
* 2:00 pm Guest Panel – An Audience with Hartley Hare: “Hello loyal
fans… er, friends. Hartley Hare here, the star of the show. I’d have
thought three events were enough, but no… those Kaleidoscope people
have been pestering me again. You think all those PPI calls are bad?
This lot are relentless. Oh well, I suppose I could do it again. I’ve
left Tortoise in charge of Pipkins (you need a sound financial brain on
hand in these tough economic times) and am off to the spiritual home of
ATV for another all expenses jolly. Always nice to meet my adoring…
er, ordinary people. Someone of my fame, handsome good looks and charm
always has minor celebrities following in his wake and I expect I’ll
bring some with me again, to bask in my reflected glory of course. My
manager, Nigel Plaskitt seems to follow me everywhere. That Gail
Renard’s a talented lady. She writes you know, although I was
responsible for all her best work. It will be lovely to remember the
glory days of Pipkins and ATV. Lew Grade always said I was his biggest
star. Noele Gordon handbagged me over that more than once. You never
know, you might just get to see some of my other old friends as well,
although if the Pig turns up, I’m not leaving the presidential suite…”
* 3.00 pm Break and Book Launch – we hope that Rex Firkin will be able
to join us in person to sign copies of High Drama, his new memoirs.
* 3:30 pm ATV Today – travel back in time to 20th September 1978 with
this edition of ATV’s nightly regional news. Leading with the breaking
story of Carl Bridgewater’s tragic murder only a few miles from here,
the programme also features international cricketer Rachael Heyhoe Flint
publicising her new book, a party celebrating the 3000th episode of
Crossroads and Bernard Juby performing magic tricks. The recording is
sourced from a Philips N1500 tape and also features the end of ITN’s
national news, assorted advertisements, the opening titles of Crossroads
and in-vision continuity announcements by Mike Prince (TX: 20/09/1978).
* 4:15 pm Johnny Patrick on Stage. Johnny Patrick has been one of the
UK’s top professional musicians for over five decades. Probably best
known as an accomplished jazz keyboard player and leader of one of the
country’s premier rhythm sections, he is also a renowned composer and
musical director with a massive breadth of musical experience ranging
from running his own Big Band to directing film and television recording
sessions and conducting the London Philhrmonic Orchestra at the Royal
Albert Hall. A prolific writer of original jazz compositions, he also
produces Big Band specials for radio and composes themes and incidental
music for radio and television. One of his best known compositions is
the theme to long running game show, Bullseye. Johnny was one of the
first and eventually longest serving musicians working in commercial
television. From his original break on the ITV show Lunchbox in the
early sixties he was musical director on many groundbreaking light
entertainment shows such as the BBC’s Dee Time and ITV’s The Golden
Shot, New Faces and TISWAS. This lead to his appointment as Head of
Music for Central Television in 1983, a position he held for eleven
years. A member of the Royal Society of Musicians, Johnny was a central
figure in the growth of independent local radio and also served as
chairman of the British Musicians’ Union for an unprecented 32 years.
Born in Birmingham, Johnny has lived in the Midlands all his life. Still
a passionate supporter of the British jazz scene, he remains busier in
partial retirement than most people are in full time employment!
* 5:15pm Memories from MACE – the team behind the highly acclaimed
ATVLand in Colour documentary join us for a panel. Director Peter Raven
and Lee Bannister will talk to Wes Smith about their next project,
devoted to ATV Today. Then Emma Morley from the Media Archive for
Central England (MACE) will showcase a selection of gems kept in their
archive, including footage of Aston and Broad Street in their heyday.
Other footage will include famous ATV Today news stories, Angling Today
with Chris Tarrant and clips from the final ATV Today broadcast on New
Year’s Eve 1981. There is also footage of Rex Firkin and the Talbot
Hotel, Stourbridge from many years ago when both looked younger!
* 6:10 pm Summer Night Out. Bob Monkhouse hosts this ATV entertainment
show, featuring Sacha Distel, Rod Hull and Emu, Lulu, Reg Varney, Sheer
Elegance, The Norman Maen Dancers, Johnny Patrick Orchestra and Bones.
Produced and directed by Paul Stewart Laing (TX: 14/07/1976).
* 7:00 pm Closedown – We end with the final moments of ATV, broadcast
on New Year’s Eve 1981.

ELSTREE DREAMING

* 12:00 pm Val Parnell’s Saturday Spectacular – The Norman Wisdom Show.
The legendary British comic actor stars in this ATV production from 1957
(TX: 24/09/1957).
* 1:00 pm Saturday Variety. Written by Barry Cryer and Bryan
Blackburn, this variety show features Dorothy Squires, John Bluthal, Joe
Lynch, Larry Grayson, Stuart Gillies, Rod Hull and Emu, The Mike Sammes
Singers and Dougie Squires’ Second Generation (TX: 22/01/1972).
* 2:00 pm The Elstree Story – Made for internal purposes, this
untransmitted compilation presents highlights from most programmes made
by ATV at Elstree.
* 3:30 pm Topo Gigio “…Goes to School”. Joe Melia and Topo Gigio
(voiced by Keith Alexander) go to school in this ATV production for ATV
London.
* 3:45 pm Pipkins – “Mrs Muddle’s Plant Stand”. Join Hartley Hare,
Pig, Topov and all your favourites in a rarely-seen episode of ATV’s
classic children’s show. Hartley has allowed us to say this episode also
stars Sue Nicholls as their kindly neighbour, Mrs Muddle.
* 4:00 pm Noddy – “Noddy’s Camera”. Enid Blyton’s stories adapted for
the small screen by Peter Hayes in this early version from 1957. Voices
by Denise Bryer, Jasmine Bligh, Cyril Shaps and Tony Sympson. Directed
by Rex Firkin (TX: 13/01/1957).
* 4:15 pm Market in Honey Lane – “The Killing”. Drama series set in a
London “theatreland” street market (in reality, built in the grounds of
ATV’s Elstree Studios) starring John Bennett and Ray Lonnen. Created by
Louis Marks (TX: 05/06/1967).
* 5:15 pm Bud N Ches – Bernie Winters and Leslie Crowther star as
classic comedy double act Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen in this
biographical entertainment show from the pen of Sid Collin (TX: 16/06/1981).
* 6:30 pm On The Braden Beat. A well remembered topical programme
presented by Bernard Braden, this edition recorded on 8th June 1965 also
features Peter Sellers and Anita Harris. Produced by ATV London for ATV
(TX: 12/06/1965).
* 7:00 pm Closedown

For more information visit www.kaleidoscope.org.uk

Original Out of Town episodes to be released on DVD after recent rediscovery

Out of Town presenter Jack Hargreaves

THE SOLE surviving episodes of Out of Town — the leisurely countryside series fronted by Jack Hargreaves — are set to be released on DVD . . . after being rediscovered at a BBQ.

The shows, dating from the early 1980s, were believed to have been lost forever when the distribution company that owned them wiped the master tapes.

But copies of the 34 episodes were kept by the man tasked with remastering them to digital format, and came to light last year after a chance conversation at a summer party.

Rights to the shows — dating from 1980–81 and including the very last broadcast episode — have now been secured by the Delta Leisure Group, which is planning to release them on DVD at a date yet to be decided.

The episodes are the original TV broadcast programmes, as made by Southern Television. They were located by David King, Simon Baddeley, Simon Winters and classic TV organisation Kaleidoscope.

They feature the following location films:

Coarse Fishing/ Donkey Vet
A River for all Seasons/ Bass Fishing
Pebbles/ Eling Tidal Mill
Chalk Hills and Chalk Springs/ Stagecoach
Gean Tree Furniture/ Fly Fishing
Garden Competition/ Bulls & Countryside (dry fly fishing)
Model Making/ Fly Fishing
The theft of the countryside/Fell Ponies
Heavy Horses/ Fly Fishing
Gypsy Caravans/ Sea Fishing
Sheep Farming/Bite Indicators
Into the Past/Private Rivers
Wood Sculptor/ Ferrets
21st Anniversary Programme
Pigeons/Fly Fishing
Pony & Horse Branding/Perch Fishing
Pony Riding/Next Generation/Gardens/Sheep
Pannage /Dry Fly Fishing
Wheels/Grayling Fishing
Sheep Dogs/Guns
Multiplier Reel Casting/Hounds
Growing Corn/Eden Vale
Blackmore Vale/Dog Breeding
Annual Agricultural Show/Pheasant Shooting
Old Railway Line/Annual Agricultural Shows
Pigeons/Fishing
Fishing/Kingfishers/Corn
Fishing/Village Fair
Fish Hooks/Gardening
Southern Fishing Competition/ Rabbit Catching
Observing The Country/Dog Show
Saving The Countryside/ Going to Market
Sheep Farming/ Fishing
Parsonage Down/First English Culture

Out of Town ran for almost two decades, with viewers of all ages fascinated by Hargreaves’s gentle expeditions through the countryside and insights into the bygone ways of rural life.

When the demise of ITV franchise Southern Television in 1981 brought the much-loved programme to a close after 18 years, Hargreaves went on to make a further series of 27 Out of Town episodes for commercial release.

These direct-to-video episodes — using original cut film inserts Hargreaves had bought from Southern married with a new voiceover track and links — have recently been re-released by Delta.

But the original series, with it’s fondly-remembered studio ‘shed’ setting, has not been seen since original transmission

Delta, which has acquired the DVD rights from Endemol Worldwide Distribution, has said that it welcome the views of those with an interest in the release of these episodes on DVD and can be contacted by email at outoftown@deltaleisuregroup.co.uk.

• READ ON: You can read more about Out of Town over at Television Heaven. You can also listen to an audio recording of the last broadcast episode of Out of Town here.

Pathfinders in Space finally comes to DVD

INFLUENTIAL early sixties TV sci-fi series Pathfinders is to be released on DVD for the first time after the one missing episode was discovered – in the ITV archives.

Until recently it was long thought that episode 1 of Pathfinders to Venus, “SOS From Venus”, was lost save for the soundtrack.

But earlier this year the entire eight-part 1961 serial was found complete within the archives and will be released this December by Network DVD along with earlier series Pathfinders in Space and Pathfinders to Mars.

One of ITV’s earliest dramas written specifically for children, Sydney Newman’s Pathfinders series has been described as the “missing link” between seminal BBC radio show Journey Into Space and Doctor Who, the latter of which Newman also created.

Over three series broadcast during 1960 and 1961 the Pathfinders journeyed to the moon and other worlds, facing drama at every turn – from space hazards to Venusian dinosaurs.

With intelligent and engaging scripts by Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice, and a strong cast including actors Gerald Flood (Conway Henderson) and George Coulouris (Harcourt Brown), the series proved tremendously successful with the viewing public and even got into the regional top ten – unheard of for a children’s programme.

In addition to all 21 episodes, The Pathfinders in Space Omnibus DVD also features an image gallery and production booklet by noted archive television historian Andrew Pixley. It is released on December 31, 2011.

READ ON: PATHFINDERS ON TELEVISON by Andrew Pixley.

 

Audio of Ace of Wands episode Nightmare Gas now online

Ace of Wands: (From left) Tony Selby (Sam), Michael Mackenzie (Tarot), Judy Loe (Lulli), Donald Layne-Smith (Mr. Sweet) and Fred Owl (Ozymandias).

WIPED NEWS has added an audio recording of Ace of Wands story Nightmare Gas to its YouTube channel.

Like all of seasons one and two of the fantasy-based Thames Television children’ show, Nightmare Gas is missing from the ITV archives.

Thankfully, off-air domestic audio recordings of all three episodes exist, though the quality leaves a lot to be desired. The uploaded episode has been restored by Wiped News as much as possible.

“Nightmare Gas”, Episode 1/3 (tx 01/09/11): Tarot (Michael Mackenzie) meets a new adversary – the beautiful but deadly Thalia (Isobel Black). With her monosyllabic brother Dalbiac (Jonathan Newth) she steals a top-secret weapon – the deadly hallucinatory gas H23, a gas which produces not just a deep sleep and nightmares but kills the person 23 minutes later.

Next week, episode 2 of “Nightmare Gas” will be uploaded.

New Feature – STV Archives Come To YouTube

SINCE AUGUST of last year, websufers have been able to watch gems from the archives of Scottish Televison on video sharing site YouTube. Among the classic STV programmes made viewable on demand are popular drama Take The High Road, music show Thingummyjig and selected highlights of historic Scottish football matches.

In our latest feature, Wiped News speaks to David Paton, Media co-ordinator – STVPlayer on YouTube, about the move into cyberspace and the search for lost material. Visit: STV Archives Come To YouTube.