Classic TV

Classic shows that have almost been forgotten, as well as shows that should probably have been forgotten

What TV’s on at the BFI in February 2017? Including Loyalties, The Day of Ragnarok and The Nearly Man

5 January 2017 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Here we are, January barely even begun, yet we’re now looking at what the BFI is planning on showing in February. Phew. Hold on tight – 2017’s going to be speedy, everyone.

February’s TV season will probably seem to go by quickly, too, since it’s exclusively dedicated to ‘Forgotten Dramas’ – a range of little-known TV dramas. Basically, ones people have forgotten about but deserve to be known better, such as Rudolph Cartier’s last directorial project Loyalties, John McGrath’s experimental The Day of Ragnarok and Arthur Hopcraft’s gritty political piece The Nearly Man, which inspired a subsequent TV series.

It’s curated by Lez Cooke, John Hill and Billy Smart as part of Royal Holloway’s project The History of Forgotten Television Drama in the UK, so an extra bonus is a TV conference on Wednesday 22nd February all about TV archives, access and research.

All that and more after the jump. No videos, I’m afraid, because, you know, they’re forgotten dramas. If there were videos, they probably wouldn’t be forgotten.

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The Weekly Play

The Wednesday Play: A Ghost Story for Christmas – The Stalls of Barchester (1971)

21 December 2016 Rob Buckley Post a comment

It’s not quite 45 years since The Stalls of Barchester was first broadcast, as it aired on Christmas Eve 1971, but this is close enough and since when have I ever run TMINE’s The Wednesday Play feature on a day other than a Wednesday, hey?

The Stalls of Barchester was an adaptation of master ghost story writer MR James’ short story of the same name. It sees 1930s scholar Clive Swift uncovering a box in the library of Barchester Cathedral that contains the diary of the cathedral’s former archdeacon (Robert Hardy). Swift is able to work out from the diary that Hardy caused the death of his own predecessor at the cathedral and resultingly came under the curse of the man who made the wooden decorations for the cathedral’s stalls – a curse that ultimately leads to his own death…

Stalls was the first official entry in the annual 1970s BBC play strand, A Ghost Story for Christmas. It was adapted, produced and directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, who had seen Jonathan Miller’s 1968 adaptation of James’ Whistle and I’ll Come To You and being a lifelong fan of the author, pitched the idea of another adaptation to Paul Fox, the then controller of BBC1. Fox agreed and Clark chose Stalls to be the first in a series he would produce, as well as largely write and direct. 

The slightly novice and unconfident Clark chose to follow many of Miller’s choices with Stalls, including building up tension and fear through suggestion and atmosphere rather than being overt, and shooting on location (Norwich Cathedral doubles for Barchester) using 16mm film rather than video; he even hired Warning‘s Ambrose Coghill to play the curator. Unlike Miller, however, he was able to shoot in colour – and rather tastefully, too, unlike many video-shot shows of the early 70s. He also reveals a bit more of the supernatural than James ever did in his story and despite a cast of actors known mostly for their roles in sitcoms, avoids the humour that Miller included in his piece. 

With no fixed run time thanks the scheduled late night time slot, Stalls was able to run to 50 minutes and proved so successful that Clark was able to make an annual return to James’ stories for most of the decade.

And it’s your Wednesday Play – enjoy!

PS Remember: if you like it, support the makers (ie the BBC) by buying it on DVD

Weird old title sequences: Late Night Horror (1968)

1 December 2016 Rob Buckley Post a comment

We’ve seen in our Weird Old Title Sequences section quite a few genre shows of the 60s and 70s, such as Out of the Unknown and The Tomorrow People, that had properly weird title sequences designed to do your nut in.

It was, after all, a psychedelic time, during which Delia Derbyshire and the Radiophonic Workshop were doing all manner of fun things with music and sound effects, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that television was trying to do the same visually.

But this wasn’t the occasional effort by a programme – such was the age, even smaller shows got in on the act.

As the name suggests, 1968’s Late Night Horror was an anthology horror show, one that would have fit quite nicely into TMINE’s The Wednesday Play section were it not for the fact five of the six pisodes were lost/wiped by the BBC, with only The Corpse Can’t Play surviving. In part a test of the new colour capabilities of television, it was also a beneficiary of the boom in TV horror in the late 60s that also gave us Mystery and Imagination (1966-70), A Ghost Story For Christmas, The Stone Tape, The Dead of Night and more.

What else survives of it, except for that one episode? Well, its weird old title sequence, naturally – music by the Radiophonic Workshop, of course…

BFI events

The Radio Times festival has moved to the South Bank

1 December 2016 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Last year saw the hosting of the first Radio Times festival. As I pointed out when I went, it was a slightly odd affair hosted in a park opposite Hampton Court, with plenty of illustrious speakers, book signings, pop-up food shops and regular old book shops. 

Maybe it’s oddness, the strange location and the difficulty booking tickets, particularly on the day, that meant that there wasn’t one this year, as the Radio Times events team had a rethink. But next year, it’s back on 7-9 April, this time in association with the BFI, who had a bit of a presence at the first event but wasn’t the co-organiser. 

Unsurprisingly, it’s therefore being held at the BFI Southbank and there aren’t quite as many things to see, given there are only three theatres. But the preliminary programme is out now, there’s plenty to watch – not just from the UK but from overseas thanks to Walter – a few authors and a bit about the radio, too. You can buy tickets today if you’re a BFI patron or champion, tomorrow if you’re a BFI member and Monday if you’ve not already given the BFI a big lump of cash this year. 

Friday
Radio Times Hall of Fame: Michael Palin
Join us as comedian, actor, writer and globetrotter Michael Palin takes us on a journey through his amazing life.

East of Ipswich
Palin’s acclaimed, bittersweet ‘near autobiographical’ drama about a teenager’s first sexual experiences on a seaside family holiday.

Saturday
TV Premiere: The Durrells
Screening of the first episode of the new series, followed by an on-stage chat with members of the cast and crew.

Call the Midwife
Join series creator Heidi Thomas as she shares the secrets of the show alongside executive producer Pippa Harris and cast members.

Victoria Wood: A Tribute
Julie Walters and colleagues come together to share their memories of the late, great Victoria Wood and introduce some memorable clips.

Victoria Wood: Two Creatures Great and Small + Victoria Wood at the Albert Hall
Two gems from Wood’s career that capture all her brilliance as an award-winning stand-up performer

Sunday
Hetty Feather + Meet Jacqueline Wilson
Watch two new episodes of the enchanting CBBC children’s drama, and meet author Jacqueline Wilson, creator of Hetty Feather and ex-children’s laureate, and selected cast and crew.

The Archers: The Trial of Helen Titchener
Louiza Patikas (Helen), Tim Watson (Rob) and former Archers editor Sean O’Connor reveal the inside story of Rob and Helen.

Judith Kerr and Michael Morpurgo
Two of our best-loved children’s authors, Judith Kerr (The Tiger Who Came To Tea) and Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) in conversation.

Mark Gatiss: From League of Gentlemen to Sherlock
Writer/actor/comedian and fantasy maestro Mark Gatiss talks to Radio Times Television editor Alison Graham about his favourite TV moments, including Sherlock.

Walter presents: TV Premiere: Merciless + Meet Walter
Following this bold Brazilian drama meet Walter Iuzzolino, curator of Walter Presents, the service introducing international TV dramas to the UK.

Walter presents: TV Premiere: Locked Up
Season 2 opener of the Spanish prison drama + interview with actor Berta Vázquez, co-creator Iván Escobar and Walter Iuzzolino.

Radio Times Hall of Fame: Steven Moffat
Steven Moffat – showrunner of two of the UK’s biggest TV shows, Doctor Who and Sherlock – in conversation with Frank Skinner.

TV Premiere: Guerrilla (Sky Atlantic)
Exclusive preview of a Sky Original 1970s set thriller about a group of black power activists in London + cast and crew on-stage.

What TV’s on at the BFI in January 2017? Including Sherlock, Abigail’s Party and Nuts in May

29 November 2016 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Gosh, 2017 came round quickly, didn’t it? Yes, already, we’re looking at what the BFI is showing in January next year. Two big things:

  1. A tiny, tiny Sherlock season. Only one episode in fact. But it’s a new one. Maybe some of the cast might even be attending
  2. An Aliston Steadman season. Quite a big one, since includes the likes of Abigail’s Party, Nuts in May, Pasmore, Girl and Virtuoso, as well as Alan Bleasdale’s first TV drama, Early To Bed.

Details after the jump, although you might want to listen to a bit of Demis Roussos first.

Continue reading “What TV’s on at the BFI in January 2017? Including Sherlock, Abigail’s Party and Nuts in May”