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ATV Today
The local news
programme for the entire Midlands from November 1964 to December
1981. Made a household name in the region of long-serving hosts, Bob
Warman, Reg Harcourt and Margaret Hounsell.
Adventures Of Robin Hood
From 1956 to 1960,
for 140 editions, Robin Hood was 'riding through the glen.' The first
production by the ITC company for ATV. The show starred Richard
Greene as Robin and later a film version was made based on the series.
Beasts
Six hour long
dramas from 1976. Starring Clive Swift, Patrick Magee, Michael
Kitchen and Pauline Quirke. Written by Nigel Kneale.
Celebrity Squares
Based on the US
format Hollywood Squares, it was a game show based around Noughts and
Crosses. ATV produced 138 episodes between July 1975 and July 1979.
Hosted by Bob Monkhouse, with announcer Kenny Everett.
The programme was
revived by Central Television, in association with Grundy, in January
1993 and ran until August 1996.
Cedar Tree (The)
The stories
revolved around the events at Larkfield Manor and the well off family
which occupied it. The era of the series was based around the run up
to the second world war. Produced between 1976 and 1979. Starred
Peter Hill, Philip Latham and Jennifer Lonsdale.
The series was
created by Alfred Shaughnessy, who had earlier worked on LWT's,
Upstairs Downstairs period drama.
Crossroads
Motel based soap
opera set in Birmingham. The show was praised in Parliment for its
ground breaking storylines. The series often touched on taboo topics
other dramas avoided. The show made many UK firsts and despite a
daytime airing would reach up to sixteen million viewers per episode.
Starred Ronald
Allen, Sue Lloyd, Noele Gordon, Paul Henry and Susan Hanson.
Dangerman
ITC series
produced for ATV. This popular drama followed the story of spy John
Drake, played by Patrick McGoohan. The series was produced between
1960 and 1966.
During the run of
Danger Man, McGoohan was offered the role of James Bond.
Death Of A Princess
In 1980 this
highly controversial drama-documentary aired on ITV. Written,
produced and directed by Antony Thomas the story was set in Saudi
Arabia where a princess is killed because of an affair.
The programme
resulted in a diplomatic confrontation between Britain and Saudi Arabia.
Emergency Ward Ten
The first twice
weekly continuous drama serial on ITV. Based in the Oxbridge
hospital, 'Ward Ten' ran for ten years from 1957 until 1967. The show
was originally named Calling Nurse Roberts and was only intended to
last six-weeks. It was also made into a movie in 1958, such was its
popularity with viewers.
1016 episodes were
made, 50 of them hour-long editions. A short-lived spin-off, Calling
Oxbridge 2000, aired in 1968.
Edward the Seventh
A lavish
production looking at the life and times of Queen Victoria's son,
Edward. The story follows his life past her death into his reign as
King of England.
A four-part series
that aired in 1975, starring Timothy West, Annette Crosbie, Robert
Hardy and John Gielgud.
Format V
Spoken as 'Format
Five' the show was an anagram of 'From ATV' - wording which appeared
in the opening titles.
This regional
programme looked at various issues effecting the Midland region.
General Hospital
From October 1972
until December 1979 General Hospital was the follow on series to
Emergency Ward Ten.
Launched alongside
Emmerdale Farm to fill the new extended daytime broadcasts on ITV,
the series evolved around the lives of the staff at a fictional
Midland town's hosptial. The series moved to primetime in 1975 after
110 daytime editions.
George and the Dragon
For four series,
this sitcom starred the popular talents of comedy actors Sid James,
Peggy Mount and John Le Mesurier.
The series' aired
from November 1966 to October 1968, with 26 thirty-minute editions made.
Golden Shot (The)
The Golden Shot
was a live game show that saw contestants instruct a blindfolded
cameraman to adjust their aim in order to fire a crossbow, fixed to a
camera, at often amusing targets.
The crossbow, was
named 'Telebow' and would shoot out 'Bernie the Bolt.' Hosted
by Jackie Rae, Bob Monkhouse, Norman Vaughan and Charlie Williams.
Hi-T
Teatime version of
Noele Gordon hosted chat and variety series Lunch Box. In the spring
of 1964 Hi-T started broadcasting at around 4.35pm (times varied.)
Honey Lane
First aired in
September 1968 as Market In Honey Lane. The weekly drama was moved
later into the daytime schedules as a twice weekly serial, and the
title shortened to Honey Lane.
Produced at
Elstree, the show evolved around the people of an East End market
street in London. The same backlot is now used for the BBC's
EastEnders. Starred Anna Wing and Ray Lonnen.
Jesus of Nazareth
The ITC-ATV
production of Jesus of Nazareth aired in 1977. The dramatisation of
Jesus' life was a controversal one to say the least, however the
production once complete gained much praise for its portrayal of
Jesus' story. It starred Robert Powell as Jesus Christ and Anne
Bancroft as Mary Magdalene. Some outdoor scenes were filmed in Italy.
It has been described as the most believable biblical epic ever filmed.
Lunch Box
The first
'lunchtime' programme in the UK. Hosted by Noele Gordon the series
ran for over 3000 editions. Music was provided live by Jerry Allen
and his band. In 1963 the programme moved from its 12.40-1.20pm slot
to teatime, and was renamed Hi-T.
Over 24,000 fans
turned up to see Noele and the team at Nottingham Forest Football
Ground in 1959. ATV were only expecting 1,500.
Lunchtime With Wogan
BBC Radio
presenter Terry Wogan first worked for ATV on Saturday Variety. This
lead to his own chat show, Lunchtime With Wogan. The series ran
between 1972 and 1973.
Midland Montage
Regional programme
that went out-and-about around the ATV Midlands area. Looking at the
colourful people and landmarks of the region.
Presented by Reg
Harcourt and Noele Gordon.
Midland Profile
Local series that
invited a local Midland celebrity to discuss their career. 30 minute
programmes aired from 1956 to 1958.
Presented by Noele
Gordon and produced by Reg Watson.
Most Likely Girl (The)
Six-part Sitcom
set in a Birmingham street. The show revolved around two neighbours,
Arethusa Wilderspin and Eve Edwards.
Wilderspin was
played by brummie Beryl Reid and Edwards was portrayed by Noele
Gordon. First aired September 1956.
Muppet Show (The)
The Muppet Show
was devised by Jim Henson and his team. It was produced by ATV from
September 1976 to June 1981. The series had been turned down by every
American television network, so Henson took the idea to the UK. In
Britain Lew Grade - head of Associated Television - liked the idea of
'The Muppets' and approved the series.
The puppets were a
crazy mix of animals - all running a theatre. The star of the show
was host Kermit the Frog. With his leading stars, Miss Piggy and
Fozzie Bear being just two of the regulars. The show mixed sketches
with 'variety acts' and top stars such as Elton John, Julie Andrews,
Diana Ross and John Cleese were happy to send themselves up with the
Muppets. 120 episodes were produced.
New Faces
Talent show that
made household names of future stars such as Les Dennis, Victoria
Wood and Lenny Henry. Aired from 1973 to 1978. Presented by Derek
Hobson, judges included Tony Hatch. The show was relaunched in 1986
by Central Independent Television. The new version was hosted by one
of the 1970s series winners, Marti Caine. A programme with a similar
format, New Look, was made by ATV in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Pipkins
336 episodes were
made over ten series of this ATV children's puppet show. First aired
in January 1973 as Inigo Pipkins, it finally bowed out in December
1981. The third series was re-named Pipkins in 1974 due to the death
of the lead actor.
The stories were
based around Inigo Pipkin, the puppetmaker, and Hartley Hare - the
vain sulky puppet who was always getting in trouble for his bad
behaviour. Other puppets included Pig, Tortoise, Mooney and Topov.
After 1974 and the departure of the puppetmaker, the show followed
shop assistant Johnny who now ran it as an agency, helping people in
all kinds of ways. Inigo Pipkin was played by George Woodbridge, Sue
Nicholls as Mrs Muddle, Wayne Laryea as Johnny and Nigel Plaskitt as
a number of the puppets voices, including Hartley.
Police 5
Actor Shaw Taylor
joined ATV in 1957 as a continuity announcer. It was only a short
term contract of six-weeks to fill in while the regulars were on
their summer break. Taylor proved so good at the job he was asked to
stay with the company. In 1962 he moved over to presenting
programmes. Police 5 launched on ATV London only, in a five-minute
slot. The programme was described as 'an armchair detective series.'
Viewers were asked to help assist with crime reports provided by New
Scotland Yard.
The show
eventually went nationwide and ran for 30 years. Shaw Taylor's
catchphrase on the programme was 'Keep 'Em Peeled.' The format of the
series was taken up all over the world, and some would say also gave
the BBC an idea for Crimewatch UK. Shaw Taylor's production company
also devised 'CrimeStoppers' for ITV in 1988.
Prisoner (The)
Another of the
many ITC programmes made for ATV and an American broadcaster. Patrick
McGoohan was already an international personality thanks to his role
in ITC's Danger Man as spy John Drake.
The Prisoner has a
plot, apparently. Although when the series ended hundreds of people
called the ATV switchboard asking what it was all about. Each week
Number 6 would try to prove that he wasn't a number, but a free man
and attempt to escape - and each week he would be thwarted often by
Number 2 or 'Rover', a huge white balloon guard. The Village
exteriors were shot at Portmeirion in North Wales.
The Prisoner was
devised by Patrick McGoohan.
More
Programmes>> |
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A
scene being recorded at ATV Elstree for Emergency Ward Ten in 1962. |
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1975,
The Golden Shot is hosted by Bob Monkhouse at ATV Centre, Birmingham |
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1973,
Larry Grayson presents his own series, Shut That Door |
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Sally
James and Chris Tarrant host children's Saturday morning series, Tiswas. |
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Paul
Henry becomes a household name as 'Benny' in soap opera, Crossroads. |
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Bruce
Forsyth brings viewers Sunday Night At The London Palladium |
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Noele
Gordon opens her Lunch Box daily from 1956 to 1964. |
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High
drama with the ATV-ITC business based series, The Power Game. |
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1977,
Tony Adams as General Hospital's caring Doctor Neville Bywaters. |
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1974
New Faces winner Marti Caine later hosted the talent show from Birmingham. |
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