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BBC News
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pebble Mill recalled in look back at West Midlands' TV
"You'd go into the canteen, and the next table would be a load of wounded soldiers from a Poldark film."Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen MBE has been sharing his memories of Birmingham's Pebble Mill Studios."So many dramas came out of there… Pebble Mill was an absolute hub of activity in broadcasting. Both in gameshows, dramas and documentaries and all, of course, all of the radio shows that came out of there as well," he former studios were located on Pebble Mill Road in Edgbaston and were opened by Princess Anne on 10 June 1971. It closed in 2004. Many shows, including Call My Bluff, Telly Addicts, All Creatures Great & Small and Good Morning With Anne & Nick, were recorded there."It was a brilliant place to be, and it was very sad that that contracted into a much smaller operation," Owen said."Pebble Mill At One, I think, was the first ever proper daytime programme, and that was really special."When I first came to Birmingham… it used to be great to watch Pebble Mill at lunchtime. The fantastic music, helicopters seemed to be landing all around, and there seemed to be explosions and things going on. And big, big names on that show."Presenters over the years included Bob Langley, Tom Coyne, Marian Foster, Gloria Hunniford, Fern Britton and Alan Titchmarsh. Owen met a lot of famous faces while working on Good Morning With Anne & Nick."We had Margaret Thatcher on and Tony Blair. We had Tom Jones, Elton John – the list was fantastic. "I did some wonderful filming with Cher. Spent an afternoon on a bed at The Savoy with Cher. Me dressed in leather trying to be raunchy."So the memories of that are absolutely brilliant."When Owen first started working on BBC Midlands Today in 1997, the regional news programme was based at the Pebble Mill first aired on 28 September 1964, broadcast from a tiny studio on Broad 1971, it moved to the newly opened Pebble Mill Studios, and the first episode was presented by Tom Coyne. Dr Vanessa Jackson, who specialises in TV production at Birmingham City University, started her career at Pebble had three studios, but one of its' most famous locations was the bar – located in the BBC Club."That was a very important place because many a programme idea was brought to life at the BBC Club. Many a job offer was made. And they used to do a wicked cheese toastie," she said."It's the place where most BBC staff – after working on a programme like Pebble Mill At One – would come over the little bridge over the Bourn Brook and make their way into the club, which used to serve a lot of alcohol and very good food."Early in his career, Walsall-born Bob Warman, who presented ITV's Central News for 40 years, worked at BBC Radio Birmingham (now BBC Radio WM), which was broadcast from the Pebble Mill studios."The BBC Club was a pretty desperate place… When I came for an interview at the BBC with the then station manager – who was a chap called Jack Johnson, a wonderful Glaswegian man… He gave me a brief interview in his office and then said, 'Well, it's lunchtime, we better go to the bar.'"We went into this bar which was absolutely nose-to-nose – it was rammed with people – all drinking furiously at lunchtime. And I thought, 'Well, I better do the honours here…' so I said to Jack 'Can I get you a drink?' and he said 'Aye, I'd like a Bells please'."And I thought 'Gosh, Bells whiskey, at lunchtime', and I said, 'Anything with it?' And he said, 'Aye, another one!'"History Of TV In The West Midlands is available on BBC Sounds now. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Guardian
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Archers star Charles Collingwood: ‘The last lie I told? Darling, marvellous isn't the word'
Born in Canada, Charles Collingwood, 81, studied at Rada. He began his career in repertory theatre and moved into children's television. He later worked on the 90s quizshow Telly Addicts and in Inspector Morse and Midsomer Murders. He is best known for playing Brian Aldridge in BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers, and this year celebrates 50 years in the role. His wife, Judy Bennett, played Shula Hebden Lloyd in The Archers. They live in Hampshire. When were you happiest? My childhood. I was an only child, happy and secure, and there was always plenty of time to play cricket. What is your greatest fear? Heights. What is your earliest memory? Being told off at my nursery school for writing 'bosom' in the condensation on the bus window. To my horror, the bus company had reported me. Which living person do you most admire and why? Freddie Flintoff. He played cricket in the best spirit and in his series Field of Dreams, you could see the boys hanging on his every word. He's a special guy. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I talk too much. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Not listening to me. Aside from property, what's the most expensive thing you've ever bought? My beautiful silver Jaguar XKR soft-top. What is your most treasured possession? A clock won by a family member in 1865 in a shooting competition. Describe yourself in three words Glass half full. What would your superpower be? Breaking all batting records for England. What do you most dislike about your appearance? Not having matinee idol hair. Who would play you in the film of your life? Hugh Grant. Who is your celebrity crush? Joan Collins. What is the worst thing anyone's ever said to you? In an audition at the Royal Court, this man called out, 'Were you trained?' Would you choose fame or anonymity? Fame. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion What was the last lie that you told? 'Darling, marvellous isn't the word' – in someone's dressing room when I've not thought much of their performance. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Alcohol. To whom would you most like to say sorry and why? My first wife – we were too young. What is the worst job you've done? Standing outside a pub in Acton on a freezing February day in a threadbare overcoat doing market research. If not yourself, who would you most like to be? The king. When did you last cry, and why? Watching the Festival of Remembrance last autumn. What single thing would improve the quality of your life? If you'd asked me last year, I would have said a knee replacement. Would you rather have more sex, money or fame? Yes to all. How would you like to be remembered? As a man who tried his best to entertain. What happens when we die? When my mother died in my arms, I feel I witnessed her spirit leaving her body, so let's just wait and see.
