Memorable TV

UK TV - WODEHOUSE PLAYHOUSE to THE WYVERN MYSTERY

WODEHOUSE PLAYHOUSE

BBC1/2 / 20x30/35m-e / 1975-78 3 seasons and season three shown on BBC2

Writer: David Climie / Stories: P.G. Wodehouse / Producer: David Askey 

An anthology series of comedies based on the short stories of P.G. Wodehouse. John Alderton and Pauline Collins starred in each.

ITV / 6x60m-e / 1997

Writer: Bill Gallagher / Producer: Paul Marcus 

Drama series. Stories of three policemen and their wives in the quirky northern town of Wokenwell. The series as full of surreal style moments and there were definitely strange things afoot in the town.   

PC Brian Rainford............................ JASON DONE

Norm.............................................. TIM BARKER

June Bonney................................... CELIA IMRIE

PC Rudy Whiteside......................... NICHOLAS GLEAVES

Lucky Whiteside............................. LESLEY DUNLOP

Fran Rainford.................................. NICOLA STEPHENSON

Sgt Duncan Bonney......................... IAN McELHINNEY

ATV / 3x60m-e / 1981 13-15 January

Writers: Patrick Carroll, Barry Wasserman / Producer: Jack Stoller / Director: Colin Bucksey 

Drama serial. Black policeman Winston Wolcott has problems on his beat in the East End of London.

Winston Churchill Wolcott............. GEORGE WILLIAM HARRIS

ABC 'Armchair Theatre'  / 1958  black and white

Writer: Jon Manchip White / Director: Wilfred Eades  

Wartime drama. During World War II, a German U-boat is captured by a group of British soldiers.

With:- IAN BANNEN / RICHARD GALE / DAVID DAVIES / ANTHONY WAGER / WILLIAM FOX

WOLFSHEAD:The Legend of Robin Hood

Hammer / 1x60m-e / 1969

Writer: David Butler / Producer: Bill Anderson / Director: Johnny Hough 

Period action adventure. A failed pilot offering a retelling of the Robin Hood legend.

Robin of Loxley............................... DAVID WARBECK

Katherine of York............................ KATHLEEN BYRON

John Little...................................... DAN MEADEN

Geoffrey of Doncaster..................... ROY BOYD

Alice............................................. KIM BRADEN

BBC2 / 6x30m-e / 1991 4 May - 8 June Saturdays 9.35pm

Writers: Tim Lubbock , Roger Parsons / Producer: Kevin Loader / Director: Roger Parsons 

Comedy series. A dysfunctional family agree to go through a series of therapy sessions on TV after their young son stops talking.

Dr Graham Wilcockson...................... NICHOLAS WOODESON

Herbert Wolvis.................................. JOHN JOYCE

Sylvia Wolvis.................................... JANET DALE

Wendy Wolvis.................................. HONEY HAZEL

Stuart Wolvis................................... CHARLIE CONDOU

Spencer Hogg.................................. CHRISTOPHER CHESCOE

ITV / 1x60m-e / 1969

Writer: Ian Stuart Black / Design: Anthony Waller / Producer: John Cooper / Director: Paul Bernard

Thriller. A doctors wife gets herself embroiled in the death of a woman.

With:- JENNIFER HILARY as Sue Malone / JAMES KERRY / KEITH BARRON

Associated-Rediffusion / 1x60m-e / 1956 black and white

Writer: Ted Willis / Producer/Director: Peter Cotes 

Drama. A middle aged wife descends into slovenliness whilst her husband is tempted by a younger woman. One of the first of the kitchen sink style realist dramas that became prevalent throughout the late 1950's and early 60's.

With:- JOAN MILLER

Central / 1x120m-e / 1992

Writer: Nigel Kneale / Producer: Chris Burt / Director: Herbert Wise 

Spooky period drama. 1920's solicitor Arthur Kidd finds himself caught in a nightmare in a small market town when he gets involved with the appearance of a ghostly woman in black.

Arthur Kidd...................................... ADRIAN RAWLINS

Sam Toovey.................................... BERNARD HEPTON

Josiah Freston................................ DAVID DAKER

Woman in Black............................. PAULINE MORAN

Stella Kidd..................................... CLARE HOLMAN

John Keweswick............................. WILLIAM SIMONS

Sweetman...................................... DAVID RYALL

BBC / 1982

Writer: Roy Jenkins / Novel:Wilkie Collins  / Producer: Johnathon Powell / Director: John Bruce

Period drama serial. In the 19th century a pair of sisters become caught up in their tutors ghostly tale of a woman in white.

With:- ALAN BADEL as Count Fosco  / DIANA QUICK as Marion Halcombe  / DEIDRA NORRIS as Woman in White / DANIEL GERROLL as Walter Hartright  / JENNY SEAGROVE as Laurie Fairlie / IAN RICHARDSON

BBC1-Carlton / 2x65m-e / 1997

Writer: David Pirie / Novel: Wilkie Collins / Producer: Gareth Neame / Director: Tim Fywell

Period mystery serial. In Victorian times two sisters get involved with their tutors tales of a sinister woman in white.

Marian............................................... TARA FITZGERALD

Sir Percival Glyde............................... JAMES WILBY

Count Fosco...................................... SIMON CALLOW

Mr Fairlie........................................... IAN RICHARDSON

Walter Hartright................................. ANDREW LINCOLN

Mr Gilmore........................................ JOHN STANDING

Margaret Porcher............................... ADIE ALLEN

Mrs Rideout....................................... ANN BELL

Laura................................................ JUSTINE WADDELL

BBC2 'Objects of Affection' / 1x50m-e / 1982 

Writer: Alan Bennett / Producer: Innes Lloyd / Director: Giles Foster 

Comedy drama.

With:- PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE

Channel 4-Portman / 3x96m-e / 1985 2 - 4 January

Writer: Lee Langley / Novel: Barbara Taylor Bradford / Producer: Diane Baker 

Period drama serial. At the turn of the Twentieth Century Yorkshire lass Emma Harte rise from her poverty stricken background to become a millionairess department store owner. The series began with the older Emma Harte then switched to flashback mode to tell the story of her rise to power. See also Hold the Dream.

Young Emma.................................... JENNY SEAGROVE

Emma Harte...................................... DEBORAH KERR

Blackie............................................. LIAM NEESON

Henry Rossiter.................................. JOHN MILLS

Bruce McGill.................................... GEORGE BAKER

Paula............................................... MIRANDA RICHARDSON

Laura Spencer.................................. DIANE BAKER

Adele Fairley.................................... NICOLA PAGETT

Olivia............................................... GAYLE HUNNICUTT

Murgatroyd....................................... BARRY MORSE

Carlton / 3x60m-e / 1993

Writer: Frank Cottrell Boyce / Novel: Carol Clewlow / Producer: Beryl Vertue / Director: Sid Hayman.

Drama serial. The convoluted love lives of three couples.

Rose................................................... THERESA RUSSELL

Paul.................................................... SEAN BEAN

Jo....................................................... AMANDA DONAHOE

Michael............................................... ADRIAN DUNBAR

Helen.................................................. INGRID LACEY

David.................................................. NEIL MORRISSEY

Jennifer............................................... FIONA GILLIES

Sandra............................................... JULIE PEASGOOD

Marcus............................................... TONY ROBINSON

ITV-Hartswood / 7x60m-e / 1999 9 March - 13 April

Writers: Chris Neil, Richard Lumsden /  Titles: Triffic Films / Music: Mark Russell / Costume: Christine Rawlings / Design: Steve Groves / Henry's songs by Richard Lumsden / Producers: Beryl Vertue, Christine Rawlings

Drama series. The ups and downs of a group of early thirty-somethings especially would be singer Henry.

Marshall.............................................. GREG WISE

Henry.................................................. RICHARD LUMSDEN

Clare................................................... LUCY AKHURST

Marco................................................. DORIAN HEALY

Heather............................................... MIRANDA PLEASENCE

Gina................................................... ANNA WILSON-JONES

Jim..................................................... JAMES GROUT

Laura.................................................. ROWENA KING 

THE WOODLANDERS

BBC-2 / 4x45mins / started Sun 14 Feb 1970 

WRITER: Thomas Hardy (Dramatised by Harry Green) / DIRECTOR: John Davies 

Period drama serial.

With:- Ralph Bates, Felicity Kendal 

BBC / 1x70m-e / 1988

Writer: Philip Norman / Producer: Brian Eastman / Director: Colin Nutley 

Period drama. In the late 1950's a young teenager becomes obsessed with Buddy Holly.

With:- CHARLIE CREED-MILES / TOM BELL / LIZ SMITH / ROWNA ROBERTS / SIMON VAUGHAN / BEN ROBERTS

THE WORLD CUP:A Captain's Tale

Tyne Tees / 1x90m-e / 1982

Writer: Neville Smith / Producer: Laurie Greenwood / Director: Tom Clegg 

Period drama. In 1910 a football team made up of Durham miners competes in and ends up winning a world cup football tournament.

With:- DENNIS WATERMAN / ANDREW KEIR / TIM HEALY / RICHARD GRIFFITHS / DEREK FRANCIS / MARJORIE BLAND 

BBC2 / 6x30m-e / 1969 23 June - 28 July Mondays 8.50pm

Writer: N.F. Simpson / Producer: Ned Sherrin 

Comedy series. A send up of the World in Action style of TV reporting with host Nancy Chuff introducing reports from her investigative reporters.

Nancy Chuff................................... ANGELA THORNE

Doug Searchbaker......................... JACK SHEPHERD

Chris Champers............................ DINSDALE LANDEN

Gerald Pikestaff............................ JOHN BIRD

Madame Astoria........................... IRENE HANDL

Also with Eleanor Bron, Queenie Watts and Doug Fisher.

BBC2 / 13x30m-e / 1981 1 October - 18 December

Writer: Ted Whitehead / Producer: Pedr James 

Drama series.  Stories of a bunch of people living in an area of London called Worlds End.

With:- MICHAEL ANGELIS / TOM MARSHALL / ELLEN POLLOCK / PETER HARLOWE / PAT SCOTCHER / NEVILLE SMITH / HARRY FOWLER

BBC1 / 1x30m-e / 1973 3 February - Saturday 8.45pm

Writer: Ronnie Taylor / Producer: Sydney Lotterby 

Comedy. Young Cilla is a nervous bride to be. This half hour pilot formed the second half of Cilla's 1 hour variety show.

Cilla..................................................... CILLA BLACK

Mother................................................. AVIS BUNNAGE

Father................................................. JOHN McKELVEY

The Fiance.......................................... SAM KELLY

BBC2 'Theatre 625' / 3x90m-e / 1965  black and white

Producer: Cedric Messina / Director: Christopher Morahan 

Dramatisations of three of Orwell's classic novels.

1.KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING / 2.COMING UP FOR AIR / 3.1984 with a script by Nigel Kneale

C4/Granada / 4x30m-e / 1995 2 - 23 June Fridays 9.00pm

Writer: Lee Evans / Executive Producer: Andy Harries 

An anthology of five comedy plays (episode 1 featured 2x15m-e) all based around comedian Lee Evans. The casts featured Caroline Aherne (episode 2 ), John Thomson(1), Prunella Scales(2), Tony Selby(2) and Phil Daniels(4&5). 1.THE LATE SHIFT, 2.MEET THE FOLKS, 3.OFF THE RAILS, 4.ONE LATE NIGHT, 5.MR CONFIDENCE

BBC 'Francis Durbridge Presents' / 18x30m-e / 1960-61 

Three thriller serials about engineer turned secret agent Tim Frazer.

1.THE WORLD OF TIM FRAZER Writers: Francis Durbridge, Clive Exton /  Producer: Alan Bromly

2.THE SALINGER AFFAIR Writers: Francis Durbridge, Charles Halton /  Producer: Terence Dudley

3.THE MELLIN FOREST MYSTERY Writers: Francis Durbridge, Barry Thomas /  Producer: Richmond Harding

With:- JACK HEDLEY as Tim Frazer

BBC1 / 20x30m-e / 1965-67 Three seasons

Writers: Richard Waring, Michael Mills / Stories: P.G. Wodehouse 

Period comedy series. In the 1920's silly ass Bertie Wooster is helped out of scrapes by his manservant Jeeves. In 1967 the title changed to the World of Wodehouse to take in more of Wodehouse's characters.

Bertie Wooster................................... IAN CARMICHAEL

Jeeves.............................................. DENNIS PRICE

Aunt Agatha...................................... FABIA DRAKE

Aunt Dahlia....................................... ELEANOR SUMMERFIELD

Richard 'Bingo' Little........................... DEREK NIMMO

Sir Roderick Glossop.......................... PAUL WHITSUN-JONES

Mrs Little........................................... DEBORAH STANFORD

'Bobbie' Wickham.............................. TRACY REED

BBC / 14x90m-e / 1958 black and white

An anthology of stage plays shown fortnightly.

BBC / 1x45m-e / 1984

Writer: Jonathon Smith / Director: Sarah Hellings 

Drama. Whilst languishing in Spandau prison Nazi Albert Speer uses the exercise yard to make an imaginary walk around the world.

Albert Speer..................................... ALEC McCOWEN

WOULD LIKE TO MEET

BBC2 / x30m-e / 2001 

Producer: Alannah Richardson

A show hosted by Lowri Turner in which members of the public let the BBC's "date specialists" choose a partner for them. A special was broadcast 27 December 01 catching up with the daters.

WRATH

C4-Pirate 'Seven Sins' / 1x30m-e / 1997 3 November - Monday 10.55pm 

Writer/Producer/Director: Annie Griffin 

Comedy. A film maker follows an angry singer in an indie band.

Seamus Declan Webb........................... PAUL KAYE

Gavin................................................... DAVID WILLIAMS

Brian................................................... VIRGIL TRACY

Sophie................................................. VICKY PEPPERDINE

Mrs Webb............................................ ELAINE C. SMITH

Natalie................................................. CANDIDA SCOTT-KNIGHT

Fan..................................................... SAM JAMES

Herself................................................ ANNIE GRIFFIN

A WREATH OF ROSES

BBC / 1x90m-e / 1989

Based on a Short story by Elizabeth Taylor / Adapted By Peter Prince / Producer: Roy Roberts / Director: John Madden

Period drama. While waiting for a train, a lonely woman is witness to a suicide on the tracks. A sympathetic man strikes up a friendship with her. At first reluctant, she is drawn in by his self-assured good looks, despite an uneasy feeling that he is not what he seems. She eventually discovers that he is hiding a deadly secret. 

With:- Joanna McCallum as Camilla / Fabia Drake as Frances / Trevor Eve as Richard / Fulton Mackay as Morgan Beddoes / John Price as Arthur / Elizabeth Richardson as Liz / Edmund Kente as Hotel Owner / Carmel McSharry as Mrs. Mortimer / John Croft / Helen Masters as Margie

BBC / 4x50m-e / 1996

Writer: P.G. Duggan / Producer: Johnathon Cavendish / Director: Peter Smith 

Thriller serial. A government agent gets involved in kidnap and conspiracy involving NATO.

Bull.................................................... BILL PATERSON

Kirsty................................................. CELIA IMRIE

Sullivan............................................... DENNIS HAYSBERT

Martina............................................... LENA STOLZE

Rockwell............................................. DANIEL VON BARGEN

Geraldine............................................ PENNY JOHNSON

WRONG CAR, RIGHT CAR

BBC2 / 6x30m / started 28 February 2002

Director: Nicola Silk / Series Producer: Abigail Harvey

A guide to buying the right car. Presented by Jason Barlow and Dominic Littlewood. A companion series to Lifting the Bonnet. 

BBC2 / 26x50m-e / 1969-70

Producer: Verity Lambert 

An anthology series based on the writings of the prolific author of the title.

Emily Brontes novel of star crossed lovers Heathcliff and Cathy has been adapted for television many times. 

1.BBC 1948 7 March Writers: John Davison, Jimmy Sangster

Cathy.................................................... KATHERINE BLAKE

Heathcliff............................................... KIERON MOORE

2.BBC 1x100m-e 1953 6 December Writer: Nigel Kneale /  Producer: Rudolph Cartier

Heathcliff.............................................. RICHARD TODD

Cathy................................................... YVONNE MITCHELL

Isabella................................................ RENE RAY

Edgar Linton......................................... PETER BRYANT

3.BBC 1962 11 May Writer: Nigel Kneale /  Producer: Rudolph Cartier

Cathy................................................... KEITH MICHELL

Heathcliff.............................................. CLAIRE BLOOM

4.BBC2 4x50m-e 1967 28 October - 18 November Producer: David Conroy /  Director: Peter Sasdy

Cathy................................................... ANGELA SCOULAR

Heathcliff.............................................. IAN McSHANE

5.BBC2 5x50m-e 1978 24 September - 22 October Writers: Hugh Leonard, David Snodin /  Producer: Johnathon Powell

Cathy.................................................... KAY ADSHEAD

Heathcliff............................................... KEN HUTCHINSON

6. ITV 1x140m-e 1998 Director: David Skynner

Cathy................................................... ORLA BRADY

Heathcliff.............................................. ROBERT CAVANNAH

Nelly Dean............................................ POLLY HEMINGWAY

TVS-Red Rooster / x60m-e / 1994-98

Producer: Michael Bartley 

Crime drama series. Cases of dour Cornish detective Superintendent Wycliffe. Although reasonably popular Wycliffe never quite scaled the heights of Morse or Frost. A 90 minute pilot was broadcast in 1993.

With:- JACK SHEPHERD as Det Supt Wycliffe / JIMMY YUILL as Det Insp Kersey / HELEN MASTERS as Det Insp Lane / AARON HARRIS as Det Sgt Dixon / ADAM BARKER as Det Con Potter / LYNN FARLEIGH as Helen Wycliffe

BBC-Arts / 3x55m-e / 1984

Writer: Andrew Carr / Producer: Innes Lloyd / Director: Paul Seed 

Spy drama serial. British spy Greville Wynne goes undercover behind the Iron Curtain.

With:- DAVID CALDER / CHRISTOPHER ROZYCKI / FIONA WALKER / FREDERICK TREVES 

Channel 4-Cosgrove Hall / 6x30m-e / 1997

Writer: Jimmy Hibbert / Novel: Terry Pratchett / Executive Producer: Mark Hall 

Animated fantasy comedy drama series. Three witches on the strange planet of Discworld find they have their hands full when the young baby heir to the throne lands in their laps.

Voices by Jane Horrocks, Christopher Lee, Annette Crosbie, June Whitfield, and Jimmy Hibbert.

THE WYVERN MYSTERY

BBC1-The TV CO / 2x60m-e / 2000   5 March - 12 March  Sunday 9.00pm

Writer: David Pirie / Novel: J. S. LeFanu / Executive Producer: Jim Reeve, Gareth Neame, Jane Tranter / Special Effects: Ken Lailey / Costume: Aideen Morgan / Music: Philip Appleby / Design: Maurice Cain / Producer: Ruth Baumgarten / Director: Alex Pillai

Period thriller. In the 19th century Alice Maybell is taken in as an orphan by Squire Fairfield, later when she is an adult the squire tries to force himself upon her, she decides to elope with the squires son Charles Fairfield but is haunted by nightmares that appear to be coming true.

With:- NAOMI WATTS as Alice / DEREK JACOBI as Squire Fairfield / IAIN GLEN as Charles / JACK DAVENPORT as Harry Fairfield / AISLING O'SULLIVAN as Vrau / ELAINE COLLINS as Dulcie / ELLIE HADDINGTON as Mrs Tarnley / TIM PREECE as Jim / ANITA CAREY as Mrs Carew / MARK HADFIELD as Tom 

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