BBC Bristol 1973 documentary

This documentary chronicles the workings of BBC Bristol in the early seventies (just before I joined them). It covers filming trips to far-flung places, Animal Magic, Johnny's Jaunt, Points West, Any Questions. Featuring Cyril Moorhead, Mick Rhodes, Chris Parsons, John Sparkes, Robin Hellier, John Norman, Derek Fawley, Teddy Williams, David Wayne, Jeffrey Boswall, Gina Leonard, Bill Morris, John Bone, Tony Soper, John Craven, John King, David Pearce, Peter Copeland, Liz Thoyts, Charles Aldridge, Sarah Pitt, Maurice Fisher, Jim Saunders, Johnny Morris, Jackie Mawson, and a great many more. Did we really live in a time when that technology was cutting edge?

[@patrickcrowther9195]

Johnny Morris, after all these years whenever I see him it's as if someone has turned on a cozy fire inside of me.

[@MaggieShaw-bb4vu]

Thanks for this, I’ve never seen it before. My dad was Teddy Williams, the lighting director with the sunglasses on due to eye issues. Lovely to see him!

[@krodgerson]

I remember him well Maggie

[@flybobbie1449]

I always look out for Bob Jackson, dubbing mixer. He was part time flying instructor with us back in early 90's.

[@richardbrown1189]

Really interesting and comprehensive overview of BBC Bristol at the time. Sadly, so much of the regional activity of the BBC has disappeared. Nice surprise to see Roy Hayward at 29' 11" who I worked with on a Royal Photographic Society distinctions panel in the '80s.

[@robinvanags912]

Wonderful - yet sobering to reflect, that of the three BBC Network Production Centres in England - Pebble Mill was just two years old when this was made, NBH Oxford R'd, Manchester was three years away from opening - and in 2022, Bristol is the only one still with us.

[@brucedanton3669]

Yes indeed of course you are so right there then too alas somehow. BBC Bristol is in Whiteladies Road-I remember that address from some of their series where you could send competitions too at the time! I know that the then series too Why Don't You on BBC1 at the time did that so too from what I remember as well also.

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you there for this of course. BBC Bristol did do of old some of The World About Us series shared with London at the time that was then on BBC2 on a Sunday night mostly at the time. In October 1983 though it became The Natural World series though instead so too. Also of course Life on Earth and the other David Attenborough series later on then so too. As well as Johnny Morris on BBC1 of old with his Animal Magic series too. Chris Packham also did series later on from there too. Thank you!

[@user-eg8pv2om7j]

Magnificent. More of this please. Thankyou

[@mirandakelly8733]

Back in the days when, in order to work for BBC Bristol, you had to sound as though you had never been to Bristol.

[@Gannett2011]

Grew up in Gloucester, so we got half our programmes from Bristol, and the other half from Birmingham. When Channel 4 came along, Birmingham won! I rememeber Points West looked like that into the early 80s, with that music (the beginning of a track called "Big Beat" by John Cacavas). And all the good radio plays were "produced in Bristol by...". Regional TV is a sad shadow of its former self, on BBC and ITV.

[@brucedanton3669]

Yes of course I guess where you lived then, along with the Cheltenham area, would then have been between the two of course at the time. BBC Birmingham or then Pebble Mill; or BBC Bristol. ITV I guess would have been either ATV or later Central; or HTV West; later ITV West although you may have picked up Wales to the west depending on where you lived I presume. And as you rightly say alas of course too, on both BBC or ITV regional tv is not what it used to be either. Nor I guess on any other channel too? Thank you!

[@robertfoster6070]

Spreadsheets and job sheets have taken over the list of where people have to go or work on.

[@CharlesDickson-nv2ol]

I remember many of the people from my early days at BBC Bristol.

[@peteyeates9001]

I looked after the switchboard extensions in the late 1980's. My mate Willy looked after the switchboard equipment. The Cord Switchboard had long gone by the time I started going there and had been superseded by a Plessey PDX and had just been replaced with a later version, the Plessey iSDX. The switchboard girls continued to refer to it as the PDX! That was replaced with an Ericsson MD110, but that was just a satellite system off TVC & BH in London. On many occasions I sat in the Studio Gallery watching the lunchtime news being transmitted live. Happy days!

[@PlanetImo]

I'd LOVE to have a go at editing on one of those old school editing stations!!

[@francogodoylado6963]

10:05 : I had no idea that johnny morris before narrating the books of the railway series used to do documentaries for the BBC

[@edjones6837]

Grew up on Animal Magic... Plus Terry Nutkins and his pet seal Gemini..

[@francogodoylado6963]

@@edjones6837 huh interesting

[@mallymore2154]

Like looking into a different dimension..I have vivid memories of the time . though today I think was it just a dream

[@grahamedavid5975]

Fantastic

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

One thing I wish we could bring back is our ability to speak properly and clearly and use English properly. I haven't a hearing problem but my God some program's rely require subtitles to understand them. E.g 1 Bath not bat. 2 Sir Patrick Moor speaking at 100 words per second and been able to understand every single one. Thanks from Ireland.

[@spencerkarterlive7378]

25:05 The music doesn't match! Copyright is a joke! Let it play in its entirety, SMH!

[@Keithbarber]

21:40 - having to look up information on large sheets of paper Circa 50 years later, just check it on a smartphone screen whilst on the loo 🚺 A quantum leap in technology ☎️

[@tracypanavia4634]

Tony Soaper?

[@Earhairy]

Tony Soper. He co-founded the BBC Natural History Unit.

[@bernardrevill9547]

Whenever i watch anything from this era it takes me back to my childhood. Europe & the uk filled with indiginous people. On a lighter note how thin were steering wheels.

[@robertfoster6070]

Easier to edit film using Nero and digital cameras.

[@mountainmantararua8824]

50 years ago, well-spoken and dedicated. No diversity here, yet it all seems to work well.

[@robertfoster6070]

Autocad has taken over the drawing board.

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

In TV and radio tech has replaced just about everyone. Even most sets are computer generated green screens. And in Japan the news readers an AI bot or CGI. Give it a short while the entire BBC will be run by AI.

[@skruffbag1]

“The charming girls” 😂 could you get away with a comment like that these days? It’s so innocently said, no ill intent… but… You couldn’t get away with it now. Funny how things change.

[@stevethomas5849]

Nice to hear Bristol Constabulary instead of that erodisus Avon & Somerset that is still with us to the present day sadly this faux pas is still with us as Avon disappeared in 1996, so why has local constabulary continue with the monocular Avon it does not represent the citizen that live in Bristol Somerset and the Southern parts of. Gloucestershire which should return to Gloucestershire Proper.

[@godalmighty5331]

Bristol I grew up in, I recommend it. All glory to God with thanks to our heavenly father God Holy God and our heavenly mother God Holy Spirit. A38man Amen. Peace.