How we Filmed Jack Hargreaves in his “Out of Town” Shed

From Jack's Dorset home Raven Cottage Steve Wagstaff the cameraman who filmed with Jack Hargreaves on Old Country for Channel 4 explains what it was like working on the series. He talks about how the pieces with Jack in his shed were filmed and the later series he shot in his home at Raven Cottage in Dorset.
There were 60 programmes made over a period of three years and were produced by me Dave Knowles for Channel 4.
To Buy DVD's of Jack Hargreaves Old Country or Out of Town:
*JACKS LATEST DVD SET "Further Out of Town" (via Amazon affiliate link): amzn.to/30M5nbz
* Old Country the complete set of 60 programmes [DVD's] (via Amazon affiliate link): amzn.to/2DEFb8Y
* Out of Town: Volume One [DVD](via Amazon affiliate link): amzn.to/2DDvt6D
* Out of Town: Volume Two [DVD] (via Amazon affiliate link): amzn.to/2AdBpjj
*This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This help support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

[@sopitabo]

Different England and UK cant help but feel we have lost something.. " Dave Knowles " Thank you for taking the time and contribution to many lives

[@tinkhefferon9934]

Great memories of Jack, I used to help the gamekeeper at Great linford wood help him with the pheasants in my school holidays and go beating ,ferreting, and unfortunately milton keynes city came and that was the end of shoot, I still walk round the wood today it's surrounded by factory's and housing estates I would have been the gamekeeper today if the city had not come george knocks was our gamekeeper back then haven't seen him since ,watching jack brings it all back

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Thank you Tink. It's such a shame that so much of countryside has gone. I feel very fortunate to live where I do on the edge of the New Forest and so close to my great love Dorset. All the best Dave

[@crawwwfishh3284]

I hate growth.

[@tinkhefferon9934]

George Knox he was a Yorkshire man, anyone out there know him ,he left in 1969

[@jeremymanning2132]

Jack was a big influence on me growing up. He used to write articles for Anglers Mail, which were fantastic. Then he had his TV appearances. Also fantastic. Respect!

[@williamhannah6429]

A grate old guy.Loved his show back in day.Ahh the old days.Put his repeats back on mainstream tv

[@PaulSmith-zx2ru]

Having watched many of the series on KZbin I'm always amazed at how many hobbies and friends Jack had he must have known hundreds of people in many walks of life.

[@patdwyer6274]

Oh this brings me back to a time when I'd come in from school and find Out of Town on the telly. As a town lad I found it fascinating and Jack's voice is still in my head explaining country pursuits to me. What a great memory! Thank you for bringing it back to me.

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

I was the same Pat when I lived in London. Never thought that one day I would produce the programmes for Channel 4....Happy thoughts. All the best Dave

[@kimfielding8010]

Ditto for this inner city kid

[@levisjeans1901]

I was fortunate enough to observe a recording of "Out Of Town " at Southern Television in April 1977. The set was erected in studio 3: the home of "Day By Day ", the regional news magazine programme. What a joy to observe Jack in the middle of the day, followed by Barry Westwood at 6.00pm that same evening; both consumate broadcasters who worked naturally, and comfortably, without autocue. Great days

[@peterohanarha-hanrahan4707]

Weirdo

[@dperk1757]

Gentler times, thanks for the memories..

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

So pleased you enjoyed the programme.

[@daleskidmore1685]

I think we can see why Steve and Jack got on so well: he is as laid back as Jack and as interesting. Pleased these 2 vids came up on my notifications, I enjoyed them.

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Hi Dale Skidmore thank you. I am so glad you enjoyed the programme. All the best Dave - Dave Knowles producer of Old Country.

[@gerrymarchant8652]

Wow, thanks for making this material available Dave. I’m 77 now & retired in Scotland but grew up in East Sussex as a country boy & watching Jack on Southern TV every week was wonderful. It’s great to rewatch & reminisce, Cheers 🥂

[@kimfielding8010]

Your good health sir

[@iandixon1160]

Wonderful stuff. Jack and in particular Out of Town sparked my life long love of fishing, shooting and everything to do with the countryside. Many thanks to all involved in bringing us this wonderful programme.

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Thank you Ian. I so glad you are enjoying my programmes. There are more to come so please subscribe if you have not done so and if you click on the bell you will be notified when more are available. All the best Dave

[@iandixon1160]

@@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker Already clicked and subscribed. Looking forward to watching more. Thanks again.

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

@@iandixon1160 Thank you Ian. I am working on my next video now and it should be ready soon. Thanks again Dave

[@richardamner7432]

Yep, me to Ian, best yrs of my life in the wet, cold Wales with salmon paste and an air sporter! thanks Jack.

[@jonathanpope81]

Great days.Thank you again !

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Thank you Jonathan. So pleaded you enjoyed watching the programme.

[@thelmaallen8766]

I remember this programme with great pleasure!

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

I am so pleased it brought back good memories after nearly 40 years.

[@wildfisher]

Lovely video. I grew up in the 1960s and Jack was an inspiration for me as a young angler even although as a young boy in Scotland the southern rivers seemed a world away. Great memories, thank you. :)

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

I am so glad it brought back memories Wildfisher. Thanks for sharing them All the best Dave - daveknowles.net/jacks-country/

[@gerryheynes5082]

Wonderful, takes me back to my childhood seeing Jack. I met him once, whilst at work in Dorset, and though he didn’t have time to engage in conversation, it was lovely hearing his distinctive voice in person. I look forward to seeing more videos from you (subscribed). Regards, Gerry

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Hi Gerry, Thank you for your comment and I am so pleased you enjoyed the programme. I'm sorry he did not have time to talk to you but I am sure he would have done if he could. All the best Dave

[@gerryheynes5082]

Dave Knowles - director/cameraman/editor ... Dave, I met him when he came into the planning department in Blandford. I can’t remember the reason he came in, but think he might have wanted to do something at his house in Shillingstone. Anyway, it wasn’t really the time for a chat and the matter must have been resolved, as I think he only came in the once in person, so I missed the opportunity to tell him how much I enjoyed his programmes. It’s even likely that my decision to move to Dorset was in part influenced by my enjoyment of ‘Out of town’. 😁

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

@@gerryheynes5082 I wander if it could it have been when he wanted to build the shed at Raven Cottage at Blandford which he used for the DVD series?

[@gerryheynes5082]

Dave Knowles - director/cameraman/editor - could well have been, if it was constructed around that time. Not sure when I met him; I worked there from 1978 to 1983, before moving to Purbeck. If so, I certainly didn’t appreciate the significance of his visit at the time 😀

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

@@gerryheynes5082 Not sure when he moved there but it was probably around that time.

[@firstfreonwarrior]

'I've never been a studio cameraman' LOL!

[@john.thwaites]

Ooh, I hope Dave Knowles himself gets to read this, I'm so grateful for you making these wonderful, gentle videos available, thank you, immensely appreciative. When my dad died I kept some of his stuff when clearing the house including two books, Out of Town, & The Old Country. They're both fabulous, and take me back to my youth, I was born in '58. Did Ollie Kite co-present one of those programmes? Not sure. Anyways, love your work, and as an ex-motorbicyclist who often attended Brands for the Trans Atlantic races in the 70's the interview with Mr Sheene was priceless. The last time I saw him race was at the Goodwood Revival Meeting on a Manx Norton, how about that!...

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Hi John, thank you for your lovely comments and I am so pleased you are enjoying the programmes. Jack was a fascinating person to work with and I look back on those days with great fondness. If you enjoy motorcycle programmes please visit my Vimeo site vimeo.com/435350779 where I have the programme I edited at Southern TV on the TT. All the best Dave

[@colinmorgan6733]

I'm a '56 vintage and went to Brands on my motorbike to the Trans Atlantic Race in 1977, big fan of Bazza. My Dad's mate was Fred Launchbury the TT racer. I still ride. A small world.

[@steveshepherd2712]

Yes great times indeed I'm a '59'er and also attended Brands Hatch for those races, was great to buy the pit pass and walk right up to those guys Roberts, Mamola, Haslam, Grant, Sheene etc and get your program autographed

[@dickyyz465]

Great programme, love the fishing episodes, even the music is soo calming , miss those days.

[@user-jc3td1ph9e]

Great to see the series ,what a trip back in time. Loved the gentle and relaxed presentation by Jack. In a fast moving world of dire and petty tv, where celebs, and other non entities flood the media. Life was better and simpler.

[@kristinrichards283]

Great interviews thank you getting to know Jack a bit more precious memories 🙏🏼

[@tonynapoli5549]

Great memories of jack stuck in my brain 👌

[@grahampawson1502]

Absolute legend 🧐

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Thank you.

[@FranssensM]

Lovely. Thank you for making this.

[@Desertfox170]

Big up Dave for sharing thanks Dave👍

[@kimfielding8010]

Patron Saint of what we now call the mancave

[@philwade2459]

Interesting and great to see Steve. Just for reference when we made the programmes at Raven Cottage I recorded his commentary over the film inserts in his front room. He watched a VHS of the film and I used a Nagra. Also a mention for my dad, Steve Wade who directed both Old Country and Out of Town

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Hi Phil good to hear from you again after such a long time. Thanks for the update. As you know I was not involved in the Raven Cottage episodes so do not really know how they were put together. It was fun reminiscing with Steve again after such a long time. I think though we both found it taxing on the old memory.

[@kevinbryan60]

Phil Wade Hi Phil hope you and the family are well I am Mick Bryan son Kevin who worked on the series too know living in New Zealand

[@burniemaurins2382]

Very interesting background, it definitely adds to the understanding and enjoyment of what he was trying to convey, he did tell a good yarn, I kid myself I could do something similar, as do others, but he was a very good teller of tales in a manner that was unique.

[@johnarbuthnott3445]

He has never been surpassed as a broadcaster on the countryside it was essential Sunday viewing

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

He was special.

[@suffolkngood]

Thank you. I always wondered how he managed to stand a 16' rod up in a 12' shed !! A set !!!

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Oh dear hope that you were not upset he really did not make the programmes from his rustic garden shed.

[@andyelliott8027]

Coronation Street is all sets, the bar of the Rovers is in the same room as the shop and the laundrette, they're literally 10 paces away from each other, even the street outside is built in the studio grounds, it's not a real street. That's how filming works.

[@stewartoonagh]

Great times

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

They were.

[@davidallum6841]

Thanks for the insight into the "making of" of "Old Country". I've always thought that the pony that Jack leads in the introduction to an episode looked uncomfortable and am not surprised it had given Jack the odd nip. I do love the program though and am grateful it's being shown on your channel.

[@dufushead]

Cheers that was really insightful, interesting and entertaining. I think I remember him being on "How" as well ? He was often on in the 60/ 70's. Southern TV did some great stuff, does anyone remember "Going Out," with a teenage cast that would all go on to become familiar household names.

[@markhalsey7890]

Superb content. Thank you.

[@davidbutler4363]

Excellent thanks 😁👍👏👏👏

[@richardjones8699]

Very interesting chat.

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Thank you Richard I am so pleased you enjoyed it.

[@PurityVendetta]

It's a lovely nostalgic thing watching Jack and listening to him relating his take on country life. I live in the countryside and I can't help by laugh at some of the utter guff people write in the comments. Lots of town's folk romanticising the countryside.

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

I grew up in the city on the outskirts of London and knew very little about the countryside. Dad and I used to watch Jack and it was so nice to escape even though it was just for 30 minutes a week.

[@PurityVendetta]

@@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker I also grew up on the edge of a city but a dying Midlands industrial one. The countryside was teasingly close and I moved to Shropshire as soon as I could.

[@krjames5880]

That is possibly the 'thing' about the old country docos, ' it is people's dream and they could imagine it'. Imagination is something not admired nowadays.

[@karenstudley2311]

Excellent enjoyable

[@Mark-xl8gg]

Oh no Probably should put a viewer discretion on this one All my memories of the shed were false Devastation :0)

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Sorry Mark.... but the wonderful words that he spoke were real. All the best Dave

[@Mark-xl8gg]

Fake muse :0)

[@tmcb2000]

In one episode called the shed/studio his 'glory hole', which has an unfortunate meaning these days. Incidentally, the 'old country' episode on the plague villages was a masterpiece.

[@jeffturner8927]

Some more good background. A great story.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I didn't realise the set filming was done in Meonstoke - such a small world. I've had a few pints in the Buck's Head looking over the chalk stream there - we used to live just down the road in a Flint Cottage 🙂

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Yes all the studio worked (Jacks Shed) was shot at the hall. The main reason for this was the studio director an old friend of Jack lived there in Meonstoke.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker That makes sense - it seemed an odd spot to choose (although a lovely one). The whole area around there from Bishop's Waltham up to Corhampton is a fantastic area. Just across the Downs is Lomer farm. If you walk it at sunset you can see the shadows thrown by the plague village of Lomer. Long gone now, just mounds in the pasture. Behind it is Old Winchester hill - a bronze age hill fort with neolithic archeology. I could go on but much of what Jack recorded about the high chalk can be seen there (although we didn't always agree on the interpretations 🙂). The chalk stream running through Meonstoke & Corhampton still has lots of brown trout - I wonder if he ever took a rod?

[@1952mrpdc]

I did not enjoy this video, I bloody loved it. This show's how JH shot film's in those days. I loved everything about this film. The shed, how they shot the film. Actually showing the cameras. etc. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for uploading this. I loved everything about this film. Not like the Kardashians who are only interested in 2 things. One is sex and the second thing is money. PC. 31. 01. 2022. Beautiful.

[@heyyouguuys7939]

Argh is there any greater pleasure than a man in his shed 😀

[@Headwind-1]

if you no know . . . . . .

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Grand!!😎🐓🐓🇬🇧

[@richardeljay]

A set in Meonstoke village hall? I used to love Out of Town as teenager on a farm in Wiltshire and now living in Hampshire often cycle by that village hall..

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

He did also have his real shed at home and this was used in some of the last programmes he did for sale on DVD.

[@hughs591]

Thanks for this video, very interesting to watch especially as I was a fan of Jack's and I also worked in regional television (Plymouth TSW / Westcountry) for many years. At about 04:05 into the piece there's a B&W still showing the floor manager who looks very much like a chap called Geoff Burrell who FM'd at TSW's Derry's Cross studios. Is it Geoff by any chance ? Best wishes and thanks again !

[@richardhacker4167]

YES THATS DEF GEOFF!!

[@hughs591]

@@richardhacker4167 I thought so, I worked with him a great deal in another life at TSW in Plymouth through most of the '80's . . .

[@tobyaman7644]

Thanks for very informative chats on how the programs were made. Do you have any plans to make bluray versions as I don't buy dvds any more. Thanks, Toby

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Hi Toby, the DVD's are produced by Network and unfortunately I do not think that they have any intention of releasing them on Blu-Ray. It maybe worth emailing them and asking though. Sorry about this but the decision is theirs and not mine. All the best Dave

[@trevorowen6564]

I have the Old Country DVDs and would recommend them

[@SimonBaddeley]

@@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker Network's 'Further Out Town' issued on 6th July 2020 is DVD and Blu-ray

[@Queen-of-Swords]

I'm afraid that whenever the clippy-cloppy theme music started, my heart sank. As a child I really did not like countryside things and along with Val Doonican, Test Match Cricket and Wimbledon, this was one of the shows my parents loved and I detested. I know people in the comments are saying it was a simpler time etc, but actually I think this type of show was part of a "Folk" movement which caused an outbreak of Steeleye Span and macrame plant pot holders. In the 70's which was ram packed with synthetic materials, people even then were longing for "simpler times". I daresay cotton mill workers also longed for non existant "simpler times" back in the Victorian era. It seems like we are always longing for an idealised past which never really was. I also suspect Jack would be like many are, horrified at refugees and immigrants, and "Londonistan". The happiest time of my life was living in London with a zillion other cultures. I found my own way to gardening and loving the outdoors, minus the hatred of foxes.

[@andyelliott8027]

In other words you're a townie. London, like all cities is a god-awful place. The folk movement had nothing to do with country people, they were virtually all townies too. Look at some of the well known folk people, Donovan...from Glasgow, Sandy Denny/ London, Fairport Convention/ formed by four Londoners. Jake Thackeray/Leeds, Mike Harding/ Crumpsall and so it goes on. Mainstream folk singers who are country bred are rarer than rocking horse shit.

[@vern6573]

V nearly ended up in the village pond at Ashmore with my bike after a heavy night out.

[@derekmulready1523]

Happy times . Absolutely no responsibilities being a teenager. Now a Grandfather and getting used to Boomerangs. If you get the drift. 🇮🇪🇪🇺

[@TheYorkie72]

Just to clear up a little confusion on my part, am I right in thinking that the films in Old Country were new stuff shot specifically for that series, whereas the Out Of Town stuff on DVDs is material from the original series with new commentary?

[@inspirality]

I loved watching Country Boy and Out of Town, fond childhood memories. It was Jack that inspired me to take up fishing myself. For anybody interested Jack's house is currently up for sale. www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63987702.html

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Hi inspirality, You will find also on my channel two videos I shot a few months ago at his cottage as this is where he made the last series of DVD's. The videos are kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJqToGuirdicY9E and kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHapl5qpeaeYkM0 All the best Dave daveknowles.net/jacks-country/

[@philforbes7467]

@ 02:31 why is there a green but plug on the shelf to the right ?

[@Wrestoktwella]

A great preserver and educator.. Not much television is like that these days jack filled your brain with knowledge.. Now they fill it with rubbish

[@snipper1ie]

Jack and 'Hands' on RTE documented life going to be lost. Sadly all that knowledge is now, mostly lost.

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Hopefully showing some of the programmes I made with him will introduce a few to Jack. All the best Dave daveknowles.net/jacks-country/

[@markg6860]

Was Raven Cottage located at Belchalwell?

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

+mark g Yes. Not sure if it ever vote sold.

[@markg6860]

@@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYutdXilgtWgj8k

[@carper1325]

hi my very good mate ian crossed the road to speak to him ,ian was only 12 13 at the time and he told me he didnt want to speak to him ?

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

I do not the reason but generally Jack always had time for people he met.

[@duncanmit5307]

👍👍👍👍👍💜

[@brianbanks703]

'his'????!

[@mariemccann5895]

Shock! Horror! You mean it wasn't real?🤣🤣🤣

[@Gracievision]

Jack was a storyteller. Surely a lot of the tales he told about his childhood in the country were made up as at the time he would have been at school in London.

[@andyelliott8027]

No, he was sent to live and work on a farm by his parents, if he was a townie he would not be able to make up the extensive knowledge he had. He did his growing up on the farm.

[@Gracievision]

@@andyelliott8027 he went to merchant Taylor's school in london

[@andyelliott8027]

@@Gracievision Yes, then he left home, he didn't want to stay with his parents, he was married for the first time at the age of 20.

[@keithbill310]

That has ruined my life now I know it was just a fake shed !!!

[@slalomsteve]

Who is the guy on the right? He was very rude an irritating. Constantly interrupting and talking over the top of you as you were trying to relate some information to the viewers.

[@andrewashdown3541]

Shatters my illusions? No - confirms everything I ever thought about television and its woeful, insincere overpaid 'presenters'. Were the beard + glasses likewise studio props? The silly 'country' voice?

[@billy4072]

Product placement wd40 👍

[@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker]

Haven’t noticed that.

[@stonefly514]

And Finnegans Hammerite !