LONDON WEEKDAYS

THAMES TELEVISION

London: Thames Television House, 306-316 Euston Road, LONDON NW1 3BB Tel: 01-387 9494
149 Tottenham Court Road, LONDON W1P 9LL Tel: 01-388 5199
Teddington: Teddington Lock, TEDDINGTON, Middlesex, TW11 9NT Tel: 01-977 3252
Regional Sales: Norfolk House, Smallbrook Queensway, BIRMINGHAM B5 4LJ Tel: 021-643 9151
Mobile Division: Twickenham Road, HANWORTH, Middlesex Tel: 01-898 0011

Directors. H. S. L. Dundas, CBE, DSO, DFC, DL (Chairman). Sir John Read (Deputy Chairman), Richard Dunn (Managing Director). Mrs Mary Baker; The Lord Brabourne; John T. Davey; Jonathan Shier (Director of Sales and Marketing); A. Sibley; Muir Sutherland (Director of Programmes); Colin S. Wills; Ben E. Marr (Company Secretary & Director of Personnel): Derek Hunt (Director of Finance); Ronald Denny; Gary Dartnall.

Executives. Fred Atkinson (Production Director). Donald Cullimore (Public Relations Director). Philip Jones, OBE (Director of Light Entertainment): Tony Kenber (Programme Business Director); Eric Parry (Production Director, Teddington); Barrie Sales (Director of News & Current Affairs & Deputy to the Director of Programmes); Lloyd Shirley (Director of Drama). Roy Addison (Chief Press & Public Relations Officer); Ronald Allison (Controller, Sports & Outside Broadcasts): James Corsan (Controller, Programme Administration); Dave Cottrell (Technical Controller, Euston): Derek Baker (Assistant Company Secretary); Paul Cheffins, MBE (Controller, Sales Administration); Mike Coxhill (Technical Controller): Patrick Downing (Controller, Visual Services); Catherine Freeman (Controller, Documentaries & Features), James Gilbert (Head of Comedy Programmes); William Goddard (Head of Presentation): Johnny Goodman (Executive Director of Productions, Euston Films), Mike Harvey (Controller, Publicity); Ian Howard (Controller of Contracts); Peter Kew (Head of Central Planning). Max Lawson (Assistant Director of Finance): Bob Louis (Assistant Controller, Light Entertainment): Geoffrey Lugg (Head of Programme Liaison). Pat Mahoney (Head of Purchased Programmes); David Mansfield (Controller, Marketing); Ian Martin (Controller, Educational Programmes): Jim McDonald (Controller, Technical Operations, Teddington); Marjorie Sigley (Controller of Children’s Programmes); Ewart Needham (Head of Film); Mark Stevens (Labour Relations Adviser); A. C. Parkinson (Controller, Administration); Tim Riordan (Controller, Programme Planning and Presentation); Brian G. Scott (Chief Engineer); Ken Smallwood (Controller of Personnel); Douglas Thornes (Controller, Sales Research and Development); Brian Walcroft (Assistant Controller, Drama).

Thames International (for programme sales). Richard Dunn (Chairman); Muir Sutherland (Deputy Chairman); Mike Phillips (Managing Director); Roger Miron (Sales Controller). Ben E. Marr; Philip Jones, OBE; Derek Hunt.

Cosgrove Hall Productions. Albany House. 2 Albany Road. MANCHESTER M21 1BL. Richard Dunn (Chairman); Brian Cosgrove (Executive Director); Mark Hall (Executive Director), John Hambley (Chief Executive); Max Lawson (Director).

Programmes. Thames Television’s area covers more than 10 million people in and around London from Monday morning to 5.15 p.m. on Friday. The company makes a vast range of programmes to entertain, amuse and educate ITV and Channel 4 viewers of all classes and tastes, but Thames’ fame extends throughout the world. Thames Television International received the 1984 Queen’s Award for Export Achievement, and the company has sold its product to nearly 130 of the 134 countries that have television transmitters.

A Better Class Of Person. This early part of John Osborne’s autobiography, dramatised by Thames, was ITV’s entry for the 1985 Prix Italia in the drama category.

In the 17 years since Thames took up its contract, its programmes have won over 170 national and international awards, including the Prix Italia five times, eight Emmys. and the Montreux Comedy Prize three times. Technological advances in cable TV, satellite and video mean that there are growing new markets for Thames’ programmes and the company continues to develop its interest and potential in such areas. Most of Thames programmes are made in the riverside studios at Teddington, while others come from the company’s headquarters at Euston. The outside broadcast units, from their base at Hanworth, near Teddington, cover many major events. Working from its own independent base is Euston Films which produces major film dramas and drama series like Minder, on location. Just outside Manchester is Cosgrove Hall Productions, Thames’ animation subsidiary for such series as Dangermouse and The Wind in the Willows.

All Thames’ international success is achieved with programmes made here in Britain – specifically with the aim of pleasing British viewers.

DOCUMENTARIES, FEATURES AND ARTS: Letters From a Bomber Pilot; Hooligan; Good Enough to Eat; Passing Clouds; British Cinema; The Queen And The Commonwealth; Citizen 2000; Quoth The Raven; The Childhood Of Christ; For Valour; Daytime; A Plus 4; Take Six More Looks; Hair; The People’s War.
ADULT EDUCATION: 4 What It’s Worth; Help!; Database; 4 Computer Buffs; The English House; Jobs Limited; How To Survive At Work; Adultery; Streets Of London.
RELIGION: Night Thoughts; Belief In Action.
LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT: Give Us A Clue; Jim Davidson; This Is Your Life; The Benny Hill Show; Name That Tune; The Des O’Connor Show; Looks Familiar; The TVTimes Top Ten Awards; Never The Twain; Keep lt In The Family; Mike Yarwood; Whose Baby?; Carry On Laughing; Chance In A Million; Tripper’s Day; Mann’s Best Friend; What’s My Line?; The Kit Curran Radio Show; Fresh Fields; Freddie Star Special; All In Good Faith;
CHILDREN’S: T-Bag Strikes Again; Flicks; Rainbow; Sooty; Button Moon; The Creepy Crawlies; Dangermouse; Wind In the Willows; Alias The Jester; Splash; and The Wall Game.
DRAMA: Minder; The Bill; The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾; A Better Class Of Person; Monsignor Quixote; Storyboard; Lytton’s Diary; London Embassy; The Set Up; Prospects; Minder On The Orient Express; Mr Palfrey Of Westminster.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: TV Eye; Thames News; Reporting London; Talking Personally.
SPORTS AND OUTSIDE BROADCASTS: Ice Skating; Golf; Speedway; Ice Hockey; Midweek & Bank Holiday Sport Special; Thames Sport; Football; Racing; Snooker; Darts; Swimming; Boxing.
SPECIALS: Miss UK; Miss England; Miss Scotland; Miss Wales; Royal Film Premières; Wish You Were Here…?; Miss World; Stunt Challenge.

About the author

Mike Melaniphy was editor of the IBA Yearbooks from 1986 until 1988

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