Television & Radio 1984

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The official IBA guide to Thames Television in 1984

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)’; Bryan Cowgill (Managing Director), Mrs Mary Baker; The Lord Brabourne; Sir Richard Cave; The Rt. Hon. the Viscount Colville of Culross, QC; John T. Davey; Richard Dunn (Director of Production); Verity Lambert; Tony Logic (Director of Sales and Marketing); Ian M. Scott (Director of Finance); J. A. Sibley; Muir Sutherland (Director of Programmes); Colin S. Wills.

Executives. Ben E. Marr (Company Secretary & Director of Personnel); Fred Atkinson (Production Director (Euston/Hanworth)); Donald Cullimore (Public Relations Director); Philip Jones, OBE (Director, Light Entertainment); Tony Kenber (Programme Business Director); Eric Parry (Production Director (Teddington)); Barrie Sales (Director of News & Current Affairs and Deputy to the Director of Programmes); Roy Addison (Chief Press & Public Relations Officer); Ronald Allison (Controller, Sports & Outside Broadcasts); Jack Andrews (Controller, Programme Administration); 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 Production, Euston Films); Mike Harvey (Controller, Publicity); Ian Howard (Controller of Contracts); Derek Hunt (Deputy Director of Finance); 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); Ian Martin (Controller, Educational Programmes); Jim McDonald (Controller, Technical Operations, Teddington); Julian Mounter (Controller of Children’s Programmes); Ewart Needham (Head of Film); Vic O’Brien (Technical Controller, Euston); A. C. Parkinson (Controller, Administration); Tim Riordan (Controller, Programme Planning and Presentation); Lloyd Shirley (Controller, Programme Drama Division); Brian G. Scott (Chief Engineer); Ken Smallwood (Head of Staff Relations); Barry Spencer (Controller, Sales); Douglas Thornes (Controller, Sales Research and Development); Brian Walcroft (Assistant Controller, Drama).

Thames Television International (for Programme Sales). Bryan Cowgill (Chairman); Muir Sutherland (Deputy Chairman); Mike Phillips (Managing Director); Roger Miron (Sales Controller); Ben E. Marr; Ian Scott; Philip Jones, OBE.

Programmes. Thames Television’s area covers around 10½ million people in and around London from Monday morning to 5.15 p.m. on Friday. But the company’s fame extends throughout the world. Since it took up its contract in 1968, the company’s programmes have consistently won top national and international awards, including the Prix Italia (five overall and three in documentary) and six American Emmys. Each individual programme department has won awards for Thames in that time.

Thames Television’s studios in Euston Road, London.

International prizes like these have also been reflected in Thames’ success in selling programmes overseas, with its shows now being seen in over 100 countries around the world. Technological advances in such areas as cable TV, satellites and video mean that there are growing new markets for Thames’s programmes and nowhere more than on Channel 4 and in Britain’s home video trade. 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, on location. Just outside Manchester is Cosgrove Hall Productions, Thames’ animation subsidiary for such successes as Danger Mouse and The Wind in the Willows. So all Thames’ international success is achieved with programmes made here in Britain – specifically with the aim of pleasing ITV viewers. DRAMA: Reilly – Ace of Spies; Saigon; Rumpole of the Bailey; The Nation’s Health; Minder; Edward and Mrs Simpson; Widows; Jemima Shore Investigates; Anyone for Denis?. CHILDREN’S: Rainbow; The Sooty Show; We’ll Tell You A Story; Danger Mouse; Cockleshell Bay; Button Moon; Rod, Jane and Freddy; CBTV – Channel 14; S.W.A.L.K.; The Wind in the Willows; Freetime; Dramarama ‘Spooky’; Family Trees; The All Electric Amusement Arcade; Challenge; Children’s Documentaries; Flicks; Jamie and the Magic Torch; Danger – Marmalade At Work; Danger Mouse and Friends; The Talking Parcel. LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT Let There Be Love; Give Us A Clue; Jim Davidson; Don’t Rock The Boat; This Is Your Life; The Benny Hill Show; London Night Out; Does The Team Think; Shelley; Name That Tune; The Happy Apple; The Des O’Connor Show; Looks Familiar; Sorry, I’m A Stranger Here Myself; The Morecambe & Wise Show; The TVTimes Top Ten Awards; Never The Twain; Tom, Dick & Harriet; Sheena Easton; Keep It In The Family, Mike Yarwood; Whose Baby?; Carry on Laughing; It Takes A Worried Man; Michael Barrymore; Password; Jeopardy; Bruce Forsyth; Shirley Bassey. CURRENT AFFAIRS TV Eye; Thames News; Reporting London. DOCUMENTARIES AND FEATURES: Schindler; Class of ’62; Crime Inc.; I’m Gaynor, I’m Me; Thank You, Jesus; The Sitting; Lifer; Lifers; Human Rights; Unknown Chaplin; Summerstown; Whatever Happened to Bill Brunskill?; Citizen 2000; Treasure Trove; A Plus. SPORTS AND OUTSIDE BROADCASTS: Football; Racing; Snooker; Darts; Show Jumping; Gymnastics; Swimming; Boxing, specials Wish You Were Here…?; Big Top Variety Show; Miss World; Stunt Challenge; The Champions. EDUCATION For What It’s Worth; Help!; Six Centuries of Verse; Database; All In The Mind; Under Fives; Composers on Composing, religion Night Thoughts; City Priest; Crisis.

About the author

Eric Croston was editor of the ITA and IBA yearbooks from 1963 until 1985

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