From Mike Cotton


Mike says "..from an article in the Telegraph Magazine of yesteryear which states "The BBC's brave new soap EastEnders has survived the crucial first 10 weeks of life....."   Yes, I am a hoarder but before throwing this out, would anyone like the 5 page article?"

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And from Pat Heigham, some reminiscences...

I remember working in Riverside, and having an after show beer in Studio 3 (The Chancellors Arms) with David Attenborough, just after he had been given the position of Controller BBC2. He didn't really want to do it, as he preferred being in front of the camera, doing the wildlife stuff, to which he eventually returned - very successfully.

Can anyone remember the name of the 'Top of the Pops' Studio Director in the sixties - Johnny (?).(I can - Johnny Stewart, he was the producer from the beginning. B.) He used to have a silhouette as his end credit, with him holding his jacket over his shoulder. I used to Gram Op on that from time to time, and remember the splendid job that Dickie Chamberlain used to do, in reproducing the sound of the record, with the live orch. in the studio.

One time, Harry Secombe was in, as "If I ruled the world" had made it into the charts. Everyone from the gallery went onto the floor to see and applaud him at rehearsal! This never used to happen with each new 'group' that came in!

One other occasion: I was on the OP side set boom, which was operated from a circle box in the TV Theatre, on "Crackerjack" We used to get the current group each week, and were a bit blase about who they were. This occasion, as the programme was closing, I was aware of a mighty vibration in the building. I looked around and saw the largely female teenage audience legging it for the exits, to get round to the stage door. The Group..... The Beatles! First time I'd seen 'em.

Years later, when filming an interview with Paul McCartney, I was able to relate this story and we had a good laugh.