Latest news with #PebbleMill
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Pebble Mill at One stars now - from criminal convictions to tragic death
BBC show Pebble Mill at One was an iconic magazine programme that ran throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s - and here's what happened to the original faces of the daytime series They were the familiar faces that lit up Britain's afternoons - the hosts, producers and personalities behind Pebble Mill at One, the BBC's beloved daytime magazine programme that ran from 1972 to 1986. Whether they were interviewing celebrities, dispensing gardening advice or covering human interest stories from the famous foyer of the Birmingham studio, the Pebble Mill team became a fixture of the nation's lunchtime telly. But what happened to the show's stars when the cameras stopped rolling? From telly legends who went on to headline primetime shows, to behind-the-scenes figures who subtly influenced British broadcasting, many continued to leave their mark across radio, film and theatre. Others quietly stepped out of the spotlight - while some faced scandals that shook their public persona. Here, we reminisce about the highs, lows and unexpected twists in the lives of Pebble Mill's most recognisable faces. From gardening guru Marian Foster and broadcasting legend Alan Titchmarsh to the late Donny MacLeod and troubled DJ Dave Lee Travis, here's what unfolded for the faces who once dominated daytime TV. Dave Lee Travis Dave Lee Travis was best known as the host of The Golden Oldie Picture Show and a DJ on BBC Radio 1. However, his career was later marred by legal issues. In 2014, he was found guilty of indecently assaulting a woman working on The Mrs Merton Show in 1995 and was handed a three-month suspended sentence. Though acquitted of several other accusations, the conviction resulted in the presenter's episodes of Top of the Pops being no longer repeated by the BBC. Travis expressed being "mortified" and "really disappointed" by the verdict. Despite the scandal, the now 80-year-old made a comeback to broadcasting. Throughout the years, Travis has presented programmes on various UK radio stations, including periods at Classic Gold, BBC Three Counties Radio, and United DJs Radio. In 2025, he hosts a Sunday morning programme on Heritage Chart Radio. Currently residing in Buckinghamshire with his Swedish wife Marianne, whom he wed in 1971, Travis enjoys photography and vintage automobiles. Jock Gallagher Gallagher began his BBC career in 1966 as a news producer and swiftly climbed the ladder, ultimately leading the Pebble Mill at One. His influence extended beyond the programme's triumph to nurturing celebrated BBC radio productions including The Archers, alongside programmes such as From the Grassroots and Offshore Britons. Following decades of broadcasting service, Gallagher stepped down from the BBC in 2014. He died in May 2025 aged 87 at Worcester Hospital. Former colleagues and admirers paid tribute, with one remembering: "I remember having a conversation with Jock in the late 1980s when I was trying to become a researcher, and fancied working on Radio 4 series." Donny MacLeod Donny was a beloved figure on television, known for his warmth, professionalism, and innovative approach, becoming a staple in homes as the leading presenter of his show and shaping daytime TV for countless viewers. He was one of the original faces of Pebble Mill at One, hosting the show from its beginnings in 1972 until his sudden death in 1984. His career was studded with standout moments, including major BBC specials like MacLeod's Soviet Union and MacLeod's America, and memorable interviews with prominent figures such as Edward Heath, Les Dawson, Terry Wogan, Dame Edna Everage, and Morecambe and Wise. Touching tributes have continued to honour Donny's legacy, with one colleague fondly remembering: "He was kind and ever prepared to lend this novice a helping hand... For 11 years Donny was Pebble Mill at One." Passing away at the young age of 52 from a heart attack, Donny is still deeply missed as a trailblazer in British daytime broadcasting. David Attwood Starting his career as an assistant floor manager, David Attwood climbed the ladder, contributing to series like Out of Town Boys (1978), Keep Smiling (1979), and the BAFTA-winning Boys from the Black Stuff (1982). After completing the BBC Directors course in 1984, he quickly made a name for himself as a director. Attwood's portfolio includes directing All Together Now, Airbase, and the intense thriller Killing Time. He later pursued a freelance career, directing critically acclaimed projects such as Wild West, Fidel, and Stuart: A Life Backwards, which starred Tom Hardy. David sadly died on 21 March 2024 after battling illness. Remembered by peers as a talented and considerate director, David left an indelible mark on British television drama over three decades. Marian Foster A multifaceted broadcaster, Marian Foster was celebrated for her engaging on-screen personality and a deep-rooted passion for horticulture, which became her signature. She broke new ground as one of the original presenters on Top Gear and went on to host gardening segments for BBC Look North after her time at Pebble Mill. Foster boasts an extensive career in radio, having presented shows on BBC Radio 2, Woman's Hour on Radio 4, and currently hosts Garden Mania every Sunday on BBC Radio Newcastle and Radio Tees. A familiar face at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, she has imparted her horticultural wisdom to audiences for more than three decades. Her diverse work includes documenting the impact of Live Aid in Ethiopia and even sharing the stage with The Who for a rendition of Tommy. In recent times, she has continued her role as a judge for Northumbria in Bloom, been featured by Radio Times, and remains an endearing presence in the North East. Alan Titchmarsh Alan Titchmarsh rose to fame as the beloved presenter of Ground Force and later captivated viewers on ITV's Love Your Garden, affirming his status as one of the nation's favourite gardeners. His natural charm extended beyond the garden, leading him to host various programmes including The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Popstar to Operastar, and Secrets of the National Trust. In 2024, he made waves when North Korean TV censored his jeans, prompting Titchmarsh to quip that it gave him "a bit of street cred". The 76 year old father of two is a prolific author, having penned over 70 books, including best-selling novels, gardening guides, and memoirs. He currently presents a Saturday afternoon programme on Classic FM and continues to write regularly for the press. Now in his mid-70s, he divides his time between his farmhouse in Hampshire and his residence on the Isle of Wight. Titchmarsh was awarded an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours for his contributions to horticulture and broadcasting, and was later promoted to CBE in the 2025 New Year Honours for his services to horticulture and charity.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pebble Mill recalled in look back at West Midlands' TV
"You'd go into the canteen, and the next table would be a load of wounded soldiers from a Poldark film."Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen MBE has been sharing his memories of Birmingham's Pebble Mill Studios."So many dramas came out of there… Pebble Mill was an absolute hub of activity in broadcasting. Both in gameshows, dramas and documentaries and all, of course, all of the radio shows that came out of there as well," he former studios were located on Pebble Mill Road in Edgbaston and were opened by Princess Anne on 10 June 1971. It closed in 2004. Many shows, including Call My Bluff, Telly Addicts, All Creatures Great & Small and Good Morning With Anne & Nick, were recorded there."It was a brilliant place to be, and it was very sad that that contracted into a much smaller operation," Owen said."Pebble Mill At One, I think, was the first ever proper daytime programme, and that was really special."When I first came to Birmingham… it used to be great to watch Pebble Mill at lunchtime. The fantastic music, helicopters seemed to be landing all around, and there seemed to be explosions and things going on. And big, big names on that show."Presenters over the years included Bob Langley, Tom Coyne, Marian Foster, Gloria Hunniford, Fern Britton and Alan Titchmarsh. Owen met a lot of famous faces while working on Good Morning With Anne & Nick."We had Margaret Thatcher on and Tony Blair. We had Tom Jones, Elton John – the list was fantastic. "I did some wonderful filming with Cher. Spent an afternoon on a bed at The Savoy with Cher. Me dressed in leather trying to be raunchy."So the memories of that are absolutely brilliant."When Owen first started working on BBC Midlands Today in 1997, the regional news programme was based at the Pebble Mill first aired on 28 September 1964, broadcast from a tiny studio on Broad 1971, it moved to the newly opened Pebble Mill Studios, and the first episode was presented by Tom Coyne. Dr Vanessa Jackson, who specialises in TV production at Birmingham City University, started her career at Pebble had three studios, but one of its' most famous locations was the bar – located in the BBC Club."That was a very important place because many a programme idea was brought to life at the BBC Club. Many a job offer was made. And they used to do a wicked cheese toastie," she said."It's the place where most BBC staff – after working on a programme like Pebble Mill At One – would come over the little bridge over the Bourn Brook and make their way into the club, which used to serve a lot of alcohol and very good food."Early in his career, Walsall-born Bob Warman, who presented ITV's Central News for 40 years, worked at BBC Radio Birmingham (now BBC Radio WM), which was broadcast from the Pebble Mill studios."The BBC Club was a pretty desperate place… When I came for an interview at the BBC with the then station manager – who was a chap called Jack Johnson, a wonderful Glaswegian man… He gave me a brief interview in his office and then said, 'Well, it's lunchtime, we better go to the bar.'"We went into this bar which was absolutely nose-to-nose – it was rammed with people – all drinking furiously at lunchtime. And I thought, 'Well, I better do the honours here…' so I said to Jack 'Can I get you a drink?' and he said 'Aye, I'd like a Bells please'."And I thought 'Gosh, Bells whiskey, at lunchtime', and I said, 'Anything with it?' And he said, 'Aye, another one!'"History Of TV In The West Midlands is available on BBC Sounds now. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Guardian
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Breakfast fads come and go, but at heart, is Britain a nation of cereal eaters?
At a party not so long ago, a friend told me that she was about to leave. 'I'm hungry,' she said, her eyes sliding towards the coats. 'I'm going home for a bowl of Weetabix.' I greeted this with some surprise, if not outright derision. Wouldn't she prefer a pizza with me? But already she was entering an ecstatic state. 'Weetabix is lovely,' she went on. 'Sugar, cold milk … ' Half a century of eating the stuff had taught her the optimum point at which to devour it, a fleeting moment she could judge by sight. Its biscuit-dryness had to be gone, but it needed to be soft rather than soggy. Her eyes half closed, she wantonly mimed pushing a spoon into this late-night ambrosia. I thought of this the other day, when Alan Titchmarsh, TV gardener and aspirant steamy novelist, informed the nation it should stop eating avocados on the grounds of their environmental impact (to summarise: many of those sold in the UK are grown on land that was formerly rainforest; their cultivation involves huge amounts of water in places where it's scarce; they must be shipped 5,000 miles or more to reach us). 'There's a lot to be said for cornflakes, Weetabix and Shreddies,' he announced, deploying the homely tartness that made him such a hit on Pebble Mill and Ground Force to deal with the 21st-century hipster breakfast of choice. Ha! Next time my friend refused a dinner date on the grounds that she would rather commune with a bowl of cereal, I would have no choice but to mention him. Several times. In my best (native) Yorkshire accent. To be serious, though, there is a circle here – for me, and perhaps for you. Titchmarsh's edict, a statement to which the Times devoted a leader column, plots the story of our lives in breakfasts. Once, after all, it was so simple: cereal, toast and tea came as standard; a full English was a treat if you were away for the weekend. But then, eggs benedict having already mounted its gooey putsch, about a decade ago things turned fully shakshuka. If it sounds spoilt to talk of the tyranny of choice in the context of breakfast, all I can say is don't you always feel slightly anxious when you utter the words 'just toast, please' at a hotel, as if you're somehow letting down your waiter? In my childhood, breakfast was only ever toast. Cereal was eaten first thing by kids in TV ads, but in our house it was reserved for post-school hunger, to be consumed in the moments between taking off your coat and Grange Hill. Avocados, of course, were highly exotic, even rare: in restaurants, they were the starter that succeeded (after decades) fruit juice or half a grapefruit. Did this exoticism lie behind the sudden craze, in the early 1980s, for avocado bathroom suites? I've always wondered about this. But either way, according to memory, they tasted much better then – by which I mean that they tasted of something, even if it was only the olive oil you lugged home from France in the Datsun and a little light social progress. When I was a student, I rarely ate breakfast: if I was up early enough for there to be a wait for lunch, a Mars bar would do it (I was like Prof Tim delay-your-breakfast-for-the-sake-of-your-gut Spector avant la lettre). In my twenties, I ate bad Danish pastries that were delivered to our desks in the newsroom via a trolley as compensation for the fact that we were indentured. My thirties were the restaurant years, when I spent far too much on what was by now called brunch. My forties, when I was newly and happily married, was the era of devotedly making bacon sandwiches for my beloved (OK, I still do this). And now, here we are, preparing to cancel avocados. Personally, I won't be bereft; I never got with the programme so far as smashing them goes. Yet still I salute their unlikely journey. In their huge stones, knobbly skins and propensity for causing hand injuries, I see an island nation desperately seeking sophistication. To pinch from TS Eliot, in our beginning is our end. In succession, breakfast dishes rise and fall. We turn back now to our Weetabix gratefully, tasting its particular nothingness afresh.
