Has Murgatroyd gone missing?

[Lee Bannister]

I read (possibly on here) a while ago that there really aren't many episodes of Magpie remaining in the Thames archive (lost, never recorded etc...) Does anyone know what's survives?

My reason for asking is that I've been given a copy of part of a black & white episode along with other bits and pieces from late 60s TV (mainly BBC continuity from a night in 1969 - the debut night of 'Take 3 Girls').

Now I assume these will probably be well known on the collectors circuit, and this Magpie may well be safe at Fremantle, but how well has the series as a whole survived?

For those interested, the bit of Magpie I have begins with the original B/W Thames skyline ident, Titles, and then (ironically) a section where Susan Stranks extols the virtue of VT and how it works, and from the VT operators room she introduces the next section of the show - on VT! The whole thing looks as if it's been recorded off-air onto video, none of the tell-tale signs of telerecording...

[Laurence Piper]

Not much from the early days of Magpie surviving (nothing from the '60s editions as far as I know) so you may have a rarity. Keep hold!

[its dubs honest]

This is what's left of Magpie - ie sod all - (Kal 95).


06/04/71 CF16 SEQ
08/04/71 CF16 SEQ
20/04/71 CF16 SEQ
26/04/71 MONDAY - CF16 SEQ
29/04/71 CF16 SEQ
04/05/71 CF16 SEQ
06/05/71 CF16 SEQ
13/05/71 CF16 SEQ
18/05/71 CF16 SEQ
20/05/71 CF16 SEQ
25/05/71 CF16 SEQ
27/05/71 CF16 SEQ
01/06/71 CF16 SEQ
03/06/71 CF16 SEQ
10/06/71 CF16 SEQ
22/06/71 CF16 SEQ
24/06/71 CF16 SEQ
29/06/71 CF16 SEQ
01/07/71 CF16 SEQ
31/08/71 CF16 SEQ
02/09/71 CF16 SEQ
07/09/71 CF16 SEQ
09/09/71 CF16 SEQ
14/09/71 CF16 SEQ
16/09/71 CF16 SEQ
21/09/71 CF16 SEQ
30/09/71 CF16 SEQ
05/10/71 CF16 SEQ
07/10/71 CF16 SEQ
19/10/71 CF16 SEQ
21/10/71 CF16 SEQ
26/10/71 CF16 SEQ
09/11/71 CF16 SEQ
11/11/71 CF16 SEQ
16/11/71 CF16 SEQ
18/11/71 CF16 SEQ
23/11/71 CF16 SEQ
25/11/71 CF16 SEQ
30/11/71 CF16 SEQ
07/12/71 CF16 SEQ
09/12/71 CF16 SEQ
14/12/71 CF16 SEQ
16/12/71 CF16 SEQ
21/12/71 CF16 SEQ
28/12/71 CF16 SEQ
15/02/72 SPEC - CF16
22/02/72 SPEC - CF16
24/02/72 SPEC - CF16
02/03/72 SPEC - CF16
04/04/72 CF16 SEQ
06/04/72 CF16 SEQ
13/04/72 CF16 SEQ
18/04/72 CF16 SEQ
20/04/72 CF16 SEQ
25/04/72 CF16 SEQ
27/04/72 CF16 SEQ
04/05/72 CF16 SEQ
11/05/72 CF16 SEQ
18/05/72 CF16 SEQ
25/05/72 CF16 SEQ
30/05/72 CF16 SEQ
01/06/72 CF16 SEQ
06/06/72 CF16 SEQ
15/06/72 CF16 SEQ
20/06/72 SPEC - CF16
01/09/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
04/09/72 SPEC - MONDAY
08/09/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
12/09/72 RX DATE - 2"
15/09/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
22/09/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
28/09/72 SPEC - CF16
03/10/72 CF16 SEQ
06/10/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
10/10/72 CF16 SEQ
13/10/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
17/10/72 CF16 SEQ
20/10/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
24/10/72 CF16 SEQ
27/10/72 FRIDAY - B - Mick Robertson's 1st Appearance. Ploughing Match At Windsor Great Park
31/10/72 CF16 SEQ
03/11/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
07/11/72 CF16 SEQ
10/11/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
14/11/72 CF16 SEQ
17/11/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
21/11/72 CF16 SEQ
24/11/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
28/11/72 CF16 SEQ
01/12/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
12/12/72 CF16 SEQ
15/12/72 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
19/12/72 CF16 SEQ
12/01/73 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
16/01/73 CF16 SEQ
19/01/73 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
23/01/73 CF16 SEQ
26/01/73 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
30/01/73 CF16 SEQ
02/02/73 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
11/02/73 RX - 2" SUNDAY
16/02/73 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
20/02/73 ?
23/02/73 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
02/03/73 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
13/03/73 CF16 SEQ
23/03/73 CF16 PO - FRIDAY
27/03/73 CF16 SEQ
03/07/73 SPEC - CF16
10/07/73 SPEC - CF16
13/07/73 FRIDAY - SPEC - CF16
17/07/73 SPEC - CF16
20/07/73 FRIDAY - SPEC - CF16
31/07/73 SPEC - CF16
03/08/73 FRIDAY - SPEC - CF16
17/08/73 FRIDAY - SPEC - CF16
21/08/73 SPEC - CF16
10/11/73 SATURDAY? SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Calgary Stampede"
30/08/74 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
03/09/74 CF16 SEQ
10/09/74 CF16 SEQ
17/09/74 CF16 SEQ
01/10/74 CF16 SEQ
08/10/74 CF16 SEQ
11/10/74 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
15/10/74 CF16 SEQ
18/10/74 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
25/10/74 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
29/10/74 CF16 SEQ
25/07/75 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
29/07/75 CF16 SEQ
01/08/75 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
08/08/75 FRIDAY - CF16 SEQ
12/08/75 CF16 SEQ
02/10/75 1 x Oct 75 on B VTR 12203
07/10/75 1 x Oct 75 on B VTR 12203
09/10/75 1 x Oct 75 on B VTR 12203
14/10/75 1 x Oct 75 on B VTR 12203
16/10/75 1 x Oct 75 on B VTR 12203
21/10/75 CF16 SEQ
23/10/75 1 x Oct 75 on B VTR 12203
28/10/75 1 x Oct 75 on B VTR 12203
30/10/75 1 x Oct 75 on B VTR 12203
02/12/75 VTR 12427 - D3
24/02/76 VTR 13243 - D3
12/04/76 MONDAY - 2" SEQ
17/07/76 SATURDAY ? - 2" SEQ
22/07/76 2" SEQ
02/08/76 MONDAY - 2" SEQ
06/09/76 MONDAY - 2" SEQ
01/10/76 FRIDAY - 2" SEQ
05/10/76 2" SEQ
29/10/76 FRIDAY - 2" SEQ
02/11/76 2" SEQ
05/11/76 FRIDAY - 2" SEQ
10/11/76 WEDNESDAY - 2" SEQ
12/11/76 FRIDAY - 2" SEQ
08/10/76 FRIDAY SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Brooklands"
15/10/76 FRIDAY - 2" SEQ
21/10/76 2" SEQ
07/12/76 2" SEQ
14/12/76 2" SEQ
17/12/76 FRIDAY - 2" SEQ
20/12/76 MONDAY - 2" SEQ
21/12/76 2" SEQ
24/12/76 FRIDAY - D3 "Christmas At Teddington" VTR 15798
31/12/76 FRIDAY - 2" SEQ
06/01/77 2" SEQ
18/01/77 2" SEQ
25/01/77 2" SEQ
01/02/77 2" SEQ & 1 x Feb 77 on B VTR 1062
03/02/77 1 x Feb 77 on B VTR 1062
08/02/77 2" SEQ & 1 x Feb 77 on B VTR 1062
11/02/77 FRIDAY 2" SEQ & 1 x Feb 77 on B VTR 1062
15/02/77 1 x Feb 77 on B VTR 1062
17/02/77 1 x Feb 77 on B VTR 1062
22/02/77 1 x Feb 77 on B VTR 1062
24/02/77 1 x Feb 77 on B VTR 1062
08/03/77 2" SEQ
10/03/77 2" SEQ
30/03/77 WEDNESDAY - 2" SEQ
05/04/77 1 x Apr 77 on B VTR 1080
07/04/77 1 x Apr 77 on B VTR 1080
12/04/77 1 x Apr 77 on B VTR 1080
14/04/77 1 x Apr 77 on B VTR 1080
19/04/77 1 x Apr 77 on B VTR 1080
21/04/77 1 x Apr 77 on B VTR 1080
26/04/77 1 x Apr 77 on B VTR 1080
28/04/77 1 x Apr 77 on B VTR 1080
24/01/78 D3 - VTR 18575
27/01/78 FRIDAY D3 - VTR 18576
10/03/78 FRIDAY D3 - VTR 18846
14/03/78 D3 - VTR 18848
31/03/78 FRIDAY D3 - VTR 18898
04/04/78 D3 - VTR 18906
03/11/78 FRIDAY D3 - VTR 20279
02/01/79 D3 - VTR 20593
02/02/79 FRIDAY D3 - VTR 20702
23/02/79 FRIDAY D3 - VTR 20830
20/04/79 FRIDAY D3 - VTR 21113
05/02/80 D3 - VTR 22379
29/02/80 FRIDAY SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Israel - Masada"
27/05/80 D3 - VTR 22870
06/06/80 FRIDAY - VHS

also:

no date B - VTR 14133
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "School For Playing - Yehudi Menuhin" VTR 60358
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "My Brother David" VTR 60344
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Like Ordinary Children" VTR 60345
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "In A World Of Their Own" VTR 60346
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Kids About Town" VTR 60350
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "The Tall Ships Race" VTR 60351
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Somersault To Moscow" VTR 60359
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Wildlife Special" VTR 61087
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Mountain Rescue" VTR 61570
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Visits Gilbraltar" VTR 60934
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Visits Kenya" VTR 60938
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Goes Stateside" VTR 60953
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Visits Malta" VTR 60965
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Visits Egypt" VTR 60981
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Visits Egypt" VTR 61065
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Visits Israel" VTR 60996
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Visits Israel" VTR 61004
no date SPEC - 1"-CF16 "Magpie Visits Ireland" VTR 61005

[dubs again honestly]

The various weekdays in the list are my own notes - which conflicted with the supposed TX dates, dates given are probably insert recording dates, though Kal gives no notes as to this.

Does this help?

Anyone with a later Kal guide may be able to clarify...

[Lee Bannister]

How very interesting. Thanks for all the info, I guessed they didn't have *that* much. I'm sure this is from 1969.

The only other bits of Magpie I've seen (I was a Blue Peter kid in the 70s) were on the Blue Peter documentary in 1993 and another on the 'Best Childrens TV' video.

Sadly this is not a complete episode, literally only the section I describe... but it cuts off at the end of the DVD I have it on, suggesting that there may have been more on the source tape. It may be a while, but I'll investigate further.

I wonder, are Fremantle happy to get this sort of thing back? Particularly in this sort of format and number of generations down (the picture's not bad, maybe 2nd/3rd generation). Or are they not that bothered... (I wish it was an early Ace of Wands!)

[dubs again]

Lee - offer the footage to the BFI - I doubt Carlton would be interested, but I would hope the BFI would, and get a transfer arranged as the earliest example (possibly) of Magpie existing.

If you have any reservations try contacting Steve Roberts at the Dr. Who restoration team website.

Let us know how you get on.

S.

[dubs yet again]

errr - Fremantle I meant!

[Lee Bannister]

Aye, will do. Cheers Dubs

I'm going to try and find out if any more of this show exists, a more complete copy... then I'll see what I can do.

I'm rather excited now! (Must calm down, must calm down, must keep telling myself it ain't Tenth Planet 4)

[David H]

On a related note does anyone know anything about a Magpie feature on Butser Hill/Queen Elizabeth Country Park featuring Iron Age huts that was filmed in 1977 - presumably the film insert may still exist but when (if at all) was it transmitted and does the programme in its entirety still exist? At the time I was on a school outing when a Thames crew was filming inside one of the reconstructed huts (supposedly for Magpie) and never saw the finished programme.

[James Carstairs]

"Lee - offer the footage to the BFI - I doubt Carlton would be interested, but I would hope the BFI would, and get a transfer arranged as the earliest example (possibly) of Magpie existing."

And have you thought about where the tape come from???

Who did you get the copy from and where did they get it? Check all that out before you waste other people's time.

Common sense would tell you that far up the line, someone has an original copy. It it has been copied around fans for a while, it's doubtless well known.

[sda]

I've got the Magpie clip as well on VHS - IIRC it's got a "THS" logo burned into it

[Lee Bannister]

Guest-James said:

And have you thought about where the tape come from???
Who did you get the copy from and where did they get it? Check all that out before you waste other people's time.
Common sense would tell you that far up the line, someone has an original copy. If it has been copied around fans for a while, it's doubtless well known.

James: Oh absolutely, hence my point of going back to my source and seeing what else I can discover.

sda: I don't recall anything burned into the picture - however it doesn't surprise me that other copies are floating around.

As I said before, I guessed these may be well known on the collector's circuit...

Perhaps if anyone else has a copy, take a look and see how long it lasts... Maybe it's the full programme? Maybe it cuts off like my current copy. Picture quality etc...

As long as the best available copy can find it's way to Fremantle and/or the BFI that would be good wouldn't it?

[John Miller]

Re: There appeared to be a clip of black & white film, Susan Stranks 68-69 ?; on couple of recent retrospects. The main material mssing appears to be Tony Bastable editions, but I recall the last 'Magpie' show had a series of takes where bastable was seen as Sue Stranks tried to make something (a toy tower ?) from a washing up liquid bottle. Each time something would go wrong. However as it was live & I recall Sue making mistakes all the time in actual transmissions, these must have been excerpts from off air recordings.

[Gary]

And Pete Brady editions as well are gone. I dont remember ever seeing any in clips.

[Gareth R]

I'm fairly certain that the B&W Magpie episode referred to exists as a broadcast-quality recording in the Thames archive - from where it escaped onto the collector's circuit.

I've seen several different dubs of it, along with the colour anniversary show that opens with the B&W Thames skyline.