80's-onwards missing TV

[Dave Crichton]

Hi all, somebody mentioned a few posts ago that Philip Schofield (spelling?) and others were looking for their recorded inserts for childrens TV on the BBC in the early 90's?

Can someone explain what television is not held by the BBC how much is 'missing' from the late 80's onwards.

Many thanks
Dave Crichton

[Meeper]

I know of someone who has recorded inserts of philip schofield. Not sure how may sound clips he has, but has got a rather good one of him singing along to the mysterious cities of gold. He also has a film clip of that Andy Crane .

He used to have them up at watchedit.com...domain name seems to have dissapeared though... but think its hosted on a geocities site still.

[Dave Crichton]

But it asks the question, what year was ALL recorded output archiving started? I'm sure most of us have hours of filler material from the 80's/90's but it wouldn't have crossed my mind that it might not be available at the beeb.

Cheers
Dave

[Simon Mclean]

It depends, really - some BBC VHS viewing copies of programmes are taken direct from the original tapes, with VT clock etc, but more interestingly some (usually from the early 80s onwards) are off-air recordings, with surrounding continuity and often the whole following programme. I recently saw a viewing copy of a 1983 Breakfast Time which had Pages from Ceefax at the beginning and end!

So theoretically, there's probably a few bits of continuity lying around at the Beeb that nobody really knows about, or could be bothered to check. I don't know whether any CBBC stuff will have survived like this, though it's possible.

I do recall seeing a fairly recent clip of CBBC continuity on an out-takes show which looked like it was taken off VHS, so they probably still don't archive everything. Perhaps we should start taping this stuff, and then flog it on eBay in thirty years time!

[Jim Schwartau]

Guest-Simon said:

I recently saw a viewing copy of a 1983 Breakfast Time which had Pages from Ceefax at the beginning and end! <snip> I don't know whether any CBBC stuff will have survived like this, though it's possible.

This is what I never understood about Schofield's plea - why doesn't his manager simply get in touch with the BBC and request the off-air VHSes of, say, "Grange Hill" (which I know exist as I've used some of them - they quite often include the gloriously under-rated "Fax!" with Bill Oddie, too, in the slot now occupied by "Neighbours".)

There's plenty of Broom Cupboard-era continuity on them, and I'm sure he's entitled to copies under the Contributor Access scheme.

Jim.

[Adam James Smith]

hey: what was Fax! starring Bill Oddie: I think I may remember it..

[Jim Schwartau]

Guest-Adam said:

hey: what was Fax! starring Bill Oddie: I think I may remember it..

Bill Oddie, "Merseyside's own" Billy Butler and Wendy Leavesley (later Debbie Rix) answer viewers' questions on a variety of subjects, in front of a studio audience. A sort of "Did You Know" for kids. I found it interesting at the time, and the tapes show that the programmes are still good. Made by BBC Manchester.

Jim.