Tiswas returns to ITV, Saturday 16th June

[messylaura]

uh oh, Haley is knocking back the doubles again

[Hayley]

hehe

Sorry have removed the double post now, but good lines, guys!

[BillShipton]

So as not to detract from the general celebration on the other thread, a nerdy moment from me about the show.

It was a terrible shame to see ATV Centre (where I did my work experience in 1976 and a very brief stint with Tiswas) boarded up and derelict. Studio 3, the one Sally and Chris visited was the local news studio during the week and the venue for Tiswas on Saturdays. Studio 1 was the big light ent studio (New Faces was being shot there in my day - earlier it had been The Golden Shot and later Bullseye), Studio 2 was a permanent set for Crossroads and Studio 4 a little continuity suite. The balcony they showed was where the gallery was sited and I have run up and down those stairs handing out changed running orders in my time!

The balcony that features in The Bucket of Water song was also at ATV Centre at the back overlooking the carpark and the canal. The car park was used for occasional outdoor Tiswas stunts cos the cameramen could film from the balcony. This meant it was not classed as an outside broadcast as the cameras hadn't left the premises and much cheaper. This was the time of strong unions after all. The fountain in the BoW song was outside the Rep theatre almost immediately opposite ATV Centre. No expense spared - or rather no expense!

I wonder what happened to all the memorabilia from the old Centre. Like lots of studio centres it was decorated with huge photos of shows produced there. All I have is a genuine cardboard ATV scanner caption (the still logo used at the end credits). It was from Farming Today - also shot in Studio 3.
I had a Tiswas teeshirt at the time (it shrunk very quickly!) and a hat. The teeshirt has been replaced by a replica one but I was anal enough to insists on an accurate reproduction (the word Tiswas isn't good enough!).

Yes, I am an old man trapped in the past (70s not 60s, Jonny).

[Peter Thomas]

It's highly likely that I'll be off to the ATV studios next month to do some work.

The place is crumbling and to get in there, you have to sign a disclaimer about injuries.

I've never been in there before, apart from the Broad Street reception (I entered it when it was Central in 1983).

I'm doing some work for a documentary about the building, and I'm luckily part of the film crew. No other people are allowed in for the date we have set, so unfortunately I can't invite other Tiswas fans to come in with me.

I do aim to be the last person to pie (or get pied) in the Tiswas studio. Imagine that as a bragging right!