BBC TV programme 'Richard Stilgoe' trailer - late 1979

I'm the cameraman operating the camera on the left. This series was recorded in BBC TV Studio A, NBH, Oxford Road, Manchester in late 1979, and I'm sure you must admit that this is a hilarious trailer....
The cameras used were EMI 2005 which were terrible cameras, and I think the last cameras made by EMI before they got out of the business. BBC North bought them cheap off EMI in 1976 and it was obvious why they were cheap. The lenses had particularly poor pin cushion distortion at the wide end, so much so that I tried to never use them approaching the wide end. However on some programmes, for example Best of Brass, a regional progamme in Studio A contesting brass bands, space was so tight that the wide end of the zoom had to be used, and in fact may have given a chic quality to the programme.
Also, the cameras were as soft as old boots, as well the bodies feeling plasticky and about to fall apart. However, they did give very colourful pictures which was great on some programmes like Cheggars Plays Pop and The Oxford Road Show (a clip to be uploaded soon on to YT).
The sail effects behind Richard can be seen in the behind-the-scenes clip of mine of a 1979 Tour of Studio N and Studio A.

[@alisoncleeton877]

I loved him as a kid!

[@robinvanags912]

In the 1980s I encountered EMI 2005s at the BBC in Plymouth & Norwich - as well as here in Studio A NBH, Oxford Road in June 1985.

[@unhban]

Sorry, I meant the lenses had severe barrel distortion, not pincushion distortion, at the wide end.

[@unhban]

I think they lasted a fair while, like eight or nine years? I'm pretty sure the 2005 camera was the last one produced by EMI, and they were awful. Plastic sides made the camera feel creaky and cheap, the picture was colourful but not sharp, and the lens had severe pincushion distortion at the wide end. When you say P.A.W.N. at Wood Norton, do you mean the bunker? They had three down there, ready for when the bomb dropped :)