BBC TV David Essex Showcase - 1982, behind-the-scenes

In Memory of Senior TV Cameraman Con Jones, d. 30 November 2011. Con is the guy on the crane, R.I.P.
The David Essex Showcase was a networked live talent show transmitted prime time every Saturday evening, where the audience voted for the best act at the end of the show. It was an Outside Broadcast from the Harrogate International Centre, directed by Alan Walsh, Engineering Manager John Crowther, series Camera Supervisor John Chester, Vision Supervisor Albert Kinsella, Senior Sound Supervisor John Drake, and gained good viewer ratings. The cameras are Philips LDK 5s and this clip is from a three hour VHS tape that I recorded of rehearsals. Apologies that the audio is left channel only.
I'm pretty certain that the cameramen this weekend were - Camera 1 Chris Bruce, Camera 2 (crane left) Con Jones, Camera 3 Chris Chisnall, Camera 4 (crane right) myself, Camera 5 (handheld) Wayne Mottershead. Camera 3 was low down, pretty well level with the stage, in one of the half circular walkways for the audience. However, Camera 1 was behind Camera 3 but much higher in one of the walkways and used for tracking shots sideways. This was quite difficult on the thick carpet.
We'd rig the cameras on the Friday afternoon, then have an overnight stay either in Harrogate (a B&B just up the road), or preferably the New Inn at Burnt Yates which had cosy cottages and pub attached. Saturday morning and afternoon would be full rehearsals and a dress run, then the show in the evening and afterwards the de-rig and home.

[@paulwalker6297]

I would like to add a personal and heart-felt R.I.P. for Series Director, Alan Walsh, whose voice you're now hearing. Alan was sadly taken from us very early in his illustrious career, following what turned out to be a terminal illness few people were aware of. I had the pleasure of working with Alan as his Vision Mixer on all the live and recorded programmes he directed for BBC North, either in the studio or on OBs. These included the much loved and sadly missed, Russell Harty, both in the studio and from his home in the Yorkshire Dales, the Freddie Starr and the David Essex "Showcase" series from the Harrogate International Conference Centre, and the well received Toni Basil song and dance specials. Toni is a top USA choreographer, dancer, and singer who has worked with many WorldWide artists and performers. She also enjoyed considerable success with her hit release song, MICKEY, which was accompanied by the first of several popular dance videos she co-directed.
Alan was an absolute delight to work with and for - being an absolute and consummate professional, who was subsequently sadly missed by ALL of us here at BBC Television in Manchester.
R.I.P my friend x

[@FABSISTERS]

Fantastic act, good talent brilliant show, Astonishing!!

[@ste1bro]

Absolutely fascinating, thank you!
Love the early lunch break chatter near the end...
I had no idea rehearsals were this time consuming!

[@train672]

Very many thanks !
I'm not sure how I found this on TH-cam, but it is most interesting to see 'behind the scenes'
Cheers :)

[@suerimington7764]

brings back memories i was chosen twice out of the audience to vote on the panel

[@unhban]

Also, sound, lighting and the Director know where they are within a shot so if there's any changes to be done/needed/changed there's a bar-point. It's a standard procedure in scripted music numbers to count bars.

[@unhban]

Those are the bars of the music. The cameramen can then time their moves to end correctly.

[@ianmoone-dm4if]

Do you have the complete shows ??,,looking for 1 from 1882 i think it has guest band called cheetah on it,,any helps please

[@elayne4334]

Yes they were a fab band... worked on the series ...hard work.. tons of concentration .. and a great team.

[@davidmaurits]

Who is the artist?

[@vhssnippets1799]

Ricardo (Rikki) Patrick. Since the group 'Arrival' is also featuring in the programme, this must be the rehearsal for the final episode of the series broadcast on 21st August 1982.