Redcap Archives - THIS IS ABC WEEKEND from Transdiffusion

A pictorial look back over the past twelve years…

ABC TV News — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:50:19 +0000

1956… Anxious — yet exciting — moments (1) as Didsbury goes on the air with the first-ever show — Hometown Saturday Night. Saturdays started off with a swing in those early days with (2) Joan Edwards hosting the early morning disc programme, Housewives Call the Tune.

1957… marked the introduction of what was becoming one of the most popular Advertising Magazine programmes, “What’s In Store” hosted (1) by Doris Rogers … along with the most unique way of exchanging unwanted pieces for requirements of the day — (2) Elizabeth Allen’s Swop Shop

1958… saw ABC-TV go out into the country to bring viewers the world’s first live OB farming series, The Other Man’s Farm — and Jack Good brings a dynamic new form of entertainment to ABC’s screens — Oh Boy! — introducing Calcutta choirboy Harry Webb who was to go on to become today’s world-famous Cliff Richard.

1959… saw the establishment of yet another “first” for ABC — the Company’s Religious Training Scheme whereby clerics of all denominations gained TV experience and know-how. At the inauguration L-R: Howard Thomas, the Bishop of Manchester, Dr. Eric Flecther, M.P. and the Rev. L. G. Tyler, Anglican Adviser to ABC-TV. The situation comedy series Time Out for Peggy was also in full swing, starring Billie Whitelaw and Diana King, seen here with Michael Segal.

1960… a household programme throughout the land for the past two years, the first-ever attempt to bring religion to the country’s youth, The Sunday Break was enjoying its heyday. Didsbury also provided untold memorable editions of Armchair Theatre including A Night Out with Tom bell and Madge Ryan. Not forgetting, of course, such Light Entertainment “greats” as Boy Meets Girls and Wham!!

1961… Following fast on the heels of the musical programme for the young in heart, Steamboat Shuffle from the banks of the Thames with Peter Elliott (seen here) and Don Rennie, came another watery series, City Beneath the Sea starring Stewart Guidotti and Gerald Flood — yet another adventure series for even younger viewers and a follow-up to the highly-successful Pathfinders series.

1962… was the year ABC Television brought off one of its greatest scoops by presenting Frank Sinatra in his British TV debut, This is Sinatra … and saw The Avengers as a top-rating viewing habit with Patrick Macnee as the now-familiar John Steed and Honor Blackman as the original female foil, Cathy Gale.

1963… Tempo continued to bring both the famous and the controversial into viewers’ living rooms, among them Portugal’s most famous singer, Amalia Rodrigues, who has made Fado — the Portuguese equivalent of Flamenco — famous around the world.

While in Birmingham, pop stars from this country and America — including these four young men — topped the Thank Your Lucky Stars Tam ratings under the guidance of Brian Matthew, his fellow dee-jays and Brum’s own ‘Oi’ll Give it Foive’ girl, Janice Nicholls.

1964… saw the Didsbury success of Gazette — forerunner of today’s Eamonn Andrews Show — starring the then lesser-known Scaffold group of Roger McGough, Mike McGear, John Gorman and Sheila Fearn. The Army also continued to gain public interest and respect with the popular, if yet controversial series Redcap, starring Northerner John Thaw.

1965… was the year Inquiry Agency Frank Marker, alias Alfred Burke, got into the Public Eye as Midlands super sleuth, one of ABC’s most successful drama series (seen here with Wendy Gifford) … and the year comedians Mike and Bernie Winters cemented their household name along with many of their comedy colleagues. Here they’re seen sharing a joke with Kenneth More during the summer show Blackpool Night Out, forerunner of The Blackpool Show.

1966… and another year of cementation for Adult Education programmes, one of the most popular being Philip Harben’s Grammar of Cookery, for which Producer Margery Baker won the year’s best adult education programme award presented by the National Institute of Adult Education in conjunction with the Guild of Television Producers and Directors. Another to gain the interest of viewers was the audience participation GCE “O” Level series, First Steps in Physics by G. H. Hacker, B.Sc. and presented by Prof. James Ring.

1967—68… King of the Jam-Butty Mines Ken Dodd crossed the channel and had his own highly-successful series on ABC, introducing Announcer David Hamilton in a new role as Diddy David. Tommy Cooper, Frankie Howerd and Bruce Forsyth also joined the fun ranks. Also a mixed year of sadness and excitement — sadness particularly in Didsbury where the studios drew to a close after 12 active and successful years with two old favourites — top-rating Opportunity Knocks, hosted for the past five series by Hughie Green (seen here entertaining the audience before a show) and responsible for much of the country’s new talent; and Just Jimmy, starring the inseparable trio of Jimmy Clitheroe, Danny Ross and Mollie Sugden.

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John Thaw

Ken and Sylvia Ferguson — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 09:50:45 +0000

John Thaw, the star of ABC-TV’s “Redcap” series, established himself rapidly as a top television personality. His role of Sergeant Mann of the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police won him a large slice of fame.

From Television Stars 1966, published by Purnell

John Thaw as Sgt. Mann

Like many young men of school-leaving age, John did not have the slightest idea what he wanted to do for a living. Then one day, this son of a lorry-driver took a job as a porter at a fruit-market on the suggestion of a friend.

“For three months,” he said, “I slogged away between four in the morning and two in the afternoon doing jobs like piling sacks of potatoes one on top of another.”

After getting rather bored and tired doing this sort of thing, he decided to become a baker’s apprentice. He stayed at this job for two months before making up his mind that he would like to become an actor.

Having an intense and keen interest in dramatics, he was encouraged by the elocution teachers with whom he was studying to further his drama work at a local youth club in Burnage, Manchester.

The next giant step he took was the trip to London and to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He confesses that his first term there was somewhat of a disaster in that he found it difficult to grasp the things that were being taught. He says he flopped in the end of term exams, and went home to Burnage feeling very unhappy. But the next term at RADA was more successful. He went on to give a prize-winning repertory season at Liverpool between July, 1960, and January, 1961.

The next step was television, when he was invited to appear in a season of Granada’s “Younger Generation” series, and in an exciting role in the TV version of “Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance”. From then on the acting career of John Thaw was never in doubt. One role followed another. He appeared at the Royal Court Theatre in “The Fire Raisers”, in the film The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, which starred Tom Courtenay, a former flat mate of his, at the Arts Theatre in “Women, Beware Women”, and so on.

JOHN THAW: from baker’s apprentice to TV star

He was chosen to understudy Sir Laurence Olivier in the West End production of “Semi-Detached”. He also played the part. Working alongside Olivier, proved an invaluable experience for him.

After this came four appearances in “Z Cars”, which was then followed by three months repertory work in Dundee, and by roles in TV plays, including one in “The Avengers”.

“It was through that role in ‘The Avengers’ — the former series, with Cathy Gale, who was involved in a plot to put her on the throne of Britain — that I was noticed by ABC, who were looking for an actor to play Sergeant Mann in ‘Redcap’.”

Just before he started work on the series John, who had married actress Sally Alexander, spent a one-week honeymoon in Corsica. After this he got down to the part which has made him popular throughout the country.

He says his greatest weakness is that he worries about everything. But one thing he need have no worries about — is his future in television.

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Scrapbook

Russ J Graham — Thu, 11 Jan 2001 16:02:39 +0000

No Trams to Lime Street

Jack Hedley and Billie Whitelaw in the award-winning Armchair Theatre production.

Police Surgeon

Ian Hendry as Dr Geoffrey Brent attending to the wounded in the cop drama.

Our House

Hattie Jaques and Charles Hawtrey in Norman Hudis’s comedy about surreal boarding house residents.

The Human Jungle

Herbert Lom as the psychiatrist who can’t stay professionally detached from those he hopes to help.

Glamour all the way

Acceptable then, cringe-worthy now, the first Miss TVTimes contest is judged by Patrick Macnee and Adam Faith and won by Valerie Martin.

Redcap

John Thaw fights crime in the army as a member of the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch.

World of Sport

Saturday afternoons mean sport – and owning ITV’s largest Outside Broadcast fleet means ABC brings you the programme, fronted by Eamonn Andrews.

Public Eye

Alfred Burke as the private eye with no gun and no mobsters lurking.

Intrigue

Edward Judd fights industrial espionage.

The Phantom Lover

David Buck appears in a supernatural drama series Mystery and Imagination, in this story opposite Virginia McKenna.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

CS Lewis’s timeless classic, adored by children and adults alike.

Photographs: TVTimes/ABC/ITA

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