Angus puts Bideford on the map

Perhaps this should be in the main ITV50 thread, but for me ITV's 50 Greatest Shows had more of a surprise other than which shows made the top 50. And it came about with Angus Deayton's trbute to ITV Sport.

Where do you think that sports ground was? A local club in London, perhaps, not far from the South Bank? Wrong. The grounds were none other than those of...Bideford AFC!

http://www.grangehill.net/img/angus1.jpg

Delighted as I am that our town got a rare bit of high-profile exposure, I am left wondering, why Bideford? Apart from on New Year's Eve, it's an insignificant market town and miles from any ITV studio. Why have ITV brought Angus down here when they could have had Anfield Road or Old Trafford, much more fitting venues for a tribute to ITV Sport surely?

Although the pitch is just across the road from me, I haven't been there for quite some time so I hadn't seen the quite substantial refurbishment that has taken place. And for those of you not familiar with the area, I've highlighted some other local "attractions":

http://www.grangehill.net/img/angus2.jpg

http://www.grangehill.net/img/angus3.jpg

http://www.grangehill.net/img/angus4.jpg

Only towards the end of the piece, where Angus was sitting in the shelters, did it twig (probably because of the inverted "Bideford AFC Home Town" insignia). Could there be another Bideford in the UK?

http://www.grangehill.net/img/angus5.jpg

The biggest surprise of all was the fact there was no advance press coverage. If someone like Angus is filming down here, the local papers are usually on the case. Does anyone have any info on the shoot?

Once again, thanks ITV for giving our town some prime-time exposure, though I'm still amazed you did!

So there were no shots of your house then, Simon?

Afraid not; only the Safeway end was shown. My place is on the other side, seperated by a back alley and main road.

> Why have ITV brought Angus down here when they could have had Anfield Road or Old Trafford, much more fitting venues for a tribute to ITV Sport surely?

Irony?

A reflection on ITV's sporting portfolio over the years?

HURRAH FOR NORTH DEVON!
http://fotw.net/images/g/gb-e-ndv.gif

... or if you prefer - the more widely recognised county flag:
http://fotw.net/images/g/gb-devon.gif

I've only ever heard Bideford being used in television comedy as one of those funny sounding placenames.

Well apart from Fawlty Towers, I am not aware of any comedy references and certainly not as a funny sounding name.

That's not to say the town isn't a joke - it's becoming increasingly like a ghost town, with few "big name" shops. And whilst the antique councillors - many well past retirement age - remain, along with extortionate business rates, there can be little hope of regeneration.

Nonetheless, I am aware of it.

I would refer you to one of Victoria Wood's sketchbooks from "As Seen on TV" or "Wood and Walters". I don't know which one. They are on a shelf in the bathroom, but I've just eaten steak and I can't be bothered getting up.

Is it on the As Seen on TV DVD?

What am I, an information desk?

I only read my bathroom books when I'm sitting down for an 'extended period'. I expect that may occur following my steak dinner.

Tonight, if we're all very lucky.

I'll quote it (if I find it), chapter and verse.

Thank you Gavin for the graphic image that is now putting me off my own late dinner!

I'd say it's likely that Angus filmed his bit for the show whilst being down in the Westcountry filming the second series of Nighty Night on BBC3 - and Bideford happened to have a handy ground to provide the backdrop for his 'sporting insights'.