Covert Activity Thames Section and other TVS shows

Started this thread so not to get confused with the children's Cats Eyes show.

Maggie Forbes - wasn't she the only character (at the time) not only to transfer between different programmes (i.e. The Gentle Touch to CATS's Eyes) but also transferred TV companies (i.e. LWT to TVS)?

only previous character I know thst transferred between programmes was Bullman (a copper to a private detective) but all three different series were made by Granada (when it was Granada and not **** plc) TV

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there some sort of arrangement between LWT & TVS to provide some drama programming for the network at the time?

Sure I read it on 'Off The Telly' web site's long running Saturday night tv article!

I remember that in one episode of CATS Eyes, Maggie Forbes visited her former colleagues at the police station, and the set appeared to be the same one used on The Gentle Touch.

LWT & TVS had quite a good working relationship when it came to network productions. LWT would always champion shows such as Catchphrase, Ruth Rendel Mysteries etc

Indeed, a deal was struck just as Greg Dyke arrived at TVS. LWT had difficulties with the weekend schedule and TVS wanted to get more of its productions onto the network (it didn't get any guaranteed access due to not being one of the major five companies). The deal worked out perfectly for the two broadcasters and saw TVS production move away from the niche and into the light ent. slant.

It lasted for a few years until TVS went looking to America to try and convince the IBA they could be the sixth major company, which in turn saw the reform of the ITV system, which in-turn saw Greg Dyke go back to LWT.

I recently got hold of some old continuity footage from the mid-eighties including adverts and a lot of TVS, Southern and ITN presentation...

Seeming as we're on the topic of TVS, I'm interested to know what the show 'Company' was all about? Its like a sort of late-night topical discussion with about three people sitting around a kitchen table set and I'm sure it was filmed at Maidstone. There also seemed to be no editing as the show would cut straight in to closedown etc. Was this programme broadcast for lonely people who couldn't sleep?

What made me laugh most was the continuity announcer warning people to get up and turn their TV sets off incase they'd fallen asleep in their chair!

Ahh! The old "Please don't forget to switch off your sets" line was a frequent one for friendly announcer closedowns for donkey's years. Quite quaint when you hear them now, but up until TV sets featured standby modes and remote controls, it was quite sensible advice as TVs caught fire alarmingly often if they got too hot.

Not surprising they caught fire considering they were essentially just great wooden boxes. I remember our old Ferguson set and my Dad having to smack it every so often to steady the picture!

nok32uk:
Seeming as we're on the topic of TVS, I'm interested to know what the show 'Company' was all about? Its like a sort of late-night topical discussion with about three people sitting around a kitchen table set and I'm sure it was filmed at Maidstone. There also seemed to be no editing as the show would cut straight in to closedown etc. Was this programme broadcast for lonely people who couldn't sleep?

TVS's "epilogue" programme, usually one of the three people would be a priest/vicar/minister.

What made me laugh most was the continuity announcer warning people to get up and turn their TV sets off incase they'd fallen asleep in their chair!

Usually after an awful film featuring the Royal Family to accompany the National Anthem. I have a TVS closedown from early 1985 with Gordon Radley (now to be found on Sky News) which uses a montage of pictures of Charles & Diana with the newborn Prince Harry where he does exactly this in a friendly manner.

Yes! Thats probably the one I've got....we must have used similar sources. There was a weather update followed by the 'Company' programme featuring three people sitting round a kitchen table and the woman (could have been my Nan back then) started talking about getting perks in her job - and yes there was a Reverend who was trying to keep the peace. Its all like a strange 1980's nightmare when you look at stuff like that nowadays but I do find it fascinating how TV has evolved.