LWT's Metal Mickey
David Crossman
In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
Has anyone heard of these shows being issued on VHS?
I'd love a copy of some of these episodes since the cast were great,
the writer, Colin Bostock Smith, was brilliant and my contribution
provided the odd laugh.
TIA,
David.
--
David Crossman, DGGB
--------------------
dareks at dircon.co.uk
Dave Hughes
In article <nA5F...@dircon.co.uk>, David Crossman
<dar...@dircon.co.uk> writes
>In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
>comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
>
Well, in that case, I have to thank you for many happy memories! Metal
Mickey was one of the first programmes I remember having seen, and even
though I was but a wee nipper at the time, I tried never to miss an
episode of it. My memory fails me when attempting to recall exact plot
details - apart from the fizz bomb thing!
>Has anyone heard of these shows being issued on VHS?
>
>I'd love a copy of some of these episodes since the cast were great,
>the writer, Colin Bostock Smith, was brilliant and my contribution
>provided the odd laugh.
>
Oh dear, I hope that this isn't going to be as elusive as the mythical
Adventure Game - can't find anyone with a copy of that for gold dust!
Good luck with your search anyway...
--
Dave Hughes
Trevor (Not Trevor)
In article <a6u3NRAr...@eposyork.demon.co.uk>, Dave Hughes
<da...@eposyork.demon.co.uk> artesticulated
>In article <nA5F...@dircon.co.uk>, David Crossman
><dar...@dircon.co.uk> writes
>>In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
>>comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
>>
>
>Well, in that case, I have to thank you for many happy memories! Metal
>Mickey was one of the first programmes I remember having seen, and even
>though I was but a wee nipper at the time, I tried never to miss an
>episode of it. My memory fails me when attempting to recall exact plot
>details - apart from the fizz bomb thing!
The only two lines that are, strangely, stuck in my mind from this
program are "I want to go to wee-wee" [which us 7 year olds thought was
hilarious] and "Biggles bites the dust". I probably need some sort of
therapy.
--
Trevor (not Trevor) WWW site down for revamp
- "CAKE" information page - the lowdown on a new, legal and lethal drug -
- Fact sheet, support graphic and loads of Real Audio. Fight Cake today!-
http://www.prioryv.demon.co.uk/cake.htm
*Not the only ungulate on Usenet*
David Crossman
In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
Has anyone heard of these shows being issued on VHS?
I'd love a copy of some of these episodes since the cast were great,
the writer, Colin Bostock Smith, was brilliant and my contribution
provided the odd laugh.
John O'Shea
On Tue, 8 Jul 1997 10:44:11 +0100, Dave Hughes
<da...@eposyork.demon.co.uk> expounded:
>In article <nA5F...@dircon.co.uk>, David Crossman
><dar...@dircon.co.uk> writes
>>In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
>>comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
>>Has anyone heard of these shows being issued on VHS?
>Oh dear, I hope that this isn't going to be as elusive as the mythical
>Adventure Game - can't find anyone with a copy of that for gold dust!
This is dangerously close to the "Do you remember a series called The
Adventure Game" thread. Mind you, we've not had that in at least a
fortnight.
John
Mike Parkins
"David Crossman" wrote:
> In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
> comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
Never mind Irene Handl, who was that gorgeous female who looked after
Mickey?
Handl was her gran, if I remember right - Was she played by Gerry Cowper?
I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
Mike.
BBCtv Nottingham
chris harrison
Any relation to Nicola Cowper, who has also disappeared of the face of
TV?
--
"Why is it drug addicts and computer affictionados are both called
users?"
chris harrison.
http://www.bogo.co.uk/lowfield/
David Crossman
she...@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Mike Parkins") wrote:
> Handl was her gran, if I remember right - Was she played by Gerry
> Cowper? I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
I think if I gave you any more facts, it might ruin your idyllic
youth.
Alistair McGown
Discussing Bionic Boogie...
Mike Parkins wrote:
>
> "David Crossman" wrote:
> > In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
> > comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
>
> Never mind Irene Handl, who was that gorgeous female who looked after
> Mickey?
> Handl was her gran, if I remember right - Was she played by Gerry Cowper?
> I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
Wasn't it (and bear in mind I have NO reference book to hand) LUCINDA
BATESON? The character was definitely Hayley (blonde, big hair) though I
can't remember the nickname Mickey gave her. Was it Stumblebum? No,
really.
Hi guys, please welcome me to this wonderful newsgroup. From now on I'll
be half-answering all of your Tv trivia questions...
Alistair
Mike Parkins
>> Never mind Irene Handl, who was that gorgeous female who looked after
>> Mickey?
>> Handl was her gran, if I remember right - Was she played by Gerry
Cowper?
>> I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
>Any relation to Nicola Cowper, who has also disappeared of the face of
>TV?
They're sisters I think. Nicola has been in lots of things - I remember
her in one of the films in C4's infamous First Love season (no, not
P'tang Yang Kipperbang). Gerry has been in The Bill (but then so has half
of Equity's membership!). I first saw her in an ITV drama many years ago,
called 'Two People' if I remember...
Mike
David Crossman
chris harrison <ca...@doc.ic.ac.uk> wrote:
>> Never mind Irene Handl, who was that gorgeous female who looked after
>> Mickey? Was she played by
>> Gerry Cowper? I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
The character was called Haley and she was played by Lucinda Bateson.
Andrew Wiseman
Mike Parkins wrote:
>
> "David Crossman" wrote:
> > In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
> > comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
>
> I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
I confess I was "in love with" Gerry's younger sister Nicola Cowper at
the time. She was in Break for the Sun or some such drama on Children's
BBC. She later went on to star in teenage drama S.W.A.L.K. made for
Channel 4 by Thames and co-starring Prunella Scales. And I last remember
her in a Kentucky Fried Chicken advert with the guy who got blown up in
Soldier, Soldier. I remember Gerry was in The Bill recently. Nicola and
Gerry may even have appeared together in it. I wonder what they're up
to.
(Nothing to do with Metal Mickey of course. The character you're talking
about was equally gorgeous to a young schoolkid such as myself.)
Andrew
--/___
Deryk Barker
Andrew Wiseman (ba...@dircon.co.uk) wrote:
: Mike Parkins wrote:
: >
: > "David Crossman" wrote:
: > > In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
: > > comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
: >
: > Never mind Irene Handl, who was that gorgeous female who looked after
: > Mickey? Handl was her gran, if I remember right - Was she played by
: > Gerry Cowper?
: > I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
: I confess I was "in love with" Gerry's younger sister Nicola Cowper at
: the time. She was in Break for the Sun or some such drama on Children's
: BBC. She later went on to star in teenage drama S.W.A.L.K. made for
: Channel 4 by Thames and co-starring Prunella Scales. And I last remember
: her in a Kentucky Fried Chicken advert with the guy who got blown up in
: Soldier, Soldier. I remember Gerry was in The Bill recently. Nicola and
: Gerry may even have appeared together in it. I wonder what they're up
: to.
Gerry Cowper also played Clare in After Henry, but I don't recall if
it was the radio or tv version.
--
|Deryk Barker, Computer Science Dept. | Across the pale parabola of Joy |
|Camosun College, Victoria, BC, Canada | |
|email: dba...@camosun.bc.ca | Ralston McTodd |
|phone: +1 250 370 4452 | (Songs of Squalor). |
Secret Squirrel
Alistair McGown <alis...@mech.gla.ac.uk> wrote:
>Discussing Bionic Boogie...
>
>Mike Parkins wrote:
>>
>> "David Crossman" wrote:
>> > In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
>> > comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
>>
>> Never mind Irene Handl, who was that gorgeous female who looked after
>> Mickey?
>> Handl was her gran, if I remember right - Was she played by Gerry Cowper?
>> I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
>
>Wasn't it (and bear in mind I have NO reference book to hand) LUCINDA
>BATESON? The character was definitely Hayley (blonde, big hair) though I
>can't remember the nickname Mickey gave her. Was it Stumblebum? No,
>really.
>
>Hi guys, please welcome me to this wonderful newsgroup. From now on I'll
>be half-answering all of your Tv trivia questions...
>
I cannot say if it was Ms Bateson, but at the time she was in just
loads of things, then she was gone, here today gone tomorrow, another
that fame has eluded.
"You Might Very Well Think That, I Couldn't Possibly Comment."
David Crossman
Alistair McGown <alis...@mech.gla.ac.uk> wrote:
> Mike Parkins wrote:
>> "David Crossman" wrote:
>>> In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's comedy
>>> drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
>> Never mind Irene Handl, who was that gorgeous female who looked after
>> Mickey? Handl was her gran, if I remember right - Was she played by
>> Gerry Cowper? I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
> Wasn't it (and bear in mind I have NO reference book to hand) LUCINDA
> BATESON? The character was definitely Hayley (blonde, big hair) though I
> can't remember the nickname Mickey gave her. Was it Stumblebum? No,
> really.
You are spot-on Alistair - it was Lucinda.
The "roller" read thus:
FATHER WILBERFORCE: MICHAEL STAINTON
MOTHER WILBERFORCE: GEORGINA MELVILLE
GRANNY: IRENE HANDI
KEN: ASHLEY KNIGHT
HALEY: LUCINDA BATESON
JANEY: LOLA YOUNG
STEVE: GARY SHAIL
METAL MICKEY: HIMSELF
Simon Coward
On 17 Jul 1997 11:34:40 -0700, dba...@ccins.camosun.bc.ca (Deryk Barker) wrote:
>Gerry Cowper also played Clare in After Henry, but I don't recall if
>it was the radio or tv version.
Radio version only, I'm afraid. It was Janine Wood (?) in the telly version.
She also played Rowan Morrison in the film "The Wicker Man" and was in a TV play yonks and yonks ago
called something like "Two Young People". None of this answers the original question which was
what's she doing now. Sorry.
=
= D.P.M.Pulman: "I have no secrets from Peter. Have I, Peter? Secrets?"
= P.J.Frame: "Not that I know of."
=
Alistair McGown
My stunning debut to this group was marked of course by my amazing
recall, re Metal Mickey:
> Wasn't it (and bear in mind I have NO reference book to hand) LUCINDA
> BATESON? The character was definitely Hayley (blonde, big hair) though I
> can't remember the nickname Mickey gave her. Was it Stumblebum? No,
> really.
You are spot-on Alistair - it was Lucinda.
The "roller" read thus:
FATHER WILBERFORCE: MICHAEL STAINTON
MOTHER WILBERFORCE: GEORGINA MELVILLE
GRANNY: IRENE HANDI
KEN: ASHLEY KNIGHT
HALEY: LUCINDA BATESON
JANEY: LOLA YOUNG
STEVE: GARY SHAIL
METAL MICKEY: HIMSELF
But I did get a suprise: I thought the charcter who built Metal Mickey
(yeah, right) was called Ashley, but in fact that was the actor.
Bizarre. Oh and as for that last credit - highly suspect.
And David - you never told us Haley's nickname!
Alistair
Geoffrey phillips
According to the IMDB, "Gerri Cowper" was also in the film Frenzy,
uncredited, and the Yes Minister episode "the Right to Know".
Was she the girl with an extremely short skirt :-) ?
I do remember some things about this show, was it really early 80's? I'd
have thought it was later 70's, ah hang on, perhaps it was on Saturdays,
I can't think how I would have seen it, ah the penny dropped: London
Weekend Television=weekend, doh!
It was set in the future, I remember the "Dad" (or whatever the
adult male role was) reminiscing about the Punk era, and various items
of what was modern technology back then being shown to be old-fashioned.
Wasn't it the creation of Micky Dolenz of the Monkees? Was that why the
name Micky was chosen?
I'll stop rambling now!
Geoff
Deryk Barker wrote:
>
> Andrew Wiseman (ba...@dircon.co.uk) wrote:
> : Mike Parkins wrote:
> : >
> : > "David Crossman" wrote:
> : > > In the early eighties I directed 3 series of the LWT children's
> : > > comedy drama series "Metal Mickey". The shows starred Irene Handl.
> : >
> : > Never mind Irene Handl, who was that gorgeous female who looked after
> : > Mickey? Handl was her gran, if I remember right - Was she played by
> : > Gerry Cowper?
> : > I think I was in love with her at the time :-)
>
> : I confess I was "in love with" Gerry's younger sister Nicola Cowper at
> : the time. She was in Break for the Sun or some such drama on Children's
> : BBC. She later went on to star in teenage drama S.W.A.L.K. made for
> : Channel 4 by Thames and co-starring Prunella Scales. And I last remember
> : her in a Kentucky Fried Chicken advert with the guy who got blown up in
> : Soldier, Soldier. I remember Gerry was in The Bill recently. Nicola and
> : Gerry may even have appeared together in it. I wonder what they're up
> : to.
>
> Gerry Cowper also played Clare in After Henry, but I don't recall if
> it was the radio or tv version.
>
Alistair McGown
I do remember some things about this show, was it really early 80's? I'd
have thought it was later 70's, ah hang on, perhaps it was on Saturdays,
I can't think how I would have seen it, ah the penny dropped: London
Weekend Television=weekend, doh!
It was set in the future, I remember the "Dad" (or whatever the
adult male role was) reminiscing about the Punk era, and various items
of what was modern technology back then being shown to be old-fashioned.
Wasn't it the creation of Micky Dolenz of the Monkees? Was that why the
name Micky was chosen?
Isn't memory a wonderful thing? No, Geoffrey, calm down! You're thinking
of 'Luna' now. That was a weekday children's series, now fairly famous
for introducing Patsy Kensit to the world. When Patsy grew up and things
started to 'develop' (not much but in pleasing proportion) she left to
be replaced by some curly little girl. The boy who was in the BBC's
Seaview with Yvette Fielding (and also a Rice Krispies advert around the
same time) was also in it, his voice breaking hither and thither as he
made his bid for fame.
Yeah, there was a punk grandad ('Gramps' I think they called him) who
would reminisce about Haircut 100 and such like (a clip recently turned
up on one of the finest TV shows of recent years 'The Adam and Joe
Show').
Back to Metal Mickey: it was set in the present day; yes, it was
produced by Micky Dolenz; yes it was on Saturdays. At one point it was
showing at 5.15 (Autumn 1981) just before Buck Rogers at 5.45. I
remember distinctly because I turned over immediately it finished to
watch Doctor Who (Meglos Part 2) at 5.40. I was on holiday in
Scarborough and that is why I remember.
Like I said, memory is a wonderful thing.
Are you ready are you set
For Metal Mickey
He's the cutest robot yet
He's Metal Mickey
He is a lot of fun
(Lot of fun)
He'll be your number one
(Number One)
Something else I can't remember
(can't remember)
So look out
Look out
He's Metal Mickey
Do-doodle-doodle-do-doooo
Not covered by Suede, incidentally.
Ah, Seaview, series one. Were you in love with Yvette, boys?
Al
William HamBevan
: Are you ready are you set
: For Metal Mickey
: He's the cutest robot yet
: He's Metal Mickey
: He is a lot of fun
: (Lot of fun)
: He'll be your number one
: (Number One)
: Something else I can't remember
: (can't remember)
He weighs a half a ton...?
(half a ton)
: So look out
: Look out
: He's Metal Mickey
: Do-doodle-doodle-do-doooo
---
And we're not saying that it will -==- William Ham Bevan
And we're not saying that it won't -==- Linguistics & Philology
Only that it might -==- University of Oxford
Alistair McGown
Many moons ago I ruminated on the bygone days of Metal Mickey:
: Are you ready are you set
: For Metal Mickey
: He's the cutest robot yet
: He's Metal Mickey
: He is a lot of fun
: (Lot of fun)
: He'll be your number one
: (Number One)
: Something else I can't remember
: (can't remember)
He weighs a half a ton...?
(half a ton)
William Ham Bevan
Linguistics & Philology
University of Oxford.
Jesus College, Oxford and this is what you come up with. You bunch of
privileged wasters. You come in here with your blazers and punts and try
to tell me - whose only pleasure was television, living in the REAL
world as I did/do - the missing words to the Metal Mickey Song???
God, I hate you. And you're probably right. A slack day for Jesus?
William HamBevan
Distribution:
: Jesus College, Oxford and this is what you come up with. You bunch of
: privileged wasters. You come in here with your blazers and punts and try
: to tell me - whose only pleasure was television, living in the REAL
: world as I did/do - the missing words to the Metal Mickey Song???
Privileged wa.....? Listen to me, you tartan-arsed git: live in Swansea
for nineteen years and then tell me about the real world. We used to
watch Metal Mickey from the pavement outside the TV shop, cos it went
well with a bag of Bostik.
: God, I hate you. And you're probably right. A slack day for Jesus?
I'm an employee of Jesus, not a student here, and have to look after 130
obnoxious summer school students from the States for a shitty £35 a week.
They all think Benny Hill is funny, apart from the sorority girls, who
don't even think that fun is funny.
And of course I'm right, you impudent Jock.
---
And we're not saying that it will -==- William Ham Bevan
And we're not saying that it won't -==- Linguistics & Philology
Only that it might -==- University of Oxford
(Linacre College, actually)
Alistair McGown
The well-named Andrew Wiseman wrote:
I confess I was "in love with" Gerry's younger sister Nicola Cowper at
the time. She was in Break for the Sun or some such drama on Children's
BBC.
Ah! Break for the Sun (I remembered it as Break In the Sun) but on
reflection you're probably right. I used to watch that avidly even if it
was the most depressing thing I think I ever saw on Children's BBC (that
or Carrie's War). It was the story of a girl who went on the run from
her dad who used to beat her up and she was so in fear of him she used
to wet the bed? Was he a gangster? Was the final showdown in a disused
funfair? The actor who played the dad I think is quite well known now.
Who was it?
Andrew - my sanity is in your hands.
Alistair (who's watching Elidor at the moment and going through a bit of
a children's TV thing...)
andrew_gilmour
On Thu, 31 Jul 1997 18:01:14 +0100, Alistair McGown
<alis...@mech.gla.ac.uk> wrote:
>Earlier, Andrew Wiseman having mentioned Break In the Sun I was off 'on
>one':
>
>> Was he a gangster? Was the final showdown in a disused
>>funfair?
>
>In fact I now think her dad was played by either Terry the chef from
>Fawlty Towers or Karl Howman. Why? I dunno.
>
He was Terry from Fawlty Towers.Brian Hall I think his name is.
Nicola Cowper was in an episode of Minder on UK Gold a couple of weeks
back - Hypnotising Rita.
>Welcome to rec.arts.human.memory...
>
>Alistair
Paul Rhodes
Alistair McGown <alis...@mech.gla.ac.uk> wrote:
>Ah! Break for the Sun (I remembered it as Break In the Sun) but on
>reflection you're probably right. .... It was the story of a girl who went on the run from
>her dad who used to beat her up and she was so in fear of him she used
>to wet the bed?
Funny the things you remember, isn't it?
> Was he a gangster? Was the final showdown in a disused
>funfair?
I'm pretty sure there was a funfair in it somewhere (in fact, I think
the book cover showed her in one - I've got it at home somewhere).
Paul
Alistair McGown
Earlier, Andrew Wiseman having mentioned Break In the Sun I was off 'on
one':
> Was he a gangster? Was the final showdown in a disused
>funfair?
In fact I now think her dad was played by either Terry the chef from
Fawlty Towers or Karl Howman. Why? I dunno.
Welcome to rec.arts.human.memory...
Alistair
Brittv12
Dear David,
I could not get your email do to a problem in my email. If you like to try
and send another please do. By the Haley's nickname fron Metal Mickey was
"Stringbean"
Yours Truly
Howard Lee
Brit TV Video Services
Alistair McGown
Andrew Gilmour restored my sanity by saying:
of Break For the Sun
>> Was he a gangster? Was the final showdown in a disused
>>funfair?
>
>In fact I now think her dad was played by either Terry the chef from
>Fawlty Towers or Karl Howman. Why? I dunno.
>
He was Terry from Fawlty Towers.Brian Hall I think his name is.
YEEEES!!! Right again. Sometimes I amaze even myself. But only
sometimes. Wait. Can you actually PROVE this Andrew?
No, it's no use you're just going to have to send me the whole thing on
video. Like, now.
And are you a 'Gers fan by any chance?
Al
andrew_gilmour
>Andrew Gilmour restored my sanity by saying:
>
>of Break For the Sun
>
>>> Was he a gangster? Was the final showdown in a disused
>>>funfair?
>>
>>In fact I now think her dad was played by either Terry the chef from
>>Fawlty Towers or Karl Howman. Why? I dunno.
>>
>He was Terry from Fawlty Towers.Brian Hall I think his name is.
>
>YEEEES!!! Right again. Sometimes I amaze even myself. But only
>sometimes. Wait. Can you actually PROVE this Andrew?
Er no - but I did see it when it was on - around 1980/81. The people
at Kaleidescope may be able to confirm for definite.
>
>No, it's no use you're just going to have to send me the whole thing on
>video. Like, now.
Sorry
>
>And are you a 'Gers fan by any chance?
Fanatical.
Mike Hatton
In article <33E062...@mech.gla.ac.uk>, Alistair McGown
<URL:mailto:alis...@mech.gla.ac.uk> wrote:
> I confess I was "in love with" Gerry's younger sister Nicola Cowper at
> the time. She was in Break for the Sun or some such drama on Children's
> BBC.
I remember Nicola in Break In The Sun. She must have been about twelve when
that was made.
Who remembers the Channel Four Film on Four First Love season. One of the
films was called Winter Flight and the two leading roles were played by Reece
Dinsdale and ... yes! ... Nicola Cowper.
He was in the RAF and I think she worked behind the bar in the mess.
She became pregnant and they were compelled to get married. There was
a twist at the end of the film, but I'll not say what it was in case
anyone hasn't seen the film.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Hatton mailto:mi...@mail.zynet.co.uk
http://homepage.zynet.co.uk/mike/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------