Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show
Encyclopedia
Emu was an anarchic British television
puppet of Rod Hull
, and after successful appearing on a number of Variety shows, he was given his own Television series on the BBC, then on ITV
.
and Emu running their own television station, which parodied many BBC
series of the time. Supporting Rod Hull and his emu puppet were Billy Dainty
who played a James Bond
pastiche called Captain Perceval and Barbara New
who played the tea lady.
franchise Central Independent Television
and also introduced green witch Grotbags
(played by the singer and comedienne Carol Lee Scott), with Rod and emu living in a pink windmill.
The premise of the show was simple: each week Grotbags
threatened and tried to steal Hull's aggressive arm length puppet Emu so that once captured (in Carol Lee Scott's own words) she would be able to use its "special powers" to control all the "brats" in the world.
' grotto where selected members of the audience were offered the chance to win prizes and lots of singing and dancing, achieved enormous popularity during its early years. The show is probably now most fondly remembered for Rod Hull's catchphrase "There's somebody at the door, there's somebody at the door" every time a visitor rang the doorbell (which 'sneezed' loudly when pressed) at the Pink Windmill's entrance.
The series first aired in 1983 and was televised live, A second series which followed in 1985 was also broadcast live. Thereafter, the series was pre-recorded (until it was eventually cancelled in 1988) airing simply as Emu's Pink Windmill Show which was floor managed by Martin Essex.
All series were produced and directed by the late Colin Clews for Central Independent Television
and broadcast from the now defunct East Midlands Television Centre in Nottingham
. The series was heralded as one of the greatest successes of the so-called "Dream ticket" collaboraton between Producer/Director Colin Clews who produced several popular TV hits for Central Independent Television in the 1980s.
in 1989 with Emu TV, which broadcast for one series. The Series follows the same format as his BBC series, in which Emu operated his own TV station and broadcast clips of telly programmes which he would produce and broadcast.
British television
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
puppet of Rod Hull
Rod Hull
Rodney Stephen Hull , better known as Rod Hull, was a popular entertainer on British television in the 1970s and 1980s. He rarely appeared without Emu, a mute, highly aggressive arm-length puppet of the flightless emu bird...
, and after successful appearing on a number of Variety shows, he was given his own Television series on the BBC, then on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
Emu's Broadcasting Company
Emu's Broadcasting Company (1975–1980) was a children's television series featuring Rod HullRod Hull
Rodney Stephen Hull , better known as Rod Hull, was a popular entertainer on British television in the 1970s and 1980s. He rarely appeared without Emu, a mute, highly aggressive arm-length puppet of the flightless emu bird...
and Emu running their own television station, which parodied many BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series of the time. Supporting Rod Hull and his emu puppet were Billy Dainty
Billy Dainty
William Hooper Frank John Dainty was a British comedian, dancer, physical comedian and pantomime and television star....
who played a James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
pastiche called Captain Perceval and Barbara New
Barbara New
Barbara New was an English character actress, well known for playing Mabel the scullery maid in the David Croft sitcom You Rang M'Lord?. Following this role, she appeared as Vera Plumtree in Oh, Doctor Beeching!...
who played the tea lady.
Transmissions
- Series 1: 6 editions from 18 November 1975 - 23 December 1975
- Series 2: 6 editions from 12 November 1976 - 17 December 1976
- Series 3: 6 editions from 10 October 1977 - 14 November 1977
- Series 4: 8 editions from 26 October 1978 - 14 December 1978
- Series 5: 8 editions from 2 December 1979 - 27 January 1980
- Christmas Special: 24 December 1977
BBC Specials
- Emu's Magical Music Show: 27 December 1980 (35 Minutes)
- Emu's Magical Christmas Music Show: 27 December 1981 (35 Minutes)
- Emu's Magical Easter Show: 12 April 1982 (40 Minutes)
Rod And Emu's Saturday Specials BBC)
- Series 1: 6 editions from 1 January 1983 - 5 February 1983
Emu's World
In 1981 Emu and Rod hull switched to the newly awarded ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
franchise Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
and also introduced green witch Grotbags
Grotbags
Grotbags is the name of a fictional witch who was a popular fixture on British children's television during the 1980s and early 1990s. A character sculpted very much in the mould of the traditional pantomime villain, Grotbags has always been played by actress and singer Carol Lee Scott in a...
(played by the singer and comedienne Carol Lee Scott), with Rod and emu living in a pink windmill.
The premise of the show was simple: each week Grotbags
Grotbags
Grotbags is the name of a fictional witch who was a popular fixture on British children's television during the 1980s and early 1990s. A character sculpted very much in the mould of the traditional pantomime villain, Grotbags has always been played by actress and singer Carol Lee Scott in a...
threatened and tried to steal Hull's aggressive arm length puppet Emu so that once captured (in Carol Lee Scott's own words) she would be able to use its "special powers" to control all the "brats" in the world.
Transmission
- Series 1: 6 editions from 5 January 1982 - 9 February 1982
- Series 2: 5 editions from 27 October 1982 - 24 November 1982
- Series 3: 6 editions from 2 March 1983 - 6 April 1983
- Series 4: 5 editions from 7 September 1983 - 5 October 1983
- Special: Emu's World at Christmas - 21 December 1983
- Series 5: 6 editions from 9 March 1984 - 13 April 1984
- Special: Emu at Easter: 20 April 1984
- Series 6: 13 editions from 12 May 1988 - 4 August 1988
Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show
The Series mophded in to Pink Windmill show and carried on from Emus world but the format, also featured viewer phone-ins, as well as a segment in GrotbagsGrotbags
Grotbags is the name of a fictional witch who was a popular fixture on British children's television during the 1980s and early 1990s. A character sculpted very much in the mould of the traditional pantomime villain, Grotbags has always been played by actress and singer Carol Lee Scott in a...
' grotto where selected members of the audience were offered the chance to win prizes and lots of singing and dancing, achieved enormous popularity during its early years. The show is probably now most fondly remembered for Rod Hull's catchphrase "There's somebody at the door, there's somebody at the door" every time a visitor rang the doorbell (which 'sneezed' loudly when pressed) at the Pink Windmill's entrance.
The series first aired in 1983 and was televised live, A second series which followed in 1985 was also broadcast live. Thereafter, the series was pre-recorded (until it was eventually cancelled in 1988) airing simply as Emu's Pink Windmill Show which was floor managed by Martin Essex.
All series were produced and directed by the late Colin Clews for Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
and broadcast from the now defunct East Midlands Television Centre in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. The series was heralded as one of the greatest successes of the so-called "Dream ticket" collaboraton between Producer/Director Colin Clews who produced several popular TV hits for Central Independent Television in the 1980s.
Transmission
- Series 1: 7 editions from 13 July 1984 - 24 August 1984
- Emu at Christmas - 25 December 1984
- Series 2: 13 editions from 12 April 1985 - 5 July 1985
- Emu's Pink Windmill Show
- Series 1: 10 editions from 14 February 1986 - 25 April 1986
- Emu at Christmas - 26 December 1986
- Emu's Wide World
- Series 1: 9 editions from 3 April 1987 - 5 June 1987
- Series 2: 8 editions from 3 November 1987 - 4 January 1988
E.M.U - TV
Rod and Emu did have one more television series with Central Independent TelevisionCentral Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
in 1989 with Emu TV, which broadcast for one series. The Series follows the same format as his BBC series, in which Emu operated his own TV station and broadcast clips of telly programmes which he would produce and broadcast.
See also
- British televisionBritish televisionPublic television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
- Rod HullRod HullRodney Stephen Hull , better known as Rod Hull, was a popular entertainer on British television in the 1970s and 1980s. He rarely appeared without Emu, a mute, highly aggressive arm-length puppet of the flightless emu bird...
- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/7253
- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/7256