ITV in the Face Episode 4: The South

Made in 2015 to celebrate 60 years of ITV, a look back at a time when it wasn't a single channel but a conglomerate of regional channels, all with their own idents and identity: occasionally bizarre, often charming, this is the show that looks the history of ITV in the face.

Episode four: the South. Coast to Coast with taters and toast, starring Christopher Robbie, Brian Nissen, Fred Dinenage and Wizadora.

[stephenemmett]

The ITV in the Face series is so professionally put together - it's like we're watching it on actual television! Thanks, Bob the Fish!

[ScottjDouglas]

Thought Southern might have invited Vrillon for the farewell 'party'.

[edwardburek]

Of all the ITV In The Face episodes, this is the one I truly relish watching time and again. So many things to pick up on - one thing in particular was the "haunting" final closedown of Southern Television, which to me says "you'll miss us when we're gone" - immediately usurped by TVS's first images. The first sight of that TVS clock says to me "no we won't Grandad." But in terms of visual legacy, Southern seems to have had the last laugh - courtesy of Talking Pictures TV, some of their old programmes are being re-shown, even "Take A Letter Mr Jones". You can't even see any one of TVS's old networked shows, thanks to Disney. Not even Art Attack - damn them!!

[Tim.Weaver]

21:20 "You ungrateful bastards! I hope you DO forget to switch off your set and your house burns down in the night!" 😂

[pipoo]

TVS simply got over ambitious but it’s contribution to ITV cannot be denied, particularly childrens output where it quickly became probably the most dominant player in the 80s and beyond, behind a number of genuine classics in childrens TV starting of course with No 73, and Maidstone remained symbolic in ITV Saturday mornings right up to Ministry of Mayhem, ITVs last proper Saturday morning show.

[electragaming]

The irony of the ITC's decision is, TVS were actually right about their advertising figures and could've maintained their programme output and paid the premiums on their license. Additionally, along with most of the other license holders, Meridian's premiums were reduced by the ITC, anyway...

[FTFLCY]

I have to love TVS if only for "Exclusive Yarns". It was a TV play in a series devoted to new writers, and was the campest, most surreal "comedy" imaginable with a stellar cast including Lesley Joseph and Patricia Hodge. I only came about it through a friend in south London (we were north east London) who could get a grainy form of TVS, and had recorded it. It became a meme before memes existed, and I only wish I had a videorecorder to play the vid copy I still have of it. It did end up as a musical in the West End, briefly, and I bumped into both the writer and some (TV) cast whilst out and about. Seems incredible that it only ever got a local airing, no other company took it. "Zips are zips, Amanda!".

[alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

Thanks for posting all of these videos up. Different times - what with regional TV. This one is more personal to me, as it was my ITV area. Had a very troubled history, what with going through 3 times : Southern, TVS and Meridian. Never really had much of a distinguished identity. It did produce a things like Worzel Gummidge(probably their most famous TV program).

[markofthrockenholt]

Southern ITV had a small and geographically awkward region.The station however was well received locally and this has completely been lost to the present structure.Fantastic and well funded regional television still exists in Germany!

[areasquirrel]

33:40 Every time I hear Meridian mentioned in the rest of the series I just hear "bastards" in my head.

[revinhatol]

38:31
Bugs Bunny: Whew, I wonder why they put the South so far south?

[antster]

Here is what C. David Wilson, said in that speech at the farewell Christmas dinner...

"Ladies and Gentleman, forgive me for interrupting your enjoyment this evening for a minute or so, but this is the last time we shall all be together - to say farewell to Southern Television, a company which has provided us with our livelihood, and for many, with the best years of their lives. Now, I am going to sing our praises a bit in due course. For over 25 years, Southern has been, and still is, a fine company."

[Drunk audience cheers and applause]

"But we are to be killed off, having been condemned for eleven months - a condemned cell, for reasons we know, I think, far too little about. We have suffered, and I *mean* we have suffered. The agony and shock of that decision on the 28th of December may now be passed. But there remains the rage, the bitterness, the sense of injustice, for many of us, and that will not pass. But the sooner it's all over, now, so much the better. History may vindicate us, but there is little consolation in that at this present time.

But let us remember our record with pride. And in the years to come when we look back, and maybe reminisce together, let us think again on the good things we have done, and the major contributions we have made to the success of Independent Television, for we have been a progressive, dedicated company with a panache and high standards. We have been a leader in a number of fields. I need not enumerate them now, they are known to you.

But this I believe - in fact I know - we have provided a first-class regional service to our area, stimulating interest and providing enjoyment for millions of our viewers over the years. In addition, we have been a leader amongst the regional companies in providing major contributions to the national network, culminating in the very notable successes we have achieved this year. I wonder how well did the Authority study our application, because it was all in there! Let us also not forget the major part that our sales staff have played in industry affairs.

But that is now all in the past. Shortly, we will all go our various ways. For a few of us, it's the end of the road. The many will carry on their work in the region, others will be scattered. But I know that they will carry Southern's standards with them. Let us wish them every success.

But enough! Do let ourselves not be downhearted tonight, rather let us be merry and enjoy the company of the friends we have all made in the fellowship of Southern Television. So ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to stand if you would, and I would ask you to join in a toast - to Southern Television, a fine company, a *very* fine company!"

[Audience toasts "To Southern Television, a fine company, a *very* fine company]

[revinhatol]

30:01
FRED DINEAGE: "Happy New Year!"

[revinhatol]

0:46
Bugs Bunny: Well, shut my mouth and call me cornpone, if it ain't the little ol' South!

[georgehollandvideos]

Thanks again for taking us down Memory Lane in your informative and entertaining manner.
My childhood years were largely spent living in the TVS region. 22:00 The multicoloured flower/shell/pants symbol was pretty and eye-catching, although nobody was ever sure what it was supposed to be or represent. The trumpeted eight note fanfare was a basic composition but consequently memorable.
23:10 The 1987 mid-term facelift saw the inexplicable TVS symbol take on the flying objects in space theme pioneered by Channel 4 and imitated to varying degrees of success by a number of ITV companies. I remember, as a 9 year old, being mightily impressed by the apparent animation wizardry and wondering how the hell they did it. 25:35 Everyone scoffed at the ridiculous rebranding to TVS Television - or Television South Television in 1989. But the viewers were generally unaware that the acronym TVS no longer had any meaning.
The South East was served very well by TVS. It gave us our first nightly dedicated local news magazine, Coast to Coast. It trounced the BBC and was the most popular ITV regional news programme by audience share. Mike Debens and Liz Wickham were a great presenting duo, getting the tone and balance just right.
Meridian took over and the style of presentation changed from sober, polished greyish blues, to garish orange, red and purple. 31:40 Their first ident was remarkably different to anything that went before, particularly with its dramatic burst of light through the blank screen. But in terms of programme production Meridian were unambitious. They were described as the prodigal son of Southern.
34:30 That clever sunburst ident of 1993 was replaced in 1996 by a strange sort of billowing flag version of the logo which was out of proportion. 34:46 And then in 1998 the ident went ever further retrograde, with the logo performing a feeble emergence from a yellowish haze. It was again incorrectly proportioned. And then Granada came along and imposed the second attempt at generic branding, with the naff hearts theme. And the rest is history.
TVS stands out as the most innovative and productive franchise holder the region ever had.

[benoaks]

The Jingle was “too common” lmao, i lost it at that. Great video.

[Truthseeker]

Thank you for this, Matt. What a nostalgia trip. Moved to Kent (St Margaret's Bay, near Dover) in December 1981 and only an 8 year old so I cannot remember Southern that well. The problem with Southern (and broadly speaking with the South for ITV), as you correctly allude to, was its territorial coverage, too wide in-scope with no real identity. Geographically, entwined with sprawling London as well. The channel owned studios in Dover but, as you say, did they really knew Kent existed? Folkestone, Canterbury, Margate, Whitstable? And what did people in Ramsgate share in common with those living in Reading? That said and in-spite of this, TVS was a great channel. Whilst Southern rested on its laurels, TVS had a vision. Colourful, great new shows, what a change it must have been from gloomy 1970s TV for Southern viewers. Much of Southern's production (and practices) could be traced back to the late 1960s. " How", "Freewheelers" etc. TVS embraced the 1980s for a new generation of viewers. "Coast to Coast", the news broadcast, was exactly that as it covered the South East in a separate edition. So in Kent we came to matter! Just the new ident and jingle on 1982 New year's day was a breath of fresh air and well ahead of Channel 4's graphics launched later that year. I had no idea TVS went on a spending spree in 1988 but, then again, these were the 80s. I left Kent in 1991 so do not recall what happened after. However, from what I see with ITV Meridian, there is no longer any regional identity at all. What a shame....

[NathanSimpsonnathanisbeast]

TVS also helped Jim Henson make probably his most famous creation apart from The Muppets, “Fraggle Rock” and Helped Neil Buchanan launch “Art Attack” before being Brought by Disney and Hosted by Goddamn Lloyd Warbery!

[steveh]

These documentarys are so brilliantly researched. The standard is incredible and I finally get my UK TV idents organ tickled to a level I am happy with. Thank you.

[brucedanton]

Thank you so much for the memories-well done and so wonderful too!