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The BFG (1989 Film)
''Roald Dahl's The BFG'', or simply ''The BFG'', is a 1989 British animated fantasy adventure made-for-television film, directed by Brian Cosgrove from a screenplay by John Hambley, based on the 1982 novel ''The BFG'' by Roald Dahl. ''Roald Dahl's The BFG'' debuted in the United Kingdom on 25 December 1989, on ITV. The film was dedicated to animator George Jackson, who had worked on numerous Cosgrove Hall Productions projects prior to his death in 1986. The film is also the last role of Ballard Berkeley (the voice of the Head of the Army), who died in 1988. Plot Sophie is a young orphaned girl living in the orphanage of the cantankerous and abusive Mrs. Clonkers. One night, Sophie wakes up and looks out of a window to see a cloaked elderly giant man blowing something through a trumpet into a bedroom window down the street; whereupon the Giant Man notices her and snatches her through the window, carrying her away to a mysterious realm known as "Giant Country". In his cave, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ballard Berkeley
Ballard Blascheck (6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988), known professionally as Ballard Berkeley, was an English actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for playing Major Gowen in the British television sitcom ''Fawlty Towers''. Life and career The son of Joseph and Beatrice Blascheck, he was born in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He married Dorothy Long in Liverpool in January 1929. During the 1930s, he performed regularly in the so-called " quota quickies". One of his earliest roles was as the heroic lead in the 1937 film '' The Last Adventurers''. He served as a special constable with the Metropolitan Police during the Second World War, witnessing the Blitz at first hand, including the bombing of the Café de Paris nightclub. For his service, he received the Defence Medal and the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal. He appeared in the film '' In Which We Serve'' (1942) and in the Hitchcock film ''Stage Fright'' (1950). He featured as Detective Inspector Ber ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
The BFG
''The BFG'' (short for ''The Big Friendly Giant'') is a 1982 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. It is an expansion of a short story from Dahl's 1975 novel '' Danny, the Champion of the World''. The book is dedicated to Dahl's oldest daughter, Olivia, who had died of measles encephalitis at the age of seven in 1962. An animated adaptation was released in 1989 with David Jason providing the voice of the BFG and Amanda Root as the voice of Sophie. It has also been adapted as a theatre performance. A theatrical Disney live-action adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg was released in 2016. As of 2009, the novel has sold 37 million copies, with more than one million copies sold around the world yearly. In 2003, ''The BFG'' was listed at number 56 in ''The Big Read'', a BBC survey of the British public. In 2012, the novel was ranked number 88 among all-time best children's novels in a survey published by ''School Library Journal'', a US monthly. That same year, the B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
DC Thomson
DC Thomson is a media company based in Dundee, Scotland. Founded by David Couper Thomson in 1905, it is best known for publishing ''The Courier (Dundee), The Courier'', ''Evening Telegraph (Dundee), The Evening Telegraph'' and ''The Sunday Post'' newspapers, and the comics ''Oor Wullie'', ''The Broons'', ''The Beano'', ''The Dandy'' and ''Commando (comics), Commando''. It also owns the Aberdeen Journals, Aberdeen Journals Group which publishes the ''Press and Journal (Scotland), Press and Journal''. The company owns several websites, including Findmypast, and owned the now defunct social media site Friends Reunited. History The company began as a branch of the Thomson family business when William Thomson became the sole proprietor of Charles Alexander & Company, publishers of ''Dundee Courier and Daily Argus''. In 1884, David Couper Thomson took over the publishing business, and established it as D.C. Thomson in 1905. The firm flourished, and took its place as the third J in t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Guardian Media Group, owned by the Scott Trust Limited. The trust was created in 1936 to "secure the financial and editorial independence of ''The Guardian'' in perpetuity and to safeguard the journalistic freedom and liberal values of ''The Guardian'' free from commercial or political interference". The trust was converted into a limited company in 2008, with a constitution written so as to maintain for ''The Guardian'' the same protections as were built into the structure of the Scott Trust by its creators. Profits are reinvested in its journalism rather than distributed to owners or shareholders. It is considered a newspaper of record in the UK. The editor-in-chief Katharine Viner succeeded Alan Rusbridger in 2015. S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Sophie Dahl
Sophie Dahl (born Sophie Holloway on 15 September 1977) is an English author and former fashion model. Her first novel, ''The Man with the Dancing Eyes'', was published in 2003 followed by ''Playing With the Grown-ups'' in 2007. In 2009, she wrote ''Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights'', a cookery book which formed the basis for a six-part BBC Two series named ''The Delicious Miss Dahl''. In 2011, she published her second cookery book ''From Season to Season''. Her first children's book, ''Madame Badobedah'', was released in 2019. She is the daughter of Tessa Dahl and Julian Holloway and the granddaughter of author Roald Dahl, actress Patricia Neal, and actor Stanley Holloway. Early life and education Dahl was born in London in 1977 to the actor Julian Holloway and the writer Tessa Dahl, who were unmarried. Dahl's parents separated shortly after her birth. Through her mother, Dahl has three half-siblings. As a child, Sophie frequently spent time at both her maternal and paternal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Brian Trueman
Brian Richard Trueman (16 May 1932 – 1 September 2024) was an English broadcaster, writer and voice actor. He was known mainly for his work with the animation studio Cosgrove Hall. He wrote and/or narrated children's cartoon series, mostly during the 1970s and 1980s. Early life Trueman was born in Barton, Lancashire on 16 May 1932. He attended Stretford Grammar School and one year at the University of Manchester. During national service he served as a second lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps. Career Trueman's cartoons were originally shown on ITV, in its CITV programming slot. However, he also presented the BBC's children's film quiz ''Screen Test'', taking over from original host Michael Rodd between 1979 and 1983. Prior to taking up a writing career Brian worked for many years on local programming in the North West, from ''It's Trueman'' to ''Granada Reports''. He also had a stint hosting Granada's film review show, ''Cinema'', taking over from Michael Parkinso ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
The Wind In The Willows (1983 Film)
''The Wind in the Willows'' is a 1983 British stop motion animated film produced by Cosgrove Hall Productions for Thames Television and aired on the ITV network. The film is based on Kenneth Grahame's classic 1908 novel ''The Wind in the Willows''. It won a BAFTA award and an international Emmy award. Between 1984 and 1990, Cosgrove Hall subsequently made a 52-episode television series, with the film serving as a pilot. The film's music and songs are composed by Keith Hopwood, late of Herman's Hermits and Malcolm Rowe. The Stone Roses guitarist John Squire worked on the series as a set artist. Voice actors include David Jason, Ian Carmichael and Michael Hordern. Plot Bored of spring cleaning, Mole leaves his burrow home and goes for a walk in the meadow. He soon comes to a river where he meets and befriends Ratty, a water vole who lives on the riverbank. Ratty is eager for Mole to have new experiences and takes him on a journey down the river in his boat. They bring ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Jimmy Hibbert
James Christian Hibbert is an English actor and writer. He is best known for his voice work with the animation studio Cosgrove Hall Films. Early life James Christian Hibbert was born as the eldest of three children of author Christopher Hibbert and Susan Hibbert. His younger brother was the late music journalist Tom Hibbert. Career After studying drama at the University of Manchester, he met CP Lee and Bob Harding, and the three of them formed the band Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias in 1972, with Hibbert on vocals and bass. The band called it a day in 1982, and Hibbert got his first voice acting role for the Milk Marketing Board, doing an impression of Ian Dury. Television He has made a few on-screen acting appearances in British films and television programmes. These include: *''Coronation Street'' *''What the Papers Say'' *''Cold Feet'' *''The Grand (TV series), The Grand'' *''Medics (UK TV series), Medics'' *''Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV series), The Adventures of Sherlock Hol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Myfanwy Talog
Myfanwy Talog Williams ( 31 March 1944 – 11 March 1995), known professionally as Myfanwy Talog, was a Welsh actress and the long-term partner of English actor David Jason. Personal life Talog was born on 31 March 1944 in Caerwys, Flintshire and a plaque is currently on the house where she was born. She worked as a teacher before pursuing an acting career and appeared mainly on Welsh-language television, comedy and children's programmes. For the Welsh audience, she played the character of Phyllis Doris, the family's teen daughter in the comedy series '' Ryan and Ronnie''. She later appeared in several English-language sitcoms and soap operas. She lived with David Jason and accompanied him to Buckingham Palace in 1993 to receive his OBE.Profile walesonline.co.uk; accessed 21 April 2014. She lived ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Michael Knowles (actor)
Michael Sydney Knowles (born 26 April 1937) is an English actor and scriptwriter who is best known for his roles in BBC sitcoms written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Croft. He often starred alongside Donald Hewlett with whom he first appeared in ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum''. They later appeared together in ''Rogue's Rock, Come Back Mrs. Noah'' and ''You Rang, M'Lord?'' In Knowles' writing career, he co-adapted (with Harold Snoad) the radio version of ''Dad's Army'' and writing with Snoad the ''Dad's Army'' spinoff series ''It Sticks Out Half a Mile'' for radio, which became the television series ''High & Dry (1987 TV series), High and Dry''. Early life Knowles attended Bemrose Grammar School for Boys, Derby (now The Bemrose School), where he stayed on into the 6th form and played the lead role in the school's production of William Shakespeare, Shakespeare's ''Henry V (play), Henry V.'' [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Mollie Sugden
Isabel Mary Sugden (21 July 19221 July 2009), known professionally as Mollie Sugden was an English actress and comedian. She was best known for being an original cast member in the British sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' (1972–1985) as senior saleswoman Mrs. Slocombe and appeared reprising the character in the AYBS spin-off ''Grace & Favour'' (1992–1993). She also played Nellie Harvey in ''Coronation Street'' (1965–1976), Mrs Hutchinson in ''The Liver Birds'' (1971–1996), Ida Willis in '' That's My Boy'' (1981–1986) and Nora Powers in '' My Husband and I'' (1987–1988). Early life Sugden was born on 21 July 1922 in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire. When she was 4 years old, she heard a woman reading a poem at a village concert making people laugh. The following Christmas, after being asked if she could "do anything", Sugden read this poem and everyone fell about laughing. She later remarked that their response made her "realise how wonderful it was to make peopl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Frank Thornton
Frank Thornton Ball (15 January 192116 March 2013), professionally known as Frank Thornton, was an English actor. He was best known for playing Captain Peacock in the TV sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' and its sequel '' Grace & Favour'' (''Are You Being Served? Again!'') and as Herbert "Truly" Truelove in TV sitcom ''Last of the Summer Wine''. Early life Frank Thornton Ball was born in Dulwich, London, the son of Rosina Mary (née Thornton) and William Ernest Ball. His father was an organist at St Stephen's Church, Sydenham Hill, where Frank learned to play the organ for a short while. Music proved too difficult for him, however, and he wanted to act from an early age. His father, who worked in a bank, wanted him to get a "proper" job, so he began working in insurance after leaving Alleyn's School. He soon enrolled at a small acting school, the London School of Dramatic Art, and took evening classes. After two years working at the insurance company, he was invited to beco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
