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In the 1960s, independent television was dominated by the 'big four' regional
companies: ATV, ABC, Granada
and Associated Rediffusion. These four produced the
majority of programmes for the ITV network, and so it was a surprise when
Norwich-based Anglia Television successfully sold them the concept of a
twice-weekly drama serial named Weavers Green (ITV, 1966). The serial was
envisaged as 'a mirror of country life', and to this end Anglia recorded the
majority of the scenes on location, using videotape instead of film. This made
the show extremely expensive and it was widely described in the press as the
most elaborate and, at £250,000, the most expensive television serial to date.
But despite this blaze of publicity and optimism, Weavers Green lasted for only
25 weeks and is barely remembered today, thanks largely to the political
machinations of independent television.
Weavers Green was the creation of husband and wife team Peter and Betty
Lambda, who after 30 episodes were succeeded by Troy and Ian Kennedy Martin
(writing pseudonymously as Tony Marsh). The serial revolved around local vet
Alan Armstrong and his wife Dotty and their interaction with local farmers and
villagers, chief among them Alan's fellow vet Geoffrey Toms, recently
arrived from London with his highly-strung wife Celia, and local farmer and
father-to-be Jack Royston. Country living was not idealised, and the
difficulties of village life, both for those who were new to the country and
those who wished to escape, were sensitively, if a little earnestly portrayed.
The cast was strong, and a number of now familiar faces such as Kate O'Mara,
Susan George and Wendy Richards made appearances.
But a scheduling decision by ITV dictated that while the weekday episode of
Weavers Green would be in peak-time, the weekend episode was only fit for
children's hour and, in some regions, a slot opposite Doctor Who (BBC, 1963-89; 2005-).
Anglia argued, reasonably, that the high ratings of the weekday episodes would
only be matched by a peak-time weekend slot, but amid much publicity in June
1966, ITV announced that Weavers Green would end in September. Anglia accused
the network of bullying and what had begun as a simple show about country living
ended in acrimony and bitterness. It was no coincidence that years later Anglia
was the last ITV region to promote Emmerdale Farm/Emmerdale (ITV, 1972-; often
wrongly described as the first rural TV soap) to a peak-time slot.
John Williams
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1. Trouble for Holly (4:15)
