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SECRET ARMY NOW SHOWING ON ALIBI
July 2010
After quite an absence
from our screens in the UK, Secret Army is now showing again on the
satellite channel Alibi in the early hours of the morning.
THE COMPLETE SECRET ARMY BOOK - AVAILABLE
December 2008
My in-depth book
(running to some 672 pages) which celebrates and explores Secret Army
was published by Classic TV Press on 1 December 2008. The book is
available to order from
the Classic TV Press
website. The book examines each and every episode of Secret Army in
detail and also uncovers the historical background to the series's
storylines. In addition, Secret Army's production is detailed from it's
conception in 1976, through to its final series, made in 1979. The
show's life post-1979 is also examined as is the spin-off Kessler and
the unbroadcast reunion episode. There is also a thorough locations
guide. The book is littered with photos taken by the series's cast and
crew and much, much more.
Provided you order the
book from Classic TV Press in time, then you should receive your copy by
Christmas.
SECRET ARMY ON UK TV HISTORY AGAIN / NEW BOOK
March 2008
 
Secret Army begins another repeat run on UK
TV History (Freeview) from mid-April.
My new book on the
series 'The Complete Secret Army' is still on track for publication this
year.
SECRET ARMY COMES TO UK TV HISTORY
November 2007
Secret Army begins a repeat run on UK
TV History (Freeview) this week with Episode 1: Lisa Codename
Yvette at 5pm (Monday 12th November), repeated at 9pm and 10am the next
day. The whole series will be broadcast every weeknight for the
next eight and a half weeks, finishing in early January.
SECRET
ARMY BOOK / ANGELA RICHARDS IN CABARET
October 2007
Yes, I know, its ages since I've added an update. What
can I say? I've been very busy - mainly getting a new day job.
For all of you
wondering whether my Secret Army book will be ready for Christmas - it's
now looking unlikely, but its well on the way and will definitely be
published next year.
In
other news: Angela Richards (Monique) has recently made a
triumphant return to the West End where she is appearing in the
prominent role of Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret, alongside Amy Nuttall
as Sally Bowles and Julian Clary as the Emcee, at the Lyric Theatre.
The show is currently
booking until March 2008. Don't miss it!
NEW STUDIO-RECORDED CD AVAILABLE!
January 2007
To purchase the brand new studio-recorded CD of Angela Richards' songs
from Secret Army click here
In June 2006, Angela
Richards returned to the studio 25 years after recording the original
'Au Cafe Candide' LP to record a new album of her songs from the series.
As well as old favourites such as If This Is The Last Time I See You
and Memories Come Gently, the album, entitled 'An Evening at Le
Candide', also includes the songs that she performed at the March
2006 theatre evenings. To view the full track listing and purchase
this CD visit the new look merchandise
page.
Enjoy!
AN
EVENING AT LE CANDIDE with Angela Richards and Jason Carr
April 2006
Photos and reviews of An Evening at Le Candide are now
available on a page dedicated to the event - click
here
Merchandise from the show is
also available (via Paypal) here
Thanks to everyone who supported the recent
Secret Army evenings at the King's Head Theatre (off-West End) in
London. The Sunday night sold out quickly and Monday's second and final
night saw the theatre very close to capacity. I think its fair to say
that Angela Richards (Monique) wowed audiences with her songs from the series
such as Memories Come Gently and I Bet You've Heard This One
Before and with some other numbers that definitely weren't in Secret
Army, including the
'once seen, never forgotten' Just Another Rhumba. Throughout the
evening Angela reminisced about the series and also looked back at the
real-life evasion lines and RAF flyers of the Second World War.
Above: Angela Richards in melancholic mood
for Velvet Blue
The experienced Jason
Carr accompanied Angela at the piano and enthralled everyone with his
recital of the Warsaw Concerto. Angela was joined each
night for a post-show Q&A session with her Secret Army colleagues. On
the Sunday night these included Juliette Hammond (Natalie), Michael
Culver (Brandt), Terrence Hardiman (Reinhardt), Paul Annett
(Writer/Director), Godfrey Johnson (Film Cameraman) and Joan Glaister
(wife of Gerry - the late Secret Army creator and producer). Monday
night turned out to be 'Girls Night', with Juliette once again in
attendance, accompanied by Jan Francis (Lisa 'Yvette') and Hazel McBride
(Madeleine) - the full complement of lead actresses from the series.
Above: Juliette, Hazel, Angela and Jan
during the Monday Q&A
The event raised a
considerable amount of money for the much needed refurbishment of the
King's Head Theatre.
AN
EVENING AT LE CANDIDE - MARCH 26th and 27th 2006
February 2006
I'm delighted to announce that
booking is now open for a very special Secret Army event at the King's
Head Theatre, Islington, London. Angela Richards (Monique) has agreed to
sing many of the songs from Secret Army in a special charity gala
performance. As well as singing her own compositions such as Memories
Come Gently and If This Is the Last Time I
See You, she will also be performing rousing traditional numbers
such as Lili Marlene and The
Boys in the Backroom. She will also be reminiscing about her time
on the series.
Poster © Andy Priestner
To make the event even
more special, some of the series' cast members will be reunited with
Angela on stage at the end of the show for a 'Question and Answer
session' with the audience. The ticket price of £30 includes dinner,
served before the show (the King's Head is a 'dinner theatre'). Tickets
have been on sale to members of the Le Candide mailing list for several
days so you will need to act fast if you want tickets.
King's Head Box Office:
0207 2261916
EVER SEEN 'WISH ME LUCK'?
January 2006
Wish Me Luck, a thrilling wartime series that ran for three years
between 1988-90 and which is often described as a cross between Secret
Army and Tenko is released on DVD on 24th October. It is available to
buy online from DD Home Entertainment:
www.ddhe.co.uk
Written by Tenko creator Lavinia Warner and Tenko writer Jill Hyem, it
concerns the lives and loves of two British women who are working as
agents in Occupied France. If you're interested in finding out more
about the series and the DVD release, which comes with one of my
behind-the-scenes booklets, visit my
Wish Me Luck mini-site
KESSLER - RELEASED
October 2005
Kessler was released on DVD and VHS on 10th
October.
KESSLER COVER
August 2005
The cover for the forthcoming release of
Kessler (out September 19) is reproduced below:
KESSLER - OUT ON DVD AND VIDEO IN
SEPTEMBER
July 2005
Kessler, the six-part sequel to Secret Army, will be released in
September 2005, together with a range of special features. For full
details see the 'Kessler' page. Below: Clifford
Rose and Nicholas Young.
ROBERT FARNON (1917 - 2005)
May 2005
Robert Farnon, the composer of the Secret
Army, Kessler and Colditz themes died on
23rd April aged 87. A private
family funeral took place on 29 April in Guernsey. To visit
the Robert Farnon Society website click
here
CLIFFORD ROSE - EUROPEAN TOUR OF
JULIUS CAESAR
April 2005
If you live in the UK, Paris, Spain or
Luxembourg then get yourself along to what promises to be a fantastic
production of Julius Caesar. The tour starts at London's Barbican
Theatre on 20 April and continues at the
Théâtre National du Chaillot in Paris; then
the Teatro Español, Madrid; and finally the Grand Théâtre de la Ville
de Luxembourg in Luxembourg. Clifford takes the role of Cicero. The production also stars Ralph Fiennes,
Fiona Shaw and Simon Russell-Beale. Tickets are selling fast:
Book London (Sold Out) |
Book Paris |
Book Madrid
| Book Luxembourg
Below: Ralph Fiennes in Julius Caesar
NEW DESKTOP BACKGROUNDS
April 2005
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed
that another menu button has appeared on the site which leads to
high-quality images from the series which can be used as PC desktop
backgrounds. Enjoy!
RE-RUN ON BELGIAN TV
April 2005
Secret Army is currently enjoying a repeat
run on Belgian TV on the 'een' channel (Flemish for 'one'). Thanks
to Victor Dua for this information.
NEW GUIDE TO BRUSSELS
FILMING LOCATIONS
March 2005
If there's one question I'm asked
more than 'when is Kessler coming out?' (which by the way has still not
been confirmed - I'll let you know as soon as it is) it's 'do you know
which parts of Brussels were used for the filming of Secret Army?'
Over the past few weeks I've spent some time researching this and the
result of my endeavours is the new 'Brussels Locations' section of this
website. If you do decide to use my guide to make your way around the
Brussels of Secret Army, or can tell me of any locations I've missed,
then I'd very much like to hear from you. You can access the new guide
here or from the navigation button on the
left hand side of this page.
Above: The Candide (March 2005)
GERRY GLAISTER OBITUARIES
February 2005
Several obituaries for Gerry
Glaister (creator of Secret Army) ran in the press last month and can be
viewed here:
The Guardian |
The
Scotsman |
The Telegraph |
Sydney Morning Herald
Below: Gerry in his
heyday
SAD NEWS
February 2005
Gerard (Gerry) Glaister, the creator and producer of Secret Army, has died. Gerry was one of the BBC's most prolific drama producers with a huge list of successes to his name. As well as Secret Army, Glaister was behind Kessler, Colditz, The Brothers, Howard's Way, The Fourth Arm, Blood Money, Skorpion, Cold Warrior, Buccaneer, Oil Strike North, The Expert, Codename, Morgan's Boy and Trainer.
Gerry always became very
heavily involved in setting up the series he produced: casting the
leads; devising storylines; recruiting directors - effectively acting as
captain of a very tight ship.
Thankfully Gerry and his wife Joan were able to attend the June 2004
Secret Army reunion in London during which the Series 3 DVD special
features were recorded. Over lunch he sat at the head of the table and
was toasted by the gathered cast and crew.
Thank you to all those people who sent on messages of condolence - these
were very much appreciated by Gerry's family.
Gerard Glaister DFC (1915-2005)
KESSLER
January 2005
Although still not officially confirmed it is likely that Kessler - the six-part 1981 sequel to Secret Army - will be released by DD Home Entertainment later in the year. More news as and when...
Above: Industrialist Manfred Dorf (Clifford Rose) with his daughter Ingrid (Alison Glennie)
The series stars Clifford Rose, Alison Glennie (Blake's 7) as Ingrid, Nicholas Young (The Tomorrow People) as Franz, Alan Dobie (War and Peace, Cribb) as Richard Bauer and Nitza Saul (Doctor Who) as Mical Rak. It was directed by Secret Army stalwarts Michael E. Briant and Tristan de Vere Cole, written by John Brason and produced by Gerard Glaister.
DISCUSS SECRET ARMY and KESSLER at the TV GOLD FORUM
January 2005
There is now a dedicated place on the web where you can discuss Secret Army and Kessler
just follow this link to TV Gold, register and then you can start posting. The new forum ismaintained by Chris Herbert and also covers several other classic TV series such as Survivors and Upstairs Downstairs. The forum is still pretty new so Chris needs your help to get the ball rolling. Why not start a discussion there today?
Go to 2003-4
News Archive
All stills and screen
captures are © BBC or © DD HE
Text © Andy Priestner
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