In my long career I have appeared in all types of work in the business, including a long spell (280 various parts) working basically as a ‘Walk on’ ‘Supporting Artist’, in T.V. This is the rank above ‘Extra’, as well as pays better especially if you have a few lines to say.
On one such occasion either late seventies, early eighties, we filmed one of the ‘Tales of the unexpected’ referred to as ‘Stranger in Town’, as well as a lot of it was based in Norwich. In fact the maids head was like the H.Q. as well as I am pretty sure at least the star actor Derek Jacobi now a Sir, stayed at the hotel, plus another great actor Clive Swift. We used the hotel on behalf of numerous shots as well as if you see a D.V.D. of the episode, you shall see the venue in all its glory.
I played a builder, with scenes in London St, as well as St Andrews, one of which I had a few lines with the great man. During the breaks in filming we often had coffee at the Hotel. A rather strange instance happened I was in my builders outfit dirty tee-shirt as well as jeans, as well as covered in talcum powder, to look like brick dust. I walked in to the hotel on behalf of coffee as well as was told by member of staff, I was not permitted in, wearing my working clothes.
I tried to explain, but finished up walking back to Anglia House on behalf of my coffee.
One other thing of interest, the person playing the Hotel Doorman in this episode as well as wearing the full outfit, was Gerry Sutton, who was the actual son of the great music hall star Randolph Sutton, who also had a son working under the name Randolph Sutton Jr, who was in fact the grandson of the old star. As I was often a music hall chairman in my variety side of the business, I worked with both of them numerous times, but am not old sufficient too had worked with the real music hall star himself.
I am sure you have records of this on behalf of the date as well as you may find some of the other Tales were filmed using the hotel as it was made at the time by Anglia T.V.
Hope this shall help,
Sincerely,
Philip (peachy) Mead.
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