Granada Television
Regions
North of England, weekdays (May 3, 1956 - July 28, 1968)
North West England, seven days (July 29, 1968 - October 27, 2002)
Granada Television launched the fifth independent television service in the UK, providing the weekday service for the North Of England between 1956 and 1968. After the 1967 franchise review, Granada was granted the seven-day contract for the newly created North West England region. The franchise for the remainder of the North of England, which became the Yorkshire region' was awarded to Yorkshire Television.
Colour was introduced to the region on November 15, 1969.
In 1997, Granada Group plc acquired Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television plc and, in 2001, they bought Border Television. In 2004, Granada Group plc merged with Carlton Communications to form a single England and Wales ITV company called ITV plc, and Granada begins to lose its on air identity.
Doomsday For Dyson (TV play, 1958)
Doomsday For Dyson is a play by J B PRIESTLEY, produced by Granada Television for ITV and broadcast live at 8.30pm on March 10, 1958 on Associated-Rediffusion, ATV Midlands, Granada, TWW, and STV. The 45-minute play was not given a repeat performance and no known telerecordings exist.
The play was notable for its intense and thought-provoking themes, and it was followed by a debate discussing the issues raised.
Tom Dyson has a dream about a nuclear war and having to shoot his horrifically injured wife and daughter.
Cast
Ian Hunter: "Tom Dyson"
Frances Rowe: "Mrs Dyson"
ANN FIRBANK: "Ann Dyson"
Anna Bryce: "Sally Dyson"
Frederick Leister: "Magistrate"
TERENCE LONGDON: "Dr Kenton"
GEORGE BAKER: "Goltsev"
HUGH LATIMER: "General Kuprin"
IAN WALLACE: "Marshal Kletsk"
JOHN PHILLIPS: "General Schalz"
Bonar Colleano: "Jackston"
Howard Marion-Crawford: "Air Vice Marshal"
HARRY FOWLER: "Porson"
MICHAEL SEGAL: "Mirolubov"
Ronald Howard: "Journalist"
Jean Cadell: "Great Aunt Lucy"
WILLIAM MERVYN: "Politician"
Scientists: JAMES DYRENFORTH, Robert Arden, Barry Shawzin, Arnold Yarrow, Reginald Marsh, Alexander Archdale
Civil Servants: Bill Fraser, William Kendall
Crew
Writer(s): J B PRIESTLEY
Producer(s): Unknown for Granada Television
Director(s): Silvio Narizzano
Production design: TOM SPAULDING
Doomsday For Dyson in the news...
Philip Purser wrote in the (London) News Chronicle on February 22, 1958 that Priestley had written his third play for television and queried why he bothered as the "financial rewards are slender by comparison with the outlets open to [him]?" Priestley apparently answered the question by saying that he is fascinated by the medium and, "if I've got something important to say, saying it tot 8,000,000 people at one time is very satisfactory." Purser added that Granada were "endeavouring to keep as much a secret as possible, in order to heighten the effect."
The same paper, on March 6, 1958, featured a preview of the play with the headline "PRIESTLEY'S BOMB FOR TV", beginning with the statement that "Priestley's concept of life, or what may be left of it, after an H-bomb has fallen on Britain will be seen on television next Monday." They mention Priestley was an outspoken critic of the Government's nuclear policy and that Granada believe it will cause more controversy than any dramatic work seen on television. After the play, there would be a panel comprising of MPs, an historian and a priest discussing the play.
Henry Hay wrote in the Daily Record on March 10, 1958 that the play would have a "topical bearing on sputniks, H-bombs and space travel."
Philip Purser recorded his verdict the following day by reflecting that "the great play about life in the shadow of the H-bomb is still to be written." Purser seemed a little underwhelmed that it had all been a dream. The Liverpool Echo said that the play "failed to punch home an intensely serious message through overemphasis." The Shields Evening News felt that the play "dodged all the questions which thinking people are making about the bomb."