PINK CARNATIONS

Rehearsals: 2^nd – 5^th April 1978 at The Sulgrave Boys Club, 287 Goldhawk Road, London, W12

1:30pm – 5:30pm

Walk-Through: 6^th April 1978 at Yorkshire Television Centre, Leeds

Recorded: 7^th April 1978 at Yorkshire Television Centre, Studio 4, Leeds

Broadcast: Tuesday 8pm 25^th April 1978

CAST

Leonard Rossiter – Rigsby

Frances de la Tour – Ruth

Don Warrington – Philip

Helen Fraser – Bride

John Quayle – Groom

Joan Sanderson – Mother

Roy Barraclough – Barman

Extras: Colin Martin, Harry Butterworth, Bob Hargreaves, Audrey Worth

Walk-ons: Christine Bell, Patrick Lynas, Caroline Tyson, Honey Wheeler, Joy Ash, Chris Driver

Joy Ash, Chris Driver

CREW

Creator/Writer – Eric Chappell

Producer/Director – Vernon Lawrence

Designer – Peter Caldwell

Music – Dennis Wilson

Casting – Liz Evett

Floor Manager – Pat Richards

Stage Manager – Olive Simpson

Production Asst – Ellie Kyle

Lighting – Bob Gray

Cameras – Colin Philpott

Sound – Ian Hughes

Vision Mixer – Jackie O’Gorman

Tech Supervisor – Harry Nicholson

Wardrobe – Brenda Fox

Make-up – Judy Binns

Asst Stage Manager – Vanessa Ford

Props – Arthur Lake

Production Buyer – Gil Procter

Scenes – Ed Bailey

Call Boy – Val Lawson

Warm-up – Felix Bowness

Episode Review

Lonely heart Rigsby tries the Personal column in…..RISING DAMP

When landlord Rigsby tries his luck in the Personal column of his local newspaper – ‘Company Director, early forties, cultured, sophisticated, lover of the arts, good food and travel, seeks familiar of similar background. Object matrimony…’ – he is delighted when he gets a reply. A rendezvous is arranged and the two hopefuls agree to wear pink carnations so they can spot each other. It all sounds awfully romantic, but the meeting isn’t quite what Rigsby expects. The pink carnations, in fact, lead to some very red faces!

Alternate review from April, 1983

Lonely heart Rigsby tries the Personal column in…..RISING DAMP

When landlord Rigsby tries his luck in the Personal column of his local newspaper – ‘Company Director, early forties, cultured, sophisticated, lover of the arts, good food and travel, seeks familiar of similar background. Object matrimony…’ – he is delighted when he gets a reply. A rendezvous is arranged and the two hopefuls agree to wear pink carnations so they can spot each other. It all sounds awfully romantic, but the meeting isn’t quite what Rigsby expects. The pink carnations, in fact, lead to some very red faces! Rigsby finds himself in trouble through a case of mistaken identity.

The episode also stars FRANCES DE LA TOUR, as flat dweller Ruth and DON WARRINGTON, as student lodger Philip, with another guest role played by JOAN SANDERSON. “RISING DAMP” is devised and written by ERIC CHAPPELL and this episode was originally screened on ITV in April 1978.

Interesting to note:

• Production# 2936
• Tuesdays at 8.00pm, opposite new BBC Scotland drama serial The Standard starring Colette O’Neil and Patrick Malahide.  No Richard Beckinsale in this last run – he was busy with West End musical comedy “I Love My Wife” and Porridge sequel Going Straight.
• ‘Pink Carnations’ – 17.80m (1st)

Did you know?

• Helen Fraser had previously worked with Frances de la Tour at the RSC and Leonard Rossiter from the movie ‘Billy Liar’.
• A suit of armour was hired to dress the set of ‘The George’
• Strangely, a bookcase was placed across the entrance to the second floor flat opposite the attic flat set
• A burning coal fire was incorporated into the set of ‘The George’
• The end credits for this episode were superimposed over the “RISING DAMP” caption slide.

Dressing Rooms:-

Leonard Rossiter #12

Frances de la Tour #6

Don Warrington #8

Helen Fraser #5

John Quayle #9

Joan Sanderson #7

Roy Barraclough #10