Pied Pipers

Just a few tests here at the moment, based on our episode guide database... No biographies or pics here yet.

Peter Tomlinson

Peter Tomlinson came in to ATV from another ITV broadcaster - HTV - the franchise covering Wales and the Bristol/Bath area. He had been a continuity announcer at HTV, and if you excuse the pun, continued this at ATV.

In Tiswas' early days, when the show was very much a home-grown affair, only being output to the midlands, ATV would look to staff in its presentation and news departments to do presenting duties. Hey, it was a few extra bob to turn up on a Saturday morning.

Peter was best known to midlanders for introducing the ATV Horror Picture Show late on Friday, usually hamming it up by pretending to be frightened, and making use of props like a teddy bear and a candle. Faithful to the Tiswas cause, he would give a plug to the show right before ATV's closedown for the night.

The unusual thing about Peter Tomlinson being a Tiswas presenter was his fairly 'plummy' voice - a distinctly classy accent, but nonetheless, he was happy to muck in, joining in the show's trademark slapstick antics and comedy sketches. It wouldn't be too unusual to see him performing a mock ballet with Chris, throwing a pie in the pre-Flinger days or telling an old joke or two.

The big change to the presenting line-up was at the start of the fourth series in 1977. Peter was not to be present at all, and would only make sporadic appearances in the series that followed.

Only a couple more Tiswas appearances were to happen when the show began to hit its peak, in the 1979-1980 series. One of his last duties was in an opening sketch, acting as a weather forecaster, reading out predictions of rain and soaking, as the inevitable happened. Viewers who were unaware of his background in announcer duties across Wales, the west and midlands could be forgiven for thinking this was just a jobbing actor dragged in for the familiar Tiswas crew to throw water and mushy peas over, as there was no indication to who he was, nor of his background when the show was a midlands-only affair.

Peter Tomlinson up until recently had a senior role with oldies radio station Saga.

There are 302 editions of Tiswas in total.

Peter Tomlinson's first edition was 23/2/1974 (Series 1)
Peter Tomlinson's final edition was 3/5/1980 (Series 6)

Peter Tomlinson appeared in 131 editions of Tiswas.
That's 43.38% appearance rate, based on there being 302 editions of Tiswas.

Series 1
23/2/1974
2/3/1974
Series 2
14/9/1974
21/9/1974
5/10/1974
12/10/1974
19/10/1974
26/10/1974
2/11/1974
9/11/1974
16/11/1974
23/11/1974
30/11/1974
7/12/1974
14/12/1974
21/12/1974
24/12/1974
28/12/1974
4/1/1975
11/1/1975
18/1/1975
1/2/1975
8/2/1975
15/2/1975
22/2/1975
1/3/1975
8/3/1975
15/3/1975
22/3/1975
29/3/1975
5/4/1975
12/4/1975
19/4/1975
26/4/1975
3/5/1975
10/5/1975
17/5/1975
7/6/1975
14/6/1975
21/6/1975
28/6/1975
12/7/1975
19/7/1975
26/7/1975
2/8/1975
9/8/1975
16/8/1975
23/8/1975
30/8/1975
6/9/1975
13/9/1975
20/9/1975
27/9/1975
4/10/1975
11/10/1975
18/10/1975
25/10/1975
8/11/1975
15/11/1975
22/11/1975
29/11/1975
6/12/1975
13/12/1975
20/12/1975
27/12/1975
3/1/1976
10/1/1976
17/1/1976
24/1/1976
31/1/1976
7/2/1976
14/2/1976
21/2/1976
28/2/1976
6/3/1976
13/3/1976
20/3/1976
3/4/1976
10/4/1976
24/4/1976
1/5/1976
8/5/1976
15/5/1976
22/5/1976
29/5/1976
5/6/1976
12/6/1976
19/6/1976
26/6/1976
Series 3
4/9/1976
11/9/1976
18/9/1976
25/9/1976
2/10/1976
9/10/1976
16/10/1976
23/10/1976
30/10/1976
6/11/1976
13/11/1976
20/11/1976
27/11/1976
4/12/1976
11/12/1976
18/12/1976
8/1/1977
15/1/1977
22/1/1977
29/1/1977
5/2/1977
12/2/1977
19/2/1977
26/2/1977
5/3/1977
12/3/1977
19/3/1977
26/3/1977
2/4/1977
16/4/1977
23/4/1977
30/4/1977
7/5/1977
14/5/1977
21/5/1977
28/5/1977
Series 4
Did not appear at all in this series.
Series 5
21/10/1978
23/12/1978
17/2/1979
26/5/1979
Series 6
5/4/1980
3/5/1980
Series 7
Did not appear at all in this series.
Series 8
Did not appear at all in this series.

Chris Tarrant The main man, the most familiar face with the series - host and producer for the majority of Tiswas editions.
Sally James The main female presenter of the show, and the second longest serving of any Tiswas regular.
Trevor East Tiswas's footballed-obsessed presenter, a familiar face throughout the 1970s.
Peter Tomlinson Posh-voiced and smooth-talking, this ATV announcer was regularly seen during Tiswas' early years.
John Gorman Hailing from Merseyside, this ex-Scaffold singer/writer, served as resident comic performer during Tiswas' peak.
John Asher The first ever main presenter of Tiswas, chirpy, affable and up for a laugh.
Bob Carolgees Resident puppeteer during Tiswas's peak, with a few comic characters too.
Lenny Henry Dudley-born funnyman and New Faces refugee, who could and would impersonate Trevor MacDonald and David Bellamy at the drop of the hat.
Paul "The Kid" Hardin Tiswas's only child regular, who specialized in impersonating Frank Spencer and a few others.
Frank Carson Northern Ireland comedian, famed for his immortal line "it's a cracker" and "it's the way I tell 'em".
Sylveste McCoy Comic performer on many shows, with a great gift for facial expression.
Terry Thomas Tiswas's main animal expert when it came to the IBA-pleasing wildlife/environmental slots.
Den Hegarty Ex-Darts singer/founder who was the manic and off-the-wall presenter in Tiswas' final series.
Oliver Spencer Warm-up man for the show, and on-screen comedy performer, specialising in being 'Barbara Woodshed'.
Gordon Astley From a background of many local radio stations, he was the main male host for the final series with an affable approach to being at the helm of Tiswas.
Peter Matthews Although kept off screen in the very early days as main duty was to look after pre-recorded items, this guy made a few appearances in the mid 1970s.
Fogwell Flax Winner of LWT's 'Search For A Star' competition, performed many impersonations as resident comic performer of the final series.

Jim Davidson Stand-up comedian of the old school variety, appearing sporadically, and claims to be the first ever Phantom Flan Flinger.
Clive Webb Oddball magician whose tricks would either work perfectly, or get someone completely messy.
Ian "Sludge" Lees Old school comic with huge bubble-perm hairdo and striking suit.
Terry Coates Seen many times in the final series, this guy, giving more than just a nod to Monty Python, was an old time announcer in a 1930s BBC Home Service mould, to bring a serious tone to juxtapose against the general ensuing chaos that is Tiswas.
Trevor James Possibly intended to be the final series' answer to Bob Carolgees, as he had Sid the Parrot, although when he didn't do that, he shouted a lot in his guise as a CB-radio-owning nerd.
David Rappaport Midget actor/performer who was seen in many final series editions, usually in the role of some comic character.
Norman Collier Comedian famed for his "broken microphone" routine.
Joan Palmer A female presenter/announcer who occasionally helped out on Tiswas in pre-Sally-James days.
Helen Piddock Apparently the first person to play the Phantom Flan Flinger, although her main roles on Tiswas were research and competition-setting, which would be normally done off-screen as the show hit its peak.
Emil Wolk Comic performer and mime artist, used early on in the final series alongside Fogwell Flax.
Richard Barnes Announcer and occasional helping hand in the early days of ATV-only Tiswas, usually ended up as the target of water buckets.

Tiswas Reunited is now available on DVD - an extended version of the show seen on ITV1 in 2007, with plenty of extras. TiswasOnline has been covering this revival project and has contributed to it. See the official blog and other show details at our Tiswas Reunited minisite!

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Random Tiswas quote:
"After a night on the sauce, Chris threw up in a bucket which was hidden under the desk. He then proceeded to throw it over a small child" - Sally James

Random Tiswas fact:
One of Angus Deayton's first television appearances was on Tiswas, 19th Sept 1981, as part of novelty comedy band the HeeBee GeeBees.