Wheeltappers & Shunters Social Club, The

1 9 7 4 – 1 9 7 7 (UK)
46 x 45 minute episodes

“As regards the sign in the gents which says “Wet Paint”. This is not an instruction! “

“Furthermore, with regard to £300 missing from club funds . . . We will have a word with the Treasurer as soon as he gets back from Tenerife”

This raucous Granada comedy/variety show featured performers and audiences in a fictional northern working men’s club setting with Bernard Manning and Colin Crompton as the compere and ‘Mr Chairman’ respectively.

Those who remember the series can still hear the bell and the gormless drawl of the chairman: “we’ve had a meeting of the committee . . . The first prize in the raffle is a diving suit . . . oh no, it’s a divan suite”.

Bernard Manning’s tuxedo-clad compere and master of ceremonies had a fine line in insults.

When introducing Ronnie Hilton (singer of No Other Love) Manning said: “If there’s ever a nuclear war, go to this man’s house, because he hasn’t had a hit in years”.

The ‘turns’ included old-timers such as The Bachelors, Matt Monro, Mrs Mills, Tessie O’Shea, David Whitfield, Johnnie Ray, Buddy Greco and even a Canadian knife twirler called Tina.

Wheeltappers and Shunters got the mood absolutely right in an artificial setting.

The atmosphere was almost palpable, the illusion was perfect.

The cameras were well hidden, and the studio audience was lulled into forgetting they were on television by an absence of the procedures usual with television recordings.

The audience were all in the mood, as well they might be with twelve acts per show and unlimited free beer on offer.

One of the waitresses serving real beer to the studio audience was Liz Dawn – Our Vera from Coronation Street.

Bernard Manning passed away in June 2007.

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