Pam Royle: ‘It’s a great privilege talking to viewers every night’
PAM Royle is Tyne Tees’ most wellknown face these days.
She says: “I first joined the company as a weather presenter back in 1983 when Paul Frost was fronting Northern Life.
“At the time there were more than 800 talented, enthusiastic staff making a wide variety of national and regional programmes - news, sport, current affairs, arts, music, business, farming, religious, children’s TV and drama.
“After so many years on TV, it is still a great privilege to be talking to our viewers every night. It’s like talking to friends.
“Looking back, I have fond memories of the wacky days of The Tube when the station on City Road was full of big-name stars who were all vying for a slot on the most popular music programme of its time, made by Tyne Tees for Channel 4.
“You never knew who you were going to meet in the corridors, or in make-up, or in wardrobe - and you could never predict what stage of dress or undress they would be in! The entrance to The Tube was always lined with fans from early in the day, and they streamed back along City Road.
“I remember being an extra in two episodes of Supergran with Gudrun Ure and her arch rival Scunner Campbell played by Iain Cuthbertson.
“Those episodes were filmed in Tynemouth on beautiful fine summer days. There were masses of cast and crew and a big tuck wagon with a neverending supply of food from breakfast to the end of the day or night’s shoot.
“I feel very lucky to have worked, and still work, with so many gifted, skilful, inspiring people on screen and behind the scenes.
“And I get a big thrill from seeing young talented people joining the business, bringing with them a freshness, enthusiasm and new skills to the job.
“We’ve been going 60 years. They are the future it’s going to be up to them keep it going in our ever-changing TV world. “
Tyne Tees will be celebrating its birthday with viewers tomorrow.
Pam says: “It’s going to be great to give viewers a look back at some of our coverage over the years, celebrating some of the finest people and programmes for TV made at Tyne Tees.
“We’ll follow the story of the station and the stars, from its opening in 1959, through a wide variety of programmes, to its streamlining and the move to its present premises in Gateshead.
“We’ll be talking to stars who were pivotal in the history of the station and finding out what Tyne Tees means to them - stars such as Tim Healy, Ray Laidlaw and Lindisfarne, John Miles, Eric Burdon from the Animals, Dave Johns, and Gudrun Ure who’s now 92. And we’ll meet opera singer Eileen Grinsell from the very first night.
“It will be a trip down memory lane. I hope our viewers will enjoy it.”