The Magic Box

Next on UTV is the The Magic Box. Hang on, eggs on the BBC! I'm UTV.

It is awfully confusing. Anyway, sit back and enjoy this spectacular

APPLAUSE But ladies and gentlemen, live on BBC Northern Ireland and on

UTV. Up it is my great pleasure to introduce your host for the evening,

Thank you very much. Good to see you, good evening, welcome to the

The Magic Box, a piece of television history. Not just

because tonight we move into the digital age, but because for the

first time ever UTV and BBC Northern Ireland are sharing the

airwaves and transmitting the same programme at the same time. Tonight

is magic because it is an amazing story. It covers 60 years involving

so many people, many in the studio tonight. Let's start with the

person who just introduced me. You will know him as the voice of

satellite, -- Saturday night, he has mastered entertainment, the man

who makes the tax factor, it is Peter Dixon! -- the man who makes

Don't encourage him! But you are all part of the story, you are part

of this The Magic Box, and for you it all started here.

It did indeed, my first job was on BBC Radio Ulster, at the same time

you win at UTV. My very first job was the glamour

this role of reading of the stock prices on Radio Ulster at 6pm.

What way did they call? And actually have the original

script with me tonight. Can give you a little flavour.

Hobbit, down two shillings, skiers come up �1.60, to �12.60 shillings

and fourpence! Lovely.

As you can probably tell, I had no idea what I was talking about it.

Anyway, happy days. If it ever was wrong at the at

Hydra... Peter is just one of the many

people who played their part in our 60 your journey. We have another

one here. The biggest thing to happen to that -- did his

television is the digital switchover. We're delighted to see

the person chosen to actually do That is the good news, the bad news

is that will happen in 50 minutes' time and it is up on the mountain?

Do you still do any running? If you're coming with me.

What do you do? Do you pillock a plug? And I press a button, I

believe. A -- do you pull out a plug.

A lot of my friends have been e- mailing me saying, don't do it

tonight, I'm not ready! That is a whole other thing. Thank

you very much. Who would have imagined when the television was a

great box made of valves and knobs that our screens would be flat,

nobody would have good bit of this will fat to change channels and,

strangest of all, you could watch a programme you had missed. Now, you

don't have to watch TV, you can do it on you to -- on your tablet

computer, and let's look back at In the early 1950s, having a

television was a luxury enjoyed by the very few. People who relied on

the radio all their lives were a little suspicious of the new

technology, and what it may bring. It is surely the greatest moment in

television history, as we take you now into the heart of London to

witness these memorable events. Northern Ireland's first television

broadcast was the Coronation in 1953. The local transmitter was

housed in an old Nissen hut, and most of the time programmes were

relayed from London. The first locally-produced magazine programme,

the Ulster murder, began broadcasting fortnightly from 1954.

This is the BBC television service with a programme specially for

viewers in Northern Ireland. Local news bulletins began three

the years later, then, in a bottle by 1959...

It is Mike unique privilege to be the first person to appear before

you on Ulster Television. Few was now had a choice of two

channels, as UTV took to the air. - - viewers are now had a choice. At

first it was just 20 minutes of programming each day, but it was

soon making of iconic shows, like teatime with Tommy and children's

The jack-in-the-box jumped out of his house, and that means it is

time again. Today I can see Linda and Michael, and I can see Eamonn

Holmes. Too late now! My little heart was

broken! You never said my name. can see you now in the flesh.

you get complaints with people writing to you saying you never

mentioned my name? Yes, the Protestant said you never

mentioned a cat books, the Catholic say do you never mention the

Protestants. Is this Mr Doody?

I am wondering if anybody knows the song? If I start will you all join

I always do what right. I never do anything wrong.

I'm a romper ring Doody, added the That just brought me back to being

27 again. Brilliant. And Miss Adrian behind

Jude de! -- behind you! You were there we saw Laurence Olivier

pressing the button. Dame Mary Peters is turning us off tonight,

he turned us on. You were there? I was there, and that evening after

the official opening he read an epilogue.

The next morning I found on my desk in his handwriting a list of all

the pieces. He did not read one catalogue, but four. One was from

the Bible, one was Joseph Adams, one was St Patrick and one was

Shakespeare, of course. Every evening, the duty editor had to

find a poem or a piece of prose to read, which turned out to be very

successful. The first night was very successful, so is tonight.

During the past week or so we have been asking you to vote online for

your favourite magical moment on the box. The vote is still open, so

here are some of the highlights you We have a can summon hens to ban...

And a you are moving around too much, the camera can see you.

The we have a can summon... We are supporting the ban, and the

money is going up every year. I'll take it from here.

You can't do this! De excuse me, Pope cardinal,

cardinal Pope. This is an abomination, you heretic! Boat you

Lord it about with me, I am the Pope. I knew we should have gone to

Right, lads, sorry, but this is a more traditional group. Pass on

Phenomenum. Phenomenon. Phenomemum. Phenomenum. Phenomenon. But traffic

wardens are hardly a Belfast phenomemum. Ha-ha!

Phen...phenomenom. Ha-ha! I can't get this.

The train doesn't stop till it arrives in Dublin! Stop the train.

I'm sorry, I can't do that. What the heavens, I'll do it. Oh

APPLAUSE The to vote for the The Wee Man From Strabane, texture and

Texts will be charged at the standard rate. It is one vote per

number and further board would For some people, begin local TV has

been a springboard to a wider audience. One local girl from

Portadown started out as a sinner then became a production assistant.

She worked for both BBC and UTV and is now one of our best loved

exports on the small screen. She is A spoonful of sugar helps the

medicine go down, the medicine go down.

I must say, I am so disappointed I cannot be with you this evening,

but I am actually heading to America. Other than that, it would

be my greatest wish to be with you. Now I know why not all women drive

Rolls-Royces, it is so comfortable. Everything I have today I ought to

my broadcasting upbringing in Northern Ireland.

I have stood at the sidelines of this game too long, I have to go

and find out what football is all about.

The very first day I studied at BBC Northern Ireland, Dan Gilbert, who

gave me the job, brought me into the newsroom. He said you're not

coming here to do the knitting and sewing and all the women's things.

Remember, you are as good as anyone in this newsroom and you will be

out on the streets in bombs, bullets and barricades, just like

the rest. Christmas shopping anywhere can be

difficult, but in Belfast with large sections of the sopping

segregated of, you can find yourself searched anything up to 20

times in a single afternoon. Happy birthday to you, happy

birthday Fiona, happy birthday to you. There you go. I did good

evening Ulster nightly for three years, the best learning curve I

ever had a amongst all the other broadcasting I did. It trained me

well and I live by it to this very day. I still enjoy the work, and I

attribute all that to what I did in Northern Ireland.

When I left, are very young, very slim boy got my job. He had

previously been working on the farming programme, so I knew him in

his wellingtons and short trousers. I don't think the viewers really

knew much of him, but I emphasise, he was very trim and very young,

and he came in and I know he did a brilliant job of taking over the

mantle of seeing, good evening Ulster.

I wish to wish Eamonn Holmes and everyone involved in the programme

a happy evening. I have such brilliant memories of some of the

eclipse this evening, so I send my love to all of you and I wish I

She was a phenomenon, wasn't she? She was quite phenomenal. She was

the Queen at that time without question. We used to watch her in

the studio, and there was no autocue. You know how you have the

words, she would walk right into the camera was no words, we used to

say, I wish we could do that, and we never could. I wish you could

sing like carrots well. I was a better singer than her. -- sing

like her. For those of you watching, this is Northern Ireland's Mr sport.

I was his apprentice. You work, you were solitary and slim at that time.

You haven't really changed. Indeed. We were working at UTV during the

Troubles, the sort of image that that gave of the country all around

the world, it divided a lot of people, but sport brought everybody

together and give us a reason to be Who said television was a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

I won the gold, I brought it back APPLAUSE.

If that stirs emotions and reminds you of the times you jump up and

down, here is proof that the same can happen to professionals. The

game between Donegal and Kildare, and the commentator is Mark

Sidebottom. And it is Cassidy, and it is galling and it is over, my

God, it is Donegal, they have done it. They have done it, they have

done it. It is over! The day belongs to them. I don't know how

they have Dannette, but I know and he knows they have done it. He is

in the audience tonight. We are frightened about getting you to

dock. I knew from Donegal or Kildare? No. Sometimes you get

caught up in the moment. We are in a privileged position. We become a

conduit for the people, without them you are nothing. For anybody

that says it is only a game? It is more than that. Obviously. And you

were not drinking? As my colleague here says, you need to get into the

moment. I was in the moment. Sometimes local television work its

magic, shocked this, made us cry, laugh or yawn. Often we just wanted

Mr Gerry Kelly. Mr Jon Daly. Mr That's none of your business. Thank

you very much for watching, welcome # Don't go wasting my precious

I tell you what I want, Gerry Kelly, who featured in one of those clubs.

You had a young guest visit you. He predicted greatness for them.

had heard about him, he had just won the under 10 his golf

championships. Tiger would won it when he was nine years old. So we

thought we would see this kid. I brought 10 men. I was speaking to

him, what you do in the winter? He said I hit balls down the hall and

we open the kitchen door and my mother opens the washing machine

and I chip into it. I said, if you can do that in your home you can do

it in the studio. This was the Whatever happened to that little

boy? I've no idea, but I remember saying, remember the name, Rory

McIlroy. Remember that name. John Daly, he is in the audience. Two

Johns together. Do you remember this? Can we find out who is

coughing? We will get something done. I think I know. Somebody is

coughing in the audience. joking. For a lap women out.

A lot of people mocked and ridiculed her, but a lot wanted to

be like her, didn't they? Absolutely, there was nothing like

Whatever happened to those out debts? I overheard him after words,

asking if he could kick me out there. You know what they are like,

they're like to dress up. It is coming up to at Hallowe'en. So if

you see anything like that... Have Thank you very much. What about

It was a sure that completely changed my life. The BBC gave me a

new set of tools to Plymouth. The most important thing was it was

completely alive. Everybody that work on it, from the camera crew to

the producers, the team at the BBC, completely pulled the most amazing

We had no trouble getting guests. People bit ridiculous things.

The great thing about this part was it made people feel like they were

at a party. We asked Rose Noelle, she was very serious, we got her to

strip off and saying a Madonna song. -- sing. Some of the stuff we were

great that, covering news and current affairs in Belfast, and

after that show, we realised entertainment was something we

could all do really well. That is something I am really proud of. I

wish I was there, and I hope that I am going to ask what everybody

else is thinking. My husband is the only man. The next thing, I was in

a taxi, the taxi driver said he saw me on the TV. He asked me if I had

had a drink. I said, no, that was the real Rose. Great to see you.

As well as entertainers, TV gave us front row seats as history was made.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

25 years of IRA violence ended This is a perfectly balanced

weekend. Joining me is four guys who report the news in Northern

Ireland. Denis Murray, Paul Clark, Gordon Burns. Very good to see you.

What was the rivalry like? There was rivalry? Do you remember that?

Not at all. Whenever we were on the front line together, if anyone

needed help, we helped each other. There may have been rivalry but we

work together and we continue to work together. Did you ever worked

with Brian Baird? I did, splendid news reader. Top professional. I am

going to show you how professional. Here is a clap of the late Brian

Here is a clap of the late Brian beard. Keep a lookout on his top

lip. This gave new meaning to stiff Could you have done that? No, I

would just left and it would have gone up my nose. Very good. Much of

the news is dominated by politicians and they do not always

appreciate the questions. Would you listen to the answer? I think that

is a ridiculous question to put to May. We need to cut it there. Thank

you. Thank you for nothing. Listen to the answer. Gerry Adams talks

about expecting Santa Claus to come down the chimney. Santa clause

You saw some of it there but now has some more small-screen drama.

Northern Ireland has produced some of the best technicians. They have

attracted critical acclaim. I will cripple you. You will cripple me?

You just cannot sing. What time Way army will protect us.

police and the army? It might protect you, but not ours.

And now, one of our actors who got his break in front of a police car.

-- Jimmy Ellis! Jimmy, that was the early 60s and you had to bring the

Norwich -- Northern Irish accent into mainland Britain. How did you

get the job? Well now, that is quite interesting.

I went a long before the interview and met a lovely man called David

Rose, who was the producer for the first period of time. I had so much

bad luck, doors slammed in my face, and David Rose asked me the

question, can you do a Liverpool Irish accent? Thinking on my feet I

said, I am lovable Irish. But in fact was true. J and it worked very

well, thank you very much indeed, Jimmy...

I was on next door... Thank you very much Jimmy, I have

been move on, because if they are watching UTV they're getting their

advert, we can talk when it is just the BBC. If you want to walk, don't

bother because the lender closed. UTV are leaving for their

commercial break, so if you are watching UTV, see you later. But

the BBC is going nowhere. One man who went on to international

stardom in films like Star Wars was That was Liam Neeson, and what is

his connection with Frank Mitchell? Frank is here, and Liam was a big

fan of your The Wee Man From Strabane absolutely. We were very -

- a fan of your programme? He yes, we were very far to and.

Poll Letters to the programme were very special, but to get one from

Liam Neeson was remarkable. Alongside that, it took us two

years to show the programme, because there was a waiting list.

By the time we actually showed it did, I had almost forgotten he had

sent the letter. I was driving along one day and had to answer the

phone do the young woman from New York and asked if I did take a call

from Liam Neeson to thank me from put it -- for putting his dad's

School on of the programme. It shows he has not only a superstar,

While UTV are on the adverts, we will have a few of our born.

Remember the days when you had to watch the adverts? You don't have

to now, you can record and fast- forward through them, but I

remember when they were something to talk about. And many of these

They love to eat Kennedy's bread, it is hard to beat Kennedy's bread,

it is quite a treat, Kennedy's bread, GB Kennedy's bread out the

That is what I call a proper cup of tea.

Cookstown sausages make a real big We have no bread.

Bread? Did you remember the peas?

Can I have a prescription? Doctor, doctor, my stomach is ill, can I

have a prescription? Can I have a You can make it in the end with a

Walking. That is what to do. Stepping out is

good for you. Call walking, it is Would it not be great if he was

At boat I know we were all in a state of confusion if you're

watching on the BBC you're seeing adverts, on UTV you're seeing it

admits, and now we're all back together again. We have been

looking at the old adverts, but this evening is all about switching

over to digital. I remember when digital used to be about getting a

new watch or calculator, so a lot of people are still confused, some

I demand to see the controller of BBC occupied Six Counties!

The man says he is not available. Call, he is not available! Tell you

what, if I was Peter Robinson or Mike Nisbet he would be available!

If you were Mike Nesbitt, I would be available!

Digital switchover! Award to know if I will still get our teeth.

Another thing, where does the switch-over happened last of all?

Here, at the north. I wonder why that is. It is British cultural

imperialism. They hate to see us coming first at anything. Why do

you think we're trying to recruit Robbie McIlroy to pay it -- to play

for them? You never miss Downton Abbey!

The I only watch that for the IRA Fellow. Look, it is Jackie full of

himself. Jackie!

Sorry about him. De you know that after the digital switchover you

will be able to see me in high- definition?

Are Jackie, you are worth the television licence all by yourself!

That is why I don't pay it. Licence fee dodgers on the

premises! Security Here are the headlines: Quick! We will look up

I want to be -- complain about the digital switchover. Apparently when

it happens I will have access to... RTE. Castle, what is alter

television doing about it? Uncle Andy! Pamela! It is a

pleasure to meet you. Can I just say you are my favourite female

newsreader? A thanks, Andy. After Rosemary, of course. Sarah Travers,

Donna Traynor, Dina Campbell... Anyway, you were always in my top

10. Look, I have to go and read the news. Please come I need help and

you are a woman of high intelligence. You are a woman who

knows things. Am I eligible for a switch over help scheme? If there

is for the money going out, I want some. Argue over 75? If need be.

you live in a care home? I need 24- hour care. Are you registered

blind? Only when it comes to politics. Then it no.

We will, would you like to join me and then me because for a pint?

Come on then, it is always the same All joking aside, we are only 15

minutes before we were cut off from analogue, and if anybody

experiences any problems tonight or tomorrow you can have all the help

you need at both the BBC and UTV websites. There is an old adage in

journalism that real news is something somebody, somewhere,

would have preferred to have covered up, and all the rest is

free advertising. Nothing shines a light on the hit and his use of

society like an investigative television documentary. -- shines a

light on the head and his use of Thank you both very much for

talking to me. There were three men who slipped through the police net.

He was beaten and interrogated by four captors.

He is has been described as It is a report that adds up to

every parent's nightmare. I did act. I did at. I did act.

Or was the protection of the trip's reputation more important than the

protection of the children? You don't think people want to know

the answer? Of course.

Is this you coding two young dogs to going for the kill?

John any now is one of the journalist featured in that

compilation, award-winning Chris Moore. Can TV really change things?

There is plenty of evidence that investigative television does

strange event in our lines. It brings the bad guys to the fore and

often can result in politicians and people in public life having to

change their ways. On a personal level, the one I am most proud of

was the story about Brendan Smyth, because it gave a voice to people

who had not got a voice before. They spoke out for the first time.

It took great courage on their part and exposed the wrongs of the

cattle trucks covering up for paedophiles. That was an important

issue. Dennis Murray, the night after be transmitted that story,

told me in the pub that the story had legs. I did not think so, and

was already looking at the next story, but he was right, it did

have legs, it still has legs and there are still people protecting

In the early days the people used almost was presenters, but more

recently local people and places can be the stars of the small

This sensationally curious little instrument can focus on an entire

mountain of a single blade of grass. It is a fascinating place.

He whatever you say, one thing is It is just slightly smaller than a

five pence piece. The highlight of the farming calendar, and this one

And two men who loved nothing more than getting out and about and C in

places and meeting people are Joe -- Joe Mahon. Is it true you never

go to the simplest place? I don't think I have been to the

simplest more than once, and people commonly asked me who it the most

memorable character I have met his. The 1:00am that is most memorable

was a man called John Henderson, who overlooked five fingers Strand.

He was herding goats with the assistance of a goose one day. I

asked him where the road going past his eyes pleaded to, and he said,

Australia. -- the road-going pastor's Howarth led to.

He said, my brother led halt -- left home 50 years ago to go to

Australia, and that is the road he went.

A very briefly, how important is it to get out and about and press the

flesh? It is very important, we go out

maybe 40 times a year and it is good to get out and meet the people

and put a face to the name we read- out every day on the radio. It is a

bit of fun. Continued to do so, thank you very much indeed. Music

now, important to us as a people, where it -- whether it is parties

or concerts, there is nothing we like more than a good old sing-song,

# Nothing would please me... # # In God's country... #

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

Brilliant. Delighted to have some of them in the studio. You have

been associated with big names but I want to show you a clip from a

few years ago you may not remember. # Deep inside was a burning pride #

In the town I loved so well. # That was Luke Kelly from the

Dubliners but why did he have no trousers on? The whole thing happen

spontaneously. They were in the -- appearing backstage in the Albert

Hall and shooting a documentary. He started singing. He was unaware of

the fact that he had no trousers on. He did not expect a camera to look

down. Here was a song I had put lot of emotion into, serious song, he

was standing there with his bare legs. I don't know why you're

laughing. You opened the studio twenty-one years ago but you looked

a bit different. Here we go. Whose hero as this you wearing? Is angry

or extensions? That is absolutely real, 200% real. I used to grind

They cut it off and made it into awake for people who suffer from

cancer. Somebody is wearing a now. Is that a drum roll? That reminds

me, we have been asking you to choose your magical TV moment and

You're living round and the camera is there. Go ahead. It's no good to

us, you blasting the microphone. Alright. There's only four. Just a

moment. There's only four in That is the weather. Thanks if you

voted. Television and light music have been natural partners and if

you cannot be at the performance you should welcome them into your

front room. Here is a beautiful song as a tribute to those in the

Northern Ireland broadcast world no # When all the world is a hopeless

jumble # Raindrops tumble all around # When all the clouds darken

up the skyway # There's a rainbow highway to be found # Beating from

your window pane # To a place behind the sun # Just a step

# Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high, # There's a land that I've

heard of once in a lullaby. # Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

# And the dreams that you dare to # Someday I wish upon a star and

wake up where the clouds are far # My troubles melt like lemon drops

Away above the chimney tops, That's # Somewhere, over the rainbow,

# Birds fly over the rainbow, why # If happy little bluebirds fly

beyond the rainbow... # Why oh why Some famous names no longer gracing

the box. It shows you what a privilege it was to work with those

people and watch them on the box. Thank you very much. That is the

end of the trip down memory lane as the digital switch-over is minutes

away. It brings a world of broadcast possibilities. Think what

the digital future could have in store, higher-quality pictures,