More Bright Thoughts

Project titles each always at a different stage of development and mostly seeking co-production partners.  Some examples:

Why repurpose and restructure?

The ideas, concepts, formats, of all the above shows were originated by Neil Anthony and Bryan Izzard and although they may have been from a different era of television, many remain as relevant today.

With the growing interest in the Bright Thoughts product, there is potential for some projects to be reimagined and restructured for new audiences and with different markets in-mind.  Projects presented here are illustrative examples of our product and within our company remit which become known as  'entertainment with a purpose'.
Whilst Bryan is greatly missed, no longer around to direct any of our shows, he would nevertheless give them his blessing to materialise and be made in new ways for new generations to enjoy and be entertained.  He lived for entertainment, producing entertainment, and, consequently, would encourage others to do the same.

Glitz and Glamour

(original working title Darlings of the Chorus)
Notes:  Chorus dance around the world.  In the early days of Bright Thoughts we acquired the rights to a wonderful book The Natural History of The Chorus Girl by Derek and Julia Parker who both worked with us in creating the format for which we then could develop the show in a number of ways including as a 90 minute spectacular, or as 10 x one hour programmes.  

​The development was with Goldcrest Films & TV, and it was designed for a multiple partner co-production and be marketed worldwide.  Below, some of the narrative from the original promotional document.

Composers, artists and music

  • ​​The Least of my Troubles - composer Stephen Oliver who was set to become one of the leading composers of his generation who died far too young.  In his too short life composed hits such as The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (RSC), Blondel (with Tim Rice), and over forty operas.  This tribute to Stephen would celebrate not only his music and compositions, but also his work on radio, other TV shows, and the illuminating book Friendships in Constant Repair.
  • Cinderella - by Sir Peter Maxwell-Davies, composed in 1980.  A children's opera, of which there were several in the repertoire and particularly with the established working relationship with Max from working together on other projects.
  • Cleo in America - the first concept of this 90 in special was to celebrate the anniversary of Dame Cleo Laine and her career in America, to be shot at Carnegie Hall and largely whilst Cleo was on tour, but with one co-funding partner pulling out the project was suspended and not completed. 
  • Radio 3 Anniversary - The former BBC Third Programme relaunched as Radio 3 in September 1967.  This television concept celebrates the anniversary.  It is as much behind-the-scenes as it looks at the output and how it has adapted to meet the demands of new audiences.  Interviews with it's presenters over the years and those involved in the making and the delivery of the Radio 3 product.

Stage Door: one-man shows

Notes:  Mainly based on theatre shows, some about a particular famous actor, each show edited down to one hour with additional biographical material added for television audiences:
  • Turned out Nice Again - George Formby as played by Alan Randell.  Although Channel 4 announced Bright Thoughts to produce this for them (along with WC Fields), it was was not contracted.  Based on the stage play about the life and career of the English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and on record he sang light, comical songs, usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the UK's highest-paid entertainer at that time.​
  • On Your Way Riley - by Alan Plater based on the stormy partnership of Lucan and McShane aka 'Old Mother Riley', a fictional character in comedy films between 1934 and 1954.  (The show was later produced by Yorkshire TV starring Brian Murphy and Maureen Lipman.
  • Marie Lloyd - one woman stage play based on the English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress remembered for songs such as 'My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)' and for her use of innuendo and double entendre.  She enjoyed a long career affectionately known as the "Queen of the Music Hall".
  • Laurel & Hardy - one man stage play about the life of Stan Laurel, the English actor who began his career in music hall developing his comic devices including the bowler hat and the nonsensical understatement, before becoming a writer, film director, and part of the comic duo Laurel & Hardy.​

Pilots and more specials

Notes:  'Specials' is a somewhat loose category which covers most things from a celebratory anniversary show, to a genuinely one-off spectacular;  'Pilots' are one-offs which could become a series or shaped into a different format, for example:
  • ​​​DOCU-ENTERTAINMENT - Wild West and Victoria - designed to be a UK/USA co-production.  Buffalo Bill's Wild West toured Europe eight times, first in London in 1887 as part of the American Exhibition, which coincided with the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) was impressed enough to arrange a command performance for Queen Victoria. The Queen enjoyed the show and meeting the performers, setting the stage for another command performance on 20 June 1887 for her Jubilee guests.​
  • COMEDY - Roger McGough & Brian Patten - a half hour pilot with a view to a series of six x 30 mins, contemporary poetry performance with two of our great, popular and entertaining poets with selected readings from their many books.
  • FACTUAL - Navvies - inspired by the exceptional books of L.T.C. Rolt - notably, Navigable Waterways, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, among others.  Often the unsung heroes who changed the landscape and revolutionised travel, industry and commerce.  The original research and development was in partnership with HTV with a plan for a pilot and an initial 6 x one hours. ​DRAMA - Rasputin - a 90 minute dramatisation of the legendary and controversial life of Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin to be filmed in Northern Ireland.  The research, project development including location recce's were in partnership with UTV and therefore the re-enactments planned for filming in remote parts of Northern Ireland.

History of The Human Voice

(working title)
Notes:  As with The Natural History of The Chorus Girl (below), in the early days of Bright Thoughts we prepared a treatment that would look exclusively at The Natural History of The Human Voice and created a format for which the show could then be developed in a number of ways including as a 90 minute spectacular, or as 10 x one hour programmes, depending on the level of funding.  It was designed for a multiple partner co-production and be marketed worldwide.

As well as the very obvious contemporary styles of music in western culture and to some degree looking at the roots to some music, there would be an emphasis on ethnomusicology, voice modulation in spoken language, physiology, voice timbre and vocal types.  We would be studying this in different cultures around the world and in different periods of history.

The show would also explore the effect of vocal music on the psyche, not so much from the musical construction and composition aspect, but, for example, plain-song and chanting, vocal sound which isn't necessarily harmonic to the western ear.  

More has been written on these topics and many others within the concept and format, more elaborate than can be briefly outlined here.