Kev
01-26-2006, 12:18 PM
TV editor Peter Grant discovers why Phil Redmond is putting his class act on the big screen
DIM the lights, roll the credits. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Grange Hill - The Movie.
Professor Phil Redmond certainly knows all about education, education, education. He also knows a thing or two about entertainment - and is clearly relishing his latest project.
Since selling his Childwall-based Mersey TV company to all3 media last June, there has been much speculation about what Phil's plans might be.
Now the ECHO can exclusively reveal that Phil is developing Grange Hill - The Movie, as the project is currently called.
In June this year, series 30 of Grange Hill starts shooting for the BBC for transmission next year.
And Phil has decided that, apart from the series, the film is another way to develop the most famous school 'brand' in the country.
The film will be the first production from his own company merseyfilm.
Sitting in the Radisson SAS hotel, looking suitably relaxed, Phil couldn't be happier.
"I have been thinking about the idea for two years," he explains.
"I am writing the script now and I should be ready to start shooting in Spring 2007 for an Autumn release that year.
"It's a film being made on MY terms - that was always going to be the case.
"I will be filming in and around Merseyside and I will look at where some of the old characters are now and what happened to them."
Phil says he hasn't thought about the film's casting just yet - he just wants to make an accessible, enjoyable big screen version of the series which has seen many TV stars emerge through its ranks, such as Todd Carty who played Tucker and went on to star in EastEnders and The Bill.
The mould-breaking television series about an inner city comprehensive was created by Phil in 1977 and still enjoys great ratings.
Although no longer 'hands-on' with its Mersey TV stablemate, Hollyoaks, Phil remains Grange Hill's executive producer.
And although the two programmes have so far continued to be produced under the Mersey TV name, Phil is about to reclaim the company name.
When he sold the company to all3 media, it was with the stipulation that he would only 'lend' the company the Mersey TV name for 12 months.
Soon he will have the title back where it belongs - in the Phil Redmond portfolio.
Says Phil: "The name comes back to me because that was what I agreed when I sold the company.
"That was always the intention - for that legacy of the company to remain with myself and my wife Alexis.
"There are a lot of things that we are very proud of that are marked by Mersey TV, such as the plaques around the city, awarded for a number of reasons, educational projects and donations to the museums.
"These are, aside from the TV successes, what we helped set up as Mersey TV.
"I agreed to allow all3 to use it for a twelve-month period while the company set itself up and then it could create its own identity here on Merseyside.
"That is why they will have to change their name."
So farewell to Mersey TV as a programme-maker, but welcome merseyfilm, which gives Phil a chance to go back to his roots - and start writing scripts again.
Phil has always loved writing - from his days working on Doctor at Large to writing and setting the scene for Brookside, Hollyoaks.
"I would always say to those commissioning, look for writers who have seen real life, such as bus drivers," he says.
"That is why I'm happy now to have time to write again."
He says the TV series and forthcoming film will have different storylines but are coming from the same standpoint.
"I want the TV series to look at bullying in 2006 with all the new regulations. It's a very serious matter in this country.
"There's plenty of scope, but I am aware it has to appeal to all the family. It will be very emotional, but funny, too. There's a lot of contemporary thinking in there. Think of sex, drugs and rock and roll, but with a PG certificate.
"It's clear that there are few all-round family films around but when they are released they are big draws. Harry Potter and Narnia are two examples of how people like fantasies. Big studio animation films like Antz and Toy Story also have mass appeal.
"I always said DVD is the future, but there is a real place in all families' hearts for cinemas and movies."
So, speaking of fantasies, what does he think of the spell-binding Harry Potter phenomenon? After all, HP and Hogwart's have taken stories about schools into a whole new, magical, high-tech dimension.
He runs his hands through his long hair and laughs.
"Harry Potter . . . it's just Grange Hill with wizards."
DIM the lights, roll the credits. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Grange Hill - The Movie.
Professor Phil Redmond certainly knows all about education, education, education. He also knows a thing or two about entertainment - and is clearly relishing his latest project.
Since selling his Childwall-based Mersey TV company to all3 media last June, there has been much speculation about what Phil's plans might be.
Now the ECHO can exclusively reveal that Phil is developing Grange Hill - The Movie, as the project is currently called.
In June this year, series 30 of Grange Hill starts shooting for the BBC for transmission next year.
And Phil has decided that, apart from the series, the film is another way to develop the most famous school 'brand' in the country.
The film will be the first production from his own company merseyfilm.
Sitting in the Radisson SAS hotel, looking suitably relaxed, Phil couldn't be happier.
"I have been thinking about the idea for two years," he explains.
"I am writing the script now and I should be ready to start shooting in Spring 2007 for an Autumn release that year.
"It's a film being made on MY terms - that was always going to be the case.
"I will be filming in and around Merseyside and I will look at where some of the old characters are now and what happened to them."
Phil says he hasn't thought about the film's casting just yet - he just wants to make an accessible, enjoyable big screen version of the series which has seen many TV stars emerge through its ranks, such as Todd Carty who played Tucker and went on to star in EastEnders and The Bill.
The mould-breaking television series about an inner city comprehensive was created by Phil in 1977 and still enjoys great ratings.
Although no longer 'hands-on' with its Mersey TV stablemate, Hollyoaks, Phil remains Grange Hill's executive producer.
And although the two programmes have so far continued to be produced under the Mersey TV name, Phil is about to reclaim the company name.
When he sold the company to all3 media, it was with the stipulation that he would only 'lend' the company the Mersey TV name for 12 months.
Soon he will have the title back where it belongs - in the Phil Redmond portfolio.
Says Phil: "The name comes back to me because that was what I agreed when I sold the company.
"That was always the intention - for that legacy of the company to remain with myself and my wife Alexis.
"There are a lot of things that we are very proud of that are marked by Mersey TV, such as the plaques around the city, awarded for a number of reasons, educational projects and donations to the museums.
"These are, aside from the TV successes, what we helped set up as Mersey TV.
"I agreed to allow all3 to use it for a twelve-month period while the company set itself up and then it could create its own identity here on Merseyside.
"That is why they will have to change their name."
So farewell to Mersey TV as a programme-maker, but welcome merseyfilm, which gives Phil a chance to go back to his roots - and start writing scripts again.
Phil has always loved writing - from his days working on Doctor at Large to writing and setting the scene for Brookside, Hollyoaks.
"I would always say to those commissioning, look for writers who have seen real life, such as bus drivers," he says.
"That is why I'm happy now to have time to write again."
He says the TV series and forthcoming film will have different storylines but are coming from the same standpoint.
"I want the TV series to look at bullying in 2006 with all the new regulations. It's a very serious matter in this country.
"There's plenty of scope, but I am aware it has to appeal to all the family. It will be very emotional, but funny, too. There's a lot of contemporary thinking in there. Think of sex, drugs and rock and roll, but with a PG certificate.
"It's clear that there are few all-round family films around but when they are released they are big draws. Harry Potter and Narnia are two examples of how people like fantasies. Big studio animation films like Antz and Toy Story also have mass appeal.
"I always said DVD is the future, but there is a real place in all families' hearts for cinemas and movies."
So, speaking of fantasies, what does he think of the spell-binding Harry Potter phenomenon? After all, HP and Hogwart's have taken stories about schools into a whole new, magical, high-tech dimension.
He runs his hands through his long hair and laughs.
"Harry Potter . . . it's just Grange Hill with wizards."