TV Times 11-17 August 1984 (selected pages)

ll-17Au#1984

Yorkshire

TIHJS' Full programme guide to ITV& CHANNEL 4

look at other women anv more "AGES 4 - 6 and SATORDAYFELM, ITV

'O'Hara and Friends

Success at her fingertips bv Davidjamcs Smith picture Roderick Ebdon

M

iry O'Hara is the singer and harpist who became a cloistered nun after the early death of her young husband, who left the monastery 12 years later, and who became a success, second time around.

A decade later, her career still thriving, she can be seen in her current ITV series on Sunday evenings - Mary O'Hara and Friends.

The world has shared the intimate details of Mary's life - a story that has been retold endlessly iin newspapers and magazines, and by Mary, in heer autobiography, The Scent of the Roses.

To almost anyone else, this exposure and loss of privacy - 'the heartbreaking and heartwarming continued over page

Maiy OUara:^blessed nidi inner strength' continued from page 7 true story of a unique woman' would have been painful, somehow cheapening. But the Irish folk-singing star is made of sterner stuff. An hour or two in her company reveals someone with a rare and unassailable dignity, a strength of purpose that has enabled her to escape unscathed - even to have gained from the experience.

On a glorious summer's day, Mary is sitting in the garden of her Berkshire home. It is beautiful, and Mary, when she has the time, is prone to loll there.

Tm a great one for lolling/ she says, unconvincingly, for her workrate would defeat most ordinary hardworkers. She means, rather, that she does not go looking for concerts, books, television series. Instead, when offers come to her, she does not refuse them.

She says she had no desire to write the autobiography. 'I felt no compulsion, no psychological need to do it. But in the end I did it, and have never regretted doing so. But I don't think I could have done the soulbearing without having experienced those innumerable interviews beforehand.

'Having to answer probing questions asked by journalists, helped to overcome the discomfort of my natural shyness. What was totally unforeseen was the large number of people who would write to me after reading the book. The very young, the very old, the literate, semiliterate, and all those inbetween. They said they were consoled, or confirmed in a view, or felt such a sense of joy after reading the book that they had to write tome.

Tt was surprising but gratifying, and made me realise it had been the right thing to do/ In a life that ranges from exhausting concert tours and television appearances to the homely duties of cooking, washing, gardening and playing host to visiting friends, there is little time for Mary to enjoy the 'lolling' she craves.

T didn't choose to be a singer; it was decided for itself. I never really knew what I wanted to do, and wasn't terribly bothered.

I wasn't madly ambitious and certainly not dedicated. But once you are doing something 8

Mary O'Hara relaxes in the garden of her Berkshire home - Tm a great one for lolling.'

professionally, you must have the application and responsibility to do it as best you can, and I always apply myself 100 per cent plus.'

Mary finds concerts a debilitating out rewarding experience.

It has nothing to do with selfesteem: 'Being on that stage is no ego trip. It has everything to do with the response of an audience.'

Unexpectedly, for someone who exudes an aura of stillness and calm, she speaks of stagefright. 'I was a shy child, though that is well under control now.

But I suffer from a nervousness on stage that can be quite intense. It's all internal and doesn't show, but it's never got any easier/ The compensation of performing is not something Mary is able, or willing, to explain.

There's a tremendous energy flowing between me, as the communicator, and the audience.

It's intangible; not something I set out to achieve. It just happens, and each time it's a delicious surprise. I've never tried to analyse why -1 wouldn't want to spoil it/ Mary concedes, vaguely, that she is the far side of 40. That's no question to ask a lady,' she says, exercising an ingenuous sense of humour. She is equally noncommittal about the prospects of remarriage, claiming a wide and invaluable circle of friends; but still, apparently, self-sufficient and content to enjoy moments of isolation.

'I've been blessed all my life with an inner strength. Those 12 years as a nun consolidated that, so I always know I can cope/ Despite this, it is difficult to avoid the impression that Mary O'Hara's warmth and good nature must inevitably expose a certain vulnerability. Show business has its sharks, and they aren't too particular about their choice of victims.

'Well, I've a lot of common sense and a fair understanding of people. There have been unkind things; but everyone suffers that. Generally speaking, people have been very kind to me. Perhaps, if you face people honestly, they respond likewise?'

Proof, maybe, that having faith in human nature can find its reward.

11-17 August 1984 TVTIMES

Yorkshire

12 August

SUNDAY 6.10 Strumpet City

1.0 Whiz Kids

1.30 Irish Angle

THE WRONG MR WRIGHT Richie enrols his mother in a computer dating service. . . with dire results.

Llewellyn Max Gail Richie Matthew Laborteaux Hamilton Parker Todd Porter Jeremy Saldino Jeffrey Jacquet Alice Tyler Andrea Eison Cheryl Adler Melanie Gaffm Irene Adler Madelyn Cain Li Quinn A Martinez Dennis Warwick Simms Humphrey Scott Stevenson Baxter Anthony Charnota

Irish affairs and interests.

2.0 Platform 2 Canon Paul Oestreicher, secretary of the international affairs division of the British Council of Churches, joins Paul Johnson and Janet Radcliffe Richards to share views on how moral issues are presented by the media.

Programme associate is the Rev Eric Hudson.

DESIGNER PETER ALEXANDER DIRECTOR ANDY MELVIN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER REV DR NELSON GRAY Scottish Television Production

2.30 The Crimson Pirate BURT LANCASTER Captain Vallo, a devil-maycare raider of the 18th-century Caribbean sea lanes, has become known as The Crimson Pirate. Together with Ojo, an acrobatic mute, and a crew of lovable roughnecks, he captures a Spanish ship and its cargo of arms, destined for use against the rebels on the island of Cobra. Vallo decides to sell the weapons instead to El Libre, the rebel leader. This is only the beginning of adventures in which Vallo finds himself performing daring rescues, masquerading as a woman, and even flying a balloon!

See page 11 Capt Vallo Burt Lancaster Ojo Nick Cravat Consuelo Eva Bartok Baron Gruda Leslie Bradley Humble Torin Thatcher Bianca Margot Grahame Prudence James Hayter Pablo Murphy Noel Purcell El Libre Frederick Leister SCREENPLAY ROLAND KIBBEE DIRECTOR ROBERT SIODMAK

lYTIMES 11-17 August 1984

PETER O'TOOLE Story of Dublin in the 1900s. Father O'Connor, ignoring the warning that, with a general strike called, all trams still running do so at risk, is injured when a mob attacks.

Previously shown on ITV

1.55 Questions

Shiver your timbers as Captain Vallo (Burt Lancaster) and Consuelo (Eva Bartok) take to sea. The Crimson Pirate, 2.30.

4.3O TVTimes Star Family Challenge MIKE SMITH JEREMY MOAKES and JEAN ROGERS LEE WHITLOCK and GEORGE SUSAN BOWEN and JIM NATALIE CONRAD and JESS Family teams, consisting of well-known children or children of TV personalities — with a parent — compete in a fun contest involving swimming, unicycling, car driving and an army commando course. Successful contestants win money for their favourite charities from a £6000 prize purse and today's winner earns a place in the final. Presenter is Mike Smith, commentator Tim Russon.

DIRECTOR SID KILBEY PRODUCER NICK BRTTTAN Central Production

5.0 The Jacksons Everything from skateboards to an ancient boneshaker appear in today's music spectacular, featuring Michael Jackson and his brothers and sisters. Guest stars are Mackenzie Phillips and Tom Biener.

5.30 Return of The Saint CREATED BY LESLIE CHARTERIS

THE DEBT COLLECTORS

BY GEORGE MARKSTEIN

Simon Templar — alias The Saint — gallops into a grim spy drama when he helps a girl on a runaway horse. :f Simon Templar Ian Ogilvy Geoffrey Connaught Anton Rodgers Jeri Hanson Mary Tamm Christine Diane Keen Charles Medley Geoffrey Keen Jimmy Bob Sherman Paul Hanson Esmond Knight

Bradley Neil McCarthy Prison Governor Rosemary Dunham Maureen Lesley Diane Forbes Stephen Chase Wardress Marianne Stone Prison guard Milton Cadman Bradley s aide Chris Dillinger Girl in negligee Cheryl Cilham DIRECTOR LESLIE NORMAN PRODUCER ANTHONY SPINNER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ROBERT S BAKER

6.30 ITS News 6.40 Mary Ollara and Friends LIONA BOYD KELLY WALKER JULIAN CUMMINGS ELIZABETH SHENTON CITY OF LONDON SINFONIA Leader Andrew Watkinson International star Mary O'Hara and her musical friends entertain with song and music. Music director is Matthew Freeman.

See page 7 DESIGNER GREG LAWSON DIRECTOR/PRODUCER ANGUS WRIGHT TVS Production

7.15 to 7.45 The Sensible Show MATTHEW KELLY Which bobsleigh cuts no ice? How often do you put your foot in it? Do you make a spectacle of yourself? Two more families meet in games which test their senses; the Lloyds from Ormskirk and the Hollands from Sussex, Essex and Mersey side.

Oracle sub-titles page 170 RESEARCH CAROLINE GOSLING, CHARLIE MORTTZ DESIGNER PAUL DANSON DIRECTOR TONY BULLEY PRODUCERS PETER HEINZE, DAVID LIDDIMENT Granada Television Production

MARCEL BERLINS NIGEL DEMPSTER Journalist Nigel Dempster, widely read, feared and disliked Daily Mail diarist and doyen of gossip columnists, defends his journalistic activities and explains the morality that governs what goes into print and what is left out.

DIRECTOR DAVID COULTER PRODUCER JULIAN NORRIDGE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JANE HEWLAND London Weekend Television Production

Mulhall Donal McCann Bradshaw Edward Byrne Yearling Denys Hawthorne Fr O'Connor Frank Grimes Larkin Peter O'Toole Hennessy Brendan Cauldwell Fitz Bryan Murray Pat Vincent McCabe Rashers David Kelly Mary Angela Harding Mrs Hennessy Laurie Morton DIRECTOR/PRODUCER TONY BARRY RTE Production

7.10 News Summary

and Weather 2.25 All India Goldies: Awaara (The Vagabond) """^j Bombay: Raj FILM ! grows up with -^ his mother and does not know that he is the son of a noted judge. Raj's life is dominated by the bandit Jagga who teaches him to steal. Hindustani dialogue, English sub-titles.

1

Made in black and white

See page 11 Judge Raghunath Rita Raj Jagga

Prithviraj Nargis Raj Kapoor K N Singh

SCREENPLAY K A ABBAS, V P SATHI DIRECTOR RAJ KAPOOR

5.4O David Watson — A Tribute Canon David Watson, a leading figure within the evangelical movement in the Church of England, died of cancer last February.

His death brought strongly into focus the belief of which he was a foremost proponent, that God heals through faith, prayer and the laying on of hands.

Beginning with a memorial service at York Minster and ending with a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, the programme is a tribute, through testimony and recollection, to a relieious leader who chose to die a public death saying to the last, The best is yet to be'.

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER HUGH DAVID Leila Productions in association with Wildacre Productions

followed by

Playing Shakespeare with THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY JOHN BARTON LANGUAGE AND CHARACTER John Barton addresses the question of how an actor can make Shakespeare's words seem to be his own, a technique he calls 'freshminting' the language. Plus a look at the construction of Shakespeare's language, his use of resonance, inflexion and antithesis.

With Ben Kingsley, Lisa Harrow, Roger Kees, Michael Pennington, David Suchet, Michael Williams, Patrick Stewart, Sinead Cusack.

RESEARCH JAMIE MUIR DIRECTOR JOHN CARLAW PRODUCER ANDREW SNELL EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS MELVYN BRAGG, NICK EVANS London Weekend Television Production

Dublin drama: Donal McCann as Mulhall in Strumpet City.