A weekend of nostalgia, laughter and genuinely surprising stories played out at Monmouth’s Savoy Theatre recently, as the Talking Pictures TV Festival brought together some familiar faces from British television history.
Welsh broadcasting legend Owen Money was among the highlights, charming the audience as only he can. The veteran entertainer, who spent decades as one of Wales’s most recognisable radio and TV personalities, had the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout his appearance.
But it was not just Money who had people talking. Actress Liza Goddard, best known to generations of viewers from classic British TV dramas and comedies, also appeared at the Monmouth event and proved just as engaging in person as she has been on screen across a career spanning more than five decades.
The festival, held at the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth, is dedicated to celebrating the kind of classic television that Talking Pictures TV has made its mission to preserve and broadcast. The channel has built up a devoted following by digging out old British films and TV shows that would otherwise gather dust in archives, giving them a new audience and a fresh lease of life.
One of the more memorable moments from the festival came when the conversation turned to the rather less glamorous side of television production. Stories emerged about Doctor Who props that were, to put it kindly, not exactly built to last. Anyone who grew up watching the show will probably not be too shocked to learn that some of the iconic sets and costumes were held together by not much more than goodwill and gaffer tape. Hearing those behind-the-scenes tales brought plenty of laughs from an audience that clearly had a deep affection for the era being celebrated.
Then there was the story that perhaps nobody saw coming. The subject of Merthyr Town FC came up, and with it came the revelation that the club had apparently attracted some attention from a rather unexpected quarter. According to what was shared at the festival, there had been enquiries about the Welsh football club from the late Queen herself. It is the kind of detail that sounds almost too good to be true, but it went down a storm with the Monmouth crowd.
Merthyr Town have been on quite a journey in recent years, climbing through the non-league pyramid and winning admirers well beyond the south Wales valleys. Whether or not royal interest played any part in raising their profile is another matter, but it is certainly a story the club’s supporters will enjoy.
The Savoy Theatre in Monmouth provided a fitting backdrop for the whole weekend. It is one of those venues that feels perfectly suited to an event celebrating the golden age of British television, with enough character and history of its own to match the stories being told on stage.
Talking Pictures TV has become something of a cultural institution since it launched, filling a gap that many viewers did not even know existed until the channel arrived. There is clearly a huge appetite for the kind of programming it champions, and events like this festival show that the affection runs deep.
For those who made the trip to Monmouth, it was a weekend that delivered exactly what it promised. Good stories, familiar faces and the kind of warmth that comes from a shared love of television that actually meant something to people.
Owen Money, as ever, reminded everyone why he has remained such a beloved figure in Welsh broadcasting for so long. Some performers just have a natural ability to connect with an audience, and he has never lost it.
Honestly had no idea this was even a thing but it sounds brilliant. Owen Money is an absolute legend and anything involving Doctor Who props is worth a watch. Merthyr Town getting a royal shoutout is class too, fair play to them!