Channel 5 commissions FGW documentary

[Stats]

Looks like FGW are getting in on the latest fly-on-the-wall railway documentary.

Channel 5 commissions Twofour and GroupM Entertainment to produce ob doc First Great Western


3-06-2013

Twofour and GroupM Entertainment have been commissioned to produce a brand new 8 x 60’ ob doc following the working lives of the staff of First Great Western, one of Britain’s largest and most unique train operating companies.

The series will delve behind the scenes to capture the inside story of an industry that continues to grow, featuring a team of dedicated drivers, managers, ticket inspectors, technicians and porters that connect the capital to the far South West.

Packed full of personality, humour and heritage, First Great Western will offer an insight into one of the country’s most iconic companies and a unique prism through which to take a fresh look at everyday life in contemporary Britain.

Melanie Leach, Twofour MD said: “As a South West based Indie, Twofour has spent over a decade traveling with FGW. The routes, the staff, the silver service dining and, of course, the customers combine to create an organisation that is utterly unique. We’re delighted that they’ve agreed to let us tell their story on Channel 5.”

First Great Western (working title) is executive produced by Dan Adamson and series produced by Gill Hennessey for Twofour and executive produced by Tony Moulsdale and Melanie Darlaston for GroupM Entertainment.

http://www.twofour.co.uk/news/chann...inment-to-produce-ob-doc-first-great-western/

 

[richw]

Should be an interesting documentary, and I'd expect FGW to be portrayed mainly positively by TwoFour. Their main UK office is in Plymouth I believe, so expect to see much about the south west and our branch lines.

TwoFour were reportedly filming at Bristol TM at the end of January from another forum I use.

 

[bicbasher]

I hope it isn't done in the style of the Eddie Stobart series on Channel 5.

 

[96tommy]

Isn't there a East Coast documentary at some point as well?

 

[richw]

I hope it isn't done in the style of the Eddie Stobart series on Channel 5.

I quite like that show!

 

[anthony263]

Isn't there a East Coast documentary at some point as well?

Sky are reported to have filmed a documentary on east coast and the BBC have series 2 of the tube to be aired later this summer

 

[Qwerty133]

I quite like that show!

So do I but they seem to spreading to too many boring drivers!

 

[Goatboy]

I hope it isn't done in the style of the Eddie Stobart series on Channel 5.

It seems to be a ripoff of the format of Ice Road Truckers written by somebody who doesn't realise that soft drinks from Crick to Northampton isn't quite as exciting as drilling rigs to Prudho Bay...

 

[nxea321446]

is there going to be another series of the railway keeping britain on track?

 

[anthony263]

is there going to be another series of the railway keeping britain on track?

Not too sure on that yet
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It seems to be a ripoff of the format of Ice Road Truckers written by somebody who doesn't realise that soft drinks from Crick to Northampton isn't quite as exciting as drilling rigs to Prudho Bay...

I suspect you are correct as I wouldnt be too surprised if one of the bosses at Eddie Stobart watched Ice Road Truckers and decided to use the same idea. Fair play to Eddie Stobart it has become a very popular documentary, in fact I regulary watch the episodes on a friday evening.

 

[cj_1985]

Not too sure on that yet
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I suspect you are correct as I wouldnt be too surprised if one of the bosses at Eddie Stobart watched Ice Road Truckers and decided to use the same idea. Fair play to Eddie Stobart it has become a very popular documentary, in fact I regulary watch the episodes on a friday evening.

i like the show aswell... but that's partly due to my early life, and first job being in international transport and spent all day every day in or around trucks, so I can relate to sections of the show.

hopefully though, this documentary on FGW will show the public that there is much more to the service provided than your garden variety passenger sees or knows about... that its not as simple as a train arriving at station A and departing for station B, showing the difficulties that FGW and its staff have to deal with when something goes wrong either with the stock or with the infrastructure.

 

[Morden Via CHX]

It seems to be a ripoff of the format of Ice Road Truckers written by somebody who doesn't realise that soft drinks from Crick to Northampton isn't quite as exciting as drilling rigs to Prudho Bay...

Spot on..

 

[wbbminerals]

Ah the Eddie Stobart programme, it always has me on the edge of my seat! Will he make it in time to the Co-Op or will he turn up too late for them to accept the delivery?

 

[SS4]

Ah the Eddie Stobart programme, it always has me on the edge of my seat! Will he make it in time to the Co-Op or will he turn up too late for them to accept the delivery?

Will he be able to back his big unit into the tight receiver bay without causing damage to either of them?

 

[bicbasher]

The problem I have with the Stobart show is that it's more about the personalities of the drivers rather than how a haulage company really works, so it's nothing more than publicity puff for the Stobart Group.

I know that they have to make entertainment out of these shows, but as seen with the BBC railway docs, it can be done while still educating the average viewer into how the railway works.

 

[D1009]

Ah the Eddie Stobart programme, it always has me on the edge of my seat! Will he make it in time to the Co-Op or will he turn up too late for them to accept the delivery?

I watched one of the early episodes, and whist I enjoyed it, it came across as very stage managed.

 

[Eagle]

Will he be able to back his big unit into the tight receiver bay without causing damage to either of them?

That definitely sounds filthy enough to be broadcast on the Desmond Media Network (or whatever his company, which owns Channel 5, is actually called).

 

[bicbasher]

That definitely sounds filthy enough to be broadcast on the Desmond Media Network (or whatever his company, which owns Channel 5, is actually called).

Northern & Shell. They also own the Daily Express and Star.

I can see the commentary being done by that very blokey sounding narrator for Stobart doing the stats for a Pacer in an exaggerated manner.

 

[wbbminerals]

They also own the Daily Express and Star.

The best sources for unbiased news.

In all seriousness I can imagine this programme being as biased as the Stobart one, as surely FGW need some good PR after that programme a while back with the old bloke slagging FGW off for overcrowding (sorry can't remember anything else about it)!

 

[martybabes]

...
hopefully though, this documentary on FGW will show the public that there is much more to the service provided than your garden variety passenger sees or knows about... that its not as simple as a train arriving at station A and departing for station B, showing the difficulties that FGW and its staff have to deal with when something goes wrong either with the stock or with the infrastructure.

...and what would be really interesting would be, when things do go wrong, (i) to see the efforts being made by those who have a responsibility for passenger comfort, safety and security and (ii) the time-frame within which those actions are being taken.

Passengers are already familiar with the train arriving and departing - it's what happens when these two activities don't take place that I would find interesting.

 

[Harlesden]

Referring to the quote in the OP, I don't see how FGW is unique other than being the only "inter city" TOC still using diesel power.
FGW is not and never has been an "iconic" company. It is merely a component of an international transport group. The Great Western Railway was an iconic and unique entity from 1838 until 1st January 1948 when it became the Western Region of British Railways, after which it retained a little of its uniqueness in addition to an impressive sense of pride among those who worked for it. The magic came to an end in February 1996 with privatisation and the once proud GWR/Western Region became simply another profit driven TOC

 

[Eagle]

Referring to the quote in the OP, I don't see how FGW is unique other than being the only "inter city" TOC still using diesel power.

XC, EC and EMT might dispute that...

 

[Muzer]

They're one of many TOCs to be systematically shafted with rolling stock provisions, that's for sure

 

[sbatts43]

XC, EC and EMT might dispute that...

Yes but they use the best high speed trains (HST) .

 

[387star]

porter is a very archaic term

 

[MK Tom]

Ah the Eddie Stobart programme, it always has me on the edge of my seat! Will he make it in time to the Co-Op or will he turn up too late for them to accept the delivery?

There's definitely a video game in this!

 

[jon0844]

I know that they have to make entertainment out of these shows, but as seen with the BBC railway docs, it can be done while still educating the average viewer into how the railway works.

Given this new show will be on Channel 5, I think we can already tell that it will be very much about the people, and not the mundane stuff like actually running a railway.

 

[CC 72100]

It seems to be a ripoff of the format of Ice Road Truckers written by somebody who doesn't realise that soft drinks from Crick to Northampton isn't quite as exciting as drilling rigs to Prudho Bay...

I disagree. I think it's all done quite tongue in cheek.

*Although to be a pedant, the Dalton Highway wasn't actually over ice, and there was no risk of 'breaking through' (except on some of the minor roads off) like there was on series 1 + 2.

I can see the commentary being done by that very blokey sounding narrator for Stobart doing the stats for a Pacer in an exaggerated manner.

Narrator Bloke

"The British rail pacer is a popular choice on branch lines. It's unique wheel configuration means that it reduces wear on track whilst improving ride quality for the passengers, whilst the use of folding doors as opposed to sliding ones reduces the amount of maintenance required. Whilst small and mighty the Pacer still manages to pack a punch with all mod-cons, including toilets and air conditioning for the driver*.

*Which may or may not be created by quickly opening and closing the cab windows.

... or something like that anyway.

 

[DarloRich]

is there going to be another series of the railway keeping britain on track?

Not too sure on that yet

Why do you say that?

 

[anthony263]

Why do you say that?

Because I havent seen anything on the internet yet stating whether or not they will make a new series after all it has only been a couple of months since the last episode of the series was broadcast.