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Welcome to Renown Films
Dear Supporters of Film and TV History,
Greetings to you all! The days are getting lighter, the birds are beginning to sing and I do think there is a touch of spring in the air! The thought of being able to get out and about in better weather reminds me that one of our biggest events of the year, at the Alban Arena in St Albans, is on the horizon. It’s on Saturday 21st March & Sunday 22nd March 2026. Have you got your tickets yet? They’re selling fast! It will be a fantastic show and we are all looking forward to it. Marty Wilde MBE, Paula Wilcox and Robert Powell head a star-studded bill that includes Leigh Lawson, Colin Baker, Tommy Cannon, Linda Regan, Bernie Clifton, Caroline Munro, Madeline Smith, Melvyn Hayes and Steve Nallon from Spitting Image. Plus, an exclusive reunion of stars of TV series, The Brothers, as Julia Goodman and Françoise Pascal join Colin Baker on stage. There will be music from Maxine Mazumder, who brings Dusty Springfield to life; and Lola Lamour with beautiful songs from yesteryear. Steve Hewlett provides an entertaining history of ventriloquism; virtuoso musician Andy Eastwood shows off his skills with multiple instruments; and there’s fun with comedy historian Andre Vincent and magician Mark Shortland. Tap dancer, Katie Lewis, will dazzle us with her vibrant, vintage style. Not forgetting an unmissable chance to see rare films and shorts on the big screen. To get your tickets, click HERE
My fellow footage detective, Mike Read and I will be hosting at St Albans and we are looking forward to two wonderful days and seeing lots of you there! Fans of the Footage Detectives will love our special offer this month. This exclusive deal includes: The Footage Detectives Volume 2 Exclusive 3-DVD Set, with optional subtitles. The box set features 14 fascinating episodes in which the ‘celluloid sleuths,’ (that’s Mike Read and myself!), track down lost films, footage and TV series! Not only that, also included in this offer is our exclusive CD: Music from the Footage Detectives 2-CD Set Volume 1: The Swingers & their ‘jazzy’ tracks. A great selection of music with 57 tracks on 2 CDs. We are also including a FREE Footage Detectives Badge! For more information, click HERE
Leigh Lawson will also be onstage at St Albans. He is the star of popular TPTV series Travelling Man; also famous for film and TV roles including Brother Sun, Sister Moon; Tess; Kinsey; Silent Witness and numerous stage appearances; but did you know he is also a poet? During the course of his 60-year career he has turned to poetry as a means of expression, meditation and emotional outlet and has now assembled some of his poems into a collection, accompanied by fascinating memories, intriguing stories and anecdotes from around the time of each poem’s appearance. If you would like a peek into his extraordinary journey of a life, from poverty and abuse to achievement and fulfilment, this book is a must-read. We have a limited amount of signed copies available. To discover Leigh Lawson’s inner world, click HERE
“Now hands that do dishes can feel soft as your face, with mild green Fairy liquid…” That’s the sort of memorable and nostalgic catch phrase we like to explore on the Footage Detectives, but did you know it was sung by Rosemary Squires MBE? Known as “The British Doris Day,” she was an English jazz, big band, cabaret and concert singer and recording artist who performed with Max Harris and Kenny Baker and appeared in the BBC Festival of Jazz at the Royal Albert Hall. She was a regular on the BBC Light Programme, on shows such as Melody Time and Workers’ Playtime. This month we have a compilation CD which presents the very best of her early recordings, including My Love Is A Wanderer, an LP she cut in the U.S. in 1957, not previously issued in the U.K. Her voice is as wonderful to hear as ever, I highly recommend this CD. To get your copy, click HERE
St Albans is not the only event we are excited about this year. We’d love to see you in Redditch on Sunday 13th September 2026 at The Palace Theatre. It’s so beautiful, and has been perfectly restored. It’s the perfect venue for one of our roadshows, an absolute delight for fans of cinema and theatre architecture. It’s so easy to get to, only an hour from Birmingham by train, or three hours from London. Do think about booking, to buy tickets click HERE
If you’re coming to Whitstable for our Peter Cushing Day on Saturday 23rd OR Sunday 24th May 2026, I’m delighted to announce that among those joining us is Hammer Horror star, Virginia Wetherell. Her films include Curse of the Crimson Altar, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde and Demons of the Mind. Julie Peasgood, who was a wonderful guest at Hebden Bridge last year, will also be with us. Julie starred in House of the Long Shadows; TV’s Clayhanger, Play for Today and This Year, Next Year. Both Virginia and Julie knew and worked with Peter Cushing; and Virginia’s husband, Ralph Bates, was lifelong friends with Peter. Our own Scream Queen, Caroline Munro, will be there of course and there will be a few surprises that weekend! Tickets are still available, click HERE.
I’ve been looking at some of the emails about last year’s trip to Malta with Caroline Munro. They bring back lovely memories and I look forward to returning in May, 13th – 20th:
“All the chosen locations were enjoyable. The evening entertainment, films, interviews and quizzes, were very good. Food and drink at the hotel was excellent, as was the hotel itself.”
“ …what was truly remarkable was not the scenery and perfect weather but the company of very sociable like-minded film and TV enthusiasts, with Noel and Caroline being so much part of the group.”
“We followed in the filmmakers’ footsteps around Valletta, visited the Lascaris War Rooms, saw the site of the RAF airport from the mighty walls of Mdina and visited the extraordinary Neolithic Temple of Hagar Qim. Other highlights included the boat trip to Comino, the Sacra Infermeria and Popeye Village.”
I can’t wait to return and Caroline and I would love it if you would join us! All details are on the Tripsmiths website, click HERE
Alternatively, you can call Tripsmiths on 03300 294 098 to book, quoting ref: TPMALTA.
I’m happy to tell you that Sarah is working on a new Danziger DVD Box Set that’s coming very soon. There is a great deal left to unlock in the Danziger vault, including some lost gems of British film making, and we are delighted to bring them back to the public. There’ll also be more of Who Do You Do? airing soon, I’m hoping to see Karen Kay on there, she was such a great guest in Monmouth last year. Of course, all our shows have marvellous guests and I look forward to seeing you at our next event – see you in St Albans!
My best wishes, Noel
Noel Cronin BEM
TPTV Encore on Freeview
Talking Pictures TV is thrilled to announce that our catch up service Encore is now on Freeview. If your Freeview television or set top box is connected to the internet then you will see the Encore logo top right of your screen. When you see the Encore logo simply press the red button on your remote control to be transported to your own private cinema, where you’ll find 100s of films and TV series. All available to watch for free – no TV licence required – and catch up on at any time!
