One Man and His Dog
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(Appears that this has been quietly put out to pasture) |
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<div class="image">[[Image:Onemanandhisdog logo large.jpg|300px]]</div> | <div class="image">[[Image:Onemanandhisdog logo large.jpg|300px]]</div> | ||
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<div class="box"> | <div class="box"> | ||
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| - | + | == Host == | |
| - | Robin Page | + | [[Phil Drabble]] (1976-93)<br> |
| + | Robin Page (1994-2000)<br> | ||
| + | Clarissa Dickson-Wright (2000-03)<br> | ||
| + | [[Shauna Lowry]] (2004-06)<br> | ||
| + | [[Ben Fogle]] (2004-07)<br> | ||
| + | [[Kate Humble]] (2008-11)<br> | ||
| + | [[Matt Baker]] (2010-23)<br> | ||
| + | Michaela Strachan (2012)<br> | ||
| + | [[Julia Bradbury]] (2013)<br> | ||
| + | Helen Skelton (2014, 19, 21)<br> | ||
| + | Ellie Harrison (2015)<br> | ||
| + | [[Anita Rani]] (2016, 18)<br> | ||
| + | Charlotte Smith (2017, 20) | ||
| - | + | == Co-hosts == | |
| - | + | Commentators:<br> | |
| + | Eric Halsall (1976-90)<br> | ||
| + | Ray Ollrenshaw (1991-93)<br> | ||
| + | Gus Dermody (1994-2012)<br> | ||
| + | Matt Baker (2006-09)<br> | ||
| + | Andy Jackman (2013-23) | ||
| - | + | Guest captains:<br> | |
| - | + | Shauna Lowry (2001)<br> | |
| - | + | Rhodri Williams (2001)<br> | |
| - | + | Matt Baker (2001)<br> | |
| - | Ben Fogle | + | [[Vicki Butler-Henderson]] (2001)<br> |
| - | + | Jackie Bird (2002)<br> | |
| - | [[ | + | Ben Fogle (2002-03)<br> |
| - | + | [[John Craven]] (2002-03)<br> | |
| - | + | Trude Mostue (2002-03) | |
== Broadcast == | == Broadcast == | ||
| - | + | BBC2, 17 February 1976 to 13 March 1999 (regular series: 201 episodes in 25 series) | |
| - | Annual specials: 1999 to 2012 | + | Annual specials: 1999 to 2012 (24 episodes in 14 series) |
| - | BBC One, 27 October 2013 | + | BBC One, 27 October 2013 to 17 September 2023 (11 episodes, as part of ''Countryfile'') |
| + | |||
| + | ''Young Man and His Dog'': BBC1, 2 to 6 September 1996 (5 episodes in 1 series) | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="image">[[Image:Onemanandhisdog adog.jpg|400px]]''..and his dog''</div> | <div class="image">[[Image:Onemanandhisdog adog.jpg|400px]]''..and his dog''</div> | ||
| - | The vets at | + | The vets at BBC2 head office finally put the programme to sleep as we approached the new millennium. They didn't quite succeed in killing it off, though, as it still lives on in the form of annual specials. The (at one point seriously mooted) idea of Sky buying it and renaming it ''Sky One Man and His Dog'' was just silly, really. |
Rumours surface from time to time about a full-scale comeback, but realistically it's not going to happen. Even after ''Countryfile'' turned Matt Baker into a bona fide star, the dividend for ''One Man and His Dog'' was a live series over a weekend in September 2012 - the second episode had to be recorded for transmission a week later when the golf over-ran. | Rumours surface from time to time about a full-scale comeback, but realistically it's not going to happen. Even after ''Countryfile'' turned Matt Baker into a bona fide star, the dividend for ''One Man and His Dog'' was a live series over a weekend in September 2012 - the second episode had to be recorded for transmission a week later when the golf over-ran. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''One Man and His Dog'' was absorbed into the very popular ''Countryfile'' series, where it ran as an annual competition. It was quietly abolished after the 2023 edition, and replaced by edited highlights from the World Trials. | ||
<div class="image">[[Image:Onemanandhisdog gus matt.jpg|400px]]''Gus Dermody and Matt Baker discussing the contest with Kate Humble''</div> | <div class="image">[[Image:Onemanandhisdog gus matt.jpg|400px]]''Gus Dermody and Matt Baker discussing the contest with Kate Humble''</div> | ||
| - | We always wanted | + | We always wanted the sheep to win, actually. |
== Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||
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In 1996, special programmes featuring younger contestants were shown. The name? ''Young Man and His Dog''. Awww... | In 1996, special programmes featuring younger contestants were shown. The name? ''Young Man and His Dog''. Awww... | ||
| - | Obscure horse and country TV channel Horse & Country TV launched their own version in 2007 called ''Come-Bye!'', again hosted by Robin Page, but instead of holding their own contests they just went along and filmed the regular national dog trial competitions. As far as we can tell, it only ran for one series. They actually wanted to use the ''One Man and His Dog'' name, but the BBC wouldn't let them, on the not-unreasonable grounds that they were still using it themselves. | + | Obscure horse and country TV channel Horse & Country TV launched their own version in 2007 called ''Come-Bye!'', again hosted by Robin Page, but instead of holding their own contests they just went along and filmed the regular national dog trial competitions. As far as we can tell, it only ran for one series. They actually wanted to use the ''One Man and His Dog'' name, but the BBC wouldn't let them, on the not-unreasonable grounds that they were still using it themselves. |
<div class="image">[[File:Farpaisean-hosts.jpg|400px]]''Donald and Catriona from Farpaisean Chon Chaorach: the true successors to Dermody and Page?''</div> | <div class="image">[[File:Farpaisean-hosts.jpg|400px]]''Donald and Catriona from Farpaisean Chon Chaorach: the true successors to Dermody and Page?''</div> | ||
| - | + | A more successful attempt to carry the torch for hot hound-on-flock action was ''Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach'' which ran on the Gaelic-language channel BBC Alba from 2008 to 2021. Like "Come-Bye!" the show covered existing dog trials rather than staging their own, including the triennial World Championships in 2008 and 2014. (Alba lost the TV rights for the 2011 tourney to More4, who borrowed ''Countryfile''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Ellie Harrison to host, then threw a load of hi-tech gimmicks - and the commentary of [[Barry Davies]] - at it; an experiment yet to be revisited.) Although the hosts Dòmhnall MacSuain (Donald MacSween) and Catrìona Nic a Phì (Catriona MacPhee) were rather more given to bits of comic business than the various hosts of 1M&HD had been, it was otherwise very similar to the old show indeed, and while rising costs and static budgets forced its cancellation after thirteen successful series, the expertise is clearly there should the BBC ever decide to bring ''One Man'' or something like it back as a mainstream series. With ''Farpaisean Chon Chorach'' no longer around, [[:Category:Stellify Media Productions|Stellify Media]] filmed the 2023 World Trials (held in County Down) for BBC One Northern Ireland; they were broadcast as ''Sheepdog Showdown'' with [[Clare Balding]] on voiceover duties. | |
If the dog's running <b>C</b>lockwise, it's "<b>C</b>ome by", and for <b>A</b>nticlockwise it's "<b>A</b>way". So now you know. | If the dog's running <b>C</b>lockwise, it's "<b>C</b>ome by", and for <b>A</b>nticlockwise it's "<b>A</b>way". So now you know. | ||
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[http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/185089390X/labyrinthgames One Man and His Dog] book by Phil Drabble | [http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/185089390X/labyrinthgames One Man and His Dog] book by Phil Drabble | ||
| - | ==Pictures== | + | == Web links == |
| + | |||
| + | [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006pn5q BBC programme page] | ||
| + | |||
| + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Man_and_His_Dog Wikipedia entry] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Opening titles from [http://www.ravensbourne.ac.uk/bbc-motion-graphics-archive/one-man-and-his-dog-1977 1977], [http://www.ravensbourne.ac.uk/bbc-motion-graphics-archive/one-man-and-his-dog-1995 1995] and [http://www.ravensbourne.ac.uk/bbc-motion-graphics-archive/one-man-and-his-dog-2002 2002] in the BBC Motion Graphics Archive | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Pictures == | ||
<div class="image">[[Image:Onemanandhisdog thepen.jpg|400px]]''The tricky "pen" manouevre''</div> | <div class="image">[[Image:Onemanandhisdog thepen.jpg|400px]]''The tricky "pen" manouevre''</div> | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
| - | [[Weaver's Week 2012-09-30|Weaver's Week | + | Weaver's Week reviews [[Weaver's Week 2012-09-30|2012]] and [[Weaver's Week 2020-09-27|2020]] |
[[Category:Agriculture]] | [[Category:Agriculture]] | ||
Current revision as of 12:49, 18 December 2024
Contents |
Host
Phil Drabble (1976-93)
Robin Page (1994-2000)
Clarissa Dickson-Wright (2000-03)
Shauna Lowry (2004-06)
Ben Fogle (2004-07)
Kate Humble (2008-11)
Matt Baker (2010-23)
Michaela Strachan (2012)
Julia Bradbury (2013)
Helen Skelton (2014, 19, 21)
Ellie Harrison (2015)
Anita Rani (2016, 18)
Charlotte Smith (2017, 20)
Co-hosts
Commentators:
Eric Halsall (1976-90)
Ray Ollrenshaw (1991-93)
Gus Dermody (1994-2012)
Matt Baker (2006-09)
Andy Jackman (2013-23)
Guest captains:
Shauna Lowry (2001)
Rhodri Williams (2001)
Matt Baker (2001)
Vicki Butler-Henderson (2001)
Jackie Bird (2002)
Ben Fogle (2002-03)
John Craven (2002-03)
Trude Mostue (2002-03)
Broadcast
BBC2, 17 February 1976 to 13 March 1999 (regular series: 201 episodes in 25 series)
Annual specials: 1999 to 2012 (24 episodes in 14 series)
BBC One, 27 October 2013 to 17 September 2023 (11 episodes, as part of Countryfile)
Young Man and His Dog: BBC1, 2 to 6 September 1996 (5 episodes in 1 series)
Synopsis
It's been many hundreds of years since animals have been put up for trial (hello to our readers in Hartlepool). Maybe for crimes they didn't commit. The tradition was brought back crash bang into the Twentieth Century with One Man and His Dog, a television programme about sheepdog trials.
One man...Three shepherds, who each owned a sheepdog attempted to whistle and "come by" their way through the show. Each competitor typically had to get their dog to guide some sheep through a gate, into a ring (where they'd have to separate a certain sheep from the rest) and then into a pen, all the while being given marks by judges. The sheep generally played up quite a bit, but nobody had the clever idea of just shouting "mint sauce!" or somesuch.
..and his dogThe vets at BBC2 head office finally put the programme to sleep as we approached the new millennium. They didn't quite succeed in killing it off, though, as it still lives on in the form of annual specials. The (at one point seriously mooted) idea of Sky buying it and renaming it Sky One Man and His Dog was just silly, really.
Rumours surface from time to time about a full-scale comeback, but realistically it's not going to happen. Even after Countryfile turned Matt Baker into a bona fide star, the dividend for One Man and His Dog was a live series over a weekend in September 2012 - the second episode had to be recorded for transmission a week later when the golf over-ran.
One Man and His Dog was absorbed into the very popular Countryfile series, where it ran as an annual competition. It was quietly abolished after the 2023 edition, and replaced by edited highlights from the World Trials.
Gus Dermody and Matt Baker discussing the contest with Kate HumbleWe always wanted the sheep to win, actually.
Trivia
In 1996, special programmes featuring younger contestants were shown. The name? Young Man and His Dog. Awww...
Obscure horse and country TV channel Horse & Country TV launched their own version in 2007 called Come-Bye!, again hosted by Robin Page, but instead of holding their own contests they just went along and filmed the regular national dog trial competitions. As far as we can tell, it only ran for one series. They actually wanted to use the One Man and His Dog name, but the BBC wouldn't let them, on the not-unreasonable grounds that they were still using it themselves.
Donald and Catriona from Farpaisean Chon Chaorach: the true successors to Dermody and Page?A more successful attempt to carry the torch for hot hound-on-flock action was Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach which ran on the Gaelic-language channel BBC Alba from 2008 to 2021. Like "Come-Bye!" the show covered existing dog trials rather than staging their own, including the triennial World Championships in 2008 and 2014. (Alba lost the TV rights for the 2011 tourney to More4, who borrowed Countryfile's Ellie Harrison to host, then threw a load of hi-tech gimmicks - and the commentary of Barry Davies - at it; an experiment yet to be revisited.) Although the hosts Dòmhnall MacSuain (Donald MacSween) and Catrìona Nic a Phì (Catriona MacPhee) were rather more given to bits of comic business than the various hosts of 1M&HD had been, it was otherwise very similar to the old show indeed, and while rising costs and static budgets forced its cancellation after thirteen successful series, the expertise is clearly there should the BBC ever decide to bring One Man or something like it back as a mainstream series. With Farpaisean Chon Chorach no longer around, Stellify Media filmed the 2023 World Trials (held in County Down) for BBC One Northern Ireland; they were broadcast as Sheepdog Showdown with Clare Balding on voiceover duties.
If the dog's running Clockwise, it's "Come by", and for Anticlockwise it's "Away". So now you know.
Catchphrases
*whistle* "Come by!"
Theme music
Alan Benson. The theme was finally updated in 2012 - the new version is a similar arrangement but with a piano replacing the ever-so-70s lead synth of the original. Sadly it was only used that year; Countryfile just uses its own regular theme music.
Merchandise
30 Years of One Man and His Dog R2 DVD
One Man and His Dog book by Phil Drabble
Web links
Opening titles from 1977, 1995 and 2002 in the BBC Motion Graphics Archive
Pictures
The tricky "pen" manouevre
Oh dear, someone's left a load of HDPE pipe all over the course
The winner gets a cup and a saucer (actually, one's an individual prize, and the other is a team prize)
The title card from 2012.See also
Weaver's Week reviews 2012 and 2020
