The Tally Ho talks to Ian Rakoff

Welcome to The Tally Ho, a podcast about the classic TV series The Prisoner.

In this special episode, we talk to writer, editor and comic book collector Ian Rakoff. Ian worked as an assistant editor on the series, and wrote the classic episode Living in Harmony (our discussion of the episode is here). We chatted to Ian about his life and career, from growing up in apartheid South Africa to his career in TV and film working alongside some legendary film makers such as Lindsay Anderson, John Boorman, and Nic Roeg. Ian discussed his time working on The Prisoner with editor John Smith and the controversial credits on his episode Living in Harmony. He is a lifelong comic book fan and tells us about their social and cultural significance. His comic collection is now kept at the V&A in London as part of the National Art Library Comics and Comic Art collection. He is currently writing his memoirs and shares some material from it during the episode.


Direct download: The Tally Ho talks to Ian Rakoff

To find out more, visit the links below:
The Rakoff Collection is housed at the V&A as part of the National Art Library Comics & Comic Art Collection
Ian Rakoff Blog
Ian’s blog at the V&A – Confessions of Collector – Misdemeanours of a Comic Book Addiction

Ian also wrote the excellent Inside the Prisoner book. Although currently out of print, second-hand copies are available online.

To follow our podcast, there are several places to find The Tally Ho. Episodes will be available through our main stream – called Time for Cakes and Ale – from all the usual places including iTunes, Pippa, Stitcher, TuneIn, Android, or directly via our RSS feed . Updates will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Of course, our episodes will also be available for direct download on this website.

You can find all of our 2018 Tally Ho episodes, beginning with Arrival, right here! The page is updated with each new edition of the podcast.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

Be seeing you!

The Tally Ho episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

 

The Tally Ho – Episode 11: It’s Your Funeral

Welcome to The Tally Ho, a podcast about the classic TV series The Prisoner. In this episode we look at It’s Your Funeral, the eleventh episode of The Prisoner. When he is tipped off by Number 50 (a terrific guest turn by Annette Andre), Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan) is drawn into an assassination plot apparently targeting the new Number 2 (Derren Nesbitt). As he tries to uncover the truth, Number 6 learns about the “jammers” – Village residents who use misinformation and confusion tactics to undermine the Village hierarchy as a means to resist their captors – and tries to subvert the assassination and prevent Village reprisals against its own citizens. The mystery deepens when he realises that the plot is in fact being orchestrated by the Village and implemented by the new Number 2, and the real target is the retiring Number 2 (Andre van Gyseghem).

Join us as we discuss this unusual episode which deepens the mythology of the show and features an array of new Village characters involved in this intricately plotted caper. We also take detours into some of the behind-the-scenes anecdotes that influenced the shape of the episode, Number 6’s waterskiing skills, the number of Number 2s in the episode and the return of kosho!

We are also joined by the wonderful Annette Andre (who starred as Number 50 in this episode) to discuss her time working on The Prisoner and her incredible career on stage and screen, where she is perhaps best remembered as Jeannie Hopkirk in classic TV show Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). And stay tuned for the news from the world of The Prisoner from Rick Davy of The Unmutual.


Direct download: The Tally Ho – Episode 11: It’s Your Funeral

Annette began her career as a ballet dancer, before moving to the stage and radio, and eventually television. A series of highly regarded television and film appearances, as she moved from her native Australia to Europe, led to the start of a hugely successful acting career. Her celebrated performances include guest appearances on many classic 60s/70s television shows (such as The Avengers, The Saint, The Baron, The Prisoner, The Persuaders, The New Avengers, Return of the Saint) and later roles on Crossroads and Prisoner: Cell Block H. She always maintained her love of the stage and in the 70s, performed in an array of many acclaimed West End and touring productions in the UK and Australia. However, Annette is most well known for her role in the eternally popular Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) as Jeannie Hopkirk opposite Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope.

More recently, Annette has become an advocate of animal welfare issues through her association with the Born Free Foundation and is also an accomplished artist. Annette’s autobiography Where Have I Been All My Life has recently been released by Quoit Media and it is a wonderful read.

We would like to thank Annette for joining us to chat about her role in The Prisoner, and her celebrated career on stage and screen.

Annette runs a wonderful website with news and updates, and can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

To follow our podcast, there are several places to find The Tally Ho. Episodes will be available through our main stream – called Time for Cakes and Ale – from all the usual places including iTunes, Pippa, Stitcher, TuneIn, Android, or directly via our RSS feed . Updates will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Of course, our episodes will also be available for direct download on this website.

You can find all of our 2018 Tally Ho episodes, beginning with Arrival, right here! The page is updated with each new edition of the podcast.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

Be seeing you!

The Tally Ho episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

The Tally Ho talks to Brian Gorman

Welcome to The Tally Ho, a podcast about the classic TV series The Prisoner. In this episode, we talk to writer, artist and performer Brian Gorman about his lifelong love of The Prisoner. Brian’s love of the show and it’s star Patrick McGoohan led to the creation of his one-man play EVERYMAN: A Celebration of Patrick McGoohan & The Prisoner which he has since produced as a graphic novel and audiodrama. Brian talked to us about the influence and inspiration McGoohan has had on his career.

He also discusses his long-running Joy Division-themed play New Dawn Fades and tells us about his exciting new show ONE MAN BOND: Every Bond Film In 60 Minutes in which he single-handedly chronicles the James Bond movie franchise, which is about to go on a UK tour. Follow Brian on Twitter and find out more about his work and upcoming projects on his website which includes his upcoming tour dates. Everyman is available as an audiodrama from Quoit Media and as a graphic novel from Invisible Six, who are also publishing Brian’s graphic novel adaptation of New Dawn Fades.


Direct download: The Tally Ho talks to Brian Gorman

To follow our podcast, there are several places to find The Tally Ho. Episodes will be available through our main stream – called Time for Cakes and Ale – from all the usual places including iTunes, Pippa, Stitcher, TuneIn, Android, or directly via our RSS feed . Updates will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Of course, our episodes will also be available for direct download on this website.

You can find all of our 2018 Tally Ho episodes, beginning with Arrival, right here! The page is updated with each new edition of the podcast.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

Be seeing you!

The Tally Ho episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

 

The Tally Ho – Episode 7: Many Happy Returns

Welcome to The Tally Ho, a podcast about the classic TV series The Prisoner.

In this episode we look at Many Happy Returns, the seventh episode of The Prisoner. Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan) awakes to find The Village completely deserted. Taking to sea in a makeshift raft he begins the perilous journey back to London, where he finds his home – and Lotus – occupied by the eccentric Mrs Butterworth (Georgina Cookson). But from strangers to old, old friends, who can he really trust?

Join us as we discuss this daring episode of television that doesn’t need dialogue to tell a cracking story. We also take some tangents into real-life spy villages, double-casting confusions, and props lost at sea. We are then joined once again by Nick Briggs from Big Finish Productions who talks about their wonderful audiodramas based on The Prisoner, including an adaptation of this very episode, I Met a Man Today.


Direct download: The Tally Ho – Episode 7: Many Happy Returns

You can find more information, information on some of the tangents we go on below:

The holiday village run by spies – the BBC article on the diving resort by the Red Sea that disguised covert operations for many years
The Prisoner video game for Apple 2 – Wikipedia article on the text-based The Prisoner game from 1980
The Revenge by Andrew Sachs – BBC Genome entry on the 1978 radio play without dialogue, as mentioned by Nick

NICK BRIGGS is an actor, writer, director and co-founder of Big Finish Productions, which is known for its acclaimed audio productions in the universes of Doctor Who, Blake’s 7, The Avengers and more recently, The Prisoner. He has led the team that has reimagined The Prisoner as an audiodrama series, with the third series having just been announced. This outstanding collection includes new adaptations and riffs on episodes of the TV series, alongside original stories perfectly in keeping with The Prisoner mythology. Their collection of Prisoner audiodramas can be found here and include a host of great bonus materials when purchased direct from Big Finish. Find out more about Nick on his website. He’s also the voice of the Daleks on Doctor Who! Our previous interview with Nick and sound designer Iain Meadows about the Big Finish series can be heard on our site here.

We also get a news round-up from Rick Davy of The Unmutual on what’s happening in the world of The Prisoner. More details about the Patrick McGoohan celebration event at Elstree, mentioned by Rick, and organised by The Unmutual Website and Quoit Media can can found here.

To follow our podcast, there are several places to find The Tally Ho. Episodes will be available through our main stream – called Time for Cakes and Ale – from all the usual places including iTunes, Pippa, Stitcher, TuneIn, Android, or directly via our RSS feed . Updates will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Of course, our episodes will also be available for direct download on this website.

You can find all of our 2018 Tally Ho episodes, beginning with Arrival, right here! The page is updated with each new edition of the podcast.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

Be seeing you!

The Tally Ho episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

The Tally Ho – Episode 6: The General

Welcome to The Tally Ho, a new podcast about the classic TV series The Prisoner.

In this episode we look at The General, the sixth episode of The Prisoner. Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan) witnesses his fellow villagers fall under the influence of a revolutionary new teaching method known as Speedlearn, which has been masterminded by a character known only as The General. A mysterious Professor and a dissident within the ranks of the Village heirarchy lead Number 6 to uncover the secrets behind this apparently flawless educational tool.

Join us as we discuss this prescient tale of public manipulation and the propaganda machine. And we ask the most important question: what did happen in 1878? We are also joined once again by Alex Cox who gives us his thoughts on the episode.


Direct download: The Tally Ho – Episode 6: The General

ALEX COX is the director of many feature films, including Sid & Nancy and Repo Man. A lifelong fan of The Prisoner, Alex has written a new book about the show, I Am (Not) A Number: Decoding The Prisoner. We spoke to Alex about how The General fits in with the chronology of The Prisoner and how its themes concerning education, free will and mass communication still resonate today. I Am (Not) A Number: Decoding The Prisoner is out now as an ebook and paperback from Kamera Books.

We also get a news round-up from Rick Davy of The Unmutual on what’s happening in the world of The Prisoner. More details about the Patrick McGoohan celebration event at Elstree, mentioned by Rick, and organised by The Unmutual Website and Quoit Media can can found here.

To follow our podcast, there are several places to find The Tally Ho. Episodes will be available through our main stream – called Time for Cakes and Ale – from all the usual places including iTunes, Pippa, Stitcher, TuneIn, Android, or directly via our RSS feed . Updates will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Of course, our episodes will also be available for direct download on this website.

You can find all of our 2018 Tally Ho episodes, beginning with Arrival, right here! The page is updated with each new edition of the podcast.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

Be seeing you!

The Tally Ho episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

The Tally Ho talks Titan’s ‘The Prisoner’ comic with David Leach and Peter Milligan, plus Q&A with Colin Lorimer

Welcome to The Tally Ho, a podcast about the classic TV series The Prisoner.

In this special episode we look at the new comic book series based on The Prisoner from Titan Comics. We chat to editor David Leach and writer Peter Milligan about the genesis of the project and their interest in the show, and they give us a hint at what to expect! We also had the chance to ask artist Colin Lorimer a few questions. Check out our Q& A below.


Direct download: The Tally Ho talks The Prisoner comic with David Leach and Peter Milligan

A Q&A with artist Colin Lorimer:

Have you always been a fan of The Prisoner?
I would have discovered it in the late 70’s, early 80’s and at being such a young age I obviously hadn’t a clue what was going on. However it’s visuals and sheer weirdness did leave a lasting impression on me. On revisiting it again years later I became a huge fan of the show and remain so this day.

The Prisoner had a very distinctive visual style. How did you go about translating such an iconic aesthetic into the comics?
I purposely went for quite a traditional, old-school style with the art so that it had an almost ‘aged’ quality to it. When I was checking out Joana’s first colour pass my son looking over my shoulder remarked that it had an old seventies 2000AD vibe to it. I can live with that.

Are there any particular features of The Prisoner that you have enjoyed drawing?
I love drawing architecture so being surrounded by tons of reference photos of the wonder that is Portmeirion (The Village) has been a true joy. Also, the 60’s vibe with the clothing, etc, is something that I’ve always been drawn to, so that’s a plus.

Are the visuals already incorporated and described in Peter’s script, or have you had flexibility in how you interpret the material?
Peter’s scripts are quite succinct in their descriptions and he’ll pop in the odd reference picture if there’s something specific he had in mind but like most good writer/artist relationships it’s a pretty organic process.

Did you look at any of the Kirby/Kane adaptation?
I only found out about that quite recently through that glorious two-page spread of The Village that’s been floating around the internet. Kirby really played to the beat of his own drum and like most projects he worked on added a visual flair that most of us can only dream about. I’ll be picking up the new Titan print of this for sure. I should add that plug is completely unintentional.

The Village. Artwork by Colin Lorimer, colours by Joana Lafuente. Copyright Titan Comics.

Much of the look of The Prisoner comes from the wonderful architecture of Clough Williams-Ellis who built Portmeirion. Have you visited the village? How much leeway do you have to depart from the geography of the original show, which often took liberties with the landscape of Portmeirion itself?
As mentioned above, I’m trying my best to be as faithful to the original series as possible and getting The Village right is key to that. Of course I do have to fudge and cheat some aspects as I just don’t have the appropriate reference, but the fact that this book is set fifty years after the original series gives us a bit of leeway as we can expect a few things may have changed in the interim.

You worked before with colourist Joana Lafuente on The X-Files and Millennium, which captured the look and feel of the original shows. How does the relationship work between an artist and a colourist when putting together a finished comic, especially for an adaptation?
Yes, those projects are what brought us together. I have Denton J. Tipton at IDW to thank for the introduction. Joana and I have a really good rapport and have worked on numerous projects together (some outside of comics). In regards to The Prisoner we tried to keep it as close in tone to the original series as possible adding some comicbook flourishes where we could. I suggested the films of Powell and Pressburger and the art of Andy Warhol and Peter Blake for inspiration.

As well as The Prisoner, can you tell us about any other projects you are working on?
I’ve another book in the works that I’m writing and drawing which should hit before the end of the year. I can’t say too much about it at this point bar to say that like my last book, The Hunt, it’s another horror tale.

We’ve had a preview of the first issue and we love it! We’ll review the series later in the year. Issue 1 of the four-issue The Prisoner miniseries is availble on April 25th. There are several variant covers available for the first issue:

Cover 1: Art By Mike Allred. Colors By Laura Allred
Cover 2: Photo cover
Cover 3: Art By Jack Kirby. Inks by Mike Royer. Colors by Mike Allred
Cover 4: Art By Colin Lorimer. Colors By Joana Lafluente
Cover 5: Art by John McCrea. Colors by Michael Spicer
Cover 6: Art by Mike Allred (black and white Cover 1)
Big Finish exclusive available direct from Big Finish, or through a pre-order of Volume 3 of the wonderful The Prisoner audiodrama. Details here.
Diamond UK exclusive featuring the 50th anniversary artwork by Chris Weston.

   

These are available from all good comic book shops and through numerous online comics retailers.

Finally, a huge thanks to David (editor), Peter (writer) and Colin (artwork) and the additional members of the creative team Joana Lafuente (colours) and Simon Bowland (letters). Be seeing you!

To follow our podcast, there are several places to find The Tally Ho. Episodes will be available through our main stream – called Time for Cakes and Ale – from all the usual places including iTunes, Pippa, Stitcher, TuneIn, Android, or directly via our RSS feed . Updates will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Of course, our episodes will also be available for direct download on this website.

You can find all of our 2018 Tally Ho episodes, beginning with Arrival, right here! The page is updated with each new edition of the podcast.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

Be seeing you!

The Tally Ho episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

The Tally Ho – Episode 5: The Schizoid Man

Welcome to The Tally Ho, a new podcast about the classic TV series The Prisoner.

In this episode we look at The Schizoid Man, the fifth episode of The Prisoner. Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan) is pitted against his doppelgänger Number 12 who has assumed Number 6’s identity within The Village. Number 2 (Anton Rogers) oversees the elaborate ruse to make Number 6 doubt his own perception of himself and question his identity. Meanwhile, Number 24 (Jane Merrow) is drawn into the web to perpetuate this intricate plan.

Join us as we discuss this expertly plotted tale of bluff and double-bluff, and take a detour into the striking similarities with Dale Cooper’s arc in the recent revival of Twin Peaks, muse on the clever use of Hamlet, and get distracted by the appearance of so many doubles.

We are also joined by the wonderful Jane Merrow to discuss her time working on The Prisoner and her extensive career on stage and screen in both the UK and the US, and her recent foray into independant filmmaking.


Direct download: Episode 5: The Schizoid Man

Jane guest-starred in many classic ITC shows of the 60s, including multiple episodes of Danger Man where she worked with Patrick McGoohan, The Avengers, The Saint, Man in a Suitcase and Randell and Hopkirk (Deceased), as well as many BBC drama productions.

Her role in The Lion in Winter alongside Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn earned her a Golden Globe nomination. In the US she appeared in many cult classics of the 80s including The Incredible Hulk, Magnum, P.I., The Six Million Dollar Man, Airwolf, MacGyver, St. Elsewhere, and Mission: Impossible where she guest-starred with Leonard Nimoy.

More recently, together with Patricia Doyle, Jane has produced a series of short films based on classic horror tales under the banner New Chilling Tales. A teaser trailer for one of our favourites – The Yellow Wallpaper – can be watched below, and more information is available on her website. They are all available on DVD and can also be watched online on Jane’s YouTube Channel.

Jane runs a wonderful blog where she discusses her own career and her thoughts on film and television. She can be found on Twitter @janemerrow. A huge thank you to Jane for joining us for a chat!

We also get a news round-up from Rick Davy of The Unmutual on what’s happening in the world of The Prisoner. More details about the Patrick McGoohan celebration event at Elstree, mentioned by Rick, and organised by The Unmutual Website and Quoit Media can can found here.

To follow our podcast, there are several places to find The Tally Ho. Episodes will be available through our main stream – called Time for Cakes and Ale – from all the usual places including iTunes, Pippa, Stitcher, TuneIn, Android, or directly via our RSS feed . Updates will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Of course, our episodes will also be available for direct download on this website.

You can find all of our 2018 Tally Ho episodes, beginning with Arrival, right here! The page is updated with each new edition of the podcast.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

Be seeing you!

The Tally Ho episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

 

The Tally Ho – Episode 3: A, B and C

Welcome to The Tally Ho, a new podcast about the classic TV series The Prisoner.

In this episode we look at A, B, and C, the third episode of The Prisoner. Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan) is the subject of a strange experiment overseen by Number 2 (Colin Gordon). In an attempt by The Village to discover the motivations behind his resignation, he is plunged into a dream world populated with figures from his past, induced by an untested drug developed by Number 14 (Sheila Allen). Join us as we discuss the episode, and take a few detours into Chock-a-block and an episode of 1969’s Counterstrike titled Nocturne, which writer Anthony Skene re-purposed from his own The Prisoner script.

If that wasn’t enough, Iain Meadows chats to us about why A, B, and C is one of his favourite episodes. Iain is a writer, broadcaster and sound designer who has worked on many audiodramas for Big Finish including their acclaimed reworking of The Prisoner, and for Spiteful Puppet, which has recently produced an award-winning Robin of Sherwood audiodrama, available here. Iain was a guest last year on our 50th anniversary episodes and you can hear him and Nick Briggs talking all about their work on the Big Finish The Prisoner audiodramas here.

We also get a news round up from Rick Davy of The Unmutual on what’s happening in the world of The Prisoner.


Direct download: Episode 3: A, B, and C

As discussed in this episode, surviving episodes of 80s kids show Chock-a-block can be found on YouTube. A brief clip from Counterstrike episode Nocturne can be found below. Thanks to Andrew Pixley for bringing this to our attention!

To follow our podcast, there are several places to find The Tally Ho. Episodes will be available through our main stream – called Time for Cakes and Ale – from all the usual places including iTunes, Pippa, Stitcher, TuneIn, Android, or directly via our RSS feed . Updates will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Of course, our episodes will also be available for direct download on this website.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

Be seeing you!

The Tally Ho episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

 

Time for Cherry Pie and Coffee talks to Chris Rodley

It has been a while, but once again, it’s time for cherry pie and coffee, as our Twin Peaks podcast returns! In the second part of our chat with documentary filmmaker and writer Chris Rodley, we turn to the world of legendary artist and filmmaker David Lynch. Chris’ Lynch on Lynch , an extensive collection of interviews with director, remains the most insightful text on David Lynch. Chris talked to us about the book, his interest in Lynch’s body of work and of course, the director’s recent return to Twin Peaks.

This is the second of a two-part interview. In the first installment, found here, Chris joined us for our The Prisoner podcast, The Tally Ho, to discuss his recent documentary In My Mind about Patrick McGoohan and The Prisoner. The episodes have significant thematic overlap, so please check out both parts of the  interview.


Direct download: Time for Cherry Pie and Coffee talks to Chris Rodley

CHRIS RODLEY is an awardwinning documentary film maker with an extensive filmography covering art, film and music with subjects including Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, Johnny Cash, Dirk Bogarde and Donald Cammell. He is also the author of the celebrated interview collections Lynch on Lynch and Cronenberg on Cronenberg (Faber & Faber).

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe to the Time for Cakes and Ale podcast, leave us a review, and let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, Facebook and here on the website. We’d love to hear from you!

The Time for Cherry Pie And Coffee episodes will run concurrently with our regular Time for Cakes and Ale ones and are available via our main podcast feed. Find out more here.

The Tally Ho: a podcast all about The Prisoner

The Tally Ho is a podcast from Time for Cakes and Ale all about the classic TV series The Prisoner. We are currently doing a full episode-by-episode series of podcasts about the show. To keep up to date follow us on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to the Time for Cakes and Ale podcast in… Continue reading The Tally Ho: a podcast all about The Prisoner