Elstree Calling

Shenley Road, Borehamwood, 1974.

Introduction:

In this special feature I will take a look at some of the many roads, streets and buildings etc. used as film locations in Borehamwood.

Please use this Google Map link to help you to find the locations should you decide to visit Borehamwood in Hertfordshire.

The Boys in Blue:

The Boys in Blue was a comedy film released in 1983, which starred the much-loved comedy double act Cannon & Ball (Tommy Cannon & Bobby Ball). Produced by Greg Smith, and made by his production company, Elstree (Production Company).

The film saw the majority of the location filming taking place in Cornwall, but interiors were shot at Elstree Studios. Additional location work also took place in Borehamwood, Herts.

The vid. cap. on the left shows a shot from the robbery sequence that takes place at the start of the film. This part of the robbery sequence was filmed in the grounds of the Red Lion public house in Borehamwood, opposite Elstree Studios on Shenley Road. Indeed, towards the top right of this vid. cap. you can just make out part of the studios which is now known as the Andrew Mitchell Building at Elstree.

The Red Lion pub has since closed and has been turned into a McDonald's restaurant, as can be seen in the photo on the right which in took in September 2007. When the building was a pub, it was the haunt of many a film star, including Tony Hancock, when he was filming in Borehamood. Today, as a McDonald's restaurnt, it is now the haunt of members of the Big Brother eviction night crowds who attend the broadcasts at Elstree Studios across the road.

Confessions of a Driving Instructor:

Filmed at the start of 1976, Confessions of a Driving Instructor was the third of four films made as part of the Confessions series. As with The Boys in Blue, the Confessions films were produced by Greg Smith.

The main role of Timmy Lea in all of the four Confessions films was played by Robin Askwith. A really nice guy who I was lucky enough to interview by phone in 2007.

The main action in the film was set in two driving schools which were situated next to each other. The vid. cap. on the left shows actor Robin Askwith (left), actress Lynda Bellingham (middle) and Anthony Booth (right) outside one of the driving schools. 

The driving schools were obviously not real; and two shops across the road from Elstree Studios, on the corner of Shenley Road and Eldon Road, were used.as the location for the exteriors for the driving schools.

The photo on the right shows how the building looked in June 2006. The building itself as not changed a great deal. Athough an extension has been added to the side. An estate agents and a restaurant currently occupy the building.

Back in 1976, the site directly opposite belonged to Elstree Studios. This part of the site was redeveloped in 1991, and a Tescos supermarket now stands in its place. The remaining part of Elstree Studios is directly next door.

This vid. cap. on the left shows a scene in which Timmy Lee (Robin Askwith) was supposedly giving a driving lesson to an eccentric character played by the late, great actress, Irene Handl.

The location was on the corner of Whitehouse Avenue, just off Shenley Road, Borehamwood. and almost opposite the driving schools' location. This turning was also used as part of the opening title sequence of On the Buses. Whitehouse Avenue was also the location of 'Turnaround Betty's' in the first On the Buses film.

The fence you can see in the middle of the vid. cap. is now the main entrance to the Elstree Inn hotel.

The vid. cap. on the right shows a shot from a car chase which takes place towards the end of this film. The large brick building you can see is part of the surviving stage block at Elstree Studios (Stages 7, 8 & 9).

This stage block was built in the mid-Sixties and was originally meant for just TV production. It has, however, been used extensively for both film & TV production. Stage 9 is now the permanent home of ITV1's quiz show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 

Confessions of a Pop Performer:

This film was the second of the four Confessions films. Made in 1975, it saw members of the cast from the first film (Confessions of a Window Cleaner) back (Robin Askwith, Anthony Booth, Bill Maynard and Shelia White) for  more, but with the addition of Doris Hare, who took over from Dandy Nicholls as Timmy Lea's mother.

The vid. cap. on the left is taken from the very start of the film. It shows a pop band (later to be known as Kipper) arriving in their van. It is here that Timmy Lea (Askwith) and Sidney Noggett (Booth) meet the band for the very first time.

All of the exteriors of the pub were filmed at the Red Lion public house, which is opposite Elstree Studios on Shenley Road, Borehamwood, and now a McDonald's restaurant.

The grey building which can be seen towards the right of the vid. cap. is a cinema which was subsequently demolished, along with the houses next door to the pub. A building belonging to the NatWest bank nows stands on the site of both the houses and the cinema.

The photo on the right (taken by me in September 2007) shows how the Red Lion public house building (now a McDonald's restaurant) looks now. The exterior of the building has changed very little, although, of course, all of the interior is very different different. Arguably it is one of the best-looking fast food restaurants there is! 

Part 2