Elstree Calling
An unofficial website dedicated to Elstree Studios
Film Locations Feature - Part 2:
Confessions of a Pop Performer - Continued:
The vid. cap. on the left shows Timmy Lea (who was played by Robin Askwith) and a female 'friend' in a pantomime horse in a scene from Confessions of a Pop Performer. Although one imagines that Askwith and the actress in question had doubles for this scene!
This scene was filmed outside the row of shops on Manor Way, Borehamwood. Incidentally, it is also the same row of shops and road in Borehamwood that was used for the filming of scenes featured in both On the Buses (laundrette) and Mutiny on the Buses (opening title sequence).
The vid. cap. on the right shows Timmy Lee (Robin Askwith) busking outside a cinema, while Sidney Noggett (Anthony Booth) attempts to take a collection. This scene was filmed outside the since-demolished cinema in Borehamwood, which was situated on Shenley Road, opposite Elstree Studios, and close to the Red Lion public house. As previously-mentioned, a building belonging to the NatWest bank now stands in its place.
Incidentally, I believe Dave Prowse (the man inside the Darth Vader outfit in the first three Star Wars films) was an extra in this scene!
The vid. cap. on the left is taken from the very end of the film where Lea (Askwith) is seen busking down Shenley Road, Borehamwood. He walks past a row of shops (also seen in On the Buses and Confessions of Driving Instructor, amongst other films!) then crosses the road as the crane then moves up and the end credits role over the footage of Askwith busily busking his way up Shenley Road.
The photo on the right (taken by me at the start of 2007) is how the location now looks. There have been changed to most of the shops, granted, the road layout is slightly different as is the street furniture. But the location is still very recognisable.
The road that turns off Shenley Road to the left (and Askwith passes by) is, incidentally, Whitehouse Avenue, which was used in Confessions of a Driving Instructor. Stan Butler is also seen to turn his bus into this road during the opening title sequence of On the Buses.