The Book Tower

I think what we saw on TV was probably the YTV studio but the building shown in the titles is Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire (found this on another forum, its not my own research!. I distinctly remember watching this in the winter of 86/87 when I wasn't working..I seem to remember Tom Baker doing the reading but discovered that he finished his stint in 1981 (so he was doing this at same time as his last 2 Dr Who seasons. Perhaps it was a repeat of earlier episodes as Tom wasn't involved with this programme in that year.

Ever since then, for some reason I thought the Book Tower had something to do with Leeds Castle in Kent but can find no reference for this; was quite disappointed to discover that the building in the creepy intro was not Leeds Castle and think that it must be something else I have got mixed up. Still this was a brilliant programme and not just for children! The music is on A L Webber's 'Variations' which may be worth getting as I don't think the Book Tower will ever be available on DVD.

The Book Tower was an evolution of the Jackanory style of children's TV - simple story telling based around actual books. It was more of a "magazine" program for children's fiction - each episode featured a number of books (new publications and old) that were introduced by the presenter, part of the story was either read or performed and then the story was left hanging, encouraging the viewer to go out and read the book for themselves. In effect it was an early book-club for children.

The series started in 1979 with Tom Baker as presenter, and the atmosphere was wonderfully Gothic and exciting - I have a feeling that Tom Baker only presented the first few series and as it moved into the 1980s that over-the-top, brooding, dangerous tone was replaced with a somewhat blander less threatening one.

I didn't see it from 1981 onwards but the list of presenters and actors pays testament to its quality (it won a BAFTA sometime in the 80s). It was graced by no less talents than: Stephen Moore, Alun Armstrong, Quentin Blake, Neil Innes, Roger McGough...

... Wincey Willis(?)... and errr!.... yes! the strange and irritating Timmy Mallet(!). My! how the 1980s saw a decline in kids TV! How producers ambitions decayed!

I don't know if todays generation have their own TV version of the Book Tower - I hope they do - they certainly should - though I doubt it will be as exciting or dangerous as those early episodes hosted by the mesmeric Tom Baker.

I'm slightly surprised and disappointed that more people haven't remembered it here.

Unfortunately I can't remember much about this show, expect that my older brother and me utterly utterly LOVED it. Just heard the theme (from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Variations") and was suddenly awash with nostalgia!