The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club
The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club was a British television variety show produced by Granada Television from 1974 to 1977. It was set in a fictional working men's club in the North of England and was hosted by comedian Colin Crompton. Also regularly featured was comedian Bernard Manning who sang most weeks. Crompton was frequently the butt of Manning's jokes, unwittingly acting as Manning's stooge.
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[edit] Acts featured
The show featured acts regularly seen on the Northern club circuits and often acts which were on the last legs of their popularity, like fifties crooner Johnnie Ray. It also gave newer acts such as Cannon & Ball, The Grumbleweeds, The Dooleys and magician Paul Daniels their first TV exposure.
Other artists to appear on the show included The Krankies, Kathy Kirby, Roy Orbison, Lonnie Donegan, Lyn Paul, Tessie O'Shea, The Three Degrees, Stuart Damon, The Bachelors, Susan Maughan, Buddy Greco, George Roper, Jim Bowen, Nana Mouskouri, Freddie Garrity, Karl Denver, George Melly and John Chilton's Feetwarmers, Design, Frank Carson and Terri Rogers
The show was produced by Johnnie Hamp at Granada Television in Manchester. It was once filmed at the Layton Institute in Blackpool. Actress Elizabeth Dawn appeared as a waitress prior to her role in Coronation Street. An extract from the show can be seen in the film, 24 Hour Party People, where Shaun Ryder, in his formative years, is seen watching Karl Denver perform "Wimoweh".
[edit] Origins of the name
Wheeltappers and shunters were both types of railwayworker commonly employed on British railways prior to the 1970s.
The name of the programme thus echoes that of the many social clubs set up by railway workers in the 19th century, many of which are still in existence, albeit often having lost their railway origins.
[edit] Episode Guide
Series 1
- Episode 01: Original Air Date—13 April 1974
- Episode 02: Original Air Date—20 April 1974
- Episode 03: Original Air Date—27 April 1974
- Episode 04: Original Air Date—4 May 1974
- Episode 05: Original Air Date—11 May 1974
- Episode 06: Original Air Date—18 May 1974
- Episode 07: Original Air Date—25 May 1974
Series 2
- Episode 08: Original Air Date—27 July 1974
- Episode 09: Original Air Date—3 August 1974
- Episode 10: Original Air Date—10 August 1974
- Episode 11: Original Air Date—17 August 1974
- Episode 12: Original Air Date—24 August 1974
- Episode 13: Original Air Date—31 August 1974
- Episode 14: Original Air Date—7 September 1974
Special:
- Episode 15: Original Air Date—31 December 1974
Series 3
- Episode 16: Original Air Date—15 February 1975
- Episode 17: Original Air Date—22 February 1975
- Episode 18: Original Air Date—1 March 1975
- Episode 19: Original Air Date—8 March 1975
- Episode 20: Original Air Date—15 March 1975
- Episode 21: Original Air Date—22 March 1975
- Episode 22: Original Air Date—29 March 1975
- Episode 23: Original Air Date—5 April 1975
Series 4
- Episode 24: Original Air Date—19 July 1975
- Episode 25: Original Air Date—26 July 1975
- Episode 26: Original Air Date—2 August 1975
- Episode 27: Original Air Date—9 August 1975
- Episode 28: Original Air Date—16 August 1975
- Episode 29: Original Air Date—23 August 1975
- Episode 30: Original Air Date—30 August 1975
Special:
- Episode 31: Original Air Date—31 December 1975
Series 5
- Episode 32: Original Air Date—15 May 1976
- Episode 33: Original Air Date—22 May 1976
- Episode 34: Original Air Date—29 May 1976
- Episode 35: Original Air Date—5 June 1976
- Episode 36: Original Air Date—12 June 1976
- Episode 37: Original Air Date—19 June 1976
- Episode 38: Original Air Date—26 June 1976
Special:
- Episode 39: Original Air Date—23 February 1977
Series 6
- Episode 40: Original Air Date—14 April 1977
- Episode 41: Original Air Date—21 April 1977
- Episode 42: Original Air Date—28 April 1977
- Episode 43: Original Air Date—5 May 1977
- Episode 44: Original Air Date—12 May 1977
- Episode 45: Original Air Date—19 May 1977
- Episode 46: Original Air Date—26 May 1977
- Episode 47: Original Air Date—2 June 1977
- Episode 48: Original Air Date—9 June 1977
[edit] DVD releases
The complete first series of The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club was released on DVD in September 2009 and the second series (including the New Year's Eve Special) was released in July 2010 with the complete third and fourth series being released in February and June 2011. The complete fifth series is scheduled for release in later 2011.
