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Michael J Bird's Contribution to
Mr Rose
Mr Rose Title card Mr Rose Title card
Devised by - Philip Mackie
Producer - Philip Mackie / Margaret Morris

Granada
24 (60 minute) episodes

Series 1 (13 episodes) 17 February 1967 - 12 May 1967
Series 2 (6 episodes) 31 May 1968 - 5 July 1968
Series 3 (5 episodes) 7 November 1968 - 5 December 1968

A curious series - principally a vehicle for William Mervyn's whimsical portrayal of (ex) Chief Inspector Rose of Scotland Yard.
(The character had appeared formerly in quirky drama series The Odd Man and It's Dark Outside.)

The premise for Mr Rose was that he had retired from the force to write his memoirs. This enabled all kinds of unfinished business from the past to catch up with him.

Michael J. Bird contributed to series 2 and series 3.
"The Unlucky Dip" broadcast by Granada Television on 21st June 1968
TV Times listing - click for larger version
The actual caption card used on the production courtesy of the Bird family.

 Download a copy of the script READ THE SCRIPT

Thanks to Olive Bird I have been able to copy Michael's script for "The Unlucky Dip" and it can be downloaded here as a PDF file.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read it. Acrobat Reader is free software that lets you view and print Adobe PDF files.

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"The Unlucky Dip" Photo Gallery from Michael J Bird's Collection, courtesy of Olive Bird.

Production photograph for the Mr Rose episode 'The Unlucky Dip' Production photograph for the Mr Rose episode 'The Unlucky Dip' Production photograph for the Mr Rose episode 'The Unlucky Dip' Production photograph for the Mr Rose episode 'The Unlucky Dip' Production photograph for the Mr Rose episode 'The Unlucky Dip' Production photograph for the Mr Rose episode 'The Unlucky Dip' 		Play a version of the theme from
'MR ROSE'

Play the theme

(Be patient!)
"The Jolly Good Fellow" broadcast by Granada Television on 28th November 1968
TV Times listing - click for larger version

Download a copy of the script READ THE SCRIPT

Thanks to Olive Bird I have been able to copy the rehearsal script for "The Jolly Good Fellow" and it can be downloaded here as a PDF file. (The extensive handwritten notes are positioned exactly as they were in Bird's files.)

You will need Adobe® Acrobat Reader to read it. Acrobat Reader is free software that lets you view and print Adobe PDF files.

Download Acrobat Reader?
FROM THE ARCHIVES ...
Screencap - The Jolly Good Fellow

I had bought copies of both of Bird's episodes from the ITV archives before the series finally made it to DVD.

They are of really good quality, considering their age, and it was great fun to watch them again after all these years.
DVD Box cover

And website visitor Jonathan Coley kindly designed the very professional looking DVD box cover above.
TV Times cover featuring William Mervyn as Mr Rose Interview with William Mervyn from TV Times Magazine February 1967

During my research into the series, I compiled an episode listing for the three series of Mr Rose, which can be downloaded as a PDF file.

Mr Rose Episode Listing

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it. Acrobat Reader is free software that lets you view and print Adobe PDF files.

Download Acrobat Reader?

 POINT OF INTEREST

The first season of Mr Rose had been produced by David Cunliffe.

Bird would work with Cunliffe on The Lotus Eaters , and they became good friends. Later, when Cunliffe became Head of Drama at YTV, he asked Bird to write for him and Bird went on to create series like The Outsider and The Winning Streak .
Michael J Bird Tribute Website

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