Arthur of the Britons

This call sheet was kindly donated to this archive by Barbara Hatherall, who was an extra on the series. The episode concerned is “The Penitent Invader.”



“The Penitent Invader” was episode ‘G’ - the seventh episode to be filmed.

The call sheet is No.35, and is dated 9 August 1972, which was a Wednesday, so this would have been the third day of filming.

Filming took place at Woollard.

Jack Watson and Fred Wedlock had their own transport, and Clive Revill was collected from the Unicorn Hotel ¹ at 07:00. Along with Roy Carne, they were required in make-up at 7:30 for an 8:30 start.

Firstly, Jack Watson (Llud), Clive Revill (Rolf), and Roy Carne (Blacksmith) were scheduled to film scenes 35, 36, 36a, 37 and 38 - which had evidently not been completed the day before, when first listed. This is where Rolf walks on hot coals, and Llud is called away by a Messenger, then Rolf sets out to raid a fictional caravan carrying tribute to Arthur.

Also required in make-up at 7:30 for an 8:30 start were folk singer Fred Wedlock (Rolf’s Minstrel), Peter Derbyshire (Herward’s Messenger), Sean McCauley and Ben Ford (Llud’s companions), along with 24 extras (12 Celtic men, 8 Celtic women and 4 Celtic children).

The scenes involving these actors were 9, 9a, 30, 12, 32 and 32a. Given that a large roast boar is listed among the props, these must have been the banquet scenes, featuring Fred Wedlock, playing a dulcimer covered in animal skins. The scenes in Rolf’s bedroom were also on the schedule, as the blacksmith, and Herward’s messenger, who appear in those scenes, are required for the shoot, as well as beds, a candle, and Rolf’s spiked hide shirt.

Horses were required for Llud, Rolf, and Llud’s messenger, for the completion of other scenes from the previous day.

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon break for the cast and crew – about 75 to 80 people - was laid on, by George Cook (or Cooke) on location.

¹ Possibly The Unicorn Hotel, West Street, Somerton TA11 7PR England – this would have been about an hour away by car.

This call sheet was kindly donated to this archive by Peter Thornton, who was employed as Clapper/Loader – a role now known as 2nd Camera Assistant – for much of the series. The episode concerned is “The Penitent Invader.”



“The Penitent Invader” was episode ‘G’ - the seventh episode to be filmed.

The call sheet is No.33, and is dated 7 August 1972, which was a Monday, so this would have been the first day of filming.

The scenes scheduled for this date were to be filmed at Woollard.

The day's filming involved extras, Barbara Hatherall and her husband; Gabrielle Doody, and three as yet unidentified extras, two of them horsemen. They were required in Make-up/Wardrobe at 07:30, to begin filming at 08:30.

Jack Watson (Llud) and Clive Revill (Rolf) were required in Make-up/Wardrobe at 08:30, to begin filming at 09:30. Jack Watson had his own transport, and Clive Revill was collected from the Unicorn Hotel ¹ at 08:00.

A number of scenes were to be filmed, starting with 14, 15, 16 and 24, then 17, 23, 18, 22, 19, 20 and 21.

The scenes in which we see Mr Hatherall as a jeweller at his work, and then being tended by his wife (Barbara Hatherall) following an attack by Rolf; a maiden (Gabrielle Doody) relaxing on the river bank, then in distress after an attack by Rolf, and a couple of men tending two horses, then the empty corral and the injured horsemen, would have been filmed first.

When Llud and Rolf were ready, they shot the scenes where we see Llud testing Rolf's reaction to the various temptations, and Llud hitting Rolf each time he appears tempted! Then there was the scene where Rolf and Llud stop to rest, and Llud falls asleep, wakes and finds Rolf missing, and then retraces his steps and observes the results of Rolf's depravities. Some of these were referred to as "pick-ups", being simply reaction shots.

At 12:30, Hedley Goodall (Abbot Morpeth) was required in Make-up/Wardrobe to be ready to film at 14:30. That allowed two hours to get him ready; perhaps as this was the first day of filming, they needed extra time for a suitable costume to be found and fitted.

Jack Watson and Clive Revill were also required, to film scenes 10 and 10a – the scenes where Llud goes to speak to the Abbott, Rolf’s “scourger” - and relieve him of his burdensome duties. One of the prop requirements was “Lots of baby animals”, presumably so that Rolf could demonstrate his villainy by abusing them! In the end, only a baby donkey was involved, tied up outside the Abbot’s hut, for Rolf to villainously shove with his foot.

The weather prospects must have been uncertain, as Fred Wedlock (Minstrel) was on standby, in case indoor banquet scenes were to be filmed instead of those scheduled for the morning. A crowd for these scenes was to be rounded up if needed!

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon break for the cast and crew – about 65 people - was laid on, by George Cook (or Cooke) on location.

¹ Possibly The Unicorn Hotel, West Street, Somerton TA11 7PR England – this would have been about an hour away by car.

This call sheet was kindly donated to this archive by Peter Thornton, who was employed as Clapper/Loader – a role now known as 2nd Camera Assistant – for much of the series. The episode concerned is “The Slaves.”



“The Slaves” was episode ‘F’ - the sixth episode to be filmed.

The call sheet is No.30, and is dated 2nd August 1972, which was a Wednesday, so this would have been the third day of filming.

The scenes scheduled for this date were to be filmed on location at Cheddar.

Jack Watson (Llud), Deborah Watling (Thuna), Adrian Cairns (Heardred) and Jackie Cooper (Ensel) were required in Make-up/Wardrobe at 07:30, to begin filming at 08:30, so at 6:30, a car collected Deborah Watling from the Unicorn Hotel ¹, where guest stars were commonly billeted. Jack, Adrian and Jackie must have made their own arrangements.

They were to shoot scenes 50, 51 and 52. These must have been the scenes where Ensel, the genuine new supervisor sent by Cerdig, arrives at the site; Thuna tells Heardred she never trusted Kai, calls Llud over, and subtly warns him of the danger. She then distracts Ensel. Heardred takes the opportunity to complain to Ensel about the difficulties of his task.

At 06:45, Oliver Tobias (Arthur) was picked up from Ben Ford’s stables in Stroud, and at 07:15, a car collected David Prowse (Col) and Anthony Bailey (Rodolf) from the Unicorn Hotel. Michael Gothard (Kai) was also required, and all were to be in Make-up/Wardrobe at 08:15, to be ready to film at 09:15, along with the actors already on set.

A crowd of 45 was required, to represent Saxon guards and Celtic slaves. Some of these were collected from the HTV studios in the Z Car Bus, at 06:30.

The scenes to be filmed from 09:15 were 23, 26, 27, 31, 33, 35, 36, 38, 44, 45, 46 and 49. These probably included the scene where Arthur is taken up to the rock-face and chained up, most of the shots of the slaves working the quarry, the scene where Col collapses and Arthur defends him from Rodolf, then attacks Rodolf, forcing Kai to take charge of Arthur’s punishment, and possibly the scenes where Arthur is dragged away from the punishment site, and Kai gets everyone back to work.

Props required are the tools needed by the slaves, a horn – to be blown to signal meal times – and a theodolite - one of the tools of Heardred’s trade.

The weapons needed for the rebellion are not listed among the props, and neither is there any mention of “practical food”, or “bowls of wet cotton wool” (the slaves’ “food”) so neither the scenes in the small arsenal, the big fight at the end, nor any of the scenes where the slaves or their masters are eating lunch, were filmed on this date.

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon break for the cast and crew – about 110 people - was laid on, by George Cook (or Cooke) on location.

¹ Possibly The Unicorn Hotel, West Street, Somerton TA11 7PR England – this would have been about an hour away by car.