Here is the original 1979 BBC documentary Fred Dibnah: Steeplejack.
Directed by Don Haworth
1980 BAFTA Best Documentary Programme winner
Here is the original 1979 BBC documentary Fred Dibnah: Steeplejack.
Directed by Don Haworth
1980 BAFTA Best Documentary Programme winner
Can you get these on video or dvd?
Thanks, John
Hi John
Fred’s early work is tough to get hold of. I understand that much of it was not released to DVD because of licensing issues.
To source a VHS copy I would head for eBay, and do a search for “fred dibnah vhs” (you can even set up an email alert that will notify you when new items are listed.
Let us know how you get on.
Why can I only view 9.59 minutes of the programme through Youtube? The episodes lasted for 30 minutes
Hi Sam. Youtube has a limit of 10 minutes per clip. That’s why the uploader split it up into several clips.
I’m obviously missing something: I can see six parts on Youtube which amount in total to about 35-40 minutes but the series on tv lasted 3 hours
The first film of Fred called “Fred Dibnah: Steeplejack” was only 50 minutes long. Perhaps you are thinking about the series called “A year with Fred” or “THE FRED DIBNAH STORY” both of which where multiple part series.
Yes, that’s right ‘The Fred Dibnah Story’. Shame you can’t get it on DVD, it would be a big seller. Thank you for your replies.
Sam, it appears on eBay in VHS format ever so often. If you have an account set up an alert and you will get emailed when someone puts one up for sail. Then it’s just a question of converting it to DVD which some video/photo shops will do for you.
Can we not start some kind of petition through this site? The BBC are mad for not releasing the early films. What an edition to your DVD collection. Can you imagine the DVD extras that would accompany such a DVD? Bet there’s hours of unused archive footage.
Hi Ryan. I agree with you, the BBC should release this material.
For anyone thats interested this is the complete list of films Fred made with the BBC and Don Haworth.These are the ones I’d love to be released…
Fred Dibnah, steeplejack 1979
Fred 1982
1 The world at your feet
2 A vision of heaven
3 Uncalled for distractions
4 Drinking and climbing
5 An epic journey begun
6 The epic journey resumed
7 Victory- and after
Fred; a disappearing World 1983
A year with Fred 1987
1 Monuments of the dark ages
2 A beautiful pile of bricks
3 The price of steam
4 Under pursuit
5 Relief, ecstacy and magic
A year with Fred; New Horizons 1991
Life with Fred 1994
1 Spring again
2 Early days
3 on the road
4 The big job
The Fred Dibnah Story 1996
1 Beginnings
2 A sort of fame
3 Departures
4 Alone
5 A reformed character?
6 Approaching sixty
Bet a few people will be surprised at the number of early programs made?
Thanks for posting Ryan, may I use this information in another post?
Yeah no problem mate.