This is a significant point because it highlights the early days of regional television in the UK. It also emphasizes the importance of Granada as a pioneer in the development of regional programming. Before the advent of regional television, there was a lack of local content on national television. This meant that viewers in different regions of the UK were often exposed to the same national programmes, regardless of their location. The introduction of regional television changed this landscape.
Trueman spent 20 years at Granada, where he also wrote and presented the networked series Cinema and conceived, produced, wrote and presented House For The Future. Brian Trueman, a TV writer best known for his work on children’s shows such as Danger Mouse, has died at the age of 92. However, he was best known for his work writing for the animation company Cosgrove Hall Films – particularly Chorlton And The Wheelies, some of the scripts for Count Duckula and the original Danger Mouse episodes. The company was formed by two of Trueman’s colleagues in Granada’s graphic design department. Other series bearing his imprint included The Wind In The Willows and Jamie And The Magic Torch. Trueman had also been a radio actor and his voice is still heard in Radio 6 reruns of The Clitheroe Kid, with Lancashire comedian Jimmy Clitheroe.
Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He was born in Barton, between Southport and Liverpool, and attended Stretford Grammar. He began acting in radio dramas produced in Manchester for the BBC’s Children’s Hour, where he was accompanied on the piano by Violet Carson, later to play Ena Sharples in Coronation Street. She sponsored Trueman’s application for an Equity actors’ union card. After national service in the Royal Army Service Corps, he studied at Manchester University for a BA in literature. While there he performed in the student drama group. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was in 1957, Granada’s second year on air, that he landed a job at its new studio block in Quay Street, Manchester.
He presented Northern Newscast and its successor, Scene at 6.30, and continued to appear on Granada Reports for some years after the company had been replaced east of the Pennines by Yorkshire TV. He later presented the documentary series Brass Tacks.
