Help Make the Next Programme!

So it’s 2014 and the Bald Explorer is polishing his head and getting his walking boots out the cupboard for another year of exploring the British landscape. He will be winding up the clockwork mechanism on his camera and getting out to make another set of programmes for you to enjoy.

The next place I have my eye on is St. Albans in Hertfordshire. Boudicca attacked and burnt the Roman town there, the great Watling Street runs through it and the first engagement in the Wars of the Roses happened in a car park there. And there is plenty more besides …

In the past I have funded the (to date – eight) documentaries myself with the occasional help from generous fans of the show. The Community Channel really like the programmes and I get emails and messages from viewers who think the series should be on mainstream channels. Take this one from Jill C on Twitter:

Just watched @BaldExplorer on @ComChanTV exploring the canals of Britain. Here’s a programme needs more exposure! A ‘must watch!’

and this one from Les Benson via BE page on Facebook …

Brilliant programme. Presenter shows real interest in the subject and not with himself as is the case with most presenters.

Many are surprised to learn that the programme has, in fact, no budget at all, and that there isn’t a large crew of people running around making it happen. In the reality, it is just myself and one other and often that other is my son, Billy.

However, it does cost money to make the Bald Explorer documentaries. Apart from the wear and tear on filming gear and copious cups of tea and coffee required, there are also fees to contributors, insurances, fuel for transport, over night accommodation, sustenance and, on occasions, props to be bought.

The normal 45 minute programme takes about 6-10 days of filming and the further it is away from home, the more expensive it is to produce. Then, of course, there are the days before production starts, when I make a reconnoitre and find out where to film, meet the contributors, assess the problems likely to be encountered, such as parking, aircraft noise, access to locations, toilets and so forth.

So, I am now asking for additional help from the lovely supporters of the programme; would you help contribute? Even a small sum like £10 helps pay for parking costs. Last year, I did try the Kickstarter thing, but we didn’t reach the target and so none of the pledges ever reached me, even though plenty of people offered considerable sums. I do, however, have a Paypal donate button on the right hand side of the website and any money collected goes straight into a special production account of the Bald Explorer programme.

If you can help, it would enable me and the crew to make another episode at the beginning of the spring when the weather is warmer and the colours are bright. Thanks so much.

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