Last updated 15:56, Thursday, 02 October 2008

A POPULAR television series produced by a company in Humshaugh has been released on DVD.

Grundy’s Northern Pride, which champions Northern heritage and architecture, has so far run for 19 episodes on ITV Tyne Tees and Granada.

All these programmes – around seven hours in total – are now available, and on offer as prizes to Courant readers, on two DVDs released by independent production company Working Wonders TV.

Company boss Steve Robins has worked with John Grundy for nearly 10 years. They first got together to make the highly successful Grundy’s Wonders, which ran for 38 episodes over six series.

Steve left Tyne Tees in 2005 to set up Working Wonders. Shortly after, ITV Granada decided it, too, wanted its viewers to be treated to John’s distinctive, relaxed style.

“John has always been a big hit with viewers in the North-East,” said Steve. ”Although he comes from Carlisle he’s lived in Newcastle all his adult life.

“We had slight concerns about how he would be received in the North-West but we needn’t have worried.”

“It has been so exciting making these programmes about the North,” John added. “Wonderful towns and cities, glorious countryside and an extraordinary range of fascinating buildings.”

The first series of Northern Pride went out last year and in the Granada region was seen by an average of 568,000 people per episode – peaking at 681,000, or 26 per cent audence share. This year the Granada share went as high as 28 per cent.

A programme from the first series was shortlisted earlier this year for best factual production at the ITV News Group Awards in London.

Now the DVD has been released, John and Steve are submitting proposals to other broadcasters in the hope of reaching an even wider audience.

“Early orders for the DVDs have already come in from Devon and the home counties, which must be a good sign,” said Steve.

For more information on the DVDs and how to order them go to www.grundysnorthernpride.tv

Working Wonders TV is at www.workingwonders.tv

l We have DVDs of Grundy’s Northern Pride to send to five readers.

All you have to do is tell us the name of John Grundy’s series on ITV Tyne Tees which ran for 38 episodes from 2000-2005.

Send the answer, and your name and address, to: Grundy’s Northern Pride Competition, Hexham Courant, Beaumont Street, Hexham, NE46 3NA.

We will select five of the correct answers at noon on Thursday, October 9. Employees of CN Group and their families are not eligible to enter.