The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Ian and Viv
Interview with International and Somerset cricketers Ian Botham and Viv Richards
In partnership with:
Overview
Ian Botham and Viv Richards are interviewed together at County Ground Taunton at the end of the domestic season in September 1980. A flary, fiery, flamboyant player, on and off the field, Botham could turn a match. Viv Richard’s unique batting style earned him a top five place in Wisden’s Cricketers of the Century.
Botham began his first class career in 1974 with Somerset Cricket Club and went on to an England career but his captaincy of the side was short-lived. In the mid-1980s, new Somerset cricket captain Peter Roebuck sacked the overseas stars Viv Richards and Joel Garner and brought in the New Zealander Martin Crowe in an attempt to renew an ageing team. Ian Botham resigned in protest and moved to Worcestershire and Durham before retiring from the game in 1993. Botham was also a talented footballer and played for Scunthorpe United but turned down an offer to play with Crystal Palace FC. Viv Richards made his first class debut in 1972 for Leeward Islands and moved to Taunton in 1974. He went on to captain the West Indies.
Related
Watch for free
Sixty-four Day Hero: A Boxer's Tale Sixty-four Day Hero: A Boxer's Tale
Biopic 1985 94 mins
The turbulent life and death of championship boxer Randolph Turpin.
Watch for free
Caribbean Restaurant Caribbean Restaurant
Magazine and Review show 1986 7 mins Location: West Bromwich
Bringing the tastes of Montego Bay to a wintry West Bromwich.
Watch for free
Burning Cross Race Attack Burning Cross Race Attack
News 1965 5 mins Location: Handsworth
A stark reminder from Handsworth of the intolerance and hatred that darkened the streets of 1960s Britain.
Watch for free
Gay Black Group Gay Black Group
Magazine and Review show 1983 25 mins Location: Bloomsbury
The Gay Black Group - reasserting culture and identity on two levels.
Watch for free
13 November 1967: Martin Luther King Interview 13 November 1967: Martin Luther King Interview
News 1967 2 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A rare interview with Dr Martin Luther King casts fresh light on black British broadcast history.
Watch for free
Tiger Bay and The Rainbow Club - I Tiger Bay and The Rainbow Club - I
Home movie 1960 39 mins Silent Location: Butetown
Tiger Bay in Cardiff's docks area: a successful, multi-cultural community, providing a variety of activities, but which is threatened by 'slum' clearance.
Watch for free
Taunton College of Art Fashion Show Taunton College of Art Fashion Show
Current affairs 1975 2 mins Silent Location: Taunton
Students at the College of Art in Taunton hold an end of year fashion show with eye-catching futuristic designs.
Watch for free
Rien ne va plus at El Matador Rien ne va plus at El Matador
Current affairs 1962 4 mins Location: Taunton
Everything is going very well at El Matador Club where gambling forms part of a growing leisure activity.
Watch for free
One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred
Current affairs 1986 52 mins Location: Plymouth
This documentary charts the progress and challenges of disabled people living in the community.
Watch for free
Wassail Wear and Whimple Wassail Wear and Whimple
Current affairs 1975 2 mins Silent Location: Taunton
Wassail queens assemble at Taunton Castle before returning to their respective orchards.
Watch for free
Taunton Jazz Festival Taunton Jazz Festival
Current affairs 1962 12 mins Location: Taunton
Notable interviews are with some of the greatest jazz talent as music lovers gather to celebrate jazz, trad and free.
Watch for free
Da Vinci's Wingman Da Vinci's Wingman
Current affairs 1961 3 mins Silent Location: Taunton
An eccentric Englishman looks to achieve winged flight inspired by Leonardo
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.