Omnibus (1967)

The Bristol Showboat Saga (1984x1)

Air date: Sep 30, 1984

The story starts in the summer of 1982, when three houseboat-owning neighbours in Chertsey dreamed up a scheme to launch a floating theatre-restaurant and sail it into Bristol Docks. Vivian Stanshall (founder- member of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band), his wife Pamela (poet), and Peter Jackson (engineer) were the instigators, and with a bank loan their dream became reality, For two years Omnibus filmed the progress of the enterprise from Sunderland (where a German-built coaster was found and bought) to Bristol, where the Old Profanity Showboat opened its doors to the public in May 1984. En route they recruited further crew members. Some failed to stay the course. The vessel encountered many rocks and reefs - mechanical, financial, emotional. And the journey's not over yet ...