LD Michael Lingard is using PixelPAR 90 fixtures on the current long-running Ministry of Mayhem series, produced by Foundation Productions, directed by Michael Kerrigan, Paul Walker and Michael Bradley and recorded at Maidstone Studios in Kent. The show is broadcast live on ITV1 on Saturday morning’s prime time slot of 9.25 – 11.25 ... and it’s currently running 52 weeks a year without a break!

The original set design was by Patrick Docherty who came up with the idea of high brushed metal walls. Lingard then came up with the idea of lit panels to break up the walls; their basic visual aim was to make it bright, colourful and exciting with a high tech feel.

Pixels were not originally on the job, but the steely greyness of the set was proving a bit stark, so some textural treatment was needed to brighten it up and Lingard also wanted to be able to change the look and feel of the space for different sections of the show. The have a plethora of different live items happening each week – including music, drama, entertainment, comedy and games. “I just needed a really dynamic effect” he says.

Through Richard Martin Lighting – a major UK TV lighting rental company – he had seen James Thomas’s Pixel PARS and their PixelLine battens in action, and was immediately impressed with their brightness. He thought the PixelPAR 90s would be just the ticket to highlight the grey metal and lift the front of the Ministry set … and decided to try them out.

“They brought a completely new dimension to the space” he states, “And have really brought the set to life. I use them for colour washing and strobing effects, for making rainbows and any number of things – there’s endless possibilities – and they’re excellent units” he enthuses. He adds that running cool and introducing no heat into the environment is also very useful.

Style wise, their finish fits perfectly into the surroundings as well as being small and unobtrusive.

“There’s really nothing else that would do the job and fulfil all the criteria”. He admits they did experiment with a few other options initially, but once they’d tested the PixelPARs in situ, that was it – they earned their way fairly and squarely onto the show.

The fixtures are all controlled via the studio’s main Galaxy console operated by Ian Penny. Ross Williams operates the moving lights using a WholeHog II console.

Lingard has worked as a lighting director/designer for the past 14 years. His credits include a raft of popular LE programmes like “Blind Date”, “Blankety Blank”, “The Price Is Right”, “Big Brother”, “Alright On The Night”, Basil Brush and “The Salon”. He’s won 2 British Academy Awards, two RTS Awards and one Kodak Film Award.