April 2021 Sky’s Intergalactic: Sci-fi sisters with attitude Television www.rts.org.uk September 2013 1 LOVE TV? SO DO WE! R o y a l T e l e v i s i o n S o c i e t y b u r s a r i e s o f f e r f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t a n d m e n t o r i n g t o p e o p l e s t u d y i n g : TTEELLEEVVIISSIIOONN PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN JJOOUURRNNAALLIISSMM EENNGGIINNEEEERRIINNGG CCOOMMPPUUTTEERR SSCCIIEENNCCEE PPHHYYSSIICCSS MMAATTHHSS F i r s t y e a r a n d s o o n - t o - b e s t u d e n t s s t u d y i n g r e l e v a n t u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d H N D c o u r s e s a t L e v e l 5 o r 6 a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o a p p l y . F i n d o u t m o r e a t r t s . o r g . u k / b u r s a r i e s # R T S B u r s a r i e s Journal of The Royal Television Society April 2021 l Volume 58/4 From the CEO It’s been all systems winners were “an incredibly diverse” Finally, I am delighted to announce go this past month selection. Russell himself received the that this year’s RTS bursary scheme is thanks to a crowded Outstanding Achievement Award. now open – applications can be made events calendar, cul- Thanks to Jonathan and to Kenton until 30 September. Thirty-five schol- minating in the RTS Allen, the juries chair. Congratulations arships will be awarded to individuals LOVE TV? Programme Awards to the winners and nominees, who are studying TV production or journalism, 2021. Hosting a cere- all featured in this issue. The nations and a further 10 bursaries will support mony in what was, in effect, an empty and regions have been busy with their those interested in working in a wide room was a big ask for anyone, but own line-up of events, including four range of technology roles. Jonathan Ross more than rose to the Student Television Awards ceremo- occasion, and brought a real sense of nies, which are reported in Television. SO DO WE! fun to an outstanding evening. Also inside, Caroline Frost investi- I am proud to agree with no less a gates how scripted TV is portraying figure than Russell T Davies that the people suffering mental health issues. Theresa Wise R o y a l T e l e v i s i o n S o c i e t y b u r s a r i e s o f f e r f i n a n c i a l Cover: Intergalactic (Sky) s u p p o r t a n d m e n t o r i n g t o p e o p l e s t u d y i n g : Contents Georgia Keetch’s TV Diary The wolf of drama street RTS bursary scholar Georgia Keetch’s optimism grows as Even in a lockdown year, Jane Tranter’s Bad Wolf produced TTEELLEEVVIISSIIOONN PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN 5 she trades WhatsApp voice notes at 2am on a new film 20 a healthy litter of hits. Interview by Tim Dams Comfort Classic: Peep Show Drilling down into documentaries JJOOUURRNNAALLIISSMM Steve Clarke can’t get enough of this missing link The RTS gains an insight into the commissioning EENNGGIINNEEEERRIINNGG 6 between Men Behaving Badly and Fleabag 22 strategy for YouTube Originals Ear Candy: Obsessed with… Line of Duty Monkey business Caitlin Danaher’s go-to podcast for explanations of The RTS learns how the influential indie helped reinvent CCOOMMPPUUTTEERR SSCCIIEENNCCEE 7 baffling police acronyms and the latest fan theories 24 entertainment genres Working Lives: Head of development Arrested development PPHHYYSSIICCSS Nathalie Peter-Contesse describes the long and rocky An all-star RTS panel discusses the genesis of Channel 4’s MMAATTHHSS 8 road from idea to hit show to Matthew Bell 26 Frank of Ireland, a waster for our times It’s sci-fi but not as we know it The UK’s production revolution Shilpa Ganatra hails Sky’s mould-breaking space A line-up of senior TV industry figures analyses the 10 adventure Intergalactic 28 streamer-led boom for British talent and facilities F i r s t y e a r a n d s o o n - t o - b e s t u d e n t s s t u d y i n g A genius in his prime At the cutting edge Matthew Bell discovers how European TV companies Vice Studios President Kate Ward explains how her r e l e v a n t u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d H N D c o u r s e s a t 12 struck new alliances for Amazon’s lavish drama Leonardo 30 group built a unique international production business L e v e l 5 o r 6 a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o a p p l y . Our Friend in the West A lockdown sensation Laura Aviles explains why Bristol’s TV and film community The RTS hears how the BBC’s Normal People energised 15 can play a vital role in the post-Covid economic recovery 32 the careers of its two stars The craft of telling a fairytale RTS Programme Awards 2021 F i n d o u t m o r e a t How the makers of The Crown painstakingly created Hosted by Jonathan Ross, the awards were presented 16 Diana Spencer’s emotional story for an outstanding episode 33 on 16 March in partnership with Audio Network r t s . o r g . u k / b u r s a r i e s How TV is tackling our mental health RTS news and events Across many genres, scripted television is taking mental Reports of the Society’s online sessions and awards 18 distress seriously. Caroline Frost investigates 42 ceremonies from around the UK # R T S B u r s a r i e s Editor Production, design, advertising Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice Steve Clarke Gordon Jamieson 3 Dorset Rise UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2021. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman The views expressed in Television News editor and writer Sub-editor T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail) £172.22 20 Crimscott Street are not necessarily those of the RTS. Matthew Bell Sarah Bancroft E: [email protected] Enquiries: [email protected] London SE1 5TP Registered Charity 313 728 [email protected] [email protected] W: www.rts.org.uk Television www.rts.org.uk April 2021 3 Want to cross the finish line in style, and claim that podium place? Soundtrack the best sporting moments, from the build up to nail-biting finish with Audio Network. SEND US YOUR BRIEF DISCOVER MORE [email protected] audionetwork.com/discover TV diary RTS bursary scholar Georgia Keetch senses optimism in the months ahead – and trades WhatsApp voice notes at 2:00am on a new film hen I a media and cultural studies MA at ■ Talking of these projects, a fellow drove to Sussex. So, to the professional world bursary scholar and close friend of Sussex of TV, I will see you very soon. mine gave me the opportunity to be University a researcher on her graduate docu- to start ■ This year has been jam-packed mentary, I Bet You Look Good on the my BA with things happening that I still Dance Floor. journal- can’t believe came my way. In early We are halfway through shooting. ism course in September 2018, in my January, the Society kindly invited The film is a love letter to the indie Wmind’s eye I saw a heady montage of me to be a member of the RTS Tele- music venues that we risk losing hypothetical events and experiences vision Journalism Awards jury for the because of the lack of government that would fill my three years in Brigh- Young Talent of the Year prize. With- funding to see them through the ton. My imagination did not stretch to out having the bursary scheme or the pandemic. wondering what it would be like to do Steve Hewlett Scholarship behind Working professionally with Charly half my degree during a pandemic. me, opportunities such as this would really brought it home that the great- But, following the government- simply not be there for me. est benefit of the RTS bursary scheme mandated daily walks and abundant Joining a morning Zoom call with is the friendship and camaraderie that failed attempts to make satisfactory some of the true powerhouses of TV comes with it. Nothing says more banana bread (oh, and about 100 Net- – and having them ask for my opin- about friendship in the TV industry flix shows), there is light at the end of ion – was truly incredible.