30·06·09 Week 26 explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel THE BBC NEWSPAPER

TIME TO TREAT RELIGION WITH THE FERVOUR OF FOOTBALL a Page 10 In the Q current climate should top managers take a pay cut? A see Page 2 ­Mark thompsonri el talks to a and ­salary s ­after ail exes det MAIL Page 11 published

> GLASTONBURY 3 NEWS 4 NICKY CAMPBELL 6 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 162 SALARIES AND EXPENSES a 00·00·0830·06·09 a Not so much the exes, Room 2425, White City more the take home pay 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS he BBC found itself speared on the point of predictable uproar and will soon fade from the headlines 020 8008 4228 the media’s knives last week and shared some of but there’s no doubt that public disclosure will have a the discomfort that members of parliament have longer lasting impact. You can’t imagine that all the lunches Editor endured recently. Disclosure just isn’t the clean and celebrations and mutual hospitality will continue at Tprocess that Mark Thompson and his advisors might have quite the same levels. That’s not to say they were wrong Andrew Harvey 02-84222 Deputy editors liked. You can argue that the expenses claims are not but a lot of people we’ve talked to are amazed that highly Sally Hillier 02-26877 especially extravagant for a big media organisation where paid executives still put in claims for the kind of everyday Cathy Loughran 02-27360 a certain level of schmoozing of stars, agents and indeed coffee and chat items they would never dream of claiming Features editor MPs is part of the process of good business. But just as back. The levels of executive pay have the potential to Clare Bolt 02-27445 moats, duck houses and packets of biscuits were glorious cause the BBC problems externally and internally where Reporters gifts to press and broadcasters, so Jana Bennett’s stolen the pay scale has been met with some incredulity. It doesn’t Carla Parks 02-27630 handbag, the rescue of Mark Thompson’s family on holiday help the argument that the licence fee should be reserved Laura Scarrott 02-84224 and his chauffeur’s parking costs were among the colourful exclusively for the BBC when it can pay its managers so Peggy Walker 01-43940 examples eagerly seized on by the print, broadcast and handsomely. It was against this background that Ariel asked Production editor online communities to embarrass the BBC. It was a pretty Mark Thompson for his response… Claire Barrett 02-27368 Art editor Ken Sinyard 02-84229 Ariel online Andy Walker (editor) 02-84227 ‘The salaries are not exceptional’ Alex Goodey 02-27410 Business co-ordinator this year and we’ll look very hard at whether Silvana Romana 02-84228 senior managers should be part of a pay Ariel mail review next year. I don’t think we would get [email protected] the best people to do these important creative Ariel online expore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel and leadership roles if we arbitrarily reduced pay and pretended that we lived in a world Guest contributors this week without a labour market for top pay. The danger is you would end up with a BBC that is ANDREW GRAYSTONE on an quite inward looking, that can’t get people in opportunity to turn religious tv into Q A from outside and therefore relies on a smaller dangerous viewing. Page 10 talent pool and you would end up with a BBC ROOPA SUCHAK enjoys the glitz, but & that was no longer a world class broadcaster. not the lack of sleep at the marathon ARIEL IN CONVERSATION Bollywood Oscars. Page 14 WITH MARK THOMPSON Are you concerned that if the public Q thinks salaries are too high you could lose goodwill at a crucial time for the licence fee? BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 The tightrope the BBC has to walk is Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 A between the talented people we need to BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 make this a world class broadcaster, alongside Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS How did you judge the reaction to the Are you still saying that it’s necessary to legitimate public concern about what we pay – Q publication of the salary and expenses Q pay such high salaries to attract decent and you end up with a compromise where you Advertise in Ariel details? managers? pay less than the market in many areas and Ten Alps Publishing 020 7878 2314 I think we got on the front foot. We I think most people who have friends or more than the public, if taken in isolation, www.bbcarielads.com A decided to start living with this new A family in the rest of the media will know would want. But if you ask the public if the philosophy about being open about the that these salaries in terms of UK media are BBC should have the best people running its Printing expenses we disclosed. Inevitably there was a not in any way exceptional. We pay less than journalism or its operations they’d say yes. Garnett Dickinson Group day of noise in the press but it’s what the BBC the market. We want to be competitive enough Rotherham 01709 768000 should be doing. that people will consider joining us and every The government seems convinced that time we do one of these appointments we lose Q money must be found to support an Subscribe to Ariel Do you think in the light of the disclosures about half the candidates you might want to alternative regional tv news and it thinks taking Six months: £26, £36, £40 Q the level of expenses will come down? attract because of the remuneration – and it’s some from the licence fee is best Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 The level of expenses has been coming getting harder because top pay outside the We don’t believe the case has been made (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world A down over a number of years and is BBC has been growing at such a rate. These A that you need cash for the preservation of respectively) already at quite a low level. We have to run the levels of pay can look high but in the real regional news. Even if you accept that point, Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, BBC effectively, we should be out there making world, if you restricted the pay you would there are a number of possible sources – for Brookfields Way, Manvers, the case for the BBC and making sure we get restrict the kind of people you could get to instance spectrum tax – that the BBC and Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL the best talent and although I think we should work for the BBC. other broadcasters are being expected to pay Tel 01709 768199 bear down on expenses where we can – the for digital television after 2014. That money right level for the BBC is not zero. Nothing I’ve There must also be an argument that there could be used to create a fund to support an INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY read in the papers has made me think we have Q are a lot of people within the organisation alternative source of regional news. I believe Telephone 0800 0688 159 a problem. I don’t think anyone has been able who could be brought through and promoted? that a division of the licence fee, which at the Ceefax Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 to stand this up as a scandal. I’m constantly being told there is a outset can sound very innocent and public Ariel is produced by Internal A danger of a talent drain from the BBC. We spirited, is a dangerous path to take. Communcations for people at the BBC Do people earning such big salaries need know that key talent, especially in areas like Q to claim for so many little things like a entertainment, are constantly in danger of Do you think a collision with the coffee and sandwich for discussions with staff. being poached by the rest of the market – and Q government is inevitable A lot of people would pay that themselves and even with internal candidates, the best and It is not something I or the BBC Trust not claim it back? the brightest are comparing what they could A or the executive are seeking. There is so That’s a matter for individuals. If a earn inside and outside the BBC. Nobody is much in the Digital Britain report we can A member of staff or a manager takes making a decision about working for the BBC support. However we will continue to make PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL someone, say a presenter or a journalist, out to because this is where the big bucks are. the argument about why we think top slicing lunch and claims for it, that manifestly can be is not in the interests of the BBC and is not a justifiable expense. So if a £40 or £50 lunch In the current climate, would it be appropriate in the best interest of the public and is not is justifiable then cappuccinos for two in Qfor the senior community to take a pay cut? something the public will support – and that’s Starbucks are also justifiable. It’s a matter for Everyone around the organisation on our case and we will continue to make it. It individuals if they want to claim everything A £60k or more is having a pay freeze. In will be interesting to see how that develops or not. real terms senior manager pay will go down over the summer.

> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 30·06·09 SALARIES AND EXPENSES news 3 This was THE 50 HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE AT THE BBC No apologies Senior BBC managers’ salaries Peter ­Salmon, director BBC Mark Thompson director general £647k for ‘amazing’ North, will Mark Byford deputy director general £459k head the just the Jana Bennett director BBC Vision £406k BBC’s ­second Zarin Patel chief financial officer£ 3 2 9 k ­ Glastonbury biggest John Smith chief executive, BBC Worldwide £380k ­operation Caroline Thomson chief operating officer£328k start Tim Davie director, A&M £314k ‘It was pretty bijou,’ jokes Paul Rodgers, 6 Music editor. ‘We had a Last week’s publication of salary £370k-400k very small staff and one of our guys and expenses details was just the Peter Salmon director, BBC North was walking with a limp by the end.’ start of a process of disclosure that The teams who worked around Mark Thompson says will make the £310k-340k the clock at Glastonbury certainly BBC more open than any other pub- Alan Yentob creative director* weren’t feeling bloated, despite what lic organisation. Erik Huggers director, FM&T the critics claimed. The Daily Mail He announced the new transpar- Helen Boaden director, BBC News and the Times noted that the corpo- ency in a speech in Manchester that Sharon Baylay director, MC&A ration had sent 407 members of staff will be followed, most probably in to the festival, ‘almost as many as it September, with further details on £280k-£310k flew out to film Beijing’, while Tory the website regarding the salaries Bal Samra director, BBC Vision operations MP Philip Davies fell back on the line and expense claims of an ­additional Pat Loughrey former director, nations and regions that the numbers were ‘yet another 50 senior people. They will be selected Richard Sambrook director, Global News example of how the BBC is bloated’. according to a combination of sen- The BBC has been quick with its iority, salary and responsibility for £250k-£280k Helen Boaden, leader of the ­riposte, pointing out that as the spending. Dominic Coles chief operating officer, journalism 6000 members of news ­official broadcast partner of Glaston- In the autumn, the precise sal- Jay Hunt controller, BBC One bury it is responsible for all of the ary of the 100 people below execu- Roly Keating director of archive content broadcast infrastructure and trans- tive board level will be published mission from the festival: 130 of with the present bands of £30k £220k-250k Jay Hunt, con- the 407 were short-term contractors removed. Their expense claims will Danny Cohen controller, BBC Three troller BBC ­employed to rig and de-rig the site be published quarterly, line by line. Ed Williams director of communications One returned and provide ­security. Thompson says that some details Janice Hadlow controller, BBC Two after a short That left 125 members of staff with be held back to preserve an John Linwood chief technology officer, FM&T spell at Five and around 150 freelancers – a mix individual’s security ‘but embarrass- John Yorke controller, drama production of presenters, producers, directors, ment is not an excuse’ for avoiding Julie Gardner head, ind drama commissioning camera and sound crews, lighting openness. Nicholas Kroll director, BBC Trust and design, web producers, vt engi- The BBC is sticking to its line on Richard Deverell controller, BBC Children’s neers and runners, including 18 staff payments paid to top entertainers Roger Mosey director, London 2012 dedicated to the interactive content. and presenters, saying it will pub- Between them they produced a lish overall payment figures but not £190k-£220k staggering 111 hours of television the amounts individuals receive. Andy Parfitt controller, R1/1Xtra/Asian Network coverage, 60 hours of radio output, Ed Williams, director of Andy Griffee editorial director, Project W1 600 website pages and 57 hours of communications, Anne Morrison controller, network production video, in addition to running the joined the BBC Chris Day group financial controller BBC’s Introducing stage. from Reuters How average Chris Kane head of corporate real estate And their efforts haven’t gone Dorothy Prior controller production resources unnoticed – 16m people tuned in to pay works out Emma Swain head of in-house commissioning, BBC Vision watch the television coverage. Graham Ellis controller production, A&M Average pay at the BBC in 2007-08 was John Vickerman director HR shared services, BBC People An exasperated director general told approximately £43,000. This is cal- Liam Keelan controller, daytime television Ariel that the tabloid criticism of the culated by dividing the public serv- Mark Damazer controller, Radio 4 and Radio 7 BBC’s Glastonbury coverage was ‘Pav- ice payroll by the number of public Mike Goodie director employee relations and people strategy lovian’. ‘What is the right number? service employees. The average comes Nicholas Eldred group general counsel; secretary, Operations Group Do the critics know?’ he said. ‘Glas- down to £31,000 when senior manag- Peter Horrocks director, World Service tonbury has become an amazing part ers are taken out of the reckoning, Peter White chief executive Switchover Help Scheme of our summer at the BBC. Our peo- which means that the salaries of the Richard Klein controller, BBC Four ple are working around the clock to top 250 or so people at the BBC raise Robert Shennan controller, Radio 2 and 6 Music bring a great occasion to the British the overall average by £12,000. Roger Wright controller, R3 and director BBC Proms public.’ Mark Thompson told the Today pro- Stephen Mitchell head of multimedia programmes, BBC News This year 6 Music provided the gramme that average pay was ‘much Tom Archer controller, factual production, BBC Vision BBC’s live coverage for the first time. higher’ at the BBC than in the public ‘It’s been a bit of a stretch, but we had sector overall. Salaries paid to people £160k-£190k a defining weekend,’ said editor Rodg- in BBC Worldwide and World Service George Entwistle controller, knowledge commissioning, BBC Vision ers. He defended the spread of cover- are not included in the averages. Jon Beazley controller, entertainment production, BBC Vision age across the BBC’s tv and radio sta- Nicolas Brown director, drama production, BBC Vision tions. ‘It was amicably shared out,’ he John Vickerman, said. ‘There are a lot of things to fit director of HR in and there’s so much cultural activ- ◆ Basic salaries at May 7, 2009. This list does not include members of BBC All that parking shared services, ity going on in one Worldwide, Post Production and Studios, BBC World, UKTV Mark Thompson has explained the manages ­Capita place – it doesn’t * Alan Yentob is part time creative director so does not receive this full salary. ten pages of car parking charges, contract and ­policy easily fit in one He is paid separately as presenter of Imagine some for as little as 90p, which appear simplification portfolio.’ on his list of expenses claims. These Clare Bolt were costs paid by his chauffeur, usu- ally on a company card, while on official business. The BBC also pays the congestion charge for his official More revelations in the next list car while he pays the costs of ­personal motoring. The next most interesting thing about who’s Northern Ireland missing the cut. The same The dg was reimbursed £2236.90 on the list of top people is who’s not on it. The goes for the editors of the news operation at for flying his family home (Al Italia newest director, Lucy Adams who’s in charge TVC. The controller of Radio 5 Live, the sports Neil economy) last year after he had to at BBC People, arrived on June 1 and so misses the and news station currently on a good run of Young: cut short their holiday when he was May 7 timeline. Elsewhere, journalism is not form, is also outside the 50. Come September, still rockin called back to London to deal with particularly well represented with the three there will be keen interest to see who is includ- in the free the Ross/Brand phone calls saga. ­national directors for Wales, Scotland and ed in the next group of 50 world

4 News a 30·06·09 NEWS BITES Pension fund stays ‘strong’ despite shortfall topping out ceremony will be held on July 8 to mark the completion of by Sally Hillier wound up (an unlikely scenario), £6.5bn, is in a relatively healthy satisfied that the BBC’s covenant’ the highest point of MediaCityUK and tried to meet all its liabilities, it state, thanks to the BBC’s contri- [its willingness and ability to con- in Salford Quays. The ceremony will People who are concerned about would have a shortfall of £470m. butions, members’ contributions tinue funding the scheme] remain be on the 19th floor of the South their pensions, given that the BBC This is in contrast to the £274m and returns on its investments, strong. ‘In particular, the trustees Tower of the Studio Block, which pension scheme has a deficit of surplus that was recorded in 2007, ­although these have reduced. are mindful that the charter and is more than 300ft. The following more than £400m, should take when the economy was buoyant ‘These are unprecedented times licence fee agreement give the BBC week, the redeveloped Broadcasting heart from the fact that it remains and companies were enjoying good but the trustees recognise that a level of stability and guarantee of House in London will be topped out one of the best funds in the UK and returns on their investments. the investments are long term in income that is not available to most still has a positive cash flow. Since then the economic situ- nature,’ Peat explains. ‘The scheme employers.’ Breakfast News plinth – the That is the message from Jeremy ation has deteriorated and stock has a positive cash flow so does Even so, Peat is blunt about the programme’s homage to the Peat, chairman of the scheme’s markets have fallen, with disas- not need to sell equities at future. The downturn in the mar- fourth plinth ‘living monument’ trustees, whose latest report was trous consequences for many depressed rates to fund the pay- kets will mean that the current in Trafalgar Square – will tour the published on Monday. company pension funds. ment of pensions.’ deficit ‘will undoubtedly have in- UK from July 6, inviting people who The current position is that if The BBC scheme, which has He adds that the trustees have creased by the time the next fund- have performed acts of selflessness to the scheme were suddenly to be 58,744 members and is worth taken professional advice and ‘are ing report is produced’, he says. take their moment in the spotlight. Candidates include Cornish lifeguards and Oldham masseuses.

A scheme has been launched News storm offering aspiring filmmakers a £5000 budget to make a music-based Iran crisis calls for short film with a professional after death production company and have it premiered at the BBC Electric of Jackson Proms in October. See bbc.co.uk/ rolling news service electricproms/2009/newmusicshorts by Sally Hillier by Claire Barrett painstakingly dated: ‘It’s easy to world’s longest running sitcom use images as wallpaper but that’s Last Of The Summer Wine, has been Michael Jackson’s death meant As diplomatic tensions between both risky and wrong.’ recommissioned for a further a frantic Friday for many BBC Iran and Britain increased over Pro-government material, such six half-hours. Filming will take people on both sides of the the weekend, the BBC was again as the supreme leader’s speech at place this summer, in and around Atlantic, not least broadcast accused by government supporters Friday prayers, has been broadcast, Holmfirth, for transmission in 2010. journalist Natasha Grüneberg of stoking up unrest. courtesy of Iranian state tv. ‘That in the news obituary unit. BBC Persian tv – the Farsi lan- helps create something of a bal- Radio 2 is marking the 50th She arrived at work at Tel- guage channel watched by an esti- ance,’ reasons Beynon. anniversary of Billie Holiday’s evision Centre at 5.15am and mated 6-8m in Iran – has also been But this hasn’t kept the jam- death with two new documentaries: spent the day doing live two- criticised by the opposition faithful mers at bay. Strong signals are All Of Me – The Betrayal Of Billie ways with the BBC’s net- for failing to be more outspoken in being sent up from inside Iran to Holiday on July 7 and Billy work of local radio stations, their defence. But acting head of interfere with BBC Persian trans- [Crystal] on Billie, on July 14. answering questions about the channel Rob Beynon remains missions from the main Hotbird the singer and his career, impassive in his pursuit of a ‘dis- satellite. Engineers have got the The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson and the circumstances surround- passionate and impartial’ service. channel on to another satellite Axel Scheffler’s best-selling children’s ing his death, and what was If the channel that was that is more difficult to jam, while picture book, will be shown on BBC likely to happen next. launched in January did play a Despite jamming, Persian tv broad- it remains on a secondary satellite One this Christmas. Produced by ‘I did one broadcast ­after part in the post-election turmoil, it casts continue, including online as well as being streamed online. Magic Light Pictures, the 30-minute another, in eight minute was simply in ‘providing informa- The staff – many recruited from animation is currently in production slots,’ she explains. ‘I spoke to tion for people that they may not without permission, the London- Iran – are working long shifts to 22 stations at breakfast and have received in any other way’, he based BBC Persian team turned cover developments. Broadcasts in- Conor McNicholas currently 12 at lunchtime. In addition, argues. ‘But we have been assidu- to user generated content to tell creased from eight to 14 hours a editing IPC’s music title NME, ­Betty Redondo [senior broad- ous in not becoming a channel for the story. ‘Striking pictures’ – like day at the height of the protests. has been appointed editor of cast journalist] did ten sta- the opposition in an unchallenged that of protester Neda Agha-Soltan ‘We went from being a mixed chan- BBC’s Top Gear magazine, which tions. way. We would only refer to claims bleeding to death after being shot nel, with scheduled bulletins, to a overtook FHM last year as the UK’s ‘I had been preparing ma- of vote rigging, for instance, but – continued to arrive despite slug- rolling news service,’ says Beynon, most widely-read men’s monthly, terial about Farrah Fawcett, didn’t venture an opinion – it’s not gish web connections. who paid special tribute to the with a readership of 1.9m. who died on Thursday, when what we do.’ Every item is verified and professionalism of colleagues with the news came through about With reporters unable to gath- assessed before broadcast – ‘we’re family and friends in Iran: ‘They Rozina Breen, a lecturer in radio Jackson,’ Grüneberg added. er news from inside Iran, and the not YouTube, we’re the BBC and we managed to leave any personal and at Leeds Trinity and All Saints His death caused a huge risks too high for them to do so can’t just throw stuff on air’ – and political allegiances at the door.’ College, has been appointed editor surge at news online, where of Radio Leeds. She will start in 11m pages were viewed on Fri- September, marking a return day alone. Big screens pack Deadline for How green is to the BBC where she used to On tv and radio, schedules work in radio current affairs. were rearranged to make way Salford moves Albert Square? She replaces Mike Bettison, who will for documentaries and tribute in summer crowds return to his substantive post as edi- programmes. tor of Radio Nottingham. Bettison A news special on Friday BBC Big Screens are proving a big This Tuesday (June 30) is deci- The environmental impact of produc- left to take over at BBC WM on evening, pushing EastEnders attraction for Wimbledon fans, with sion day for most people in sal- ing EastEnders will be revealed later attachment, before becoming editor (which itself referred to Jack- thousands enjoying the action in city ary bands 8-11, whose jobs are this year. at Radio Leeds. son’s death in a hastily writ- centres across the UK. ear-marked to move to Salford. Environmentally sustainable pro- ten new scene) back by half The London Olympics organising Numbers declaring their ductions – a branch of BBC environ- an hour, drew an audience committee has paid for the latest 12 intention to relocate won’t ment – has announced it is working of 2.9m, while a Newsnight screens, including those in Plymouth, be known until the end of with the soap to find ways of reduc- Is HR working? Review special on BBC Two, Cardiff, Derby and a replacement the week. About 100 people ing its carbon emissions. drew 1.3m. screen for Manchester which was the in bands 8-9 in sport have an ESP has invited the Energy Saving Lucy Adams, new director of BBC On Saturday, BBC Two original pilot. It brings the total across agreed two week extension, Trust to visit the Elstree set and People, wants to hear colleagues’ showed a special edition of Top the UK to 21. to give staff on lower grades a develop a carbon calculator to meas- perceptions of how well the HR of the Pops 2 as well as the doc- Anita Bhalla, editor public space clearer picture of promotion ure the environmental impact of the function works for them. Is it too umentary The Essential Michael broadcasting, says the programme prospects in Salford before they series. bureaucratic? Does it make life sim- Jackson. for the next few months is particu- make their decision. Charles Simmonds, who leads the pler or harder? Does is add value to Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, larly packed: ‘The summer is a busy In total, 375 jobs are affect- ESP team, said that EastEnders was the business? You have until July 8 Radio 4, and Radio 5 live all time with Royal Opera House [events], ed at this stage. Staff in bands an ideal partner. ‘It’s high volume, to complete her ten-minute confi- scheduled themed Michael Proms in the Park, Formula 1, and the 2-7 have until September 30 to long-running, self-contained and dential online survey, via Gateway. Jackson programmes, Olympics open weekend. decide. extremely well known,’ he said. a 30·06·09 Features 5 photograph: S photograph: Revelations shepherds of silkworm

at Nativity, eggs from F UE O Two young their faces China – LL policemen charged with priceless, knelt beside the soft glow weightless, AUDIENCE sixPORTAL suitcases of what they smuggled out filled with had revealed. – Ostrud do od et, cor alisl in gold dust, wondering found in Two monks, how the airy etueros dolutpat velesed storage earlier by a specks would dolesequis et, quatum del utat lockers thousand fall. years, miles outside sat beneath a the city – mulberry tree, kept watch each longing in protective to unscrew suits like and shake his hollow bamboo cane the quiet poet You won’t find Alex McRae medita- to apply so I really went for it,’ she decided to use it as a starting point – I’m really aware of impartiality in It was her last tively tapping her quill in the news- explains, describing the win as a for a poem about discovering amaz- my writing. Of course poems can be room. Despite being presented The ‘great honour’ and an ‘awesome’ ing things in ordinary places.’ surreal and playful but some of the chance to Eric Gregory award for poetry last accomplishment for any young poet. McRae also points to the similari- most moving poems have truth at week, she has been shy about reveal- McRae tells me that many of her ties between writing poetry and jour- their core.’ win a major ing her ‘geeky pursuit’ to colleagues. poems, including those submitted nalism. ‘I try to write clearly, original- Although past winners of the ‘I didn’t want to tell people I was for consideration for the award, were ly and with integrity. In both cases I award include poet laureate Andrew competition – a poet. You either get horrified stares inspired by her experiences at work. also try to show two sides of an idea Motion, McRae says she has modest or people feel intimidated,’ admits ‘News stories provide great content ambitions; to publish a book and use poet and bj Alex the World Service bj. because they’re usually stranger and the grant to help fund an MA. McRae was one of five people to be more wonderful than anything you YOUR POEMS ‘I have a full time job – which is McRae talks to given The Society of Writers’ annu- would normally hear about,’ she quite exotic among poets – so I fit al award, which consists of a £2400 says. We’ll be publishing the best entries my writing around shifts. I’ve also Laura Scarrott grant. One such news story, in which the from our BBC-themed poetry com- never done a creative writing course This is the third time McRae has police uncovered six suitcases filled petition on July 14. Our judge, Robert so I plan to be really self-indulgent applied for it, having been shortlist- with gold dust, resulted in the poem Seatter is head of history and a pub- and take a career break. I would defi- ed last year. ‘This year was my last Revelations (above). ‘It was such lished poet. nitely come back to the BBC though, chance as you have to be under 30 a cool image,’ enthuses McRae. ‘I I love my job.’

by Adam Bambury played the BBC Introducing stage. A nearby Acton, and Ruth has a very good place to be, as the underground understanding boss in Blue Peter edi- Losing your Glastonbury vir- music brand has hosted many an tor Tim Levell, who describes her as a ginity is an exciting experience, act to have exploded into the main- ‘right funky chick’. Funky chick, but when you’re also playing at stream – MGMT and Florence and the Funky or not, she still hasn’t quite the festival in a band you only Machine being two. left her years of classical training joined two m o n t h s It was a suitable end to a busy behind: ‘I’ve always found it hard to ago, it’s g o i n g month for Ruth, which began with play without sheet music,’ says Ruth. to be pretty special. her first gig with the band on June 1, ‘But the band don’t use that, they tell traditional So it was for Ruth followed by a show at Ronnie Scott’s me to ‘just feel it’. McGara- han, who Jazz Club, and a filmed session at ‘Well I can’t just feel it! I’ve got a has found Maida Vale for the Huw Stephens tiny piece of paper with the chords herself in a radio show. on that I stick to the floor where no r o c k ’ n ’ r o l l But fitting in with the whims of one can see. It’s so un-rock’n’roll.’ instincts whirlwind since a group of full time musicians isn’t She’s quite happy with her current being spotted play- always easy. ‘The band don’t really arrangement of bassist by night, PA ing her local church understand I have a job. They’ll say: by day, but would she ditch the BBC in May. ‘We’re going to rehearse at 3pm, come to tour European toilet venues in the The 23 year old PA is down’. I’ll get into work really early so back of a mini van? Ruth’s playing Glastonbury debut is climax of now the bassist in eclectic I can leave early, then I get there and it safe for now: ‘My attachment con- rockers King Charles, who they’ll be like ‘nah, we can’t be both- tract is up in December, so we’ll see PA’s double life as a classically ered today,’ laughs Ruth over a fruit what happens,’ she smiles. Ruth McGarahan on the tea in TV Centre. To see Ruth rock Glastonbury go to trained rock’n’roll bass player BBC Introducing stage Luckily the rehearsal studio is in tinyurl.com/kingcharles09 6 Features a 30·06·09

He’s one of the BBC’s best known voices and faces, who’s about to launch an album Don’t be and still finds time to host the radio festival. Nicky Campbell talks to Cathy Loughran cowed but Can’t imagine not doing radio

do be careful Nicky Campbell is one of those annoying broadcasting is fun, it’s also dangerous. His beauty of a live radio phone-in.’ people who makes most of us, even on our spat with right-wing blogger Guido Fawkes For the former Capital Radio dj, whose Producers should beware busiest days, feel like we’re only in the slow (Paul Staines), in which Campbell unguard- try-out with the station was to do the hando- lane. Or as he puts it: ‘When I was working edly called him a ‘fascist’, required an ver with his idol Kenny Everett, the decision of ‘crossing the line’ on on Watchdog, I was doing 11 days a week; immediate apology and another at the end to pre-record the Jonathan Ross show on now it’s just seven.’ of the show. ‘Sometimes we get it right and Radio 2 was ‘unfortunate’. standards says Alan Yentob He has off-loaded the consumer pro- sometimes we mess up.’ ‘The great thing about his live show was gramme from his string of commitments When he spectacularly mispronounced that it was near the knuckle, on the line, by Sally Hillier after eight years on the show. Anne Robin- ‘the West Kent Hunt’ he says: ‘I felt my life spontaneous [see Bob Shennan, below].’ son returns in the autumn as solo host. drain away. But there wasn’t one complaint.’ Does he sense a climate of caution, post When it comes to taste and decency, you But Campbell is still live on air six morn- The response he gets to his hour-long Brand-Ross? ‘There’s just a bit more form- can get away with quite a lot in the right con- ings a week, co-presenting Radio 5 Live break- phone-in, part of 5 Live’s revamped morn- filling. I suppose we’re suffering for the sins text. Take Fiona’s Story. The single drama was fast with Shelagh Fogarty, Monday to Friday, ing line-up, is about quality as much as of our colleagues and from the paranoia shown in peaktime on BBC One and included and fronting BBC One’s Sunday morning that’s around.’ the c-word. There were no complaints – prob- debate The Big Questions from a different It’s clear that the BBC intends to shave ably because the story was about paedophilia location each time. The Sunday programme We’re moving the top end off presenter pay, but should and viewers knew what to expect. has been recommissioned until June 2010. star salaries be revealed? Campbell is Because they usually deal with clearly de- Between times, he has undisclosed tv ideas in fairly relaxed: ‘I can understand the fined subjects, drama and documentary are development and an album to launch. Moon- to Salford, argument in favour but there are com- less likely to offend than other kinds of out- light’s Back in Style is a jazz/swing collabora- mercial sensitivities. I’m not very ex- put, observes creative director Alan Yentob. tion with Mark Moraghan, his partner on it’s not ercised by the whole thing.’ ‘The difficulties come in entertainment BBC One’s singing show Just the Two of Us. Running is his antidote to pressure areas such as talk shows, reality shows and Campbell co-produced and wrote 12 of Helmand and the six mile jogs home after his morn- panel games.’ the 14 new songs, including a love song he ing show are when the former jingle- Now, though, producers have been composed in 1995 when he met his journal- writer composed much of his album. told to exercise greater control. ‘If you’re ist wife Tina Ritchie. The couple have four province Campbell first caught the doing a certain kind of programme you daughters, all under 11. radio bug as a teenage rogue need to sit down with the commissioner Radio is the other love of his life: ‘I can’t volume, he says. Devoted caller to his local station, and work out what the boundaries are. imagine not doing it,’ he says. The former to the day’s big story, it Radio Forth in Edinburgh, ‘Language should be scrutinised, to ensure Radio 1 jock has partnered Fogarty on 5 Live often taps into the per- impersonating vets, vandals it is not gratuitously offensive. The combi- since 2004. The duo recently collected the sonal and produces and eccentric old ladies. nation of aggressive language and aggres- Sony breakfast show award – Campbell’s some of the highest AI Campbell’s own children sive behaviour is particularly dangerous, fifth. ‘There’s great connection between us, scores on the network. will stay at home in London and if lines are crossed we will get tough.’ as well as trust, and we make each other ‘When we have when he becomes a Monday Yentob is co-author, with archive content laugh. I feel incredibly lucky.’ touched on areas –Friday commuter to Salford. director Roly Keating, of the BBC’s taste and Fogarty does a good impression of reining like autism, domestic With Peter Allen, he is one of standards report that was commissioned in Campbell’s excesses – usually of enthusi- violence or child abuse we the most high profile presenters last autumn after the Ross/Brand affair. asm – and gives as good as she gets. Her on-air have had very high quality to commit to the move in 2011 story about overhearing two elderly women callers. It would take weeks and is looking forward to it. Among its findings are that audiences discussing the presenter of The Big Questions – to get the same contribu- ‘It’s Salford, it’s not Helmand value creativity and the BBC’s right ‘that Scots chap, quite good looking but a bit tions together for a tv doc- province, and it’s a great chance potentially to offend, but that they have scrawny for my liking’ – was delivered with- umentary, but that’s the to refresh the station.’ higher expectations of the corporation than out warning, amid giggles. Campbell is the main pre- of other broadcasters. Strong language on Campbell calls what they pull off on a Music man: visit his Making senter of this week’s Radio Acad- tv was a concern for many (33 percent of good morning ‘quality banter’. But if live Moonlight video on YouTube emy festival in Nottingham. respondents mentioned it unprompted). Last week’s publication of the long- awaited report, which was informed by the most comprehensive research of its kind, including a survey of al- most 3000 people, was accompanied by a series of BBC recommendations. One of these is that the report’s We look like a great monster findings should be used to inform the ongoing revision of the editori- by Sally Hillier Asked whether he envisaged the unavailable at the weekend for projects as well as looking else- al guidelines, which is expected to be Could Russell presenter ever returning to the example] ‘although nobody real- where when Lesley Douglas completed by the end of the year. Brand make a come- network, Shennan, four months ised it’. resigned and the Radio 2/6 Music New guidance is to be drawn up on mali- back on Radio 2? into his new job as controller of Shennan was speaking in controllership became vacant. cious intrusion, intimidation and humili- Bob Shennan Radio 2 and 6 Music, said, intrigu- the Broadcasting House Council What would have happened, a ation, and greater care is to be taken over doesn’t rule it out. ingly: ‘Never say never.’ Chamber at a Never Stop Learn- questioner from the floor wanted to programmes transferring from one chan- He also declared himself ‘very ing event organised by training know, had he not left Radio 5 Live nel to another, especially to BBC One. happy’ with Jonathan Ross’s and development. 18 months ago. Would he have In fact this is already happening. The radio show, and said it had not lost Questioned about what he signed up for Salford? last run of The Apprentice on BBC One, anything by being pre-recorded. If had learned when he quit as con- ‘Everyone thinks I [left the cor- for example, contained far less swear- anything it had gained because it troller of Radio 5 Live to become poration] because I didn’t want to ing than in previous series on BBC Two. was now easier to attract guests. director of radio at Channel 4, go to Salford, but that’s not true,’ The message from Yentob is that the ‘It wouldn’t have got Katy Perry he said the experience had given he replied. BBC has always taken taste and standards or Jerry Springer if they’d had to him a clearer idea of how the BBC The reality was, if he had car- seriously, and that its new recommenda- come in on a Saturday.’ was seen by its rivals. ried on, by the time of the move in tions should be seen as ‘a reaffirmation In any case, he con- ‘From the outside we look like 2011, he would have been control- and a reminder’ of its responsibilities. tinued, even before a great big monster with huge ler of Radio 5 Live for 12 years – an ‘The important thing is to ask if the new compliance power and weight.’ unlikely scenario, he thought. you’re not sure. David Jordan and Claire rules were introduced, When Channel 4’s radio There was one final insight. Powell of editorial policy are exceptionally the programme was some- plans were scrapped, he had not Never mind Ross, Terry Wogan helpful and are there to advise. times pre-recorded [if Ross was wanted to be seen to be ‘immedi- or Chris Evans. One of Shennan’s Programme makers shouldn’t feel cowed, ately scuttling back to the BBC’, favourite Radio 2 stars is David because we still want to reflect the world It’s not true that I left because of he explained. He had been talk- Jacobs. ‘He plays the most fantas- as it is, and to continue to be bold.’ Salford: Bob Shennan tells all ing to Channel 4 about other tic mood music. Have a listen.’ a 30·06·09 Features 7 With the kids of the 60s now in their sixties, BBC Four is looking at the new ways of growing old, Claire Barrett reports

Grandfathers used to come in two types; the genial model who, twin- kly eyed, would press a coin into your palm for some sherbert lemons before settling down with the football pools and a fig roll. His sterner counterpart would interrogate you about your school grades, pick you up on poor posture and demand your respect rather than your affection. Neither kind were ‘pretty cool’, which is how one of Ian Batten’s ­seven grandchildren describes him. He’s a 66 year-old fashion designer and the sub- ject of one of three films in the Grand- parent Diaries series at the heart of BBC Four’s Grey Expectations season. He’s also one of the new generation of grandparents who were in their prime in the 60s. Just as they revolutionised fashion, music and ­relationships, these flower children are now rein- venting the art of grandparenting with a flourish of free spirit. GLad to be grey The laid back Batten may not be typ- Leaving Nan behind: actress Liz Smith leaves The Royale Family sofa for a cafe seat in St Mark’s Square, Venice, one of the stop s on her summer cruise ical of the new breed but, like many of his contemporaries, he continues to In broader terms, the series and the Grey Expectations, though, is less deal of research and were supported by work full-time, with ‘retirement nei- wider season will put some ­mature Old people about making statements than mak- terrific advisors to ensure it’s as authen- ther a desire nor an option’. ­faces – long lamented for their ­absence ing people smile. In one ‘charming’ tic as possible,’ says exec Simon Lupton,’ Increasingly, grandparents are pro- – on our screens. ‘That’s incredibly documentary, octogenarian actress Liz With supporting characters who may viding childcare support to enable their important,’ Willis believes. ‘Old peo- can become Smith ­changes the habits of a lifetime be spitting distance from death, Lupton children to return to work. Others are ple do become invisible on telly – by ­going on a cruise. ‘She’s not really a believes the trick is to present the show picking up the pieces of their children’s even before they reach their sixties – invisible on joiner inner,’ says Willis. in a way that gives it broad appeal. failed relationships: In an extreme but they bring with them all kinds of Getting On – a wry, single camera Klein, too, is hoping to attract as example, the subject of one of the films insights. You understand being 18 bet- telly Emma Willis comedy set in a geriatric ward – doesn’t many as possible to the season. ‘BBC became guardian of her grandchildren ter at 50 than you do at 18.’ play it for laughs; they just come naturally. Four will look at getting old in its after their mother was murdered . Richard Klein, BBC Four controller, age, but this is more a celebration of The script, penned by cast members usual intelligent way, acknowledging The low key, closely observed Grand- regards the season as a natural follow what that phase of life is like now. Joanna Scanlon, Vicky Pepperdine that it can be messy, complicated and parent Diaries shine a light on what on to the channel’s focus last year on ­Advances in health are keeping us and Jo Brand, is rooted in real life and busy, but doing so with a twinkle in exec producer Emma Willis calls ‘a childhood. ‘It’s the other end of the ­active and healthier for longer – but draws on Brand’s experiences as a its eye.’ key relationship which can be more spectrum,’ he tells Ariel. ‘Every gen- divorce and economic factors are also psychiatric nurse. ­‘Director Peter Grey Expectations season important than siblings’. eration thinks they’ve discovered old making things more complicated.’ Capaldi and the writers did a great BBC Four, starts July 8 No regrets as Tara takes a short cut

by Carla Parks The subject deeply affected Button, needed re­assurance that I didn’t look who had been close to the project. like a boy.’ The last time Button had It wasn’T the length of Rapun- After reading more about cancer in short hair was when she was nine zel’s flowing locks, but some women children, she came across the Little and changed her name to Thomas would pay a lot of money to have Tara Princess Trust, a charity that provides for a month. The biggest shock, she Button’s hair. The sub editor from Girl real hair wigs for children suffering adds, was running her hand across Talk had spent nearly her whole life hair loss because of chemotherapy. the back of the neck. Despite this, with the kind of hair you could swish, Although it mainly helps little girls, she has no regrets, even though child but she’s swapped this for a short boys benefit from wigs too. protection laws will prevent her from crop. The reason? She wanted to give Button admits that she was already knowing which child she helped. something to a charity that helps thinking of getting her hair cut, but The sub editor hopes more people children who have cancer. the result – losing nearly 12 inches will be moved to do the same – real About a year ago, one of her clos- – still took some getting used to. ‘It hair wigs are extraordinarily expen- est friends wrote a successful book was a bit of a shock,’ she says, ‘and I sive and there’s a shortage, particu- called Ways to Live Forever, told from larly for certain types of hair. the fictional point of view of Sam, an The final swish: Tara hopes her For more info, go to 11-year-old boy dying of leukaemia. ­gesture will inspire others littleprincess.org.uk

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LL blogbites London’s Westfield shopping centre to a string Pictured here are violinists Anna Smith and Kate Read and cellist Michael Atkinson. Monday Speak - er, erm? week@work The Speaker is dead, long live er, erm, someone who’ll do it better. Westminster has waited and watched in the hope that someone would emerge as a strong consensus candidate to fill his seat. No one Belinda Artingstoll special feats producer at Radio has. In part, this is because the Speaker is being asked to fill a bewildering array of Cumbria, has a week of health, wealth and happiness roles – parliamentary figurehead, presiding officer, protector of parliament’s rights, We’ve been running county shows ­advice and free healthchecks. They ­local paper and had plugged like mad reformer, backbench shop steward, public for many years, but this summer we were joined by local alternative thera- online and on air, we were nervous spokesman, chief executive and saint. wanted to find a way of reaching pists who provided head massages in case no one came. But when we Nick Robinson, political editor into urban Cumbria – places like and reflexology. opened the doors at the first event in bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/ Carlisle, Whitehaven and Barrow. Our The Citizens Advice Bureau, Credit Carlisle, they flooded in – and stayed initial idea of a health roadshow (a Union and BBC Raw Money set up stalls for hours, watching the demonstra- Tuesday touch too worthy?) evolved into the advising on ‘wealth’ and to ensure tions and chatting to our presenters. Breakfast at Wimbledon Health, Wealth and Happiness Tour – ‘happiness’ we had everything from The NHS tables were mobbed. There is always a lot of exaggerated hope for three days of activities, advice and cookery demonstrations and garden- At the first roadshow they referred British tennis players during the Wimbledon information. ers’ question time to dancing and more than 40 people to their GPs as a fortnight but somehow this year seems a With health in mind, we invited the make-up advice. ­result of checks they’d had that day. In bit different....or is that me just falling for NHS along to give people lifestyle Although we’d had articles in the Whitehaven the NHS actually sent two the same old hype again. I’m trying not to people to the emergency out of hours get too carried away but having a World doctors’ service. Ranked number 3 player in Andy Murray - The visitors’ feedback forms were someone who has just won the Queen’s title overwhelmingly positive and a lot of – somehow makes this year’s excitement people asked when we would run it seem a touch more justified. again. One of the great things was that Olie D'Albertanson, assistant producer we had all our new BBC branded gear, bbc.co.uk/blogs/fivelivebreakfast/ which looks fab. Last year we had one working pull-up banner, but now we Wednesday have a press wall, flags, table skirts The plan is still to launch Freeview HD on and banners galore. December 2 at the Winter Hill transmitter There were some funny moments serving Manchester and Liverpool... As with of course…in Whitehaven EIGHT mem- any major technical project, there is always bers of St John’s Ambulance turned a risk of slippage due to circumstances up to provide first aid cover. We’d only beyond anyone’s control. However, there is asked for two but they said they all industry-wide commitment to rolling out wanted to come because it was a BBC Freeview HD as soon as possible, and good Cumbria event. I told them they would progress is being made on all fronts. frighten the punters away and that Graham Plumb, head of distribution some of them would have to leave. what Technology, BBC Operations Group Radio Cumbria’s Health, wealth and happiness roadshow at Whitehaven Which they did eventually... to wear bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/ Thursday u Elaine Watson, local radio Do big brains stem from cooler climates? administrator, BBC Tees, and Big brains need cool climates to evolve, SHAMELESS COMING UP assistant to HRLP North East & according to journal Climatic Change. If CHANGING PLACES Cumbria you’ve been wondering who to thank for PLUG Radio Shropshire’s weekend presenter u 6 Music presenters Adam and Joe children how to grow, cook and eat ONE MILE RADIUS your extraordinarily large brain thank the Matthew Carr (pictured) leaves the BBC will feature in a new comedy series for food. Made by Initial it will be exec Where did you buy the outfit you’re Earth’s last 50 million years of chilly weather, u Stephen after 23 years... Brand strategy exec Jenny BBC Two. Based on the pilot, The Scum produced by Sarah Colclough and is u Jo Garvin, bj, Radio Shropshire wearing in the photo? says David Schwartzman, chief author of the Games, Redman moves to training and development... Also Rises, the 6x30 minute series expected to tx in the autumn. If you’ve got a free lunch hour, it costs The shoes are from Clarks, the report. Without it, our savannah-savvy, tool- former Laura Zetterberg, currently in the will be made by Bwark. It was commis- nothing to visit the tiny church to the blouse is from Marks & Spencer wielding ancestors Homo habilis and Homo Radio 3 corporate press office, joins the news publicity team... Radio sioned by Lucy Lumsden, controller of u Children’s book The Gruffalo is east of Radio Shropshire – St Mary Autograph collection and the erectus might not have emerged. Why? presenter Gloucester bj Rupert Upshon becomes an sbj at BBC Hereford comedy commissioning, and will be to be turned into a 30 minute Magdalene or Battlefield Church as it’s pinafore was a bargain sale purchase Because big brains generate a lot of heat, and Worcester... Colin Roobottom becomes West Midlands exec produced by Simon Wilson. It is animation for BBC One. The pro- known. Here you can stand and relive the from Wallis for £12. It fits beautifully, and we get rid of heat much more easily My anthology news editor... He replaces Nina Jones who starts a three month expected to tx later this year. gramme, which will be made by Battle of Shrewsbury, described as the making me appear thinner than I am. when the climate’s cool. Burning fossil fuels of John attachment at the radio reporter pool at TVC. Magic Light Pictures, will form part bloodiest battle in English history, which Where have you taken inspiration and warming the planet will make it harder Betjeman’s u Controller of CBeebies, of the channel’s Christmas schedule was fought between the Percy family of from? for our struggling brains to cool down. scripts brings Michael Carrington, has commis- and was commissioned by control- Northumberland and the Lancastrian King, Princess Diana – she had such style Shanta Barley, online researcher together 60 sioned a children’s cookery show ler of drama commissioning Ben Henry IV in 1403. In a mass grave under and presence. bbc.co.uk/blogs/climatechange/ of his films for SPEECH PATTERNS for the channel. The 26x15 minute Stephenson. It will be exec produced your feet lie the bodies of the hundreds of Are you experimental in your style? the first time series called I Can Cook will teach by Poly Hill. soldiers who died there. It’s an amazing and No. I’m quite old-fashioned and Friday and looks at how he transferred his u With Digital Britain spooky place steeped in its violent past conservative in the way I dress – I Michael Jackson Tributes poetry skills to tv. promising endless rivers of and is perfect for spending a quiet half hour don’t dare experiment because I If you’d have asked me yesterday I wouldn’t The poet laureate spent years try- broadband streaming from the imagining the scene all those years ago. know I’ll get it wrong. have thought that the intersection of ing to get a job at the BBC, but it was information taps of every UK Whose wardrobe would you most Michael Jackson fans and Glastonbury only after he made a series of shorts citizen, it’s conceivable there like to rummage through? attendees on the great musical Venn for ITV in 1955, that he was spotted by will come a time when almost SPEAK EASY Mary Portas – she has style and isn’t diagram would be particularly large, but our director Ken Russell and started work all the population has an online afraid to dress a little outrageously BBC News colleagues have reported ’shock on the BBC’s television arts series presence, one that will live on Topical updates from the ZHAAD (-zh as ‘s’ in measure, -aa as in from time to time. I’m sure she’d have and disbelief’ among the drenched hordes Monitor. when their physical form has u CENTRAL London pronunciation unit father, stressed syllables in upper case). A something in that wardrobe for me. here. Emily Eavis announced on the official Betjeman had an instinctive ceased to function. perhaps resurrect your identity boroughs are offering free Two frequently mentioned names in the common mispronunciation of Mousavi is What’s the worst outfit you were Glastonbury Twitter account that ’There will understanding of what television It’s ‘Foreverism’ in action, with some toad genes a la Jurassic cycling lessons to people news this week include Iranian president to put the stress on the second syllable. made to wear as a child? be tributes all over the site all weekend’. Any could do – and a poet’s sense of says Trendwatching.com. Blogs, Park?). wanting to improve their Mahmoud Amadinejad and presidential Instead it should be on the first: meer- I once had to borrow a school guesses at what those tributes might be? I rhythm and flow in the writing of his profiles, videos, everyone you But your life is still proceeding, confidence on the road. candidate Mirhossein Mousavi Khamaneh. huuss-AYN muuss-av-EE khaa-muh-ne-E friend’s leotard for a gymnastics reckon the E-Street Band could pull a pretty own scripts. He regarded the BBC have ever even vaguely known, and its digital work is never done Anyone living, working or World Service producer Ahmadinejad is commonly mispronounced (-uu as in book, -ay as in say, -ee as in show because I’d forgotten mine. It tasty Billie Jean out of the bag and I imagine films he went on to make as as ‘satis- they’re all there and they can all – there is always one more ‘friend’ studying in Kensington and Philippa Robb who works in to sound like ‘I’m a dinner jacket’. Based meet, -kh as in Scottish loch, -e as in bet, was horrible and made from some that Jarvis Cocker, ever the showman, will fying and stimulating as any work in be traced, forever trapped like to add, one more hilariously­ Chelsea, Camden or Westminster is partnership with the councils. on advice from native Persian speakers, stressed syllables in upper case). sort of scratchy material. I didn’t stop pay his respects in his own particular way. prose or verse I have ever done’. flies in the oozing amber of the ­observed comment to tweet to the eligible for the lessons. For more information email philippa. BBC Persian and BBC Monitoring we If you have a pronunciation query contact scratching all the way through and I Nigel Smith, senior content producer, A&M Betjeman’s England by Stephen internet for future investigators world. Tiring isn’t it? Welcome to The classes are run by former [email protected] recommend Mahmoud Amadinejad is [email protected] / 02 82277 / pron. was covered in red blotches for days bbc.co.uk/bbcmusic/ Games, John Murray, £18.99. to observe and puzzle over (and foreverism fatigue. pronounced mah-MOOD ah-mad-in-uh- gateway.bbc.co.uk afterwards.

IF YOU HAVE A suggestion FOR who or what should be in WEEK@WORK PLEASE Email laura scarrott 10 Opinion/Analysis a 30·06·09 aview We should treat religion with the same fervour as football

ANDREW As Aaqil Ahmed prepares to join the BBC as HARVEY head of religion and ethics, Andrew Graystone Top slicing that senses an opportunity for some new thinking

would be bold Sometimes a whole broadcast- ing genre goes through a kind of If there’s one issue where you will not find renewal. It happened to science agreement from top to bottom it is the asser- in the 1990s. Not just new for- tion that the BBC needs to pay super wages to mats, but a whole new approach Peter Owen attract executives of sufficient talent to run seemed to emerge that allowed Jones in the organisation. Publication last week of the science to leap from the mar- Ethiopia for salary bands of the 50 highest paid people gins to the mainstream where it Around the was greeted with surprise and even anger­ ­belongs. I’m hoping and praying World in 80 in some areas – and this from a staff that that the same thing will happen Faiths ... but did has long been used to reading about bosses to religion on tv. he catch the fire whose pay outstrips their own. If that is going to be born Mark Thompson is unmoved. In an inter- again, programme-makers will view with Ariel, he gave the classic defence, need to take note of some of the namely that the BBC had to operate in a mar- significant changes that have ket for talent whether this was to sign its stars happened over the past two or its support service executives. You won’t decades. In greater London for get rich at the BBC, he implied although that ­instance, more than half of Sun- may depend on who’s doing the counting. day morning church-goers are In the present climate where commercial black or Asian. You would ­hardly media businesses are in trouble, the BBC can guess that from the portrayal of appear more than usually insulated. The pen- Christianity on television. Pat- sion pots of the long serving seniors add to terns of believing have changed. a picture of a privileged organisation – and don’t want it on their channels. of the population said that they When religion hits the news it to judge from the audience at Any Questions Fewer going to church Or if they do feel a residual duty had no religious affiliation. often seems as if journalists don’t on Friday the public is far more exercised by When I was a child I went to to commission, they place it in But I would reject any sugges- quite know how to handle it. So what the BBC pays its top people than the church on Sunday mornings the margins of the schedules. tion that the BBC ‘owes’ cover- they turn to the same models expenses they claim. with my family. So did 6m other ­Religion on tv ought to be as dan- age to various faith communities they use to report politics. Differ- While you can’t allow every public show people in Great Britain. In 2009 gerous as the stuff it depicts. in proportion to their numeri- ing faiths or religious groups are of hands or media furore to dictate internal the number has fallen well below Too often, when believers cal strength. People of faith are portrayed like political parties – policies, there is a case for greater restraint 4m. For a lot of people in my par- of all shades watch televised not ‘them’ but ‘us’. The central competitive, confrontational and from the top tier than simply sharing the ents’ generation, going to church religion we don’t recognise our- questions of belief – why are we vying for public support. Ideas are pay freeze that will be felt all the way down was simply what you did – part here; where are we heading; are represented by personalities – the to £60k. It would be a brave move by those of the routine along with Sunday we alone; don’t belong to con- owlish archbishop versus the stri- above £150k to accept a level of salary top roast and The Archers. ventionally religious people, but dent professor of atheism. The slicing. But it might be for a greater good. In many ways the decline in I’m not to everyone. implication is that religion – like if the public takes hold of the ‘bloated BBC’ church attendance represents an It just won’t do to treat reli- politics – is ultimately a battle for line they’ll be less likely to defend the licence increase in honesty. Nowadays looking for gion as a historical artefact or an influence, with success measured fee from similar treatment. almost no one goes to church anthropological specimen. It’s a not in votes on a ballot, but bums because they feel they ought to. living reality for millions of peo- on pews. That’s why BBC One’s The There’s been a sharp decline in programmes ple. So although I enjoyed Around Big Questions – surely the bastard Phew! it’s 34º religiosity – and I welcome it. the World in 80 Faiths and I’m look- child of Question Time and a 1970s To acknowledge publicly that for card- ing forward to BBC Four’s History late night ITV show, falls flat. With a throwaway comment during the you are a Christian is counter-­ of Christianity, what I really want Thank God it’s shown on Sunday round-up of the newspapers on Today, Evan cultural. Most of the religious carrying to see is programming that cap- mornings when most Christians Davis put his finger to an old tabloid foible. life of the UK takes place out- tures the fire of contemporary are otherwise engaged! The Daily Mirror was reporting that tempera- side of the walls of any church. lived religion with all the ­energy Aaqil Ahmed, who takes up his tures inside Wimbledon’s centre court had And large swathes of the Chris- believers of a football commentary. job as head of religion and ethics reached 93 degrees. ‘Why do they always say tian community are far more Religion is made up of all the in early July, has an opportuni- Fahrenheit?’ mused Davis. ‘It’s stupid, we use passionate, engaged and subver- stuff we love, hate, worship, hope ty to build on the BBC’s existing centigrade now.’ sive than anything Dot Cotton selves. We don’t see the compel- for and believe in. It can’t be put expertise and authority. Creating He’s right. 93F is the same as 34C and we would recognise. At its worst ling, energetic, mysterious sto- in a box. That’s why it crops up understanding of people’s beliefs all know that’s a hot day with no need to hark this expresses itself in mistrust, ries and experiences that draw in drama, music, arts and cur- is a core part of the BBC’s public back to the temperature table of a genera- hatred and exclusion. But at its us in to faith. Instead we often rent affairs as well as special- service function. There’s a par- tion ago. You wouldn’t expect to hear some- best – and it mostly is good – it see ourselves portrayed as freaks, ist ­factual programming of the ticular opportunity to grow in one complain they had just been charged 18 turns into great acts of self-sac- geeks or ­antiques. Many of us feel sort that the BBC’s Manchester understanding of British ­Islam shillings and sixpence for a cup of tea. rifice, passionate campaigning cheated. Some give up and opt for ­department can do so well. and smaller faiths. The ­European We’re with Davis on centigrade (or celsius and creativity. It is ­never, never the narrow religious channels. elections demonstrated just how to be strictly accurate) and while he’s at it, he dull. Let me be clear. I’m not look- Journalists don’t understand vital that is. The revitalisation of might like to clean up weather reporting on But somewhere along the line ing for programming that will The complaint I hear most from religion on tv is imperative, his own programme where we continue to a doctrine seemed to emerge only be of interest to card-carry- people of faith is not that the get random conversions into Fahrenheit. that nothing should be broad- ing believers. Sometimes people media is biased against reli- Andrew Graystone ­Radio 4 is a forward looking station com- cast in the name of religion if it of faith are treated like a special gion – though some people feel is director of plete with blog and podcasts. Whatever is it might offend anyone. Tony Blair, interest group – like vegetarians that way. More often I hear com- the church and doing clinging to the past? Television weather speaking to this month’s Church or train-spotters. (Every now and plaints that journalists simply media network, is always in celsius and if forecasters on and Media Conference, described then it’s our duty to make a pro- don’t understand what they are secretary to the radio did the same the remaining listeners this as the negative narrative of gramme for them...or should that reporting. It’s frustrating to hear standing confer- who haven’t yet made the adjustment would ‘thin religiosity’. be a programme about them?) Of fundamental mistakes in a report ence on religion soon get the message. I suspect commissioners find course the BBC has a mandate to on a subject you care about: roles and belief and Andrew Harvey is editor of Ariel this ‘lowest common denomina- reflect the life of the nation. And misunderstood, names mispro- a producer/pre- tor’ approach so bland that they in the last census only 16 percent nounced and so on. senter on Radio 4

> IF YOU HAVE A VIEW ABOUT THE TOPICS ON THIS PAGE, PLEASE EMAIL ariel mailbox a 30.06.09 11

This is the page that everybody reads. Please email [email protected] You can also contribute to the mail page directly from the Ariel Online home page mail n The dg has said all the claims for Bruce Forsyth out of his own pocket? car parking and the London conges- Short arms or what? tion charge related to his official car David Tutt and the parking fees were paid by his FM&T driver while the dg was on BBC busi- ness. My question is why does Mark NO EXPENSE SPARED n I’m confused now. I went to South Thompson need an official car for May I say how pleased I that I treated the staff of BBC Hereford & Africa for the BBC earlier in the year, what I imagine are meetings mainly was that Mark Thompson Worcester to the night after we scooped two and when I was reporting from one held in London? of the townships, someone ran a When I’ve been filming with a dv treated Brucie to a bottle Sony Radio Academy awards this year. razor blade down my back-pack, pre- kit I’ve managed to get on and off of half decent champagne It’s against BBC policy for me to claim for sumably to get inside and steal stuff. the tube – perhaps the dg would con- to mark the latter’s 80th champagne for deserving staff and broad- I didn’t dream of claiming the £17 sider this mode of transport saving birthday. casters. I am also not in the top 50 of earn- the replacement bag cost me. After some public pennies and the envi- all, I have a fabulous job and the trip Nice that he could claim it ers in the BBC. I would estimate I am about ronment... was a privilege so I wasn’t going to Alan Clayton back, too. 21,350th. get greedy. But given Jana’s claim ap, news and current affairs, Manchester I cannot claim the one bot- Keith Gooden for her £1000 bag, was I being naïve? tle of £15.99 champagne sbj, BBC Hereford & Worcester What is the policy on replacing sto- n I’d just like to offer my cake mak- len or damaged bags? ing services to any members of BBC Stephen Evans senior management wishing to Promise I won’t order the cham- ries are too expensive. (I won’t let account, I pay it) and read with inter- World Service spend £400 on celebration cakes. pagne….. the diary issue drop – it was a false est the long list of expenses that our Like many of my network radio Simon Ward economy). Also why doesn’t she have managers have incurred. Read the BBC’s policy on compensa- producer colleagues, I fret about freelance presenter/reporter to follow the same guidelines as the Just because an expense seems tion for personal property lost, stolen how I can make my programmes on rest of us have to do when booking huge – £2000 for flights – doesn’t or damaged while on duty at tinyurl. tiny budgets. I’m rather startled to n I think it is a good idea for senior hotels? mean it’s wrong. £2000 might be com/bbcpolicy – mail ed. see that tv programmes can justify BBC managers to release details of Gillian Darlington perfectly justifiable. Likewise a very £400 on one cake. It must be a really their expenses. Some of the claims ba, Radio 4 documentaries small expense of £5 could be dis- n I think there’s nothing to be big cake. Is it iced in gold leaf? may seem a bit strange but at least honestly claimed. When I make my ashamed of in the expenses revealed At any rate, this represents more Mark Thompson is being honest n Just claim for yesterday’s trip to London, so far. But here’s an idea … as well than the contributor budget I have about it. No one seems to have made looked I’ll keep in mind the image of its ap- as the BBC revealing the earnings for many of my programmes. as big a fuss about them as they did through pearance in a national newspaper of its best paid 100 employees in the If any more tv cakes are needed, I with the MPs. I’m all for it. the BBC sometime soon. I’ll be happy to an- autumn as promised, why not also will make them for you for the bar- But I still would like to know why exec swer questions about it. reveal how much some of the BBC’s gain price of £200. My costs will be a certain presenter on the News expenses Mark Warburton less well paid staff earn? Otherwise no more than £20 and I will put the Channel is getting paid £92,000 for a – and couldn’t help notice that Mark Manchester some people might think we’re all remaining £180 into my programme two hour shift. And they should stop Byford took Alan Johnston out for raking in as much as MPs. budget. If you want a fruit cake, that paying Jonathan Ross all that money; lunch – following his release and n The greed shown in some of the Chris Arundel will be £220. Scones come in slightly giving everyone else £1000 rather safe return to home shores after an expenses claims, published last bj, Radio Humberside cheaper. than £450 would be better. appalling ordeal. week, is unbelievable. Despite earn- Sarah Taylor senior producer (and Inderjeet Sanghera Bill = £37.90 ... ‘Welcome home, ing such ridiculous sums, certain n Since the Guardian, in particular, moonlighting cakemaker), radio docs) ba, Look North, Hull Alan ... Good to have you back ... people can’t even pay their conges- seems keen managers should avoid Pizza Hut?’ tion charge. all expenses in the course of their n It’s great to see the BBC being so n I can’t ****ing believe it (don’t Ben Thomson And how is it that someone can jobs, I have come up with a way of upfront about the expenses claims of worry I have referred up all my assistant editor, Radio Lancashire claim for a bottle of water and a cutting back further. top bosses. Interesting to read about ****ing and bleeps to my controller snack? Surely they are paid a wage to Why doesn’t the BBC skip the the amount that’s spent on external and my editor has checked my com- n On the train to London yesterday keep themselves healthy and to feed Media Guardian TV Festival in Edin- business lunches. I was pretty hungry pliance form for ‘Letters, the writing (standard class off peak return with themselves. Apparently when you burgh this summer? when I read the details. of to Ariel’. zone 1&2 travelcard £71.70), while join the BBC and end up as one of Saving on hotels and also the £400 If Mark Thompson or any other Please can someone tell me: consuming an orange juice and a the chosen few you can have every- cost of a ticket. I’m sure it’s what the executive would like to invite me How Zarin Patel can claim so much Twirl (bought it myself, none of your thing laid on a plate for you. Guardian would want. out to lunch to talk about ‘current for room and breakfast and then business what it cost), I called up With £640k a year couldn’t our David Gregory projects’ I’d be very happy to accept. have the cheek to say that BBC dia- BBC Online on my mobile (personal boss have bought champagne for science and environment correspondent

OBITUARY sion for rugby, his love preneurial spirit to devise the for the All Blacks, and ultimate rugby aid. He even sourced from the vault the comedy genius of a manufacturer in China – he just matt goodlet Flight of the Conchords needed financial backers! June, 1990 A big guy who was larger than life, (he’d tirelessly recount Matt left the BBC after 18 months Your correspondent asks for early examples of television’s use of tele- Matt Goodlet was an ever present the scenes and couldn’t to return to his New Zealand home- phone helplines. He may be interested to know that BBC Television’s member of the FM&T HR team. believe ‘the BBC passed this up when land and his family near North Island. relationship with the telephone goes back at least as far as 1938. Whether it was his sharp wit, his it had the chance!’). His personality was infectious, On the evening of December 23, the first director of television Ger- cheeky grin, or even the fish based The team came to understand real and not wrapped up in layers. ald Cock, answered viewers’ questions by telephone in the studio in lunches (he ate at the desk in an Matt’s ‘healthy’ diet. He was never What you saw was generally what what was probably the first ever phone-in-cum-helpline. open plan office), Matt sparked his happier than after indulging his body you got and people took to this. It Questions posed during the live 40 minute programme included: audience and created a moment and with alternate Friday lunchtime ses- was no surprise to see so many trib- ‘Has the cathode ray receiver any harmful effect on the eye?’; ‘Would often a barrel of laughs. sions at the all you can eat Chinese utes on Facebook following the fatal it help to have a special licence for television?’; ‘When are television He worked closely with Tony or Indian restaurant down ‘SheBu’ or car crash and to learn that more than Ageh, Julie Light, Erik Huggers, Tiffin Bites at White City canteen. 1000 people went to his funeral. sets going to be as common in the English home as sound receivers Andrew Scotland and many of the An avid sportsman, Matt encoun- Many will miss Matt. His family, are at present?’ former new media central team tered the odd injury from an extra- his partner, friends, rugby buddies According to contemporary press reports, only a few calls were ex- where he brought a fun, light hearted curricular rugby game or ‘session’ and drinking pals. And his old team pected at the Alexandra Palace studios, but there was an avalanche and effective approach to HR. Matt and, from time to time, milked the from Broadcast Centre – Deb, Viv, with which the local ‘Tudor’ exchange could not cope. had a generous and energising sympathy of colleagues for a shoul- David and Chris – who have been Viewers knew they were on to a good thing, even then. approach to work challenges, always der injury which ruled him out for left saying ‘you egg!’, shocked and Nicholas Moss, chief assistant, directorate co-ordination, network tv having time for those who needed it. the season. But instead of sitting on saddened by the loss of their friend He joined the team in 2006 and his hands, he would be out there and colleague. quickly educated everyone of his pas- coaching others or using his entre- Christopher Bowen

Ariel Advert 2009-06-29:30th MARCH 2004 Page 12[1].qx 29/06/2009 14:27 Page 1

a 30.06.09 14 Jobs See Attachment JOBS Haunted ————————————————— ————————————————— ————————————————— PROGRAMME MAKING Multi-platform SBJ, BBC Research Manager, Audio & Assistant Content World News Programmes Music - Audiences Producer Watchdog Executive Editor, Comedy London London London, Media Centre Belfast - Broadcasting House 8/9D/Ref: 13684009 Henry Wood House 8D/Ref: 13728709 house... C 09-Jul-09 A 12 months C 09-Jul-09 A 08 months 11D/Ref: 12583909 9D/Ref: 12669709 C A ————————————————— ————————————————— 09-Jul-09 12 months E C 09-Jul-09 ————————————————— Senior Broadcast ————————————————— Web Designer Paul Organe had some Producer, River City Journalist, BBC Tees Business London, Bush House Middlesbrough 7D/Ref: 12591709 Dumbarton Accountant/Cyfrifyddwr spooky moments while 8D/Ref: 13675609 E C 12-Jul-09 9D/Ref: 11747509 Busnes ————————————————— E C 30-Jun-09 A 05 months E C 09-Jul-09 ————————————————— ————————————————— Cardiff Search Engine at BBC London 94.9 Content Producer, Ouch! Video Journalist - BBC 8D/Ref: 13661309 Optimisation Specialist Look North E C 05-Jul-09 A 03 months London, Media Centre London As a studio manager for the Africa and Middle Hull ————————————————— 7D/Ref: 10605209 TV Centre East region, my average day is spent behind sound 7D/Ref: 13218909 Production Accountant E C 12-Jul-09 A 12 months 7D/Ref: 13346809 C 06-Jul-09 (South/South East) ————————————————— desks or travelling abroad to set up and mix OBs. C 07-Jul-09 A 09 months ————————————————— Assistant Content Last year I decided to widen my horizons and used ————————————————— Multi Location - South Broadcast Journalist - BBC Producer, Metadata a year’s leave, and a bought week, to do a BJTC Producer, Radio 1 7P/Ref: 13661509 Newcastle E C 05-Jul-09 A 05 months London (British Journalism Training Council) accredited London Newcastle upon Tyne ————————————————— Henry Wood House radio and production course. It paid off, and at Yalding House 5/7D/Ref: 13602009 Audience Insights Senior 6D/Ref: 13692209 the end I was accepted on a Stepping Stones place- 7D/Ref: 13340609 E C A C A 06-Jul-09 03 months Executive - Africa 14-Jul-09 12 months ment to work in the BBC London 94.9 newsroom. C 08-Jul-09 ————————————————— ————————————————— London My first big assignment was to spend a day with ————————————————— Broadcast Journalist, Researcher Watchdog Bush House a pensioner to record a day-in-the-life package for Content Producer, Radio 4 Radio Berkshire London, Media Centre London Reading 7D/Ref: 13655409 5D/Ref: 13730109 the Vanessa Feltz programme. The four part piece C 05-Jul-09 A 12 months Broadcasting House C 09-Jul-09 A 08 months portrayed how someone living alone on a state pen- 5/7D/Ref: 13501009 ————————————————— E C 07-Jul-09 ————————————————— sion in council accommodation felt the effects of 7D/Ref: 13322309 Project Researcher C 13-Jul-09 A Continuing ————————————————— Web Assistant recession. ————————————————— Broadcast Journalists, BBC Multi Location London, Media Centre Assistant Producer, Radio Derby 5D/Ref: 13373809 4D/Ref: 13535109 C 13-Jul-09 A 12 months C A Comedy Derby 13-Jul-09 06 months ————————————————— ————————————————— I set up 5/7D/Ref: 12140109 Belfast - Broadcasting House Regional Team Assistant, Editorial Assistant 7D/Ref: 12729009 E C 09-Jul-09 A 09 months ————————————————— BBC Monitoring Watchdog the OB C 09-Jul-09 A 12 months ————————————————— Political Analyst Reading London, Media Centre Production Co-ordinator London 4D/Ref: 9891009 3D/Ref: 13729909 kit in C 09-Jul-09 A 08 months Aberdeen Millbank E C 13-Jul-09 A 12 months ————————————————— 5H/Ref: 11722509 5D/Ref: 13717209 the cold, C 06-Jul-09 A 06 months Correspondence Assistant TECHNOLOGY C 05-Jul-09 A 12 months ————————————————— ————————————————— (part-time), BBC Trust Researcher, BBC Arabic dark club Researcher, Sport London Business Case Analyst London Cardiff Marylebone High Street London, White City Broadcasting House Paul Organe 5D/Ref: 13316209 4D/Ref: 13291009 9D/Ref: 12511009 C 10-Jul-09 A 07 months 5D/Ref: 10933609 E C 06-Jul-09 A 06 months E C 08-Jul-09 A 06 months E C 08-Jul-09 A 06 months ————————————————— ————————————————— ————————————————— My experience as a studio manager helped me Production Co-ordintator, PA to Head of BBC Senior Software Engineer with the OB equipment, editing and playout sys- BUSINESS SUPPORT Workplace (Perl) Sport ANDZ MANAGEMENT tems and mixing desks, and at times I assisted the Cardiff London London team with editing or technical issues. From early 5D/Ref: 13241609 White City Broadcast Centre Media on I was writing bulletin scripts on ENPS, setting Head of Audience Services C 10-Jul-09 A 12 months 4D/Ref: 13178709 Village up guests, recording short interviews and vox pops, & Operations, MC&A E C A ————————————————— 06-Jul-09 08 months 8D/Ref: 13657909 and going out in the radio car with the reporters. Broadcast London ————————————————— E C 09-Jul-09 Everyone at the station made me feel welcome. Assistant/Cynorthwy ydd White City Commercial Assistant ————————————————— Project Manager My first taste of reporting live came when I Darlledu Radio W SM2/Ref: 13603009 London C 13-Jul-09 London offered an idea to the Big George Webley show. Cardiff White City ————————————————— Henry Wood House Paranormal investigators were being sent in to an 3D/Ref: 11721609 4D/Ref: 10796509 Director of MC&A, BBC 8D/Ref: 13105709 allegedly haunted nightclub in Streatham on Fri- C 05-Jul-09 A 06 months E C 05-Jul-09 A 06 months E C 05-Jul-09 ————————————————— Vision day 13, and the public was invited. London, TV Centre ————————————————— I took the live OB equipment and set myself up Broadcast Assistant, NEW MEDIA Project Manager Symphony Orchestra SM1/Ref: 13497209 in the cold, dark environs of the club, while visitors C London 05-Jul-09 tried out ouija boards and held séances late into London ————————————————— Broadcast Centre Media Editor, Content Structure, the night. I was given a long and dramatic intro- Maida Vale Director of MC&A, Future Metadata & Navigation Village duction by George on the show. I started by describ- 3/4D/Ref: 12526609 Media & Technology 8D/Ref: 13104709 C London ing what was happening and introducing guests 06-Jul-09 London E C 08-Jul-09 A 2 years Media Centre for Big George to interrogate. Broadcast Centre Media 9D/Ref: 13729109 After being trained in the radio car, I was given JOURNALISM Village C 12-Jul-09 A 09 months BBC WORLDWIDE more opportunities to report on my own, including SM1/Ref: 13496809 ————————————————— C 05-Jul-09 a flash mob event in St Pancras and a murder site Senior Broadcast ————————————————— Content Producer Picture Researcher, where I spoke to the victim’s brother. Journalist, Radio Current Head of Development and Watchdog Radio Times Then, my big moment: the Laurence Olivier Affairs Events, BBC North London London Awards 2009, where I found myself on the red car- Manchester London / Salford Quays Media Centre Media Centre pet. I interviewed Patrick Stewart, Jason Donovan 9D/Ref: 10973909 11D/Ref: 13685009 8D/Ref: 13735109 3W/Ref: 13485209 and Sadie Frost, with a special live piece into the E C 12-Jul-09 A 12 months C 13-Jul-09 C 09-Jul-09 A 08 months C 02-Jul-09 A 09 months 6pm news bulletin that evening. ————————————————— ————————————————— ————————————————— ————————————————— The Stepping Stones attachment was a fantastic step into radio journalism and programme produc- tion and I am now looking ahead for ways that I can combine my audio skills with my journalism experience.

Been anywhere nice? Send your FULL DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS attachment stories to Clare Bolt Full details and how to apply are on Gateway at: Vacancies published on this page are open to BBC Staff. https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc02.asp Where indicated (E ), external applicants may also be considered. Please contact (quoting For assistance contact BBC Recruitment’s Response Team on: 0800 082 8080 the appropriate ref.no.): Recruitment BBC HR Direct, PO Box 1133, Belfast BT1 9GP Tel: or 0370 333 1330 0370 333 1330. Textphone: 028 9032 8478

C Date which applications are to be received byE External applicants considered A Attachment/contract

14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 30·06·09 What am I doing here 15

VENERA KOICHIEVA PRODUCER foreign BBC KYRGYZ WORLD SERVICE report

BBC Kyrgyz is the World Service’s small- est language service. What can you tell me BJ ROOPA about the country? SUCHAK Almost 95 percent of Kyrgyzstan is mountain- It took uprooting to London ous, with a population of about 5.3m. Nearly GETS GLITZY IN CHINA AT 53 percent of those are Kyrgyz, but there are for Venera Koichieva to THE BOLLYWOOD OSCARS also Uzbeks, Russians and Ukrainians. It was appreciate the wonders of hailed as an island of democracy in central LOOKING BACK, it was a great experience but at the Asia, but things are changing. There is free- her homeland, Kyrgyzstan time I wondered why I had pitched to go. The Interna- dom of speech, but the government is taking tional Indian Film Academy Awards in Macao, China steps to control people more, especially in the meant little sleep and lots of running around mixed with last few months. the glitz, glamour and glitterati of the world’s largest fi lm industry – Bollywood. The Kyrgyz are nomads… The three day extravaganza, at the Venetian Macao Yes, they settled during Soviet times and are Resort Hotel, included a performance by Cirque du Soleil, known for their hospitality. Some people still a charity celebrity fashion show, film launches, a global use yurts, the traditional houses built of wood business forum and numerous other fringe events, cul- and felt. Since gaining independence from the minating in a seven hour long awards ceremony. Soviet Union in 1991, there has been a revival I was there as the multimedia producer for BBC of nomadic culture, alongside the market news, working with a team from the Asian Network economy. That’s modern Kyrgyzstan. (attending for their Love Bollywood programme) and their entertainment reporter Shabnam Mahmood. Why the tightening of government controls? I was overwhelmed by the Venetian Resort’s size. The country is going to have presidential elec- Deciding to familiarise myself with the hotel, I went for a tions on July 23 and there is tension between the walk…. and kept walking, and walking and walking. opposition leaders and the current president, Our room was our offi ce. On one desk I set up a mini who is also taking part in the elections. There edit station, and on the other Shabnam set up her mini has been an increase in the number of journal- radio edit suite. It was manic, gathering material dur- ists who have been beaten up and detained. ing the day, and editing at night. We were there for the Newspapers have been sued and heavily fi ned arrival of stars, press conferences, fringe events, fi lm or closed down. launches – you name it and we were there. Both of us Recently, a law was adopted that allows the BASSETT MARK PHOTOGRAPH: were up until 4.30-5am editing and fi ling for various security forces to listen to telephone conversa- outlets, making sure that radio, television and online tions, and emails can be checked. The govern- were happy; then, with as little as three hours’ sleep, we ment doesn’t dare oppress openly and were up again ready to go go go. aggressively yet, but there is intimidation. Thousands of fans packed into the Venetian to catch CV VENERA KOICHIEVA a glimpse of their idols And also murders… on the green carpets. MA sociology and history Since the current president came to power Education: guys, Kyrgyzstan as a tourist Fans came Why green and not red? there has been a number of political mur- First job: language consultant destination, and people setting It was about the message ders. At least three or four MPs were killed Career highlights: Interpreter for Kyrgyz parliament; up businesses in London. from across of being environmen- in broad daylight. Recently the head of the lecturer, Institute of Pedagogy; World Service producer On the radio it tends to be tally friendly. The aim of presidential administration, who quit his job Award: Ministry of culture medal for best cultural con- more news, politics and cultural the world, IIFA is not only to take the and was known to have plans to help the op- tribution, Kyrgyz Republic stories. Our hard work paid off industry to the world, but position, died in mysterious circumstances. Family: Married with four children and we were shortlisted for the hoping to see to take the message of Reith Awards last year. ‘Global Cool’ to millions of Could what happened in Iran also happen their idols fans. The awards began in in Kyrgyzstan? ning there were four of us doing 15 minutes One of your best-received programmes went 2000 when the fi rst cer- In 2005 the president came to power as the of news and current affairs, fi ve days a week. out last December emony was held at Lon- result of a popular uprising – demonstrations Then we extended our programme to half an Chingiz Aitmatov, a famous Kyrgyz writer don’s Millennium Dome. Since then they’ve been held in turned violent and there was a revolution one hour. When a colleague left, he wasn’t translated into 150 languages, died last year Sun City, Amsterdam and Dubai. day and then voting took place. But having replaced. We went down to two and a half and we organised a special live programme, Almost 8000 people packed into the Cotai Arena won as an opposition leader, he became producers. inviting people from the BBC and from for the main awards show. Guests included Peter Andre, almost an exact copy of the previous presi- embassies to debate his many books and who also performed at the fashion show. Dressed in a dent. So the opposition thinks that he Was that reduction in numbers hard? novels. Students from all over London came traditional Indian style ‘kurta’ and ‘pajama’, he hinted betrayed them. There is no guarantee – there It was suggested that if we couldn’t cope we to read extracts from his books in their own that ‘he’d like to sing or act in a Bollywood fi lm’. could be an uprising or rebellion. I am going to could go back to 15 minutes each day or fi ve- languages – it was amazing and moving. As the stars headed down the fi nal green carpet, Bishkek to cover the elections. minute news bulletins. We didn’t want to go Love Bollywood broadcast a live show, and we gathered The government, however, tends to leave backwards, so we kept our format. Today we What do you miss about your country? material for our packages. The atmosphere was elec- us alone. BBC Kyrgyz is the only Western news are seven days a week. We maintained our au- Apart from my family and friends, I miss the tric – with fans who had fl own in from across the world, provider in the country, and our reporters are dience through all this and it became stronger nature and mountains. Living in Kyrgyzstan some with tickets to the event and some without, eager well loved by the population. Over the years too. We also have two correspondents in I never travelled around the country. Since I to see the who’s who of the Indian fi lm industry. As the the BBC has established itself as reliable, hon- Bishkek and one in the second city, Osh. moved to London, my husband and I have re- ceremony started, I made my way to our room to edit, est and objective; we are respected for this. alised what a beautiful place we’ve left and Shabnam was poised in the winners’ enclosure to Your team innovates behind. We visit places we have never been get the clips she needed for bulletins. When did you join the BBC? We were the fi rst team in the Central Asian and take our four children. Ysyk kul, or the hot After being up for about 32 hours we decided to I joined in 1996 when the Kyrgyz service service to go interactive, the fi rst to launch lake, is one of the highest lakes in the world grab a power nap for an hour before editing and fi ling opened. I was employed by the BBC in Kyr- online, and the only team who, apart from and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s at the top of a the fi nal pieces. At that point we were overcome with gyzstan through a competition. At the time I radio, also do a tv programme, which is mountain and, in the summer, it’s like a Carib- exhaustion and hunger – and relief. was a part-time lecturer at the university on streamed online. These are live debates that bean beach. Everybody in Kyrgyzstan sings. Packing up, the week felt like a blur. Did we really live the history of culture, and I was an interpreter are carried on the public station in Kyrgyzstan. My colleague brought a yurt from Kyrgyzstan on chocolate, crisps and room service pizza? Did we in parliament, providing translation from Rus- We talk about current issues. Once it was to London. She erected it in her back garden really not sleep for all that time? Looking back at the sian to Kyrgyz during parliament sessions. beggars, and this made a big impact because for Nooruz [Persian new year] and invited footage… yes, it did happen – and looking at the scales… they’re unusual in Kyrgyzstan. People are usu- people from the Central Asian service. In such yes, we did live on junk food, but it was an amazing How big is the team you are in now? ally cared for by their families. a gathering we all like to sing and just enjoy experience. I heard a rumour that Italy might be the There are three of us: Arslan Koichiev, Gulnara I’ve done about eight tv shows in London. ourselves. location next year. At least the pizza will be better. Kasmambet and myself. At the very begin- We’ve discussed Kyrgyz girls marrying English Interview by Carla Parks

> CONTACT CARLA PARKS TO SUGGEST A COLLEAGUE FOR THIS FEATURE 16 a 30·06·09 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: OUT OF RHYME Green room is loving Wimbledon, especially ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off without the rain. Suddenly the presenters and pundits are coming across all summery, with a ▲ PRIME huge jug of frustratingly, nearly full Pimms on the outside table where they gather. But there’s ▲ IN THEIR one thing marring the joie de vivre: they all appear to be wearing strangely shaped micro- phones that resemble black flowers. It’s as if ▲ they are all about to trot off to a funeral. Can ▲ anyone explain why? Upside Her feet did not survive the Sticking with the tennis theme, Dom Joly ▲ ordeal unscathed, but BBC Cambridge- appeared on 5 Live last week and revealed how shire afternoon presenter Sue Dougan he was considered a security risk to the genteel managed to complete a 46-mile walk to Wimbledon tournament during his Trigger Happy ▲ raise funds for Help the Heroes, which era. Fearful that Joly would appear in the crowds, provides support for those wounded in shouting into his oversized mobile phone, his ▲ Britain’s current conflicts. It took Sue 17 picture was distributed to Wimbledon staff. How hours and 27 minutes to complete the Poets in waiting: times have changed: a more mature Dom Joly ▲ annual Pathfinder March. ‘I did my first- inspiration has will be a roving Wimbledon reporter for 5 Live ever marathon a few weeks ago and I sadly dried up for this year. We’re secretly hoping he will have a ▲ thought this would be easy by compari- Dominic Laurie and trick up his sleeve. son. It was hell,’ confided Sue. Natasha Shallice Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills is looking for someone to ▲ The award for the greenest fingers in lo- play him in a musical at this year’s Edin- cal radio goes to Tim Crowther and Joe maybe it’s this spell of good Excerpt of A Piece of China burgh Festival. Scott Mills the Musical ▲ Maiden, who present a Radio Leeds gar- weather, but green room is in a poetic by Natasha Shallice, age 8 started out as an on-air joke, but be- dening show. They took home the gong mood. This week we stumbled across It had been in the sea for a very long came a reality after Scott’s drivetime ▼ for the UK’s favourite regional garden- two BBC ‘poets’ whose careers, unlike time listeners took a huge interest in it. ing programme, as voted for by readers Alex McRae’s (page 5), were tragically And the edges had been worn down Without knowing their Cats from ▼ of BBC Gardeners’ World magazine. halted in the flush of youthful promise. Perhaps it was a hundred years old their Chicago, his team is tak- Natasha Shallice and Dominic Laurie, From Victorian Times ing on the challenge of producing Downside Tomasz Schafernaker got both at Working Lunch, won a Haringey Maybe it was part of a china tea set a show. ▼ the giggles on Radio 4 with a classic borough poetry competition in 1981. In a ship in the captain’s cabin ‘This is weather report slip-up. Describing the Natasha, who works as a deputy editor When up blew a storm the biggest ▼ weather for Glastonbury last weekend, on the weekly show, And down went the ship thing the team and I have tried the forecaster said that steamy show- took first prize; And away floated the crockery to do,’ reveals a scared Scott. ‘We’re excited ▼ ers would give way to ‘quite a muddy reporter Do- bit but terrified at the same time.’ shite’. What he meant to say was ‘muddy minic had to Onto the shores of Shoe- site’. Tomasz battled through the rest of make do with bury [sic] bay Bob Hoskins described playing videogame ▼ the minute-long update, nearly losing joint third, Where I have found it – to plumber Mario in flop 90s movie Super Mario it. Good thing he wasn’t on television or a result he this very day. Bros as ‘a f***ing nightmare’, but surely he isn’t ▼ he’d be the unwitting star of YouTube. blames on still scarred by the experience? Discussing his being a year Space Poem by return to the small screen for the third series of ▼ younger. Dominic Laurie, age 7 The Street, Hoskins said: ‘I very rarely watch telly ‘It was I wish I could travel in – it’s like having a plumber round and showing ▼ the high space him your pipes’. As similes go, this one doesn’t point of my It would be quite frightening make much sense. Does the Mario spectre haunt poetic career,’ though him still? Time to let go, Bob. ▼ sighs Natasha, who It must be very black and quiet has not been inspired Probably it feels strange up in space The DCMS missed a trick with their non-digital, ▼ since. ‘I think it was a case of achiev- Because there is no oxygen or air. I Digital Britain report: 3500 copies were printed ing too much too young.’ It can get the admire spacemen because of their at a cost of more than £25,000, with another best of us, Natasha. Think Harper Lee. suits. I’d like to have one. I’d walk £2000 spent on distribution (according to Han- And here are the masterpieces, up the road and pretend I’m on the sard). Of course, if broadband speeds were a bit EARWIGGING straight from the mouths of the babes: moon. better, everyone would have just got the PDF… The universality of this Yammer message OVERHEARD AT THE BBC Win tickets to Troilus & Cressida struck us: ‘Just had a work matter settled by rock, paper & scissors. If only all the world’s …Can you defame a This Shakespeare love poem, Troilus and problems could be settled so easily.’ Worryingly, play takes place seven Criseyde, as a source for it appears to have been sent at 2.43am when dead dog?... years after the Greeks the play. Who was the most problems are solved either by alcohol or began their siege of Troy. writer? Email ariel com- indifference. We’re assuming there is something …I should have done a The burning love affair petitions by July 8. amiss with the timekeeping on Yammer. time lapse video of your between Prince Troilus A JULY special ticket receding hairline during and Grecian captive offer means that the Russell Walker, part of Radio York’s mid- this project... Cressida joins the other best available seats are morning team, has been doing a tour of the hot casualties of war. Cast just £20, not £33, for the spots in north Yorkshire, visiting 25 streets in 25 …Vague isn’t a problem, as long includes Matthew Kelly, whole of the month.* weeks on the BBC’s branded bus. ‘OBs are one who was most recently Go to: tickets.shake- of the local radio five-a-day,’ he says. ‘We’ve all as it’s nailed-down vague… in Who’s Afraid of Virginia speares-globe.org done them – some are big events and others are Woolf? Troilus and Cressida as with promotion code the local townswomen’s guild diseased cat fun- …You’re not to laugh, but you were right. We have five pairs of imagined by the Globe ‘pcd20best’ or call draiser and cake sale.’ We hope he’s joking, but Eight inches really is too small… tickets to give away to 20. To enter, answer this: 020 7401 9919 we have a feeling he’s not employing the use of this play at the Globe Shakespeare drew on a *except Fri & Sat eve- irony. …I don’t know what you’re talking Theatre, July 12 to Sept famous English author’s nings, & Wed 22. about. I don’t have breasts…

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