16·02·10 Week 7 explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel photograph

THE BBC NEWSPAPER swinden : ed

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Story Page 7 fliersVJs Louise Ready and Laura Blair put new light-weight HD cameras through their paces on Helicopter Heroes – Page 4

◆ If you’ve got talent ◆ A helping hand ◆ BBC magazines stay come and work for for Haiti from Creole ahead in the consumer BBC North Page 3 language service Page 4 titles race Page 10

> NEWS 2-4 WEEK AT WORK 7 ANALYSIS 10 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 162 News aa 00·00·08 16·02·10 Older listeners to be NEWS BITES a BBC SHOWCASE, BBC Worldwide’s annual international television market in Brighton, will offer 1400 hours of programming to Room 2316, White City stronger focus for R2 view from February 21-24. Top 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS titles include new dramas Married 020 8008 4228 by Claire Barrett Single Other and Strike Back and buyers from iTunes and Nokia Editor Contrary to commercial ra- will attend for the first time. Candida Watson 02-84222 dio concerns, Radio 2 is distinct from other stations and its cur- SeeSaw, a new online tv aggregation Deputy editor rent audience suitably mature. service, launches on Wednesday, Cathy Loughran 02-27360 These were among the conclu- offering the largest selection of Chief writer sions reached by the BBC Trust content from UK broadcasters, Sally Hillier 02-26877 in its review of the service pub- thanks to partnerships with BBC Features editor lished this week. Worldwide, Channel 4, Five and Clare Bolt 02-27445 The trust learned that the several indies. It has built on Broadcast Journalists huge and loyal Radio 2 listener- technology developed for on-demand Claire Barrett 02-27368 ship felt, overwhelmingly, that service Project Kangaroo, which Adam Bambury 02-27410 the network offered distinctive was blocked by the competition AV Manager content – particularly in music, commission last February. Peter Roach 02-24622 news and current affairs – that it couldn’t get easily elsewhere. The Church of England synod Art editor ‘We found that Radio 2 offers a number of listeners over 65 and them with reach at 1 percent of has urged broadcasters to show Ken Sinyard 02-84229 wider range of content and mu- over 75. ‘We’ve asked manage- adults. There was clearly a job greater commitment to religious Digital Design Executive sical genre than any other sta- ment to investigate this and put to do, said the trust, in raising content. Members backed an David Murray 02-27380 tion,’ the trust said following its it right.’ awareness of the station, being amendment by the Bishop of own analysis of the output. The trust had sympathy with clearer about its mission and Manchester to a motion criticising It did recommend, however, commercial radio’s complaint broadening its appeal, particu- the BBC for the ‘marginalisation’ Guest contributors this week that Radio 2 was bolder in its over the cost of Radio 2. While larly among older listeners. of religious broadcasting. non-music programming – par- high costs were consistent with The 6 Music service licence ticularly in peaktime for which, some of the station’s more am- has now been amended so that In a week-long series from Scotland, NICK MILES, World Service producer, it suggested, non-peak comedy bitious programming, the trust it refers specifically to ‘a service Radio 3’s lunchtime concert will on building a lifeline service for the and arts could be repackaged or acknowledged, it felt there was that celebrates the alternative present four live performances from people of Haiti. Page 4 more imaginative social action potential for savings in talent spirit in popular music’. ‘It’s the Royal Scottish Academy of Music campaigns delivered. and production costs. helpful that the calling card is and Drama between March 2-5. LUCY ADAMS, director of BBC The trust also found that ‘Some points made by com- more tightly focused,’ Liddi- People, joins Blue Peter at the coal Radio 2’s audience largely fell mercial radio stations we have ment believed. Cerys Matthews is to return to face . Page 14 within its remit – 82 percent are taken on board; others we have The review had been an ‘in- BBC 6 Music with her own weekend over 35 – but urged the network chosen not to,’ Liddiment said. sightful and illuminating proc- show. The singer/songwriter will to guard against any fall in the It was important not to ignore ess which has allowed us to launch her programme on April 4 average age of listeners, current- R2’s ‘huge public support’. identify elements that we need (Easter Sunday) at 10am. It follows Ariel mail ly standing at 50. Digital sister station 6 Mu- to improve’, said Bob Shennan, her stint covering for Nemone in [email protected] There had been an increase sic was also examined in the controller of both networks. the weekday 1-4pm slot last year. in listeners under 35, but this review which Liddiment dis- Plans were already in train Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel trend had stabilised, said Dav- tanced from Mark Thompson’s to build bridges between Radio BBC Two will be showing viewers BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 id Liddiment who led the re- forthcoming strategic review: 2 peaktime and evening sched- how they can invest in second Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 view. ‘The trust has asked Radio ‘Our review is against the serv- ules: ‘We also remain commit- hand, vintage and antique BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 2 management to minimise au- ice licence, taking into account ted to our target demographic furnishings in a new series, Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS dience appeal to under 35s,’ he what the audience is telling us.’ of over-35s and will work hard Cracking Antiques. Presented by Advertise in Ariel told Ariel. 6 Music was also deemed to keep our older listeners en- interior designer Kathryn Rayward Ten Alps Media 020 7878 2313 The network has also been distinctive by its listeners – tertained and informed,’ Shen- and antiques expert Mark Hill, www.bbcarielads.com told to protect its declining there just weren’t enough of nan added. it will be on air this Spring. Printing Garnett Dickinson Group Rotherham 01709 768000 Pressure on over expenses and talent costs Subscribe to Ariel Six months: £26, £36, £40 Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 by Cathy Loughran ey…not fuelled by market demands, when the BBC constitutes most of the market’. (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world u There were no silver bracelets or And before the Public Accounts Commit- respectively) cashmere socks, but the latest expenses tee, Mark Thompson was again challenged Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, claims of the BBC 107 top decision-makers – about revealing individual stars’ pay, arguing Brookfields Way, Manvers, including a £600 taxi ride and business class that such disclosure would be ‘deleterious… Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL flights to Korea – garnered a week’s worth of and would put prices up’. Tel 01709 768199 column inches and ‘outraged’ headlines. Overall, senior staff expenses for July to INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY Throw in the disclosure that the BBC spent September 2009 were £188,284 – up £13,000 Telephone 0800 0688 159 £229m on unidentified talent last year, includ- on the previous quarter – over a period taking ing £54m on its highest-paid stars (on £150k or in trips to screenings in LA and events like the Ceefax Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 more), and weekend revelations that 382 BBC Edinburgh tv festival. Business flights to Ko- Ariel is produced by Internal staff earn more than £100,000 – information rea and Japan by Mark Thompson (£5616) and Communications for people at the BBC contained in last July’s Annual Report – and FM&T director Erik Huggers (£7514) inevitably commentators and politicians had a field day. attracted attention – as did Huggers’ £627 sin- The aggregated talent bill represented 6.5 gle taxi fare in the US. percent of the licence fee with the top earners He and Thompson travelled to the Far East claiming 1.55 percent of licence fee income. But expertise and creativity of the BBC’, said Caro- to meet with technology organisations and in- half the bill for artists, presenters, musicians line Thomson, chief operating officer. ternational broadcasters, a BBC spokesperson and contributors, a total of £115m, goes to peo- Culture select committee member Philip explained: ‘In line with BBC expenses policy, PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL ple paid less than £50,000. In the £50k-£100k sal- Davies was one critic renewing calls for the given that the flight was long haul and they ary bracket the bill is £44m and those earning BBC to reveal individual artists’ salaries, so were working immediately when they landed, £100k to £150k cost the BBC £16m. that ‘the public can decide whether our li- they travelled business class.’ Licence payers expected the corporation to cence fee is being well spent or not’. Writing The cab fare, meanwhile, reflected typical hire quality performers, who were at the heart in the Independent on Monday, Philip Hensh- day rates for the hire of a car with driver, the of programmes and ‘added to the credibility, er labelled the BBC’s talent costs ‘fantasy mon- BBC said, maximising working time en route.

> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 16·02·10 News 3 Helen pulls a Licence fee boost to northern economy The search begins for new Reeves and Mortimer staff for BBC North as BBC share a joke with links up with students and Peter Salmon offers training to develop relevant skills

by Candida Watson

A dedicated website to find staff for BBC North has been launched, along with a training scheme to develop production skills. Announcing the initiatives at Teesside Uni- versity last week the director general Mark Thompson said the jobs would be open to can- didates from around the UK, who can register to have their skills and experience matched to opportunities as they arise. The job opportuni- ties will range from admin, through finance to journalism and technology. Comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, and director of BBC North Peter Salmon joined the dg at Teesside University for the launch. The comics talked about their early careers, of- fered tips on how to get into the business and announced the winners of the BBC partner- ship awards. Salmon told Ariel: ‘We have had a lot of interest in BBC North, a lot of demand, so we are letting people register with us.’ He points out that no jobs will be available until 2011, but says: ‘You only have to give us your details once, we’ll reflect on them and re- tain them and when we come to offer specific country. Future producers of Match of the Day, types of jobs we’ll look at what you’ve told us editors on BBC Radio 5 live, or even Blue Peter and get back to you.’ presenters could be in this room.’ Join a ‘talent pod’ online Asked why Project North didn’t just use the Salmon told Ariel the BBC is currently in main BBC jobs site Salmon explained they had touch with a thousand students in northern Project North will act as its own recruitment BBC manager could dip in and search for ‘jour- had feedback that the site was difficult to nav- England, who are studying a variety of sub- consultancy, thanks to the new jobs website de- nalists with green eyes and two years experi- igate, so they decided to pilot a new approach. jects, and the company will need to offer a signed exclusively for Salford. ence’. ‘In many ways this is a test,’ he said. range of ways in to match that range of expe- Potential employees will fill in a single on- It’s also a one stop shop where candidates Mark Thompson also announced a new rience. There will also be older people looking line assessment, which is partly skills-based only have to apply once. ‘It makes it quicker for ‘Step Up’ training scheme to develop produc- to re-train, or adapt skills, and school leavers and partly to check that they are ‘aligned’ with us to hire and slicker for them to apply,’ Wright tion skills, with the best content broadcast on who’d like to go straight to work without for- the BBC values. says. tv, radio and online. He said the BBC would mal further education. Candidates, both internal and external, who Early estimates suggest that of the 4000 peo- help the wider creative industry grow in the Even though it is early days Salmon said the don’t know exactly which area of the BBC they ple the BBC hires each year, one quarter will be north by ‘building a world class pool of media initial response has been ‘wonderful’. would like to work, but are keen to join the op- for Project North. talent’, not just at MediaCity but across the re- He said: ‘It’s a real boost. But it’s also a respon- eration in Salford, will upload their CV and be As Wright says: ‘It’s about making sure that gion. He told his audience: ‘We can only deliv- sibility because you are dealing with people’s placed in any number of ‘talent pods’. Salford Quays is fully staffed from day one.’ er the outstanding quality programmes the hopes and aspirations. We’re trying to have ‘We looked at roles that share the same skill public wants and expects if we draw on the the licence fee really stimulate the northern set,’ said senior resourcing manager Fiona You can register your details and interest at best skills and talent from right across the economy.’ Wright, joking that the site is so specific that a www.bbc.co.uk/jobs/north Northern myths examined With titles like The Road to ture of northern cities. class and money. Wigan Pie Shop and Eddie Unveiled by Mark Thompson Klein promised an ‘eclectic’ Waring and the Story of Rug- during last week’s visit to collection of films that did by League, BBC Four’s new Teesside, it includes a show- not set out to position north northern season might sound case for Leeds, Manchester against south but to examine like it’s steeped in stereotype and Liverpool’s most striking the myths and stereotypes – but prepare to be surprised, historic public buildings, and by delving into region’s his- says controller Richard Klein. the men who commissioned tory: ‘In the best tradition of Tentatively titled The Great them, in The Golden Age of BBC Four, it will be an intel- Northern, the channel’s fac- Civic Architecture, presented ligent and witty collection of tual season this autumn will by historian Jonathan Foyle. programmes that aim to shine celebrate the culture, his- Andrew Hussey’s The Road a light on the best of British tory, life and architec- to Wigan Pie Shop is an culture.’ attempt to debunk some The programme titles nev- A different Eddie Waring of the myths about north- ertheless raised a few north- on rugby ern cuisine and the Eddie ern eyebrows around the BBC league Waring documentary last week, with the consensus examines his sport summed up by one editor in the day at the office through the leg- north: ‘Sounds intriguing, but endary com- the proof, as ever, will be in the Lucy Adams spends a day as mentator’s (black) pudding. As long as it’s a runner on Blue Peter – see P14 experience of authentic it will be a success.’

4 News a 16·02·10 Making Connections for Haiti World Service vice about how to make a shelter that We spoke to several journalists but also collects rainwater, how to recog- in the end employed Andy Limontas, producer Nick Miles nise if your child is suffering from an experienced radio journalist post-traumatic stress and what to do who’d sent a text to the programme explains how he set about it, in short an endless stream several days before. His house had all up a bespoke radio of urgent needs. All the issues that, to but collapsed during the quake and be frank, many news journalists often like so many other Haitians he was programme for dismiss as being ‘worthy but dull’. sleeping under a makeshift tent in So, with a clear idea of the remit, the street. earthquake survivors, we then set about building the first But like so many others he has in less than a week programme, pulling together infor- proved to be incredibly resilient. In mation from our BBC correspondents the four days we spent together vis- in Haiti along with the main aid or- iting refugee camps, and clamber- The brief was simple. Create a daily ra- ganisations and the US military. We ing over rubble with workers from dio programme for Haitians, broad- got together a list of Creole speaking local NGOs, he was tireless, patient casting vital information in the local humanitarian aid experts living out- with my less than perfect French and language, Creole, to help the survivors side Haiti, people we knew we’d have filled with excitement about what of the earthquake. no problem contacting if the lines to the programme could achieve. He The catch was that we only had Haiti remained down. When we got demonstrated all the dignity that four days to put it all together, four through to people in Haiti we’d imme- was so evident in all the Haitian peo- days from the first ideas jotted down Help at hand: Nick Miles joins listeners to the information packed Connexion Haiti diately record interviews with them. ple we met. on a piece of paper to the programme But whenever we did, at the forefront Their needs are still great and even going on air. But it had to be quick. radio studios and large migrant Hai- tional stations across Haiti. What we of our mind was this: If a Haitian is with the thousands of international The need for information in Haiti tian community, seemed like a good hadn’t figured out was what would ac- listening to this will he or she come medical and reconstruction staff it’s was, and remains, acute. base. Miami also provided us with our tually be in the programme. away any better off? impossible to meet them. Likewise We had a name, Connexion Haiti, two Creole speaking presenters, Car- All three of us are dyed in the wool With that in mind I headed to Hai- it’s been impossible for Connexion and we knew where we were broad- line Faustin and Simone Degraff. news journalists. We look for new an- ti with Lisa Robinson from the BBC Haiti to give Haitians all the vital in- casting from, Florida. If that sounds So before my colleagues Emilio San gles to stories, and try to give audienc- World Service Trust. Our aim was to formation they need. Like the aid op- bizarre, bear in mind that after the Pedro, Henri Astier and I had land- es context and analysis. Connexion employ a Haitian journalist who could eration, the future of the programme earthquake, phone lines in Haiti were ed in the States everything we need- Haiti was not about news, it was about provide the programme with radio is still uncertain. Bids are in for long working sporadically at best so Mi- ed to broadcast was in place, even a 20 giving people information they need- packages which would fulfil the hu- term funding but, as yet, noting is fi- ami, with it’s fully functioning BBC minute slot on Radio France Interna- ed to survive. Where to get food, ad- manitarian remit of the programme. nalised. Skelton sinks world records on the Amazon HD takes off Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton, who is paddling with ‘Heroes’ the length of the Amazon river in a kayak to raise funds for Sport Relief, has passed the half-way Dramatic air-to-air shots, remote lo- mark of her journey and broken two Guinness cations and close-up human drama world records already. make daytime’s Helicopter Heroes a Skelton tripled the previous record for the long- natural for the BBC HD channel. est solo journey by kayak, clocking up more than Using lightweight HD cameras the a thousand miles in three weeks. She also set a English regions programme team record for the longest distance in 24 hours in a kay- leap in and out of Yorkshire air am- ak by a woman by paddling 75 miles of the river in bulances, filming the emergency re- just one day. sponse. The video journalists use She said: ‘Every single day here is tough, so all I can Sony EX1 and EX3 cameras and edit, do is take each one at a time and get through it. I back at their Leeds-Bradford Airport have been suffering with the heat, my shoulders base, on Final Cut Pro kit. are sore, and my legs are covered in mosquito bites, ‘It’s been not so much a learning but I’m battling on.’ curve as a learning Matterhorn,’ says Skelton set off on January 20 from the geographic series editor Ian Cundall. ‘A high in- start of the Amazon, near Nauta in Peru, and her tensity, fly-on-the-wall series... leaping finish point is 2010 miles downstream at Almer- out of helicopters into snow drifts this im in Brazil. Her target is to do the journey in six winter has to be one of the toughest weeks, which means she must paddle at least 60 environments in which to use HD. But miles a day, with just one rest day a week. the results are stunning.’ Blue Peter is carrying weekly updates on Skel- For example, vj Louise Ready [see ton’s progress, and the full story of her gruelling cover picture] joined, and filmed, journey will be shown in two special episodes on paramedics slogging up an icy hill- March 16 and 17. side to reach a man who’d been se- riously injured while trying to use a dinghy as a sledge. R4 comedy goes from group therapy to the fish market HD executive producer Ian Potts says the smaller, lighter, cameras are opening the door to HD for low cost BBC Radio 4’s spring comedy season starts this On March 8 a comedy veteran returns to the air- risy and naivety as they try to change the world daytime shows, although bit rates week with Sarah Millican’s Support Group, in which waves. Rory Bremner’s International Satirists finds him for everyone else. The first episode is broadcast on are slightly low for full HD broadcast the winner of the Edinburgh Fringe Best Comedy talking to performers from other countries, in- March 10 at 6.30pm. quality. Newcomer Award in 2008 dishes out ‘real advice cluding Holland and Switzerland, who shed light Further into the spring, former fish market la- ‘The solution is a device called a for real people’. on the national sense of humour in their home- bourer Micky Flanagan explains how he became a nanoFlash box, that attaches to the Millican will seek the advice of the studio audi- lands. stand-up and changed his lifestyle in Micky Flana- camera and records digital pictures ence to solve fictional situations, with the help of a Tom Basden has adapted the play which won gan: What Chance Change; American humorist and in high quality onto compact flash ‘support group’ played by Simon Day, Helen Atkin- him a Fringe First in Edinburgh last year into a author David Sedaris’s live performances at the cards,’ Potts says. son Wood, Tim Key, Emma Fryer, Janice Connolly, four part sitcom. Party follows a group of young Radio Theatre are broadcast, and Ronnie Corbett Series four of Helicopter Heroes will Nick Mohammed, Ruth Bratt and Mark Heap. The idealists trying to set up a new political party, sat- plays a landlord whose family want him to get rid be simulcast on BBC One and the HD series starts on Thursday February 18 at 11pm. irising their ambitions and combination of hypoc- of his tenant in When the Dog Dies in late April. channel this autumn. a 16·02·10 Features 5 ‘I don’t fear rajars’ Winning He’s all over it: Jamie Cullum serenades the Togs hearts and flowers by Sue Llewellyn

You could feel the love in the BH Radio Theatre on Sunday morning as Terry Wogan kicked off his new live show with the im- mortal words: ‘God it’s been hell without you.’ Arriving on a walking stick following his recent knee operation, the Togmeister was greeted with huge appreciative cheers from the fans. Around 30,000 of Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals had applied for 300 tickets to the first Weekend Wogan and many had queued for hours to be sure of a good seat. There was an upbeat, jazzy start to the show, with the lively house band led by mu- sical director Elio Pace and performances from singer-songwriters Jamie Cullum and ment to cut talent costs remains to be seen, al- Norah Jones. As Wogan returns to Radio 2 for a Valentine’s day though for his part, Shennan says he’s ‘always Wogan announced the arrival of spe- striven to get the best possible deal for the BBC’. cial guest Ian McKellen with a trademark show, the station controller Bob Shennan tells This has to be balanced, however, with R2 audi- ence expectations to hear the best in the busi- Claire Barrett about his first year in music radio ness. ‘Radio 2 has most of the greatest music ra- dio practitioners of the last 20 years,’ he claims. ‘I don’t fear the Rajars,’ declares Bob Shen- sion for music and instinct as an entertainer’, it is ‘Steve Wright, Chris Evans, Terry Wogan... they’re nan in a shrewd pre-emptive strike. ‘I’ve experi- Evans’s acceptance on which more rides. giants of music radio.’ enced enough brilliant and enough disappoint- ‘Chris is a warm, engaging and inviting broad- Throw in respected voices like Mark Radcliffe ing Rajars not to let them worry me. You just have caster. He’s outgoing and demonstrative and, like and Paul Gambaccini, heritage specialists David to back your judgement, back your talent...’ Wogan, he’s very fond of his audience. I’m certain Jacobs and Brian Matthews and there’s still room Even if that talent has delivered an upper cut that over a period of time, even if we lose some of in the mix for entertainers such as Paul O’Grady, to the BBC’s reputation or thrown in the towel the current audience, we’ll grow a new one.’ Dermot O’Leary and Alan Carr. while 8.1m listeners bay for more. His backstage team is also littered with ‘the best One year since he arrived at a bruised and bat- The end of Ross at what they do in the business’. Shennan credits tered Western House – the epicentre of all those There will be another hole to fill, of course, head of music Jeff Smith and head of programmes Two for one: McKellen brought a gift Brand/Ross shockwaves – the Radio 2 controller come July when Jonathan Ross hands back Lewis Carnie with easing his transition from talk is both assured and optimistic. He accepts that his BBC ID card. Inextricably linked with silly to music radio. Not that a lack of music radio ped- quip (‘you get two knights for the price of short term figures are likely to take a hit with Ter- money salaries and a propensity to breach the igree impedes his progress. ‘It’s my job to provide one’) and was rewarded with a bunch of red ry Wogan’s departure from the breakfast show boundaries of good taste, will Shennan sleep leadership and guide the station towards a shared roses from McKellen, presented with a the- and that doubts over his replacement will rise if a easier with the loss of Ross? ‘I wanted him to vision, not to try to do everything.’ atrical flourish and a kiss on the hand. million or so listeners switch off next quarter. carry on,’ insists the controller who presided Shennan may sit in on playlist meetings but ‘It was like sitting in someone’s living ‘When someone who has dominated the over the decision last May to pre-record exerts no influence – ‘that’s ruled by Jeff with room listening to two old friends having a broadcasting landscape for so long steps Ross’s Saturday morning show. ‘He’s a a rod of iron,’ he chuckles. But he likes what he chat,’ newsreader Alan Dedicoat said. down, they clearly leave a big gap,’ ac- brilliant broadcaster who is especial- hears. ‘I’m prime Radio 2 fodder and there are a ‘Absolutely spot on and a brilliant start.’ knowledges Shennan, who returned to ly good on radio. He feels, though, lot of people like me with a broad array of musi- The new show combines the best bits the BBC following a doomed Channel 4 that a clean break will be good for cal interests who enjoy finding all those genres in of Wogan’s radio and tv shows, mixing radio venture. ‘The loss of one broadcast- him and for us and I accept and re- the same place. You wouldn’t hear T Rex next to live performances with chat and hilari- er with one value set, one tone and one spect that. When we part company Nat King Cole, or Matt Monro after Heaven 17 on ous emails from ‘listeners’ such as Connie style is a massive shock to the audience. in July we will do so amicably.’ any other station.’ Mara, Don E Gall and Sally Forth. Newsread- It’s a major moment, but it’s also a Getting on with her star sign- Faith in his senior team means Shennan isn’t er John ‘Boggy’ Marsh joined Wogan on bit of a privilege to be in charge ings was something former Ra- required to second guess every decision, while stage for some rollicking innuendo in the when you have to make the dio 2 controller Lesley Douglas the new processes installed post Sachsgate and latest instalment of Janet and John, which transition.’ excelled at, with many of them pre his arrival at Radio 2 have served to ‘maintain drew appreciative snorts of laughter from The former 5 live con- openly distraught when she re- confidence and creativity, not, overall, inhibit it’. the audience. troller calls the move of signed. Shennan also endeav- Yes, staff were shocked by what had happened ‘It was a good mix of banter and guests,’ Chris Evans to mornings ours to ‘understand what but not cowed. ‘They were getting on with mak- Marsh said afterwards. ‘It’s been a long and Simon Mayo to driv- makes them tick’, but says ing programmes and were pragmatic and philo- time since there’s been anything like this etime ‘the biggest single the fact that his present- sophical about the new procedures.’ live in the Radio Theatre and I think it’s go- change in Radio 2 histo- ers ‘want to be at the BBC And they still run risks. Shennan points to Rap ing to work.’ ry – possibly UK radio histo- and value and share its Revolution – a Goldie-fronted three parter with At the end of the show Wogan ex- ry’ and firm foundation for agenda’ makes things sim- strong content, lyrics and language. It would have pressed his heartfelt thanks to his adoring a new era of success. While pler. Whether they share been the easiest thing in the world, he says, to audience. If the warm fuzzy feeling in BH Mayo, who Shennan also re- the corporation’s commit- spike this potentially offensive series but, rather, was anything to go by, it’s a love affair that cruited to 5 live – ‘I’ve been it was a first year highlight. ‘It was a pleasure to looks set to continue. called Harry Redknapp to his Liverpool FC: Former head of comply what was a great piece of work and, with bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qx2ts Jermain Defoe’ – is ‘a natural sport Shennan admits he is great confidence – with all the checks and balanc- communicator, with great pas- ‘still obsessed’ with football es in place – to broadcast it last October.’

6 Features a 16·02·10 Clearing out time at Kingswood

Technology reporter ‘We try to do blue-sky,’ says Andy Technologists Bower, head of R&D operations. ‘In Zoe Kleinman meets at work in 1953, general consumers are used to a the broadcast engineers of the greater pace of change. Televisions Aerial section used to last 10 to 15 years – now technologists carry out experi- they’re used to changing them every ments with mod- five years, maybe less.’ packing up some el aerials in the ‘eerie chambers’ grounds of KW Eerie anechoics Kingswood’s anechoic chamber will be left behind intact because it is Wherever you are in the world, no longer in great demand. The room the chances are that at least some of is a haven of near-perfect silence, the technology in your living room thanks to the thousands of metre- started life in a sprawling gothic long wedges of polyurethane foam mansion house in deepest darkest which line the walls, floor and ceiling. Surrey. It is used to test equipment such HDTV, Nicam digital stereo Tele- as microphones and speakers, as text and international standards for there are no external factors which digital television were all developed could distort their performance. at Kingswood Warren, home to the One of the chamber’s more unu- BBC’s crack team of broadcast tech- sual jobs involved testing the rustling nologists since the 1940s. sound levels of a colostomy bag at February 28 marks the start of a the request of its manufacturer. whole new chapter for both the tech Andy Bower won’t miss it much. ‘I team and the building, when the BBC personally don’t like it,’ he says. hands over the keys to Kingswood’s ‘It’s so quiet in here, you new owner, property developer can almost hear yourself Octagon. thinking. It’s an eerie The broadcast experts are moving experience.’ to new premises in refurbished Cen- He has a novel tre House in west London – and some suggestion for the will head on to the corporation’s new site’s new own- HQ in Salford in 2011. ers: ‘It could be Last week they were busy packing used as an away 60 years worth of kit – every- immersion tank thing from FM radio and colour tv to for a therapeu- the interactive red button and RDS tic centre type text was painstakingly perfected in and white circles resembling targets its first HD recording and edit thing.’ the calm surroundings of leafy King- which hang from the ceiling – used by suite five years later in 1988. swood’s wood-panelled offices and cameras to locate 3D virtual graphics His work since then has labs. that are not visible to the human eye. brought to life the inimitable Swin- Back in 1983 it contained a giant gometer used by the BBC on election Production magic rotating drum plastered with scen- nights, and the on-pitch graphics fa- Graham Thomas, head of produc- ery from Hornby model railway kits. voured by Match of the Day in its post tion magic, is boxing up his ‘office’ Thomas’s predecessors were testing match analysis. This feature originally ran on – the studio he first saw when he out a ‘hacked’ black and white cam- He’s now focused on bringing his the BBC Technology homepage – visited Kingswood Warren for a job era to run at different image capture unique blend of studio camerawork bbc.co.uk/technology. interview in 1983. speeds – early work in the field we and special effects to the Olympic ▲ The gothic mansion began life as a To watch Zoe’s accompanying film, The studio is notable for the black now know as HDTV. Kingswood built coverage in 2012. family home in the early 18th century visit Ariel Online

Not for chickens: Learn English on your mobile by Kate Arkless Gray in a way simply not possible before.’ ly, people can choose different lev- BBC Buzz. Later this year a new dra- With over 50 million SIM cards in els, from ‘Essential English for be- ma, shot between the UK and Bang- It costs around 3 taka (about 3p) use in the country – almost half the ginners’ to ‘How to tell a story’ for ladesh launches, with an accompany- to buy a cup of tea from a Dhaka tea adult population – the service is prov- those who are more advanced. The ing language learning programme. stall – and for the same money peo- ing to be hugely popular, with over a lessons last no more than three min- The project is funded by the UK’s ple living in Bangladesh can learn to million lessons accessed in just three utes and have been carefully thought Department for International De- speak English through their mobile months. out in response to research into how velopment through English in Ac- phones, thanks to BBC Janala. While 84 percent of Bangladesh- and when people use their phones. tion, an educational initiative which Janala – the Bangla word for win- is consider English essential to secur- There is no background music which hopes to raise the language skills of dow – was launched by the World ing a good job and educating their makes them easier to listen to wher- 25m people in Bangladesh by 2017. Service Trust in partnership with children, many have had a bad expe- ever you are. Given its success so far, the mobile BBC Learning English last year with rience of learning English at school. In a little over two months, BBC industry is watching to see if BBC the aim of putting education in the Text books are of a poor standard and Janala: as easy as chicken catching Janala received more than 1.5m calls, Janala can provide an economically hands of relatively poor people. ‘We tuition, they say, is too expensive. from over 1m unique users. In addi- viable model for learning technology knew demand for English was strong ‘Around 95 percent of young peo- ice, which features a young village tion to the mobile service, there is an in the developing world. in Bangladesh,’ says Sarah Cham- ple want to learn English,’ says Dav- girl chasing and eventually catching interactive learning website (bbcjana- ‘When Bangladesh appears in the berlain, head of interactive for the id Prosser, head of programmes and a chicken, has apparently taken the la.com) which is specially designed to bulletins it is rarely to report good BBC World Service Trust. ‘But the re- exec producer for the WST Bangla- nation by storm. The Janala team ex- load easily, even with a poor internet news,’ Prosser says. ‘But it has an sponse to BBC Janala has been noth- desh. ‘We want to change people’s plain the message behind it: ‘if you connection. The site has over 17,000 incredibly vibrant media scene and ing short of phenomenal. The growth perception of language learning and can catch a chicken, you can learn registered users from all over the it’s great to see it leading the world of mobile has created an opportunity reduce the barriers that exist to learn- English’. world and is complemented on televi- with an innovative use of technology for us to provide access to education ing English.’ An advert for the serv- With new lessons available dai- sion by a youth entertainment show, like this.’ a 16·02·10 Features 7

week@work Super Jon photograph: BBC IN ACTION FACT OF LIFE

Although much fanfare has been made of the power of on-demand tv, you may be interested to know that the latest information suggests it is en- hancing, rather than replacing traditional sched- ule-based viewing. Here’s a taster of some of the interesting facts that Justin Bairamian, head of audiences for Vision, has rounded up on the subject…

Fact 1: Most catch-up is close to first broadcast The bulk of PVR and iPlayer viewing is in the first 24 hours after live transmission – suggesting that the bulk of ‘on-demand’ is in fact catch-up and still an- chored to the live channel schedule.

Fact 2: Young people still ‘do’ live TV For 16 to 24s, live viewing still accounts for over 90 percent of the tv they watch. In fact, for the whole audience, catch-up viewing (including PVRs, VCRs and iPlayer) only accounts for five percent of the tv we watch. This is growing, but very slowly. Putting on the pounds – Becky Want Fact 3: iPlayer is not the main catch-up gets ready to experience life as a device clinically obese person 50 percent of all BBC time-shifting is via the PVR compared to 15 percent via PC iPlayer. For 16 to With the aid of a ‘fat suit’ and pros 24s, iPlayer usage rises to 31 percent of all time- - tures – ‘joy of joys, I finally have a thetic make-up, Radio Manchester lic – but a lot of people told me shifting and PVRs is 46 percent. magnificent bosom!’ – she ended the show live from the Trafford Centre, presenter Becky Want ballooned that was the case. I wanted to have day feeling ‘weary, cold and upset’. in the fat suit, on Friday afternoon, from a size ten to a size 18: ‘In rough crisps with my sandwich, but I felt Fact 4: Time-shifted viewing gets higher A trip to the gym and to the shop alongside a GP, a nutritionist, a fit terms, if I was this size I would have - a bit guilty buying them and I didn’t - AIs ping centre also proved unnerving. ness instructor and listeners who gained six stone,’ she says. enjoy my lunch at all.’ The ability to view content you want at your con- ‘I didn’t want to make eye contact wanted to share their own experi The aim of Becky’s radical makeo With a quarter of Greater Manches - venience has led to AIs for all programmes going - with people because I didn’t want - ences of obesity. ver was simple: to discover wheth ter’s adults meeting the definition up, and especially for those programmes that au- - to see them judging me,’ she told You can still catch the show on the er people’s attitudes towards her of clinical obesity, the station de diences have time-shifted, by approximately w@w. ‘I would never have thought - iPlayer until the end of the week changed with her size. Although cided to run a special day of pro five percentage points. that people who are overweight - and hear first hand what life is like there were some redeeming fea gramming to look at all the issues - would feel unhappy eating in pub for the overweight. - Fact 5: We still love our tv sets of being overweight. Becky did her tinyurl.com/BeckyWant 10m people watch online video in the UK but only 0.2 percent of the population watch tv through online alone. If you’d like to read more on this subject, see OFFER Justin Bairamian’s full article at: tinyurl.com/ BBC staff can get one licensed copy of Changing audienceindex Microsoft Office 2007 for use at home for just £8.95 via the Home Use Places Program. For more information, see tiny- url.com/MS-Office7 BBC Radio 1Xtra news present- er Tina Daheley joins The shamEless plug Chris Moyles Show on Radio 1 as the regular sports present- Alan James, head of media Unfortunately this will not be er, taking over from Carrie planning, MC&A the case for around 1.5 million Davies who is on maternity people in the UK with lifelong dis- leave… u Much to the surprise of many abilities which may require high Diane McGregor (pictured) (including myself) I signed up to levels of support. moves from being lead technolo- do a 550km charity cycle ride from By the time you read this I will, gist, FM&T, to become departmental the foothills of the Andes in north- I hope, have survived the long manager, CIO team, FM&T ern Patagonia, Argentina, to the flights and started the first leg Patrick Rayner, head of radio drama Chilean Pacific coast. It’s about six of my journey, a 92km ride in Scotland, and the man behind the current or seven days of cycling on what between Bariloche and the Smiley season of plays on Radio 4, has de- THE I.T. CROWD is likely to be quite challenging Argentinean village of La cided to leave the BBC later this year and terrain. Angostura. will be replaced by Bruce Young, editor Do you find yourself getting frustrat- I’ve put myself up for this chal- On that day we’ll be radio drama… ed with your computer taking an age lenge in order to raise money for riding at approximately Ramaa Sharma moves from her role to log you in? You could speed things MenCap. 3000 feet above sea as multimedia trainer at the College up by clearing up the clutter on your PC I have a son with high function- level around the moun- of Journalism in Bristol, to take on desktop. One of the reasons for slow ing Asperger’s Syndrome, and tain lake of Nahuel Huapi, a similar role for World Service log-in times, especially if you log-in to although he doesn’t require any- but across the week we’ll training… a variety of PCs, is having a large desk- thing like the 24/7 care that oth- climb to about 6000 feet. If I Radio 7 has hired Nick Briggs – top profile, and the cause of this is stor- ers need, it has made me appreci- can get a signal I’ll be tweeting voice of the Dalek and the Cyber- ing large items on your desktop. ate the challenges faced by many my progress at www.twitter. men – to present the 7th Dimension strand, carers who support people with com/aj63 while 5 live’s Phil Williams joins the station With a bit of simple spring cleaning you learning disabilities. It would be terrific if to present the Comedy Club on Sunday nights can speed up your system. Make sure I fully appreciate the financial you felt able to sponsor and the brand-new Comedy Club Catch-Up on that large files are saved in folders on difficulties that many people are me at justgiving.com/alan- Sunday afternoons… the server and use shortcuts on the experiencing right now, but hope- james63 or perhaps, at Research manager for Journalism/Nations and desktop to point to the files for easy fully for most of us the economy least, send me a message English Regions, Dean Matthewson, is tak- access. (You can tell a shortcut icon by will change again and our con- of encouragement via ing a career break to go to Canada and study the little arrow in the corner.) cerns will diminish. Twitter to keep me going! French… 8 9 we’ll keep Rolling back the years The move to Windmill Road will help preserve 4m pieces of media – and from this ‘buried treasure’ the BBC is releasing its most significant archive collection yet. Clare Bolt and Adam Bambury report

Late reflections: John Read filming with Henry Moore in 1978 Right: Read, Broadcast critical cameraman John Baker, Need a tape from BBC Archive? Just make have to preserve it quicker, and sparse room enlivened by a donated Henry Moore spend more and more money just to jukebox and a pin board with a map and an sure the courier has the right address... get it ticking over.’ of the Perivale development. Staff assistant An alternative location to Wind- have mixed feelings about leaving a cameraman mill Road had been sought for ‘a place where they’ve worked for dec- in 1967 By ADAM BAMBURY spin them back and forth to open a long time’ and the availability of ades and where a sense of commu- gap big enough to walk into and find suitable premises in nearby Perivale nity has inevitably developed. The BBC Archive is moving home the piece of media that has been re- means it will finally become reality. The Perivale premises are a very after 41 years. It’s only a four mile quested – anything from audio of a The interior of the new premis- different proposition. Outside the jaunt to the new premises, but rock band to clips of a famous figure es has been purpose built to I&A’s new ‘I&A Archive Centre’ resembles with around 100 staff, four million urgently required by News. needs, and the current byword is an aircraft hanger: inside it is spa- valuable pieces of media on myriad Above them lurk occasional rain digital. ‘It’s about new technology, cious, clean and 21st century – three fragile formats and a vast array of traps – plastic tarpaulins attached new ways of working, and getting things that, for all its creaky charm, antiquated machinery to play them to the inside roof with pipes leading hold of content more quickly. We’re Windmill Road definitely isn’t. on, this is more than just a change of to assorted buckets on the floor. The going to have better line connectiv- Different media will be stored in scenery. roof was designed to open in case of ity and digital storage,’ says con- different vaults, each sealed and ‘He valued literature above It currently lives off Windmill fire, and occasionally rain makes its troller of I&A Sarah Hayes. ‘We’ll temperature controlled to ensure Road in Brentford on a trading es- way in through the cracks. ‘We’re in have more content that’s digital, so optimum conditions for whatever is sculpture’. Clare Bolt meets the tate hidden behind a row of terraced the lap of the gods here as the build- of our 4000 loans a percentage will inside. One vault contains motor- researcher who pulled together houses. At first solely dedicated to ings aren’t sealed properly,’ says be sent down the line digitally – we ised racks which span two floors film storage, facilities had to be ex- Paul Doherty, my guide to the ar- won’t have to send out the tapes.’ and glide effortlessly along the rails the Henry Moore collection panded to contain the burgeoning chive and a senior media manager at During the move the archive at the press of a touch sensitive but- and increasingly multi-format ar- I&A, who is organising the move. will remain ‘operationally live’, ton. Fire extinguishing comes from chive. Within its huge, dimly lit stor- ‘Windmill Road is wholly unfit for with people kept up to date with internally released nitrogen gas age rooms lurk rack after rack of the stuff that’s inside it,’ confirms progress made with a ‘traffic light’ rather than open windows. media, from huge film canisters to services manager Peter Skinner, themed three-part poster campaign There is still free space here – a brittle shellac gramophone records when I speak to him in Broadcast (below). ‘We’re going to have proc- novelty for the team. A vault is to be in yellowing paper cases dating Centre the next day. ‘It’s too damp, esses whereby we can intercept the left empty, to provide room for stor- back to the turn of the century. it can’t hold the temperature and it migration and get it to a customer if age systems still to come. Whatever To save space, these racks are on can’t hold the humidity levels for it’s broadcast critical,’ Peter says. esoteric new storage formats the movable hand-cranked shelving. any of the content. Consequently Back at Windmill Road, we grab future holds, it seems I&A will be Workers with trolleys and lists material deteriorates faster, we cups of tea at the Sound Bites Café, a ready for them. photograph: A photograph: Keeping it reel: Paul Doherty in the vaults of Windmill Road. The move will be completed in early 2011 NN A GOR D O Portrait of an artist on the air N You can find a Henry Moore in 32 tion, and for the three way part- controlled and he called all the shots He argues that the Read films are the films,’ she recalls. ‘Every time a of Britain’s cities: the monumental nership between the BBC, the Tate ‘He was very – it was hard to draw him on anything significant both for art-lovers and for sculpture is in the background, you bronze sculptures recline in stately and The Henry Moore Foundation. personal,’ she says. ‘He also said he people who care about the history of have to check to see if we have clear- homes and stations as well as parks controlled and he thought that literature was a more television. ‘You have a fantastic, valu- ance. In terms of releasing archive and private gardens, undulating He called all the shots important art than sculpture...’ able portrait of an artist growing old onto online, rights are a big issue and female forms encapsulating the art- Assistant content producer Emer called all the shots’ The earliest complete pro- and reflecting in front of BBC camer- we couldn’t have made it without the ist’s modernist aesthetic. O’Reilly has been trawling the BBC gramme dates from 1951 as; at the same time you can see how Henry Moore Foundation.’ But while his artwork is very archives since October, searching for and is a profile of the art- the different approaches to film-mak- The BBC has released the original much on display, for the last few dec- interesting programmes which could ist at work, sketching and ing and different styles evolve over Moore documentaries for a taped ret- ades Moore the artist has been bur- be relevant for the online archive col- building a maquette be- the years.’ rospective once before, in the 1950s, ied (figuratively speaking) in the BBC lection (released on February 24 at fore constructing the The relationship with The Henry and they will form part of the Tate vaults. bbc.co.uk/archive). She’s narrowed it large sculpture. It is Moore Foundation, which has given exhibition. Keating says they have That is, until now. To chime with down to 15 pieces, including radio in- a ‘rare and valuable’ the BBC the rights to all programmes ‘taken up the story for the digital Tate Britain’s spring retrospective terviews and television documenta- film, says Keating, on Moore, has been critical. While age’ and hopes it will pave the way of Moore, BBC archive is releasing ries about Moore dating back to the not least because Keating talks about the broader strat- for other museums and galleries to its back catalogue of interviews and 1950s. it was made by John egy behind the partnership – ‘surfac- use BBC content in a similar way in documentaries about Moore online, Were there any revelations? ‘I Read, the man credit- ing archive content with public val- the future. making them available to anyone know that in the 1940s, when he ed with inventing the ue’ and ‘testing the cultural value of ‘There’s a real sense of this being with an interest in the sculptor. started to be recognised, he was re- arts documentary. the archive as an artistic resource’ buried treasure,’ he says. ‘We’ve got a Director of archive content Roly luctant, a bit shy. – for O’Reilly it has had a practical chance to bring it back to life. It’s been Keating believes it is the most sig- In the 1950s he benefit. well curated and well presented and it nificant collection his team has got into his stride ‘It took me a long time to pull the feels incredibly contemporary.’ put together so far, both for what with the media, Henry Moore’s ‘Reclining Figure: collection together because of the Henry Moore at Tate Britain, it represents in terms of innova- but he was very Angles’ at Kew Gardens number of artworks which feature in February 24 – August 8 10 Opinion/Analysis a 16·02·10 Investment in content, not quick wins, sees BBC Mags ride recession Latest ABC circulation figures show Worldwide’s magazines business is bucking a wider downward trend to increase sales

by Cathy Loughran

All time record sales in an eco- nomic downturn is a neat trick if you can pull it off. Some BBC Magazines titles achieved just that in the last half of 2009 and overall, the mags stable un- der MD Peter Phippen increased sales by nearly three percent and took sub- scriptions to an all time high over a period when the performance of most competitor companies was down, some by six or seven percent. ‘The recession has had an impact on advertising revenue but on demand Read all about it: Peter Phippen whose stable of UK consumer titles are still leading traditional markets and breaking into new ones for magazines, at the newsstand and through subscription, there’s been with great multiple media opportu- ness, whose empire stretches way be- no discernible impact at all,’ Phippen nities. Worldwide is completely com- yond print. says. PERFORMANCE MEASURES mitted to doing what we said we’d do Radiotimes.com is now the desti- ‘Our share in nearly every market – create value from the acquisition we nation for 1.42m users and the Ra- increased, and that’s down to strong n Overall copy sales up 2.8 percent n Good Food magazine still the mar- made. The worst possible thing would dio Times iPhone app has sold more brands – we’re market leaders in almost and looking stable compared with ket leader (351,430) and olive sales be to do nothing with it.’ than 43,000 units. Goodfood.com has every sector – and investing in making last year’s total of 90m; up five percent to a record 93,000; The push to prove Lonely Planet a 2m users, up 80 percent on last year, great magazines, for sustainable per- n Subscriptions at an all time high at n Gardeners’ World down slightly prime investment includes the web- and the brand is licensed to UKTV for formance, not short term tricks.’ almost 830,000, making BBC Maga- year on year but celebrating 19 years site lonelyplanet.com and Worldwide/ the Good Food tv channel. Good Food Take Top Gear Magazine, now under zines the UK’s number two subscrip- at number one in the market; Lonely Planet ambitions for a brand- has also sold thousands of its first new editor Conor McNicholas. With tion business; n Bristol titles Focus and Histo- ed travel tv channel outside the UK – two iPhone apps. And unstoppable monthly sales of over 200,000, it has al- n Radio Times sales are back above ry Magazine win record sales and more of which in coming months. topgear.com is in pole position with most as many as all the other motor- the 1m mark for the UK’s biggest sell- Homes and Antiques up 11 percent The flip side of the division’s inter- 2.9m unique users. ing mags put together and circulation ing weekly title on subscription; after a dip last year; national expansion is an aspect of the Last year, although revenue from remains stable while competitor titles n Top Gear ranks number three in n Bob the Builder up 21 percent year 50-50 joint venture it struck in India sales was up, profits were down by have declined. men’s magazines market; on year; with the Times of India, to distribute 31 percent to £11.5m, partly due to It’s just clocked its 16th year as n Lonely Planet increased sales by n New children’s titles will launch in magazines like Top Gear and Lonely new investments like Lonely Plan- number one in the motoring sector, 10.7 percent a year from launch; the next 12 months. Planet, but also some magazines under et and the Indian joint venture. This has 23 international editions and, in- licence to other companies, including year, there have been some restructur- terestingly, is now the UK’s third high- Grazia and Hello. The trust said they ing costs, Phippen says, but otherwise est selling men’s mag (behind Men’s um listings market’ has increased, clutch of industry awards. were anomalies, asking BBCW to divest profits look ‘very strong’. Health and FHM) as male buyers ditch although in truth, it is so far upmar- Published under licence to Lonely itself of those interests. It is a matter of weeks before we Zoo and Nuts for a different kind of ket of any competitor it’s in a market Planet, the magazine has launched edi- ‘We’ve been asked to address that know the first recommendations of read. of one. tions in Brazil and India with plans to and we will,’ Phippen says. ‘We’ve been Mark Thompson’s strategic review, Similarly, monthly science and Expect more surprises and reinvig- launch in five more countries this year, given the time to do so in a way that is and Worldwide’s own three year busi- technology title Focus, from BBC Maga- oration under ‘outstanding’ new editor including France and Spain, as well as commercially efficient.’ ness plan will be finalised this Spring, zines Bristol, has shown steady growth Ben Preston, Phippen says. The former a pan-Asian edition. In the fickle children’s market, Bob reflecting the company’s tighter new to a record 71,000, now outperforming Independent executive editor has al- After the BBC Trust’s commercial the Builder has made a big comeback remit to focus on core BBC intellectu- the likes of Loaded in the men’s mar- ready brought in new writers, includ- review, chairman Michael Lyons made and new pre-school fortnightly title al property. ket. Its stablemate BBC History Mag- ing the Guardian’s Tim Dowling and clear in November that there would be Waybuloo made a respectable debut Thompson has said that the BBC’s azine also put in a best ever perform- novelist Julie Burchill, as well as new no future acquisitions of the type and at almost 50,000. Some children’s ti- continued 100 percent ownership of ance with 64,000 monthly sales and consultant editor Gill Morgan, former- scale of Lonely Planet, although he said tles have closed since the summer and Worldwide is up for discussion and upmarket food title olive is threaten- ly Times magazine editor. Worldwide should exploit the brand to restructuring in that area, and across there has been plenty of press specu- ing to break into six figures next peri- Perhaps most eagerly awaited last get the best possible returns. BBC Magazines to take account of ad lation as to where the axe might fall, od, with its own record sales at 93,000. Thursday were the figures for the Phippen is determined to do just revenue losses, has meant the closure including on BBC Magazines. Stalwarts BBC Good Food and Gar- newest and most controversial kid on that: ‘We want it to be biggest active- of 40 posts, out of a total of 450, with Understandably, Phippen doesn’t deners’ World retain their positions as the block, Lonely Planet Magazine. ly purchased (by individuals at news- some redeployment. join that speculation but, armed with market leaders (for their 20th and 19th Launched a year ago, after Worldwide’s stands or by subscription) in the mar- ‘Every magazine business has had last week’s ABCs, says unreservedly: years respectively). And Radio Times – £89m purchase of a 75 percent stake in ket,’ he says. to respond to that and it means we ‘BBC Magazines is a great business up four percent and back over the 1m the travel publisher, Lonely Planet’s ‘We have argued very hard as to are now in a very strong position,’ says with great magazines and whatever mark – claims its 11th successive pe- mag sales have grown 11 percent to why it fits with our overall remit. It’s Phippen, also now MD of BBC World- the outcome, it will remain a great riod in which its share of the ‘premi- 45,000 and the title has already won a the strongest travel brand in the world, wide’s Children’s and Licensing busi- business.’

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Look at it differently the playing field in the recruitment ers team in the future – I’m keen Radio 7 logos in your image taken Last week’s lead letter misses process, by overcoming the specific to express how smashing the art- at our recent OB at Leicester Com- OBITUARY the point about what the Extend barriers faced by disabled applicants work was on last week’s Ariel. The edy Festival, and enthralled that scheme is trying to achieve. so that we don’t miss out on the composite shot is a nice piece of you had mentioned BBC Radio 7’s stephen george It is not about setting quotas, a business and creative benefits their work. It draws the eye over all of excellent Q4 Rajar results on the Stephen George joined practice which is unlawful in the recruitment can bring. the characters and tells a story. page opposite (Ariel, February 9). the busy BBC costume UK. Placements are offered on a Amanda Rice Sure, they may not have all been Despite this, Ariel carried on its department in the 1970s. competitive basis, not merely on head of diversity in the shot at the same time, but noble tradition of calling us ‘BBC7’ With his meticulous the basis of disability, as the letter that doesn’t matter to me. It un- underneath our logo-heavy image. attention to detail and suggests. Individuals have to under- derlines EastEnders’ continuing The station changed its name charming smile he was go a rigorous application process Tongue in cheek success. in autumn 2008 – perhaps one day in demand to look after and many are not successful, hence I have just used the Gateway ‘Web Jon Jacob ‘the BBC newspaper’ will choose to leading actors on produc- it is not just about ‘ticking boxes’ Kiosk’ service to book some annual web manager, College of Journalism reflect this. We’ll keep feeding you tions such as The Devil’s and ’filling quotas’. leave. Delighted to see that it offers headline-grabbing stories Crown, Prince Regent, The Gathering Seed, Yes, divisions are encouraged to users a choice between ‘BBC lan- until then. Bergerac, A Perfect Spy and As Time Goes By. increase their diversity through guage’ and ‘English language’. Matching pair Simon Jordan Initially a quiet and shy member of any offering placements and why not? I guess I really should do more to senior presentation producer, Radio 7 team, Stephen had a great sense of hu- It makes good sense to do so. learn how to speak the former. mour, while remaining kind and thought- Extend offers an opportunity Paul Moss ful. He was always stylish, swooping in to for talented people, from a section reporter, The World Tonight Foot fault work in his Loden coat and snazzy scarf. of society that is currently under- I read with interest the BBC Sport Stephen adapted to changing times represented in the UK workforce, online article on Ashley Cole’s and latterly was equally valued as the sole to gain valuable experience and an Means to an Ender latest injury (February 12). Cole’s wardrobe master on Chucklevision, dressing insight into working at the BBC. It A friend recently reminded me that battle for fitness apparently mir- a large cast of teenagers on Grange Hill or as also benefits the BBC as disabled one of the secrets of succeeding at Isn’t actor Kenneth Branagh a rors the situation in 2002 and part of a small costume team on The Arman- recruits bring a diverse perspective the BBC was to employ the practice look-a-like for the departing con- 2006, when the nation was kept do Iannucci Shows. which helps to make the corpora- of vigorous backscratching to boost troller of entertainment group, on tenterhooks as David Beckham He greatly enjoyed travel with his part- tion a richer, more inclusive and the esteem of colleagues wherever Jon Beazley (Ariel, February 9)? and then Wayne Rooney attempted ner, Richard Wells, and the theatre, partic- more creative environment. We and whenever possible. Do some- Naomi Mourra World Cup comebacks after suffer- ularly musicals. know we need to reflect this section thing nice for them and you’ll store consultant, BBC Worldwide ing broken foots. Sadly, about two years ago, Stephen was of our audience more often, and in up credit for the future was the ad- I wondered which nation the diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease. Cared an authentic and sensitive way, and vice I took away from our meeting. article referred to? Furthermore, I for tenderly by his friend and neighbour benefit from the informed perspec- With this in mind – and with Seven deadly sin thought the plural of foot was feet. Marilyn Chaherli and her family, he died tive our Extend recruits offer. no real idea of how, when or why I I was delighted to see you had Carys Westphal aged 61. The scheme is designed to level might need the help of the EastEnd- squeezed in no fewer than 13 BBC BBC Wales Ros Little and Rosalind Ebbutt 12 Classified 020 7878 2313 a 16.02.10 a 16.02.10 www.bbcarielads.com Classified 13

Acton. Lovely room to rent in a house Birmingham. Large double room Fully furnished two bedroom flat in Islington N1. Superb one bedroom flat Need a London base in the week? For Sale. 5 bedroom converted French Costa Blanca, excellently equipped A/C *366)28 close to transport, local amenities in terraced house, sharing with one Notting Hill, W11 located on the lower available to rent. Large living room, Double room in Portobello 15 minutes farmhouse/gite attached/Poitou- 3 bedroom house, sleeps 6–8, communal Independent financial advisers for and easy access to TVC. Available other. £340pm inclusive except phone. ground floor with private garden. One spacious bedroom, recently refurbished Wood Lane, 20 minutes Oxford Street. Charente. Price Euros 255.00. Contact pool, suit couple or family, overlooking ;%28)( all your financial needs. January. Long or short term £500pcm. Telephone 07779 821659 calendar month deposit and one calendar kitchen and bathroom. Available from £100pw. 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Telephone 0161 282 3188 Ariel readers. Visit www.casa-alta.co.uk speak English. A great opportunity to de- Acton. Warm, sunny, 2-3 bedroom flat, Email [email protected] Queens Park station. Lovely garden sole new build development. Parking space Large, 2 bedroomed maisonette. use. Newly decorated. Fitted to high or view at www.halfapercent.com for full information /bookings stress, lots of sunshine and good cultural Need Tax advice? Let me help. furnished W/M+GCH. £1,170pcm Studio experience. For further details. Website included. Sky Plus. Available from loft, self contained W/M+GCH. £750pcm. Chiswick. Lovely, light double room in One minute from TVC and Westfield. standard. £290pw. Contact Fixed fees. No VAT. Gorgeous one (double) bedroom www.media-courses/bali March/April. £995pcm + bills. East Acton zone 2 Central line. friendly flatshare by Stamford Brook £300pw. Call 07922 017373 00 353 874 151985 Lymm, Cheshire. 4 beds. Semi detached Ibiza huge Easter bargain 6 bed hilltop Email [email protected] period flat within minutes of west Email [email protected] Email [email protected] tube. 2 professional flatmates (one BBC). Email [email protected] house close to village centre. 30 minute. house. Pool. 3 April. £1,000pw. Ealing station. Large and light reception Telephone 07775 690214 Telephone 07821 908664 £620pm plus bills. Available immediately. Large, bright, contemporary studio commute to Salford Quays. £420,000. Peter 01993 831021 room with wooden floors and fireplace, apartment in quiet East Acton available *367%0) Emily [email protected]. Telephone pretty Telephone 01925 753122 Painter/decorator with BBC modern kitchen, new bathroom, and 2 April. Fully furnished. Gorgeous, Two bed with great furnishings, 1/2 bedroom Victorian cottage flat 07808 268202 white cottage for rent in Walthamstow Iceland. The fly drive of your life... references. Call Julian 07811 740031 A lovely large studio flat in Ealing large double bedroom. £950pcm. brand new kitchen and bathroom. in east Finchley. Beautifully decorated with back garden and shed. £215pw. ATOL. protected 6190. Telephone Professional FCP editing system for Common. £750pcm. Please contact Chiswick single room to let in shared Available 12 March. To view email Off road parking space. £210pw. and furnished. Telephone 07880 727414 20 minutes on tube to Oxford Street. 01773 853300. Website sale. Call 07905 056081 Mira on 07710 040581 house with garden. £400pcm inclusive [email protected] [email protected] Website http://scpanorama.com/flat/ Please contact Maxine on www.icelandholidays.com The everything garden company. call 07774 692864 ,30-(%=7 EF_flat.html [email protected] or look online Design, landscaping, construction and Large, newly built and beautifully Italy, Le Marche. Restored 200yr old A luxury Monday-Friday large double Cosy cottage near Padstow. Sleeps 5. 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Joel 07787184401 Double room in lovely flat, White City. restaurants, Ravenscourt Park and house in W12. £632pcm excl. Contact travel cot + high chair. Website www.theeverythinggardencompany.com rent. Contact [email protected] stylish furniture. Unusually large kitchen Remote, luxury, Scottish idyll in For all taxation and accounting services £650pcm including bills. Telephone Stamford Brook station. Rent £1,150pcm. Una 07834 763721 www.chiusagrande.co.uk contact Anthony, Wells and Co, Chartered 07950 263285 with all mod cons. Wood flooring Telephone 07733 186642 Ayrshire hills. Aga, log fire, endless throughout. Private garden. Parking. walks from front door. Sleeps 6 adults Accountants. For free initial consultation 2 bed 2 bathroom one en suite. B&B London/Bucks homes. W10 North Kensington/Notting Hill. Au revoir winter, bonjour spring and call Alan Wells on 020 8455 7733. Email Inexpensive, flexible. Ealing Flat single room available. £110pw plus share of gas and electric summer. Romantic cottage sleeps 4 +4 children. Website www:http. 1st floor flat new kitchen lovely lounge. Lovely 1 bedroom furnished flat Newly refurbished self contained [email protected] Telephone 020 8840 1071 £354pcm plus shared bills. Sharing with bills which are very low. adults in sunny SW France. Website theowlhouse-scotland.co.uk Looks out onto basin Salford Quays with an extra mezzanine area. Mod studio flat comprising bedroom/lounge, Email [email protected] two other BBC employees. Clean and Telephone 07767 446197 www.maison-bb.com Architect specialising in private £795pm. Telephone 07774 623101 cons including washing machine. separate kitchen and bathroom. Next to Suffolk watermill. Rural paradise. quiet. Off street parking. Email residential projects. Imaginative and Ladbroke Grove/Notting Hill. tube, 15 minutes walk TVC. £850pcm + Sleeps 10. Website [email protected] Beach house featured in Coast practical extensions, refurbishments, 2 bedroom flat in Queens Park NW6. Greenford, Monday to Friday. 2 minutes from Portabello Market. bills. Contact 07947 439101 www.thewatermillsuffolk.co.uk new builds. Extensive listed building and Barnes/Mortlake 2 bedroom flat, sunny magazine. Beach 100 yards. Sleeps 6. Available 3rd week. March. £1,300pcm. East Putney beautiful 2 bedroom Lovely, bright double bedroom to let. Close to TVC. £250pw. conservation area experience. Website garden. Close river, train, buses to flexible term minimum 3 months from 1 Winchelsea Beach, East Sussex. Email Email [email protected] Suit N/S female professional. 12 Karina 07919 006361. Turkish Delight villa with pool in www.timothymarksmith.com. Hammersmith. £200pw. March. £1,375pcm Deposit. References. [email protected] minute tube journey to White City. Email [email protected] delightful Dalyan sleeping 4-18 in Telephone 020 8444 0806 Telephone 020 8789 3334 Telephone 020 8785 2153 Telephone 07880 702959 2 double bedroom apartment. £350pm inclusive. [email protected]. 4634)68= 3 comfortable cottages. Website Telephone 07939 495813 www.manzara.co.uk Cleaner. Reliable and thorough any size Shepherd’s Bush/Hammersmith border. home. London (except east). Competitive rate. Sharing with 1 female professional. Barnes SW14 2 bedroom flat. Good bus Beautiful Tuscan farmhouse near Flat for rent. Attractive west Marylebone W1 (near BBC). Two BBC references. Call Annette 07984 494125 Available immediately. Telephone and rail transport, shops and riverside Barga (sleeps 8). Private pool. Villas. Holiday villas and apartments in Hampstead bright top floor double Hammersmith Grove W6. room study/bedroom suite for Colliers Wood, SW19. Spacious, modern 07887 512078. Only £530pm amenities. £210pw. bedroom flat. Kitchen, bathroom, Spectacular views. Website France and Italy, Website Damian Segal Property Renovations. Spacious, fully furnished studio flat, non-smoking professional. In warm 1 bed flat for sale. £160K buy 50%, rent Telephone 020 8789 3334 large bedroom and large lounge. www.montate.co.uk www.deckchairvillas.com. Telephone Quality renovations and extensions Georgian house near shops, tubes 50%. Telephone 07802 949401 Acton Lane Chiswick. Light and airy Lovely roof terrace. £252pw. Station mezzanine level bedroom area, separate 01773 850111 carried out by reliable, tidy and friendly modern one bedroom ground floor flat. kitchen, built in wardrobes. 10 minute and leisure centre (with swimming Carcassonne 8 bedroom farmhouse professionals. All trades in house. Free 2 minutes, TVC 17 minutes, BH 20 pool). No weekend stays. Highly £1,100pcm. Available 1 February. Details BBC house share Perivale tube nearby, walk to TVC, Hammersmith/Goldhawk Coupdeville Architects. Residential with pool. Sleeps 16. Telephone Wye Valley self catering. Rural, peaceful, estimates. References on request. minutes, Elstree 22 minutes. Details recommended. £595pcm phone and pictures at http://web.me.com/ Road tubes. £825pcm excluding bills. specialists. Shepherd’s Bush based. different. Stunning views, great walking, Contact Damian Telephone 12 minutes White City. BBC housemates. + photos [email protected] Robert on 020 7262 6308 + 44 (0)7860 295574. rfgibb/234/ActonLane.html or call Small bedroom £295pcm. Telephone Telephone 07973 632348 Available immediately. Email References available from BBC clients. Website www.ownersdirect.co.uk/france/ biking, chilling. Country pubs. Website 020 7727 7575 or 07961 357119 or 07778 198106 01895 634610 [email protected] Contact [email protected] FR5765.htm www.chicken-shed.com Email us at [email protected]

To place a classified ad in Ariel please telephone 020 7878 2313 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, you may post your ad to: Ariel Advertising, Ten Alps Media, One New Oxford Street, High Holborn, London WC1A 1NU To place an ad online go to www.bbcarielads.com 

14 Jobs See Attachment  Running                           up ideas                            Director of People                    Lucy Adams tries out          some more junior roles                   with Blue Peter                    Seeing one of my ideas go out on such an icon-      ic show made me feel incredibly proud. The Blue          Peter team are passionate about what they do and     they’re brilliant at doing it – and I got to be one of            them for a day.       I got to do and see so much: from watching AP    Dawn Langan create a complex animation in the           edit suite, to being a runner on the studio floor with           researcher Michelle Ackerley and taking part in an      ideas session for the next big competition with de-        velopment producer Ruairi Curran. I even contrib-          uted to the run-through and watched the show go           out live from the galley.                                                                                                                                         Since joining the BBC I’ve been lucky enough            to visit many productions, including Crimewatch,     Doctor Who, Woman’s Hour, Pobol y Cwm and the Ten           O’Clock News. Understanding how our content and      services are produced, and what matters to the peo-              ple who make them, is a critical part of my job and          it’s something I’ll continue to spend time on.      I joined the BBC because I want to be a part of       this amazing creative organisation. My team and I            feel that we are helping to get great programmes      and services made by providing the best possible         people at the right time and in the right ways.      If BBC People is too remote from how these pro-      grammes and services are made, how do we make      sure the policies and services we provide are fit for            purpose?      We’ve already made a number of changes to           make it easier for people to get recruited and     booked, get paid and get the advice they need and      we have more planned. We know it’s not there yet            but we are being told by our clients that we are def-     initely improving.    Thanks to Tim Levell and the Blue Peter team for         providing me with such a fantastic opportunity     and for allowing me to be part of the show for a day.                  It’s through spending time with each other that my     team will be able to provide a People service which we can all be proud of.   

  Been anywhere nice? Send your     attachment stories to Clare Bolt           

     

14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 16·02·10 What am I doing here 15

The ten-part, biggest series to date starts in device, sold it to BT and sought the Drag- the summer. What are you up to now? ons’ help to take it worldwide. She walked SAM We started on pre-production just be- off with more money than she asked for. fore Christmas and are currently cast- foreign ing our entrepreneurs. I love this pe- As exec producer of the series, catch-up pro- LEWENS riod – seeing who’s out there. For me grammes and specials, you tend to the talent… EXECUTIVE it’s all about the characters. Seeing the That can be, erm, interesting. All five are time, energy and effort some of these very good company, but I wouldn’t want to report people put into their products or busi- cross them! The most difficult part is find- PRODUCER: ness ideas makes me feel inadequate. ing dates when five incredibly successful, busy people can come together for film- DRAGONS’ DEN What are you looking for? ing. We expect a lot of them – around 20 We want a good mix of stories, amazing full filming days at Pinewood with total characters, fantastic ideas and good busi- access plus the investment of their mon- ness opportunities for the panel. Slots ey in the businesses we put before them. are few and far between so our entre- Matthew preneurs must be worthy of their time. Do they advise on investing your BBC millions? Pinsent We don’t set people up for failure. If They never give me tips about invest- we – in production – can spot flaws in ing, but somehow they do on how to sits back and smiles as he their pitches, then the Dragons will do make tv programmes or how to dress so in seconds. And that’s not good tv. or how to call for lunch earlier. reports from vancouver Vancouver has already surprised me as host Do you hold open auditions? What did you do before Dragons’ Den? for the Olympics – the contrast with the Beijing No. We sift through thousands of applica- I worked out of Manchester’s current af- experience is perhaps colouring my judge- tions submitted via our website, but fairs department, producing films for the ment, but it’s nice to be in a city so relaxed we also scour the country’s business One Show. One day it would be murals being with itself around the Games. and entrepreneur fairs in search painted over in Northern Ireland, the next The city is both beautiful and approach- of likely candidates. We have the state of hospital food, then searching for able: today a resident came up as we were teams in London and Manches- potholes with Phil Tufnell. It was an amaz- filming to see if we needed help. He wasn’t ter who see around three times ing array of ideas and experiences, which is fussy what with – an interview, directions as many people as appear on what makes the One Show the success it is. or a hand with our bags. Beijing was a con- the programme. The pitches stant strain to make sure that the world saw are filmed and the series pro- Before that you made a number of series and what China decided it saw. We had a running ducer, producer and I hold docs, including several for BBC Three… competition to see if we could get one of the weekly casting sessions. My favourite was one called Mischief – Is venue security guards to smile at us – here It Cos I Is Black? We took a Muslim pre- it’s a struggle to find one who isn’t. Do you offer advice to senter, a wheelchair user and a white That’s not to say that Canadians don’t the entrepreneurs on guy and filmed them undercover ask- have their hang-ups. They’ve hosted the how to win the Drag- ing for an upgrade in a hotel, or a specific Games twice before – in Montreal in 1976 ons over? meal to be cooked in a restaurant or ap- and in Calgary in 1988 – and while both We can only give guid- plying for jobs. It was entertaining and Games had their stand-out moments, nei- ance on what’s been put Britain’s PC attitudes to the test. ther saw Canadians in the middle of the successful in the past. podium. Several It’s these people’s live- So was programme making in your blood? If we win two countries have lihoods at stake and if Well, my dad Alan is a tv producer who hosted a Games we give the wrong made some amazing films in the arts. When medals of any without winning a advice we would I was growing up he’d be off to interview single event, but be culpable. Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald. I went film- colour it will Canada have man- ing with him and into edits – I loved it. But aged the unfortu- This is the third series you’ve then I rebelled and became a musician. I be a good nate trick twice. worked on; which entrepre- played piano/keyboards in pop bands and This time neurs stand out? jazz duos. My first professional gig was in result for GB around they’ve The olive oil salesman from Debenhams in Oxford at Christmas time. embarked on a series six – a passionate be- White tuxedo, white piano, playing Walk- programme of athlete funding and support liever in the product he ing in the Air. I’d do whatever it took. to rival the best in the world (and they con- wanted to sell along the sider the British summer sports to be a mod- lines of a wine club. He’d Then the big time beckoned… el of excellence) and the medals will surely send you bottles of oil I was in a band called Seafruit who NME vot- follow. Their programme is called Own the just as soon as the olives ed best live act back in the last century. We Podium – a suitably confident title for the were pressed. It was fas- released an album and thought we’d be the scheme, even though one US snowboarder cinating how Deborah next big thing. We weren’t. I went into tv and wryly commented that ‘they can own it all Meaden unpicked this the rest of the band are now working with they like – we’ll just rent it a while’. as a viable business op- Arctic Monkeys or Reverand and the Makers. It’s telling that for almost the first time portunity – we love olive in a global sports event the Canadians are oil on our salads in the sum- Are you still in touch? throwing off the shackles of shyness and

photograph: H mer but his bottles would be Only when I need tickets. understatement to become more like their delivered year round. I love US neighbours: the clash between the US and it in Dragons’ Den when you You returned to the spotlight at the Edin- Canadian men’s ice hockey sides in the mid- CV get down to the nitty grit- burgh Television Festival last year… dle of the Games will be epic. Canadians see Music and Drama I played piano for Jana Bennett in the TV’s ice hockey as ‘their’ sport and the prospect Degree: UW J ty of why multi-millionaires won’t part with their cash. Got Talent session after my bosses put of losing the gold, especially to the US, would from Nottingham Trent Uni OH Drag- N me up for it. It was one of the more sur- taint the Olympic experience for many locals. Career landmarks: And when they do? real experiences in my seven years at the Let the race for medals be the defining ons, obviously. Having one op- We thought that single mum BBC, rehearsing with Jana in the base- yardstick for other nations – we must take portunity to get my presenter, Sharon Wright deserved a ment of TVC with Alan Yentob produc- sporting high ground. Primarily because it’s Max Flint, to do the opening link slot in the Den and it was ing. She has a nice voice, so I enjoyed it. the last event before London where we sit great that the Dragons were impartial to many of the sports, secondly when Michael Jackson walked blown away by what she’d So when you finally opted for tv, did you give because if we win even two medals of any out of court. He did it perfectly. done. She spotted a prob- your dad a call? colour, it will be a good result for Team GB. Spending three days in the lem in threading cables Annoyingly, by the time I’d decided this was It also gives us a chance to sit back and back of a limo driving around between cavity walls what I wanted to do, I’d moved north. Any accept one of the gifts of the Olympics. when someone came doors he might have been able to open were Quite by accident we can be captivated by NY with Gloria Gaynor. to fit her cable tv. in the south. But I’d done bits of running and the sight of people we have never met, com- Family: Wife and three beautiful, She found a solu- researching and I always had the belief I could peting in a sport we have never watched amazing kids (8, 4 and 2). Wife tion, devel- be a producer. I knew the grammar, it wasn’t before. Nordic combined, men’s double luge is beautiful and amazing too! oped her alien, it wasn’t scary; I felt comfortable in the and biathlon, welcome – come on in and let Mag- edits or on shoots. It is the family business. us get to know you. namole Interview by Claire Barrett

> CONTACT SUE LLEWELLYN to suggest a colleague for this feature 16 a 16·02·10 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: Any accusations that the BBC hate fish (see ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off Arielator) have been answered by the results of UPSIDE Therese Coffey is set to become the Pacific Quay’s fifth floor restaurant competition. ▲ first woman MP in Suffolk. The decision sup- Best Soup was production assistant Barbara port manager for Workplace was voted in as Keir’s intriguing Vegetable and Nut, Best Sweet ▲ the Conservative Candidate for Suffolk Coastal went to Stornoway’s Janet Mathieson for her on the first ballot , and as the seat is so safe it’s outrageous Toffee Fudge Cheesecake, while PA ▲ looking like MP status can only be three months Christine Buttinger took Best Main for her dis- away. ‘I’m very excited indeed,’ says Therese. WHO tinctly fishy Coley Fillet with Fennel and Tomato ‘I know people chose me because they think I Sauce. All dishes are being put on the restau- ▲ will be the best person for the job, not because rant’s menu, and each winner also received a I was a woman, but in pioneering terms I will be bottle of wine for their trouble. German-born ▲ WILL BUY? Christine (pictured below) told us she saw the From David Tennant’s ‘iconic pale original recipe on a German celebrity cookery ▲ blue shirt’ to the mysterious Time show, and has tried and tested it many times – Brain (‘of moulded and painted fibre- ‘It’s good for when you’re having ▲ glass, with applied latex veins, having people round as you can pre- internal wiring, length approximately prepare, then just shove it in the ▲ 127cm’) there’s plenty on offer at the oven,’ she advises. Any German- Doctor Who auction. It’s taking place speakers who have had their at Bonham’s in London on February appetites whetted can find ▲ 24 and will provide an opportunity for the original recipe at dedicated Who fans (or ‘Whovians’, as tinyurl.com/fishdish ▲ following in the footsteps of the first woman they are occasionally known in Ameri- doctor Elizabeth Garrett Anderson who was ca) to flash their cash to obtain a wide ‘A pride of 13 lions which ▲ local to Suffolk Coastal.’ Therese has assured variety of items from the show. were being kept in the party that she’ll have moved in to her con- Exciting news – but it begs the cramped condi- ▼ stituency by Valentine’s Day. Suffolk is pretty question, just what do you do with tions in a dilapi- far from Shepherd’s Bush – how’s she going to your treasured piece of memorabilia dated Romanian ▼ manage? ‘I already commute four hours a day, after the endorphin rush of the auc- zoo have flown so there’s not much difference!’ she tells us. tion house wears off and you’re sat to a new home in There’s always the second home option… next to an Imperial Dalek Mk 1 with South Yorkshire,’ ▼ its egg whisk in your face in the cab reported bbc.co.uk DOWNSIDE Everywhere from thefishsite.com home? Surely not everyone last week. And we ▼ to fishnewseu.com has been ablaze with the is equipped with a glass thought the flying news that the BBC has been dissing fish. Thank cabinet and rumpus monkeys in The Wiz- ▼ Scottish Nationalist MP Angus MacNeil, who ta- room suitable for dis- ard of Oz were cool... bled a commons motion to brand BBC Three’s playing the assorted ▼ Britain’s Really Disgusting Food: Fish – which Haemovores, Nava- set out to find the ‘ultimate nasty fish dish’ – rinos and Gastro- It made ▼ ‘totally irresponsible’ for its portrayal of the fish- pod Invaders in the us think that there must ing industry. A BBC spokesman said it featured manner which they be other, more practical a ‘range of views’ but was ‘not an in-depth have become accus- uses for these items than Win a DAB Wi-Fi ▼ examination of the British tomed on their home just sitting on the mantel- fishing industry’. As planets. piece and causing domes- radio with i-Dock ▼ you might expect tic arguments. Take the from its title... huge collection of clothes ▼ up for auction. Who could resist a man who turns up ▼ to a date in a two-piece dinner suit, insists on only being referred to as ‘the Doctor’, and proclaims that he’s clad in ‘the complete costume worn by tenth doctor David Tennant in EARWIGGING the Voyage of the Damned episode of 2007’? If you know your Paul McGann OVERHEARD AT THE BBC from your Sylvester McCoy you might even get to see his sonic screwdriver… …I’m putting raisins in my New owners of a Cyberman suit purse. Don’t ask… could instead utilise this most terrify- ing of Who foes as an effective form of Clock radio looking a bit creaky? …Do you have an interest in child control, rather than just putting Fed up of not being able to play mp3s on your hi- toilets? Are they a hobby it in the shed to get dusty. Kids getting fi? Then try the new Nocturne XP-2 sound sys- out of hand at little Jimmy’s birthday tem. It features a DAB/FM radio with 30 presets, of yours?… party? Surreptitiously don the cos- the ability to play internet radio and tracks from tume, then emerge from the bushes a computer via a Wi-Fi connection, and can play …I’ve eaten his bananas trilling ‘emotion is a weakness!’ and and charge an iPod. Operated via touch sensitive before!… watch those children (and their par- technology or remote control, it contains a dual ents) quiet down. alarm clock with sleep and snooze functions, …You wouldn’t think everything was in order These entirely plausible sugges- which is sure to wake you thanks to the two sev- if you looked in my drawers… tions are just two uses for items in the en-watt speakers and 20-watt subwoofer. auction, and we’re sure you can come We have one XP-2 (rrp £150) to give away. To en- …If I’m a dolphin I’m going to slit my own up with more. Take a look at the Bon- ter to win it, answer this question: The subwoof- ham’s catalogue online, email us your er was first used in a recording session in 1973. wrists… suggestions, and we’ll print the best. What band was being recorded and which album …The sausage pictures don’t fit the words. were they making? Email ariel competitions by Up for grabs, from l to r: a Cyberman, February 22. I need a ham sandwich… The Malus, an Imperial Dalek Mk 1

> IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THE GREEN ROOM, CONTACT ADAM BAMBURY