29.06.10 Week 26 explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel JOHN STOREY JOHN a The BBC Newspaper PENSIONS: ALL CHANGE Final salary link goes n defined contribution scheme proposed n staff to have their say Pages 2 & 10
The heat is on for England’s out of Africa Why it helps to be an the people behind and so are some of the expert if you want to Project Canvas Page 4 BBC team Page 7 be on tv Pages 8-9
> NEWS 2-4 ANALYSIS 10 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 216 News aa 00·00·08 29·06·10 News bites Pension change Solicitor Stephen Sugar has lost a a long battle to gain access to a BBC re- port on its Middle East coverage. The Appeal Court has ruled that the re- Room 2316, White City port is exempt from the Freedom of 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS ahead as £2 billion Information Act under which Sugar 020 8008 4228 originally applied to the BBC in 2005. Editor He fought all the way to the House of Candida Watson 02-84222 Lords and won an Information Tribu- Deputy Editor nal ruling that the document was dis- deficit is revealed closable. That ruling was then over- Cathy Loughran 02-27360 turned – a decision now backed by the Chief Writer and you can continue to accrue more through Appeal Court. Sally Hillier 02-26877 Scheme to be closed to the Scheme, but these will increase by no more Planning Manager than 1% a year. [see table] If you decide to move The SNp has abandoned its legal ac- Clare Bolt 02-24622 new members from to the DC scheme you would become a ‘deferred tion against the BBC over its non-inclu- Broadcast Journalists member’ of the DB scheme and the pension you sion in the third Prime Ministerial de- Claire Barrett 02-27368 December – staff have built up there would be increased to your bate. In a joint statement with the BBC Adam Bambury 02-27410 retirement in line with inflation. it said: ‘Both parties recognise that the Lisette Johnston 02-27630 consultation starts now Younger staff, and those who have only SNP’s application is now academic and Rumeana Jahangir 01 -43756 worked at the BBC a short time, in particular, substantial legal expenses would be in- AV Manager will need to seriously consider their options, as curred on both sides. From the BBC’s by Candida Watson the longer they work, and the more their sala- perspective, that would not serve the Peter Roach 02-24622 ry increases, the further their pension from the interests of licence fee payers.’ Digital Design Executives The BBC wants to effectively end the existing existing scheme will fall behind. David Murray 02-27380 defined benefits [DB] pension scheme – which The present DB scheme means you know BBC Somerset has won the BBC Re- Gary Lonergan 02-84229 for staff on Old and New benefits is linked to what your pension will be, and it will be pegged gions World Cup. Teams representing 11 Team Assistant their final salary. to your final salary. regions took part in the six-a-side foot- Graeme Allister 02-84228 Although members can remain in the A DC scheme takes payments from the em- ball tournament in Bristol. The hosts scheme, future increases to their pensiona- ployer and employee and invests them, with were knocked out on penalties in the Guest contributors this week ble salary would be capped at 1% every year, the proceeds used to buy an annuity on retire- quarter finals, while Somerset, - cap tained by bj Will Richards, beat BBC john o’donovan on the ontology n HOW THE CHANGES WOULD WORK London 1-0 in the final. behind offering comprehensive Word Cup cover online Page 6 Annual increase in salary The College of Journalism and Glo- Salary at Pensionable Salary at Pensionable bal News have produced a dvd to help Simon hoban finds out what sells start of year Salary at Annual Promotional end of year Salary at reporters and stringers learn from the well at Shanghai Expo and how that start of year pay review increase end of year experience of BBC staff around the boosts Merseyside Page 7 world. The interactive disk contains year 1 £30,000 £30,000 0% 0% £30,000 £30,000 videos, how-to guides and a pronun- ciation guide for reporters whose first year 2 £30,000 £30,000 1% 0% £30,300 £30,300 language isn’t English. The key sec- Ariel mail tions have been translated into 21 lan- Candida. [email protected] year 2 £30,300 £30,300 2% 0% £30,906 £30,603 guages. More details at bbc.co.uk/jour- nalism Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel year 4 £30,906 £30,603 2% 2% £32,142 £30,909 BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 BBC Worldwide has appointed Dan- 028 9032 8478 Jobs textphone After four years actual salary has increased to £32,142 and pensionable salary to £30,909 iel Heaf as digital director, a newly cre- BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 ated position, to drive digital develop- Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS though their actual salary might increase at a ment. Annuity rates rise and fall, affecting the ment and business opportunities on a Advertise in Ariel greater rate. amount of income that can be generated by global basis. He joins from Channel 4 Ten Alps Media 020 7878 2313 It follows an interim actuarial evaluation by your investment, which will be linked to stock where for two years he was digital com- www.bbcarielads.com the Scheme Trustees, which revealed that last market conditions when you retire. missioner of 4iP, the company’s digital year the deficit in the pension fund had soared And a defined contribution scheme requires innovation fund. Printing to a staggering £2bn. you to be pro-active. You will need to monitor Garnett Dickinson Group The hole could be even larger this year, and how your fund is doing, so you can increase A charity shop in north London has Rotherham 01709 768000 the BBC estimates filling the gap while retain- contribution rates when investment returns reported a surge of youngsters offering Subscribe to Ariel ing current pension arrangements could see its are poor, or costs rise, otherwise your retire- to help out following a visit by Radio Six months: £26, £36, £40 contribution to the scheme rise to around 10% ment pension will be smaller than you might 1 presenter Tim Westwood. He visited Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 of the licence fee. So the following actions are have expected. Sue Ryder Care in Muswell Hill as part (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world proposed for consultation with staff. For staff who join the DC scheme the BBC of the network’s Local Hero Volunteer- respectively) n Keeping the Scheme open to current mem- is offering to ‘match’ contribution rates, which ing Campaign earlier this year. Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, bers. would start at 4% of salary, and to encourage n From April 1 2011 future increases in pen- greater saving will pay an additional 1% for The next BBC SHORTS evening will be Brookfields Way, Manvers, sionable salary [the salary used to calculate those who contribute 6% or 7% of salary, and in the Council Chamber of Broadcast- Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL your defined benefit pension] will be limited to 2% to those who save 8%. Members can make ing House on Thursday July 1, at 6pm, Tel 01709 768199 a maximum of 1% a year. contributions of more than 8% but those would hosted by Francine Stock. The films, INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY n From December 1 2010 the Scheme will not be ‘matched’. Nor will future pensionable all new, have been made by BBC staff Telephone 0800 0688 159 be closed to new members. After that date new salary increases be limited in the DC scheme, in their spare time. To reserve a seat Ceefax Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 joiners will be offered a defined contribution as they will in the DB scheme. email BBC Shorts, as space is limited. Ariel is produced by Internal [DC] plan, from an external provider. These proposals are sweeping and very im- n Communications for people at the BBC All current Scheme members will be able portant for the future of every member of staff. to choose whether to remain in it or join the The myPension site on Gateway has dedicated The Staff Photography new defined contribution plan for future pen- pages on the consultation, with illustrations of competition, sponsored by sion benefits. how the changes will work and a Q&A. Global News, is launched this There is, at present, no suggestion of raising There is an online modeller from which you week. Everyone in the BBC, the pensionable age, which is 60 for Old and can estimate how the proposed changes might including suppliers, can enter. New Benefit members, and 65 for staff on the affect your pension. There will be pension sem- Categories will be announced Career Average Benefits scheme introduced in inars around the UK, details will be posted on shortly and the competition closes PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL 2006, nor of asking members to pay higher con- the myPension site. on September 9. Entrants can put tributions. To comment email myPensionFeedback or up to three pictures per category If agreed the proposals would directly affect write to the Pension and Benefits Centre, Broad- and up to 10 pictures in all. everyone’s pension, with the exception of staff casting House, Cardiff, CF5 2YQ. The consulta- More details at retiring before April 2011, or those who get pay tion process closes on September 30. http://www.flickr.com/groups/ rises of less than 1% a year. There will be no re- How has it come to this? Chief financial bbcphotocomp2010/ < duction in defined benefits built up to date, officer Zarin Patel explains, p10.
> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 29·06·10 News 3 Yes, those are flames you can see in the bowl photograph: O photograph: by Sally Hillier sizzled, it was a neat way, said the organisers, of showing A young visitor at a Bang visitors, particularly the thou-
livia H livia Goes the Theory roadshow in sands of children who turned London is shown how to light up, that science was cool. emingway steel wool with just the touch On June 30 the team will be at of a battery. The demonstrator the Science Museum, which is is volunteer Ned Yoxall from mounting a special evening of STEMNET (Science, Technol- hands-on activities for over- ogy, Engineering and Maths 18s only, and in August it will Network), which partnered the put on another roadshow, this BBC at the event. time in Hartlepool. A new run The roadshow, the latest in of the programme starts later a series around the UK, was this summer. held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Southbank, to u Bang Goes the Theory wasn’t coincide with the Festival of the only BBC presence on Science + Arts. the Southbank last week. In a Live science sessions with special recording on Friday, the presenters of the popu- Jonathan Ross, novelist Alan lar Bang Goes the Theory pro- Moore and string theorist gramme – Dallas Campbell, Liz Brian Greene joined come- Bonnin, Jem Stansfield and Yan dian Robin Ince and physicist Wong – were held in Queen Brian Cox (see our feature Elizabeth Hall, while an interac- about new talent, pages 8-9) tive area outside gave people for a science-fiction themed the chance to roll up their edition of Radio 4’s The Infinite sleeves and get stuck in to Monkey Cage. The programme some experiments. As the sun was broadcast on Monday. Assignment that left its mark Harry Potter day fails to work its magic on Trust by Cathy Loughran Police made a formal re- Racist Incidents as an area ‘When I returned to quest to view the footage where racial harassment Manchester, just the sight A Harry Potter-themed day of the Harry Potter site did not Over eight weeks last sum- after the Panorama film Un- went on and the team had of groups of boys on bikes on Radio 1 gave undue prom- breach guidelines. mer, undercover Panorama dercover: Hate on the Door- what editor Tom Giles calls made me brace myself, inence to the new Potter film, Partly upholding an appeal reporters Tamanna Rah- step went out last October. ‘very strong evidence’ be- even though I’d never had the BBC Trust has ruled. by the Radio Centre, which had man and Amil Khan were The two men were arrest- fore they got the go ahead any trouble in the city. Oc- The station mounted more not been satisfied with two pre- subjected to relentless ra- ed shortly after transmis- from Editorial Policy to be- casionally I still feel the than 12 hours of special cover- vious responses from the BBC cial abuse, culminating in sion; both admitted racially gin covert filming. anxiety of being back in age last August on the day that and Audio & Music, the editorial violence, on a Bristol hous- aggravated harassment or Growing up and work- Southmead.’ Harry Potter and the Half Blood standards committee conceded ing estate. putting people in fear of vi- ing in Manchester, Rahman A veteran of undercov- Prince was released in cinemas that Harry Potter was a ‘cultural As two of the perpetra- olence. Ganderton was jailed says she had never encoun- er investigations like Under- and launched a Harry Potter phenomenon’ and a legitimate tors were jailed last week cover Soldier and The Secret Day micro site. subject for a themed day. But the for a total of almost four Agent, Wightman moni- In total there were 33 trails committee added: ‘The timing of years, Rahman says the ex- tored Rahman and Khan’s for the day itself, 13 mentions the day made it a valuable com- perience has made her a every move from a near- of the special Radio 1 website, modity to the producers of the different person. by address, although she ten direct references to the new film (a commercial entity). The former religion stayed off the estate to movie and seven comments ‘It was the packaging of the and ethics researcher, avoid drawing any atten- from listeners who had seen or programmes under the Harry who came to Panorama’s tion to the reporters. were about to see the film. Potter Day label, together with attention after a short Hot ‘Their brief was just to While each of the pro- the way in which those pro- Shoes placement on the go about their normal busi- grammes individually complied grammes were trailed and pro- programme, posed with ness. Amil would, as it were, with BBC guidelines on product moted continuously through- freelance journalist Amil leave for work every morn- prominence, the timing of the out the day, which amounted to Khan as a Muslim couple, ing, Tamanna do the shop- coverage and the cumulative ef- undue prominence.’ newly arrived on the pre- ping, clean windows, do a fect of so many trails and men- Andrew Harrison, chief exec- dominantly white, working bit of gardening,’ she says. tions resulted in a breach of the utive of commercial trade body class Southmead estate. ‘They kept themselves to editorial code, the trust said. the Radio Centre, accused the They used hidden ‘body- themselves but the abuse In addition, it found that: BBC of ‘selling listeners short’ rig’ cameras secretly to Undercover: Amil Khan and Tamanna Rahman they encountered came at l verbal references to the by promoting a successful prod- record the tirades of rac- them pretty much from day brand or the film were not used uct and called on the BBC Trust ist verbal abuse they en- one, and most of it was di- sparingly nor were there very to rein in such ‘excessively com- countered, physical threats, for two years and Durnell giv- tered direct racism before rected at Tamanna.’ strong journalistic reasons for mercial behaviour’ by Radio 1. bricks and bottles hurled en 21 months’ youth custody but is now wary of being The programme drew a repeated references The station said it had taken and an assault on Khan on at Bristol Crown Court. targeted. ‘I’m not an emo- BBC One audience of 3.5m, l sufficient care was not tak- note of the findings around tim- the street where they had Produced by Karen Wight- tional or nervous person was the most requested Pano- en to minimise product refer- ings and promotion: ‘In only par- rented a house. man, the investigation was but I was surprised at how rama ever on iPlayer and gen- ences in output designed to ap- tially upholding the complaint, The attacker, 23 year old triggered by comments from much the experience affect- erated the highest web traffic peal to children the panel has made it clear our Sean Ganderton, was filmed Trevor Phillips, head of the ed me,’ she told Ariel. since the strand’s Royal Tele- l the number of references coverage did not amount to en- ordering the reporter to get Equality and Human Rights ‘It could be quite terrify- vision Society award-win- and the manner in which the dorsement of a commercial off the pavement and walk Commission, that having ing, like when I was threat- ning investigation Whatever trails were delivered amounted product and that there was no in the road, before punch- neighbours of a different ened with a brick and al- Happened to Baby P? to undue prominence. undue prominence in individu- ing him in the head. A sec- ethnic background was no most mugged three times. Now a researcher on But the trustees decided there al items during the day,’ ond local man, 18 year old longer an issue in modern The idea that people are un- Rogue Traders, Rahman had been no plugging of the Radio 1 said. ‘We have been Martin Durnell, also joined Britain. dergoing this kind of treat- received this year’s RTS young film in an on-air review, cover- assured that this ruling will not in the abuse, kicking a foot- Southmead had been ment on a regular basis journalist of the year award age did not amount to endorse- prevent Radio 1 from reflecting ball at Rahman and at- identified to Panorama by really got to me,’ says Rah- for her courageous work ment of a commercial product, music and culture in a timely tempting to mug her. the charity Support Against man. undercover. and the creation and trailing fashion in the future.’ 4 News a 29·06·10 We will ‘grow our Full speed ahead for Project Canvas after own’ senior talent BBC Trust says yes
by Sally Hillier lenge. We want to follow the lead set by iPlayer in making the serv- says Thomson There will be no lazy days of ice easy to use and understand.’ summer for the people behind The difference of course is Project Canvas as they work to that Canvas will offer a far greater L: David bring internet-connected tv to the range of output. Viewers will be Graham called living room. able to watch on-demand and for the BBC to The Trust’s approval of the other internet content as well as ‘scale back’ now; BBC’s involvement in the service, ordinary tv, from a range of pro- R: Caroline subject to various conditions, has viders, all through their ordinary Thomson: ‘We at once turned the proposed part- tv sets using a broadband con- must accelerate nership between the corporation, nection. change’ ITV, BT, Five, Channel 4, Talk Talk The conditions laid down by and Arqiva into the real deal. the trust include: ‘We have gone from project n The BBC’s involvement will not team to joint venture and now we exceed the Executive’s estimated
by Cathy Loughran ‘more for less’ and ‘restraint’ on obligations’ that should consid- pay was a part of that, but it was er moving to a variety of funding The BBC is to spell out the ‘dis- ‘not starting from year zero’. Over- methods, including subscription count’ against market rates that heads had already been halved to and possibly advertising. senior managers accept to work at 12 percent since 1999, with a com- The BBC should reduces its the corporation, and it’s likely to mitment to lowering that to nine scale now, not later, Graham said, be in double figures, says chief op- percent by 2016. preserving ‘core’ public service erating officer Caroline Thomson. And while talent was ‘the life- content, but rethinking its activ- Along with a push to develop blood’ of the BBC, the organisa- ities in areas like entertainment, more home grown talent to reach tion was ‘not afraid to walk away BBC Worldwide and some foreign higher levels across the company, from deals that don’t offer value’, operations. costs (£27.4m over it would be part of a new policy said Thomson, referring to the de- Arguing against scaling down, five years) by more on senior manager pay now being cision not to outbid ITV for Chris- Steven Barnett, professor of com- than 20 percent developed, she told the Future of tine Bleakley. munications at the University of have to get it up and running,’ says n Users will be able to access the Broadcasting conference in Lon- On the strategy review, Thom- Westminster said: ‘It defies be- project director Richard Halton. service free-to-air, though they don on Monday. son said the ambition to put qual- lief that [some people] are incapa- One of the first jobs is to draw may be charged for additional pay ‘More talent will be trained to ity first and focus all content cre- ble of seeing the greatness of the up and ratify a shareholders’ services that third parties might senior manager level,’ as opposed ation around Mark Thompson’s institution and can only whinge agreement and also a delivery choose to provide via the Canvas to hiring in so many senior peo- five priorities could only be done about its size,’ when it safeguard- plan, he explains. At one stage it platform ple from the commercial sector: if the licence fee was made to ed original UK production and was hoped that the set top boxes n Accessibility and usability fea- ‘Grow our own’ will be our poli- ‘work harder’: ‘We must acceler- was recognised around the world that will be required to receive tures, such as audio description, cy and slogan from now on,’ she ate change.’ as a ‘civilising force’. content on the tv via broadband should be incorporated into the added. n A motion that the BBC should To the suggestion from David would be in the shops by Christ- core technical specification and/or The more transparent remuner- ‘substantially scale back its activ- Wheeldon of BskyB that the BBC mas. That is no longer realistic user interface as soon as reason- ation policy would include greater ities’ was pretty substantially de- should accept the same 25 per- and April 2011 now looks the likely ably possible clarity about the discount – com- feated on day one of the Future of cent cutbacks as the rest of the launch date. The trust’s decision follows an pared to the commercial sector – Broadcasting event. public sector, Barnett said that A dedicated Canvas office is al- extensive assessment and discus- that senior salaries at the BBC took One-time BBC current affairs would ‘destroy’ the organisation. ready operating in the Broadcast sion over the past year, including into account. The percentage cut producer and founder of Diverse He did however think that any- Centre in W12 and a management four formal public consultations. that represented would be in the Productions David Graham put one at the BBC earning more than team of 12, including Anthony In March the project partners ‘tens’, Thomson said. the case, arguing that the BBC was £150k should take a voluntary pay Rose as chief technology officer, submitted the venture to the Of- In the current economic cli- now ‘a subsidised entertainment cut of five percent – and should is in place with around another 80 fice of Fair Trading for considera- mate, the BBC realised it had to do firm with some non-commercial have done years ago. people also involved. tion of whether it constituted a Many are engineers and de- relevant merger. The trust delayed signers charged with developing its final decision pending the OFT’s the technical specification. decision, which came on May 19, Halton does not underestimate concluding that Canvas did not Let the games begin on School Report the scale of the task ahead. ‘This constitute a relevant merger. is a very complex project, involv- The view from the trust, says Di- this is National School Sport produce filmed, audio or writ- around the world talking about ing sophisticated hardware and ane Coyle, trustee and chair of the week in England and Wales, and ten reports about sport, and up- sport with each other. software systems, and integrating trust’s Strategic Approvals Com- School Report is marking it with load them on their school web- The BBC Philharmonic have it all is a big challenge.’ mittee, is that Project Canvas will its first Sports Day on July 1, part site. The BBC News School Report composed and recorded a special Complex it might be, but the deliver ‘significant public value’. of a month of sport reporting website will have a dedicated sec- jingle for the show, which will be aim is to make Canvas as simple The BBC’s involvement will be which also coincides with the tion with links to all the schools’ broadcast from 12-2pm. and user-friendly as possible, he reviewed against the conditions World Cup and Wimbledon. sites, and will also provide a live news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/school_re- says. ‘There is a consumer chal- of its approval, 12 months after Just as in the annual School Re- feed of a special Sports Day radio port/school_report_sports_day/ lenge as well as a technical chal- launch. port day each March, pupils will show, with young reporters from default.stm> a 29·06·10 Features 5 curtain up in cardiff bay
rent accommodation for Casualty is But then along came the Doctor. ▲ Who’s that: Rodney Berman, Car- Work begins on purpose built clearly inadequate, everybody who ‘Can Wales really make these diff Council; Menna Richards, direc- works on it will tell you,’ explains shows?’ There was a lot of that when tor BBC Cymru Wales; Mark Hallett, centre of excellence for drama Hudson. ‘It makes sense to concen- we first said we were going to make Igloo regeneration; Clare Hudson, trate assets and resources into a big Doctor Who,’ recalls Hudson. ‘There BBC Cymru Wales; John Worrell, Vinci by Rumeana Jahangir say, it’s all occurrin’ in south Wales. hub like the drama centre.’ was a huge gap of credibility that we Construction UK; Chris Munday, head Construction started last week on The expansion will help BBC Cym- had to overcome.’ of Property Funding for the Welsh As- Doctor Who, Merlin, Ashes to Ash- a new BBC drama centre at Cardiff ru Wales fulfil its 2016 target of pro- She thinks the hard work of the sembly at the site of the new drama es …’ It’s like a greenhouse, isn’t it?’ Bay, to replace the two current studi- ducing around 5 percent of network crews and the show’s consequent suc- production centre in Cardiff Bay says Clare Hudson, head of English os in the area. Casualty and the BBC’s output, as outlined by the BBC’s out- cess proved the sceptics wrong, and programmes in Wales, referring to longest-running tv soap Pobol Y Cwm of-London strategy. In fact, staff in was the catalyst for the rise in net- The BBC has teamed up with the the production environment that (The Valley People) will start filming Wales are hoping to reach that figure, work production. The BBC’s decision Welsh Assembly and Cardiff Council is springing up in Cardiff. ‘The best at the base in autumn 2011, with Doc- which roughly reflects the country’s to build the new drama centre dem- to build the base, and will rent the conditions for all this fantastic crea- tor Who and its CBBC spin-off The Sa- share of the UK population, by 2012. onstrates that it has ‘enormous faith space it uses, only paying to fit out tive planting to grow.’ rah Jane Adventures moving in during It’s a stark contrast to the state of in Wales’s ability to deliver’, she adds. the building. Add current Bristol stalwart Casu- 2012. Welsh drama a decade ago, which ‘I think that’s something very pow- It’s hoped the site will become a alty – which is shifting across the Sev- Casualty’s controversial transfer to Hudson has previously described as erful for a relatively small country focal point for Wales’s creative indus- ern Bridge next year – and upcoming Cardiff is part of the BBC’s plans to ‘dispiriting’, with network executives like Wales, with quite a fragile econ- tries, developing local talent but also shows Sherlock and Upstairs Downstairs, develop a sustainable centre of excel- favouring stereotypical depictions in- omy, to have a very iconic investment attracting people working in drama and, as Gavin and Stacey’s Nessa might lence for drama in Wales. ‘The cur- volving choirs and coal miners. which is what this drama centre is.’ from across the UK. Birmingham brings home the bacon
by Lisette Johnston by the department. The division has and the annual Food and Farming No snout about it as Mailbox is grown significantly since Thorman Awards from London to Birmingham Not many people would laugh at a took over in 1995 when there was a by April next year will unite all things made new centre of rural affairs pair of pigs digging up their orchard, small team producing radio geared rural under one roof. but for Andrew Thorman, it is just one towards the farming community. Now ‘Bringing the food programmes to of many adventures he has encoun- more than 40 people are responsible Birmingham makes sense because tered as a result of his love of the for radio programmes, including Open I think there is a renewed interest in countryside. The BBC’s head of rural Country, On Your Farm, Costing the Earth understanding where our food comes affairs in England says he doesn’t and Ramblings with Clare Balding on from so there is a synergy between ‘have a job’ but a great lifestyle work- Radio 4. Farming Today reaches more the two,’ Thorman explains. ‘I’m very ing in Birmingham on factual pro- than 800,000 listeners a week. chuffed about becoming a rural cen- grammes for radio and tv. ‘I’ve been Countryfile editor for 12 tre. People tell me I’ve got an inter- And his love of the outdoors im- years, and it’s now the most watched esting job and I tell them I don’t – I’ve bues his home life too. Having previ- factual programme on television,’ got a fantastic lifestyle, and it is a real ously bred ewes, three years ago he Thorman enthuses. The BBC One show privilege to do the work I do.’ traded them for a pair of Kune Kunes, regularly tops Sunday’s tv ratings with All the programmes will be housed a rare breed of pig from New Zealand, six million viewers. in the Mailbox in Birmingham, but that which graze on grass rather than dig- ‘It used to be a successful farming is not the end of the potential changes ging up the ground to feast on worms. programme and now I would say it’s for Thorman. His remit also covers The male, Mr Piggy, is a pet but his a programme about the countryside some production for the Asian Net- sister, Mrs Piggy, is used for breeding with a focus on food and the country. work, whose future shape depends on and has just given birth to a second lit- We have made farming into fashion- the outcome of the strategic review. . ter of eight piglets. able television. ‘We make documentaries for them The new additions arrived as BBC ‘It offers the opportunity to visit the and I am determined we will continue Birmingham becomes the corpora- countryside from your armchair. I think to serve those audiences and produce tion’s centre for rural output in Eng- it was amazingly astute to move it to a Asian content for non-Asian audienc- land. Tv favourites such as Countryfile, primetime slot.’ es too,’ Thorman says. Gardeners’ World, the Chelsea Flower Fully moving The Archers, and Until that time, he has a litter of pigs Show and Coast are now produced bringing Radio 4’s Food Programme, to tend to. Andrew Thorman and pals 6 Features a 29·06·10
Calling all budding photographers: Ariel is on ONCAMERA the hunt for creative and beautifully framed pictures
We want your pictures! Send us images which capture you and your team at work – whether that’s behind the scenes at Strictly or recording an OB from your local flower show.
The image which starts our series was taken by Sarah Ward and shows Dave Clutterbuck at Glastonbury. Camera operator Dave works for BBC Bristol, and was filming for local and national news.
If you have an image which you feel the world – or at least the inner world of the BBC – needs to see then send it to Lisette Johnston >lisette.johnston @bbc.co.uk<
Glimpse of the web to come, in 800 pages
content and managing the site then World Cup site is toughest test yet changes from publishing stories and index pages, to one where you pub- for smarter tagging technology lish content and check the suggested tags are correct. The index pages are published automatically. This proc- by John O’Donovan previous methods for doing this have ess assures us of the highest quality proven to be inaccurate and there is output, but still saves large amounts Underneath the surface of the no point in having all these pages if of time in managing the site. World Cup web site there is a revolu- the quality of them is perceived to be From these simple relationships tion going on in the technology and low. You wouldn’t want to get stories and building blocks you can dynam- workflow used to manage and publish mixed up between different players ically build up incredibly rich sites content. First some background… with the surname Ronaldo. and navigation on any platform. The World Cup site is a large site The key change is that we’re using To make this possible there has with about 800 aggregation pages some advanced methods for analys- been fantastic support from the Sport (index pages). Examples of these are ing the content in stories and decid- team, engaging with new tools and the pages for each team, right down ing how to tag them with metadata workflows. We’re looking forward to to the page for every player. These are which is then used to describe how the London Olympics, where there designed to lead you on to the thou- stories can be organised for publish- will be over 12,000 athletes and index sands of story pages and content ing. Another way to think about this pages to manage and so without this which make up the site. is that we are not publishing pag- type of technology, we will not max- Normally, managing 800 index es, but publishing content as assets data). Generally a concept repre- fixtures, venues and other data about imise all the content we have, which pages for the World Cup would just which are organised by the metada- sents a person, place or thing. Each the event. These are linked by the on- is the end goal here. not be possible as each needs to be ta dynamically into pages. of these concepts is accurately and tology into meaningful relationships Overall, this is great innovation curated by an editor, keeping it up to The principles behind this are at uniquely described to distinguish it by rules such as ‘teams play games at from the BBC as we are the first to use date. And that total is larger than the the foundation of the next phase of from something else which is simi- venues’. With each concept having this technology on such a high pro- number of index pages on the whole the internet – the ‘semantic web’. A lar or has the same name, and then a unique identifier and the context file event. That puts us at the cutting BBC Sport site. fundamental difference with the se- all concepts are linked together in a provided by the ontology, the analy- edge of development for the next So how is this possible? Clear- mantic web is in the accuracy with meaningful way using an ‘ontology’. sis can distinguish between concepts phase of the internet, Web 3.0. ly some form of automation is re- which content is described though For example, the basis of the World such as players with the same name. John O’Donovan is chief technical quired, but search technologies and concepts (sometimes called linked Cup structure is the players, teams, The editorial workflow for creating architect, FM&T (Journalism) a 29·06·10 Features 7 foreign Lions did it for us report scured the dramatic Table Moun- England may tain backdrop. But he speaks to Ariel on ‘a glorious, sunny day’ be out of Africa, and reports that the Cape Town landmark has remained visi- but they did ble and imposing throughout. ‘If the weather does fail, we can Simon just enough to spin round to the city’s football Hoban stadium, 500 yards away, which land the BBC has been lit up each night.’ Radio Merseyside presenter The exec remains mindful of the big one security, especially after two 5 goes to the Shanghai Expo live journalists were victims of a gun- point mugging in Jo- There are a few competitions that Shanghai by Claire Barrett hannesburg. ‘There would win easily. It would win a ‘No honestly we is a different at- can get this eye-poppingly tasteless skyscraper The ball was too light. The vu- mosphere there,’ up in no time’ competition; it would win a ‘You’ll vuzelas were too loud. The foot- Bigwood says. ‘It’s be genuinely fortunate to survive this taxi ride’ ball was too dull. Robert Green’s Sun city: At least the weather’s not a place you’d competition; it would also win a ‘Look I don’t see hands were too greasy... Early held for Lee Dixon, Alan Hansen want people walk- what the problem is. They eat sausages; surely World Cup niggles have now been and Gary Lineker in the Cape ing around in the this won’t harm them?’ competition. laid to rest as the tournament set- Town studio; and (right) the evening.’ Although Ok, none of them is ever likely to happen but tles into its knock out phase. production team at work there have been no you get my drift. The underachieving England major incidents Shanghai is crazy, chaotic, exciting and de- team may be back in Britain, but on the television pressing all at the same time. After a week there, they won the World Cup for the side, he remains I was bewildered. And thinner. Much thinner. BBC last Wednesday when Jer- Vuvuzelas vigilant and con- (You don’t need to know too much about the main Defoe’s shin steered the getting the fans talking. The flood tinues to point his team to the Chinese banquet on the first night, suffice to Three Lions into the last 16. of complaints about the over- pre-tournament warnings. say that whatever undisclosed meat I crunched Phil Bigwood, exec producer, were a powering din of the vuvuzelas Bigwood sympathises with into came back to bite me at 3.30 the next had gambled on Fabio Capello’s has reduced to a trickle. Initially ITV’s ill-timed loss of its HD morning.) team getting out of the group. viewed as public enemy number transmission – which coincided It’s a city where numbers are everything: 20 He’d sacrificed England’s first shock for one, the plastic horns are now re- with Steven Gerrard’s deft strike million people, 12,000 skyscrapers since 1989, two matches to ITV in return for garded with some affection, like into the back of the net during 15th in World GDP rankings...just below Austral- exclusive rights to the third en- a vulgar but good humoured un- England’s opener – all too aware ia. All that, and central heating is illegal (don’t counter – on paper an unappeal- European cle. ‘I think they were a bit of a that it could happen to the BBC. ask me why). For Liverpool, the number that ing, and surely academic, after- shock for European viewers at ‘The technology has bedded counts is £50 million. noon kick-off – and any knock out first, but people are becoming down, but it’s been very wor- That’s the amount it is fixtures until the semi finals. viewers more accustomed to them,’ says rying at times,’ he admits. ‘It’s The Chinese hoped will come the ‘We were so lucky last Wednes- Bigwood, who has spurned offers been a heroic effort from our city’s way in the form day,’ he sighs, with palpable re- Argentina who beat Mexico. from technical bods to banish the technical guys, dealing with con- are flattered of investment through lief. ‘The weather was fantastic, ‘The first group games are al- buzz from BBC broadcasts. ‘They nectivity and power issues. But its presence at the the studio looked great and Eng- ways cagey, nervous affairs,’ says are part of football in South Af- because of the distances involved Liverpool is World Expo. land won the chance to play Ger- Bigwood, who’s sticking with rica,’ he argues, ‘and everyone and the fact that South Africa’s The Expo is, and many exclusively on the BBC. In Spain for the title. ‘Defeat means from Fifa to Desmond Tutu wants infrastructure is totally new, I’d interested here’s another figure, terms of profile, that’s as big as it an uphill battle to qualify, but as them to stay.’ never say it’s been cracked.’ the third biggest event gets. I should have bought a lot- soon as you move into the final Bigger worries, coming into With the departure of more in them, and in the world after the tery ticket.’ group games the football tends the tournament, were the weath- than half the nations from the Olympic Games and Nearly 20m people tuned in to improve. We had some great er and the safety of his staff. Giv- competition, some BBC vt pro- it’s in their the World Cup. on Sunday afternoon as Germa- stories from the pitch – from the en the investment around the ducers and commentators have It’s a kind of global ny swept any hint of an England USA’s injury time winner against BBC’s glass-walled, hill-topping, come home. Those at the Eng- nature to shopping mall, where revival aside with a 4-1 victory Algeria to Portugal’s 7-0 thrash- revolving studio, Bigwood was land camp are now packing away countries and cities in Bloemfontein. Sunday’s other ing of North Korea.’ concerned that an unkind South their kit – together with a na- reciprocate show off their wares last 16 tie was a 3-1 goal fest for Finally it’s the football that’s African winter could have ob- tion’s dreams. and try to grab a slice of the millions in Chi- nese investors’ bank accounts. So why is Liverpool the only UK city to have a pavilion at the Expo? The business experts tell me we have a ‘spe- I’m quite attached to the Germans cial relationship’ with Shanghai. We’ve been twinned with it for more than a decade, and the Paul Birch has a few vuvuzelas stashed in became an expert in eight teams. Cape Town, I went to the two nil nil draws and waterfront there is a remarkable replica of the his suitcase – souvenirs of his stint in South ‘North Korea were a nightmare,’ he admits. missed Portugal’s 7-0 win over North Korea.’ Liver and Port buildings, a throwback to the two Africa. ‘I can’t see them taking off in English ‘They didn’t even have a press office, but I’ve The exhilarating city atmosphere of the cities’ historic trading relationship. grounds,’ muses the sports bj. ‘In the stadium become quite attached to the Germans. Espe- opening day, when South Africa were playing The Chinese are flattered that Liverpool is they create a good buzz, but it’s nicer to hear cially since one of my all time heroes, Jurgen and the horns were blowing all night long, has interested in them, and it’s in their nature to singing. I suppose it’s what you’re used to.’ Klinsmann, has been a regular BBC pundit.’ subsided along with the host nation’s reciprocate. One expat, Chris, told me: ‘If you’re There wasn’t much singing in the BBC’s When one of ‘his teams’ plays live on the hopes. ‘Apart from the bunting, friends with a Chinese man and you sneeze, he Cape Town office to drown out the horns dur- BBC, Birch sits in the studio beside Gary it’s hard to know there’s a World will drop everything and not rest until he’s sure ing England’s ‘pathetic’ exit from the World Lineker and co, feeding them news lines, Cup going on,’ Birch tells Ariel. you’re well. If you’re not friends, he would walk Cup. ‘We were disappointed, angry and frus- statistics and ‘stupid bits of information’. ‘There is a definite menace in by even if you were dying in the street.’ trated,’ says Birch, who confesses to having a He also pens previews for each game and the air after dark,’ he adds. ‘I In other words, Liverpool can expect to win soft spot for the Germans. provides editorial support during the 10-13 was in a restaurant the other just by being at the Expo. ‘Germany are one of my teams,’ he ex- hour days. night and a guy tried to pick my There are whispers of deals, but the head- plains. Before the World Cup, Birch and three He doesn’t get out much – ‘I pockets. But I suppose it’s lines won’t be written just yet. And whatever in- fellow bjs compiled a book – 460 pages of couldn’t tell you much about Cape no different to walking vestment this Expo might bring to Liverpool, it’ll facts, player and tactical profiles – for the pre- Town’ – but has taken in a couple of around Shepherd’s Bush never match the pace of change in Shanghai. senters, commentators and pundits. Each bj matches. ‘Of the three games in at night.’ 8 9 Grow your own enthusiast
Like Brian Cox, James Wong exudes charisma Grow Your Own Drugs was a big success, not least, and youthful exuberance. In his case, he really is according to one reviewer, because its fresh, youthful. Last year he made his name aged just 27 young presenter had ‘a terrific knack of making it with BBC Two’s Grow Your Own Drugs . all seem so exciting’. Alarming title aside, this turned out to be an Not only that, he has an impressive knowledge informative and entertaining guide to the health of his subject. Wong obtained a Masters in ethno- properties of plants, with the affable Wong, who botany (the study of the relationships between In With the new was inspired by his Malaysian grandmother, ex- people and plants) from the University of Kent plaining how to cultivate and make simple rem- and in 2004 became the youngest medal winner edies from stuff found in gardens, hedgerows at the Hampton Court Flower Show. and even window boxes. This year he featured in the BBC’s Chelsea He struck a chord with the many people who Flower Show coverage after creating a rainforest- are interested in a more natural way of life, and themed garden for Malaysia Tourism. They’re passionate, engaging, know how to tell a story and are experts in their field. Meet the latest generation of television presenters. Sally Hillier reports
The moons of jupiter, the rings very easy decision to say go and do a of Saturn and a luminous new star screen test and see if it works.’ – just some of the images from BBC This isn’t It did and now Macintyre is signed Two’s Wonders of the Solar System, the up to present a documentary based star of course being its presenter on his book Operation Mincemeat, Rock on Brian Cox. just about the true story of a World War II Articulate, charismatic, full of deception by Britain against Germany. Brian Cox is more than just a broke up that same year. boyish enthusiasm, although he’s ac- And good for him. But isn’t all this physicist. He’s a PR dream: a pop star Meanwhile Cox, who as a toddler tually 42, Cox is among a new wave seeing just a way of getting presenters on turned physicist. was captivated by the television im- of presenters who are making an the cheap at a time when the BBC is In the late 80s he played keyboard ages of the first lunar landing, spark- impact. Think Alastair Sooke (Modern under intense scrutiny over what it with the band DARE. When the group ing a lifelong interest in the solar Masters), James Wong (Grow Your Own who looks pays its stars? split in 1992 he left music to study system, gained a first class honours Drugs) and Laverne Antrobus (The Biol- Asked about this, Jana Bennett physics, or so he thought. Just a year degree in physics and a PhD in high ogy of Dads for BBC Four’s Fatherhood is clear: ‘We want to make value for later he was asked to join D: Rream energy particle physics . season). good on money programmes and [using] new who went on to have a number of He’s now a professor at the Univer- What makes them different from faces, who obviously are not going hits including, notably, the 1997 New sity of Manchester and Royal Society the Dimblebys and Palins of this to start at the top of the pay scale, is Labour election song Things Can research fellow and is also involved world is that they are experts on the the box part of that,’ she concedes. ‘However, Only Get Better. Actually, things only with the Large Hadron Collider project subject they are presenting, wheth- our first thought is not ‘oh, we need got worse for D: Ream because they in Switzerland. er it’s history, science, agriculture or to get someone cut-price’ but ‘we culture. need someone who is interesting and Cox, for example, is a par- Specialist: Psychologist can help tell a story’.’ ticle physicist; Sooke, an arts Laverne Antrobus, presenter of In any case, she adds: ‘This is not a trying his hand at a Matisse cut-out of films requiring a presenter has in- critic with extensive writing BBC Four’s The Biology of Dads move away from trusted commenta- and taking Dali’s hovering fried egg creased. ‘A lot of programmes used experience; Wong, a botanist; Antro- tors such as David Dimbleby, Jeremy for a walk.’ to be voiced by a narrator; that is no bus, a child psychologist. Paxman and Andrew Marr. There’s Not the kind of gimmicks that longer the case.’ Height of enjoyment What is going on? Well, just as room for them as well, but it’s impor- would be required on radio which, He is on a mission, he says, to ‘cre- Wong has been beavering away with tant to keep investing in the next gen- says Simon Elmes, creative director of ate a new generation of history faces’ his drugs, or rather exploring the me- eration, particularly in factual where features and documentaries, has al- although they do not all have to be Asked to make a television tor, Beard has virtually no tv experience. dicinal properties of plants, so the specialisms help to define what the ways developed specialist presenters. young. Or male. documentary based on her book on ‘I used to think that making television BBC has been busy cultivating fresh BBC is about.’ ‘The idea of going with a [big star] ‘It’s obvious that there is a pre- Pompeii, classicist Mary Beard admits meant being forced to say things you talent. It’s a view echoed by BBC Two con- for documentaries is purely a tv de- ponderance towards men – the histo- she was ‘apprehensive at first’ but then didn’t want to say and waiting around a And not just in an any old ‘let’s see troller Janice Hadlow who says that vice,’ he asserts. ry boys, if you like, and I’m keen to decided she would be ‘mad not to do it’. long time to say it.’ ‘Witty natural’ who looks good on the box’ kind of using people who know their subject Nonetheless, he adds: ‘The age of redress the balance.’ For one thing it would be an opportu- Her fears proved groundless; she loved way but as part of a proper thought- is crucial to programme credibility. the celebrity news presenter is a phe- That is is why, alongside the afore- nity for a mature woman – ‘I’m the other the week filming in Pompeii and would out strategy, a key aim of which, says ‘Even then, simply knowing your nomenon that has begun a little to mentioned Ben Macintyre and histo- side of 50,’ she says – to make a mark happily do it all again. ‘I would encour- makes her move director of Vision Jana Bennett, is ‘to stuff is not enough,’ she adds. take root in radio, with clever Evan rians Richard Miles (presenter of An- among the traditional ranks of male age other academics to do tv as it’s such a support and nurture the authori- ‘You have to want to com- Davis being deployed in a number of cient Worlds) and Robert Bartlett (The history presenters. good way of telling a story to people you ties for the future’. municate that knowledge capacities, and Andrew Marr in a se- Norman Season), the BBC has signed Although a regular radio contribu- wouldn’t normally reach,’ she says. Professor amanda vickery, Daughter had just been published, So where have they come to others. Appearing on ries on English history – but it was up Mary Beard, Amanda Vickery and presenter of the forthcoming and she gave an interview to our from, these new authorities? television is a big deal and his original idea, so Radio 4 was keen Lucy Worsley. three-part tv series Behind Closed local paper,’ Burke explained. Often they come to programme it’s not for everyone. You for him to present it.’ Beard, professor of classics at Cam- Doors (provisional title) is already ‘Something about the makers’ attention through the have to want to do it.’ Elmes adds that in radio it tends bridge University, is making a one-off well known to Radio 4 listeners for A interview made me think books and academic papers Few people look as if not to be the commissioners who film about Pompeii; Vickery, profes- History of Private Life. she would be good on they have written. they want to do it more choose the presenters. ‘We offer a sor of modern history at Royal Hollo- In this 30 part series, which the radio. Her liveliness Ben Macintyre, for exam- than Alastair Sooke who slate of names and they [the pro- way, is bringing the Georgian home started last year, she revealed the and sense of fun came ple, the author of a number is still only in his 20s. gramme makers] indicate a prefer- back to life in a three-parter, and hidden history of home over 400 across, even in a print of history best sellers, was ‘Alastair is new to pre- ence. But the ideas are just as likely Worsley, chief curator of the Royal years, drawing on first-hand ac- interview. I was right. introduced to Martin Dav- senting and a natural – or more likely – to come from pro- Historic Palaces, is presenting a new counts from letters and diaries When we met I realised idson, commissioning communicator,’ notes duction rather than be an initiative series on how homes have evolved Vickery has lectured on all as- that her warmth and her editor, BBC History, by an Mark Bell, commission- from the commissioning editor.’ into what they are today – and how pects of British social, political and quick wit made her a independent television ing editor, Arts, in a re- Back in telly land, history com- their inhabitants’ relationship with cultural history from the 17th centu- radio natural.’ company. cent blog. ‘He knows missioning editor Martin Dav- them has changed over time. ry to the present, and in a BBC blog Now Vickery is making ‘I’d been interest- about the arts and talks idson points out that more pre- Getting this female trio on board published to coincide with A History the transition to televi- ed in his books for years about it in a clear and senters – whether specialist ‘is not tokenism’, insists Davidson. of Private Life, radio producer Eliza- sion and enjoying every but had never met him,’ memorable way. And he’s or not – are now required, not Rather: ‘They are writers, academics beth Burke recalled how she came minute. ‘TV seems Davidson explains. ‘When a good sport, too – dress- because the BBC is producing more and thinkers who absolutely merit across her ten years ago. very natural to me,’ we got together, it was a ing up as Andy Warhol, history, but because the proportion the spotlight of television.’ ‘Her book The Gentleman’s she told Ariel. 10 Opinion/Analysis a 29·06·10 Longer lives mean pension changes have to happen
Almost every one of us will be affected by the sweeping changes the BBC wants to make to the pensions system. Chief Financial Officer Zarin Patel has been telling Ariel why the corporation believes that there is no alternative to the proposals
Interview by Candida Watson the scheme. What I am really anxious about is that we, as an This is the end of the final salary scheme, isn’t it? organisation, offer clear advice and support so people understand the situation and can make This is keeping open the defined benefit scheme. informed decisions. These are life changing The benefit is defined, the contribution rate var- choices we are asking people to make. We are ies. The BBC will still take the investment risk, asking people to [guess] how long they will be and the risk that people will live a lot longer, working, what sort of pay they will be earning, so it is absolutely a defined benefit scheme. To what will happen to inflation. go to the heart of the issue, pensions are cost- ing more and more, they are a larger and larger Those are very difficult things for a lay person to burden on the licence fee payer and we’ve had do, and in the past the pensions industry has not to think really hard about who pays for that. always offered good advice. Company after company is closing their final salary scheme. In our organisation we have The accountants KPMG are going to run clin- people coming in and out. If you are in FM&T ics so staff can really understand the options. If you come for a while and move to another em- we believe people need more advice we will of- ployer; if you are in journalism, or nations and fer that. We were anxious that whoever offered A&M you might come for a career. So we want- this advice were dispassionate, that they were ed to have pension provision that was flexible. not making money from it, that it was freely For us the important thing was to keep some el- available. ement of defined benefit open, but to recognise We have had to ask if we can take our staff with that circumstances have changed. us on this, but if we do nothing it means we
But for many staff it was still a final salary scheme, it is no longer that is it? ‘Pensions are costing No. In 2007, when we moved to Career Average more and more, they are Benefits, we broke the link with final salary. Times have changed. In the past the BBC had a a larger burden on the link to inflation with the licence fee. We don’t have that any more and I can’t envisage a peri- licence fee payer, we od when we will again. It is becoming increas- ingly difficult to support the rising costs of the have to think about who scheme. pays for that’ Zarin Patel How did the deficit grow to £2bn? The last esti- mate was £470m. are asking the licence fee payer to stump up the cash and we would have found that really hard listen during the consultation, hear concerns, save more for retirement because they need the Investment markets fell, and our liabilities in- to justify. We’ve been thinking about these re- see if we can do anything about them – I think money now. creased because people are living longer. The forms for a while and expected to have to make one of the things we will hear back will be investment markets have recovered and our as- changes in about 2014. It’s come sooner, partly what happens in a high inflation environment? I believe as a responsible employer we should sets have come back up to £8.2bn, but the costs because people are living longer, partly because What happens if in 20 or 30 years time asset re- be encouraging people to save. We should be of providing pensions have rocketed to £10bn. of the markets. For every one year increase in turns are so low you will need the state to pro- trying to make it easy for people to save. Any- And that’s largely because we are in a low inter- life expectancy the BBC has to pay £35m extra vide a pension? thing else is leaving a legacy for our successors. est rate environment and will be for a consider- into the pension fund. I emphasise, I really encourage people to take able period of time, so the funding has got out To pick up on that last point, what will happen part in the consultation, take advantage of the of balance. Do you expect staff to agree to these proposals? if the annuity rate when you retire is so low you advice. Over the last five years, while we’ve been reform- What happens if they reject them? can’t live off it, as has happened recently? ing pensions, we have been thinking about dif- And after the consultation these proposals will ferent benefit structures. The BBC pays more, I hope they will understand the reasons why we Those are difficult questions. What the BBC is go through, won’t they? employees themselves are paying more than have to make the changes, and that the alterna- trying to get to is to ensure that we have a rea- they used to and this change means taking less tives, asking the licence fee payer for more, or sonable pension provision, but that the employ- I think they will substantively go through. But pension, but the key elements of a DB scheme taking money out of programmes and putting er, or as it is for us, the licence fee payer, is no we will listen, to see if things need to be shaped are still in place. We thought long and hard it in pensions, would be a really unpopular longer taking all of the risks for ever and a day. differently. What would happen if there were about every conceivable option. choice. I really feel it would impact the next periods of intensive inflation, would we need to For staff who decide that they will move to the charter, the next licence fee settlement. This comes just after many staff have been told put in some kind of underpinning? DC scheme, it is riskier, they will have to make So I hope that staff will understand why we are they are not getting a pay rise, taxes are going up, We’ve got to be open – this has to be a genuine a lot more decisions, they will have to monitor making these changes. It’s important that we costs are going up; people might feel they can’t consultation.
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This is the page that everybody reads. Please email [email protected] You can also contribute to the mail page directly from the Ariel Online home page mail Only One way to go The BBC flexed its muscles for the One sniff of the grass and I pour myself a Pimm’s And the first time since Marlon Brando made it famous in On the Waterfront. There I was feeling thirsty on a hot summer’s No. Was it because every night it popped up on It showed the door to the overpaid day. Should I have some water? Some beer? But the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage with referenc- winners are and overhyped presenters of today’s why was I cutting some mint, slicing up some es to drinking Pimms and sometimes taking too broadcasting world. Now we can all enjoy the rest of our lives. fruit, dropping them into a glass, adding lemon- much and because there it was on the table for Sohail Sahi ade and then … mmmm Pimms? everyone to see? Maybe. BBC Radio Was I thinking of Pimms because of an advert Product placement! Ssssurely not. on the telly? No. Because I had seen it in a shop? Denis Nightingale, BBC Cornwall Doesn’t lock right Is it me or has the BBC changed the red dispatch boxes used by Ministers seconds, of the construction of the My grandparents ran a small of the Crown? Every one I have seen new building replacing Egton House shop, and he told me that one has the lock fittings at the bottom and 16 Langham St – part of the W1 evening, when closing up, he but the flying red box used as a budg- project.’ switched on a small radio behind the Invited to caption this photo of The et logo this year clearly has the lock Hoorah! counter in order to tune in to one of Two Ronnies on location in 1976, Ariel and fastenings at the top of the box. ‘Note. Unfortunately the construc- the BBC broadcasts (Ariel, June 15). readers came up with the following, Paul Spencer tion webcam is currently unavaila- Almost immediately, a man came in winning tickets to this week’s British investigator (Central London) ble due to building works.’ who he knew to be a Vichy official Film Institute event ‘BBC Television Cen- Oh. (my grandfather used the shorthand tre at Fifty' on London's South Bank. Tom Rogers term ‘un collabo’). While making Something’s brewing.. operations assistant polite conversation, my grandfa- n The great detectives had the feeling Get this... Just got off the phone from ther had to edge along the counter, that they were being watched ... Robinson’s brewery re their proposal one hand behind his back, to turn Helen Randle to create a new distribution centre in Reasons ring false the dial along from that day’s Free Information & Archives Backbarrow. I suppose there may originally have Cleese among them. But where were French wavelength. ‘Oh that’s a private matter,’ I’m been sound commercial reasons for Tony Hancock, Eric Sykes, and Harry In those days radios were pow- n Ronnie B saying to Ronnie C: told. flogging the iconic and lovely TV H Corbett and Wilfred Brambell? ered by electronic vacuum tubes “With my looks and your grumpiness ‘But you’ve put in for planning Centre, and with Salford and W1 And what about the great writ- (valves), that had to heat up before we’re odds-on to present the next se- permission?’ I ask. built, there is now no alternative. ers who put BBC comedy at the top they could amplify the signal. Luck- ries of The One Show!” ‘Oh yes.’ But spare us senior management’s – Galton and Simpson, Johnny Spei- ily for him (and, by extension, for his Chris Girling ‘And you’ve spoken to the local pa- public pronouncements suggesting ght, David Croft and Jimmy Perry? family and me) he did it before any Wood Norton per?’ the building’s inward-facing circle is And where were the great produc- sound came on. ‘Yes, we issued a press release to incompatible with modern, outward- ers – Dennis Main Wilson (Till Death A nice irony, therefore, that his n Ronnie Corbett: ‘How did your visit to the local papers. But it’s a private facing audiences (Ariel, June 22). Us do Part and Sykes...) and Duncan grandson ended up working for the the hypnotist go, Ron? Are you craving matter.’ I grew up hundred miles of miles Wood (Hancock and Steptoe) and oth- BBC in Broadcasting House itself. the cigs still?’ Ye Gods. away, and don’t recall caring wheth- ers like Yvonne Littlewood and Syd Paul Seacroft Ronnie Barker: ‘It was quite extraordi- She has now received a gentle lec- er Morecambe and Wise came from a Lotterby. And were was Sydney New- media assistant, FM&T nary; he told me to pull this finger every ture on the ways of the world and is doughnut-shaped building in west man, probably the greatest influence time I wanted a cigarette and then the going away to get permission to send London or an open-ended shed in on tv drama of his day? craving would go ..he also told me to us a copy of said press release. Shetland. If refurbishing TVC was You could have found room for Point of no return do something else, but I’ve gone and Neil Smith less cost-effective than moving, say all the above if you had dropped a What is to become of the clock on forgotten it. Sorry, what did you say your sbj, Radio Cumbria so. Don’t provide pseuds-corner-style dozen of the present-day mini-celeb- the front of TVC? name was again?’ quotes ready for the Daily Mail to cut rities. Perhaps you could try again, It gave up the ghost just before Hayley Jones and paste. and do better, after 60 years. Christmas. A man on a ladder had White City All fall down Jo-Anne Pugh William G Stewart a bit of a fiddle with it early in the As the letters ‘BBC’ have just been set Newsgathering, TVC tv/radio, producer/presenter year and now it has had both of its n Filming continues on the little known among the frosted glass above the pointers removed, making it quite BBC’s adaptation of ‘Harry Potter, the new entrance to Broadcasting House, literally a pointless clock. Any ideas? Later Years’. I thought I’d pay a quick visit to the Face value Lucky sound delay Darynn Garrett Jeff Smart W1 project page on Gateway to up- Was your front and back cover (June My grandfather was French and lived radio news sms BBC Worldwide date myself on where we’re at. 22) celebrating 50 years at TVC re- in a place called Lectoure, in the re- What better way to see what’s go- ally the best you could do? Yes, there gion that was under Petain’s Vichy BBC Workplace tells Ariel it is await- n We’re filming today because TC1 is ing on than the Construction Cam were some great names there – government. He was also involved in ing delivery of a new mechanism, taken by Cannon & Ball recording their (http://techops.fmt.bbc.co.uk/news/ David Colman, David Frost, Robin the resistance (he bequeathed me his which is being built to order and will show! newsitems/w1project/concam.asp)? Day, The Two Ronnies, Eric and armband, which has pride of place be installed as soon as possible after Colin Jarvis ‘Live pictures, updated every 30 Ernie, Frankie Howerd and John in a gilded frame). delivery – ed. BBC Worldwide Limited
in Ian’s words, initiated him in ‘the came well known and loved by BBC about ensuring its output reflected Obituary delights and complexities of Japa- World News staff across the globe the BBC’s editorial standards and nese culture’. – not least for his delightful and hu- successfully argued for improve- After some time in Australia, Kaz morous ‘all desks’ emails explaining ments in translated content and joined the BBC in the UK in 1995 as the many public holidays that the technical infrastructure. kaz matsuda deputy editor of the translation unit Japanese office always seemed to be With his charm and sensitivity, Kaz Matsuda, the managing director for BBC World’s fledgling Japanese taking. Kaz bridged cultural divides, bring- of the BBC World News office in Ja- service. His clear talent and leader- One email I remember well de- ing a greater understanding of the pan, has died peacefully in his sleep ship qualities ensured that by 1999 scribed why April 1 was an auspi- BBC to the team in Japan, developing with his wife and son beside him. He he was leading the team and was cious date for changing the name of their confidence and skills in repre- had been diagnosed with a tumour responsible for overseeing service the Japanese company; it is the day senting the organisation, and mak- of the heart last summer. His family, quality. that Japanese people put away their ing them an integral part of the BBC friends and colleagues will miss him as a producer for Radio Japan. It was In 2001, Kaz agreed to return to winter clothes and get out their World News family. hugely. here that Kaz got his first taste of the Japan with his family to manage the summer ones, signifying the change His legacy will outlive him and Kaz had a wide and varied career BBC when a young BBC radio produc- business and team in Tokyo as BBC of the seasons. will continue to bring benefit to spanning many years and several er, Ian de Stains, arrived in Japan on World News took control of its Japa- Kaz was a highly effective advo- the corporation for many years continents. After studying in the US secondment to NHK. nese joint venture distribution of- cate for the channel both external- to come. he joined NHK and spent some time Kaz took him under his wing and, fice. Over the following years he be- ly and internally. He was passionate Anne Barnard
14 Jobs MakeaDay ofit A snapshot of working life Eleanor Bradford Health correspondent, BBC Scotland How and when does your day start? It depends. Some days I’m up at 5.30am doing two- ways for Radio 4, 5 live and lots of other radio sta- tions before coming into work at 9am. I’ll cut new versions of my story for tv and radio, but that’s somewhat unusual. If a story is just for Scotland I may lie in until 6am, and if I have no story I don’t need to come in until 9am, unless I’m out filming. What are the key points in your day? If there’s a breaking story I have to get copy into the system for radio and online asap. Our radio news programmes begin at noon, followed by tv at 1.30pm. Then there’s Newsdrive at 4pm and the teatime bulletin at 6.30pm. Occasionally I might do a version for Newsnight Scotland at 11pm. It gets a bit manic, but other days I do research or go out filming. How did you get here? I did a student-run programme on BBC CWR while studying for my degree. Then I did a postgrad in journalism and went on a BBC South West training scheme. I applied for a job in Scotland hoping for an attachment, but they offered me a permanent post. I moved here knowing no one and very little about the country, but I’ve never looked back. Sandwich as you work or proper break? I bring sandwiches because I never know if I’ll get a break, but when I film in people’s homes I nearly always get offered tea and biscuits. It’s something to factor into the schedule because it’s rude to rush off – nothing to do with the fact that I can’t resist a chocolate biscuit. Memorable moment at work? I interviewed an anaesthetist who mentioned he was playing dvds to patients so that they could have less anaesthetic during surgery. The most popular one was ‘A guide to pole fishing’. So I filmed a man watching a video during his knee operation. The story was followed up everywhere and the anaes- thetist even had inquiries from Malta and Brazil. I have a lot of fun, but I also cover sad, moving, sto- ries and meet people who are severely ill. That’s very humbling and makes me appreciate life. How and when does your day end? I’m always on call but my colleagues are very con- siderate and only contact me if it’s urgent. I really relax when I go to the barn I’m renovating on Spey- side. I stomp around in steel toe-capped boots and a ripped old sweater. It’s great not to have to wear make-up, and there’s no mobile phone signal. Tell us about your day’s work; email Clare Bolt
14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 29·06·10 SHOWCASE 15
n BBC Two This week’s Show- Divine case gets supersti- intervention tious with Stevie It may be another comedy about a vicar, Wonder, avoids get- but Tom Hollander’s new comedy Rev is as far removed from Dibley as you can get. ting stung with the The Rev in question is a smoking, drinking vicar who is promoted from a rural parish Bee Part of it cam- to a gritty East London place of worship (the series was filmed in Hackney) – only paign and reunites to find himself everyone’s favourite dinner guest... as he has the power to old friends in a new decide whose children get into the local church school. in-house comedy. You can catch the first episode ofR ev on iPlayer now If you’ve got some- and the series continues on thing to shout about, Monday nights. contact Vanessa Monday July 5, Scott or Clare Bolt 10pm, BBC Two n BBC two n BBC one Literary FRIENDS lives REUNITED From Too Big to Fail – Andrew Ross Sorkin’s n GATEWAY Six friends account of the financial crisis – toA lex realise that Bello’s Alex’s Adventures in Numberland the distant (which explodes the myth that maths is for Private Eye to the pyramids past isn’t geeks), there’s tough competition for this so distant year’s BBC Samuel BBC History’s commissioning editor Mar- ers’ – the philanthropists who tried to after all Johnson prize. tin Davidson set himself a task that would fix the broken Britain of their day; Fergal in Reunited, Catch the Culture challenge the most experienced Time Keane discovers previously undeveloped a new pilot from Show special from Lord. His mission, he said, was to make aerial photographs from the Western the BBC’s comedy team. Written by Mike the ceremony, the centuries’ come together and cohere Front and Dan Snow looks at the ‘little Bullen of Cold Feet fame, it stars Ed Byrne, where the judges, as never before. ships’ of Dunkirk. You can watch some of Joseph Milson and Zoe Tapper as uni- led by Evan Davies, Tough call. But the results are manna for BBC History’s best bits on the Showcase versity friends who meet up again after will reveal the the history fans...with a huge slate of his- intranet page – tinyurl.com/BBCshowcase eight years. Cue acrimony, infidelity and winner. tory programmes lined up for the next 12 – and if that leaves you wanting more, the recrimination... Thursday July 1, months. Guest presenters include Ian His- British History Timeline at bbc.co.uk/ 11.20pm, lop, who sets his sights on history will take you on a journey from Wednesday June 30, 9pm, BBC One BBC Two and HD the Victorian ‘do-good- the Neolithic to present day. n RADIO 4 n RADIO 2 n RADIO 1 n BBC.CO.UK Give us motown The Daily WHAT’S the buzz? a clue magic Grime What would happen if Lionel Blair had Signed, sealed and It’s not just dubstep and dancehall been sent to the Middle East instead of delivered to at 1Xtra – the station has produced Tony? Or indeed, if Al Pacino (an obses- Radio 2, hear a series of hard edged documen- sive conspiracy theorist) decided to stalk Trevor Nelson taries, exploring social issues John Humphrys? All will be revealed when celebrate from youth crime to men who Jon Culshaw and Julian Dutton return with Stevie Won- are victims of domestic abuse. The Secret World on Radio 4 – back for a der’s 60th You can join the discussion. second series and promising to be more birthday and surreal than ever. his headlining bbc.co.uk/1Xtra performance There’s a hive of activity this summer, Thursday July 1, 6.30pm, Radio 4 at Glastonbury, as 45 local radio stations have adopted with a special bee hives, to help raise awareness of the programme world’s declining bee population. Thanks looking at the to Bee Part of It (the BBC Breathing Motown legend’s Spaces campaign) you too can ‘swarm’ life and career. to the website, pick up some bee friendly seeds, download posters and get regular Wednesday updates on how the new honey bee colo- June 30, 11pm, nies are bee-having on Facebook. Radio 2 bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces 16 a 29·06·10 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: Green room is tempted to tell you which cabi- ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off net minister confessed to conducting an inter- UPSIDE You can’t blame him. After nearing the view with his BBC local radio station while stark ▲ completion of his gruelling 2600-mile bike ride naked, having jumped out of the bath when they around Britain, Graham Brodie gorged himself called. But that might be a betrayed confidence ▲ on a bacon butty and a huge portion of apple too far and the station is keen to talk to him and strawberry crumble with again some time, clothed or otherwise. ▲ custard. The technology organiser from BBC Ply- mouth averaged 90 miles ▲ a day over 29 days. ‘Now back at home,’ he blogs. ‘Was it all a ▲ dream? Had a good finishing stage, but very hot, sticky and hilly!’ ▲ Graham has raised £800 for Shel- terBox but he would like a bit more. ▲ Go to justgiving.com/bbbbb In the glory days of television (1969) the BBC ▲ Ros Atkins (below) and Komla Dumor had commissioned nine colour OB mobile units. more than England’s win to celebrate in South North 3, one of these 14-ton trucks, is now being Africa last week. The sbjs for global news had restored and was on display at a rally in Cheshire ▲ organised a match between staff from World last weekend. ‘The amount of dirt in there af- Today on the World Service and a group of local In for the ter 28 years’ storage was amazing,’ said retired ▲ coaches and club managers in Soweto. It was, audio supervisor Jerry Clegg, who’s part of the as you’d expect with English players involved, a restoration effort. ‘Everyone who works on a ▲ nail-biting contest, but the BBC team just edged project like this has to be crazy.’ What this says ahead with a winning four goals to three. long run about Jerry is anyone’s guess. ▼ Ron McIntosh had no idea when became apparent the players were he arrived at Wimbledon last Tuesday caught in serious deadlock. At that A gun was found at BBC Manchester during a ▼ morning that he would still be com- point someone thought to ask if he’d recent ‘Dump the Junk’ clearout of the offices. mentating on the same tennis match eaten. ‘Someone brought me an ap- Fear not, it was a prop which looked sufficient- come Thursday afternoon, a stagger- ple but it made a crunch when I bit ly real to give staff a bit of a fright. Found in an ▼ ing 11 hours and five minutes on air. into it, so I only had half. Then I had a old locked cupboard, the replica had been used To add to the drama, Nicolas Mahut banana.’ Ron avoided water, which he years ago for a tv reconstruction. It has now ▼ vs John Isner was Ron’s first live net- said only increased the urge to use been safely destroyed and removed from the DOWNSIDE work tennis match on television. the toilet. premises – after all, we wouldn’t want it backfir- ▼ News of one technology pundit’s death were The commentator, who usually works The ordeal has not put Ron off – he is ing on anyone… greatly exaggerated last week, when Bill on boxing, told the green room he at Wimbledon again this week having ▼ Thompson found out his demise had been was left to his own devices until the spent the weekend covering the Eu- declared on Wikipedia. The head of partner- fifth set when Greg Rusedski joined ropean Trials in Birmingham. ‘At least ▼ ship development was alerted to the change him and the game switched from the I know the 100m can be over in 9.9 on his biography after a friend saw that his Red Button to live network. It then seconds,’ he jokes. entry said Thompson had suffered a heart at- ▼ tack at his home in Cambridge and later died ▼ in hospital. It had been up for four days. ‘I realise that it’s against Wikipedia policy for My dad’s a pin-up someone to edit their own entry, but as far ▼ as I’m concerned, the one situation where A teacher’s lot is teacher, Mr Bailey. it’s permissible is to correct the mistaken im- not always an easy In a bizarre twist, Mr ▼ pression that you’re dead, since the fact that one, but their influ- Bailey’s son David you’re there to make the changes is the sort ence can last longer works as an online bj of external evidence that Wikipedia looks for,’ than a match on for BBC Gloucester- Thompson said. court 18 at Wimble- shire and heard the Green room is sceptical don. When Ben Mill- show on iPlayer; the about people claiming ‘firsts’, but we liked Radio er, a former quantum show was recorded Solent’s idea to launch a summer of love cam- physicist, was asked in Cheltenham and he paign ahead of their 40th anniversary this au- EARWIGGING to name his science was looking for local tumn – they invited 40 married couples onto the ‘pin-up’ for Radio mentions to use on Julian Clegg breakfast show. Anyone who invites OVERHEARD AT THE BBC 4’s new science and the website. ‘I almost that many married couples into the equivalent of comedy show, The spilled my tea when their front room during a live show has to be in- …Okay, who’s had the fish?... Infinite Monkey Cage, I heard it,’ he says. ‘I credibly brave or still on their honeymoon. …Don’t worry, I won’t he picked his in- told my father and he spirational primary was delighted.’ A power cut in southwest London during the extract your curiosity … England match against Slovenia resulted in de- spair for fans. One retired member of staff tried …Personally I think there’s a to get through to BBC London to tip them off risk that we’re going to have about this cruel technological failure, only to be It’s never too late told that there was no one available. ‘Send an too many nuns… email,’ the woman on the line helpfully told him. …Could you please shrink Not many budding writers are lucky working for Radio Wales book show Which, of course, is precisely what this citizen enough to be offered a three-book Phil the Shelf. He thought one of Myr- journalist couldn’t do. my box because I’m enormous?... deal. Even fewer are 82. But Myrrah rah’s manuscripts – submitted to the Stanford-Smith (pictured programme – showed poten- there are lies, damned lies and statistics, but …That’s what religion’s like. It’s all over in a left) had her first book in tial, and it gave her the confi- since 1982, when World Cup games got split be- second… a trilogy published last dence to pen The Great Lie, an tween ITV and BBC, England has won 67 percent week after being spot- adventure story about the of the time their matches aired on BBC, com- …How clean do you think the end of my ted by Martin Kurzik, rivalry between Marlowe pared to only 33 percent of the time when they pencil is?… (pictured) a producer and Shakespeare. were shown on ITV. > IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THE GREEN ROOM, CONTACT ADAM BAMBURY