07·07·09 Week 27 explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel THE BBC NEWSPAPER

THE GLOVE, THE POSTERS AND ALL THAT TAT. MAKING A BUCK OUT OF JACKO a Page 15 photograph donne : micheal

Music in the key of love NEW YORK may ◆have fallen at Claire Martin’s feet after her recent concerts, but it was the jazz singer and Radio 3 presenter who dropped to her knee to propose to BBC Sussex, Surrey and Solent’s Phil Jackson Page 5

Salford leads Radio worried Taking the flak to ‘jobs agency’ about deadline and the mickey THE NEXT GROUP of people whose THE GOVERNMENT wants to switch TIRA SHUBART’s colleagues might ◆jobs are going to Salford have voted ◆off analogue radio in 2015. That’s set ◆have been shocked when she 40 percent in favour and 60 percent off a storm of debate even though the revealed she was writing a comedy based against the move. An internal ‘recruitment BBC has been a champion for DAB. Six on the exploits of foreign correspondents. agency’ will try to match skills with years may be a long time in broadcast On the contrary, they were almost vacancies in north and south. Page 3 technology but is it long enough? Page 10 queuing up to give her the gossip Page 7

> NEED TO KNOW 2 WEEK AT WORK 8-9 OPINION 10 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 216 News aa 00·00·08 07·07·09

NEED TO KNOW the week’s essentials NEWS BITES a The BBC has been given a platinum ranking in the Business It’s a big pot but not that big in the Community’s corporate responsibility index: a step up Room 2316, White City from its gold ranking last year. The u Another week, another story about the index is the UK’s leading voluntary 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS ‘bloated’ BBC. This time the focus is on the pen- corporate responsibility benchmark. sions accrued by some top execs. The Sunday 020 8008 4228 Times reignited the issue with a front page report Publication of The Terrorist claiming that deputy director general Mark Byford Hunters, co-written by former BBC Editor is in line for a pension of ‘at least £229,500 a year’ home affairs correspondent Margaret Andrew Harvey 02-84222 and that his total pot is valued ‘at almost £8m’. The Gilmore and Andy Hayman, ex-head Deputy editors BBC has strongly disputed the interpretation; it of UK counter-terrorism, has been Sally Hillier 02-26877 says the figures used are ‘a distortion of the facts’ blocked following an injunction Cathy Loughran 02-27360 and ‘wildly exaggerated’. from the attorney general. The book Features editor As the 2008 annual report and accounts ­reveal, gives an account of the terrorist Clare Bolt 02-27445 Byford’s pension is actually worth £193,000 a threat to the UK in the past five Reporters year, and has a total value of £2.76m – not to be years. Reasons for the injunction Carla Parks 02-27630 sniffed at but far short of £8m. cannot be given for legal reasons. Laura Scarrott 02-84224 The reason that Byford and creative direc- Peggy Walker 01-43940 tor Alan Yentob, who is also singled out by the The Trotter family, stars of Only Production editor Sunday Times, can look forward to prosperous Fools And Horses, will return in a Claire Barrett 02-27368 retirements is that both have worked for the BBC new 90-minute comedy-drama Art editor for many years – more than 40 in Yentob’s case – to be shown next year. Written Ken Sinyard 02-84229 and their final salaries, on which their pensions by John Sullivan and produced Ariel online are calculated, will be exceptionally high. jointly by his company Shazam Andy Walker (editor) 02-84227 There is no ‘special’ pensions fund for execs: Productions and BBC comedy, the Alex Goodey 02-27410 the same formula is used to calculate all pen- special will look back at life with Business co-ordinator sions in the BBC’s final salary scheme, which the Trotters during the 1960s. Silvana Romana 02-84228 is widely recognised as one of the best in the UK. the agenda of the Radio Festival, because the Ariel mail organisers didn’t want any negative pre-pub- Robin Hood will not be [email protected] u visitors to the BBC website now have no licity, so his appearance came as a surprise. He recommissioned. It averaged Ariel online expore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel choice whether they view the international or had been let out of nick for the day to talk about between four and five million UK versions. Previously, all users had the option his experiences at Electric Radio Brixton, which viewers during its third and final Guest contributors this week of viewing either version by clicking a button at won Sony gold for listener participation. series but attracted around 1.7m the top of the homepage. Now everyone in the Sentenced to four years for drug related viewers for the last episode. jAMES CRIDLAND gets the technical UK gets the UK site, and everyone else, the inter- ­offences, Tis explained how thrilled he had lowdown at the Radio Festival Page 6 national site – there is no option to switch. been, on being transferred to Brixton prison The BBC received more than 700 rowan bridge of Radio 5 Live finds So why the change? The main reason is from Pentonville, to find that it had its own radio complaints over its coverage of it’s all tat as the ‘entrepreneurs’ ­advertising: the website carries ads internation- station, and provided training in radio. ‘This im- Michael Jackson’s death, with come out in force in LA after the king ally but not in the UK. This necessitated four ver- proved my vocabulary and my communication many viewers saying that the story of pop’s untimely death Page 15 sions of the site – international and UK, with and skills and my confidence increased,’ he said. did not warrant the prominence without ads (a user in the US, for example, would All very commendable. So where did prison or the scale of coverage. see the ads whether they were looking at the radio start? Well, not in this country but at the BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 international or UK version). state penitentiary, Huntsville, Texas way back David Thompson’s production Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 There were also issues relating to some video in 1938. It wasn’t until 1994 that it caught on in company Origin Pictures, together BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 content being available only in the UK. Website Britain – at Feltham young offender institution. with BBC Films, has secured the film Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS editor Steve Herrmann says that these many The Prison Radio Association was created in rights to William Boyd’s new novel permutations ‘were impractical as well as 2006 and Electric Radio Brixton, a mix of ­music Ordinary Thunderstorms prior to its Advertise in Ariel expensive’, and were holding back development. and chat, broadcast within the walls of HMP publication in September. Thompson Ten Alps Publishing 020 7878 2314 Now new technology is being used to determine Brixton, in 2007. is a former head of BBC Films. www.bbcarielads.com a user’s location, selecting the appropriate site In a lively Radio Festival session, Paul automatically. Herrmann stresses that the same McDowell, governor of Brixton, explained that World Service is now offering Printing content is still available on both sites. ­prison radio was a useful educational and reha- audiences in Moldova a Romanian Garnett Dickinson Group bilitation tool. He admitted, though, that there language news and current Rotherham 01709 768000 u It’s not every day that a prison inmate is lined were some inmates who would never be allowed affairs programme, which airs up to speak at a media conference, but that’s what on air. ‘The one thing I’m not going to do is put weekly. This is an addition to the Subscribe to Ariel happened in Nottingham last week. Ian Huntley on radio,’ he said. English, Russian and Ukrainian Six months: £26, £36, £40 In fact, Tis (surname not revealed) wasn’t on Will digital switchover happen? P10 language output provided by Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 World Service to Moldova. (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world respectively) Horrible Histories on CBBC Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, ARIEL ONLINE EDITOR’S update has been recommissioned for a Brookfields Way, Manvers, second series of 13 programmes. Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL Based on the books by Terry Tel 01709 768199 Oh, I say – what a great service at Wimbledon Deary, the first series was one of the most requested children’s INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY And so, for the first time in years, those The Royle Family, has decided to give up acting at the programmes on iPlayer in May. Telephone 0800 0688 159 hazy (sometimes), lazy (I should coco), crazy age of 89, following a stroke in January. Ceefax Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 (probably) days of summer are back and with them We also covered the worldwide journeyings of Radio 2 will host Thank You for Ariel is produced by Internal some big stories for Ariel online. the BBC News Box, a branded container which has the Music… A Celebration of the Communications for people at the BBC In that vein, we’ve been reporting on the tremen- been sailing the seven seas highlighting the grow- Music of Abba in Hyde Park on dous popularity of the BBC’s coverage of the Wim- ing importance and complexity of globalisation September 13. Further details of the bledon tennis championships. Tv audiences were and international trade. And the news that more line-up and broadcast information ­especially good this year, with 12m people follow- people have signed up to relocate to BBC North in will be announced later. ing play late into the evening to see Andy Murray’s Salford also proved a popular story. ­victory over Stanislas Wawrinka and a fraction over A month on from the relaunch, the website is An Osprey nest has been fitted 11m watching the final on Sunday as Andy Roddick, regularly featuring video and attracting a good with a broadband webcam in a PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL Murray’s semi-final conqueror, was in turn defeated number of story comments. But this is just the first for the BBC Cumbria website. by Roger Federer. The women’s final, between the beginning. We’d like more of your views – just type Images are transferred from the Williams sisters, got an average 3.4m. them into the box at the foot of each story and camera via a microwave link to In addition, the past week has seen two famous send – and news of upcoming events, which can a Forestry Commission visitors’ faces bow out. First, Mollie Sugden, doyenne of the be added to our calendar. Don’t forget, it’s your centre then sent via satellite to double entendre fest that was Are You Being Served?, website, so keep on getting in touch. the BBC server for distribution died aged 86. and Liz Smith, best known as Nana in Andy Walker (to a UK audience) online.

> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 07·07·09 News 3

SALFORD ANOTHER STEP TO 2011 OPENING Salmon expects a mix of three thirds

by Cathy Loughran

As a picture starts to emerge of DECISION MAKERS how many people want to make Yes to Salford so far: the move to Salford, a ­smarter- n 42 percent of bands 8-11 (109 out of 261) than-average skills matching n 48 percent of senior managers (15 out of 32) process is being planned to n Interest from 550 whose jobs are not due to move help make best use of in-house talent at the new HQ. Still to decide: More than half (58 percent) n 114 in bands 8-11 in sport, by July 14 of people whose jobs in bands n More than 500 in grades 2-7, by September 30 8-11 are affected turned down the offer, but 42 percent said yes in the latest round of deci- sions – a third more than the BBC was expecting, based on the experience of other relo- cating companies. Around 100 people in these pay bands in sport have until July forward job swaps,’ he adds, ity. There would be no satis- 14 to declare their intentions. ‘but something more sophis- faction if local radio starts to The majority of people in chil- ticated, more like an internal dip in terms of resources. The dren’s, sport, Radio 5 Live, recruitment agency. It’s a pan- approach will be joint resource FM&T and learning – more BBC process, matching individ- planning and joint recruit- than 500 staff on permanent uals’ strengths with opportu- ment with other BBC ­areas,’ he contracts in salary bands 2-7 – nities and then bringing in fair told Ariel. have a decision deadline of Sep- selection. tember 30. A total of 1400 roles ‘There may be opportunities PEOPLE IN SCOPE within are earmarked to move, includ- for people who have an inter- bands 2-7 will continue to be ing a substantial number of est in another genre, but until supported up to September fixed term jobs and some cur- now hadn’t had the opening.’ 30. Recruitment for vacancies rently vacant. Speaking at the Showcomo- won’t start in earnest until tion children’s festival in Shef- late 2010. Internal matching, Peter Salmon, head of BBC field last week, Salmon said he liaison with out of scope vol- North, has sympathy for peo- expected around one third of unteers and development of ple not able to commit to the the eventual 2200-strong work- an external database of talent move ‘for personal and fam- force in Salford would be made will all be ongoing. ily reasons’, but said he was up of current BBC Manchester Peter Salmon was quizzed pleased with both the num- staff, one third relocated from at the Showcomotion confer- bers and the quality of people London, and one third recruit- ence about the future of CBBC coming on board. ed locally and from around the at Salford, particularly after Ken Lee, head of BBC Peo- regions, most likely, from the the loss of audiences for Blue ple in the north, says 550 staff north. ­Peter and Newsround following whose jobs are not moving The Salmon formula could their move to an earlier slot in have registered an interest in work, Lee says, ‘provided we the schedule. joining the new headquarters. make the best use of internal ‘None of us feel good that ‘These out of scope peo- recruitment’. older slabs of children’s pro- THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC: BBC in Salford on Saturday, September 12. ple who want to work in Sal- Wasn’t there a danger of grammes have been damaged Philharmonic players Melody Cooper The orchestra has been blazing a trail ford could open up vacancies BBC North sapping talent from by moving them in the sched- and Jamie Prophet are first in the queue for the BBC in Salford with community that might be filled by people other BBC northern bases? ‘Yes, ule… but children’s is a large at the musical bus stops that Salford schemes like its family orchestra whose jobs are heading north if we get it wrong. We can’t chunk of the licence fee, and council has arranged as part of the which makes its Proms debut at the and who don’t want to move. have a big talent sponge that will be a central piece in the campaign to promote Proms in the Park Albert Hall on July 26. ‘We’re not talking straight- sucks people from every local- Salford move,’ Salmon said. PROS AND CONS OF MOVING WHAT ABOUT CYCLE BAYS? Two days of the BBC North Salford experi- Q Will there be greenery on site? n NO Kay Benbow, head n YES Richard Foster, ence event last week were an opportunity A Yes, trees and grass in the piazza area and of CBeebies produc- sbj, Radio 5 Live: ‘I’m for people working in Manchester to get plenty of places to sit outdoors. tion: ‘I’m very saddened originally from Bolton answers to some burning questions. Q Where will the Blue Peter garden be? that I can’t be part of it, and think the BBC is A. On top of the studio block. but I have two sons at too London-centric. I Q Will there be any gym Q. When will people move in? secondary school and I did a stint reporting facilities on site? A. The BBC will begin occupying all buildings had to choose between from Leeds and Bir- A. None planned, but the hotel on site, or in Spring 2011. my family and a job I mingham and realised Salford University may have one that staff Q. Will the buildings be open 24/7? absolutely love. I will just how small the UK can use. A. Building C, home to newsgathering, Ra- help with the transi- is. I like writing, broad- Q How many cycle bays will there be? dio 5 Live, Radio Manchester and North West tion and hope that I can offer my skills to the casting, reporting and running a team and A. 300, but the BBC wants more and is Tonight will be open 24/7. A and B may close department in other ways or elsewhere. hope Salford will allow me that freedom.’ ­discussing with Peel, the company which down at 7pm when staff in these buildings owns the site. move to C. Final arrangements under review.

a 07·07·09 Features 5 PHOTOGRAPH: m PHOTOGRAPH: They lead a double ar k b

life, one inside a sse and one outside tt the BBC. Adam Bambury met the people who answer the call of military duty

Artillery man: Stephen Tough MY JOB’S A RESERVIST

Forecasting the weather for Sea that’s part of my job. If somebody said Lieutenant Commander nine years in the army in the defence industry, such as Brit- Harriers, dodging dummy bombs to me, ‘we need you to go to Afghani- David Braine,  as part of the Royal ish Aerospace, would give me the on battlefield exercises, and the ever stan for a month and a half’, I would Royal Navy Air Artillery and has been full three weeks off as reserve ­forces present possibility of being shipped have to go. Station, Yeovilton involved in everything training, there wouldn’t be any ques- out to a warzone – that’s how reserv- Lee Hutchinson: We’re in this strange As a senior broadcast from directing artillery tion. ists can spend some of their summer bit of the RAF that’s not called up. meteorologist at fire, running gun holidays. There are thousands of us. BBC Plymouth, he positions to spotting What have you learnt from your With Britain at war in Afghanistan both forecasts and the enemy. He left to ­experiences in the military? and only recently out of Iraq, the role Ever seen any action? presents weather reports train as an accountant but ST The decision making skills that of BBC reservists has sometimes felt DB In the former Yugoslavia civil war for BBC Spotlight. He honed stayed on in the Watchkeeper’s you learn are transferable to any- uncomfortably close to danger. we were there to provide support to his skills as a meteorological and pool, a group who provide thing. You get people coming in Who are these people? I set out to the Commando helicopters flying oceanographic officer in the navy, ­reinforcement to the regular army. as soldiers with not very much find out. Names were hard to come the Royal Marines out of the mountains, providing aircraft with full forecasts of ­education but who rise up the ranks by, and many couldn’t talk about their which was quite challenging work. weather conditions and serving both Flight Lieutenant Lee Hutchinson, RAF and can very easily and intelligently second job. One presenter didn’t want ST The only war on when I was full time in the Gulf and the former Yugoslavian VR(T), HQ Air Cadets, Cranwell  direct the activity of large numbers to compromise his impartiality in the was the Falklands. I did a short tour in wars. In 1995, after eight years in He is duty operations manager in a of people in complicated situations. eyes of viewers, while our only female Northern Ireland but nobody ever shot the military, he left to join the BBC, team of five who provide 24 hour Many civilian organisations are not contact was barred from speaking at me. It’s a very different world now; staying on as a reservist and providing technical support to BBC News, solving so good at developing that, and con- ­because her military work was deemed people joining the forces would expect cover as an operational forecaster at IT problems and maintaining broadcast centrate on technical skills rather too sensitive. to see action. Whereas when I joined it Yeovilton and instructing and continuity. He was in the Air than management. Clive Lewis, political reporter and was the Cold War, so if there was any examining junior forecasters. Cadets as a boy and rejoined in infantry officer, was unavailable for action we were all going to die anyway 1986 while working at Radio What are the benefits? comment thanks to the small mat- whether we were part of it or not. Major Stephen Tough, CVHQ Sheffield. He is now in the LH In what I do it’s giving young ter of being sent to Afghanistan at Royal Artillery, Woolwich RAF voluntary reserve training adults opportunities. I enjoy seeing the start of July. He’s with the Territo- Do you wish you were doing this full time? A business manager for World branch as a fully fledged officer kids from less prosperous areas of rial Army, an organisation which usu- ST I don’t miss being full time. I lead Service in the Asia Pacific but only dealing with cadets, Britain having a go at things they ally demands a training commitment parallel lives, a normal one with region, he’s a financial and organises week might not otherwise do because of of almost a month a year, including an work and family and then ­every ­adviser helping the long camps in the UK where they’re born. annual two-week camp. now and again I slip back in to the head of region with and overseas which There’s a high proportion of ATC The three reservists featured here army. I’ve always been interested in strategic financial provide a flavour of RAF who go on to officer level in the air (two ex-regular soldiers and an Air all things military and that hasn’t planning. He spent life to young people. force. It’s rewarding to see the young ­Cadets Officer), don’t have quite such gone away, but now I get the inter- adults do that – it can help set them demands placed upon them, but still esting side of it without all the stuff off on a career path. dedicate a substantial portion of their that goes on in barracks and having days with getting out to Cyprus twice DB I haven’t had any trouble with time each year to the military. to move house every two years. a year for the camps can be difficult, the BBC as an employer, but there What do your comrades think of the but normally I manage it. is a limited amount of extra time BBC? Can you get called up? What are your biggest challenges as a ST Keeping up to date with the that they allocate to do forces train- ST It’s an opportunity to educate the Stephen Tough: A number of people reservist? ­acronyms... Like the BBC the mili- ing. If you want to go away and do army in the philosophy of the BBC and from my pool have deployed to Iraq, DB Juggling home life, working for tary has all sorts of acronyms and if two or three weeks, some of it is why we don’t take sides. They’re usually Bosnia, Afghanistan. So far it’s been on the BBC and working for the mili- you’re not there all the time you’re going to come out of your own time, very supportive, especially of World a voluntary basis because enough peo- tary is quite an issue. not familiar with the new ones ­whether you take it as unpaid leave Service – they all listen to it when ple have come forward. LH When I was single it was easy to or use part of your annual leave; it is they’re on operations, sometimes David Braine: If there was a require- do, now I’ve got children it’s more How has the BBC been supportive of quite a commitment. Some other com- because it’s a good way of finding out ment for me to go further afield, then difficult. Trying to fit in family holi- your other role? panies, particularly those involved what’s going on where they are.

6 Technology a 07·07·09

James Cridland follows the trail to the future at What happened after they took the technical day of the Radio Festival away the men in white coats

coat and spent most of your days in a auctioned off to the highest bidder dark room with a soldering iron and Next move: BBC iCav by the government – and what that some isopropyl ­alcohol. But these is the likely successor means to broadcasters. days, TechCon is ­inhabited by rather to the radio car Finally, there was a rather alarm- different people: the ­audience this ing demonstration of the most dan- year at the Nottingham Playhouse in- gerous thing in any radio studio: cluded policy makers, regulators and the headphones. Any radio presenter website types, ­reflecting the growing would be wise to turn the volume down. importance of technology in radio. The variety of subjects gave a clear The BBC was well represented. reminder that the technical aspect ­Andrew Mason discussed why tv com- of radio has come a long way in 20 ‘Pull the string tight,’ he says, mercials can sound louder than the years: and that it’s more a part of ‘and hold the tin can up to your ear.’ programmes – it turns out that you radio’s future than ever before. I’m at TechCon, the technical prel- can measure and control the percep- ‘Keep pulling the string,’ says ude to the Radio Festival, and I’m tion of ‘loudness’. Geoff Woolf showed ­Simon. He now has two tin cans watching Simon Mason from the off the two new types of radio car in and two pieces of string. I think he’s transmission company Arqiva. He’s use in BBC English regions, one called showing the benefit of asynchronous plucked someone from the audience, VERV and one that narrowly escaped communication: but the only thing and he’s demonstrating ­differences being called the SatChav, which ena- I know is that whichever mobile between two new forms of mobile bles full multimedia reporting from broadband technology we go with in broadband transmission technology anywhere in the country. about how difficult internet broad- We also heard from a variety of the UK, my iPhone will look depress- – one called WiMAX, and one called I explored the great new sound of casting is to plan for. He shared exam- others. We had a demonstration of ingly slow. Such is progress. LTE – using tin cans and string. the BBC Radio iPlayer, and was delight- ples of the snowfalls this year and the surround sound via DAB ­digital ­radio TechCon used to be aimed at peo- ed when the audience failed to notice tremendous peak after Michael Jack- in the back of a rather nice Audi – James Cridland is an executive product ple who, when I started in commercial the difference between studio output son’s recent death, and his point was a car which also contained a bright manager in Future Media radio 20 years ago, were called ‘engi- and the high quality sound you get that you should automate as much as colour screen showing images from Audio and Music and Mobile neering’. In those days, if you worked now from the iPlayer. Also from FM&T, possible: if you rely on manual proc- ­radio stations. We learnt how some in ­engineering you wore a white lab Richard Cooper gave a fascinating talk esses, you’ll be too late. parts of the radio spectrum are being Will the DAB deadline work? Page 10

ADVERTISEMENT IT COMES HEN UNC W THE CR H... TO ...you want Bob Bradley. He comes into his own during tough times with tight budgets because, as a composer, he has to be more inventive than ever. And there’s nothing Bob likes more than being inventive. At Audio Network, it’s always about the quality of the music so that suits us fine. We knew that if we asked Bob and a couple of others to come up with a selection of tracks called “Credit Crunch”, we could rely on them for some brilliant interpretations.

To hear those tracks,go to; www.audionetworkplc.com/playlists/credit-crunch

Bob doesn’t care about the crunch. As long as he gets the credit.

For more information contact Scott Pearce on 020 7 242 2311 or [email protected] a 07·07·09 Features 7 NOT ALWAYS IN THE LINE OF

Martin Jarvis going for a first take

Clare Bolt meets the journalist who’s turned foreign reporting into comedy fIRE D PHOTOGRAPH: The foreign correspondent as we given that the Simpson and Shubart know them is a serious beast. Para- were once an item. line. ‘It’s about chuted into danger zones, they inhab- But instead of inducing paranoia in intelligent, ­slightly dysfunctional peo- govern-

it a world of crumbling hotel bars, of the newsroom, Shubart’s colleagues o ple behaving sometimes badly in diffi- ment welcomed us, which loyal cameramen, mortar rounds and have been enthusiastic contributors. m Leve cult places, when they’re up against was down to the wonderful Swahili

extra-marital flings. A world, in short, ‘You’d be surprised,’ she says cheerily. ‘I r it, she says. And were her experiences service,’ she says. The cast were flown which is screaming out to be satirised. can’t count the number of times that translated into the script? ‘Sure, and out, along with authentic, if bro- Cue BBC Two’s six part comedy Tak- someone has grabbed me at the tea then Jon (Rolph, co-writer, co-director ken, cameras, sat dishes and phones, ing the Flak. Ten years in the making, bar and said, here’s something you and co-producer) added to them. So it’s donated by BBC News. it’s penned by foreign news producer can put in your script...’ really a collaboration between news Despite 20 action vehicles and 150 Tira Shubart and is already the sub- Flak was born from a conversation In the tea bar and comedy.’ extras, the six part series was made ject of some considerable ­curiosity in between Shubart and comedy’s execu- Set in the fictional country of for about the same budget as a studio the BBC newsroom. tive producer Jon Plowman. ‘She was people would ­Karibu (Swahili for ‘welcome’) the based sitcom. ‘There are various theories about telling me about the backstage world first episode was shot in the Kenyan Tira insists the series is more than characters based on real people,’ Shu- of news and how it makes working offer me ideas Rift Valley. ‘We wanted somewhere a satirical swipe at her colleagues in bart smiles complicitly, before snap- here look like a children’s play area,’ safe with a film industry,’ Plowman news. ‘It’s a love letter to journalism ping shut. ‘But I can tell you, they he recalls. He optioned the script. recalls. ‘Then the day after we shot the and to Africa,’ she smiles. ‘And it’s ain’t true.’ Taking the Flak is the first tv comedy for the script first episode in Kenya, the place burst done with great affection.’ The BBC journalists (she was based around foreign correspondents TIRA SHUBART into flames and civil war.’ As post-elec- given permission to call them that) since the BBC televised Scoop! back in tion violence escalated, the only peo- Taking the Flak, BBC Two, June 8 are closely observed ‘types’ – although 1972. Plowman says that it plays on ever London tells what is happening, ple filming in the Rift Valley were Shu- Read more about the rumours that the character of the the same idea, that foreign news – in to whatever part of the world it’s hap- bart’s colleagues in news – and they Tanzanian shoot and see behind senior correspondent is a ‘thinly dis- extremis – comes down to ‘whatever pening in’. were wearing real flak jackets. The the scenes pics at Ariel Online guised John Simpson’ are inevitable, is happening in the hotel, and what- Shubart takes a more personal production moved to Tanzania. ‘The

February 29 proposal met with the right answer If Claire Martin can entrance Rex on the guest panel of his BBC Sussex, indie’ – the presenter was. A few days Previn and Pat Metheny. Reed, the notoriously savage arts critic Surrey and Solent new music pro- later Claire asked him for a beer and, She begins a nationwide tour on for the New York Observer, it’s little gramme in Brighton three years ago ever on the front foot, she proposed September 3 and her husband will wonder she was able to charm affable – two years after he first interviewed on February 29 last year. ‘I’d bought be in the audience whenever he can. local radio presenter Phil Jackson. her for his show’s pilot as ‘a local art- the ring, hidden it in the sock drawer, ‘Every time I watch her perform I The jazz singer, who has a weekly ist of note’. ‘She kept trying to crack and got down on one knee at the have to pinch myself,’ he says. ‘She’s show on Radio 3, received rhapsodic me up,’ he recalls, ‘pulling faces and side of our bed, while my daughter an extraordinary talent, an incred- praise for her recent concert at NYC’s sticking her tongue out. It was her way watched. He couldn’t very well say ible mother and so funny and down prestigious Algonquin Oak Room, of cutting through any worthiness.’ no.’ They were married last October in to earth. And she never trumpets her with Reed likening her to Michelle ‘I did try to put him off,’ confesses the Kent countryside. good reviews’. Pfeiffer and describing her as ‘one of Claire, who has just released her 13th The four times British Jazz Awards Well, not often, anyway. ‘I do sign the most original and hypnotic sing- album, A Modern Art. ‘Phil’s show best vocalist, who started out sing- my emails Michelle now,’ laughs the ers I have come across in years. She’s mainly features unsigned bands – I ing on the QE2, has co-presented singer. ‘Rex Reed can be scathing if he so beautiful, focused and expressive had to entertain myself somehow.’ Radio 3’s Jazz Line Up since it started in doesn’t like you, so it was huge relief that you can’t take your eyes off her.’ But if the music wasn’t quite to her 2000. A ‘dream job’, it’s allowed her to when he said he did.’ On bended knee: Claire Martin Nor could Phil, when Claire came taste – ‘I’m a snobby jazzer; I don’t like interview musical heroes like Andre Claire Barrett 8 9

BBC IN UKE ACTION Stringing it together: Lolo Wood, Joanna Pinnoca, blogbites Richard Courtice, Kathy Clugston, Ben Toone

Monday week@work Do Farrah Fawcett hairdos give climate change a boost? Yet another reason not to waste time trying to copy the late Farrah Fawcett’s inimitable SHAMELESS PLUG CHANGING trademark tousled tresses: hair sprays have hair-raising emissions to match, according u Peter Grimsdale, exec producer PLACES to new research by the Netherlands of BBC Four’s Mendelssohn, The David Jennings (pictured), currently head Environmental Assessment Agency. In fact, Nazis and Me and BBC of news at ITV Anglia, becomes HRLP for hair sprays, air cons and fridges contain a Two’s Off By Heart East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire... Sally greenhouse gas that can be 14,800 times more Hodgkinson, bureau chief in Johannesburg, effective at warming the climate than carbon The narrator of Perfect leaves the BBC after nearly 30 years in news… dioxide, says Guus Velders, the lead author Night, tv director Nick Roker, is Jamie Hindhaugh, currently head of sourcing, production resources, of the study. If that’s not enough to make you on a roll. He’s just recorded an joins the 2012 team as head of production… Johnty O’Donnell start pulling your hair out listen to this. By interview with the Tamil Tigers’ leaves Radio Sheffield to become station sound and marketing 2050, hydrofluorocarbons could account for arms dealer in Sri Lanka and spent producer at Radio Shropshire… Independent producer Eileen Herlihy up to a fifth of global warming. the night with his beautiful becomes Scotland’s new head of entertainment and events... Lucas Shanta Barley, online researcher reporter. But when morning North, publicist at BBC Birmingham, leaves to pursue a career in bbc.co.uk/blogs/climatechange/ comes he finds his tapes gone photography… and the reporter dead. Tuesday Perfect Night was partly Hill Street Blues inspired by haunting film COMING UP It was the summer of 1979, as I recall. The night archives from various history that my band, the absurdly-titled Acme Music, documentaries I’ve made and a u A one-off documentary for BBC know their children better. Made by made their debut at the Harp Bar on Belfast’s trip to Sri Lanka where I filmed One will follow a Nasa satellite orbit- Tiger Aspect it will be exec produced u Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell is said players met at a rehearsal session at BH. The ance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. we should get the network of ukelelists at the to professionals. ‘The idea behind us meeting Hill Street. We had rocked the youth club circuit an episode for BBC One’s Real ing the Earth. Around the World by Alison Gregory. to be a bit of a player and Radio 1 dj Colin Murray session was held ahead of the BBC Proms’ uke- Ukelele player and BBC Proms’ interactive edi- BBC to play together,’ explains Taylor. The group was to have fun and practice for the proms but and a few church halls. Many of our fans had Lives series. I kept a diary on the trip and, in 90 Minutes was commissioned too. The four string chordophone, or ukelele as lele concert on August 18 when the audience tor Roland Taylor, had the idea for the meet after­ rehearsed using material available on the BBC now we’re all talking about meeting regularly to been too scared to turn up, such was the Harp’s while working on another programme, by Mark Bell, independent commis- u Comedian Alexander Armstrong it’s more commonly known, proved a popular will be invited to strum along to the National being introduced to fellow musician, Radio 4 Proms’ site (bbc.co.uk/proms/2009/takepart/ strum our funky stuff,’ he adds with a sense of reputation. But we negotiated the stripper on started turning it into fiction. I also drew on sioning editor, and will be exec pro- will present a new 30x45 minute choice of instrument last week when 12 BBC Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain’s perform- newsreader Kathy Clugston. ‘We met and decided ukulele/) which caters for beginners through achievement. the stairway and hauled a pitiful PA system up other experiences I’ve had such as the time duced by Kim Shillinglaw. Made by game show series called Point- there with us. We may have played a Ramones I was sacked from Yahoo; the farewell inter- Burning Blue Media it is expected to less. Contestants will have to guess song and we didn’t look too concerned when a view was full of fantastic HR-speak. tx next year. answers not given to a question stray beer glass went whistling though the air. Now that I’m working in tv again I realise answered by members of the public. Stuart Bailie, Radio Ulster presenter how lucky those of us in factual broadcast- u Anne Gilchrist , controller of CBBC, Made by Brighter Pictures, the series bbc.co.uk/blogs/stuartbailie/ ing are; diving into fascinating worlds. has commissioned Undercover was commissioned by Liam Keelan, Although Perfect Night is fiction I hope that Dads for the channel. The 13-part head of daytime, and will be exec whatever what Wednesday its themes ring true. series will involve dads dressing up produced by Pam Cavannagh. Tx is ONE MILE RADIUS When Farming Today bees go bad Perfect Night by Peter Grimsdale, Orion, £6.99 as a fictional nanny in order to get to yet to be confirmed. gets you to wear It was all going so well when I first arrived at u Gareth Morlais, executive producer, Bangor the apiary to do another routine check on the through the Farming Today beehive. I wasn’t anywhere u Amy McLeod, junior On a sunny lunchtime, there’s nowhere better than Bangor Pier near a hive and hadn’t had the chance to week researcher, Media for a stroll. After dropping 25p in the honesty box, there’s about a put my protective veil on, when a bee took a Centre quarter of a mile of decking stretching over the Menai Straits towards dislike to my newly shampoo’ed hair and, after u Gagan Grewal, Asian Anglesey. buzzing around my head for a few seconds, Network presenter Where did you buy the Lining the railings are benches with plaques telling their spon- dive-bombed my eye. Yes it did hurt – I was The Fifth plinth outfit you’re wearing in sors’ stories. One reveals that a woman jumped into the straits from expecting that. Four days later, my eye is only the photo? the Pier in her wedding dress to raise money for Cancer Research just slightly swollen and almost back to normal. Getting the latest gossip A mocha with extra I bought it in a New York two years before her death. There’s also a kiosk selling Welsh rarebit Fran Barnes, senior producer 1 from my international 3 chocolate from Cafe Gusto thrift store – a mere 10 and tea which is a great place for a bite before returning to work. bbc.co.uk/blogs/radio4/ Breakfast’s contacts Begum Nawazish Ali near the Mailbox. For that early dollars. I have no idea and Rubina A Khan. Begum, morning and mid afternoon when or why people started Thursday Tim Muffett my Pakistan film industry caffeine and sugar hit. thinking denim knee-length On the road in Mexico: Day 3 (Lollywood) contact, is a regular coats were a bad idea. My last interview today was with a Colombian has been contributor and a famous cross- My mobile. I’m getting businessman who has discovered that in dressing tv presenter. Rubina is 4 married in September and Have you taken inspiration violent times, there’s money to be made in offering a a Mumbai-based entertainment have two weddings to organise from anywhere? designing and selling bullet-proof fashion journalist with great links to – a traditional Indian one and a One day my friend said she clothing. I tried on a rather nice black leather platform to Bollywood bigwigs. western-style civil marriage – so was only ever going to wear jacket, which he promised would totally protect I need to check in with the future dresses. I totally nicked her me against being shot. I looked quite good in viewers... Playing new music on my Mrs and wedding planner to keep gig. I find it a real ordeal to it, but the price tag was close to $5000, so I but they 2show. I get sent lots of pre- across arrangements. get into trousers now. It may decided to leave it. release singles and albums not look like it but I am very Robin Lustig, World Tonight presenter have to earn from British Asian artists Checking my Facebook comfortable. bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/ and sometimes Bollywood 5account. You might call it their place soundtracks. nosey networking. How would you describe Friday your style? Hello Sailor Abigail’s Party with urban Vassos Alexander and I were at Henley this influences. week, as guests of Matthew Pinsent. We’d It’s official – this is the week for to make people earn their time on had the task of lugging it around the both done a bit of rowing in the past but never putting people on pedestals. Trafalgar the Breakfast plinth. ‘We felt that the country and filming a piece for each Are you experimental? been to the historical regatta on one of the Square’s fourth plinth is being idea of standing on a plinth was quite day. ‘I have a love hate relationship fact of life Not so much. I went through most beautiful stretches of the River Thames. hijacked by members of the public, narcissistic,’ she says. ‘We wanted with it now,’ he admits, probably a stage last summer of trying While its image outside the rowing fraternity who are spending an hour as ‘living ours to be for the collective good, so because he travelled by train and only The average internet to dress only in high-waisted might be one of elitism, it seems to cater for monuments’ on the invitation of we asked people to use it to teach hopped in one taxi when it wouldn’t fit user spends nearly jeans, reversible McKenzie all comers – multiple Olympic gold medallists, sculptor Antony Gormley. Even the members of the public everything on the tube (senior managers take note). six times longer jackets and wife beaters. school, college, and club crews from as far mayor of London is on board, with from lifesaving to car maintenance This week Muffett is retracing his on Facebook than Thank god it was just a fad. afield as the US and China, and day trippers Boris Johnson calling the experiment and how to make your garden more steps and will be doing live inserts on on BBC Online, looking for a festival atmosphere on a sunny a ‘profound meditation on the nature bee-friendly.’ Health and safety Breakfast, looking at the broader issues according to Nielsen Whose wardrobe would day. Wandering around Henley with one of of fame and talent’. requirements meant the Breakfast raised by the people on the plinth and NetRatings. In May this year, Facebook users spent an average of 5 you most like to rummage the most famous sportsmen in Britain has Not to be outshone, BBC Breakfast plinth lacked the grandeur of the their stories. hours and 55 minutes on the social networking site, compared to the through? its advantages, not least access to the boats spent last week taking its own cube- original, but Kent argues that the DIY And on Friday he’ll be at the mercy 56 minutes users of BBC Online spent on the site. Gwen Stefani’s to look which follow behind every race. shaped plinth around the country. element ‘adds to its charm’. of the viewers, who will send him at and a 1930s Berlin Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5 Live presenter Sbj Tamsyn Kent says they decided Reporter Tim Muffett (pictured) wherever they see fit. cabaret dancer’s to steal.

IF YOU HAVE A suggestion FOR who or what should be in WEEK@WORK PLEASE Email laura scarrott 10 Opinion/Analysis a 07·07·09 aview Is 2015 a realistic deadline for DAB switchover? ANDREW The government’s proposal to cut the analogue HARVEY signal plunged this year’s Radio Festival into the With partners heart of the controversy. Sally Hillier tuned in

like this... NICKY CAMPBELL promised ‘a a strong hint that digital radio ­radio switchover means – that will bring new opportunities cauldron of debate,’ at the start switchover might not happen in six and half years analogue for content providers and more All those people who wondered what on earth of the Radio Festival in swel- in 2015 because the UK simply radios could become obsolete, at choice for consumers. the BBC was doing in offering a regional news tering Nottingham. In truth, wasn’t ready. least as far as network listening Trouble is, the consumers are partnership to ITV will have had their ­misgivings though, there was only one hot ‘I think it is unrealistic is concerned. revolting. Many are quite happy confirmed by comments made last week by topic last week and that was dig- unless we can do more to pre- The idea is that by the end of with existing services and nei- Michael Grade. The executive chairman of the ital radio switchover, scheduled pare the market,’ he said. He 2015 all national and large sta- ther want nor see the need to go commercial broadcaster indicated that his com- for 2015. would ‘find it difficult,’ he tions broadcasting on FM and digital when they often own five pany had gone cold on the idea, despite signing Would it actually happen, added, ‘to recommend to prime AM (­medium wave) will switch or six or even more sets, dotted a memorandum of understanding with the BBC delegates at the two-day event, minister Cameron that we have to digital, leaving the vacated around the house. ‘Are we real- in March. He said the £7m annual savings by 2016 ­organised by the Radio ­Academy, switchoff in 2015’. spectrum for community sta- ly saying that come 2015, 120m would not be enough and that by then regional wanted to know. sets are going to be thrown news on ITV would have been ‘long gone’. He There were some optimistic away?’ Jeremy Hunt asked. ‘That mocked the BBC for ‘still trotting out partnerships’ voices, including Tony ­Moretta would be incredibly unpopular. as a way of maintaining an alternative regional tv of the Digital Radio Develop- We have to be careful that in news supply (or plurality as the policy people say). ment Bureau and Joan Warn- switching off analogue we don’t Grade has now taken a position that is very er, chief exec of Commercial switch off listeners.’ much in line with both Ofcom and government Radio Australia, which has Especially as, he might have thinking, namely that regional television needs just switched to DAB+, an added, the sound quality on financial support and that the most obvious place enhanced version of DAB, DAB can be inferior to FM. to find the money is from a slice of the licence fee. in five cities. DAB technology allows That, as Caroline Thomson, the BBC’s chief operat- Digital might be do- the receiver to lock on to ing officer, pointed out represents an about turn ing well down under the strongest signal it by Grade since the days when he was chairman – ‘all the receivers can find, ignoring eve- of the BBC governors when he argued fiercely sold out in the first rything else, supposedly against giving licence fee money to anyone else. few weeks,’ Warner eliminating the inter- Changing times, changing roles and changing announced brightly ference that is familiar views, but what is the BBC to make of its intended – but other speakers on analogue radio. But partner’s new espousal of the doctrine of state aid? had plenty of ques- a recent You and Yours Grade’s comments probably came as no sur- tions about the pro- special on Radio 4 after prise to Thomson’s strategy team. ITV want out of posed switchover in the publication of Dig- regional news and have said their best contribu- Britain. How many ital Britain elicited this tion to plurality is to offer airtime to other provid- people would be from one exasperated lis- ers. At present, new entrants keen to run a news willing to buy digital tener: ‘I’ve experimented­ service will have their eyes on the £130m pot of sets, currently selling with DAB only to find it money that the government thinks will be needed at around £50? What sounded like a river run- and wants to take from the licence fee. would happen to the old ning through the room.’ Set against that, a partnership with the BBC analogue sets? Would car As for cars, where 20 percent might seem less attractive but over the next ten manufacturers get on board? of listening takes place, very few weeks or so it will be the BBC’s case that sharing What about the patchy digital are fitted with DAB. You can buy newsgathering resources and studio facilities can transmission network? an adaptor for around £70 but still make sense. And if Michael Grade goes rushing Shadow culture secretary Jer- installing it means extra wires. to the embrace of Ofcom he just might find he’s emy Hunt made everyone sit up Kelvin MacKenzie, former owner chosen less wisely. According to David Cameron, a when he said digital radio recep- of TalkSport, who believes dig- Conservative government would give the regula- tion was poor in his own part ital switchover is a ‘vote loser’, tor a drastic slim down and remove responsibility of Surrey. Surrey! It’s hardly We’ve got six and a half cites the car issue as one of the for communications policy. If that happened, ITV the highlands and islands, west biggest obstacles. could find it had placed its faith in a body whose Wales, or the ­fringes of Corn- years. That’s a long time in As festival-goers were mak- powers to offer help had been taken away. wall, where reception problems ing their way to Nottingham Andrew Harvey is editor of Ariel are common. last week, he was expressing his broadcasting TONY MORETTA views in the Guardian: ‘By 2015, Who’s going to pay? even if car companies start fit- Too late to be live It has been calculated that get- Earlier, Davie agreed that tions and a new tier of ultra- ting DAB as standard... there ting the transmission network ­although the date provided cer- local stations. The caveat is that will be at least 15m people who Talking of saving money in news, was up to scratch for digital switch- tainty and people now knew the timetable will be imple- won’t have it and certainly won’t it really necessary for sport correspondent over will cost £100m, and it where they stood after years mented only if digital listening want to have wires hanging over James Pearce to report live from Wimbledon wasn’t clear to the Tory spokes- of indecision, the timetable accounts for 50 percent of the their lovely fascias…’ at 10pm on Sunday? Granted, tennis history man or anyone else where the was ‘very ambitious’ and had total by 2013. At the moment The aforementioned Tony had been made with Roger Federer clocking money would come from. It also ­‘focused the minds’ of all those such listening represents 20 Moretta, chief exec of the Digital up a record 15 grand slam titles after beat- wasn’t clear who would pay for working in the industry. percent. Digital listening can be Radio Development Bureau, the ing Andy Roddick. Their encounter, marathon any help scheme that might It has done that all right. via DAB (digital audio broadcast- BBC-supported trade body that though it was, was over well before 7pm, yet be needed – similar to the tv The plans were unveiled ing) radio sets, the internet or promotes digital and helps to three hours later there was Pearce peering switchover help scheme – for in the Digital Britain report digital tv. drive take-up, agrees that there out of the dark at the All England Club with a elderly and disabled people. ‘It’s last month but generated lit- is much work to do to persuade live broadcast for BBC One’s Ten O’Clock News. far too early to go into that kind tle ­media coverage at the time, Consumers are revolting people that digital is the way to Couldn’t the piece have been pre-recorded? of ­detail,’ said Tim Davie, direc- largely because almost all the The thinking behind the plans go, but thinks that the 2015 tar- It wouldn’t have lost anything. Pearce and his tor of audio and music. ­attention dwelt on the future of is that it is wasteful for broad- get is achievable. crew could have taken an early bath – and per- Hunt, who made no secret of the licence fee and expanding casters to transmit on both ‘We’ve got six and a half years haps saved the Beeb a bob or two. his wish to become culture sec- the broadband network. analogue and digital, that space until switchover. It’s a long time Sally Hillier, deputy editor retary, assuming his party won Now though, people are start- is running out on the analogue in technology and a long time in the next general election, gave ing to wake up to what digital spectrum, and that switching broadcasting.’

> IF YOU HAVE A VIEW ABOUT THE TOPICS ON THIS PAGE, PLEASE EMAIL ariel mailbox a 07.07.09 11

This is the page that everybody reads. Please email [email protected] You can also contribute to the mail page directly from the Ariel Online home page mail

Break of service tion Time’ and ‘falling flat’, The Big Why does BBC Vision persist with Questions is a moral and ethical this outdated assumption that Wim- Michael Jackson belongs in Albert Square debate show which uniquely debates bledon tennis must be thrown on to religious issues and topics from the BBC One as soon as any British player It was fitting that there was a reference to stuff to his music on many a dance floor. news agenda. starts to perform above average? the untimely death of Michael Jackson in East- The music of Michael Jackson is the sound- Of course there are genuine ethi- How is it in the audience’s inter- Enders the day after he died, when Denise told track to my life. And I’m sure I’m not alone in cal and moral issues that are some- est to disrupt both BBC One and Two Patrick the news. this. The world has lost a remarkable man. times bound to create heated debate, schedules at no notice, night after but the aim is never to cause conflict night? Viewers are confused and Like millions of people the world over, I was And that’s why it was so great to hear his loss but rather to make the viewer wiser irritated by the loss of their sched- shocked and saddened about the loss of this referred to in Albert Square, especially from about the subject up for discussion. uled programmes and more than great musical icon and genius. the Square’s resident black family. There can’t Many of the subjects discussed in 1000 audience complaints have been I grew up listening to him – my parents played have been many families who weren’t chat- the programme do not create divi- received on this subject. sion in the way Mr Graystone sug- his music when I was in my pram in the gar- ting about Michael Jackson’s death over break- Why do we not allow tennis to gests, but involve a plurality of opin- proceed on BBC Two, where ade- den. As a girl I sang along to his music on my fast that morning – not least among the black ion and often genuine consensus quate provision has been made for it hairbrush, imagining that one day I would community – even the fictional ones. – like on the issue of knife crime or, in the published schedules? marry him. And as a teenager, I strutted my Abiola Awojobi, children’s radio more recently, MPs’ expense claims. Operationally, there is confusion The Big Questions is regularly and indecision over which channel watched by over a million viewers the news will appear on, with a final homecoming parade, attended by the miserable and even ill, surely taking Don’t scoff at Setanta so both the content and format are change of mind often communicated Duke of Edinburgh. our current sporting hero and air- I was incensed by a recent 5 Live obviously appreciated by those who with less than a minute to go. People who had taken part gath- brushing him to a misplaced idea of debate, hosted by Kate Silverton, on tune in. This causes unnecessary risk to ered in a pub a few feet from where I perfection was at best ill-judged and whether it was worse being a gradu- Liam Keelan the output and stress for transmis- was broadcasting to watch the cover- at worst irresponsible. ate trying to find a job in a recession- controller, BBC Daytime sion directors all over the UK. So let’s age. All they got was BBC London. Yyvonne Bergman hit market, or to be working for ailing allow some common sense to prevail To disenfranchise a section of view- asst senior studio manager, WS broadcaster Setanta. and leave the tennis where it has ers in this way is disgraceful. There followed much joviality at Quick lesson been scheduled to appear. The audi- Justin Leigh the demise of Setanta, and with it I couldn’t agree more with Rod ence will enjoy it just as much. presenter, BBC South West Out of the picture countless jobs. I couldn’t believe my McKenzie, championing the BBC’s Peter Gourd I was a Wimbledon centre court ears. What bad taste to sit in smug commitment to news for a younger head of presentation, Pacific Quay cameraman in the late 1980s, film- contentment at the licence-fee paid audience (June 23). But I’d go one Perfect ten(nis) ing eight men’s and women’s finals. BBC and mock a commercial organi- stage further and encourage all radio Who was I watched this year’s coverage, and sation which is going under. journalists to take a look at News- Rain on our parade that on the the quality of camerawork was as Would the debate have made beat’s scripts. They may not be for Last Friday’s decision to move the cover of brilliant as it was back then. So I was fun of LDV workers who were being everyone – but they do provide a well regional news to BBC Two, so that last week’s disappointed that in the music and made redundant? Of course not. So written, concise summary of the the Andy Murray match could con- Radio credits sequence following the men’s why should we behave differently news, whatever your age. tinue on One, removed the choice to Times? final, none of the cameramen were when it’s a rival broadcaster? Kevin Stanley watch it for thousands of viewers in Andy Mur- credited, just a handful of resource Sarah Teale bj, Radio Nottingham the South West. Our region is at the ray’s porn supervisors. This despite the fact that asst editor, BBC East Midlands tv news forefront of digital switchover and star dou- credits for BBC Sport production more than half of our transmitters ble? staff, from runners to vision mixers On our way to Helmand are already fully digital. That means The to producers, ran in huge numbers. No row with religion Nicky Campbell says of Radio 5 Live’s viewers can no longer receive BBC Andy Murray we see on tv has an Why are outside broadcast camer- I am writing in response to the com- move to Manchester (Ariel, June 30): Two analogue. angular face, prominent cheek-bones amen, with their fantastic skills and ments Andrew Graystone made about ‘We’re moving to Salford, it’s not Hel- On Friday, we were broadcasting and unruly hair. Was that really not stamina, any less important, even if The Big Questions in an authored article mand Province.’ a major OB from Exeter – one of the good enough for the cover of the they have been sold off and work for on page ten of Ariel last week. Clearly Mr Campbell has never areas where you can’t watch BBC Two BBC’s listings magazine? another company nowadays? I believe he was unfair about the been to Ordsall. analogue – to bring viewers heavily At a time when acute body con- Paul Francis programme. Rather than being, as Carl Johnston trailed coverage of a large military sciousness is making some people senior camera journalist, news he stated, ‘…the bastard child of Ques- producer, news and current affairs

room factual drama ered that a staff job The Chicago Conspir- in British Forces OBITUARY acy Trial. In the 70s Broadcasting of- from the vault and 80s, he made fered more security. christopher burstall acclaimed arts When the mar- July, 1985 Bafta winning producer director Chris- series, including riage ended, Roger ‘If the programme does not end with fade down of the final topher Burstall has died, aged 77. He Artists on Film. remained with credit, give details,’ says the transmission form for pre- joined the BBC as a general trainee in Christopher BFBS, becoming sta- recorded television programmes. 1955 and spent his entire career here. retired from the BBC in 1989. He is tion manager, western Europe, BFBS Time was when furnishing the details was simplicity itself He worked across many pro- survived by wife Sue, three children Radio and SSVC Television but, thanks to video effects, not any more. grammes, including Panorama, but and six grandchildren. A celebration of before retiring in the late 1990s. My PA took some time sorting out how to describe the last found his natural home in music his life will take place on September 4 He found contentment when he shot of Tomorrow’s World at Large: Before Your Very Eyes, and arts. He became one of a group at St Andrew’s Church, Ham Common. met Liz who he married in 1987 and and finally came up with: of auteur producer directors who freelanced as an announcer and ‘Final credit zooms in perspective out of hole in chicken’s sought to make films as ambitious newsreader at the World Service un- and inventive as the works they scru- Roger Hudson til he moved to Spain, then to France. egg, and flashes upwards as background oozes into double tinised. He made ground-breaking Roger Hudson was a farmer in France, Those who knew him will miss a Taj Mahal shape against a new picture (BCU cup of coffee films for Monitor, Omnibus, Bookmark where he died in May. He was also a remarkable bon vivant, a clever rac- viewed from above) and zooms down into slo-mo splash in and Arena. He made landmark docu- skillful broadcaster and stalwart of the onteur and all round ball of energy. cup before disappearing. Closing music ends. Hold on BCU mentary Tyger Tyger which focused a British Forces Broadcasting Service. His was also an accomplished musi- cup with coffee droplets still slowly fading back into it before whole hour on William Blake’s poem. Born and bred in Sussex, Roger cian and brilliant jazz guitarist. fading to black.’ He captured Graham Greene in a cut his broadcasting teeth in radio He was devoted to his two children Any other contenders? definitive conversation on the Orient in New Zealand. When he returned and Liz’s daughter. He lived life to Laurie John, producer, science and features Express and made the final film with to the UK in the early 1970s, he free- the full, and like a French farmer, he sculptor Barbara Hepworth. lanced for Radio 4, World Service and died quietly in his bed. He won a Bafta in 1970 for court- COI. He married Valerie, and discov- Rodney Smith

Ariel Advert 2009-07-06:30th MARCH 2004 Page 12[1].qx 06/07/2009 15:10 Page 1

a 07.07.09 14 Jobs See Attachment JOBS

——————————————— ——————————————— ——————————————— PROGRAMME MAKING Researcher/Ymchwilydd Partner, Workplace Talent Assistant, Sports Back to London The Museum of Life Personality of the Year Executive Producer, White City Radio Comedy Cardiff London 10D/Ref: 13661609 4D/Ref: 14142209 London 5D/Ref: 14041509 E C 12-Jul-09 A 06 months C 14-Jul-09 A 04 months my roots E C A ——————————————— Henry Wood House 13-Jul-09 04 months ——————————————— 11P/Ref: 14109809 Communications C 19-Jul-09 A 12 months Personal Assistant to JOURNALISM Manager, Audiences Sbj Iain Haddow, on ——————————————— London Chief Advisor, Commissioning BBC North telling stories for the Senior Broadcast White City Executive, Factual London / Salford Quays Journalist, Politics Show 9D/Ref: 13790009 Cardiff C 13-Jul-09 4D/Ref: 13996809 news website’s UK desk Newcastle upon Tyne ——————————————— C 16-Jul-09 10D/Ref: 14234609 8D/Ref: 14323609 Projects Manager ——————————————— In television, anything longer than a 20 second C 15-Jul-09 A 06 months C 14-Jul-09 A 10 months intro makes me twitchy. So the first time someone ——————————————— Nigeria Information Assistant ——————————————— at news online asked me for 800 words I wondered Political and British 9D/Ref: 13577309 London Unit Manager - News, C 13-Jul-09 A 06 months how on earth I would do it. But the more I wrote, Affairs Producer Features and ——————————————— White City the more I wanted to write. London Broadcast Appeal Entertainment 4D/Ref: 13977409 I discovered that the way you tell a story online Millbank Manager, BBC Wildlife C 14-Jul-09 is markedly different from the world of broadcast- London 8/9D/Ref: 14142309 Fund Continuing Various ing. It took me a while to get used to formatting sto- TV Centre C 16-Jul-09 A 06 months ries using the CPS software, which meant I didn’t ——————————————— London 8P/Ref: 14314709 feel I was up to speed until the latter part of my Broadcast Journalist, White City NEW MEDIA C 14-Jul-09 A 06 months ­attachment. But once I got used to the production, Abuja Office 8D/Ref: 12929009 ——————————————— C 13-Jul-09 A 11 months I enjoyed getting back to my journalistic roots – News Director, BBC Nigeria ——————————————— Senior Content Producer telling a story. 7D/Ref: 13497609 IA Ontologist (Tagging) For a start, I got to do some actual news report- Arabic E C 19-Jul-09 A 2 years (Information Architect) ing. Original, huh? It meant leaving the office and London ——————————————— London Broadcast Journalist London Media Centre speaking to some ‘real’ people for vox pops and col- Broadcasting House our pieces, digital camera in tow. For the first time (Reporter) – Swansea Broadcast Centre Media 8D/Ref: 14200609 8D/Ref: 13865809 in a long time, I felt a connection with the audi- Village C 12-Jul-09 A 09 months C 12-Jul-09 A 06 months Cardiff ence. ——————————————— 5/7D/Ref: 14111809 7D/Ref: 13666209 ——————————————— E C 14-Jul-09 A 12 months C 13-Jul-09 A 08 months Content Producer Production Manager, ——————————————— ——————————————— Strictly Come Dancing Robidz Broadcast and Online Assistant Projects London Glasgow Assistant Manager, Africa London Media Centre 8D/Ref: 11721509 London E C 19-Jul-09 A 07 Bush House Bush House 7D/Ref: 14331509 months 4D/Ref: 13577009 7D/Ref: 13577409 C 14-Jul-09 A 05 months ——————————————— C 15-Jul-09 A 06 months E C 21-Jul-09 A 06 months ——————————————— ——————————————— Producer, Front Row, Litigation Paralegal, Broadcast TECHNOLOGY A&M Factual Assistant/Cynorthwy- BBC Legal Manchester ydd Darlledu London Partnership Manager 7D/Ref: 13964209 Cardiff White City London C 13-Jul-09 A 07 months 3/4H/Ref: 14244909 5H/Ref: 13099909 ——————————————— C 13-Jul-09 A 06 months E C 13-Jul-09 Broadcast Centre Media ——————————————— Village Assistant Producer, Resources Organiser, Landward BUSINESS SUPPORT 11D/Ref: 14331309 ANDZ MANAGEMENT Location C 16-Jul-09 A 12 months Aberdeen London ——————————————— 7D/Ref: 13533809 5D/Ref: 14263009 C A Engineering Team Lead 12-Jul-09 08 months Head of Sourcing - C 19-Jul-09 A 08 months ——————————————— Production Resources ——————————————— London Ast Content Producer, London Team Assistant, Policy & White City Learning sites. White City Strategy 10D/Ref: 14100009 Glasgow SM2/Ref: 14324609 London C 15-Jul-09 C 12-Jul-09 ——————————————— 6D/Ref: 14041409 ——————————————— White City C 19-Jul-09 A 09 months Senior Infrastructure People who read your pieces often get in touch Head of College of 4D/Ref: 14283009 ——————————————— C 13-Jul-09 Engineer directly when your stories go live. I got an imme- Production ——————————————— Ast. Content Producer, London diate reaction quote from the Ministry of Defence London Team Assistant, IP, BBC Radio Scotland Online Broadcast Centre Media and a call from a member of the public, who said SM2/Ref: 14192009 Legal how touched they had been by a feature I wrote Glasgow E C Village 15-Jul-09 London about North Sea divers. Instant reaction can have its 6D/Ref: 14037609 ——————————————— 8D/Ref: 14099909 White City C 15-Jul-09 drawbacks though. When I posted a breaking news C 19-Jul-09 A 09 months Head of Marketing, ——————————————— 4D/Ref: 14282909 ——————————————— story about a hotel fire in Brighton, an irate mem- Future Media & C 13-Jul-09 ber of the public wrote to complain within seconds Senior Application Studio Production Technology ——————————————— of the story going live. They noticed that the library Support Coordinator, Children’s London PA to Head of Finance, picture we used showed a Dennis fire engine while London London Broadcast Centre Media Economics & Strategy Brighton and Hove council used another make. Broadcast Centre Media TV Centre Village London What struck me about my attachment at news Marylebone High Street Village online was how quiet it could be on the seventh 5P/Ref: 14336909 11D/Ref: 14248709 4D/Ref: 14235809 8D/Ref: 14099809 floor, compared with the cut and thrust of televi- C 14-Jul-09 A 10 months C E C 20-Jul-09 A 12 months E C 13-Jul-09 A 06 months 15-Jul-09 sion. That’s since changed with the creation of the ——————————————— ——————————————— ——————————————— ——————————————— multimedia newsroom, and rightly so. Our punters go online just as much as they tune to tv and radio in times of big news events, so it makes sense that we all sit together. And it means I can still include my online colleagues in the odd tea run without having to take the lift. FULL DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS Full details and how to apply are on Gateway at: Vacancies published on this page are open to BBC Staff. Been anywhere nice? https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc02.asp Where indicated (E ), external applicants may also be considered. Please contact (quoting Send your attachment stories to Clare Bolt For assistance contact BBC Recruitment’s Response Team on: 0800 082 8080 the appropriate ref.no.): Recruitment BBC HR Direct, PO Box 1133, Belfast BT1 9GP Tel: or 0370 333 1330 0370 333 1330. Textphone: 028 9032 8478

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

14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 07·07·09 What am I doing here 15 PHOTOGRAPH: harr in

gto foreign n photograph report y ROWAN BRIDGE RADIO 5 LIVE REPORTER AMID THE JACKSON FRENZY IN LA They say that Los Angeles is the home of show- business, and the business side of things has cer- tainly been on display in the city in the last few days. Last week I walked along Hollywood Boulevard by Michael Jackson’s star on the walk of fame. It’s be- come something of a shrine, with flowers, candles, barnes homemade posters, even a flat screen tv left in his radio memory. paul Just down from the star, ‘Steve’ was doing a brisk trade in home-made Jackson posters – usually $10, local but on offer for five, so that he ‘could shift some vol- ume’. They looked like they’d been put together using presenter a pirated copy of Photoshop in someone’s bedroom, with various stock publicity shots of Jackson, his album covers and ‘Michael Jackson The King of Pop 1958-2009’ written at the bottom. If those didn’t It was a film about steam locomotives at Carnforth that You were the first reporter on Newsbeat take your fancy there were plenty of homemade tee- when that started. Tell me about that. shirts, with pictures of Jackson – or at least what was kicked off Paul Barnes's career in radio and television The editor at the time was Mike Chaney, meant to look like Jackson – printed on them, a bar- who I’d worked with on the Today Pro- gain at $10. The one I couldn’t resist was the Michael You celebrated a milestone on July 4… Do you have a thing for steam locomotives? gramme. It was challenging because it only Jackson ‘glove’, for just $5. It looked surprisingly like a It’s 40 years since I’ve been in broadcasting. They produced a wonderful musical sound had a running time of 15 minutes, so each white women’s cotton glove, with glitter stuck on the I used to work for an advertising agency as and there are some good recordings of them. news item had to be condensed. Your writ- back. I was told that fans were going to wear them at a producer; eventually I became a freelance When steam was dying out in the late 1960s, ing and your questioning had to be tight. his funeral to show their solidarity. Really. film director. I was asked along to Broadcast- I set out to make some films about it. Three It was extremely good experience but Even the people buying the posters admitted that ing House to show some of my films and talk of them were reissued on dvd last year from eventually I wanted to move on to things it was ‘tat’ (something that frankly was hard to argue about the making of them. A Radio 4 pro- the British Film Institute. with more meat on them. with) but they said they were buying them so they ducer liked my style and asked if I’d like to My enthusiasm was railways in the land- could say they had got drive a radio programme. scape. Now you can go to see preserved lines, Do you have celebrity status? their memento on the but they’re liked caged animals to me. I pre- I’m constantly recognised, mainly because I couldn't Hollywood Walk of Fame When were you first on air? ferred to see the animals in the wild. I was on tv. It’s nice when people still rec- when Jackson died. For May 1969. I did a 15-minute live talk on ognise you – it means that you impinged resist the those who wanted to get Radio 4 about making television commer- When did a career in tv beckon? on their consciousness. a bit closer, you could cials. Then I started presenting a magazine Someone from Granada television heard me Michael take the Hollywood programme called Out of This Week, also on on Radio 4 and invited me to present their And you also write? homes of the stars tour, Radio 4, on Friday mornings. regional news programme in Manchester I write for Saga Magazine, various county Jackson which includes Jackson’s in 1970. I became the founding presenter magazines and the odd newspaper. I used rented home on its itin- And today? of Sunday on Radio 4 while I was there. to write weekly for the Radio Times. They 'glove' erary. As one of the tour My show is called The Late Paul Barnes, on Sat- I’d work weekdays in Manchester, then had a regional page and I was the East An- agents admitted to me, urdays from 11pm until 1am. It broadcasts back to London on Friday nights and into glia correspondent. Being under contract Jackson’s death had been great for business. to Radios Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, the BBC on Saturday evenings to prepare to Anglia television I had to use a nom de A few of the ‘entrepreneurs’ were also plying their Essex, Kent, Northampton, Three Counties for Sunday, and then back to Manchester on plume. I called myself Royston Hartz, after trade outside the family encampment in Encino, just and on the internet. I have listeners all over Monday morning. I was contributing to the the town of Royston in Hertfordshire. outside Los Angeles. On a baking hot day one woman the world. It’s been running for about 12 Today Programme as well. I’ve also worked had set up her deckchair and was selling bottles of years in various time slots. for the World Service, Radio 2 and Radio 1. What else are you celebrating this year? water, along with the ubiquitous home made tee- It’s 40 years since I gave up smoking. It shirts, to the assembled world’s media. Where is home, then? As a presenter of Sunday, did listeners was November 1969 and I was on location Encino has also become a shrine to Jackson, I broadcast from Radio Norfolk. I’m from assume that you were a religious man? with the National Coal Board film unit though this time along with the candles, balloons Coventry but live in Norwich. When I first I used to get letters addressed to The Rev- in Whitley Bay. I gave away 17 Players in and posters there was no flat screen tv. No, instead came here it was to work with Anglia tele- erend Paul Barnes. The irony was that I’m a packet. The next month I was back on there was a four feet high and three feet wide purple vision in 1977. The day after I arrived I was agnostic so I have no faith. I used to inter- the air presenting a magazine programme fluffy gorilla, which had become the centrepiece of having a drink with a colleague and he said, view bishops, including the Arch Bishop of and I knew I’d given up for good when I the makeshift memorial. Only in LA. ‘Welcome to the graveyard of ambition’. He Canterbury Michael Ramsey, and I think I got through a whole programme without Away from the blatant spirit of American entre- meant that you won’t want to move away. would still hit it off with them. Despite not smoking in the studio. preneurship there were also those who genuinely It’s a good place to be. being a reverend, I was reverent. It’s also the 50th anniversary since pass- felt a connection to Jackson and wanted to do some- ing my driving test, and I turn thing to honour his memory. Deangelo Flewellen had What sort of music do you play? 70 at the end of July. What a just bought one of the posters, but had purchased A mix of jazz from the 1920s to year. the whole of Thriller and Bad on digital download, the present day: classic popu- CVpaul barnes even though he already owned the cds. At the Grammy lar music such as Nat King Cole, What unusual item do you Music Museum people had been in tears as they current performers such as Claire Degree: None. I went to art school and got a qualification after have in your garden? came to see the special Jackson exhibit which has Martin and Diana Krall and com- two years but failed my finals. I got distracted by playing the A phone box. It was being been laid on, including the white linen jacket he wore posers like the Gershwin Brothers trumpet in a jazz band removed down the road but on the cover of Thriller. And at the FAME Church in and Cole Porter. It’s entirely my First job: An assistant in a photographic retailers, 1955-56 we paid £150 to keep it. It south central Los Angeles, the oldest black church choice. I exercise musical tyranny. Career Landmarks: Working on the Today Programme with weights 1.8 tonnes and looks in the city, the congregation cheered and clapped at I loathe the term ‘easy listening’ Robert Robinson stands out. I learned so much about writing fabulous. I love to read books the Sunday morning service as a video highlighting because I like to believe it’s also from him in the garden but I’m not Jackson’s career played. stimulating. I also manage to great with plants. Michael Jackson’s life was full of showmanship squeeze in the occasional steam Family: Living with my partner. Two sons in their 40s and one and spectacle. It’s just as true of his death. locomotive sound effect. granddaughter Interview by Peggy Walker

> CONTACT carla parks to suggest a colleague for this feature 16 a 07·07·09 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: At a children’s media conference in Sheffield, ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off BBC North director Peter Salmon revealed that 1 the job he really wants, once MediaCityUK is up ▲ UPSIDE Peter and running, is on reception. ‘I want to welcome Royle, customer people in and ask them, ‘Are you lost? Do you ▲ services manager need help with your career?’ He even wonders at BBC Audiobooks 2 what his uniform will be like. Perhaps his minor in Bath, complet- car crash on the way to South Yorkshire affected ▲ ed the Ironman 3 him more than he said it had. France triathlon ▲ in Nice in a time of It’s our pleasure to report on the power of 10h 30m 56s. The Ariel. A frustrated Roberto Battista wrote a let- ▲ event, held on the ter complaining about the mismanagement of last Sunday in June, involves a 2.4-mile heating and lighting at Henry Wood House last ▲ swim, a 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile month. His polite complaints over two years had run. ‘This is my third Ironman and it was resulted in a whole bunch of nothing. But one certainly the hilliest and most scenic,’ day after his letter was printed in Ariel, there ▲ remarks the ultra-fit manager. ‘Race have been immediate changes, instigated by the conditions were very hot but otherwise responsible-sounding principal risk manager, ▲ near perfect – a fantastic weekend.’ who paid his team a visit. It’s a triumph for the Meanwhile, green room’s favourite Sun- printed word. ▲ day activity remains lunch. Gemma, one half of the 1Xtra breakfast show and ▲ Downside a girl without a surname, unveiled a tribute track If you want to Three Joanne Malins: 1 Wearing a fat suit, 2 the normal sized to her co-presenter Trevor Nelson. ‘The Nelson ▲ learn how to win Joanne, and 3 as she appeared to the people of Birmingham Skank’ is the biggest tune of the summer dontcha women over, know and features a collaboration of different art- ▼ listen to Tony ists repeating the refrain of ‘rub your bald head’, Livesey on BBC a reference to Nelson’s lack of hair. Apparently he Lancashire. The needed to be consoled with a massage from one ▼ breakfast pre- of his producers after hearing it. ▼ senter compli- mented producer GETFATFAST Happy Mondays main man Shaun – he put the Alison Butter- mad into Madchester and the E into everything ▼ worth on her Hollywood has a fondness for fat and her ability to do everyday tasks. – Ryder has many claims to fame, but perhaps outfit last week, suits, perhaps because its actors are ‘I tried on some shoes in a shop and the most unusual has been pointed out by gos- ▼ saying it looked like ‘an old 70s tennis constantly on a diet. Skinny Gwyn- couldn’t bend down to do the buckle sip site Popbitch. It seems that the f-word-hap- dress, like the one in the poster of the nie, Eddie Murphy, John Travolta and up,’ Joanne said ruefully. ‘My lack py, ex-postman is the only person mentioned ▼ lady scratching her bottom’. The com- Robin Williams have all road tested of mobility combined with sum- by name in the Channel 4 compliance manual, ment was met with stony silence, and excess padding in the name of com- mer temperatures made everything which expressly forbids him from ever appear- only Tony was left wondering why. Has edy, often with mixed results. more difficult,’ she added. She even ing live on the channel at any time. And Ross/ ▼ he been learning from Silvio Berlusconi? Step forward Joanne Malin, from found it hard to reach her keyboard Brand thought they had it bad. Birmingham not Bel Air, who has fol- ­because of the size of her stomach. ▼ According to BBC Sport’s official Wim- lowed in the A-listers’ footsteps to Anyone who has ever been heav- Those little white paper bags which hold bledon mole, there was ‘much gnashing highlight the reality of obesity for a ily pregnant will relate to all these pick’n’mix sweets can contain the stickiest of ▼ of teeth’ when a call to the sport pro- week of programming called Flab to experiences, but at least you have a caramels with minimum leakage, but who knew duction office revealed that a member Fab on BBC WM, which started this few months to get used to the humili- they could also play a role in the fight against ▼ of staff had forgotten their pass to get Monday. ation of not being able to buckle your the global swine flu pandemic? BBC Wales, who into the tennis grounds. A size 12, mid-morning presenter own shoes. realised the cheap yet goo-resistant bags make ▼ Green room was tickled to find out that Joanne ballooned to a size 18 over- Joanne, we recommend flip-flops ideal used tissue receptacles, have issued them the culprit was none other than sport night, to test the reactions of people next time. to staff. Just don’t get this hi-tech anti-influenza ▼ online bj Ben Dirs. device mixed up with your quarter of aniseed balls. Isn’t it iconic? Win a dvd copy of EARWIGGING It’s the role of the unsung hero. A 1982 commercial whaling moratorium, good subeditor is indispensable, yet Brazil’s football shirt, Woolworths’ The Young Victoria OVERHEARD AT THE BBC he always remains unseen, destined pick ‘n’ mix, the Whirlpool Galaxy Leopold of Belgium. …So you may come in tomor- to let others take the credit for in space, the crumbling Wellington But she succeeds to impeccable grammar. But some monument in Somerset, Vegemite and the throne and mar- row a little shrivelled?... things are beyond even their control a haircut. ries the love of her – and one of them is journalists’ love ‘Please use this adjective thought- life, Prince Albert. …I didn’t realise you affair with hyperbole. fully,’ the sub pleads. We’re still work- Also starring Paul had a fairy fetish… A sub in the news website editorial ing out how a whaling moratorium can Bettany, Miranda team circulated an email that painfully in any way be described as iconic. Richardson and Jim …Not sure of her name but pointed out the misuse of the word Broadbent. she does grunt... ‘icon’. In the last couple of To enter to win one weeks the following Featuring Emily of five copies …I just throw food through the door things have been Blunt and Rupert (released on July 13, every week and they drink their own described as iconic, Friend, The Young rrp £19.99), answer he writes Victoria follows this question: The urine… despairingly: the princess at a Victoria Cross was …Have you ever been to the moon?... puffins, Pop- time when she was created as a result eye, a Holly- just a priceless of which war? Email … I was a bit worried about having four wood props political prize for ariel competitions pussies before 9am… store, the power-hungry King by July 13.

> IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THE GREEN ROOM, CONTACT CARLA parks