p h otograp 30·03·10 Week 13 THE BBC NEWSPAPER explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel a bassett mark h:
The Boat Race is ◆back on the BBC, and the production team is ready for the off. L-R are Séan Hughes, Michael Jackson, Paul Davies, Stephen Lyle and Jenny Hackett. Page 5
Rowers return ◆ Report calls for ◆ DG visits teams in ◆ What they did next - ‘spring clean’ on Pakistan and former staff on life compliance Page 2 Afghanistan Page 4 after the BBC Pages 8-9
> NEWS 2-4 WEEK AT WORK 7 OPINION 10 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 216 News aa 00·00·08 30·03·10 NEWS BITES a Clearer compliance The BBC Trust has extended the timetable for its review of the Gaelic service BBC Alba. Originally due to complete ahead of digital Room 2316, White City still needed in A&M switchover in central and northern 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS Scotland in April 2010, the review 020 8008 4228 by Cathy Loughran vation has survived and that ‘there is no evidence now will conclude after the trust has Editor that programmes which ought to be made are published its final view on what the Candida Watson 02-84222 ‘Significant cultural changes’ have taken not being made’. future strategy for the BBC ought Deputy editor place in Audio & Music since the Ross/Brand af- Trustee Alison Hastings said there had been to be, currently due later this year. fair, but tighter rules haven’t stifled risk-taking in clear evidence of change after ‘an extremely seri- Cathy Loughran 02-27360 programmes, an independent review has found. ous breach’, but it had not been at the expense of Freesat, the subscription-free Chief writer Lessons from Sachsgate had been ‘fully programme-making. digital satellite tv service, has Sally Hillier 02-26877 learned’, implemented and policed, says the The review calls for clarity, including in com- achieved sales of one million since its Features editor study, commissioned by the BBC Trust. pliance language used, and emphasises the im- launch in May 2008, adding 250,000 Clare Bolt 02-27445 But it recommends a ‘spring clean’ of compli- portance of training for the key role of executive customers over Christmas and New Broadcast Journalists ance processes to bring more clarity and address producer. The BBC Academy’s creative leadership Year. ‘Freesat is a great opportunity Claire Barrett 02-27368 inconsistencies; further staff training; and moni- course should be completed by all A&M exec pro- for millions of homes with existing Adam Bambury 02-27410 toring of the future impact on editorial checks of ducers by the middle of this year. satellite dishes who are used to Lisette Johnston 02-27630 new media and changes like the move to Salford. The BBC executive welcomed the suggestions quality tv but no longer want to pay Rumeana Jahangir 02-27630 There is acknowledgement of the compliance on clarity and easing of paperwork as well as its a monthly subscription,’ says Emma AV Manager workload, especially in Radio 4, where extra re- finding that creative risk taking was still possible. Scott, managing director of Freesat. sourcing might be needed. The general require- Some ‘spring cleaning’ had already begun, with Peter Roach 02-24622 ment of a ‘final listen’ by an executive producer ‘many more programmes classed as low risk and Rob Brydon is to get his own Art editor needed clarification to ‘ease the compliance bur- the requirement for multiple listens relaxed’. comedy entertainment programme Ken Sinyard 02-84229 den where it can be done without undue risk’. The double listening burden for Radio 2 alone on BBC Two later this year. Filmed Digital Design Executive The review – by Tim Suter, formerly partner for had been reduced by 90 hours over Christmas, the in front of a live studio audience, it David Murray 02-27380 content and standards at Ofcom, and Tony Stol- executive says, adding: ‘A&M is happy to allow ex- will be produced by Arbie, the indie ler, former chief executive of the Radio Authority ecutive producers and editors to decide how they that Brydon founded last year with Guest contributors this week – found ‘stringent policing of and notable leader- would like to listen to content’. Meanwhile, the comedy exec Miles Ross. It will be a ship towards significant cultural changes in the A&M creative leadership course would be rolled mix of stand-up from Brydon and understanding of the importance of compliance out to 80 people by the end of March. from a guest comedian each week. John Linwood, offers a ten point across the whole of BBC production’. A&M will report to the trust on the implemen- plan for managing the meeting Suter and Stoller conclude that creative inno- tation of the recommendations in November. Professor Steve Jones is to culture. Page 10 lead the BBC Trust’s review of impartiality and accuracy in BBC Duncan kennedy, on Ferraris and science coverage. Jones, head of the fountains as spring comes to Rome. Department of Genetics, Evolution Page 15 Lords seek clarity on digital and Environment at University College, London, will look at science reporting across television, by Candida Watson had cost licence fee payers The peers are also con- radio and online, particularly some £300m more than was cerned by the huge cost of where it relates to public policy Ariel mail u The Government needs to necessary. This was main- providing full national dig- or matters of controversy. [email protected] do more to promote and ex- ly due to an overestimate of ital radio coverage. The BBC plain digital radio switcho- those who would need finan- built 90 transmitters to service Radio Merseyside presenter Sean Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel ver, according to the House of cial help to make the switch, 85 percent of the population; Styles is asking people to tell him BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 Lords communications to push reach to 90 why a certain place is special to Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 committee. percent it has to them, be it a favourite park bench BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 In a report on the build another 140. or a view from a hill. The best will Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS transfer of tv and ra- In her evidence be brought together in a ‘style Advertise in Ariel dio to digital the peers to the committee guide’ to Merseyside that will go on Ten Alps Media 020 7878 2313 warn: ‘The case for ra- chief operating of- the BBC website and be broadcast dio switchover has not ficer Caroline Thom- on Radio Merseyside in May. www.bbcarielads.com been made to the pub- son said increasing Printing lic, although the date is coverage from 90 to Sports presenter Jennie Gow is to Garnett Dickinson Group only a few years away.’ 98.5 percent would present the BBC’s MotoGP coverage, Rotherham 01709 768000 The committee says effectively double joining Charlie Cox, Steve Parrish Subscribe to Ariel there is ‘public confu- what the BBC spent and Matt Roberts for the first race Six months: £26, £36, £40 sion and industry un- on digital transmis- of the season in Qatar on April 11. certainty’ over the pro- sion. Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 gramme. It notes that The peers felt A revamped Doctor Who Adventures (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world up to 100 million ra- there was uncer- magazine is to be launched on April 1. respectively) dios will be largely re- tainty around fu- Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, dundant and 20 mil- ture radio services: BBC Worldwide has launched Brookfields Way, Manvers, lion car radios will need but also because the licence when would digital switch- Red Dwarf: Back to Earth on Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL converters when FM and AM fee provided £50m more than over really be? What would the iTunes Store in the UK, US, Tel 01709 768199 services are moved to digit- was needed for the communi- happen to FM services in the Australia, Canada and Germany. INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY al in 2015. It says the lack of cations strategy. long term? What about AM, public knowledge of the im- The committee felt that in which is currently still the Telephone 0800 0688 159 pending change, and the radio, ‘the case for change is home of the UK’s emergen- Do you remember Ceefax Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 costs consumers will have to not as compelling’. The Lords cy communications system? Jean Sutcliffe? Ariel is produced by Internal bear, could provoke a public said people like FM radio and Their report concludes with backlash. have not been well enough a list of recommendations for Author Christopher Wilson The committee heard from informed of the benefits of the government, from clari- is seeking reminiscences from all sides of the tv and radio digital. Of the BBC’s recent fying the switchover date, to staff about Jean Sutcliffe, former industry, as well as from the decision to close 6 Music and better informing the public, head of the BBC’s Schools Depart- Society of Motor Manufactur- the Asian Network the report to working with the SMMT to ment, creator of Listen With Moth- ers and Traders, viewers and says: ‘This proposal sends a get digital in cars, setting up er and famously the person who PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL listeners, as it considered dig- negative signal to consumers a scrappage scheme for old banned Enid Blyton’s work from ital switchover. about the BBC’s commitment radios, providing financial the airwaves for being too trivial It says tv switchover is go- to digital radio – and weak- help to the disadvantaged. (as she saw it). Anyone who ing well, with viewers con- ens the already limited case The length of the list shows can help, or who has a copy of vinced of the benefits. But it for listeners to invest in digit- there is much still to do for her obituary, should email found that the tv campaign al equipment.’ radio digital switchover . [email protected]
> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 30·03·10 News 3
Staff look over new Salford buildings
CBBC presenters Sonali Shah Buildings A and B were handed over sesses all of its three buildings at Media milestone on the journey to our excit- ager at BBC Studios and Post Produc- ◆(Newsround), Alex Winter (CBee- this month to the BBC by the Peel Group City as Building C – which will house 5 ing new home in the north and I am very tion, will join Peel as its head of studios bies) and Helen Skelton (Blue Peter) ahead of schedule. FM&T also dem- live, Sport and regional programmes – pleased that the buildings have been at Media City. The company owns and were among the hundreds of staff onstrated the technology that will be was handed over last October. handed over on time and on budget.’ operates the block which includes sev- touring the future home of Children’s, used at the site to senior managers at Peter Salmon, director BBC North, It was also announced last week that en high-definition tv studios and the Learning and FM&T in Salford last week. the handover events. The BBC now pos- said: ‘This marks another important Andy Waters, currently resources man- future base of the BBC Philharmonic. Lights, Action, Record AI for personal view of Claudia! women’s lives in Afghanistan
Claudia Winkleman will succeed about being giv- by Adam Bambury Jonathan Ross as host of BBC One’s en this enormous Film 2010. The new series, which honour and am A BBC Three documentary on starts in September, will also have a incredibly proud women’s rights in Afghanistan has revamped format and feature a wide to be presenting secured what is thought to be the range of cinema and industry ex- the new-look Film highest ever Appreciation Index perts, as well as studio guests. 2010.’ score for a factual programme, not Winkleman currently has her The long-run- only on the BBC, but across all re- own Friday night Arts Show on Ra- ning show start- ported channels. dio 2, and has covered the Baftas as ed as Film 72, pre- High AI scores are more com- well as presenting the UK broadcasts sented by film critic monly associated with nature of the Oscars and Golden Globes. She Barry Norman un- programming and high-end dra- said: ‘Everyone has an opinion on til 1998. Jonathan Ross ma, but it seems Women, Weddings, film and I’m looking forward tode- took over in 1999. War & Me, commissioned by head bating the biggest news and releases of BBC Three Danny Cohen, has with a whole variety of guests each New host for film show managed to break with tradition. week. I am completely over the moon Claudia Winkleman The film follows Nel – a 21 year- old who has lived in London since she was six after her family fled the war in Afghanistan – as she re- Londoner Nel in Kabul for BBC Three’s Women, Weddings, War & Me turns to Kabul to learn what life Online’s Olympic summer was like for women under the Tali- At the end she comes back to meet One drama A Passionate Woman, the ban and whether things have since her mother and you’re left with a films form part of a series of pro- BBC Online will launch a London countdown in July next year. changed. very powerful feeling.’ grammes across the BBC on wom- 2012 portal this summer, it was re- Newman also outlined that a Exec producer and Panorama The documentary is one of two en’s lives which was instigated by vealed at a multimedia conference in redesigned News Online will be editor Tom Giles cites Nel as the films the current affairs team has Vision controller Jana Bennett. BBC Bristol last week. launched by early June and the key to the programme’s success. made for the channel that focus on Danny Cohen congratulated the ‘It will be a representation of all weather website will be updated for ‘You engage with her on every lev- women’s rights in warzones. The team on their AI success, saying it BBC activities including cultural and mobile devices. el – emotional and social. The feel- second, The World’s Most Danger- was a ‘wonderful recognition of sporting events,’ said Nic Newman, The announcements were made at ings that she has, the programme ous Place For Women, explores the their creativity and hard work’. ‘Se- FM&T controller for journalism. a conference exploring future ways makes you feel too. I think for that harsh realities of life in the Demo- rious and thought-provoking factu- ‘We’ll have news about London of working and was organised by reason it was very satisfying for cratic Republic of Congo through al programmes are a central part 2012, updates on the buildings and the BBC Academy and Bristol Anchor viewers,’ he told Ariel. ‘The Afghan the eyes of a 23 year-old British of BBC Three’s output, and I’m de- follow athletes.’ Partnership, which is a joint venture story is one we’re told many times, woman and TXs on March 30. To- lighted to see audiences respond- The site will include content from between venture between the BBC but to see it through those eyes, gether with BBC Four documentary ing so very positively to these pro- BBC London and start a one-year and city of Bristol. it’s fresh and almost disarming. series Women and forthcoming BBC grammes,’ he said.
4 News a 30·03·10 iPhone apps on Afghanistan trip for DG hold by Candida Watson
Plans to release dedicated Mark Thompson spent last week in BBC smartphone applications Pakistan and Afghanistan, meeting (apps) have been put on hold staff, opening new offices and talk- until an assessment by the BBC ing to senior politicians, military Trust has been completed. officials and opinion formers in both In a statement the trust countries. said that, following ‘represen- Accompanied by head of news- tations from the industry’, gathering Fran Unsworth the dg it would look at whether the went first to Pakistan, where he visit- plans ‘constitute a significant ed the new Islamabad office. change to BBC services’. He told Ariel: ‘In both countries we It will examine the plans got a real sense of the team working in four areas: how much they and total commitment to the stories, might affect users, their finan- to informing the public. In Afghan- cial impact, the extent the BBC istan the BBC is a really important would be involved in an area provider of radio – outside the cities of untested activity, and how there is little tv so radio is a lifeline – long this activity would last. and the BBC service is highly valued.’ The plans were original- In Afghanistan he formally opened ly announced on February 17, the new Kabul bureau – then made with the first release – a News a lightning trip south, flying from app for iPhone – scheduled for Kabul to Kandahar and on to Camp next month. Bastion. Thompson said: ‘I think we got Mark Thompson talks to BBC Persian and Pashto radio staff at the Kabul office about 90 minutes sleep in 30 hours, but we had good briefings and met not just on the front line, but in the their lives and convey to them how The BBC has some 200 staff in Af- the US commander General McChrys- towns and cities where the risk is ran- proud we are of all their work – not ghanistan, many of them locals, most Job losses tal and the British ambassador.’ dom bombings and kidnap. just the British journalists who are of whom work on the radio ‘soap’ He paid tribute to all the staff He said: ‘Our purpose was to meet familiar to audiences here but also New Home, New Life, and its magazine, and strike working in such a dangerous area, and talk to everyone, to learn about all our Afghan staff.’ books and outreach projects. of the Fifties, led by a resurgence of and a special documentary about the ballot culture in the north of England. Only Glastonbury festival, P Is For Pyramid: BBC Four season launch BBC Four would engage in popular An A-Z Of 40 Years Of Glastonbury. BBC Studios and Post Produc- culture in this way.’ Drama highlights include Lennon tion management is propos- by Sally Hillier Culture is the big theme running Naked, charting the transition of John ing to close 44 posts within BBC Four will show HG through Klein’s spring and summer Lennon (played by Christopher Eccle- the New Business and Enter- Want to know why BBC Four is putting Wells’s The First Men In schedule, unveiled last week. The ston) ‘from Beatle to enigmatic icon’, tainment department – in- the spotlight on Coronation Street? The Moon channel is taking a key role in A Pas- and HG Wells’s The First Men in The cluding the loss of all camera Controller Richard Klein, who has sion for Opera, a season also run- Moon. operators and almost half the lined up a drama telling the story of ning on BBC Two, Radio 3 and Radio The Outdoor Season includes Brit- support staff who look after the birth of ITV’s famous programme 2. Among BBC Four’s output is Opera ain By Bike, presented by Clare Bald- scenery and lighting. 50 years ago, has the answer. Italia, tracing the history of opera in ing, and Wild Swimming With Alice After initially planning He says the drama, titled Florizel Italy, Stephen Fry on Wagner, and Diva Roberts. some compulsory redundan- Street (also the original name of the Diaries. ‘BBC Four’s aim is to be as enjoya- cies, management has agreed ITV soap), ‘pinpoints a moment when The channel will also provide ex- ble as it is knowledgeable and insight- to look for redundancy volun- Britain emerged from the greyness tensive coverage of the BBC Proms ful,’ says Klein. teers among those perform- ing similar jobs in other parts of S&PP. ‘We have made progress in Awards for news, From BA to DJ in one managing to reduce the risk of compulsory redundancies,’ Bectu’s Tony Lennon told Ari- comedy and drama extra smooth move el. He said the proposed cuts were the result of a ‘haemor- PM presenter Eddie Mair was series, while the best single docu- by Adam Bambury ance on MistaJam’s weekday evening rhage’ of entertainment pro- named broadcaster of the year mentary prize went to BBC Two’s show revealed his on-air talents. grammes away from studios at the Broadcasting Press Guild Man on Wire. A student and community DJ working as ‘MistaJam gets his BA to read out text in Television Centre and to- Awards, and Desert Island Discs Choirmaster Gareth Malone a BA on Radio 1Xtra takes over his own messages, and has a bit of banter with wards Scotland’s Pacific Quay was radio programme of the year. won two awards – best tv perform- brand new show on the network next them,’ explained Bright. ‘Everyone was as well as a fall in commis- Terry Wogan received the Harvey er in a non-acting role, and for month, just four days after he hands in saying it sounded really good. I thought sions. Lee Award for outstanding con- The Choir: Unsung Town, which was his dissertation. nothing of it, but later my exec Rebec- • Red Bee Media staff are vot- tribution to broadcasting. named best factual entertainment Nick Bright, 23, thought he was ca Frank said they’d be making some ing on whether to take indus- BBC Two political satire The show. lucky to land a three month contract as a changes on the station and suggested I trial action over plans to cut Thick of It took three awards. Pe- There were also two awards broadcast assistant on his favourite BBC put in a pilot.’ their redundancy terms. Bec- ter Capaldi won best actor for his for actress Maxine Peake – for her station, as he completed his The student BA turned presenter re- tu has balloted members at performance as Malcolm Tucker, roles in Criminal Justice and The radio production and media corded the pilot at midnight after his Red Bee – the company that with Armando Iannucci and the Street. studies course at London’s shift. ‘Next thing I know I’m sit- provides playout services, pro- writing team taking the Writer’s n The BBC’s Democracy Live University of Westminster. ting in the Radio 1 boardroom mos, trails, subtitling and Award. In addition, the series was site, launched last November, Undeterred by an unsuc- and they were offering me a signing to the BBC – over pro- named best comedy/entertain- has won the 2010 Media Guardi- cessful job interview, show. It was a bit mental.’ posals to halve their redun- ment show. an innovation award for best use he had worked for free Bright will host 1Xtra’s dancy rights in future from a Another BBC Four original, of web platforms. Judges said the until he was offered a six day a week 4am -7am month’s pay for every year of Enid, about the life of Enid Blyton website ‘filled a huge gap in the regular freelance shift, early breakfast show service to two weeks’ pay. was best single drama, with Occu- accessibility of political informa- and then the BA post he’d as part of the station’s The ballot closes on April pation winning best drama series. tion’ and was ‘a hugely useful originally applied for. new-look schedule, 15 and the union has not Andrew Marr’s The Making of Mod- and important use of web based But an unexpected which is launched on ruled out strike action. ern Britain won best documentary technologies’. break came after an appear- April 26. a 30·03·10 Features 5
Oarsome occasion m PHOTOGRAPH: The BBC is back at the helm for one ar k b a of Britain’s oldest sse tt and most famous sporting events. Adam Bambury reports the boat race is so well established that it can go simply by the name ‘The Boat Race’. It was first held in 1829, has been broadcast since 1938 and ITV have had the rights since 2004. But this weekend the annual rowing competition between teams from the Oxford and Cambridge uni- versities is back on the BBC. Compared to the relatively straightforward nature of Olym- Water’s edge: pic rowing, where crews paddle in the production team a straight line from point a to point outside the Thames b on flat water, covering the race Rowing Club. presents a unique set of challenges. Jenny Hackett, Séan The 4.25 mile course down the River Hughes, Paul Davies, Thames is surrounded by houses and Michael Jackson, buildings and subject to changeable Stephen Lyle weather conditions – boats sinking in rough water are not unheard of. ‘Production-wise it’s a hugely ex- pensive event to cover,’ admits exec erage. For The Boat Race this means from Putney to Mortlake. an hour and 20 minutes before the proven worthwhile. ‘Historically you producer Paul Davies, who produced cameras – and plenty of them. Back on shore, another 25 camer- race commences – plenty of time can get seven or eight million view- the race from 2002 to 2004. He again Nine boat-based cameras will cap- as have been located at various posi- for an appropriate build-up. A series ers for a sport that most people don’t takes the reins this year after his in- ture the action from the river itself. tions around the course to provide of features has been commissioned know very well. They have no affinity house team’s pitch beat the indies in Two are fitted to each of the com- the land-based images of the race. to build anticipation, handled by with Oxford or Cambridge, but they what was Sport’s first WOCC-ed (win- peting boats, while side-on shots are Lead presenter Clare Balding will producer in charge of VT features do watch it,’ says Davies. dow of creative competition) event. provided by a catamaran that keeps break with ITV’s tradition of having Michael Jackson. ‘We’re looking to ‘It does break the mould – no one Davies reckons part of the bid’s suc- alongside the two crews. Two other a static studio set-up by mixing with introduce the crews to the viewers, can seem to explain why it can get so cess was down to their relationship boats in the flotilla trailing the racers some of the average 250,000 specta- get across its great history, and take many viewers. If we get five million with SIS (buyer of BBC Resources, the –one carrying water-borne commen- tors clustered around the boat houses quirkier looks at this unusual event we’ll be very happy.’ outside broadcast division, two years tator Wayne Pommen and Olympic at the start of the race, while present- as well,’ explains Davies. ago) which is providing the technical rower turned race reporter Matthew er Riz Lateef, familiar to BBC London It may all seem a lot of effort for equipment vital to covering the event Pinsent – have also been fitted with viewers, will be stationed at the Ship a university rowing race that usual- The Boat Race, BBC One, April 3. in the hi-tech manner people have cameras, while a helicopter will give Pub in Mortlake where it ends. ly takes around 20 minutes to com- Also available on Radio 5 live sports come to expect of their sports cov- an aerial view of the winding course The two hour programme begins plete, but the rewards have often extra and the BBC Sport website.
I just mentioned the play and struck GOLD by Lisette Johnston This is the second Bond story Jarvis’s produc- retained the storyteller in the voice of Ian tion company has developed for radio; the Fleming and sometimes we have his voice How wonderful would it be to pick up the first was Dr No, which it produced after be- and the thoughts of Bond intertwined, which phone, dial, and have actor Ian McKellen at ing approached by Fleming’s estate during is very interesting.’ the other end for a quick catch up? You men- the writer’s centenary. Jarvis argues that radio in some ways can tion a wonderful play you are doing, he asks While it was no challenge to get the stellar be more adventurous than film as it lets lis- to see the script and reads it that very night. cast on board for Goldfinger, Jarvis says it was teners use their own imaginations. He rings back and simply says: ‘I’m in’. more about who was right for the role than ‘You can create marvellous images in ra- An impossible scenario for most, but that getting big names. ‘I thought who would be dio. Our radio was truer in one sense than is exactly what happened when Martin Jarvis a good Goldfinger, and I rang up Ian McKel- the film. For example, in the book Dr No, Hon- approached his old friend with a radio adap- len, sent him the script and he thought it hi- ey Ryder comes out of the sea naked; you can tation of Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger. larious. [create an image of] nakedness on the radio.’ Directed by Jarvis, the cast is led by ‘Toby Stephens [who played 007 in the ra- In Goldfinger, he adds, ‘there is an extraor- McKellen as the villain, with John Standing dio production of Dr No] was thrilled to do dinary scene on a plane which has a lot of as M and Rosamund Pike as Pussy Galore. another James Bond.’ physical behaviour and rushing air at 25,000 Toby Stephens steps into 007’s shoes. One challenge was taking an 85,000 word feet and all that was carried through in our Jarvis, who is also the voice of Fleming, book and fitting it into a 90 minute piece of imaginations. Ian McKellen, Jon David Yu, wanted the play to be faithful to the 1958 around 18,000 words. who is Oddjob, and Toby Stephens gave a book. The character of Bond also remains ‘Archie Scottney is a great dramatist and most unbelievable performance’. true to the period compared to the modern he found a way of refining the story but Leading light: Ian McKellen and other cast members twist often given to him on the silver screen. losing nothing important,’ says Jarvis. ‘We Goldfinger, April 3, Radio 4
6 Features a 30·03·10 NOW ATTENTION ALL TWEETING … Radio 4 announcer Zeb Soanes needed only a nudge to take the studio-bound Shipping Forecast back to the sea
In the dark month of January I received a Shipping Forecast, providing the perfect excuse tweet from a listener to tell me that Orfordness for a trip to the lighthouse. lighthouse, just down the coast from where I I borrowed a radio car and set out from Ips- was born, was threatened with closure. wich on the most beautiful morning of the ‘G’wan @zebsoanes, give the old dear a nice year. I’ve long felt that this stretch of the Suf- Suffolk send-off. It’d be great if you did the folk coast was heavy with unresolved history, shipping forecast from here just once.’ – @rfenwick It remained a roman- ‘It was wonderful to tic idea until, weeks later, Radio Suffolk in- gaze out and read to vited me on to the afternoon show the distant boats on the to talk about the horizon…that depend on Shipping Forecast data’
and Orfordness is littered with relics of its top- secret military past. The parachute was de- veloped here, along with aer- To the lighthouse: the ‘old dear’ with candy stripes was given ‘a nice Suffolk send-off’ by Radio 4 ial photography, camouflage and what once housed the top secret An- nal to sailors as the light itself, identifying the On such a day we had a clear view from the glo-Ameri- lighthouse by day as Orford. ‘There’s another top. I unfolded a copy of the morning’s ship- can Cobra red and white lighthouse at Happisburg,’ he in- ping forecast, faced out to sea and read. Mist radar formed me, ‘but that has three stripes’. At Radio 4 we broadcast from a windowless system, which Standing only metres from the eroding studio in Broadcasting House, so it was wonder- now transmits the shoreline it seems poignant and rather fitting ful to gaze out and read to the distant boats on World Service. that a landmark that has survived flying-bombs the horizon that, far from the landlubbers who Keith Seaman, the ap- and machine-gun fire may ultimately be swal- enjoy its poetry, depend on the Shipping Fore- propriately named lighthouse- lowed by the sea. cast’s maritime data. man, comes from a long line Like all lighthouses it is battery-powered, It all made perfect sense to Keith, of course. ‘Dogger, Fisher, of keepers. We met over tea in a charged by the mains to ensure continuity of ‘My grandfather always said, before you leave, German Bight…’: Born former MOD hut, then drove across service in the event of a power-cut. The four- sweep your eyes over the horizon.’ And before romantic Zeb Soanes the shingle-spit, past ominous warnings of un- tonne lens floats on a bath of mercury; Keith we left, we did. forecasts to the exploded bombs (they find up to 15 a year), to switched-off the motor and showed how, with a sound of the waves the lighthouse, candy-striped in red and white. mere touch of my finger, I could start it revolv- Orfordness is owned by the National Trust Keith told me the stripes were as much a sig- ing again. and opens to the public on Easter Saturday Norfolk trackside for Lotus position
September when chief technical of- weekend, there was a special celebra- Norwich station ficer Mike Gascoyne and three mem- tion of 60 years of Formula One. The broadcasts from bers of staff began designing the car. circuit was positively crawling with We interviewed the drivers as they former Lotus drivers from the team’s Bahrain on the final had their seats fitted in deepest win- heyday. I interviewed ex-champion lap of an historic ter, we were there when the team Mario Andretti and brought our lis- fired up the engine for the very first teners the moment when Damon Hill Formula One time and we reported live from the congratulated his son Josh on driv- launch of the new car at the Royal ing his grandfather’s (Graham Hill’s) comeback Horticultural Hall in London. 1967 Lotus 49 around the track. Having developed close links with What I didn’t realise about F1 cir- the team during the build-up to the cuits was the distance I’d have to hur- by Nicky Price, bj, Radio Norfolk first Grand Prix, we just had to be in ry from the commentary box to the Bahrain to bring listeners the drama tv compound and then to the end of You might not expect Norfolk to be of the opening race. the paddock where the Lotus garages at the centre of the worldwide sport- Despite all the brilliant BBC tv were. I did 60 reports over three days ing event of the weekend but, for the and radio coverage, we wanted to fo- Nicky Price with Lotus technical director Mike Gascoyne at the Grand Prix with features and updates for our first time in 16 years, the name Lotus cus exclusively on Lotus and the peo- programmes and bulletins was back on the Formula One grid. ple behind the team. Understanda- could have only dreamed about. I (schooled in Norwich) and Martin As for the race itself, when Jarno While the new 2010 Lotus Rac- ble, when you consider that the mere brought listeners daily interviews Brundle (from King’s Lynn) discussed Trulli’s car limped to the finish line ing team is backed with millions of mention of the iconic name reduces with the engineers and the driv- Lotus’ chances and, as the week- with hydraulic problems, there were pounds worth of Malaysian cash, the Norfolk sports fans to misty eyed nos- ers and, among the other interview- end progressed, more Norfolk links emotional celebrations in the Lotus car was built in a factory in the Nor- talgia of the championship-winning ees, the team chef. He revealed that emerged. Heikke Kovalainen’s girl- garage. The team was delighted that folk countryside. The team had just years of the 1960s and 70s. Heikke Kovalainen likes to have a friend was from King’s Lynn and so both cars had completed the 49 laps six months to build the new F1 car The support of BBC Sport’s F1 three egg omelette (with no oil) for careful to check when the interview and Radio Norfolk was there to cap- and at Radio Norfolk we’ve followed team was invaluable in planning breakfast while Jarno Trulli starts would go out so her grandparents in ture what could be one of the coun- their progress every step of the way. this trip and Lotus Racing granted us the day with a glass of warm milk. Downham Market wouldn’t miss it. ty’s most significant sporting mo- We were at the empty factory in behind-the-scenes access that we BBC F1 presenters Jake Humphrey Alongside the main event of the ments of the year. a 30·03·10 week Features 7 @work BBC IN ACTION CHANGING PLACES holmes craig photograph:
PAUL DEAL, who set up and managed the Journal- ism Talent Pool during an attachment from the radio newsroom, is leaving the BBC after 15 years to work closer to his home in the West Country. Sbj CAROL BUNDOCK (pictured) is leaving BBC Look East after 21 years to enjoy early retirement. STUART ROWSON has been appointed to the role of tv editor for Look North in East Yorkshire and Lin- colnshire, covering MARK HAYMAN’S attach- ment to BBC West Midlands. NINA GOS- WAMI joins the Radio Merseyside newsroom as cover for LUCINDA MOORE who is on maternity leave. Bj SUZY STEER- FOWLER of BBC Radio Jersey is going to live po- litical programmes at Millbank for six weeks to help Health centre: Presenter Joanne cover the UK General Election. Malin speaks to actress D iane LAURA MURRAY becomes editor of the About The Keen on the Doctors set BBC Blog this month, again on a six-month attach- A decade since GPs in the fictional M ment, to fill the vacancy left byC HRIS JONES. idlands plays Julia P town of Letherbridge started monitoring arsons. ‘I didn’t realise that it’s the biggest employer of actors in the U involvement with the soap including one heartbeats in BBC O K and ne’s Doctors, BBC West that 150 people work on it every day,’ muses man who recalled his car being driven by Midlands made an appointment to visit Andrew S BBC WM producer G achs during a guest appearance. shamEless plug the soap’s Birmingham set for its tenth ary Butcher. ‘It’s great for Birmingham. A lot of local people have been ‘He apparently burnt the gearbox out,’ says anniversary. Mid-morning presenter Joanne Alexis Haycock-Hadden, Lily Howson, Joanne learning skills and that encourages other Butcher. Dodgy gearboxes aside, the show Malin met with actors and crew including looks like it’s in rude health with an audience Lea and Elizabeth Pencave – PAs for BBC longest-serving cast member D productions to come to the area.’ Academy, BBC Sport, FM&T and BBC Vision iane Keen, who Listeners phoned in with anecdotes of their of two million viewers and nominations for this year’s British Soap Awards. So if Eddie Izzard can run 1132 miles in 51 days, then surely four young, fit PAs can run 150 in a week? That’s the aim and we’re running for a very good charity – Sport Relief, whose aim is to transform the lives of poor and vulnerable people. We will be run- TRADE SECRETS ning from London to Cardiff in seven days in October. We are starting the run on Saturday October 9 from u I recently made a documentary with Dan and a set of prime lenses in small backpack. Get ND filters London. The exact starting point is to be confirmed Snow calledThe Battle for North America for The footage from the GH1 cuts in with the To get natural motion, you should generally but we are discussing starting from White City. We BBC Two, which tells the story of the Bat- main camera seamlessly. set your shutter speed to 1/50th sec. Aper- aim to finish in Cardiff on Friday, October 15, possibly tle of Quebec in 1759. We wanted to make ture is determined by the depth of field you at the BBC offices. Our route will loosely follow that the documentary feel cinematic and visually Expose Right want, so to control exposure you’ll need neu- covered by Eddie Izzard in the London-Cardiff leg of rich – but as always we had a limited budget. Because of the way the video files are com- tral density filters. A good set of ND filters (up his marathon challenge. So we turned to new technology, and one of pressed you’ve got much less ability to grade to at least ND 8) is essential. Originally, we decided to run from London to Cardiff our key tools was the new generation of stills in post, so it’s very important to get the as Alexis’s family is half English, half Welsh. We have cameras that shoot HD video. exposure and colour balance correct when Adapt old lenses seven months to train, and are hopefully The Canon 5D mk ii is the most famous of you’re shooting. Learn to use the histogram The GH1 can use almost any stills lens with these, but I opted for the Panasonic Lumix function – it’s a helpful guide. the right adapter. I had some old manual GH1. It’s smaller and cheaper than the 5D Canon primes lying unused. Now I use them and at the time it was the only camera Stabilise for video, giving give them a new lease of life. that shot at PAL friendly frame rates. As ever a good tripod is vital – but if you want It would be hard (though not movement there are lots of options, includ- Factor in post production time impossible) to shoot an entire ing shoulder mounts and hand holding rigs. I The cameras can save you time and money documentary on one. Instead used a home-built slider to get smooth track- on the shoot, but there is a cost in terms of we used the GH1 as a B-cam- ing. www.zazaslider.com/ post production time. You’ll probably need era, allowing us to get ad- to transcode your files into an edit friendly ditional beau- Record Sound Separately format and may need to spend time syncing ty shots and HD stills cameras record sound but the qual- sound. shots which ity isn’t really good enough to use. I used a would Zoom H4N – a small Used in the right way these cameras can cre- have been good quality digital ate stunning images and enable you to be impossible audio recorder. There more creative and cost-effective. with a con- is software which ventional camera. syncs sound to pic- Nathan Williams The advantages of tures with no clap- these stills cam- per board needed. eras are significant: singularsoftware. a larger sensor than com/pluraleyes. FACT OF LIFE going to enlist the help of some professionals expe- standard profession- html rienced in Iron Man races and the link. We all have ex- al video cameras gives a Skillset report reveals graduates now make up perience of running, and we’re all hoping that friends filmic look and a controlla- 73 percent of the media workforce, compared and family will come, either for stints along the way ble depth of field; the abil- Still life: Nathan to 66 percent in 2003. And more than half (53 or at least to meet us at the end. ity to use interchangeable Williams uses per cent) of all degrees held are media related. We officially launched our training by each run- lenses at the fraction of traditional cam- Yet, overall, the proportion of people with rel- ning the London Sport Relief mile and we hope to the price of any other sys- eras to get the most evant technical or vocational qualifications is raise an ambitious £5000. Our fundraising page is tem; and the fact that you from his budget low at seven percent. uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/londontocardiff can fit the camera, batteries 8 9 There’s a whole new world out there
It is the end of the financial year and, for those who have chosen to take redundancy, the end of their careers with the BBC. ‘Going early’ is a chance to start again in a new direction, bringing both challenges and rewards, as these ex-staffers explain pho
Rory MacLean, former correspondent The training started. I was steering t ograph: anna gordon anna ograph: a 70-year-old ex working narrow boat ‘Is that sequence going to cut ok?’ called Gardenia. She can carry 68 pas- This was never part of my plans I’m more multiskilled than ever A different life, but The words were out before I realised I sengers. The waterbus service runs be- pho
wasn’t the reporter any more. I was the tween Little Venice and Camden Lock, Carol Smith, former senior Down with the kids: t Jane-Louise Green After leaving the BBC I pitched my my daughter being diagnosed with ograph: anna gordon anna ograph: interviewee. A regional BBC news team with a stop inside the grounds of Lon- producer, Radio Comedy Carol Smith and some of Former tv director and online producer idea to Staffordshire University and a chronic illness. I had to make busi- I go with the flow was filming me at one of my new plac- don Zoo at Regent’s Park. The service the boys she now helps won an enterprise fellowship, which ness calls from her hospital bedside. es of work – the London Waterbus Com- has been running for more than 50 I really surprised myself ‘It’ll hit you after about a month,’ gave me access to business training and You can’t stop. There’s no sick pay or pany, based at Camden Lock. This time I years. when I applied for voluntary said colleagues who’d already taken funding. Being part of a large, ‘not for compassionate leave. was the ‘real’ person. The most difficult bit is the turn at redundancy from the Radio Come- redundancy. Well, maybe I’ve been profit’ institution again definitely sof- Am I glad I left? Yes. Do I miss the I was being used as an example of Camden Lock. It’s right angled and 70 dy department. I’d been in the BBC lucky – it hasn’t hit me, because after tened the blow of leaving Auntie. Pic- BBC? Yes. I’m enjoying being in the someone adversely affected by a 37 per- feet of boat has to negotiate it with- since I was 19 and now, 31 years 20 years with the corporation I hon- turenation.co.uk launched at the end commercial world, though creativity cent fare increase imposed on off peak out a bump. This usually takes place in later, I hadn’t really given any seri- estly still feel very BBC. of 2006 and I persuaded the university seems to be pushed to the bottom of commuters coming into Euston. It was front of a large and appreciative crowd ous thought to life after the Beeb. I’d had a marvellous and varied ca- to invest in my business. Today they are the ‘to do’ list after accounts, VAT and a great moment when my name ap- of spectators who are drawn to the Suddenly I heard myself asking reer, starting off as a runner at Peb- shareholders. It’s a good marriage, but managing people. I get my artistic fix peared on the bulletin with the title lock side by the market. Everyone fouls my head of department if I could ble Mill before directing the One, the what a rollercoaster it has been. from freelance writing, which I love. Skipper. It was also a partial answer to it up now and then, especially if the put my name forward. Flash for- Six and the Nine O’Clock News. Along I’m now an approved supplier to My BBC standards and ethics have the question that everyone who is leav- wind catches the side of the boat. The ward seven months and I was wav- the way I directed The Clothes Show the BBC, and I have some impressive helped a lot – I can squeeze a lot out ing the BBC is asked in every corridor: key, rather like appearing on the News ing goodbye to everyone, feeling and launched three Where I Live web- clients, including banks, government of small budgets, and I’m more multi- ‘What are you going to do?’ Channel or doing a Today programme excited, terrified and still not con- sites. But most of my generation had departments and publishers. I have skilled than ever. What I had done was ring up Mag- two way, is not to look or sound as vinced that the marbles hadn’t already left and I felt that it was the 11,000 members worldwide and more gie French, the London Waterbus Com- though you have completely lost it. done a runner! right time for me to go. than 100,000 individually checked live pany boss, to see if there were any jobs. The training was followed by sever- Flash forward again two years As a single mum with a small child images for licensed use. It’s not been I had a Marine and Coastguard agency al question and answer sessions about and I understand exactly why I did and no child support, friends thought easy – the recession hasn’t helped, ‘Boat Master’ certificate and some ex- safety and what to do if one of the pas- it. I now organise (part-time) a I was mad to give up a good job with and you can’t plan for personal trau- perience of working on canal boats. sengers falls in or, as has happened, de- charity in London’s Tower Hamlets, all the benefits the BBC provides. But mas slowing you down. I’ve had more ‘So what have you been doing before liberately jumps into the canal. I start- one of the poorest boroughs in I had an idea for a business and knew than my fair share recently, including this,’ she asked with a worried look. I ed steering one weekend in three, and the country, helping young people I’d regret it if I didn’t give it a go. wasn’t sure if, having worked as a BBC then every other weekend and this sea- in secondary school to utilise their As BBC online producer, I wasted correspondent, with more than a pass- son, which starts at Easter, I am one of artistic, craft and music talents to a lot of time every day searching ing interest in terrorism, was a plus or the full time skippers on the boats. In connect with enterprise. for images to illustrate features. a minus in this particular situation. the meantime I am working for STV on I’m based in the school where My department didn’t have a ‘I worked for the BBC,’ I said a bit a comedy drama and have gone some, I’ve been volunteering since last budget for pictures and the mar- Boatman: tentatively. Her face cleared and she if not all, of the way to answering the September. The Ian Mikardo High keting and press officers who sent Rory Maclean looked relieved. ‘At least you weren’t in question I kept asking myself after eve- School is a school for boys with me stories had the same problem. on the Regent’s prison,’ she said. An image of the news- ry corridor inquisition: WHAT AM I severe social, educational and be- I wanted to set up an online super- Park canal room at TV Centre flashed involuntari- REALLY GOING TO DO? havioural difficulties, who have all market of ordinary snapshots that ly across my mind. been permanently excluded from could be bought for very little and mainstream education, but are used for websites and print. There In the picture: now thriving under the care, dedi- were few online image libraries at Jane Louise-Green cation and enthusiasm of the most the time, and nothing cost effective Into the deep: extraordinary teaching and sup- for editorial producers. Jo Ruxton at work port staff I’ve ever encountered. I love being It’s probably the most challenging thing I’ve ever done, but it’s cer- tainly the most rewarding. Tough, my own boss sure, but often a lot of fun. When the hard work’s worth it I never planned to move into ed- ucation. I began by working in a Jude Habib was formerly with production company working pre- teaching charities that in this multi- volunteer bureau in Newham, learn- Special Features dominantly with charities and com- platform age they don’t need to wait Jo Ruxton, ryline in mind when I cre- ing about the charity sector in gen- munity groups, looking at people and for traditional media to get their sto- former NHU producer ate diving plans. eral and fundraising in particular. In the special features unit, I ran issues which are under represented ries out – they can create their own My production skills Then, when I was ready to move on, social action campaigns tackling eve- in media. content. Most of the films came into play on a Blue a chance remark to a friend work- rything from domestic violence to We aim to help charities get their Working at the BBC helped me to I worked on in the NHU in- Peter shoot in the Mal- ing in social regeneration led to a carers’ needs. That was my true love. messages across in new and dynamic be a good storyteller and to be confi- volved underwater film- dives last year. It was visit to Ian Mikardo High and now, We worked on issues that often didn’t ways. For our last project we worked dent training different groups of peo- ing. Being labelled an un- a dream gig, until the after a term and a half volunteering get much media attention, at a grass- with the Museum of London, help- ple who had important stories to tell. derwater specialist was topside camera- both in fundraising and classroom roots level. ing them to create podcasts for visu- When I left, podcasting was just start- both blessing and curse: it man was taken ill. support, here I am, an established When I took redundancy I tru- ally impaired people. We’re basically ing and my background in radio was a prevented me gaining ex- While the un- part of the team. ly didn’t know what I was going to massive help. perience in other areas derwater cam- So that’s why I had to leave. It do, other than I wanted to work in I’ve a team of three and the aim is of filming, which slowed eraman cov- was time to give something back. the not-for-profit sector. But I knew to make profit, which is then ploughed my career progression. ered all the filming, Do I miss the BBC? Of course. Do I that I enjoyed working on social ac- back into social projects. We recently So I volunteered for re- I took on the topside regret asking for redundancy? Not tion campaigns and giving a voice to used money to provide 12 carers with dundancy and set up my directing and sound. for a second. Sure, I never know topics and people unrepresented by respite for five days each. That makes own company, Media Dive Now I’m working on what challenge will come hurtling mainstream media. the hard work worth it. Crews Ltd. As well as be- Plastic Oceans, my big- through the door with each of our I started going to the School of I’ve had ongoing support from ing an HSE diving contrac- gest project and hopefully boys, but I love finding out. Social Entrepreneurship which pro- Careerlink Plus and they’ve been fan- tor, I’m able to think like a the most worthwhile (see vides training and opportunities to tastic. The BBC was a big part of my producer/director – while plasticoceans.net). help people use their creative and life but it’s important to remember I’m assessing locations for I don’t regret taking _ If you are taking redundancy and thinking about what you will do with your life after the BBC, contact the CareerlinkPlus entrepreneurial abilities for social there is a life afterwards. It is not easy safety and logistics I think redundancy and love be- service on x 80555 or search for Careerlink on Gateway. They are there to offer support and help you explore the options benefit. A year later I set up sound- dealing with redundancy but there is a visually, so I have a sto- ing my own boss. >– as well as giving practical advice and career coaching ‘to help people move ahead with confidence’. delivery, a digital media training and world of opportunity out there. xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx 10 Opinion/Analysis a 30·03·10 BACK TO BACK MEetings LEAVE NO TIME TO THINK i ll Less than a year ustr to be made in concert with many others,
a often requiring a number of meetings ti o
n chris dugg n chris and a great deal of discussion. I often find after he joined the myself having to justify why I’ve made a decision, which I am perfectly qualified BBC from Yahoo! and authorised to make, to a stream of a n people who feel they should have been John Linwood, chief party to it. Finally, I wonder if people at the BBC technology officer, simply like meetings and this is deeply rooted in the BBC psyche. The BBC is a so- fears that the BBC’s ciable, friendly environment and we like spending time with our colleagues. meetings culture So what can we do about it? Are we doomed to spend our days in meetings, is stopping people making decisions by committee and do- ing our email and reports late at night doing the jobs they or on weekends? I hope not. I have start- ed to do a number of things to change my were hired to do meeting load and perhaps if more of us follow suit we could change things for the better.
Limit most meetings to 30 minutes. It is I am writ- 1amazing how much can get done when ing this article time is short. at 6am, not be- cause I like start- Ensure that there is clear ownership ing work so 2and accountability in your organisa- early, but rath- tion and delegate the decision making to er because my the people who have the detailed knowl- days at the BBC edge and information to make a good are completely filled with back to back decision. Use meetings as a last resort for meetings. decisions. I know that I am not alone in this; many of us rush from meeting to meet- Put thinking and catch up time in your ing, building to building, with no time 3calendar and lock it down, it is not for lunch breaks, a cup of coffee or even available for meetings. a quick chat with colleagues. The 150 or so emails I get each day pile up in my in- Ruthlessly prioritise meetings. Time box and my assistant vainly tries to pla- 4one on one with my key direct reports cate a steady stream of people who de- and my manager is the most valuable time mand my time and simply don’t believe I spend to ensure I am effective. If it is not that the next 20 minutes free is three critical that I attend a meeting I de-priori- weeks away. watching key information sources and many meetings. For example a technolo- tise it and often decline it. Prior to joining the BBC, I spent many ‘One issue then space to mull things and wrestle gy spend of £2m or more requires three years with US technology giants where in decision with the complex challenges that I face levels of approval, each requiring a paper End meetings early if the purpose is the pressure, pace and drive of the organi- in my role. My conclusion is that it does and a meeting. Larger spends often re- 5achieved. Meetings have an amazing sation is phenomenal, and yet in all those matter that we don’t have time to do quire six or more meetings to ensure sign ability to fill the time available. years I rarely had a day without breaks making these things. off by all the relevant divisional boards between meetings. So why, I wonder, are is the risk The next key question for me is why and review panels as well as the finance Keep attendee lists down to those things so different here at the BBC? we have so many meetings in the BBC. committee. 6who need to be there. Fewer people The first question that I considered is Is there something culturally different The second reason for our meeting cul- typically mean a shorter meeting. whether it matters that we spend our days averse about us, is it a systemic attribute of a ture is rooted in accountability and own- in a steady stream of meetings. Perhaps nature of media organisation or is it, perhaps, sim- ership around decisions. It is often not Don’t insist upon physical presence. that is where the real work gets done and ply a necessary part of being in the pub- clear in the BBC who owns a decision and 7Phone or video conferences work well, what can be more productive than com- lic sector? My personal view is that there is therefore authorised to make it. Some cut down travelling time and our carbon municating face to face with colleagues individuals’ are a number of reasons, not directly con- of this issue is organisational and comes footprint and, crucially, are often shorter on a shared objective? nected. from ambiguous responsibilities, while since people are more likely to get on with Well, firstly I am pretty sure that most Firstly we are in a privileged position of another part is the risk averse nature of the business in hand. of us were recruited for our intellectual being funded largely by licence fees and individuals. I am more used to a corpo- capability and yet how much of our days that means we have a duty and responsi- rate culture of taking ownership and re- Reduce the frequency of recurring do we spend just thinking, using the key bility to spend this money wisely and ef- sponsibility as an individual, where it is 8meetings – or don’t make them recur- attribute that the BBC hired us for? fectively on behalf of the UK public. To clear who makes a decision and therefore ring and just schedule them as necessary. Secondly, when do we get to all those do this requires transparent governance. who takes the kudos or the fall depend- emails, unwritten or unread reports or Every penny we spend is open to scruti- ing on the success or otherwise of the Some senior boards in the BBC are implement those important changes or ny and challenge by the National Audit chosen path. 9now limiting the length of papers for actions that never quite make it to the Office, parliamentary select committees In the BBC, I find that decisions tend submission, I intend to try this too. top of our ‘to do’ list, which are always and the general public through the Free- not to be made independently, even pushed down by urgent meetings? dom of Information Act. though performance management is low Go home at 6pm. Clearly this is I am someone who needs time to gath- This governance requires a substantial key and individuals are less likely to be 10aspirational but you never know, it er input through reading, listening and process to approve spend that consists of held accountable. Instead decisions tend may occasionally happen.
> IF YOU HAVE A VIEW ABOUT THE TOPICS ON THIS PAGE, PLEASE EMAIL ariel mailbox a 30.03.10 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
Panorama had a say that these days the discount offered Shelley Jofre describes the BBC by the big online retailers such as Trust’s finding against Panorama, Lloyd Webber’s dreams really do come true Amazon and by BBCShop.com to all What’s Next for Craig as ‘flawed’, and Last year I wrote complaining about the free our customers will often be close to the complaints process as ‘deep- publicity give by the BBC to Andrew Lloyd Web- or even higher than 30 percent off ly flawed’ and biased in favour of the RRP. In Vaughan’s example the the complainant. I would like to ber’s productions of The Sound of Music, Joseph ‘standard’ selling price of the dvd he point out that she is wrong on both and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and wanted was already discounted by 29 counts. Oliver! percent. The complaints process will be I see this year his forthcoming production of As we do care about our staff cus- reviewed this year and programme tomers we are conscious that this The Wizard of Oz will also be given several makers will be very welcome to give undermines the value of the staff their views. But as with all com- hours of primetime television. But maybe I was discount and are looking at ways to plaints under the current process, being too critical. improve it. At the same time we are BBC News – and Shelley Jofre herself Maybe the dg, or one of his team, meets with programme time on the BBC), then Sir working hard to make BBCShop.com – were treated in the same way as Sir Andrew, or one of his team, and they work Andrew’s Really Useful Company gives that better value for all of our customers the complainant, with ample much money to Children In Need. – as fans of our recent ‘audio price opportunity to give their views to out the cost of making a 30 second tv advert. drop’ and other promotions will the ECU and again to the trust’s in- Then they work out how much it would cost to Of course, I could be wrong again and it is just hopefully have noticed. dependent editorial adviser. show the ad on ITV at primetime, (the roughly free advertising. Mary Gledhill The paperwork was, in fact, sent 1350 times that equate to the 11 hours plus of Alan Caswell, senior media assistant (tv intake), I&A head of BBCShop.com to BBC management and shared with the programme team before the Editorial Standards Committee loid sensationalism – I just wonder BBC Workplace’s catering team sit with me for a day to see how I Hit for Six met and the BBC was given the how the people he accused of urinat- replies: We apologise unreservedly went about my daily duties, but no. Director general Mark Thompson in opportunity to challenge the find- ing on the dead would feel? for these errors that have occurred We went ‘live’ with it last April, al- the strategy review Q&A: ‘The issue ing in terms of factual accuracy and Lee Bennion at the BBC Manchester catering out- though just to manage leave at first. with 6 [Music] is it doesn’t reach a process before publication. sbj, Radio Merseyside let. We are standardising all ingredi- After much worrying (and tears!) on very big audience.’ The identity of the complainant ents to ensure that all our custom- my part I managed to get all the data Mark Thompson in the same Q&A, is irrelevant: it would have been up- ers can eat with confidence knowing on to it by mid August. with reference to local radio: ‘The held whoever it came from. The Edi- Long time sinking in exactly what is in their food. Everything takes about ten times hope is by moving the money around torial Complaints Unit and the Edito- On March 12 I received an autogen- All staff will receive training longer than it did before and, over we’ll improve the quality [and] stem rial Standards Committee separately erated email from BBC Workplace into understanding the differences the past few weeks, the speed of the some of the audience losses.’ reached the conclusion that the pro- regarding work order BBC3467332. in these requirements along with system has made it almost unusable. Is he suggesting that it’s unac- gramme failed to meet required edi- It reads: ‘The following work knowing what ingredients are in all Instant answers to Production re- ceptable for local radio to have low torial standards as clearly set out in order has been completed. dishes to ensure that no errors occur quests are a thing of the past and so audience figures, but not a national the BBC’s own Editorial Guidelines. Work Order Number BBC3467332 in the future. is forward planning as if you don’t network which not only caters for a Fran O’Brien Reported 21-Aug-2007 09:22 AM If any members of staff are still have a charge code you can’t put niche audience, the very definition head of editorial standards, BBC Trust Site Name TVC - Main Block concerned, please contact us directly anything in. of public-service broadcasting, but is Location Basement// at [email protected] I feel sorry for my colleagues who waving a flag for the future of digital Description PLEASE ATTEND TO face a future of frustration, sitting radio? Keep Kelvin quiet BASEMENT DRESSING ROOM 25 and watching an egg timer for the Stuart Pinfold Am I the only (RED) TO UNBLOCK A SINK.’ Look who’s talking best part of the day. I’ve had a great freelancer, BBC News and World Service one who is Nice to see that BBC Workplace I sent Steria what I thought was a time working here but this system mystified are on the ball. quick email to find out the best has finished me off. n The arguments in favour of closing by the BBC’s Marc Kingham address to send them a form by Ceri Andrews 6 Music and the Asian Network are seeming senior technical operator snailmail. This generated nine re- allocator, radio operations, BBC Wales specious and wrong-headed. FACT: obsession plies; eight automatic, acknowledg- the ‘loss’ of Jonathan Ross as an ex- with using ing my query, allotting me a job pense more than outweighs the cost Kelvin McKen- My beef with labels number, telling me there was no one Natural selection of 6 Music. Need I go on? zie for his In an era when the BBC strives to in the office, and – after a human Simon Calkin ‘expert’ views? embrace diversity, why is it that the being replied – I got another auto re- broadcast systems engineer, FM&T Hot on the caterers at the refectory at BH Man- sponse to let me know the ‘fault’ had heels of his chester are incapable of accurately been ‘remedied’. n Speaking as a listener, I cannot contribution labelling dishes that contain beef By the time the last one came in, emphasise enough how important 6 to Newsnight in the wake of the stra- or pork? Muslims, Hindus, Jews and I had switched on my out of office Music is to me. tegic review – in which he pilloried vegetarians need to know the ingre- reply, and accidentally generated a Although the specialist program- the BBC for wasting money, despite dients of the food they are eating. few more automatic emails. I left my ming on Radio 1 and Radio 2 does a being happy to take the Beeb shil- I have encountered this problem computer chatting to the computers pretty decent job of delivering con- ling himself – he turns up on the with alarming frequency, most re- at Steria for the rest of the evening. tent on most genres of music, it is 6 News Channel sharing his pearls of cently when I chose a meal described Jonathan Stoneman, head of Interna- The anonymous cowards at Pacific Music that consistently offers quality wisdom on the James Bulger/Jon Ve- on the menu as ‘Chicken and Rice’. tional Centre, College of Journalism Quay have noticed a striking simi- across the entire schedule. nables story. I wonder how that went However, part way through consum- larity between News head honcho The breadth of new music it cov- down with the licence fee payers of ing the food, I discovered sliced sau- Atholl Duncan and Ultimate Fight- ers is staggering, and I’m concerned Merseyside? sages. When I asked the chef to iden- System overload ing Championship Hall of Famer about all those artists who are too This is a man, after all, who was tify all the ingredients, he sheepishly I am one of the lucky people to be 50 Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture. big to be covered by BBC Introduc- responsible for publishing a series of admitted the ‘Chicken and Rice’ dish the right side of April 6 so am leav- Anonymous Coward ing, but too interesting or small to vile lies in his newspaper in the im- contained beef sausages. As a Hindu, ing the BBC on March 31. One of the Pacific Quay be caught up in the uber-pop saccha- mediate aftermath of the Hillsbor- I felt sick and angry. reasons that pushed me into making rine world that saturates daytime ough disaster, disparaging not only Vegetarians are also at risk. In this decision was the introduction of radio. The presenters offer genuine the people of Liverpool, but desecrat- January, I had chosen a dish de- the WorkPlace scheduling system. Better deal for staff insight and enthusiasm without pat- ing the memory of those who died scribed as a ‘Bean Medley’, but part I have been in the BBC for nearly We’re sorry to hear that Vaughan ronisation or a reliance on popular there and causing untold anguish to way through eating it, I found it was 32 years, allocating Radio staff and Simons was disappointed with his culture. their loved ones. laced with diced bacon. In addition, facilities in Cardiff. In my early years experience of the staff discount As someone with a passion for Despite the paper’s claims being this inadequate labelling process I did this with paper and pencil, offered by BBCShop.com (February BBC radio, I believe the closure discredited, he has refused to apolo- poses a risk to people with allergies, then in the early 90s we started us- 23). The staff discount has been 30 of 6Music would let down a large gise or even accept the fact that he such as nuts. ing Resbook. It was a bit strange at percent off the RRP of any title pub- number of people like me who gen- may have been wrong. This is the 21st century, not the first but, as it was designed for the lished by BBC Worldwide (but not uine love new music. It would also Mr McKenzie may well have some 1970s. The BBC should ensure the job I did, it was easy and fast to use. charity or licensed products eg toys) leave the BBC in a weaker position to interesting views on the way the me- caterers get their act together. About nine years ago we were told for some time now. justify its public service remit. dia has reported the re-arrest of Jon Paresh Patel it would be replaced with WorkPlace. It’s indicative of the competi- Toby Field Venables – he’d know all about tab- vj, North West Tonight I thought someone might come and tive market in which we operate broadcast assistant, Radio 4 12 Classified 020 7878 2313 a 30.03.10 a 30.03.10 www.bbcarielads.com Classified 13
/HTTLYZTP[O> /?Large room 4HUJOLZ[LY4Large one bedroom 6^UYVVTPUMYPLUKS`JLU[YHS3VUKVU >1 bed garden flat. £250pw incl 4LKPH*P[`YLSVJH[PVU&Fantastic large ,_WSVYL[OLNSVYPV\Z*V[Z^VSKZ Stay in 3V]LS`JV[[HNL in fabulous =PSSHZ Holiday villas & apartments in /HUK`THUWide range of skills, no job in bright modern quiet flat. Friendly flat. Great location on a quite square flat. Rent £600pcm inclusive. Telephone council tax/water. Spacious lounge, 4 bedroom detached family home set HOLIDAYS luxury B&B. Website www.westhillhouse. N. Pembrokeshire. Website France & Italy, Website too small. Call Harry 07900 892000 FOR RENT atmosphere, 2 private roof terraces. but 10 minutes walk to Albert Square. 07880 614864 ensuite shower. TVC 10 minutes walk. in village community. Rural location net www.rentmaesgwyn.co.uk www.deckchairvillas.com. Telephone SERVICES 2 minutes Ravenscourt 5 minutes Top floor, newly decorated with parking. Gerald/Maria 020 8743 6083 and the best road in the area by far. All 01773 850111 7HPU[LY+LJVYH[VY^P[O))* -HU[HZ[PJSHYNL+L]VUMHTPS` Hammersmith. £150pw incl bills, cleaner, £575pcm. Caroline 07816 297590. 7LYP]HSLOpposite new BBC Archive H.Q. amenities within walking distance; high 5VY[O*VYU^HSSclifftop house. May/ ([H_YL[\YU[VJVTWSL[L& Let us help! YLMLYLUJLZ Julian 07811 740031 (IZVS\[LS`H^LZVTL Provence/Verdon MHYTOV\ZL sleeps 8/10 beautiful ILKYVVTOV\ZLH]HPSHISL[V broadband. Telephone 07973 716359 Email [email protected] only 12 minutes tube White City. Four achieving schools, restaraunts and sports June/July/Sept. summertide.co.uk For all taxation and accounting services Gorge. 1 bedroom flat in converted location, pets welcome, hot-tub, garden :HWWOPYL+LJVYH[VYZ020 8239 1148 or YLU[PU2PSI\YU>LZ[/HTWZ[LHK bedroom house £1,350pcm or individual facilities. Reebok stadium, Bolton arena, contact Anthony Wells and Co, Chatered chateau. Bedroom, bathroom, sitting stream & pond. Close to beaches, Accountants . For free Consultation call see website for details On a quiet residential road offering rooms from £295pcm. Negotiable for Middlebrook retail park and west Penine 7HYPZBeautiful spacious apartment WANTED 3HYNLIYPNO[KV\ISLLUZ\P[L(YJO^H` 4HYSL`IVUL> (near BBC) Two room PROPERTY room. Tennis court, swimming pool, in walking, local pub 1 mile. Email Alan Wells on 020 8455 7733. Email www.decoratorsouthlondon.com bright, spacious, contemporary BBC staff. Telephone 01895 634610 train station (park & ride) motorway steps from Canal St Martin, Place Fully furnished 2nd floor modern flat. study/bedroom suite for non-smoking national park setting. Stunning, idyllic, [email protected] accommodation including private [email protected] Excellent transport links 4 minutes professional. In warm Georgian house network M61 (J6) only 1.5 miles away. lavender fields and lakes. Availability Republique. Contemporary, well ;OLL]LY`[OPUNNHYKLUJVTWHU` garden. Moments from tube/ -YLUJOOVSPKH`JV[[HNLZ and cookery 4\ZPJ^HU[LK]PU`SYLJVYKZ especially to tube, very close to local amenities. near shops, tubes and leisure centre 9VVTPUSV]LS`ILKNHYKLUMSH[ in TPU\[LJVTT\[L[V4HUJOLZ[Lr Property on fringe of west Penine moors good, excellent value from £300pw. equipped. 3 bedrooms. Trendy cafes, +HTPHU:LNHS7YVWLY[`9LUV]H[PVUZ Design, Landscaping, Construction bus and close to shops, bars, courses in Northern France. See larger quantities preferred telephone. £650pcm ex bills. Contact (with swimming pool). No weekend stays. Kensal Rise, share with 1 other female. detached modern house, 5 bedrooms, ideal for walking, wildlife and fishing in Call Nick 0772 0805920 great restaurants. Sleeps 6. Weekly/ Quality renovations and extensions and Maintenance. BBC references gastro pubs, music venues and www.la-tranchardiere.fr or phone Tony 01484 845999. Email 07951 518060. Email Highly recommended. £595pcm phone Short or long term let £585pcm. Helen 4 bathrooms, gym, heated pool, one of 5 reservoirs in conservation area. monthly rent from June 1. Email carried out by reliable, tidy and friendly available, all work guaranteed. West restaurants. Approx £480pw. (UKHS\JPH:WHPUVillanueva-del- Heather on 0033 243 045870 [email protected] [email protected] Robert on 020 7262 6308 07971 246388 outbuildings, 2 acres, no chain, All this and only 35 minutes from Media [email protected] professionals. All trades in house, Free London Based. Call John Barrett on Ideal sharing opportunity. Link to City (real time). Buses and trains every Rosario. Holiday house with wonderful estimates. References available on £849,950. Telephone 01457 867374, 0IPaHhuge Easter bargain 6 bed hilltop 07764 306322. Website photos: http://picasaweb.google. :OLWOLYK»Z)\ZO large room in modern 25 minutes into Bolton and Manchester mountain views from large terrace. 7YP]H[LHWHY[TLU[southern Spain request contact Damian Telephone 020 3HYNLKV\ISLYVVTPUSV]LS`IYPNO[ 4LKPH*P[`:HSMVYKSHYNL luxurious one Email [email protected] house pool. 3 April. £1,000pw. Peter >VYRPUNOVSPKH`as a volunteer www.theeverythinggardencompany. com/108733770725759413610 house excellent transport links to BBC (20 minutes and 40 minutes journey Sleeps 4. From £175pw. Easter still close to beach. Bargain rates. Enquiries 7727 7575 or 07961 357119 or email us MSH[ Richmond. Sharing with one bedroom apartment within edwardian 01993 831021 3 mornings per week in Bali, com - contact [email protected] or £625pcm (inclusive) Available 1 April time by bus 10 minutes and 20 minutes available. Malaga 35 minutes. Visit [email protected] at [email protected] professional female. very close to river/ manor house in quiet area, less than ILKOV\ZLMVYZHSLPU(ZO[VU teaching visual communication to 07980 669127 contact Nadia 07958 479275 by train). The same going north to west Seville/Granada/Cordoba & the coast. 0JLSHUKThe fly drive of your life... pubs/shops/station. £600pcm (excl) five minutes drive/taxi ride from media
To place a classified ad in Ariel please telephone 020 7878 2313 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, you may post your ad to: Ariel Advertising, Ten Alps Media, One New Oxford Street, High Holborn, London WC1A 1NU To place an ad online go to www.bbcarielads.com
14 Jobs See Attachment At least they don’t breathe fire Tom Reeves has swapped news and current affairs for a stint with the dragons What was your Eureka moment? Do you have an exit strategy? They’re just some of the questions I fire at investment-hungry entrepreneurs pitching for the chance to face the dragons. I might not look as scary as the dragons, but the questions need to be just as tough. I’m on attachment to Dragons’ Den until June. As an assistant producer from Manchester news and current affairs, I’ve gone from producing and di- recting films for The One Show to getting my head round the complex world of turnover, business plans and due diligence. But that’s exactly why I wanted the challenge of this attachment. The journalistic and investigative skills I’ve gained from working in current affairs have helped me hit the ground running. At Drag- ons’ Den, it’s essential that we carry out a forensic examination of each entrepreneur’s background. Company accounts, financial statements, patent applications – all must be meticulously scrutinised before we put them in front of the dragons. A key part of my job is identifying interesting characters and stories among the thousands of applicants. I’m used to interviewing all kinds of interesting people but I’ve never had to talk profit and loss with a dancing banana before. I also audition the entrepreneurs who apply to the series from all over the UK and then pitch them to Manchester’s very own dragons…executive pro- ducer Sam Lewens, series producer Putul Verma and producer Zoe Thorman. Finding the next Levi Roots or I-Teddy is no mean feat but, fingers crossed, we’ve found some entrepreneurs who will impress the dragons enough to part with their cash. It has been a great experience so far and I can’t wait for filming to start soon. The production team has made me feel very welcome and I’m enjoy- ing working in a different department and learn- ing new skills. It’s fantastic that BBC Manchester offers the opportunity to work between great out- put like The One Show and Dragons’ Den and I’m excit- ed about the prospects for continued collaboration and career development as we look forward to the move to Media City. Been anywhere nice? Send your attachment stories to Clare Bolt
14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 30·03·10 What am I doing here 15 photograph: Mark bassett Mark photograph: foreign bureau
DUNCAN Kennedy correspondent, ROME
In Italy, it’s not the daffodils that herald the first sign of spring, but the open topped Fer- raris. You can’t avoid them in Rome’s narrow, cobble stone alley ways, pinning you to the walls as they purr past. Everywhere you look, jaws are at half mast. Conversations stop. Chris Italians, not the greatest embracers of global warming technologies or policies, straighten their spines and poke out their Johnson chests in a collective display of national pride at the sight of one of these machines. Presenter, CBBC It’s a spectacle at a time when the news is mostly less appealing. I’m not talking about high unemployment, the budget deficit or How did you come to work liked it but got more inter- what I’ve been learning. immigration, but the prime minister, Silvio Ber- for CBBC? ested in becoming a director. Originally I lusconi. He has the nation divided, between I was spotted through my I decided that when I went Would you like to do more com- those who err on the side of adoration and those online sketch channel on to college I’d pick something wanted to be a edy stuff? who regard him almost as an abomination. YouTube doing comedy that covered all angles be- graphic designer. If possible. Comedy will The latest matter to create a polarised fren- sketches and monologues. cause a good director needs to always be my favourite thing, zy concerns someone called Alfredo Milioni. He One of the producers at know how everything works I still draw now, mostly because I spent most of was charged by Berlusconi’s party with hand- CBBC saw them and invit- and how to deal with it. my childhood watching More- ing in a list of candidates so they could stand ed me in for a screen test. making comic cambe and Wise videos. I love in regional elec- How did your YouTube channel to make people laugh and I The fountains tions in the Rome What were you doing at the come about? books in hope I make them laugh. area. Milioni didn’t time? It started on a bored Sunday get a spring hand in the list, so I had just started doing media afternoon. I had a camera, a my spare time Is it true that you are complete- most of Berlusco- and performance at univer- box of props, a mate, and had ly obsessed with Doctor Who? clean, ahead ni’s candidates in sity and had been consider- been writing little jokes, so we Yes. I own about a third of all the capital have ing leaving because I wasn’t filmed something daft. I was between the programmes the Who episodes from 1963 to of the Easter been barred from learning anything. Getting the never one of those big YouTube on Saturday and Sun- 2010. It used to be a guilty pas- the ballot. There call from CBBC was brilliant players but always had decent day mornings. sion but since the programme services has been a raft of and came at exactly the right views in the early thousands. has become popular again, excuses from Mil- time because I’d been thinking Are your links scripted? I have a level of coolness. ioni, including (my favourite) that he nipped maybe this course isn’t for me. Your YouTube channel is called Yes, but there is always room out for a sandwich and missed the deadline. ChrisIsSnowie. Why? for us to improvise. We’re al- How about life outside work? Berlusconi tried changing the law to get Where were you when they It was a nickname I got when ways working on new stuff I recently moved into a flat in the candidates reinstated, failed, and so is called? I was about 13 because I’ve and getting involved with the Sidcup – there’s a really dull now livid. If it were not all so serious (threat I was standing in the kitch- got this streak of white hair. writing or coming up with fact for you – and have re- to democracy, damage to the rule of law, etc en at my Dad’s house about concepts. I feel I’ve done and awakened my love of the PS3. etc), you might actually regard politics under to have fish and chips. They Is your channel still running? learnt so much here – far more Berlusconi as fun. He’s never more than a quip asked if I would be interest- Since I’ve come here I’ve had then the time I was at uni. How have you found the move away from another scandal or controversy. ed and then asked if I could to tidy it up a bit and remove south? Over at the Vatican, Pope Benedict has also start on January 4. It really any videos with copyright ma- Do you get audience feedback? I’ve adjusted to London life but had a wretched few weeks because of the pae- was New Year new life for me. terial and bad language. This This morning some kids on a am still not used to the sombre dophile allegations that keep surfacing. Every took three nights and out of school trip were sitting oppo- attitude on public transport. I morning I walk across St Peter’s Square to my What did your family say? the 63 videos on it there are site me on the train. I was face even play a little game: if I ever office and often find myself peering up to the It was a mixed reaction. A lot now six remaining. I’m going deep in a book and then I felt have that moment of making window of the Pope’s apartment. said ‘that’s brilliant’ while to keep it going and, while I a tap on the arm and someone eye contact with someone by Right now, workmen have emptied the the others, mostly those who won’t change the tone of the said, ‘Excuse me but are you accident I always make it my fountains in the square ready for their spring wanted me to babysit or do channel, I am obviously go- Chris from CBBC?’ and we just mission to pull a really daft clean, ahead of the Easter services. It could other things, were more wor- ing to tone it down a bit. got chatting. face and watch the reaction. be a metaphor for the type of cleansing some ried about me moving away. I believe has long been needed in the Catholic think I was the most contained So what does your How have your friends reacted? Are you always good natured, church – to rid itself of abusers. of all of them and just thought job involve now? Mostly they’ve been amazed. happy and smiling? Following the Pope and Berlusconi is like how brilliant it was while I’m working with fantastic A lot were on my media I try to be. I don’t see room for watching a circus plate spinner, when you’re everyone else was scream- Ed Petrie and we’re basically course at uni and so have being sad. I’m 19 with a lot of on the edge of your seat wondering which ing ‘ooohh, this is fantastic!’ making kids laugh filling in been excited to hear years ahead of me but you only plate (if any) will end up in pieces. Each seems live once so have fun. Enjoy it. to attract trouble like a moth to a light. Did you always want to be a Pope Benedict doesn’t drive a Ferrari presenter? CV What about the future? and, to my knowledge, despite his billions, Originally I wanted to be a Good question but at nor does Berlusconi. But if they did, I’m graphic designer. I’ve always College: Two-year BTEC performing arts, Pendleton College the moment I’m not re- sure they would both have the top down, loved drawing and still draw First job: Shop assistant in a formal wear hire store. I ally thinking about that the wind in their hair (such as it is, in Mr B’s now, even making comic books came in for a tux and they said they were looking for some- as it’s still early days. case), each hoping that the arrival of spring in my spare time. I started will bring a renewal of their fortunes which, doing drama at school and one young to work there. At least it means I know how to Interview by Sue Llewellyn in recent times, have evaded them. tie a cravat
> CONTACT SUE LLEWELLYN to suggest a colleague for this feature 16 a 30·03·10 green room
▲ THE ARIELAT0R Exemplary conductor: WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: principal flautist Richard Davis ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off Has head of A&M Tim Davie (right) been moon- lighting as an actor in advertisements for furni- ▲ ture company DFS (left)? ▲ ▲ ▲
▲ UPSIDE Well done to BBC Guernsey break- fast presenter Gary Burgess who has recently ▲ made his debut as a centre-fold in the Guernsey Press, the island’s daily newspaper. Calm down, ▲ he hasn’t pulled a Schafernaker – the presenter has in fact been featured thanks to his astound- Award for trooper of the week goes to Ranvir ▲ ing weight-loss over the past six months. Last Singh who, on top of her usual newsreading du- September our man was a sturdy 19 stone, ties with North West Tonight , spent most of the now he’s a sprightly 12 and a half. The double- previous week commuting to and from London ▲ page article was emblazoned with the headline to fill in as co-presenter on the 5 live breakfast ‘Gary’s Wake Up Call’ and told the story of the shows. ‘After a 7pm finish on Thursday in Man- ▲ presenter’s decreasing weight in the months chester, I took the train to London in time to get following his weight-loss surgery. up at 3.30am for Friday’s 5 live Breakfast,’ says ▲ Singh. At 9am, she headed back to Manchester for Friday’s NWT before travelling to the capital ▼ again to co-host the Weekend Breakfast shows (are you keeping up?). After the Sunday morning ▼ programme, she then popped back north in time breaking out to stand in for Stephen Nolan on his late night phone-in. ‘I was doing my own mini work-style ▼ marathon. Worthy of a medal? Maybe not. But a ▼ the baton good test of stamina nevertheless!’ ▼ DOWNSIDE It’s not often that a flute player more than waving your arms around, Win DVD box sets Radio Humberside presenter Lara King re- takes up the conductor’s baton but you couldn’t be more wrong. ‘You ▼ cently suffered a nasty knee injury that’s exactly what happened when need to direct what the players are It’s Garry Shandling’s Show first went out from a gardening accident which made it BBC Philharmonic’s Richard Davis had doing,’ explains Davis. ‘If they all do on BBC Two in the late 80s and proved a cult ▼ impossible for her to get to her usual studio to step up as emergency cover for a their own thing, there’ll be chaos. hit, inspiring a generation base in Grimsby. Not pleasant, but at least she live Radio 3 show. The principal flau- You have to communicate with the of writers and earning him didn’t have to take time off – thanks to some tist had only seven hours to prepare orchestra just through your body a starring roll in the later ▼ technical wizardry she managed to spend for the Afternoon on 3 concert com- language, without speaking.’ Larry Sanders Show. The series last week presenting her mid-morning show, pared to the usual 40-50 hours, after The broadcast, from the Philharmon- played with sitcom conven- ▼ complete with stitches, live from her living conductor Pablo Heras Casado fell ill. ic’s base in BBC Manchester, featured tion by regularly breaking the room sofa. ‘In my dreams, I’ve always wanted concertos by Mozart and the Spanish ‘fourth wall’ to let viewers at to conduct,’ says Davis, who once composer Manuel de Falla. Despite home see the making of the took a career break to study the art his comparative lack of experience, show and allowing its self- of conducting. ‘I really enjoyed it. Davis received emails and letters of aware host to address them EARWIGGING You get such a brilliant high from the appreciation from colleagues and directly. Thanks to Fabulous adrenalin rush.’ members of the audience. ‘They’ve Films we have three copies OVERHEARD AT THE BBC And for those of you who think that been so supportive. I didn’t get time of the It’s Garry Shandling’s conducting an orchestra is nothing to be nervous,’ he said. Show season one dvd box set to give away. To enter to win one, tell us who …You’ll be pleased to know co-created the show with Garry Shandling? Email that I have forgotten my ariel competitions by April 6. clothes today... shed some Saved by the Bell first aired on the BBC in 1989, introducing a nation of adolescents to its …I need to go and phone a catchy theme-song (‘It’s alright cos I’m saved by vampire hunter... light the bell!’) and humorous portrayal of US college life. The American sitcom follows ‘preppy’ Zack, ...That’s a real priority once Is it a cement mixer? Some kind is, where it was ‘jock’ AC Slater and ‘nerd’ Screech as they vie for there’s time to do it... of sausage making device? The next used or indeed the attention of all-American generation in 3D viewing technology anything else Kelly while trying to avoid ...I ought to bring in my megasonic Woof perhaps? We’ve been approached by that could a run-in with the authori- the Museum of Science and Industry help the tarian Principal Belding. Woof!... in Manchester asking if we (or, more team in We have three copies of ...I knew it began with a P and had a mouth accurately, our highly intelligent their quest the Saved By the Bell season Green Room readers) can provide for context, one dvd box set to give at the end of it... any information regarding the image contact assistant editor away, courtesy of Fabu- to the right. Phil Smith-MR, or Meg lous Films. To enter to win ...We need to put on our spacesuits and The device is listed in the muse- McHugh (m.mchugh@ one, tell us which fictional jump off the edge... um’s catalogue as ‘BBC Floodlight’, mosi.org.uk), who town the series was set in. but that’s all they know about it and is curator of Email ariel competitions by ...It’s like one of those Spanish women they’re eager to find out more. If it community his- April 6. covered in toilet rolls... looks familiar and you know what it tory at the museum. > IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THE GREEN ROOM, CONTACT ADAM BAMBURY