01·12·09 Week 48 explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel THE BBC NEWSPAPER
beebcamp 3 – the ‘unconference’ a on how we work Page 6 ph otogra ph: jo h n rodgers
It’s Panto time
Panto ◆royalty Justin Fletcher as ‘Queen Fruity’, ‘King’ Sid Sloane and jester ‘Jingle Jangle’, aka Andy Day, in the CBeebies production of Jack & Jill, to be broadcast on December 18
◆ Sambrook to leave ◆ Network glitch ◆ Small Island turns BBC, Horrocks will causes problems for the page on Victorian combine roles Page 2 English output Page 3 period drama Page 7
> NEWS 2-4 WEEK AT WORK 8-9 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 162 News aa 00·00·08 01·12·09 Sambrook takes the ‘tough’ NEWS BITES a Fern Britton, former presenter of ITV’s This Morning, will make decision to quit Global News her presenting debut on Radio 2 by covering for Jeremy Vine for the Room 2316, White City by Cathy Loughran mercial sector role, still under wraps, outside week commencing January 11 and 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS THE DECISION TO LEAVE the BBC, after 30 years broadcasting. the week starting February 22. 020 8008 4228 and some of the toughest jobs in broadcast news, Since he moved to Bush House in September 2004, Editor was never going to be simple for Richard Sambrook. Sambrook has overseen the launch of the BBC’s new Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans is Candida Watson 02-84222 As the director of Global News wrote this week on his Arabic and Persian tv services and the relaunch of to return to tv. BBC One controller blog – one of the BBC’s most visited: ‘The BBC is not BBC World News, now reaching 260m households. Jay Hunt said that Evans, who has Deputy editor an easy organisation to leave. There are few places He was of course BBC News director during the tur- not presented a television show on Cathy Loughran 02-27360 which are as creative, as woven into the fabric of bulent time of the Hutton inquiry. That remains ‘a a regular basis since the short lived Chief writer national life, and which can provide as many oppor- divisive issue’, he says: ‘We did get some things OFI Sunday on ITV in 2005, would Sally Hillier 02-26877 tunities and privileges.’ wrong, but it was right to report that story and I have cover for One Show host Adrian Chiles Features editor The former director of BBC News and of BBC Sport no regrets about standing up for the independence when he goes on holiday next year. Clare Bolt 02-27445 will be replaced in March by Peter Horrocks, who will of the BBC.’ Broadcast Journalist combine his current role as director of World Service A former deputy editor of the Nine O’Clock News, A ‘mockumentary’ about a deaf Claire Barrett 02-27368 with the leadership of Global News. he became head of BBC Newsgathering, creating a porn star and a drama about a Art editor There is no doubt that Sambrook, one of the BBC’s network of hub bureaux in key regions. His memories man who saves his dreams to Ken Sinyard 02-84229 most popular and respected leaders, leaves on a of producing and reporting include ‘being in Berlin VHS are among eight new films Business co-ordinator high, with audiences for the BBC’s international news as the wall came down, being in China as it started to made by BBC staff in their spare open up in the 80s, the Iran-Iraq war, Northern Ire- time that will be shown at this Silvana Romana 02-84228 land, major disasters and moments of high adrenalin week’s BBC Shorts event on Ariel mail in live tv galleries’. December 2 at 6pm in the Council [email protected] ‘There’ve been some low points too – the deaths of Chamber, Broadcasting House. Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel colleagues lowest among them,’ says Sambrook, BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 who has led the industry in developing news safety. The BBC Scottish Symphony Deputy director-general Mark Byford paid personal Orchestra and the Royal Scottish tribute to ‘an absolutely brilliant colleague’: ‘Rich- Academy of Music and Drama Guest contributors this week ard’s integrity, huge passion for great journalism and have entered a partnership that deep interest in new media and its impact, together will give Academy students Nigel Thompson on the Cumbrian with his warmth, wisdom and loyalty, have been truly opportunities to learn with the story, after the floods. Page 3 inspiring to us all.’ orchestra, take part in concerto Horrocks, previously head of the BBC Newsroom, masterclasses and work alongside PHILIP TRIPPENBACH on cutting would make a ‘formidable leader’ of the next stage chief conductor Donald Runnicles. edge creativity at BeeBCamp 3. in Global News’ development, Sambrook said. The Page 6 incoming director expects to make announcements BBC Arabic has announced Richard Sambrook will hand over to Peter Hor- about organisational changes in the new year, some a deal that will see its Sports WILL GRANT on rant and the rocks – a ‘formidable leader’ – for coming years arising from the fusing of the WS and Global roles. Bulletin programme broadcast revolution in Venezuela. Page 15 The next government funding round, after March twice daily on Egypt Radio’s services as large as they’ve ever been, at 238m each 2011 , will loom large in Horrocks’s in-tray. Youth and Sports channel. week. Stressing that he’s ‘leaving, not retiring’, the 53 He told Ariel: ‘The need for international news is still Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 year-old who joined the BBC as a radio newsroom great as we deal with globalisation, climate change Radio Lincolnshire has changed sub in 1980 feels it’s ‘a good time to step off the ride’. and the economic downturn. Countries like Russia its name after 29 years. BBC BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 His wife Sue’s recent illness has also been a factor in and China are throwing money into international Lincolnshire follows other local Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS Sambrook wanting to ‘rebalance life a bit’. broadcasting and we need to project BBC news val- stations that have dropped the Advertise in Ariel His immediate plans include a spell as part-time visit- ues at a time when commercial news organisations word Radio from their title to Ten Alps Media 020 7878 2313 ing fellow at Oxford’s Reuters Institute for the Study are struggling. All those things make the case for reflect the fact that increasingly www.bbcarielads.com of Journalism, after which he will move to a new com- international news from the BBC.’ they are multimedia operations. Printing BBC Wales has launched a Green Garnett Dickinson Group Wales season, examining what Rotherham 01709 768000 DG puts website under scrutiny people are doing as individuals Subscribe to Ariel and as a society to address climate Six months: £26, £36, £40 u Mark Thompson is putting his faith in MPs, as change. The season, across tv, radio Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 he considers the BBC’s future. The director gen- and online, offers a range of green- (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world eral expects British politicians to safeguard BBC related content during December. respectively) independence, impartiality and right to manage Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, its own affairs, despite a European scene where Virgin Trains is giving BBC these principles of public service broadcasting travellers the chance to exchange Brookfields Way, Manvers, were under political attack. a recent flight boarding pass for Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL ‘The aspirations and values of our politi- a free first class London/Glasgow Tel 01709 768199 cians are different,’ Thompson told the Voice of rail ticket – for business trips INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY the Listener and Viewer conference last week. only. For more information see Telephone 0800 0688 159 ‘While British politicians are sometimes as en- the Rail page on Gateway. Ceefax Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 thusiastic as their continental counterparts Ariel is produced by Internal to criticise the BBC when they think we’ve got Former Horizon producer Communications for people at the BBC it wrong … underlying political support for a Aidan Laverty becomes editor of strong, independent BBC also remains robust.’ the BBC Two science programme He believed that with the BBC Trust had come when Andrew Cohen moves to ‘much tougher scrutiny’ of BBC management head up the science unit in the decisions. ‘From where I’m sitting it feels very spring. Next year will be Horizon’s different [to the Board of Governors],’ he said. Later, the conference heard shadow culture 48th year of production. Thompson also offered a few hints about his minister Jeremy Hunt confirm that the Conserv- strategic review, which looks ahead to a post atives had ‘no plans to tear up the BBC Charter’ A graphic ballet, depicting violence switchover BBC and will be put before the trust or to close BBC Three and Four. and sexual abuse by a hunchback early next year. The scope of the BBC website Hunt had reservations about the BBC Trust, Pope, has been axed from its pre- was likely to be curtailed, he said, as was money claiming the current governance model ‘lets watershed Christmas slot on BBC PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL spent on acquired programmes. down licence fee payers’ who needed an inde- Four after the channel realised the Children’s, the best journalism, British drama pendent body to hear their complaints and act extreme nature of the performance. and comedy and national events, meanwhile, in their interests. But he said his party ‘whole- Eternal Damnation to Sancho and were among areas to be given greater priority. heartedly supported’ the principle of the licence Sanchez was one of four Sadler’s He was also committed to those services ‘core’ fee and the multi-year settlement. The Tories Wells ballets due to be shown. The to the BBC’s public purpose, such as BBC Parlia- had created the corporation and ‘were as proud other three works will be broadcast ment, and to ‘giving space to take a few risks’. of the BBC as the Labour party is of the NHS’. between 7.45-9pm on December 18.
> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 01·12·09 News 3
Network fault causes chaos across England Dotun Adebayo with his MBE System failure
by Candida Watson make or receive calls. BBC in April, says there have John Linwood, chief tech- already been major changes Staff in London and the Eng- nology officer, FM&T, was one in relationships with suppli- lish regions struggled to work of the key managers at the eye ers: ‘They must deliver what effectively from Monday to of the storm. He says the cause they have been contracted to Wednesday last week, after a of the failure has been iden- do and the BBC is not a soft bug in the computer network tified, and the system is now touch. This is public money switching system. stable and working properly. that we are spending, and we At the worst point all of the But he is not complacent. He have to get full value.’ English regions, and London, told Ariel: ‘We take this very Because the VOIP phone were affected to various degrees. seriously. It is our job to de- system has been troubled by The fault occurred just liver systems to the BBC, and faults for so long, it is the fo- hours after Siemens mended we need to make sure our net- cus of much staff ire. Linwood a separate glitch, which had work is resilient.’ And he paid acknowledges that: ‘We have caused multiple, intermittent, tribute to the efforts of staff had issues with the phone sys- failures of telephony in offices made to work round the prob- tem since we switched to VOIP across England for a fortnight. lems: ‘The response from the and it is unacceptable. We have The network failure affected staff across the BBC was amaz- a team working on this.’ He in- pcs and telephony. At times no ing. They did everything they sists VOIP phones are essential phone calls could be made or needed to do to keep the oper- to the hot-desking planned for received, pcs were offline, auto- ation running and stepped up W1, and that staff will see the cues weren’t working and the and put in the extra effort.’ benefits of VOIP as more appli- more IP reliant parts of the BBC FM&T had a team working cations become available. in England were struggling. Ar- through the night last Mon- Looking ahead Linwood abic TV, the most advanced BBC day and Tuesday to identi- says the BBC’s corporate net- news service in its use of tech- fy and repair the fault. Now work needs to move to a new Award winners nology, was forced to restruc- they are sitting down with Sie- level of scale and resilience. ture its schedule; radio stations mens, the service supplier, for ‘One of my goals is to get to couldn’t run normal phone-ins; a post mortem on the event. the point where technology is the TVC newsdesks couldn’t Linwood, who joined the an enabler, not a hindrance.’ around the BBC It has been a particularly good week for Helen Blakeman won best writer for BBC people and programmes at a variety of CBBC’s Dustbin Baby and the development awards ceremonies. team for CBeebies Big and Small Online The story after the floods World TV bj Juliet Gilkes Romero won won best interactive. Best Play of 2009 at the Writers Guild At the RTS Craft and Design ceremony, The extra reporters and crews Awards, for her drama At the Gates of CBeebies became the first children’s chan- have moved on, but for the peo- Gaza. The play, written while Romero took nel to take the prestigious Design and ple of Cumbria the flood story a sabbatical, toured regional theatres last Craft Innovation award. The judges said is far from over, and their local year. Describing herself as ‘thrilled’ to win the channel was ‘brimming with original- BBC radio station will be with the recognition of her peers, Romero is ity, creativity and talent’. them every step of the way now a writer in residence at the Hamp- On the same night, at the internation- stead Theatre. She’s writing a second play al Emmys, Julie Walters was named best by Nigel Thompson and still working at World TV. actress for her role as a terminally ill doc- Radio 5 live’s Up All Night presenter tor in BBC One’s A Short Stay in Switzerland, We’d just mounted a week-long Dotun Adebayo received an MBE from the while Ben Whishaw was best actor for BBC series of reports looking at Cum- Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace. The One’s five-part drama Criminal Justice. bria’s council estates, waved good- award was for his services to the arts. Children’s drama Dustbin Baby – an ad- bye to the country’s newest and At the Children’s Baftas Top Gear pre- aptation of the Jaqueline Wilson novel co- biggest submarine and were plan- senter Richard Hammond won best pre- commissioned by CBBC and BBC One – won ning an OB from behind bars at senter for his show Richard Hammond’s Blast the Children and Young People award. the county’s only prison when Lab. Documentary series Serious Ocean, in Off air, Extend, the BBC Academy’s mother nature intervened. which eight youngsters sailed around the work placement scheme for disabled peo- Then the emergency servic- southern-most tip of South America, won ple, won the Personnel Today award for es called; would Radio Cumbria mount full breakfast OBs in As the roads slowly reopen best factual. CBBC’s political reality series diversity in the workplace. Two-thirds of stay on air overnight, to keep Cockermouth town centre and and the national media move Election won best entertainment prize. participants go on to get BBC jobs. the audience informed as a ma- the ‘forgotten’ community of on, Radio Cumbria will con- jor storm approached. What fol- Seaton. Our network of district tinue to be part of the story. lowed has been well reported; a reporters were live where the In the weeks and months to once-in-a-thousand years deluge. floods happened in Ulverston come we’ll have a dual role to Object lessons on Radio 4 One person died; roads became and Kendal and, thanks to the play. Our journalists will re- impassable, bridges demolished 3G technology, able to reflect port the recovery process as Radio 4 is to tell the history of the world in on ship burial site at Sutton Hoo. or unsafe – the final bill for re- what had happened there as it gathers momentum. But one hundred objects. ‘With the help of the British Museum pair work will run into millions. well as further north. our other role is just as impor- Written and directed by the director of we have a magnificent way of communi- It’s only four years since Car- Another benefit has been tant; we’ll be aiming to sup- the British Museum Neil MacGregor, the cating a set of quite complicated ideas, lisle was flooded, but this time the closer working relation- port the communities that series will focus on a different man-made so that they are hugely accessible to the the story was far from BBC Ra- ship that now exists between need help most by highlight- object from the museum’s collection, cho- audience in 15 minutes,’ Radio 4 control- dio Cumbria’s main office, and network and regional broad- ing issues that may have been sen to shed light on a different chapter of ler Mark Damazer said at the launch. far out of range of tradition- casting. BBC news report- overlooked; publicising health history from around the globe. MacGre- ‘I’m full of genuine optimism that it will al radio cars. Tim Tierney and er Nicola Pearson was live on clinics, giving accurate travel gor promised that the series would ‘take make magnificent radio and encourage peo- Gayle Mace, our engineers, Val Armstrong’s weekend mid- – and weather – information the Mediterranean away from the centre’, ple to go to the site and see the objects.’ have led the way in developing morning show thanks to some alongside our mix of person- telling world history from a global, rather The British Museum, BBC Cymru Wales, new technology, which came fancy footwork by the London alities and music. The com- than a Eurocentric, perspective. BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland and into its own. Just two months control room; Radio 5 live’s munities of north west Cum- Boris Johnson will look for meaning in English Regions are partnering with muse- ago the station took delivery Nick Garnett also contribut- bria have taken a battering; the head of Augustus the Roman emper- ums and institutions across the country. of a VERV – a reporter car that ed to our breakfast show. Even the BBC’s reputation has cer- or who ruled at the time of Christ, while A History of the World starts January 18 uses satellite, broadband and the technical support team on tainly not. Seamus Heaney will read extracts from the on Radio 4, and will tx every morning at wifi to allow access to remote the ground called us with tip- Nigel Thompson is news poem Beowulf, to accompany a programme 9.45am. locations. So we were able to offs and contact numbers. editor of BBC Radio Cumbria about the 1939 discovery of the Anglo Sax- bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld
4 News a 01·12·09 Reef to pay BBCW profits should not for duping daytime come before public purpose audiences Photogra by Cathy Loughran value from the BBC’s own intellec- tual property; by Claire Barrett p
The BBC’s 18-month long re- lan exit from any activity sinyard ken h: The indie company behind view of commercial activity that is not in keeping with the Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting raises more questions than it BBC brand; has been rapped by the BBC answers. What’s clear is that l divestment of stakes in Trust for misleading the au- the BBC Trust has endorsed a non-BBC branded internation- dience and has agreed to pay dramatic reshaping of the way al channels (like Animal Plan- compensation to the BBC. BBC Worldwide will be able to et) over time, where it makes Reef Television used pro- do business from now on. commercial sense; duction staff to act as mem- On the recommendations l a more transparent ‘first bers of the public on-screen of BBC management, the trust look’ with greater market test- and also restaged actual has effectively called a halt ing to establish the right pric- events without due signpost- to future Worldwide merg- ing structures; ing, the trust said in its find- ers and acquisitions like the l a governance framework ings announced on Monday. controversial purchase of the (already announced) that gives The indie was suspended Lonely Planet travel guide greater separation between from the BBC in August after business. Lonely Planet won’t the BBC executive board and newspaper reports claimed be sold off, just yet, but there the board of Worldwide. that a cameraman had posed won’t be any more deals of Trust chairman Michael as a buyer in the Angela Rip- that ‘scale and nature’. Lyons said that the proposed pon auction show. Other The proposed joint venture BBCW/Channel 4 deal, now breaches were identified in between Worldwide and Chan- centred on acquisition of Vir- daytime titles Trash for Cash nel 4, though, is still within gin Media’s stake in the UKTV and Dealers: Put Your Money scope for the more restricted channels – 50 percent of which Where Your Mouth Is, which commercial arm. Worldwide already owns – refused to say which activi- year and is charged with were also made by Reef Tv. Broadly, the trust’s conclu- would count as ‘exceptional ‘Lonely Planet ties Worldwide might pull out delivering £400m in divi- Richard Tait, chair of the sions set out clearer parame- circumstances’. Stakes in in- of over time. Animal Planet dends within the current li- trust’s editorial standards ters for the company’s activi- dependent production compa- sent a message is one international channel cence fee period. Lyons is on committee, acknowledged ty, more focus on exploiting nies, however, would no long- that could be affected. ‘I have record as saying the new re- that the company was una- BBC intellectual property and er be ‘routine’. that the no doubt that there were some strictions should not prevent ware that the practices con- a bigger push on overseas busi- In its recommendations to activities that are not consist- the company from continu- travened guidelines, but said ness, as activity in the UK mar- the review, the BBC executive BBC had no ent with the BBC brand,’ he ing to be profitable. the breaches were ‘totally un- ket is scaled back. singles out the distribution, added, refusing to list any ex- But the conundrum that acceptable’ and ‘undermined Brand reputation abroad is via a joint venture partner, of boundaries’ amples, again on commercial John Smith’s business now the public’s trust in the BBC’. seen as a big issue as the busi- Grazia and Hello magazine ti- grounds. faces is summed up when the ‘The BBC must not allow ness becomes more interna- tles in India as an ‘anomaly’ the guidelines that existed at Echoing BBC denials of chairman says: ‘BBC World- its audiences to be misled,’ tionally facing and tighter ed- that the BBC should pull out the time, but admitted lessons newspaper reports that the wide must not be judged by he said. itorial controls will ensure of, in a ‘commercially efficient had been learned. corporation is in talks with how much money it makes or ‘It must put steps in place standards consistent with UK way’. ‘What we certainly under- City banks over a part flotation how big its investments are. to prevent this and, if mis- output. But it has been the £90m estimated was the signal this of Worldwide, Lyons said that It should be primarily judged leading material is uncov- Taking clear account of the purchase of Lonely Planet in would send out in the UK a sell-off was currently ‘not by what it does to help the ered, it must be dealt with external debate about the lim- 2007 that has most concen- economy about the scale and on the agenda’. Were circum- BBC to serve the British pub- openly and firmly.’ its of BBC activity, the trust trated the minds of politi- commercial ambitions of the stances to change, any priva- lic, in terms of our public pur- Reef will now pay com- last week rubber stamped: cians, critics and commercial BBC… It sent a message that tised company would not car- poses.’ pensation to the BBC and has l an end to mergers and competitors. Speaking on Ra- the BBC had no boundaries,’ ry the BBC name, nor take any Worldwide now has until overhauled its compliance acquisitions unless there are dio 4’s The Media Show, Lyons he said. BBC intellectual property. the end of the financial year processes and editorial stand- exceptional circumstances; stopped short of calling the For issues of commercial Worldwide returned prof- to develop a three year strate- ards training to ‘an appropri- l a clearer focus on securing acquisition a mistake, under sensitivity the chairman also its of £36m to the BBC last gy based on its new limits. ate standard’, said the BBC, which has therefore lifted the suspension. The company will resume Button and Giggs iPlayer trial on Freesat work on two existing BBC projects and will be free to pitch new work to the BBC in on SPOTY shortlist The BBC iPlayer will be tri- told BBC News. ‘Set top boxes the country to show people future. A review of its editori- alled to a select group of Free- don’t have the same processing what HD TV programmes look al standards performance will The shortlist for the 2009 BBC Sports Person- sat viewers from December 7. power or memory as a typical like. By the end of the year take place in six months. ality of the Year was announced on Monday Participants in the trial will in- pc. The software inside the box- more than 10 percent of UK evening. itially require a code to access es was really made for broad- households will have HD, and The award is decided by the public, and the BBC iPlayer but the service cast.’ most new tvs bought are HD- Changes at this year they have a choice between ten should be more freely available The BBC iPlayer will contin- ready – but a lot of people still sportsmen and women, from nine very dif- by Christmas. ue to roll out across different haven’t thought about how the ferent sports. They are: F1’s Jensen Button; The trial is designed to work devices as they become con- new technology might fit in BBC Arabic cyclist Mark Cavendish; young diver Tom Da- on Humax HD set top box- nected to the internet, he said. their living room. ley; Jessica Ennis, the heptathlete; footballer es, currently owned by one in Broadband connection is essen- Freeview HD starts rolling Head of BBC Arabic Hosam El Ryan Giggs; boxer David Haye; triple-jump- three Freesat viewers. tial for the service to work on tv. out this month and the staff Sokkari is to spearhead work er Phillips Idowu; tennis player Andy Mur- ITV Player will also launch Freesat is currently in 750,000 offer is for either a set-top box, on user-generated content ray; cricketer Andrew Strauss and gymnast in beta, or trial form, early in homes in the UK and has expe- Freeview + with HD (a PVR) or and social media initiatives Beth Tweddle. 2010. Moving the BBC iPlayer rienced considerable growth an iDTV with a Freeview HD for BBC Arabic. He will hand Several are current world champions in from a computer to a tv plat- this year, attracting more new tuner built in, all at a discount. over his current managerial their disciplines. form had been a challenge, customers than Sky in the past The equipment won’t be and editorial responsibilities The shortlist was compiled by a panel of said Rahul Chakkara, head of two quarters. available in the UK until the to Liliane Landor, head of Mid- 26 sports editors from national and region- tv platforms at the BBC. n BBC HD is offering staff beginning of next year, but dle East region. El Sokkari will al newspapers and magazines. ‘The hardware of set top box- the chance to pre-register for staff can register an interest also develop and present a The winner will be announced live from es and IPTVs (Internet Protocol Freeview HD equipment. Last at BBCHDDiscountOffer@bbc. new tv programme, using the Sheffield Arena on December 13. Television) is constrained,’ he week they ran seminars around co.uk social media tools. a 01·12·09 Features 5 BBC wales man uncovers a hidden treasure by Sally Hillier Williams to do a tv interview – although initially he refused to It’s hard to imagine now, but 30 talk about Masquerade. ‘I told years ago the public went mad over a him that was like interviewing puzzle book. Masquerade was a col- Paul McCartney and discuss- lection of pictures telling the story ing Wings but not The Beatles.’ of Jack Hare and a treasure, which he Gradually, Williams let down loses, leaving readers to work out its his guard, agreeing both to discuss location from the illustrations. Masquerade and to put his paintings As part of the intrigue the book’s on public display for a day in London, creator Kit Williams crafted a gold to be captured by the tv cameras. hare pendant and in 1979 buried it. In The twist came when, after vow- 1982 it was found in Bedfordshire by ing to speak to no other journalists, someone acting on a tip-off. The pen- he agreed to an interview for Radio dant was later sold at Sotheby’s. 4. Broadcast in the summer, this was Masquerade was a global best sell- heard by relatives of the woman who er but its creator was a reluctant had bought the hare at Sotheby’s. celebrity and, sick of the spotlight, ‘The owner lives in the Far East and, disappeared from public view. Now amazingly, the relatives were in Lon- BBC Wales producer Julian Carey don, listening to Radio 4 when the has done what many have tried, and programme went out,’ says Carey. failed, to do, tracking him down and, The happy result was that the crucially, getting him to talk. The re- owner, whose identity remains con- a PHOTOGRAPH: sult is BBC Four’s The Man Behind the fidential, agreed to return the hare to Radio players: (front) AP Tracy Holmyard, controller Michael Carrington and AP Felicity Norton; Masquerade. The profile features a rare the UK temporarily. Tim Green, exec (back) producer John Leagas, production co-ordinator Luke Fresle, APs Colin Dallibar and Philippa Rae producer of both exhibition of his art and, thanks to an The Man Behind the nn incredible stroke of luck, reunites him Masquerade and wildlife series Last a gor with his famous pendant. Chance to See, organised the d o
‘A year ago I sent Kit Williams a effort to get the jewel back, with Last n letter via some people who knew him, Chance to See production manager and was thrilled when he phoned me. Lindsay Davies collecting it from the children’s radio I told him I’d always loved his paint- Far East. Production co-ordinator ings in Masquerade, and wondered Helen Baird helped with security on what had happened to him.’ the day the hare was finally reunited Williams, impressed that some- with Williams. turns the page one had asked this rather than simply ‘I started out hoping to find out hark back to the treasure hunt, invited about Kit Williams and through sheer ‘Radio is a lovely aspect of Carey to his house in Gloucestershire luck ended up with a very different what we do,’ says CBeebies con- Clare Bolt finds out how the web – the first journalist allowed inside programme,’ says Carey. troller Michael Carrington, from his home in 25 years. Taking a gently, The Man Behind the Masquerades, what must be the cosiest office in is helping to get children listening gently approach, Carey persuaded December 2, BBC Four. the BBC. High in rain-beaten East Tower, his shelves are stuffed with But Radio 7 was losing its old- won’t, often read by big names creatures from In the Night Gar- er listeners, and the block was like David Tennant and Jane Hor- den as well as Shaun the Sheep’s moved from 5-8am, so that kids rocks. Most of the programmes spin-off, Timmy Time. could listen at breakfast time are made up of entirely original We’re talking about an arti- with their parents. But the lis- material. cle in Broadcast, which suggested tening figures dropped off again. A team of APs script the shows, that the BBC had ‘all but given The problem, he says, is not that get all the inserts and record kids up on children’s radio’, after Ra- children don’t like radio. ‘The voices around the country. ‘Over dio 7 lost 40 percent of its listen- content is fantastic and there’s the years we’ve collected hun- ers when CBeebies Radio moved very strong craft behind all the dreds,’ producer Helena Sills says. into its early morning slot. programmes,’ he says firmly. ‘But ‘We found that children respond But the under sixes needn’t Radio 7 is a digital station and it’s best to other kids, so the pro- worry – Carrington hasn’t giv- not available to everyone.’ grammes are constantly punctu- en up on them. ‘We had a group One solution was to load ated by children’s voices.’ of four year-old children sitting audio clips from the radio show She’s ‘very proud’ of the Ra- around a radio,’ he recalls, ‘and onto the CBeebies website, which dio Player, which is imagined as Hare and one little boy said, I can’t see Char- has 750,000 unique weekly a yellow cartoon on the CBeebies found: Julian lie, and looked behind the radio. users. The results were dramatic: site. Scrolling over it, children Carey reunites Then a little girl said she could see from 10,000 listeners, they found can choose from CBeebies shows Kit Williams Lola and she was wearing a red they had 40,000 children down- Listen Now, Our Picks, Join Us and with jewel dress. It was just delightful – you loading the audio every day. Story Time. ‘We felt that in terms could see they were using their Last week the CBeebies web- of online, it’s good to let chil- imagination.’ It was the moment site relaunched with a brand dren choose what they listen to,’ that he decided that CBeebies ‘ab- new look and feel, and this time she offers. ‘It’s not listening in solutely has to do this’. the CBeebies Radio Player was on the traditional way. Children can While dedicated children’s every page. ‘We’ll be looking at control it, which gives them the radio station Fun Kids gets this very carefully for impact,’ he opportunity to play and experi- 100,000 listeners in London, says. ‘But we’ve been into nurser- ment, and we’ve tried to make it the challenge for CBeebies has ies and talked to kids and we’ve as playful as possible.’ always been finding an audience got a good idea of the kind of con- The radio team is still experi- on Radio 7 – an adult station tent that might work.’ menting with how much of a vis- with a remit to carry children’s For now, the focus is on speech ual distraction kids want from programming. When it launched radio with a few songs thrown in. the Radio Player. in 2007, CBeebies Radio was get- Familiar brands like Lazy Town ‘We’re doing user testing ting around 10,000 listeners in and Nuzzle and Scratch – especially now to see how they use it, but the 2-5pm block – ‘very small in reversioned by the in-house radio Michael’s keen for us to keep it as listening terms, but good for us,’ team – are mixed in with stories radio,’ Sills says. ‘He doesn’t want Carrington says. they might know and ones they it to be poor telly.’
6 Features a 01·12·09 ph o
by BeeBCamp producer Philip Trippenbach t og raphs ‘A lovely thing about the session was that we What happensRtyty ty tytywhen ty techies ty ty ty and ty creatives :E could talk about ideas,’ Andrew Bowden from spend the day together? New ideas, say d S Red Button told me. ‘Normally in BBC meet- ty ty tyty ty tyty ty ty ty ty winden cutting ings it would be hard to escape talking about those who went to BeeBCamp 3 the problems and you get bogged down in them. Great to talk about the ideas instead.’ edge On Friday, 150 creative content producers and technical innovators from across the BBC met in London and Manchester for BeeBCamp 3, the third in a series that I’ve helped produce. The idea of BeeBCamp is to break down the zoe kleinman barriers between tech and creative communi- ties in the BBC and it’s an informal, open sort of forum, hence the name ‘unconference’. The What price schedule is determined on the day by the par- ticipants, and any delegate can start a session by writing their name and the subject of their dis- friendship cussion on a white board when they arrive. The sessions covered the gamut of topics IN THE HEADY world of social networking, related to the BBC: from augmented reality and Not square: people hook up, disconnect, change their audio gaming to web moderation and censor- Technologist Ant Miller profile photos and their status updates in the ship, blogging war and terrorism and mobile holds on to an idea blink of a virtual eye. So, in this fickle online media – as well as ‘how to make Gateway work’, domain, what price friendship? The answer, run by members of the Gateway team. according to video game giant Electronic You can tailor the day according to your Arts (EA), is $300m (£180m). interests and everyone is encouraged to have That’s how much the publisher recently something to say – the sessions are conversation- paid for a company called Playfish, which al rather than presentations. makes games for online friends to play on While big ideas were in abundance, there was social networking sites like Facebook and a small but very animated session inviting peo- MySpace. They can only play together if they ple to discuss what they would do if they were are linked up as friends on the site they are the director general for a day. playing in. It’s a very different sort of meeting from Compared with EA, developers of high most corporate networking events. ‘I’m normal- profile console-based hits like FIFA and vir- ly a bit of a cynic when it comes to organised tual world The Sims, Playfish may sound like attempts at creativity,’ said Paul Murphy, editor small fry. Its multi-million dollar asset is the of the BBC Internet Blog. ‘But I’m happy to sheer number of people who log on – over admit that in this instance I was very wrong.’ 60m a month, from BeeBCamp is sponsored by the College of all over the world. The Journalism, Project North, Future Now and For the demographic is 18-34 BBC Backstage year olds and roughly BBC these as many women as by Jonathan Frewin, BeeBCamp first timer men. Compared with players the sales figures of ‘BeeBCamp was just about the only time since I even the most arrived at the BBC that I got a sense of how the could be successful console organisation could become as creative as Apple games, this is a Can we or Google,’ writes Jonathan Frewin. gold dust phenomenally large ‘The idea is simple: bring together a hun- group of gamers. dred people from across the BBC, ask them For Playfish and ul- what they want to talk about, and allow groups timately EA, they are an army of potential buy- to gather to discuss those ideas. So the topics ers for virtual goods. The basic game is free varied, from how can I use social media to get but bonus features cost between 5p and £3. organise people to give me great news stories?, to what However for the BBC these players rep- should the BBC do with Xbox’s project Natal? resent different gold dust – the very audi- People from different parts of the BBC were ence it says it needs to futureproof its appeal. able to share insights and expertise in a way Playfish’s two most popular games are Pet that wouldn’t otherwise happen. We discovered Society, in which players create pet avatars how much we all think about similar things, that interact with those of their friends, and creativity? Restaurant City, which makes all players into restaurant owners with friends of their choice ‘I got a sense of how the on the staff. BBC Two series The Restaurant is essentially that format writ large. But while BBC could become as Raymond Blanc mentors nine couples at a time, Restaurant City has nearly 18m individu- creative as Apple’ als engaged in friendly competition. Dan Taylor, senior portfolio executive, and how much duplication of effort there can vision multiplatform, says that social gaming be. If we all drew on our collective expertise is an area the corporation is ‘following with like this, there would be no need for expensive interest’. But so far its gaming offerings have external consultants! not strayed very far from bbc.co.uk, and none The gathering was heavily skewed in exist purely on social networks. So while favour of the tech savvy, so when we were asked players are encouraged to interact, they are at the beginning who would be tweeting from only able to do so via the BBC website. the event, around half the attendees stuck up a The BBC has always exercised caution hand (the hashtag was #bc3 if you’re interested over where its content appears and it would to see the outcome). be a big step to relinquish that control. And Yet the conversation topics had wide appeal, whether it will ever be in a position to sell and you couldn’t help but wonder what might virtual sonic screwdrivers or Albert Square be achieved if this sort of event became popular street signs is a matter for Worldwide. But a across the organisation. basic, free-to-use platform could be a quick In fact I might even see whether there is an win for a mass audience – and offer a whole appetite for shorter lunchtime WSCamps at the new dimension in audience experience. World Service, as there’s no question that it’s Zoe Kleinman is a BBC News technology reporter difficult to find time to give up a whole day. Bubbling up: developer Crystal Hirschorn with head of communication Caroline Boots Jonathan Frewin works for WS business planning a 01·12·09 Features 7 www.steffanhill.com Period drama goes 20th century with WW2 tale of love and displacement by Claire Barrett
Hold on to your bonnets – BBC One period drama is leaving behind its Victorian comfort zone and accelerating forward a cen- tury to 1940s Jamaica and a London devastated by the Blitz. Small Island, the two-part Ruby Television adaptation of Andrea Levy’s 2004 novel, takes viewers on a short haul historical hop to the time when the Empire Windrush brought the first major wave of West Indian migrants – along with the seeds of multiculturalism – to a largely unwelcoming Britain. It raises issues of racism, prejudice and ignorance, but its primary focus is on the per- sonal. ‘It’s a story of redemption,’ attests pro- Sunshine ducer Grainne Marmion. ‘It has a real depth of feeling and understanding which the screen- play translates both visually and emotionally.’ If it’s managed to shake off all that nine- teenth century repression, a drama set in the shoot living memory of some of its audience brings with it a burden of responsibility on the programme makers to get it right. ‘Before we started making Small Island, I thought a lot about authenticity,’ admits director John Alex- was no ander, ‘about location, costumes, design. But as you get deeper in, your concerns shift to char- acter and storytelling. You build a world which you believe in and no longer question.’ It was only at a preview screening at the easy ride Imperial War Museum, attended by members of the Windrush Society, that doubts surfaced. David Oyelowo, who plays Gilbert, feels the heat as he prepares for the taxi breakdown scene during a week of filming in Jamaica ‘I thought, gosh, some of these people have actually lived through this time,’ he explains. It was the week’s filming in Jamaica that The sunshine scenes were a obvious coun- Polish community in Britain now as the Jamai- ‘Thankfully, they found it convincing.’ posed more of a challenge to fidelity. ‘Jamai- terpoint to grim, grey London, but Alexan- cans who came to London in the forties. The He gives credit to the designers who created ca is not an easy place to make period drama,’ der was careful to avoid a portrayal of the Car- themes cross cultures.’ the interior sets in Belfast’s cavernous Paint Hall laments Alexander, whose art department had ibbean island as a glossy idyll. ‘You have to For Alexander, it’s the sheer strength of studios. ‘Queenie’s home is almost a character to scour the island for period props and lug cos- remember that these people wanted to leave the storytelling that earns Small Island a place in itself,’ says Alexander of the house where Lon- tumes from Britain. Gilbert’s truck-like taxi Jamaica. There was a lot of poverty, crop fail- in the mainstream. ‘People are saying it’s the doners Queenie and Benedict take in Jamaican had to be assembled from bits and pieces of ures and extreme hardship.’ BBC’s first black period drama, but I’m not sure couple Gilbert and Hortense as lodgers. ‘The sets other vehicles. It looked the part but took the Although scantily explored in tv drama, it’s that’s such a big issue. It’s the fact that it’s a were so believable,’ says the director, who also method acting too far. ‘We shot a scene about a period in history with resonance today. ‘It’s great love story that gives it wide appeal – and led the exterior shoot in Dublin’s broad Geor- Gilbert’s taxi breaking down and, in rehearsal, a profound statement about immigration,’ be- that’s why it’s on BBC One.’ gian streets which doubled as wartime London. it did break down. It only ran twice.’ lieves Marmion, ‘that says as much about the Small Island, BBC One, December 5
by Judy Fladmark We brought rice, noodles and energy bars while the Penan provided fresh jungle fruits. The Tales of abuse and A confrontation with semi-naked, blow-pipe headman hunted game overnight. Breakfasts wielding tribesmen isn’t the usual start to my included boiled porcupine, mouse deer or, on working day – but this was the heart of the Bor- one occasion, wild cat which was surprisingly neo jungle, not a bad day on the Central line. tasty, a bit like smoky pork. Angus managed a exploitation in the jungle Radio 4 Today programme reporter Angus whole paw in his morning soup. Stickler and I had travelled for several days Angus was gathering for radio and online through the jungle to reach the last remaining while I filmed on a lightweight Z5 camera. It was nomads of the Penan tribe, following a story of physically gruelling in 35 degree heat and 99 the damage being done to the Penan by logging percent humidity. Washing facilities included in their pristine forest home. bathing in leech-free rivers. Much nicer than the We weren’t expecting a hostile welcome. At makeshift rain water showers we made do with least that’s what we wrote on our risk assess- in the villages. ment form… But walking downhill through dense But we weren’t there for the exotic fun of it. rainforest we encountered several hunters Serious allegations have been made about the dressed in loin cloths, their poisoned darts and conduct of employees of big logging compa- machetes at the ready. nies in the area, with claims of exploitation and Fortunately for us our local guide, a headman of rape. We travelled down river, to where set- from a nearby village, soothed the situation. We tled Penan live side by side with the loggers. The had been unaware that a tribe member was mys- companies say they are bringing progress to lo- teriously missing in the forest so outsiders were cal communities. A Malaysian government being treated suspiciously. As soon as it was report has documented dozens of cases of rape, Penan tribesmen – clear we weren’t a threat, and proper introduc- mainly of young girls hitching rides to and from a way of life tions had been made, we were allowed to set school on loggers’ vehicles. We spent a day with under threat up camp. one young rape victim. We will be telling her We’d gone prepared for wild camping with story in our reports on Today, BBC World, World bivvie bags, a stove and basic food supplies, Service and online. planning to be self-sufficient. We quickly learnt Judy Fladmark is a producer for the news pro- that sharing is central to the Penan way of life. grammes multimedia team. BBC IN ACTION 8 9 what to wear
Ruba Jurdi, Broadcast and Online Assistant, Arabic Television myweek@work blogbites Service, Broadcasting House Rifat Jiwaid, Asian Network station editor Where did you buy the outfit you’re What we’ve found wearing in the photo? I adore French fashion and here I while trawling the am wearing a Cop Copine hooded jacket together with the same brand blogs this week leggings. Underneath I’m wearing a grey Kookai top. I would say this is more of a smart casual outfit which I could wear both at work and day wear. Liberals, Lamingtons and Kevin Rudd’s longest interview Do you need to dress a particular way Children in November has been a blur. We’ve for work? had Tigermania in Melbourne and I try not to wear anything too Malcolmmania in Canberra – and both have revealing as I don’t want to distract ended with a crash. Add to that the 10th my colleagues! Also it’s not very anniversary of the republican referendum, professional. I like to wear something a hike in interest rates, Schoolies week smart. I choose my clothes in the on the Gold Coast, the national apology morning as what I wear depends on to Forgotten Australians and former child my mood. I’ve never been able to pick migrants and a 25-minute face-to-face my clothes the night before. with the prime minister
IF YOU HAVE A suggestion FOR who or what should be in WEEK@WORK PLEASE Email clare bolt All our music is covered by the BBC’s blanket licence a 01.12.09 11
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Dead ringers ahead with planned maintenance in Who is the BBC manager responsible Cockermouth on Monday, stating pub- for the disastrous VOIP phones con- Slow down to appreciate joys of Postman Pat licly that it would affect their custom- tract with Siemens? It seems beyond My two young children enjoy a daily dose of ver and re-entered the room to watch more. The ers. That was the day of our breakfast belief that more than 130 years after OB from the town, so we used our Alexander Graham Bell made his CBeebies and, quite frankly, as a working moth- pace was so slow it seemed alien. Everyone was VERV, one of two new prototype dis- first successful call, it is not possible er it is a necessary adjunct to my sanity. speaking in a gentle, unhurried way. The red trict reporter vehicles using satellite to supply one of the world’s biggest However, keen to expand their viewing reper- van was pootling. Envelopes were fluttering. technology. This was connected to our news organisations with phones that toire I picked up a 10p Postman Pat video from The cat was yawning. radio car. Our Access portables on 3g actually work. and the VERV permitted us to provide our local charity shop. I positioned the chil- I peered at my children. Why no protest? Why Theo Leggett extensive live coverage of the floods, business reporter, World Service dren, as is the Sturt custom, on the sofa, jolt- no jeers? They too were mesmerised. Perhaps not only in Cockermouth but Work- ed the antiquated video player into life with a we don’t need our kids programmes to be so ington, Seaton and other locations. n I don’t think there has been kick and commenced my mad-mum, damage- frenetic. Try going from that to the madcap Tim Tierney enough praise heaped on the person limitation dash around the house. But Post- Lazy Town or zany Tweenies. Honestly, try it. It senior broadcast engineer, Radio Cumbria who decided on the new phone con- tract with Siemens. Can the person man Pat stopped me in my tracks. He sounded too will stop you in your tracks. responsible please own up so that we so old-fashioned. I delayed turning on the hoo- Chrissy Sturt, sbj, South TV News Weather worn can all send congratulatory emails? We all know that breakfast news is I have heard some complaints, repetitive – it has to be or else you’d but I seem to work with a bunch of in an instant. You never hear them come too easily dazzled by shiny gadg- Jamie Hindhaugh, head of sourcing, never fill all those hours, but can the whingers who expect the phone to complaining about IT and phone ets and we need to get that under con- logistics, replies: I am sorry to hear scripts for the weather presenters work all the time. I mean, it does ring breakdown. Thank goodness we’re trol as it’s costing too much. of your recent experiences with hir- vary a little please? most of the time and most of the inter- not responsible for saving the world. Salley Rear ing cars abroad. I have investigated This morning (November 25) I national calls we make do go through. Sarah Taylor production manager, audio and music this case and have noted our preferred watched BBC Breakfast for just 45 And that woman who regularly radio documentaries suppliers were having difficulty meet- minutes and I swear I heard the word tells us that ‘the phone call can’t be ing all requirements around this time ‘squally’ at least ten times. Then the completed as dialled’ or the number n Once upon a time I went to a meet- Up to the job which contributed to the unusually regional presenters had to get in on does not exist is only doing her job. ing and I was told that typewriters I see from recent high rate you were quoted. I would the act as well. So who was it? and photocopiers were old technol- expenses revela- have expected the booking team to Yes, we know, it’s nice to have a Damian Zane ogy and no longer capable of coping tions that Andy have investigated other options. In new word to play with but ‘squally’ producer, Network Africa/Focus on Africa with the amount of work we had to Parfitt, Radio cases such as this you are right to chal- isn’t a nice word to hear first thing do and that this new IT stuff would 1 controller, lenge and I recommend that you con- in the morning. It had me reaching n Last Tuesday I make us more efficient and save lots claimed nearly tact BBC Procurement to enable us to for the remote. had 12 emails re- of time and money. And it came to £550 for clothing follow up with the service provider. Victoria Forbes lating to a teleph- pass that the money we saved was and equipment Please be assured we will continue trainee studio manager, World Service ony fault which spent on highly capable IT support for climbing to work to minimise the possibility of had affected large staff to make the IT cope with all the Mount Kiliman- such occurrences so that staff can be parts of the BBC things we wanted it to do and store, jaro for Comic confident in the service that we pro- Heat treatment since 5.30pm the and they also fixed it when it got Relief. vide which includes guaranteed availa- I was dismayed to watch the recent previous evening. a virus and stopped working. And Thank goodness for that. Did the bility, free delivery and collection, full episode of BBC Three’s Don’t Get All of our VOIP the time we saved, we spent ringing BBC owned clothing make it up to insurance, unlimited mileage and all Screwed in which a woman’s coat was phones in Swin- the helpdesk to tell them about our Cockermouth in time to help keep local taxes within the rates. set on fire by a member of the pro- don were display- problems and then seeing occupa- our brave reporters, engineers and duction team. ing ‘Limited Server’, although reboot- tional health for our RSI problems. producers dry while reporting in Was this a genuine member of ing them (a process taking around two Once I went to a meeting and was those terrible conditions on that Modesty aside the public whose coat was destroyed? minutes per phone) cured this. told that the old phone system would tragic story? Re the letter from Kyren Burns Where do we draw the line on the Does anyone else remember when become unreliable and would fail David Gregory (November 14). I have a question for treatment of members of the public telephones were telephones and, on and didn’t have enough functionality science and environment correspondent someone who might be in the know. to create content? What if that coat the whole, just worked? and this new HI Path system would How many other ‘modest gatherings’ had some emotional significance for Oh and please don’t pretend be marvellous and solve all the prob- for talent and managers are being the person involved? that the forthcoming HiPath 8000 lems that I didn’t know I had about Hire and hire held and funded by the BBC? What would have been the situ- firmware upgrade will make it all OK communication and save lots of mon- With the current scrutiny over Oh, and at the risk of repeating ation if the person had been so in- – I’ll eat my hat if it becomes as reli- ey. The money we saved was spent on expenses and the fact that BBC News Kyren, what’s the budget per head censed they assaulted the arsonist? able as the Ericsson system was. And fixing the new phone system, which has a lot less money to spend than for these modest gatherings? What about the stress caused by this that’s without going into the audio was unreliable, and paying mobile last year, I am especially mindful to Donna Stevenson action on the victim? delays/echoes, intermittent lack of phone bills for the staff who had get value for money. So after gramophone and reference library , Wales I presume this was in the risk as- ringing tone, inability to provide lo- given up using the phone system be- researching car hire rates in Switzer- sessment – so why was it allowed? cal ‘music-on hold’, the huge noisy cause it had so much functionality it land for a filming trip, I put a book- Martin Griffin, audio supervisor, Scotland heat-generating equipment rack etc. was too complicated to use. ing in for a people carrier for two Holding our VERV finance and business You know how some small chil- Last night I dreamt I went to a days last weekend. I was stunned to The report on Sarah Corker’s cover- dren are frightened of people dressed meeting and was told about a new in- get the booking through from BBC age of the Cockermouth flooding Objective Productions, the producers up as Pudsey Bear or Postman Pat etc? vention called the CPU – the carrier Transport before the trip – the cost (Ariel, November 24) mentioned the of this show, reply: All relevant edi- VOIP telephones are similar – they pigeon unit. During rigorous testing, was going to be £834. radio car. Our terrestrial radio car torial guidelines are followed when look like oversized telephones but it’s as reliable as current IT systems Maybe CERN should relocate their coverage is poor in Cockermouth. filming and no contributors suffer they aren’t really telephones; they are and has a slightly longer life span. experiments to Australia, we could Some time ago we surveyed the town any loss. All the contributors on Don’t IP terminals dressed up to look like It is slower and has limits on the buy the airfares there and back for for 3g mobile broadband coverage, Get Screwed sign release forms after telephones – like Postman Pat with amount of data each unit can carry, a lot less than that. Horrified, I can- so I sent an email the night before the event and are happy with the a large fibreglass head, they are the but as data has to be carried by sev- celled the booking and rebooked on the floods to remind our reporters items being broadcast as well as with stuff of nightmares. eral units, it makes data protection the web for less than a quarter of the how we could broadcast. Sarah used their experiences on the show. Ian Dyer more secure – apart from the CAT price. If I received a pound coin for a Comrex Access portable, capable Don’t Get Screwed is all about senior broadcast engineer, BBC Wiltshire problem which is to be rectified by every time this has happened to me of providing quality live audio to empowering consumers and explain- the DOG patch. When the unit even- and others over my 28 years at the many BBC stations. It communicated ing the laws that exist to protect us. n Is it time the BBC contacted Spooks tually become BPR (Beyond Pigeon Re- BBC I would be a very rich BBC man. through the only 3g base station in At the end of each hidden camera to see who provides their phone and pair) then you can cook it and eat it Get rid of the procurement ‘deals’ the area, which narrowly escaped item, expert presenter Max Flint gives computer services? (see bbc.co.uk/CPU for recipes). and the BBC would be a lot richer the flooding. As many of us heard, it concise, easy-to-understand practical Ros and Lucas never seem to have Am I the only one who thinks we’ve too. I am sure lots of colleagues can worked well, but we know that using advice that has been highlighted by any problems with their phones swallowed a lot of mis-truths about come up with many other examples. a public 3g network has risks. the ‘sting’. and, before he retired, Malcolm was contemporary technology’s capacity Paul Francis Despite my pleas that weekend, It’s amazing how many people always able to source any database to deliver a reliable service? We’ve be- senior news camerajournalist Three, the 3g network provider, went don’t know their rights.’
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14 Jobs See Attachment
BJ to film maker BBC Essex BJ Colleen Harris learns to make films with Inside Out East in Norwich As a district reporter at BBC Essex, my job involves coming up with ideas and feeding them to our editor, Diana Hare. A year ago I had a film commissioned about how permanent make-up is being used to restore confidence to people with alopecia or who are having chemotherapy. It was entered into the East of England media awards and helped the station win best tv current affairs programme of the year. I loved presenting, but co-producing my own film was wholly satisfying. I wanted to learn more and I wanted to prove myself a credible journalist in tv, as well as radio. That’s when Stepping Stones opened the door, The with a three month attach- ment as a broadcast jour- change nalist with Inside Out East. Starting an attachment of pace often means treading unfa- miliar ground. I was lucky was a as I’d worked with the Inside Out East team for two years as a casual presenter. challenge The pace took a little ad- justing to, as I was used to daily deadlines rather than broadcast dates three months in the future. Instead of jumping in the car and getting audio on the spot, I was organising filming permission forms and booking crews. But there was still no time for chit chat – the time flew. I’ve learnt from some fantastic producers and I can now add to my production credits films on Property Guardians, the National Express and Travelling Show- people. It’s been a privilege to get this opportunity, and it couldn’t have happened without the support of management in Norwich and BBC Essex’s station manager Gerald Main. It’s certainly opened doors for me. Thanks to a film I made for Inside Out East I’ve just become one of the winners of the Royal Television Society’s Next Big Pre- senter competition. Been anywhere nice? Send your attachment stories to Clare Bolt
14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 01·12·09 What am I doing here 15 photograph: M photograph:
EMMA C ATT foreign AR BRITTON DY BREAKFAST bureau PRESENTER BBC RADIO SOMERSET WILL GRANT REPORTER, VENEZUELA
There’s a famous salsa bar in Caracas called El Mani es Asi. It’s a dingy looking dive, but all the big names have played there over the years. The walls are adorned with photos of salsa legends like Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe and Tito Puente. Last time I was in El Mani, one man – staunchly pro-Chavez – ranted to me in one ear about how the Bolivarian Revolution was the start of the rebuilding of Venezue- lan society. In the other ear, his friend, an ‘anti-Chavista’, told me it was all lies and that nothing in Venezuela worked any more. It Before we talk about your job, So what happened next? How did that lead to a present- memorable moments? felt like an analogy for the tone of the politi- you’ve got a pretty unusual I got into exercise. I realised ing job? I’ve had loads. MyMy producerproduc- had cal debate here – two men shouting in my claim to fame, haven’t you? that you didn’t have to be a A BA job came up on the sta- erme had zorbing me zorbing back in back May. in This is ears after too much rum! To say the argu- It was before I worked here full stick insect to be fit. SoSo II gotgot my- tion and someone said go for May.where This you is climb where inside you climba huge ments are often shrill is an understatement. time but, yes, I was nearly the myselfself fit fitand and decided decided to showto show oth - it. II wasn’twasn’t suresure atat firstfirst becausebe- insideplastic asee-through huge plastic ball see- and On arriving in the sprawling cauldron that voice of the speaking clock. otherer fat peoplefat people they they could could be fit.be causeI was happyI was happy freelancing freelancing and I throughroll down ball a hill. and Now roll I’mdown a big a is Caracas, I was determined not to fall into the fit.I went I wentto college to college one nightone night a a andthought I thought if I was if goingI was going to be into hill.girl andNow it I’m was a likebig girlgiving and birth it trap of starting every piece with ‘The Venezue- How did that come about? week and trained to be an aero- beradio in radiofull-time full-time I’d want I’d wantto be wastwice like because giving I birthhad to twice get in be - lan president, Hugo Chavez, has said...’. The I’d heard a trail saying ‘do you bics teacher and qualified in toa presenter. be a presenter. But then But a then client a causeand I hadI had to to get get out. in andThey I werehad plan went awry within hours: ‘Hugo Chavez want to be next voice of the 1998. Then I ran classes and be- clientwent bust went and bust I questioned and I ques- if torecording get out. meThey as were I went record down- responds to President Obama’s election’ was speaking clock’ so I thought cause I was fat and fit the class- tionedI wanted if Ito wanted be self-employed. to be self- em - ingthe mehill asand I went it was down hysterical. the my first despatch, followed by other gems like why not and rang the number. es were really popular and I had ployed.More than More 80 thanpeople 80 applied people hill and it was hysterical. ‘President Chavez I didn’t practise or anything. a bit of a niche market. II gavegave appliedfor the BA for job, the andBA job, I got and it. I What do you most has won the right to I just did it and thought no up the day job and went self- gotThat it. was That in was April in 2007 April and 2007 Whatenjoy doabout you your most job? Inflation is stand for continu- more about it. Two weeks lat- employed as a fitness instructor. andwithin within about about nine nine months months I enjoyIt’s not about like ayour proper job? job. You ous re-election.’ er I had a call to say I’d been Istarted started being being given given present present- - It’sget notpaid like to chat a proper to people job. You and the highest in It’s not hard to see shortlisted from 18,500 appli- Do you think your size got you ing jobs covering for people, gethave paid fun. to We chat were to peopleat a local and why some stringers cants to 500 people. TheyThey rangrang noticed? which went well. ThisThis becamebecame haveflower fun. show We andwere I atwas a chattinglocal Latin America make a living solely to ask some questions – I sup- I’m a size 20 so I’m quite a big tmore more regular regular and and I reallyI really en en- - flowerto some show listeners and andI was this chatting lady by reporting what El pose checking to make sure girl and because I was happy be- joyed it. EventuallyEventually II gotgot offeredof- toran some up to listeners me and andput thisher handlady and crime Presidente says and there were no skeletons in the ing fat and fit I appeared on Tri- feredthe Breakfast the Breakfast show showfull time full ranon my up stomachto me and and put wobbled her hand my does. closet like being a secret lap- cia and Kilroy. Rather than being timeand I andstarted I started in January in January this onbelly my and stomach went ‘ooooand wobbled I love lis my- is spiralling As the months dancer or something. Anyway, a fat activist, I’m more about thisyear. year. I never I never set out set toout be to a bepre a- bellytening and to you’went and ‘oooo then I love ran lis off.- have passed, I’ve a week later they called me promoting health and feeling presenter,senter, and and had had no interestno interest in teningPeople tofeel you’ they and know then you ran and off. found it is possible to get beyond the revo- and said I was in the final 15. positive about yourself instead ina media a media career, career, but but I find I find my - my- Peopleit’s such feel an they honour know that you you’re and lution. A trip to the border with Brazil took of trying miserably to be a size self with my own radio show. it’spart such of their an honour lives. I lovethat that.you’re me into the thick forest near Guyana, an area Somerset girl gets shortlisted; 10. I was self-employed for six part of their lives. I love that. rich in diamonds and gold. I went to an illegal you must have been a bit of a years and still teach three class- Talking of which, congratula- What do your family think about diamond mine and spoke to miners living hero es a week now as XL Emma. tions on the recent Rajar figures Whatyou being do your on the family radio? think about beneath the radar of the authorities. I also Yes, the local press went mad. We’re quite a small station and youMy two being year on old the nieceradio? just went over the border into Colombia with a I was taken to Bristol Temple How did you get started in radio? our Breakfast audience Mycan’t two understand year old niece how justshe can taxi driver who smuggles petrol. Meads station to make train an- I sent a press release to local figures have gone from 19,500 can’thear meunderstand but can’t how see me.she Shecan Hopefully, their stories helped shed a bit nouncements and they followed media saying that I’d appeared to 29,400. That might not heargoes aroundme but can’tthe house see me. look She- more light on the country. But try as you it all on local radio and telly. on Tricia and much later BBC sound much but it’s a 50 per - goesing for around me but the can’t house find look me.- I might, you can never get too far from the In the end I didn’t get it but Somerset asked me to do an cent increase from when I took inghaven’t for me got but kids can’t but livefind with me. I Bolivarian Revolution. It pervades society at how cool would it have been interview on the morning pro- over the show in January. haven’tmy partner got kidsJohn but in Bridgwater. live with every level. I recently visited a shanty-town for the Speaking Clock to have gramme. Afterwards they asked myMy Mum’spartner extremely John in Bridgwater. proud where potable water is delivered just once a been with a Somerset accent. me two questions: Can you What’s the secret of your success? Myof me. Mum’s She’ll extremely stop people proud in of month by tanker, yet many residents still had come back every week and do a The secret is that I am who I me.the streetShe’ll andstop tell people them in to the lis - Chavez posters up on their walls. You’ve had a pretty varied weekly fitness slot, and can we am – on air or off air. There’s streetten. I lost and my tell Dad them recently. to listen. I The opposition is growing. Inflation in career. call you Extra Large Emma. I no pretence or façade and vir- lostHe was my aDad very recently. quiet man He wasand Venezuela is the highest in Latin America My first job was on a building did this for four years and never tually no topic that’s off limits, aquietly very quiet proud man and and when quietly he and violent crime is spiralling out of control. site where I learnt how to han- got paid but it was nice public- much to my boyfriend’s horror. proudbecame and poorly when he’d he alwaysbecame lis - But there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. As dle myself, have a laugh, a bit of ity and it raised my profile. poorlyten to me.he’d He’d always tell listen me if tohe a Latin Americanist by trade, this is a chance ofa banter a banter and and get get on on with with lots lots of Have there been any particularly me.didn’t He’d like tell something me if he ordidn’t if to see up close a modern equivalent of what ofdifferent different types types of ofpeople. people. Af- likesomething something was orboring. if some When- others saw in Cuba in the 1960s or Central terAfter that that I worked I worked in ina job a job cen cen- - thingI came was back boring. from compas When - America in the 1980s: a revolution unfolding. tre, then a removals company Isionate came back leave from after compas he died- Caracas is the epicentre of Latin Ameri- then as a sales rep for Trebor CV sionatethe listeners leave wereafter reallyhe died can politics and, as newsgathering posts Bassett, selling Licorice Allsorts School: Left school at 16; started training as a beauty therapistthesweet listeners and supportive. were really I only in Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Sao Paulo and Jelly Babies. The problem but left after six weeks. Did A level psychology as an adult sweetwish he and could supportive. have known I only prepare to close, the emphasis on telling the was I didn’t actually sell any. Office junior with a construction company aboutwish he those could Rajar have figures. known tale from Venezuela may grow. I hope so, as I I loved the company car and First job: about those Rajar figures. for one am sure that audiences are still inter- power suits but am rubbish at Vice: Chocolate Interview by Sue Llewellyn ested in this vibrant and challenging region. selling. I ate more than I sold. Family: Partner John, mum, brother, three nieces and a nephew Interview by Sue Llewellyn > CONTACT SUE LLEWELLYN to suggest a colleague for this feature 16 a 01·12·09 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: Green Room felt a certain sympathy for BBC ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off Two’s highbrow pub quiz team, who finished UPSIDE BBC Oxford last in the Children in Need pub quiz – losing to ▲ came to the rescue of the young uns at BBC Three. According to Media BBC Sussex presenter Monkey, controller Janice Hadlow (pictured) was ▲ Phil Jackson last heard to mutter darkly that week when a band he the questions (which ▲ was looking after ran included one called into trouble on tour. ‘Alan Yentob: six Phil tour manages degrees of sepa- ▲ Staff Benda Bilili – a critically acclaimed Congo- ration’) had been lese band made up of eight street musicians – ‘dumbed down’. ▲ while they are in the UK. In Oxford Ricky Lickabu, On the bright side, one of four musicians in the band disabled from the inter-channel ▲ childhood by Polio, broke his crutches. Phil quiz raised £650 for gave BBC Oxford a call, and the gang ended up the charity. ▲ on air for 20 minutes. ‘A listener offered his old crutches, we drove down to pick them up and The bar at White City may be shut (see Ariela- ▲ Ricky was over the moon,’ relates Phil. tor) but spare a thought for the good people at ‘Thanks to his background on the street it would BBC Dorset who are celebrating finally getting probably have been pretty tough for Rickie to a kitchen fitted in an empty cupboard on the ▲ get another pair of crutches back in his home premises, complete with microwave, kettle and, town of Kinshasa – quite possibly down to what yes, a fridge. ‘It’s only taken 16 years, but wash- ▲ they would have cost him. All credit to the driv- ing up cups in the loo is finally a thing of the etime team at BBC Oxford and to Tim Bearder past,’ enthuses online producer Sue Paz. ▲ who put me in touch initially.’ If you’re in the vicinity of TVC on Tuesday then ▼ look out for CBeebies presenters Andy and Sid Mo’ Money? hanging about in the bar. Don’t worry, kids – ▼ they’re only raising money for charities Geor- gie’s Fund and Tumaini Orphanage with a night ▼ that includes a dj set, quiz and raffle with prizes No Problem! donated by local businesses Malika and Galton Flowers, both based in Westfield. Let’s hope they ▼ The sudden appearance of mous- the wind,’ says member and ap Dave do CBeebies favourite The Big Fun Song. taches on people’s faces in the past Coulson (far left). Elsewhere, tech- ▼ month may have had you thinking nologist Ant Miller (top right) grew Are you preparing to don the greasepaint for DOWNside Pubs are apparently closing you were living in an American Ap- a fine handlebar, while ap for CBBC this year’s panto season? If so, Clare Bolt would ▼ around Britain at a rate of 50 a week, and it parel ad/70s cop show/’blue movie’. comedy development Claire McCa- like to hear from you. seems even BBC boozers are falling foul of this In fact you were witnessing Movem- rthy (top left) proved sex was no bar- ▼ worrying trend. The latest victim is the Club ber – a fundraising campaign initiated rier by spending two weeks drawing White City bar. Famously lacking in natural by The Prostate Cancer Charity that different taches onto her face, rais- light, not even a retro revamp could save it from involves growing a sponsored mous- ing over £1000. ‘I travelled by tube Win a box ▼ the athletic advances of the gym lobby – there tache for the month – in action. BBC with people staring at me, attended is already a gym at White City, but it seems Scotland had the CBBC ‘Tache’ Team meetings at TVC and went out in the of cupcakes for ▼ space is needed for a further exercise studio. (pictured above) – a crack team of mo evenings feeling embarrassed!’ she Bar flies are being reminded that Club TVC is ‘a mavericks who went a week with up- told Green Room. To sponsor a mo, your team ▼ mere hop, skip and a jump away’, but anyone per-lip insulation. ‘Everyone’s done go to their ‘mospaces’: tinyurl.com/ coming back from an absence in the New Year so well with their growth apart from cbbctache, tinyurl.com/antache, Buttercup Cake Shop is the first London bak- ▼ is going to be surprised to find people pulling me, as mine has nearly blown off in tinyurl.com/clairemo ery dedicated solely to cupcakes. It boasts an Pilates postures rather than pints. array of handmade American-style cakes rang- ing from the ‘vanilla purist’ to banoffee, choco- late peanut butter or cookies ‘n’ cream. They are offering BBC staff 15 percent discount on EARWIGGING larry rocks out production of ID at their kiosk in the Westfield London shopping centre. They can also be found OVERHEARD AT THE BBC A surprise insight into bars of Larry’s harmonica I online at the website buttercupcakeshop.co.uk, …Naturally I associate the Tudors, musical history for produc- thought that’s Smoke on where cupcakes can be ordered online for deliv- er turned copyright detec- the Water,’ Stephen re- ery in central London Monday to Friday. more than any other family of tive Stephen Garner. While lates. ‘Although monarchs, with hip hop… watching old jazz videos as not an exact To enter to win a box of 24 cupcakes for your research for Radio 4 pro- replica, I’m team (or yourself) delivered to you at work in …The first thing that came into my gramme The House That Jazz surprised London only, just answer this question: head was a parsnip, followed by a Built presented by Paul Mer- Larry never What are cupcakes also known as in the UK? carrot… ton (December 3, 11:30am), picked up on Email ariel competitions by December 7. Stephen was shocked to the similari- …We need him to stop cocking hear the opening bars of ties when his head over… the Deep Purple rock classic Deep Purple …It brings all the enjoyment back to drying your Smoke on the Water. Rock- introduced ers hadn’t invaded the stage their rock hands… – it was being performed classic …Is there anything sadder than ‘generic’ dead by harmonica player Larry 15 years fish?… Adler on a BBC documen- later.’ tary from 1957, at least 13 Altogether now: …I am not a member of ‘The Pudding Club’ that years before Purple guitarist Duh Duh Duh, Duh- serves up puddings in Gloucester, I am a member Ritchie Blackmore claims to Duh Duh Duh, Duh of THE PUDDING CLUB - i.e I am pregnant!… have conceived the riff. ‘As Duh Duh, DUH soon as I heard the opening DUH…
> IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THE GREEN ROOM, CONTACT ADAM BAMBURY