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Issue 3: February 2015

Spread the word(s) Hello BBC Alumni and a hearty welcome to our new members. Interest in the Alumni scheme is growing rapidly and we hope you’re enjoying your membership. Please continue to tell your old BBC pals about us - they can visit our website for details. Thank you to our friends in TV and Radio who have provided some rather splendid offers for you this month, and to our Alumni bloggers for their warm and nostalgic contributions. If you’d like to write a blog about your time at the BBC, get in touch at alumni@.co.uk. See you in the Spring – hurrah!

BBC Alumni members prudently spreading the word

Get Creative BBC Alumni recommends Catch up on iPlayer Last week the BBC, in partnership New drama ‘Banished’ about the Radio 1 looks at Sam Smith’s with the UK’s cultural organisations lives of British convicts in New South incredible journey in ‘Sam Smith - launched Get Creative; a year-long Wales (9pm Thursday 5 March, BBC Where it Began’. Much daftness with celebration of British arts, culture Two). Radio 2 Country, a 4-day pop- comedies ‘Uncle’ and ‘House of and creativity designed to inspire the up digital radio service launching on Fools’ (strong language, adult nation. We love Nick Grimshaw’s Thursday 5 March. Ashanti Omkar humour). Sir David Attenborough VanGoYourself attempt (below) and presents the latest South Indian and narrates the stunning ‘Natural who knew that Johnny Vegas could Sri Lankan music and arts (2pm World’. And Radio 4’s Book of the pot? Sunday 1 March, Asian Network). Week: Mary Portas’ ‘Shop Girl’.

Tickets: ‘Prized Apart’ Tickets: ‘The Voice’ Tickets: ‘Top Gear’ One pair of tickets for the filming of One pair of tickets to watch ‘The Two pairs of tickets to the filming of BBC One’s thrilling new Saturday Voice UK’ at Elstree Studios. Live ‘Top Gear’ on the afternoon of night entertainment show ‘Prized show, date to be confirmed but likely Wednesday 25 March in Cranleigh, Apart’, on the evening of Saturday to be Saturday 21 or 28 March. *To Surrey. Age limit 18+. *To enter the 14 March at Farnborough Airfield, enter the ballot, email your name and ballot, email your name and ‘Top Hants. Age limit 12+. *To enter the ‘The Voice’ to Gear’ to [email protected] by ballot, email your name and ‘Prized [email protected] by midday midday Wednesday 4 March. Apart’ to [email protected] by Wednesday 4 March. midday Wednesday 4 March.

*Winners will be selected via ballots. Applications received after these dates will not be entered into the draw. For full competition blurb click here.

BBC Three: not for sale A View from East Tower What goes around… In an open letter to Jimmy Mulville Emma Cashmore writes about her Claire Simmons reminisces on her and Jon Thoday, BBC Director of time with BBC Children’s as an time at BBC Coventry & , Danny Cohen explains expert in Easter egg packaging, Warwickshire and considers the why BBC Three is not for sale. giant origami and snail racing – all similarities and differences for her fairly standard activity at the old East new journalism students. Tower.

Tickets: Dancing Beebies! Tour: Blue Room, London Tickets: ‘Just a Minute’ CBeebies and the Northern Ballet The BBC Blue Room is a media One pair of tickets to a recording of have collaborated on a TV technology centre, demonstrating the ‘Just a Minute’ on the evening of adaptation of ‘The Elves & The newest and most exciting digital Wednesday 8 April at the Radio Shoemaker’. Four pairs of adult/child innovations. Five pairs of tickets to a Theatre, Broadcasting House. *To tickets to a morning screening on tour on the afternoon of Wednesday enter the ballot, email your name and Saturday 28 March in Leeds. *To 1 April. *To enter the ballot, email ‘Just a Minute’ to enter the ballot, email your name and your name and ‘Blue Room London’ [email protected] by midday ‘Elves’ to [email protected] to [email protected] by Thursday 12 March. by midday Thursday 12 March. midday Thursday 12 March.

Tour: Blue Room, Salford Tour: Pacific Quay, And finally… Four pairs of tickets to a tour of the Glasgow Finding the (BBC) One Blue Room in Salford on the morning 12 pairs of tickets to a tour of Pacific In case you missed it, here is a of Wednesday 9 April. *To enter the Quay on the morning of Saturday 11 wonderfully romantic blog about ballot, email your name and ‘Blue April. *To enter the ballot, email your three couples who met and fell in Room Salford’ to name and ‘Pacific Quay’ to love at the BBC. Huge thanks and [email protected] by midday [email protected] by midday respect to our candid contributors. Thursday 12 March. Thursday 12 March.

*Winners will be selected via ballots. Applications received after these dates will not be entered into the draw. For full competition blurb click here.

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