p h o t 15.06.10 Week 24 explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel ograp h: MARK BASSE MARK h: The BBC Newspaper TT poets and podcasts at glastonbury a Pages 8-9
As the BBC Club focuses on health, White City senior fitness man- ager Nicola Feustel feels the burn while chief operating officer Dino Portelli looks on. Page 4 Gym’ll fix it
Pay offer: small award Middle East editor Recalling the historic for some but nothing Jeremy Bowen makes broadcast that rallied for others Page 2 his mark again Page 3 France in 1940 Page 7
> NEWS 2-4 ANALYSIS 10 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 216 News aa 00·00·08 15·06·10 News bites a Unions greet flat rate FM&T and Siemens have launched a new service for all BBC staff enabling them to access their BBC email ac- Room 2316, White City count from anywhere, via the inter- 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS net. To set up your access go to email. pay offer with dismay myconnect.bbc.co.uk and follow the 020 8008 4228 instructions using your regular user Editor by Lisette Johnston She said: ‘This has been a tough decision, not login details. Candida Watson 02-84222 least because we know that, in common with Deputy Editor The BBC is offering a flat rate payment of £475, the public as a whole, all BBC staff are facing A health campaign spearheaded by Cathy Loughran 02-27360 consolidated, to anyone earning less than significant cost of living increases at themo- BBC Essex presenter Dave Monk will Chief Writer £37,726 – and a pay freeze this year for every- ment. culminate on June 19 with a station Sally Hillier 02-26877 one else. In addition, the suspension of bonus- ‘However, in the current economic climate roadshow on Canvey Island. Monk, Planning Manager es for directors and senior managers remains where basic pay awards across the UK remain concerned about men’s reluctance to Clare Bolt 02-24622 in place, as do any previously announced pay on average very low, we believe that this offer is be checked for cancer and other seri- Broadcast Journalists freezes. fair and reasonable. It is now even more impor- ous conditions, mobilised Essex’s pri- Claire Barrett 02-27368 It follows talks last week with the joint un- tant than ever that every pound is spent wisely mary health care trusts to sponsor ions, who had bid for RPI plus two percent. to help us deliver value to our audiences.’ awareness-raising events. Adam Bambury 02-27410 Lucy Adams, director of BBC People, said the Bectu, the NUJ and Unite have said that while Lisette Johnston 02-27630 offer would benefit almost 70 percent of staff. they don’t oppose a longer term pay deal, for a Radio 1 is to feature unsigned acts as Rumeana Jahangir 01 -43756 The unions declared it ‘totally unacceptable’. one year agreement they cannot consider any- part of its daytime schedule. For ten AV Manager Gerry Morrissey, Bectu general secretary, thing less than the BBC’s licence fee settlement weeks from June 21, the station will Peter Roach 02-24622 said: ‘BBC staff deserve a fair increase in pay for of two percent. They also want a clear commit- play tracks from British artists who Digital Design Executives 2010/11, one which rewards their loyalty and ment from the company to promote staff who submitted their music to the BBC In- David Murray 02-27380 commitment and which recognises the contin- ‘act up’ in senior roles for at least two years, troducing evening strand. Gary Lonergan 02-84229 uing high demands placed upon them.’ and to preserve existing agreements on the re- Team Assistant NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear added: deployment of staff faced with redundancy. The BBC Symphony Orchestra will Graeme Allister 02-84228 ‘We appreciate the BBC is trying to cut the cake Jeremy Dear said: ‘BBC staff have taken on give a full-blown classical music con- to help the lowest paid, but it is unacceptable additional workloads in the wake of thousands cert at London’s Westfield shopping that a third of journalists would receive no pay of job losses and are paying more for their pen- centre on July 9 as part of the BBC Guest contributors this week rise and that for the third year running BBC sions. It is time the BBC recognised their out- Proms Out+About initiative. The con- staff are being offered a deal which is signifi- standing contribution to maintaining quality.’ cert, intended as a ‘pre-season treat ric bailey, chief adviser, politics, cantly below inflation and significantly below The unions also want the corporation to re- for Londoners and their families’, on the challenges and opportunities the rise in the licence fee. Quite simply, the quire all contractors to pay the London living will take place a week before the of covering the coalition Page 10 cake isn’t big enough.’ wage – currently £7.85 per hour – as an abso- Proms start. Adams said the BBC had aimed to direct the lute minimum. cecelia hue, freelance producer, available funds, which amount to one percent Talks will continue and a further response Comedian Dara O Briain, host of deals with heat, punctures and tribal of the total pay bill, to the staff who earn least. from the BBC is expected on June 30. Mock the Week, is to take over as pre- rivalries during a trip to Mali for senter of The Apprentice – You’re Fired the Natural History Unit Page 11 when it returns to BBC Two later in the year. He replaces Adrian Chiles who is now with ITV. Meanwhile, Ariel mail Over the moon at MBE a new series of Mock the Week gets Candida. [email protected] under way on BBC Two on June 17. Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel Sporting double: Jackie BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 Fullerton and BBC Wales, BBC Worldwide and US Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 Mike Ingham entertainment network Starz Enter- BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 tainment have signed a three-way co- Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS production partnership to develop a new series of Torchwood. BBC World- Advertise in Ariel wide will also distribute the series to Ten Alps Media 020 7878 2313 broadcasters globally. www.bbcarielads.com Printing Gianandrea Noseda is stepping Garnett Dickinson Group down as chief conductor of the BBC Rotherham 01709 768000 Philharmonic after almost a decade. Subscribe to Ariel However he will continue to spend Six months: £26, £36, £40 time with the orchestra as conductor laureate. His final season will feature Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 music by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world A number of BBC people, both past and present, and was ‘stunned and full of pride’ at being in- Liszt and Strauss, concluding with respectively) are among those named in the Queen’s Birthday cluded in the list. Verdi’s Otello. Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, Honours List. Peter Johnston, Northern Ireland director, Brookfields Way, Manvers, They include Mike Ingham, chief football said: ‘This is a tremendous recognition of Jackie’s BBC Scotland’s Write Here, Write Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL correspondent, who is currently with Radio 5 talent as a journalist, presenter and commenta- Now competition has delivered three Tel 01709 768199 live in South Africa covering the World Cup. tor and to his tireless contribution to sport and winners, one from Glasgow, one from INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY He has been awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting over the last 37 years. We are de- Edinburgh and one from East Ren- sport broadcasting. lighted he has been given this accolade. It is a fit- frewshire, who now have the chance Telephone 0800 0688 159 ‘I’ve spent the best part of 40 years talking ting tribute to a great personality.’ to make their mark at the Edinburgh Ceefax Page 159www.bbc.co.uk/159 on the radio but for the first time ever I pret- In news, reporter Julian Pettifer, who has Comedy Festival in August. They will Ariel is produced by Internal ty much found myself speechless,’ he told Ariel covered a host of international stories for pro- be mentored by experienced people Communications for people at the BBC over the phone on Monday. grammes such as Tonight, 24 Hours and Pano- in comedy production as they work ‘It is very humbling. I was completely rama, receives an OBE for services to journal- on scripts to be read by professional stunned when I found out, and it was fantas- ism and wildlife conservation. actors at the festival. tic when it was announced because of course In recent years he fronted Nature and The it came out the same day as the England game Living Isles for the BBC and currently presents Ariel wants to hear how BBC par- here in South Africa. Radio 4’s Crossing Continents. ents cope with the long summer holi- ‘Apart from my family, the two loves of my Cookery writer and judge of BBC Two’s Great days. Do you package the children life have been broadcasting and sport, so to get British Menu, Prue Leith, is appointed a CBE, off to gran, sign them up for a PGL PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL recognition for that is absolutely amazing.’ while physicist Brian Cox, presenter of the ac- (Parents Get Lost) activity holiday or Staying in the world of sport, Northern Ireland claimed Wonders of the Solar System, gets an OBE for teach them an early lesson in inde- presenter Jackie Fullerton gets an MBE for servic- services to science. pendent living? es to broadcasting and to the community. Blair Jenkins, former head of news and cur- Email Claire Barrett with all your tips A patron of the charity Heartbeat, the former rent affairs at BBC Scotland, and more recently and tricks on balancing work and Irish league footballer has dedicated time to chair of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, family once school is out. working with young people with disabilities is also among the OBE recipients.
> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 15·06·10 News 3 Tim Franks and Jeremy Bowen reflect on the unique challenges of covering the region Scrutiny from all Pressure and sides keeps you honest – Bowen privilege of it,’ Bowen says. The Gaza flotilla story was just the latest to at- tract hostility. One crit- ic accused Bowen of anti- reporting the semitism, saying: ‘I hope the people you love so much kill you very soon.’ Another ‘very disapprov- Middle East ing’ email came from journalist John Pilger, who attacked his report- by Cathy Loughran ing for opposite reasons. ‘I’ve been doing this Jeremy Bowen is ‘very job a long time, I know honoured’ to receive the the region well and I’m second Charles Wheel- just glad the BBC still Tim Franks with Israeli human rights er award for outstanding trusts me to report a very activist Ezra Nawi in the southern West Bank contribution to broad- sensitive story which al- cast journalism – the first ways has the potential to went to Jeremy Paxman – be explosive.’ but he can’t help wonder- He adds: ‘Scrutiny ing about ‘the timing’. keeps you honest. I know I ‘I did think it might can never afford to be slop- by Claire Barrett In his valedictory broad- people out there are saying, if nounced him guilty, before a have something to do py and I work very hard cast from the Middle East, you’re not allowing yourself word was broadcast, simply with my little difficulty on my scripts because lan- After three and a half which went out last week on to be challenged or if you’re for being a journalist – ‘guilty with the Trust,’ he says guage can be emotive.’ years as Middle East corre- Radio 4’s From Our Own Corre- not open to someone with an of being in hock to the all- candidly, referring to his He sees ‘talent at all spondent – a period which spondent, Franks spoke of the agenda coming to you with powerful Jewish lobby, guilty censure by BBC trustees levels’ of BBC News, but has seen him at times frus- strains of doing the job as a a cracking story which holds of being in thrall to the Pales- last year over ‘inaccura- feels the organisation trated, sometimes joyful, practising Jew and described up when you go out to exam- tinian culture of victimhood, cies’ in two of his reports ‘worries too much’: ‘We even depressed – Tim Franks a region that was ‘occluded ine it, then you might as well guilty of stirring overheated about Israel. should just say, we’re do- is certain of one thing: try as by prejudice’ and where ‘too sit in the bureau all day read- controversy out of every spit After the ruling, he ing good, honest journal- he might to be an oracle of many people have unshake- ing the wires,’ he reasons. and whistle in this corner of received hundreds of ism and sometimes that objectivity, the truth will al- able views of others’. It kept Less easy to accept were western Asia’. emails of support from puts people’s noses out of ways remain elusive on this peace at bay and left opinion the assumptions made on his He leaves the Middle East journalists and colleagues: joint.’ most challenging of beats. at loggerheads. appointment. Members of under its ‘cloud of smog’. ‘I stand by what I said. On The former Breakfast ‘There’s no magic ingre- No surprise, then, that the synagogue he’d been at- He doesn’t have all the an- this occasion I think the presenter – who moved dient to journalism here,’ he he’s had to contend with ac- tending had patted him on swers, but he does feel ‘priv- trust made a mistake,’ he briefly into the studio, tells Ariel, as he prepares to cusations of bias from both the back and primed him to ileged’ for his stint ‘in the told Ariel. against the advice of veter- leave his post to be a sports Arab and Israeli camps – of- ‘put our side of the story’, he most disputed patch of real The BBC’s high pro- an correspondent Charles correspondent. ‘You just do ten about the same story: ‘It’s reported on FOOC. A former estate in the world, working file Middle East editor Wheeler – says he is ‘lucky what you’d do anywhere else extraordinary how many peo- classmate had commiserated for an organisation that, de- echoes Tim Franks’s ex- to have one of the top re- – you try and hack your way ple – people who appear to over the clash of loyalties be- spite everything, gives you perience of the sensitivi- porting jobs in the BBC’: through the thicket in what have no obvious link with the tween his religion and his re- the freedom to see remarka- ties involved in reporting ‘No story is more impor- stories you choose to cover place – feel so strongly.’ porting, while a friend of the ble things, meet remarkable from the region, and of tant in the world, and at (as far as you have the choice) Although the lobbyists can family reckoned the BBC had people and then tell the wid- attracting criticism from a time of crisis elsewhere and how you choose to cov- niggle at a reporter’s confi- given him the job as a conces- est possible audience about both sides of the political in journalism, we’re lucky er them. Our job is to shine a dence, they are a necessary sion to Israeli prime minister it. To sound like the yiddishe divide. ‘I accept the pres- we still have the budget light, to try to explain: it’s not part of the role, feels Franks. Ariel Sharon. mama I’m clearly not: what’s sure that comes with the and the will to tell it on to hold forth.’ ‘If you’re not open to what Religion aside, others pro- not to like?’ territory. I can deal with tv, radio and online.’
Fanzone Soweto brings supporters from 32 nations to one big party
by Lisette Johnston Thursday’s launch nect the world to Soweto ners of the world and from brought together fans from and bring something of the our base in Soweto, to talk The World Cup has all 32 competing nations, a atmosphere, vibrancy and football and beyond.’ brought a carnival atmos- global audience online and football fervour to audienc- World Cup Have Your Say phere to South Africa, and members of the local com- es around the world,’ Atkins broadcasts daily on the the launch of the World munity. People were encour- says. World Service from 8.05am Service’s discussion show aged to give their footballing ‘The launch show was GMT, with a weekend edi- World Cup Have Your Say in opinions in a bid to create a an exciting challenge. We tion at 5.30pm GMT. Soweto was no different – massive international fan- hoped to bring together fans There is an additional dai- chanting, colour and a cho- zone, online and on air. via any means – from phone, ly weekday transmission at rus of vuvuzelas. Atkins is visiting youth Skype, email, to text, blog, or 6.30pm GMT for BBC World Presented by Ros At- and grassroots sports organi- Twitter, or simply in person, Service English in Africa. kins, the radio programme sations to find out their views to create one unique interna- On BBC World News a is broadcasting twice daily on the tournament, and the tional fan zone. special television edition of throughout the World Cup programme will also feature ‘It was our own rather ex- World Cup Have Your Say will and gives football fans the musical contributions from perimental take on an open- broadcast weekly on Mon- chance to speak about the local bands. ing ceremony – one led by days from June 14 at 3.30pm World at their tweet: Ros Atkins and fans make global connections game. ‘I hope that we can con- the fans from different cor- GMT. 4 News a 15·06·10 New look Club W gets fit for purpose ph by Candida Watson claims to build fitness using minute oto White City gym is offering a pay as you
vibrations which force the body g use facility to non-members. The BBC ra
Did you know there’s a machine to perform reflexive actions, repeat- M ph: wants us to offer more universal access that can vibrate you into fitness – and edly, building up muscle tone and to facilities, so we are. We think it will B ark shift cellulite to boot – and did you strength. work very well in the wellbeing area, a know they’ve got one in the new-look The expansion of studio space ss and if we can draw people in we can BBC Club at White City? means the gym can run two classes ett show them the other benefits of being Club W – for Wellbeing – launches at once at peak times. The changing a Club member.’ this week, after an extensive, expen- rooms have also been revamped and These include Club discounts, spe- sive re-fit that has seen the old bar be- expanded, with the vital addition of cial offers and, of course, the special in- come a gym full of new fitness equip- hair straighteners in the Women’s. terest sections – from language classes ment, and the creation of two ground It is hoped the wellbeing message to sports. As Baker says: ‘You can get a floor studios, one of them just for will be a template for BBC Clubs eve- private pilot’s licence through the BBC ‘spinning’ classes. The bar had been rywhere, although many do not have Club manager Dino Club.’ losing money, while club members the space for purpose built gyms. Portelli, in the new Club Across the BBC the Clubs are re-as- were asking for a wider range of class- They would focus more on the nu- W at White City sessing their offering to staff, and their es and better gym facilities. tritional, educational side of things, management teams have a weekly con- Says Dino Portelli, chief operating which in London include: the Club ference call to discuss issues and ideas. officer of the London clubs: ‘We’re head chef in Television Centre mak- Baker says the amalgamation of all looking to change things, and this ing snacks for sale at Club W; more the clubs into one was considered, but is a whole new approach to the club; healthy food options on the overall rejected. it’s about wellbeing.’ club menu; courses on healthy eat- He says: ‘We want to be really joined The first floor gym now has more ing; advice sheets on activity and be- up with the BBC and offer facilities running machines, a multi-gym that haviour; hypnotherapy sessions to that are available to all staff as com- can be used by two people at once, help staff quit smoking. fortable, economically affordable and a new type of cross trainer that Nor is all this just for Club mem- places to go. ‘makes you work harder’ according bers – anyone working for the BBC ‘We are being more proactive to to Portelli. can use Club W, for a fee. draw people in, and the White City It also has a Powerplate, the must- London Club chairman Andy Bak- club – Club W – is an important part have piece of gym equipment that er says: ‘What we are doing with the of that.’ Independence ‘core’ to Radio must ‘realise potential’ by Sally Hillier ‘loyal listeners and the music the Radio Centre thinks the industry could be satisfied’. BBC ‘has a responsibility to BBC’s success says Hunt Radio 1 should ‘reclaim its Meanwhile, it wants Radio do all it can to ensure that reputation’ as a station for 1 to be far more youth-tar- radio secures its digital fu- There was no mention of scrapping the young people, Radio 2 should geted, with a specific mission ture’ and that more money BBC Trust, nor any more about opening concentrate more on older to break new UK bands, and from the current licence fee up the BBC’s books to the National Audit people, and the ‘most distinc- a sharper focus on the un- settlement should go on im- Office. All Jeremy Hunt is saying for now tive’ programming on 6 Music der-25 audience. proving DAB (digital audio is that he wants some things at the BBC should be incorporated into At the other end of the broadcasting) coverage. done ‘differently and better’. the schedules of both. scale, Radio 2 ‘must har- Furthermore, it ‘should The new culture secretary used his first These are among the key ness its power as the nation’s invest in sustained and heav- speech on media policy to prioritise the recommendations from the most popular station’, and yweight promotion of the roll out of superfast broadband to rural Radio Centre, the body that strive harder to appeal to digital radio platform on [its] areas – using the BBC’s digital switchover represents commercial sta- older people, it believes. network television stations surplus, as trailed in the Queen’s Speech. tions, in its response to the As for local radio, the Ra- and analogue radio rather Three unspecified ‘market testing projects’ BBC’s strategy review pro- dio Centre recommends the than the narrow promotion would be the first steps. posals. removal of all music from of specific BBC digital serv- The estimated £250m-£300m surplus Although it ‘absolutely the daytime schedules of the ices’. had been earmarked to pilot independ- agrees’ with supporters of BBC’s English stations, and Overall, the Radio Centre’s ently funded news consortia in Scotland, 6 Music that the digital net- the development of closer view is: ‘The BBC, whilst rep- Wales and the north east and Border re- work’s ‘unique output’ should relationships with communi- resenting an extremely posi- gion. That ‘misguided’ plan has now bit- be preserved, the Radio Cen- ty, hospital and student radio tive force in the UK radio in- ten the dust, Hunt confirmed, with his tre believes that if the BBC services, allowing them ac- dustry, has the potential, and preferred option for replacing ITV region- was to guarantee genuinely cess to the airwaves outside therefore the responsibility, al news – up to 80 commercial local tv sta- to deliver such output on its peak times. to generate far greater public tions in towns and cities – to be investigat- more mainstream channels, Elsewhere in its response, value than at present.’ ed over the summer by Lazard investment banker Nicholas Shott. He has also asked Ofcom to look at sweeping away altogether cross-media Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt DCMS seeks two new BBC trustees ownership rules that could stand in the way of his vision for the kind of profitable dependence from political control,’ Hunt Vacancies for vice chair of the Chitra Mehmuda Mian and Rotha local city stations that exist in the US. said last week, pledging: ‘Nothing that BBC Trust and trustee for Wales Bharucha Johnston, trustee for North- The new minister who, in opposition, this government does will compromise ei- have been advertised by the DCMS ern Ireland, have asked to serve made clear his intention to replace the ther the independence of the BBC or the with no fees increase on 2008/9 only a further two year peri- BBC Trust with a less ‘compromised’ sys- quality of its output.’ He has also made a levels – £77,005 for two and a half od and trustee for Scotland tem of governance, stressed the coalition commitment to ‘honour the framework’ days a week and £41,070 for two Jeremy Peat stands down in government’s commitment to a hands off of the current BBC charter, which extends days respectively. December. relationship with the BBC. to 2016. Current vice chair Chitra The appointment of trust A well-funded BBC ‘safeguarded quali- A spokesman for the trust could not Bharucha (pictured) and Wales chairman Michael Lyons, who ty and high standards’, he said, and was confirm press reports that chairman trustee Janet Lewis-Jones will bers – David Liddiment, Patri- took over when Michael Grade ‘quite rightly the envy of the world’. Michael Lyons has had ‘positive’ private not be putting themselves for- cia Hodgson, Diane Coyle and went to ITV, runs until April 30, ‘Of course there are things we want it talks with Hunt, although it would be ward for re-appointment when Alison Hastings, trustee for Eng- 2011. In 2008/9 trustees accept- to do differently and better, but we recog- surprising if the two had not met to dis- their four-year terms end in Oc- land – will be recommended to ed a two percent fees increase in nise that core to its success has been its in- cuss future options. tober. Four other trust mem- serve a further four years. line with the BBC staff pay rise. a 15·06·10 Features 5
The white photo album: the Beatles but I was very interested Christopher Eccleston as John in him as a person and I embraced Lennon and Naoko Mori as that,’ he explained Yoko Ono ‘I became fascinated by him be- cause he was just a very flawed hu- man being. He was incredibly arro- gant, and could be dismissive, but he was also humble and gentle. So I lis- family guy tened and read as much about him as I could. Imagine... magazine that year and is part of the ‘Lennon is loved for his abrasiveness, channel’s Fatherhood season. and he was a very confessional man. I a fresh take on Director and co-producer Ed- felt a lot more for him afterwards.’ mund Coulthard brands it a ‘re-im- The project was two and a half John Lennon, agining’ of this important period in years in the making, but filming it- Lennon’s life. self only lasted 18 days, so it was an focusing on ‘We are not saying love him, we ambitious project with shooting at a are saying here he is. We are trying to large number of locations. his personal give a flavour of him,’ he comments. Penned by Robert Jones, screen- This view is echoed by Jamie Lau- writer of The No1 Ladies’ Detective Agen- relationships. renson, commissioning editor for dra- cy, Lennon Naked was made more ma on BBC Four, who believes focus- ‘real’ by using archive footage of the BBC Four has ing on Lennon at a time when he was Beatles and Lennon and their songs, re-examining his life and relation- which was available thanks to a blan- made such a film ships with people made more sense ket agreement with the BBC. than the ‘cradle to grave’ approach. ‘The archive footage emerged as ‘I think that notion of someone the project went on but it undoubt- who has achieved such a level of fame edly enhances the feel of the film. It by Lisette Johnston and fortune and goes through a proc- is aesthetic – it is not trying to be so- ess of personal re-examination is very cial realism,’ says Jamie Laurenson. He is one of the iconic musicians interesting,’ Laurenson adds. The film has a dreamlike quality in of the 20th century, founder of the ‘Chris Eccleston really captures places – through the use of this foot- Beatles and an advocate of primal the restlessness of his character and age and flashbacks Lennon has to his therapy. And his story is well known, writer Robert Jones has also done childhood you get a sense of his feel- so John Lennon is perhaps a surpris- that by giving us a slant on Lennon’s ings of abandonment. It makes for a ing choice for a film made for BBC life, rather than going down the well very different film from Sam Taylor Four. trodden route of the rock star biopic. Wood’s recent Nowhere Boy which fo- But instead of charting the con- It’s a look at an intense and passion- cused on John as a young man trying troversial Liverpudlian’s rise to fame ate period of his life. to set up his band. or his tragic murder in 1980, Lennon ‘It is interesting to place a sub- In that respect it is an interesting Naked examines the star as a family ject as famous as Lennon into a topic take on part of the star’s life and the man and his relationship with his fa- that is universal, that of fatherhood. perhaps lesser known issues surround- ther, with Christopher Eccleston tak- I think his family life is key to under- ing his parents which, in turn, it is sug- ing the lead role. standing him and this film is an in- gested, affected his relationship with The 90-minute drama charts Len- teresting counterpoint for both.’ his own son from his first marriage. non’s life from the death of Beatles’ This is Eccleston’s first role for BBC BBC Four’s Fatherhood season tack- manager Brian Epstein in 1967 to Four. He worked with a vocal coach les the subject in an historical and con- 1971, when Lennon moved to Ameri- to get the Liverpool accent just right, temporary context, with documenta- ca to begin a new life with Yoko Ono. and says he knew very little about his ry, science, drama, and entertainment The content was inspired by a can- subject before getting the role. programmes. did interview he gave to Rolling Stone ‘I was not a huge fan of Lennon or Lennon Naked, BBC Four, June 23 From bunny boilers to bungee jumpers
Ranger and Leader,’ she explains. Her programme, A Girl’s Guide to Guiding, which she describes as ‘fun why guiding is great and affectionate’, includes interviews If you go past my desk on a Thurs- leaders to help them dream big. with members of her younger daugh- day, you’ll probably trip over a small Guiding has given me so many ter’s pack and a look at some of the bag-on-wheels stuffed full of items opportunities. I joined when I was ‘amazing’ activities on offer today, from a first aid kit to maple syrup and seven and have been to Mexico and such as archery and bungee jumping. a polo shirt to bright pink feathers. India, sung in front of 50,000 people, ‘When I was a Brownie, it was a Why? Because I am privileged to danced for the king of Sweden and damp church hall job with a strict be the leader of 21st Fulham Guides. laughed so hard drink has squirted leader who was also my primary Forget the stereotypes about old la- out of my nose. I even got one of school teacher,’ McPhail recalls. dies wearing silly blue hats and teach- my first jobs as a news researcher Fun for all: Debbie McPhail, daughters She has also elicited contributions ing people how to tie knots and knit because of a report I’d recorded at a Mhairi and Anna and Fergus the dog from some of Scotland’s best-known their own stretchers; guiding is mod- local event for Brownies. names, such as singer/songwriter Sandi ern and relevant. I’ve taken my Guides Volunteering with Girlguiding UK is Thom, Taggart actress Blythe Duff and on a winter activities trip in Switzer- incredibly rewarding – but be warned: by Sally Hillier The movement, established by Rob- Olympic bobsledder Gillian Cooke, who land, and we’re also having a summer it’s addictive! ert Baden-Powell in response to a re- share their experiences of guiding. punting party. The girls choose their Ann Charles, project manager, major At one time, Brownies aiming for quest at a 1909 Scout rally to ‘do some- ‘Gillian actually credits the Guides own programme and it’s up to the project infrascture, FM&T their cookery badge were required to thing for girls’, is 100 years old and as with instilling the values and qual- skin and cook a rabbit. Today, they are part of the celebrations Radio Scot- ities that are needed to succeed in invited to prove they can use a dish- land is broadcasting a half hour docu- sport, such as good planning, team- its rather ‘goody goody’ image. had been set up inside one of Scot- washer and ‘make a poster illustrat- mentary on guiding in Scotland. work and coping when things go ‘The perception is that the move- land’s prisons for women. ing food allergies’. It is produced by Debbie McPhail, wrong,’ says McPhail. ment is very white and middle class, Presumably, its members hadn’t Not quite the same, is it? No mat- herself a former Brownie who still has The programme is presented by but there are Brownies and Guides in quite lived up to the Guide Promise to ter, because the Brownies and big strong family connections with the or- stand-up comic Karen Dunbar who, every community,’ says McPhail. do their best, serve their country and sisters the Guides are thriving, with ganisation. ‘I have two daughters, one a despite a reputation as an ‘outra- While making the documenta- keep the law. half a million members across the UK Brownie and the other a Guide, and my geous’ performer, is an official ambas- ry she even discovered that a unit of A Girl’s Guide to the Girl Guides, Radio and waiting lists in some areas. sister has done it all – Brownie, Guide, sador for the Guides, helping to dispel Rangers (the senior version of Guides) Scotland, June 16 6 Features a 15·06·10 SOMALIS MUST HAVE A VOICE African service reporter grounded phone calls, including accusations ministers and a young Somali jour- that he is a spy working for Western nalist who had taken Hassan’s seat by bureaucracy as bravery award is interests. Early last year, the militant only minutes before the blast. Islamist Al-Shabab rebel group or- ‘We had changed positions briefly presented in his absence dered him to add Al-Mujahedeen to when I moved my recorder closer to their name in his reports, implying the speakers. That’s when the explo- Courage and tenacity: they were fighting a holy war. He re- sion occurred. All I remember is be- by Cathy Loughran Hassan, whose wife and four chil- Mohamed Olad Hassan sisted, but, not for the first time, had ing covered in dust,’ he recalls. ‘The dren recently fled the violence to Har- reporting from Mogadishu to leave the region. dead man was a reporter for Radio He’s survived bombs and mortar geisa in the breakaway republic of So- ‘Most of the threatening calls are Shabelle, a local FM station. I had to fire to bring the story of Somalia to a maliland, was filing a story to London from unknown callers claiming to jump over his body, and other dead world audience. But Mohamed Olad in 2007 when a mortar round land- be insurgents, but at times you get bodies, to escape.’ Hassan was finally beaten by red tape ed outside his house, during fight- calls from people you know. I usually After that, Joseph Warungu, Has- last week after an admin error pre- ing between Ethiopian troops and don’t pick up calls I don’t recognise,’ san’s editor in London, arranged for vented him travelling to London to insurgents. ‘As I ran for cover, an- he says. Hassan changes location of- him to evacuate to Nairobi. He re- be honoured for his courage. other mortar landed ten metres ten and currently has two security turned to Mogadishu in February. As the BBC African Service’s Eng- from me. I woke up in a small lo- guards and a driver. ‘The deaths of the three journal- lish language reporter battled insol- cal clinic with a shrapnel wound Last December he was covering a ists at Shamo, all of whom were close uble visa delays in Nairobi, World to my thigh,’ he told Ariel. graduation ceremony attended by friends, traumatised not only me but Service and News Online carried The first journalist to report cabinet ministers, amid high se- all the other journalists who survived his harrowing reports of the latest that Ethiopian troops had en- curity at Mogadishu’s Hotel Sha- the attack,’ Hassan says. bloody civilian deaths in his native tered Somalia in 2006, he re- mo, when a suicide bomb attack Nine journalists were killed in the Mogadishu. ceives regular threatening killed more than 20, including country last year alone and a prom- Interviews with desperate, griev- inent radio journalist abducted and ing orphans on the streets of the So- killed in Mogadishu last month. BBC mali capital paint a picture of esca- News producer Kate Peyton was trag- lating violence and terror for those ically gunned down in the city in caught up in the fighting between 2005. Many local journalists working the UN-backed Somalian government for Western media companies have and Islamist militants. now fled or stopped reporting. Hassan has himself been injured How long does Hassan feel he can in a mortar attack, had to flee the city remain? ‘I am committed to staying after threats from warring factions as long as there is a chance to repre- and narrowly escaped death in a su- sent the voiceless in Somalia. I do not icide bombing last December which want to see the situation in my coun- killed three fellow journalists. try unreported,’ he says. His determination to stay, to be Jerry Timmins paid his own trib- ‘the voice of the voiceless’ in his coun- ute to the reporter whose ‘bravery try, is recognised this week with the and tenacity has helped keep Soma- Speaker Abbott award, presented an- lis, as well as BBC listeners in other nually by the Speaker of the House of countries, very well informed about Commons to people who have shown events in Mogadishu’. outstanding courage in the pursuit ‘Mohamed is a classic example of of journalism. World Service journalism, where our Jerry Timmins, head of Africa and reporters live amidst the story, pro- Middle East region, and Somali serv- viding vital, powerfully objective and ice colleagues were at Westminster independent news – often from plac- on Monday to accept the award on es where other journalists find it very his behalf. difficult to operate effectively.’
In the pink: Home country honours for Ewa Ewa Ewart with the Andrzej Wojciechowski Award Her documentaries prove a ry and the single documentary a lot of media interest.’ category. Surprising? Not really, she ‘revelation’ for Polish audiences She also won an RTS award says, given that insightful, prob- and an Amnesty International ing documentaries are ‘a revela- award for Access to Evil, an expose tion’ for Polish audiences unused by Sally Hillier ally on international themes and of torture in North Korea’s secret to such output. for strands such as Assignment, prison camps. ‘Particularly successful was a A collection of documentaries Correspondent and This World. Impressed by her work, Po- Correspondent programme called made by BBC producer/director She has also made specials in- land’s TVN24 news channel asked Who is Putin? which I made with Ewa Ewart has won hearts and cluding one on Pope John Paul in 2008 if it could air some of it. diplomatic correspondent Bridg- minds – in Poland. II and one on the Beslan school ‘The idea was that a selection of et Kendall in 2001. It was the The country has even hon- siege of 2004, when Chechen 12 films should be shown as a se- first – and as far as I know for a oured her with its prestigious gunmen held hundreds of peo- ries, to be introduced by myself long time the only – comprehen- Andrzej Wojciechowski Award ple hostage for three days inside as the director,’ she explains. sive television profile of the Rus- for outstanding journalism and a school gym, culminating in the She took the proposal to her sian leader after he emerged as a the Wiktory Award (like a Polish deaths of 326, including almost department which approved the largely unknown character.’ Bafta) for best programme or, in 200 children. project and her participation. Modest about her newly this case, series of programmes. Ewart’s Children of Beslan, tell- ‘The Polish television station acquired fame in her native coun- Ewart, born and brought up in ing the stories of the survivors of created a special show, and I re- try, Ewart declares that the Polish Poland before moving to the UK, the siege, won two Royal Televi- corded an introduction to every project and resulting awards are has been making current affairs sion Society awards – in the cur- film,’ she explains. ‘above all a success for BBC cur- films for the BBC for 17 years, usu- rent affairs international catego- ‘It attracted big audiences and rent affairs’. a 15·06·10 Features 7
General de Gaulle, pictured here in October 1941, made some of his famous broad- casts to occupied France from Broadcasting House
Un pays de france at bh by Claire Barrett ‘It’s an enormously important de Gaulle named as anniversary for the French people,’ its leader. The Free David Cameron can wait. On next explains Robert Seatter, head of BBC French were allowed week’s state visit to the UK, which history. ‘De Gaulle’s speech, which five minutes each day will include drop-ins at Downing is taught today in French schools, on the French Serv- Street and Clarence House, Nicolas effectively created the idea of a unit- ice to broadcast to Sarkozy will make the BBC his first ed France in modern memory.’ occupied France and stop. The general fled his country on orchestrate their de- Exactly 70 years after General June 17, 1940, as the new adminis- fiance. Many impas- Charles de Gaulle entered a Broad- tration, headed by Philippe Petain, sioned addresses were casting House studio to appeal to his sought an armistice with Hitler. A made by de Gaulle countrymen to resist Nazi occupa- relative unknown, de Gaulle entreat- himself, either from tion, the French president will pay ed the British government to let him Broadcasting House tribute to the broadcaster’s role in broadcast to France from London in a or Bush House, and securing a free Europe. last ditch attempt to save his country. Jacques Duch- he was regarded as the Flanked by veteran resistance The cabinet initially refused but, ac- esne, editor of BBC ‘secret hope’ by those living under fighters, his ‘memory minister’ and, cording to de Gaulle’s memoirs, Win- French Service German rule. it’s expected, his pop star wife Carla ston Churchill ‘offered me the BBC during WW2; and De Gaulle’s broadcasts also grew Bruni, Sarkozy will unveil a special and put it at my service’. (right) the BBC’s the audience for the BBC French anniversary plaque in the BH recep- On the evening of June 18, the gen- thank you tapestry Service which broadcast the news tion and will view the tapestry, dis- eral went on air urging the French in French as an alternative to Nazi played in the artists’ lobby, present- not to capitulate, but to fight on previously, and it could have been first but gained huge mythic status propaganda. ‘There were eight BBC ed in thanks to the BBC by the French alongside Britain and the US. lost to posterity. BBC engineers, fail- in its repetition,’ says Seatter, add- language services before the war, 48 government after World War Two. ‘Must we abandon all hope? Is our ing to recognise the moment as his- ing that posters featuring de Gaulle’s by the end, which absolutely demon- The president’s entourage for the defeat final and irremediable? To toric, didn’t bother to press record. A words went up all over London on the strates how key the international arm UK visit will number 800 – a special- those questions I answer – No!’ he de- ‘furious’ general returned to the stu- subsequent days to galvanise French of the BBC became in the context of ly chartered Eurostar train bringing clared ardently. dio four days later to deliver his mes- exiles. World War Two,’ Seatter believes. ‘It them across the Channel and then But only a handful heard the his- sage a second time – and this time it The French Resistance – which fixed the World Service’s role as a life- home again for further commemora- toric address on the BBC French Serv- was recorded. went on to play a crucial role in de- line broadcaster, a role which is still tive events. ice, which was established two years ‘It had a very limited audience at feating the Germans – was born and as vital today as it was 70 years ago.’ 8 m us and... poetry? With blackestud, mud the flowered m tents are thickly crusted,ic one and all – and in among the spliffs and sounds performance poets are on call... w by Adam Bambury She and the poets will be camped Though the festival still retains its out at Glastonbury from Tuesday unique atmosphere, one thing that The refined art of poetry may not June 22 to get a feel for the atmos- has changed is the amount of poet- be the first thing to come to mind phere that steadily grows as the fes- ry on offer: ‘When I first went there upon hearing the words ‘Glastonbury tival swings into gear, and experi- was a little bit happening in a tent in The wordsmiths: festival’ but, says producer Sara Dav- ence the grubby thrill of extended a very distant field somewhere,’ says ies, it’s the ideal way for Radio 4 to tent living. It won’t be a new expe- Davies. ‘Over the last ten years or so cover the iconic event. In the past the rience for the producer – a former performance poetry has become real- station has covered comedy and cab- press officer for the Bristol branch ly popular. People have it at festivals, Sara Davies on her aret, so poetry seems the next logi- of the Campaign for Nuclear Disar- in pubs – there’s been a real boom.’ cal step. But don’t expect softly-spo- mament, when the festival teamed She attributes this growth in part ken sensitive souls mumbling stanzas up with the organisation in the ear- to performance (as opposed to writ- from unsold copies of their antholo- ly eighties she became its press offic- ten) poetry’s often visceral live na- five performers gies: in Glastonbury Poetry Diaries the er ‘by default’, and has fond memo- ture, which can attract a broad au- focus is firmly on the dynamic art of ries of helping to organise its earlier dience from across the spectrum of performance poetry, which is espe- incarnation. comedy, music and theatre. For a hip- ‘Helen Gregory and Peter the build-up to getting on the cially composed for physical perform- hop fan, for example, it’s surely not Hunter are organising the Poetry and stage. We’re all camping, but I ance before an audience, rather than too much of a leap from Glastonbury Words tent this year, so they will have think Dreadlockalien has got the pages of a book. ‘Over the last ten approved rapper Jay-Z to the physical an interesting take on the his own van. It’s got tea-making Davies has commissioned five per- world of performance poetry, with its festival. They’ve got to get facilities, so I expect we’ll all be formance poets – who were already ap- years or so competitive ‘slam’ events and charis- everybody organised, as well found in there a lot of the time. pearing at the festival – to write piec- matic protagonists. as worrying about whether it’s Andreattah Chuma is es based on their experiences of its performance poetry But while they will be competing going to rain, what to do if people quite a major performer from build up. She will then record them with the likes of Gorillaz and Stevie are late, and whether the stage Botswana, who has only been performing their works in whatev- has become Wonder for audience attention at is ready. to the festival once before. I er part of the vast Glastonbury the festival, the pressure won’t Dreadlockalien is one of thought it would be really nice site in Pilton, Somerset seems really popular’ just be on the poets. After re- the comperes on the Poetry to have an African voice in there. most suitable – from the late cording their new poems and Words stage. He’s been Hollie McNish won the night psy-trance madness in the days leading up to to Glastonbury several times Glastonbury poetry slam of Shangri-La to the tran- the festival, Davies must in the past, is a real old hand. last year. She’s a really good quil surroundings of the retire to the BBC’s OB He has a real sense of what performer, and has a bit of a Healing Field. site at the festival for it’s like year-on-year. He’s a name at Glastonbury as well as ‘I thought it would a hectic day’s edit- great rap poet, a performance around the country. She’s just be quite an unusu- ing, before sending poet, and a real character as had a baby, which is going to al way to cover the the result up to Lon- well. He’s written stuff about make it slightly different for festival, rather than don via ISDN line. memories of past festivals and her this year…’ just sticking a micro- ‘I’ve recorded two phone in front of peo- slams for Radio 4 but ple while they’re on I’ve never recorded a stage,’ explains Davies. programme quite like ‘It will have a slightly this with all these sort different sound – there of variables,’ she says. won’t be an audience ‘We will certainly all be there, but fingers crossed it taking our wellingtons….’ will have all the background Glastonbury Poetry Diaries, noise of the festival.’ Radio 4, June 27 Hollie McNish
Peter Hunter Producer Sara Davies rds that rds that e I got woords that are le,Woords that e nco s that are common place I got w are un Got tingle,W ncouurage you I ords that are common place un ique ak. I Got words to make you ting rage you I got Word ique I got w u freak. I words to make you got word ce W I got w ords to make you fre word s deliv at paace ords to make yo s deliveerreedd at p
9 Virtual m us and... poetry? festival With blackestud, mud the flowered m tents are thickly crusted,ic one and all – and in among the spliffs and sounds performance poets are on call... w Content producer James Cowdery on making this year’s Glastonbury site the most ambitious yet Last Friday evening, as the Pyramid Stage burning down broad- witching hour beckoned and a to performance highlights down cast studio at lonely office light blinked at the the years. As you might expect, Glastonbury – no mean feat when crown of Henry Wood House, our there’s a fair few news reports you’re in the middle of a field new Glastonbury website snuck about the inclement weather, the streaming via satellite. onto the BBC’s live server, amid floods and the mud. It’s also an Editorially, we’ve spent a lot of Andreattah Chuma a mess of to-do lists and pizza insight into the mores of times time thinking about who might boxes. past, and the approach of tv over use the site. As a result we’ve tai- The BBC’s most ambitious the last four decades in cover- lored the content to appeal to as Glastonbury site yet has been a ing the colourful fringes of the wide a demographic as possible, collaborative effort. It’s the re- festival from those with a casual interest sult of several months’ endeav- who may want easy-to-digest our by a wildly dedicated and In addition to delving into the video round-ups to the hardcore talented mob of developers, de- archive, our users will be able to music heads, who want extend- signers, information architects vote on their favourite Glaston- ed performance video, set-lists, and producers from both inside bury performances, with the sharable content and to watch the corporation and from our winning set played on 6 Music their favourite 6 Music dj live agency colleagues at Kent Lyons. – the lead radio network for the from the site. Another important You’ll immediately notice the site festival. The archive also fea- task is managing expectations looks and feels more ambitious. tures a quiz with hundreds of – we are very clear about which Glastonbury is one of the first questions and audio and video performances we’ll be able to sites in the BBC to launch apply- clips from the 40 years to bend show, for how long and why. ing the new Global Visual Lan- your brain. If you know how Helen Gregory guage, which means it benefits many loos will be at this year’s We’re massively proud of the from bolder layouts, new icons festival or which band allegedly site and you’ll see it become and page elements. forged 200 backstage passes for richer and more involving over As one of the most impor- their mates in 1990, then try and the coming weeks, peaking dur- tant events in the BBC’s live beat our office high score of 725. ing the three days of the festival music calendar, Glastonbury We’re using iBroadcast to en- with live web-streaming from is a big deal for Audio & Music. code performance video from dawn until dusk and, of course, Even more so in 2010 as it’s 40 more than 60 of the most notable all those video performances. years since the first festival in artists. As well as ensuring that Alongside video highlights and 1970 (entrance fee £1 with free video appears on the Glastonbury interviews on Red Button and milk). To mark the 40th anniver- site, this also means relevant photos and a comprehensive sary, we’ve launched a major performances are displayed on mobile site featuring photos and new section of the site – the ar- the BBC Music page for a given Twitter updates, it all adds up to chive. The Glastonbury Archive artist. We’ll even be streaming a rich and multiplatform Glaston- features a wealth of audio visual many performances live over the bury experience for the major- material from the BBC – from weekend, in addition to live web- ity who will not be attending in Dreadlockalien an eighties’ news report on the streaming the 6 Music outside person.
words that a Words tthhat en that are ce I gott words that a re gle,Words at enccour s common pla I go re un Got tin le, words: Dreadlockalien ou age you I ords that are common place un ique ak. I Got words to make you ting rage you I got Word ique I got w u freak. I words to make you got word ce W I got w ords to make you fre word s deliv at paace ords to make yo s deliveerreedd at p 10 Analysis a 15·06·10 Don’t get bogged down in a new political numbers game
crats has changed the terms of party representation. So across a whole series of Ques- tion Time, for instance, there will be weeks when it is absolutely appropri- ate that the government will be rep- resented either by a Conservative or a Liberal Democrat minister and that the other party is absent. But there will also be times when the different strands of argument are reflected, Argument, as say, by a Lib Dem minister as well as by a Tory backbencher or former big- much as wig – and vice versa. As we approach devolved and local headcount, holds elections next year, distinctive party positions will once again come to the sway in the still fore. For the time being though, they are only one element of a far more in- unfamiliar and teresting patchwork of political nar- liberating ratives. COMPLEX AND SUBTLE landscape of In fact, this is a golden opportunity to break away from that syndrome coalition, says which my programme-making cus- tomers frequently approach with Ric Bailey heavy heart – ‘three-party synch’. Broad spectrum: Lib Dem MP Ming Campbell and Home Secretary Theresa May both appeared on a Question Time panel Old habits sometimes die too hard and this approach was already inad- I was struck the other day by the Of course, many things have scrutinise it for our audiences. equate, certainly for audiences out- peculiarity during an interview on changed and the BBC’s commitment That doesn’t mean searching out This is a golden side England who supported the SNP, Today of Vince Cable stoutly defend- to due impartiality means we have to every opportunity to highlight divi- Plaid or the Northern Ireland par- ing his cabinet colleague, Iain Dun- take those into account in the way sions through lone backbench rebels. opportunity to ties. But the ‘new’ politics means can-Smith. Unimaginable a matter we approach our political coverage But it does mean ensuring that we across our output, and over time we of weeks ago. and make our judgements. continue to hear views from across break free from can give space to a greater variety of But we should probably have in- First: rather obvious point – we’re the wide political spectrum stretch- these overlapping debates through- verted commas around ‘new’ in the not in the run-up to a general elec- ing across the two parties, not just the syndrome that out the UK, to reflect that evolving ‘new’ politics – a reminder of our tion any more. That means the audi- the government perspective. political environment with many dif- quite proper scepticism and detach- ence are no longer in the position of programme makers ferent combinations of views and a ment in coming to terms with what making up their minds who to vote A DIFFERENT PIVOT broader range of voices. is, very clearly, an entirely new politi- for – the period when the issues of In the ‘new’ politics, then, it’s worth approach with a It remains the case that we pay at- cal context at Westminster. balance between the different politi- remembering not only the bit of our tention to the voters in deciding how There have been voices urging a cal parties are at their most acute. editorial guidelines which talks about heavy heart – much coverage each party should be radical re-thinking of how we should Second: with two parties in gov- coverage of all the main parties, but given and that is a key measure of represent the different politi- also the part which em- ‘three party synch’ our fairness in allocating precious cal parties, now two of the main phasises that we should airtime. But if there’s one phase in ones are in coalition together. ‘give due prominence to the parliamentary cycle when we Surely, some say, you should no all the main strands of ar- can break free from being too con- longer have both parties appear- gument’. strained by the traditional formula, ing on the same panel on pro- Whereas in the run-up it’s now. grammes such as Question Time, to the election, most de- The Greens, UKIP, the BNP, the or Any Questions? Hang on, say bate was indeed party po- English Democrats were among the others, they’re still independent litical – ie between the par- parties improving their electoral per- parties who will fight elections ties – many of the most formance in May, in terms of rep- against each other, not least, interesting issues now have resentation or vote-share. Between soon, in Scotland and Wales – a rather different pivot. them, the ‘others’ represent a sizea- both of them must continue to The strands of argument ble number of licence-fee payers and be represented separately. will be between front- hearing their contrasting perspec- If there’s one thing we The Scottish parliament: elections are due next year bench and backbench; be- tives from time to time will be part mustn’t do in this evolving and tween those within the of the story of the new political en- genuinely enthralling new polit- government and those vironment. ical environment, it’s to saddle our- ernment together, of course there outside; between Westminster politi- A gust of electoral wind has recon- selves with unnecessary mathemati- will be many instances when it would cians and those in the devolved bod- figured our political landscape – and cal formulae or stringent templates make no sense to represent both the ies, local government, Europe; be- we can allow ourselves to relish the setting out how we approach the Conservatives and the Liberal Demo- tween those who are for and against chance to get stuck into the complexi- ‘new’ politics. crats simply duplicating each other. electoral reform; and in the case of ties and subtleties of the ‘new’ politics As ever, what’s needed is good ed- But the ability of these parties to Labour, for a while at least, between on behalf of audiences, without be- itorial judgement applied sensibly maintain a broad degree of unity the different leadership candidates. coming too bogged down in whether and appropriately to changing cir- amid the tensions and tussles of deal- These debates will often cut across or not there has to be a Liberal Demo- cumstances and different parts of ing with the realities of government the old simple party territory with crat on Question Time every week. our output. If anything, this presents will be a central driving force in pol- just as much impact on our report- us with a real opportunity to be crea- itics during this parliament. We will ing as the coming together of the Ric Bailey is Editorial Policy’s chief tive and diverse in our approach. need to chart that relationship and Conservatives and the Liberal Demo- adviser, politics
> IF YOU HAVE A VIEW ABOUT THE TOPICS ON THIS PAGE, PLEASE EMAIL ariel mailbox a 15.06.10 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 foreign Spinning a web report ‘The BBC News website is available on your I can’t afford a carriage... but execs can mobile’ so our well-aired tv promo keeps telling me. Erik Huggers spends more on one low-inflation rate and no tips, I mean Well, it isn’t. I only have a basic mobile taxi in one day than most staff will bonuses, when other public sector for calls and texts and can’t access the in- get in a whole year as a payrise. workers won’t suffer this. ternet on it. More importantly, though, Drives home what we’re worth. Perhaps it’s time for us non-execs to we ought to be aware that this is also still CECILIA the situation for a large number of our Clearly I’m lacking the Knowledge as taxi on out of here and let the direc- HUE viewers. to why they’re slashing lower tiers’ tors chauffeur along without us. If we want the public to trust us, why pay in real terms with an offer of be- Jonathan Richardson, content producer FM&T freelance PRODUCER are carefully-crafted promos being made with bold statements that make false as- casts her net in mali sumptions? executive producer of athletics, Martin Web- Gordon Findlay ster, who was forced to retire recently as he This is my last filming trip for Human Plan- tv news director battles Motor Neurone Disease. et and I am going back to Mali which has Belinda Moore become my second home since I joined the producer, BBC Sport Bristol team a couple of years ago. Keep track I am going for a long awaited event which I was disappointed to note that Ariel ig- We are sorry you were disappointed by our takes place only once a year: a fishing festival in nored the Bafta given to BBC Sport’s cover- coverage of the Baftas. Ariel does not rou- the desert, which promises to be the most age of the World Athletic Championships in tinely list all winners at award ceremonies. dramatic sequence in Deserts, one of the pro- its write up (June 8). I understand that the grammes in the Human Planet series. main story was about the hat-trick of awards After landing in Bamako, Mali, we embark for The Thick of It but to dismiss this fantastic Queen bee upon themselves to rename an oft-ignored on a two-day journey by road during which we achievement, which was produced in-house, The display case on the third floor of Bush crystal ‘horn’, in honour of the World Cup. encounter 45 degree heat, punctures and an is an insult. house (home to the African English serv- I thought I should share. incredible sandstorm which leaves the whole It was all the more upsetting as the ice) holds many BBC trophies, medals and Chikodili Emelumadu team caked in a layer of orange dust. We look as award was publicly dedicated to the former awards. But one cheeky chappie has taken it producer, African Productions, WS though we’ve been ‘tangoed’. We finally arrive in the Dogon village of Bamba, built among boulders at the foot of an incredible 500 metre escarpment which cuts through the monotony of the Sahel for more radio that will miss Stuart Ca- than 100 miles. Everything is parched as the dry Obituary ble. Our thoughts are with his season reaches its peak, leaving only one sa- partner Rachel, Cian and all his cred pond full of catfish (which have retreated family. Ride On Stuart. to this last haven as all the rivers dried up). Alistair McGhee The day of the fishing festival finally arrives. stuart cable The Dogon are very When I arrived at Stuart’s 40th superstitious and birthday party, Abercwmboi rug- gary carvill Everything is women are not al- by club was already bouncing. BBC Northern Ireland has lost lowed anywhere near Typically of Stuart the evening one of its brightest stars with fixable if you the sacred pond. As I had the most relaxed door pol- the passing of Gary Carvill at 50. am the only woman in icy I’ve ever seen – a welcome Gary was a senior camera- keep your cool the team I am gently for everyone. He met me with a man with the BBC and spent 34 ushered away from the huge man hug that Ray Gravell years with the corporation ris- and part with scene by my fixer. I am would have envied and intro- not just a star and professional ing to the top of his field. meeting in Cuba and the inau- told I might lose my duced me to his son Cian with presenter but also a fellow fan. The son of Frank Carvill, one guration of Barack Obama. a bit of cash fertility if I stay. Frank- an evident pride. Soon the show was garnering of the founding members of the He made a deep and lasting ly, I am not prepared to The room was packed with responses from across the world Pacemaker picture agency, Gary impression on all those fortu- take any risks so I join local people having a good time while at the same time there had one career aim in life – to nate to have worked with him. the other women in the village. They are all busily and having the best time of all was a steady tide of messages work with cameras like his father. It was not just the quality of his getting ready for the celebration – braiding their was Stuart Cable himself. The from people who had met Stuart He realised his burning ambi- work that made him so popular, hair and pounding millet for the big feast. AC/DC tribute band began to in a casual context and wanted tion when he joined the BBC in but his pleasant manner, good In the meantime, the crew prepares to film rock and first on his feet leading to thank him for being generous 1976 when he was 16. His talent judgement and sense of humour the event, which will last no more than 15 min- the cheers at the end of every with his interest and his time. and enthusiasm for cameras and that ensured he was the camera- utes. There’s no room for error. Four thousand tune was Stuart. By the end of Remarkably for a man who all things technical were appar- man of choice for many. bare-chested men – including our character the night he was behind the kit had braved those imposters tri- ent from the beginning, and he He will be remembered by Amadou – have turned up to the pond, the size nailing the rhythm. Normally umph and disaster in larger quickly rose through the ranks many for his permanent, trade- of an Olympic swimming pool, armed with their it’s not cool to be so enthusias- measures than most, Stuart to become one of BBC Northern mark half-smile worn no mat- cone-shaped fishing baskets, ready to charge in. tic, but enthusiasm was etched seemed to retain his earthy hu- Ireland’s most experienced and ter how difficult the job or the They hope to catch a fish or two. If they do they deep in the Cable DNA and he mility, his fiery enthusiasm and respected camera operators. environment. Gary was a rare believe it will bring good rains and a subsequent made it cool. And now but a a willingness to give time and He worked across the BBC’s combination of talent mixed abundant harvest for their family and village. handful of weeks later we have energy to virtually everyone he range of programming, includ- with serenity. Unflappable un- Amadou is fortunate to have made it to the lost him. met. And in the often miserable ing drama, but it was in news der pressure, he instilled calm festival. The day before, he almost got kid- Stuart was an authentic world of show business person- and current affairs that he ex- in those around him. napped from the filming set by a mob of angry Welsh folk hero, a superstar alities, that is remarkable. celled. He was frequently on lo- Life-long colleague John Ot- men from the neighbouring village. We had from the Stereophonics, a Val- We were so proud to have cation for Northern Ireland and terson spoke of ‘a really decent caused deep offence by bringing his fishing leys’ boy made not merely good him back on the station this BBC network at the scene of ma- guy... He was creative, innova- basket onto their territory. The basket was a but great, but who still drank in year and within a few shows jor breaking news stories. tive and was always thinking of painful reminder of the village’s defeat against the pub round the corner. And it was obvious that his was go- Peter Johnston, director of ways of pushing the boundaries Bamba in the battle for control over the pond. on top of that he was a natu- ing to be a truly iconic voice in BBC NI, described him as a ‘gift- in cinematography to ensure he We had made a terrible basket faux pas. ral broadcaster with a voice and Welsh broadcasting. ed and creative cameraman. It is would get the best pictures.’ We apologised profusely to Amadou’s arch heart forged in industrial South He still loved to play and his a tragic and untimely loss.’ Gary was a devoted father to enemies and were asked to give a small pay- Wales. commitment to his band Killing As well as the multitude of Holly, Blain, Rachel and Hanna. ment to put things straight. He came to BBC Radio Wales for Company was undiminished stories he covered during The His loving partner Jane, mother Over the last two years I have worked a lot to present Cable Rock and his with recording and gigging ram- Troubles and afterwards, Gary Rosie, father Frank and sisters with west African tribes, and it can be tricky, but genuine passion and warmth ping up. There were even plans also worked on many overseas Julie and Linda will miss him everything is fixable if you keep your cool and soon endeared him to an audi- for a rock and roll tv sitcom assignments including the inva- dearly. are prepared to part with a bit of cash. ence who recognised in Stuart, based in the valleys. It’s not just sion of Iraq, the Adams-Castro William Johnston
14 Jobs See Attachment
Musical bumps TV researcher Michael Farnell used Hot Shoes to work with 6 Music The Hot Shoes experience is a must for anyone who wants to get a good sense of the variety and breadth of BBC output. There is so much going on in so many corners of the corporation that I wish I could do a Hot Shoes in a different area every month, which is greedy, but once you get a taste... I absolutely loved my spell with 6 Music, where I worked with the lovely team in Manchester who put together Marc Riley and Guy Garvey’s shows. This small but passionate crew is responsible for a fantastically creative and varied output. I mainly worked on Marc’s show, which goes out between 7pm and 9pm Monday to Thursday. I helped compile a pre-recorded episode, arranging to place the archive sessions and tracks Marc had chosen onto the cartwall, and to get up to date ‘It was as if time stood still – a favourite moment’ information on the activities of the bands featured in the show. For the live show, I helped out with texts and emails and looked after the acts who came in to play live sessions in Marc’s studio. There were some goose bump-inducing moments – especial- ly when Laura Marling played. It was just her and an acoustic guitar and it was as if time stood still – it’s one of my favourite ever musical moments. The quality of the bands we had on was amaz- ing – from The Antlers to the wonderful Field Mu- sic. So many of them don’t get another outlet, yet with a bit of exposure they can go on to become household names. The spirit of John Peel lives on. The disparity between the resources needed to make ten hours of radio and ten hours of tv is striking: of course they are very different disci- plines, but it’s still an eye-opener. I was fascinated by the commissioning proc- ess in factual radio, where the Manchester 6 Mu- sic team are based. It’s much less top heavy and more immediate than tv, which tends to be Byzan- tine in structure, with layer upon layer of decision makers. All in all it was a very positive experience. I now look to learn from the immediacy of Marc’s show, the fantastic sense of a community of listeners and the instant camaraderie that Marc and Guy both strike up with their audience. And after two weeks with them I’m even more convinced, espe- cially with the impending move to Salford, that these are great Northern voices who should con- tinue broadcasting under the 6 Music banner. Been anywhere nice? Send your attachment stories to Clare Bolt
14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL 15 SHOWCASE a 15·06·10
n bbc one Showcase is your Masters of spin: Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) and Jamie (Paul Higgins), ‘one Jay-Z to Vivaldi chance to tell your of his more psychotic lieutenants’ He’s hung out with Jay-Z’s entourage, colleagues about but in this season of Imagine Alan Yentob plays a tiny jazz club in the mountains of programmes you southern Poland, accompanying Britain’s most famous violin virtuoso and Villa sup- are working on, porter Nigel Kennedy. Kennedy talks about his new home in before they are Poland, where he fronts an all-Polish jazz band, his often-controversial changes of broadcast. If you’ve musical direction got something to and his ‘uncon- shout about please ventional’ public contact Clare Bolt image. clare.bolt@bbc. Tuesday co.uk June 15, 10.35pm, BBC One
n red button n bbc two The Togs Teaching the return world to sing The Togmeister is back for a second Pity choirmaster Gareth Malone, who’s series of Weekend Wogan on Radio 2, been given the unenviable task of finding broadcast live from the Radio Theatre n bbc.co.uk 50 teenagers to sing on the main stage every Sunday from 11am. If that’s too at Glyndebourne. While some are desper- early to wake up with Wogan, Red Button ate to succeed, others have never heard brings you extra doses of the great man Yes, Minister opera and the rest are plainly going to be and his guests every a handful. But Gareth ploughs on, with week, including John As the PM’s all-swearing eye Malcolm peek at bbc.co.uk/comedy. only six months rehearsal time... ‘Boggy’ Marsh and Tucker, Peter Capaldi, has spewed some While you’re there, get your tissues out Gareth Malone Goes To Glyndebourne the ever-filthyJanet of the most memorable, acerbic and for Misery Bear’s World Cup and catch - Thurs- and John stories unprintable tirades ever broadcast on highlights from Johnny Vegas’s ‘comedy day June Tuesday June, telly. Series four starts filming later this playlist’ – including a beautifully animated 17, 9pm, 15 and Wednesday year, but the newly revamped BBC Com- duel, courtesy of Sketchy. BBC Two June 16, Red Button edy website has already snared some As Malcolm Tucker would reasonably exclusive extras from The Thick of It team, propose: ‘Come the **** in, or **** the including interviews with the cast and **** off.’ extra scenes from series three – have a bbc.co.uk/comedy
n bbc.co.uk n world service & bbc.co.uk n radio 4 n bbc four & bbc.co.uk Does that Golo! 3.141593 Business, Puzzle, hurt? Join in world cup banter, whatever your Dim recollections from maths lessons Nuts, Suit language, in World Cup Have Your Say from might tell you that this number is the start On Ouch! this week: Disability Bitch blogs World Service – a live, global interactive of the decimal representation of Pi – but A random selection of words? Not if on the people she’d most like tagged programme that will go out every day is maths the queen of science? In a ten you’re playing BBC Four’s daily quiz show (anyone with an umbrellas, or using throughout the tournament, on radio, part series, A Brief History of Mathematics, Only Connect, where links must be forged mobile phones while walking in public online and once a week on tv. Without any Marcus du Sautoy reveals the personali- between seemingly unconnected things, areas) and the disabled who didn’t make language barriers (the online message ties behind the calculations and talks to and where patience and lateral thinking it onto Big Brother – including an Iranian board, World Cup Team Talk, automatically people who have benefitted from key are as vital as knowledge. Watch again dwarf thrower and an amputee. The site translates comments into all supported ideas including music producer Brian on the website, which features fiendishly (which reflects the lives and experiences languages), you can join in global conver- Eno, astronaut difficult ‘walls’ and the chance to play of disabled people) also features an in- sations about dodgy refereeing decisions Jeff Hoffman others in a tournament. And in case you terview with one-handed pianist Nicholas or dubious team selections. and fellow hadn’t worked it out already, the connec- McCarthy, updates on accessible mobile Daily, 9.05am, World Service and online mathemati- tion to the words above is ‘monkey’. technology and how to cian Roger sign with your baby. Penrose. Daily, 7.30pm, BBC Four and bbc.co.uk/onlyconnect Download May’s Ouch! podcast at From bbc.co.uk/ouch Monday June 14, 3.45pm, Radio 4 16 a 15·06·10 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off UPSIDE From The Beatles onwards, breaking ▲ the lucrative American market is the ultimate step on the way to superstardom for any en- ▲ tertainer – be they Russell Brand, Cat Deeley or Leona Lewis. Now it’s Igglepiggle and Upsy ▲ Daisy’s turn to run the transatlantic gauntlet History was made at Radio Derby last week, with the announcement that BBC and all thanks to the Green Room’s World Cup Worldwide and Ragdoll sweepstake kit. ‘The first person to draw was ▲ productions Dave King from our website team,’ relates news have sold their and sport editor Mark Saxby. ‘He wanted two ▲ CBeebies show teams, so handed over £2 hoping to win the In The Night bumper £32 prize.’ Dave’s first team out? North ▲ Garden to ca- Korea. Second? South Korea. Not exactly a win- ble and satellite ning hand, and there was much laughter at his ▲ network The apparent misfortune. But then a sudden hush Hub, which means around 60 million Ameri- spread across the office: ‘The poignancy of the ▲ can households will get to see the exploits moment hit us: Korea finally reunited after 62 of their experimental woodland community. years of separation,’ Mark gasps in excitement. Rumours that the move is in jeopardy because ‘It’s events like these that you remember for- ▲ the normally relaxed Makka Pakka has thrown a ever.’ Liam Gallagher-esque strop at Heathrow airport ▲ and gone to ‘buy a proper house’ instead of Perhaps BBC tech correspondent Rory Cellan- honouring their US commitments could not be Jones’s recent technology talk at the National ▲ confirmed. Library of Wales wasn’t quite the roar- ▼ DOWNSIDE ing success he had Commiserations to FM&T software engineer hoped (see right), or ▼ and keen cyclist Jonathan Cook, who was Last week saw a group of BBC staff with Manchester and London playing perhaps his mischie- foiled in his attempt to finish the Dragon Ride fight to the death in an arena battle daily and people still signing in when vous colleagues have in South Wales after a spot of tyre trouble. ‘I against the people behind videog- on leave or off sick, or even when been utilising the very ▼ was descending a hill at over 40mph and two ames magazine Edge. Didn’t see it in they’ve left the BBC,’ says Simon thing he reports on spokes on my front wheel popped before the the headlines? That’s probably be- Lumb from TV Platforms of the dedi- in order to besmirch ▼ front tyre went bang,’ says Jon. ‘It was quite cause it all happened online, in the cated corps. his good name in the scary at that sort of speed.’ Thankfully he BBC Halo team’s most high profile Sadly Edge magazine’s Twit- Green Room. We just ▼ survived unscathed, but the same couldn’t be engagement to date. ter taunts (‘While you’re spending can’t work it out… said of the bike, and he had to abandon the For the uninitiated (aka ‘noobs’) our licence fee on Siemens phones, ▼ sportivephoto.com Photograph: race – which he has Halo is a science-fiction videogame we’re in party chat, squatting your It’s official – the previously complet- in which you play a super-soldier territory’) and star player resulted Last of the Summer Wine ▼ ed – with 20km of known only as the Master Chief who in the BBC team losing seven games conspiracy theories are the 190km course runs around shooting advanced to three. They must now present the false. Or at least the one about the vintage com- left to go. So has weaponry at anything that moves. ‘ashes’ (a crushed Xbox controller) to edy being axed because of, as the Independent ▼ the bang put him Every lunchtime a portion of the the victors. put it, the ‘rising insurance premiums for the off bikes? ‘I look at self-appointed BBC team comman- ‘We’ve made a lot of friends and cast’s cavalcade of ageing actors performing ▼ it as another hard deers a kitchen table in BC to partake contacts in the BBC playing the game their own stunts’. A BBC spokeswoman told the 4.5 hour training in this noble sport, which also has a and would love to involve more peo- paper last week that there was ‘no specific is- ▼ ride towards The sizeable contingent across the BBC. ple and challenge more companies,’ sue with insuring actors of a certain age to carry Maratona Des Dolo- ‘It started out as a couple of guys says Simon. Halo fans – your corpo- out their own stunts, as insurance policies cover ▼ mites and Etape Du and an Xbox and is now cross-site ration needs you. stunts for all’. Tour in July in Italy and France,’ says Jon. That’s the spirit. Win a wind-up radio that figures... Perfect for the upcoming festival season, the new EARWIGGING Everyone knows ceremony, which rec- print and online cat- Eton Solarlink FR360 lets that 75 percent of ognises ‘statistical ex- egory for his investiga- you see your tent in the OVERHEARD AT THE BBC awards ceremonies cellence in journalism’ tive blog article – enti- dark, listen to the radio, promote the organisa- and exists to make lazy tled Project Blueprint: and charge your phone …I look like a Russian tion that holds them stat-quoting writing, as ‘Not sufficiently ro- all in one. The versatile criminal. I LOOK LIKE A more than the winners, parodied in the above bust’ – which criticised device has four choices that at least half the at- paragraph, a thing of a government evalua- of power – a hand-crank RUSSIAN CRIMINAL... tendees are only there the past. tion of drugs education generator, a solar panel, an because they get free The BBC obviously in schools. We’re sure internal rechargeable bat- …’The clock is better than food and booze, and has its figures right they both tery pack, and an AC adaptor the beach-ball, right?’ ‘No, that the odds of some- because two of the gave 110 – as well as splash-proof casing. Inside is an AM/ thing amusing hap- four awards were won percent. FM/Shortwave radio, a flashlight, an emergen- you know where you are pening – eg drunken by its staff. Producer cy siren with flashing LEDs, and an alarm clock. with the beach-ball’... acceptance speeches, Richard Knight col- Mobile devices can be charged via the USB port, Jarvis Cocker stage lected the tv and ra- and there’s even a jack to plug in an mp3 player ...I wish I could wear a crown like that and sit invasion, onstage fisti- dio award for Radio 4 so you can provide your own selection of camp- on a throne all day... cuffs – are usually 50 series More or Less’ May fire tunes without a didgeridoo in sight. to 1. report on domes- ...Poke it in the bottom, that’ll re-set it... Thank the gods of tic violence, and We have two FR360s to give away. To enter to reason then for the Mark Easton win one, tell us which anniversary Glastonbury ...Can you have radio that’s just speech, then?... Royal Statistical So- (pictured) tri- festival is celebrating this year. ciety’s annual awards umphed in the Email ariel.competitions by June 21.
> IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THE GREEN ROOM, CONTACT ADAM BAMBURY