03·11·09 Week 44 explore.gateway..co.uk/ THE BBC NEWSPAPER

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY a Page 5

£20m less for top earners 100 fewer senior managers extra pay freeze halt to bonuses a radical review but lower grades unaffected for now says lyons - pages 2&3

> NEWS 2-4 WEEK AT WORK 8-9 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 FOREIGN BUREAU 15 GREEN ROOM 16 < 162 SENIOR PAY REVIEW aa 00·00·08 03·11·09 a 03·11·09 SENIOR PAY REVIEW 3 NEWS BITES a Diederick Santer will step down from his role as executive producer on EastEnders in February, after the show celebrates its 25th anniversary. Room 2316, White City ‘Brutal truth is we don’t need to pay as much’ Bryan Kirkwood, who has worked 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS on and , 020 8008 4228 pay cuts, there will be reduced income in real will take over. The announcement terms, she says, particularly for execs whose follows the news that Barbara Editor There’s been a radical rethink on senior manager longer pay freeze will result in a package worth Windsor is also to leave the show. Candida Watson 02-84222 pay and numbers. Michael Lyons and Lucy Adams ‘To simply target 14.5 percent less by 2013. Deputy editors Can the business easily lose 100 managers , winner of last Sally Hillier 02-26877 tell Cathy Loughran it’s tough but timely at a time of tough decision-making, including year’s , and runners-up Cathy Loughran 02-27360 the highest paid around the size and scope of the BBC? JLS, along with The Black Eyed Peas Features editor As major projects like Salford, W1 and the and , will perform at Clare Bolt 02-27445 n The executive remuneration review n senior manager salaries frozen for a further would put the Olympics wind down, some project-based man- BBC Switch Live at the Hammersmith Reporters recommends slicing a quarter off the £79m year to at least August 2011 agers would be redeployed anyway. And at 2.5 Apollo in London on November Laura Scarrott 02-84224 pay bill of the 634 most senior managers and n bonuses for all executive directors business at risk’ percent of the workforce, the number of SMs is 8. Around 4000 teenagers are Production editor reducing senior manager numbers by 18 percent suspended until further notice slightly on the large size, she feels. expected to attend the event, to be n Claire Barrett 02-27368 to around 520, by 2013. bonuses for other directors and senior LUCY ADAMS With an annual turnover of 10 percent, this hosted by dj and More corporate roles are likely to go than jobs managers suspended for a further two years was an opportunity to look afresh at whether of . Art editor in output areas, the report says. Commissioned n a review of all senior manager posts as they the BBC needs to replace every outgoing sen- Ken Sinyard 02-84229 by the BBC Trust in February and drafted by become vacant; ior manager at the same level or the same rate. BBC Tours in Manchester has Ariel online management, the new policy will also see: n greater attention to internal promotion and This too is already happening, Adams says. The received an accreditation from Alex Goodey 02-27410 n salaries of the nine executive board directors succession planning to cut down external hope is to avoid any compulsory redundancies. VAQAS (the Visitor Attraction Business co-ordinator and the BDG (BBC direction group), including hiring She accepts that there are anomalies in the Quality Assurance Scheme). The Silvana Romana 02-84228 the director general’s, frozen for a further three n up front information about SM salary grading structure (see below) which could lead accreditation places BBC Tours on Ariel mail years, making it a four year freeze in total; ‘discounts’ against private sector pay. to perceived unfairness in any pay freeze: ‘And the same footing as other attractions [email protected] this could be an opportunity to clear those up in the region such as The Imperial Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel over time,’ she adds. War Museum North and Chester Zoo. Adams admits that judging whether the For Michael Lyons, the business of driving year, getting harder year on year, and wages are a Michael Lyons: proposals go too far, and could jeopardise the BBC WM and Birmingham Children’s Guest contributors this week down BBC costs and responding to industry large part of our costs.’ no one should BBC’s ability to attract the best, is a ‘dilemma’: Hospital have raised £1,507,106.46 in pressures and public mood is not about He adds: ‘We all live in a world where no one expect an ‘We think we’ve got the balance right but only their joint appeal in aid of children ‘gesture politics’. should expect an annual pay rise.’ annual pay rise time will tell and we’ll be watching closely.’ suffering kidney disease. The target MAGGIE CURTIS, news editor of The Trust could have followed the head- What does it say about the BBC if it can afford The aim to increase internal SM promotion was £1.5m, and announcing the Radio Lincolnshire, swaps the line writers and just slashed the biggest of the to lose almost one in five senior managers. Too top rates from 65 to at least 70 percent in three years final figure last week, breakfast newsroom for a stint back at six figure salaries: ‘That’s constantly the focus heavy, as frequent critics say? was a chance to ‘build momentum’ around bet- presenter Phil Upton thanked university. Page 14 but it’s not the issue,’ the trust chairman says. It’s a ‘completely fallacious argument,’ Lyons ter succession planning. the generosity of listeners. ‘We’re trying to manage costs in difficult cir- counters. ‘These reductions won’t be happening were ‘not going to feel very palatable’ to those cy with less people and that must be our on whether it would have been fairer – as some Might the need to reduce SM numbers not CANDACE PIETTE, South America cumstances and we see evidence of being able to overnight and we’re satisfied that with natural affected, but that working for the BBC is ‘a unique objective.’ SMs have suggested – to simply cut pay to the generate a glass ceiling for grade 11s? ‘Execu- Interviews with women from correspondent, on life in Buenos strike good deals for new talent, on and off screen. churn and retirement it will be possible to take privilege which brings with it unrivalled creative In fact, some of the review principles are highest earners. tive board directors will make sure that doesn’t the 1930s to the 1980s are now Aires. Page 15 But we’re not expecting hair shirt gestures.’ those posts out. Do I think it’s an opportunity to management opportunities’. already in practice, says Lucy Adams – a key ‘Among the 634 top managers and nine happen,’ she assured. available on the BBC Archive in He is quick to make clear that this latest pay simplify senior management roles? Yes I do.’ Lyons agrees: ‘It’s a radical review and may architect of the review. executive directors there are people at all levels On the reaction of some senior staff who say a collection on the Suffragette review is solely about executive board and senior In his email to staff last week, Mark Thomp- seem rough justice for an organisation that’s do- ‘Over the last six months, where we’ve who are paid above and below the market rate. they’ve been left ‘demotivated’, she insists that movement, part of an ongoing series managers: ‘There are no immediate plans to roll son described the changes as ‘an appropriate and ing well on all performance indicators. But the replaced people at senior manager level, it’s To just target the highest paid, who could earn ‘these are not decisions that have been taken exploring the cultural and political BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 out the same principles elsewhere,’ he confirms. measured response to changes in the economy trust has to preserve the best value on screen and been at a 15-25 percent lower rate,’ reveals the more outside, would be putting the business at lightly’: ‘It is right to demonstrate leadership developments that shaped the Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 ‘But there is a real challenge here from the and to the public expectations of us’. across senior management. director of BBC People. risk,’ she told Ariel. [in the current economic climate]. The brutal 20th century. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/ BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 trust with a BBC savings target of three percent a He acknowledged that the announcements ‘I believe it is possible to improve efficien- Six months into the job she has her own take In any case, while there will be no arbitrary truth is, we don’t need to pay as much.’ archive/suffragettes/index.shtml Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS Advertise in Ariel BBC Wales is looking for people to Ten Alps Media 020 7878 2313 participate in new tv series Snowdonia Farmhouse, in which two modern www.bbcarielads.com day families will be immersed in Printing Staff comments How the pressure built on all fronts Increased Upgrading life in 1890. The series, to be filmed Garnett Dickinson Group Among the majority of staff unaffected by the and broadcast in 2010, follows a Rotherham 01709 768000 review, there was some support for moves to The system of pay grades is scattered with seem- similar project called The Coal House. Politicians and economy, or the perennial criticism of top sala- Then in January this year, Mark Thompson ing anomalies and overlaps between grades can be Subscribe to Ariel rein in senior manager pay. ‘Laudable but a commentators ries and bureaucracy at the corporation? told senior managers their bonuses would be cut discounts confusing. For example someone at the top of grade World Service has agreed Six months: £26, £36, £40 little masochistic,’ was a typical response. have had a field It was a year ago this week that the News and their pay frozen till 2010. In February, the 8 on £50, 663 might actually earn nearly £5000 more a deal with Stitcher.com, the Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 Senior managers themselves were day, says Torin of the World revealed that 50 BBC executives trust asked him to review the BBC’s approach to n The review spells out for the first time the than someone at the bottom of grade 11. The range of free mobile phone ‘smart radio’ (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world understandably more critical. These were Douglas earned more than the PM. It thundered: ‘A stag- executive remuneration – last week’s report. BBC ‘brand’ discount for setting senior man- pay within grades also varies widely; for example there application, that will see content respectively) the reactions of some: gering £14.3m was paid in salaries to manage- The BBC insists that many of its executives ager pay – the percentage that public service is a £24,588 difference between the top and bottom of made available across the globe on Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, would be paid more at its commercial rivals. But Grade 11. handsets, including the iPhone, ‘If the trust seriously wants to make a point ment fatcats.’ The following day, in the Sun, BBC salaries come in lower than those in the Brookfields Way, Manvers, David Cameron launched a second broadside, top incomes there have been hit hard, as share private sector. It takes into account that the There are no fixed salary ranges for SM1 and SM2. Basic Palm Pre and Blackberry. about remuneration, why not just say Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL under the headline ‘Bloated BBC out of touch options and bonuses decline and senior posts BBC is publicly funded (so no share options) salaries are positioned somewhere between 25-50 per- everyone over £200k takes a pay cut.’ Tel 01709 768199 with the viewers’. He said the BBC was over-man- are shed. ’s chief executive Andy Dun- as well as factors like its CV-enhancing brand cent of equivalent roles outside the BBC. So it is conceiv- Jacquelyne Hill of Worthing, West ‘SMs are not very well paid, as the next aged and too bureaucratic: ‘Jonathan Ross’s £6m can and director of content Kevin Lygo took pay value, greater job security and range of pro- able that the top earners in grade 11 could be earning Sussex, and Laurence Kilsby from INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY disclosures of the pay of the top 100 annual contract costs the equivalent of what cuts of 35 and 25 percent respectively. ITV has fessional opportunity. At the various pay lev- more than someone in grades SM1 or SM2. Some senior Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, Telephone 0800 0688 159 decision makers will show.’ The BBC’s crackdown on executive pay has had 43,000 people pay in their licence fee. And while lost a quarter of its staff in the last 18 months. els that discount is already: managers earning less than lower grade colleagues will have won Radio 2’s Young Choristers Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 commentators buzzing. In the Observer, Peter we are at it, why on earth is the director-general Since then, the political temperature has ris- n SM2 – 25 percent have their pay frozen when grade 11s will not. of the Year competition, now in its ‘To bracket me at SM2 with Mark Thompson Ariel is produced by Internal Preston talked of ‘a pre-emptive cringe’ to keep paid over £800,000 a year?’ en, with calls for the licence-fee to be top-sliced, n SM1 – 41 percent 24th year. Both winners will have the Communications for people at the BBC on £800k is absurd. After 25 years service, I the Tories off the BBC’s back: ‘It is absolutely It caused a stir, but the criticism wasn’t new – to help ailing commercial broadcasters. There n Exec board – 63 percent DAYS CONDITIONS opportunity to appear on national feel pretty demotivated.’ incredible to suppose that this new sweep of and not confined to the Conservatives. For sever- have been attacks on the BBC Trust by culture n DG – 58 percent Grade London Outside London radio and tv including Good Morning ‘I think the BDG have taken leave of their cuts is just another normal bit of corporation al years, top BBC pay and bonuses have been secretary Ben Bradshaw, his shadow Jeremy The aim is for the discount to rise to 50-80 min max min max Sunday and Radio 4’s Daily Service. senses. If they think that it’s a sensible or business, quite unaffected by extraneous mat- attacked, not least by BBC staff. Many vent their Hunt, the cross-party culture select committee percent for executive board members, with 2 18,117 25,627 14,037 21,547 workable recruitment pitch to say that we will ters: like David Cameron and his media shadow, anger every time directors’ payments appear in and the Lords communications committee. a discounted range of between 30-50 per- 3 19,753 28,570 15,673 24,490 Mary Hockaday, head of the expect to pay people up to 80 percent less Jeremy Hunt, donning bovver boots and trying the annual report. The broadcasting unions have In the light of these pressures, the scale of cent applying to SM1s and 20-30 percent for 4 21,931 31,466 17,851 27,929 multimedia newsroom, Jonathan than their market rate and still secure the best to kick Auntie right round Langham Place.’ regularly criticised ‘corporate greed’. the review may not be so surprising. But Hunt SM2s. The broad ranges of discount reflect 5 24,205 35,400 20,125 31,862 Levy of Sky News and Stephen Cole, PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL Steve Busfield wrote on mediaguardian.co.uk: In 2005, the then chairman, Michael Grade, called it a missed opportunity and said top sal- different pressures on different BBC job sec- 6 27,050 39,878 22,970 36,341 a presenter with Al Jazeera, will candidates, then they’re off their heads.’ ‘Cutting more than 100 senior managers would tried to draw the sting by cutting bonus lev- aries should actually have been cut: ‘Public an- tors. In journalism and radio, where turnover 7 29,698 44,924 26,160 41,387 debate the future of tv news at ‘A great many SMs earn considerably less be a way to prove to a future government, what- els from 30 percent to 10 percent. It made little ger was focused not just on the management it- is low and a job with the BBC may be seen as 7L 23,375 44,924 19,295 41,387 an event organised by The Media than £100k pa – for these people a ‘discount’ ever its hue, that the BBC was being responsible difference. Last summer, public criticism of ex- self but on the salaries paid to senior executives.’ a career pinnacle, nine percent of SM salaries 8 33,323 50,663 29,785 47,126 Society at Television Centre on on a market salary is considerably more with the public’s money.’ ecutive pay rises continued with Bectu saying It’s little wonder that people are focusing on are over £150k. In FM&T – where a technolo- 9 37,293 56,935 33,756 53,397 November 10, starting at 5pm. For significant than a ‘discount’ on a salary that’s So how much is the BBC’s move a reaction ‘the people at the top continue to feather their what will happen to the BBC if the Conservatives gist could probably go to Apple or Microsoft 10 41,264 63,242 37,726 59,705 more details phone 07785 378156. already half a million or so.’ to the political climate, and how much to the nests’. In November, the BBC Trust announced do come into power. for more money – one in five senior managers 11 45,716 70,304 41,178 66,767 [email protected] weakened state of the broadcasting and wider the exec board would waive bonuses for 2009. Torin Douglas is BBC media correspondent earn more than £150k.

> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< 4 News a 03·11·09 Pirates and CBBC team ‘devastated’ after captive talk to Somali guide is killed by elephant service Somali service interviews by Sue Llewellyn when former army officer Anton Turn- elephant. Despite immediate treat- ing in challenging environments, said: were all over the networks er, 38, described as an ‘extremely expe- ment by the doctor travelling with ‘Although most of us had known An- last week as they provided the Production of CBBC programme Seri- rienced expedition safari and wildlife the expedition, the guide died short- ton for only a few weeks, he was hugely latest news of the British cou- ous Explorers has ceased and an inves- ranger’, was filming with a group of ly afterwards. Arrangements were popular and loved by the entire expe- ple held hostage by Somali tigation is under way after a guide children who were following in the made to fly his relatives to Africa, and dition team. We are all devastated.’ pirates. working for the BBC was killed by a footsteps of the Victorian adventurer to bring the children and production The ‘Serious’ strand is much loved The service’s reporter in charging elephant in Selous Game David Livingstone. team back to the UK. by CBBC audiences. Previous series Mogadishu, Mohamed Mual- Reserve in Tanzania. Three children are believed to have Marshall Corwin, series producer, include Serious Amazon, Serious Arctic, imu, interviewed by tele- The tragedy happened last Friday witnessed the incident involving the who has extensive experience of film- Serious Andes and Serious Desert. phone one of the pirates, who made a ransom demand of $7m, while service head Yusuf Garaad spoke briefly to cap- tive sailor Paul Chandler. DG faces Reporter Yusuf Hassan, mean- while, interviewed officials tough in Harardhere, which has be- come the base for a group of ransom-chasing pirates. questions ‘The interviews were used by network and some local in Lords stations,’ said Garaad. ‘The Ten O’Clock News used them for three consecutive days as a by Cathy Loughran lead or second story.’ Garaad’s video interview Mark Thompson faced a Lords with the Somali prime minis- select committee grilling ter earlier last week also made last week on Worldwide and domestic bulletins, as well as Channel 4, scheduling Strict- being published on the Soma- ly against The X Factor, releas- li service site, attracting feed- ing the BBC archive and the back from such places as Nai- future of Lonely Planet. robi, London and Seattle. But what peers wanted to know first was how often was the BNP now likely to appear on Question Time. BBC beats ‘Once a year or less’ was Team effort: Mark Coyle (far left) and Thompson’s best guess, based Democracy Live colleagues at Westminster CNN in on the party’s current elec- toral support of around two percent, although that judge- Europe ment wasn’t ‘a precise algo- rithmic science’, he told the BBC World News is now reach- committee. Politics at the click of a button ing a bigger audience in Challenged about ‘com- Europe than CNN during peak petitive scheduling’ – a refer- by Sally Hillier nouncements, and ‘track’ politicians’ in Belfast and Edinburgh – have viewing times. ence to the Strictly v X Factor appearances, enabling them, for ex- been recruited to run the website A survey of Europe’s top clash – at a time when com- The BBC has launched an ambitious ample, to find out the last time their and Georgina Pattinson, formerly in earners and decision mak- mercial tv revenues were un- online service that opens the win- own MP spoke in the Commons. charge of Today’s online operation, is ers shows that in the 6am- der pressure, Thompson said: dows on the UK’s political institu- ‘We’ve been knocking around the assistant editor. 9am slot the average audi- ‘Overall, weekend schedules tions and the European parliament. idea of providing a service like this The initiative is joint funded by ence for World News has risen have probably been more dis- For the first time, live and on- for a while,’ explains Mark Coyle, news and the three nations, and in- by 24 percent year on year, tinctive and less competitive demand content from the institu- launch editor. The idea gained cur- volves close co-operation with the from 51,000 to 63,000. CNN’s than last year,’ with more fac- tions has been brought together in rency last year when Mark Thompson BBC Parliament team led by Peter audience correspondingly fell tual and fewer acquisitions. the same place. Interested in a debate Knowles, with extensive sharing of from 64,000 to 60,000. In answer to other ques- from the Northern Ireland Assembly, material. Like BBC Parliament, the The figure for the 7pm-8pm tions, the director general a discussion in Brussels, or a meeting A key feature of the new service is expected to appeal to slot rose by 47 percent year on guaranteed to protect budg- of a House of Lords select committee? a small, specialist audience although year from 119,000 to 175,000, ets for children’s services and Simply click on the new BBC Democ- site is an innovative the BBC hopes that anyone with an while CNN’s rose from 158,000 said it remained the BBC’s racy Live portal. interest in the people, issues, events to 165,000. ‘aspiration’ to release the A key feature of the site is its eight- video wall, giving and processes that underpin democ- ‘It’s a terrific milestone,’ whole BBC archive online – screen video wall, giving access to racy will find it useful. says Sian Kevill, director BBC iPlayer being the important sessions of parliaments, assemblies access to sessions ‘We think it could attract 300,000 World News. ‘This proves that first step. and committees. The real trickery, users a week in the first year of oper- European audiences are now He also told the Lords that though, is in the on-demand features, announced the Digital Democracy ation,’ says Coyle. ‘But if a big story actively seeking our content any delay in negotiations on which the BBC has worked closely initiative – a one-stop shop for con- breaks, we could be talking 300,000 at the most competitive time over the proposed joint ven- with FM&T, Siemens and blinkx, the tent from the democratic institutions. on that alone.’ of day.’ ture between BBC Worldwide world’s largest and most advanced Democracy Live grew from that. Pete Clifton, head of editorial de- She attributes the audi- and Channel 4 was not of the video search engine. ‘It has been a complex project velopment, multimedia journalism, ence growth to a strength- BBC’s making. Using a video archive, users can because of the new search engine, is equally enthusiastic. ‘Democracy ened schedule including ex- And Thompson hit back at search by individual, institution, new website, a new system to put cap- Live underlines our public purpose tending World News Today with rumours about the sale of the issue and keyword. There are guides tions on live video for online output around informed citizenship, high- Zeinab Badawi to an hour, controversial Lonely Planet to the devolved political processes, as and a new way of producing large lighting and explaining the work of and putting presenters such travel guide: ‘We are not seek- well as biographies and other infor- video files,’ says Coyle. our democratic institutions,’ he says. as Jonathan Charles on the ing to dispose of Lonely Plan- mation about MPs and MEPs. Eleven journalists – four at Mill- ‘That sounds worthy, but it’s very road in places like Moscow et because of what’s in news- Users can call up speeches and an- bank, three in Cardiff and two each important.’ and Frankfurt. Further sched- papers,’ he said. ule changes are planned. a 03·11·09 Features 5

photograph: bbc pictures bbc photograph:

Holding court: Yusuf Islam The birthday sessions Maida Vale, one of the most famous recording studios in the world, is 75 years old. Adam Bambury went along to the party

It’s Maida Vale’s 75th birthday and put out of business, and one that kept I could try to get hold of that. I did, and the place is buzzing. In the cavernous the studios very busy. Any foreign stars she was thrilled with it. Of course, it was hall of studio one a conductor hops about touring the country would be brought the first piano stool I’d given her...’ maida vale facts excitedly, pulling what look like kung- into the studios to do a session, often at I ask the pair what they think of the fu moves in front of the BBC Symphony very short notice. question mark hanging over Maida Vale’s In the early 1930s the BBC was searching for space big Orchestra as it performs a piece of mod- On one such fleeting visit Graham fate – in 2007 a spokesman described the enough to contain the full BBC Symphony Orchestra. ern classical music, inspired by the archi- fondly recalls being stopped by Andy Wil- studios ‘wholly unsuitable for the 21st The former Maida Vale Roller Skating Palace on Delaware tecture of Frank Gehry. Radio 3’s host Lou- liams’s minders from adjusting the sing- century’ and said the ‘long-term aim for Road was chosen, and over a 15 month period 100 work- ise Fryer has asked the crowd to provide er’s mic stand, while his fan club chat- Maida Vale is to close it’. ers reduced the building to a shell, then reconstructed it. an excited hubbub of conversation in the tered excitedly outside the building. It seems the question mark has been background of her pre-concert link, but Dealing with the artistic tempera- hanging for quite some time: ‘It’s always The opened in 1934 with five studios the classical buffs are far too polite and ment seems to be an important aspect been under threat. The first week I was and the most modern broadcasting facilities available. lapse into expectant silence as soon as of everyone’s job at Maida Vale. Ted here I was told that EMI had bought the The world famous Symphony Orchestra broadcast its they sense the broadcast will start. King, an operations assistant who, like building and it was going,’ Ted laughs. first concert from its new home in the same year. Over in studio four, where the major- ‘We’ve had models of new buildings, ity of the late ’s many sessions models of this building revamped with The building was bombed during WW2 on May 10, 1941 took place, things are a lot more relaxed. ‘Never tell different entrances, but it has remained (below), the only fatality a German translator working in The smell of warm lager lingers as Craig the same.’ Charles’s All Star Funk Band – made up of a selection of the 6 Music presenter’s them they’re Managers let out for celebrations favourite musicians – work up a heat Graham acknowledges that the cost of in rehearsal, fending off the chill com- out of tune – maintaining the studios is high – be- ing through the air conditioning vents cause it’s partially underground it has of the cosy wooden room. ‘It’s like a fes- just ask them to be heated and air-conditioned around tival in here,’ exclaims Charles as he the clock – but reckons its unique- excitedly tells a group of press about to do another’ ness is its greatest asset: ‘Someone will being very firmly shushed for being too always think it would make a convenient noisy on his way past the orchestra. Graham, has been at the studios for saving, but there are no comparable 35 years, says he often has to play psy- music complexes that could replace the Restrictions on needle time chologist in addition to his role rigging use that the BBC puts it to. While there’s Orchestras, funk acts, rock bands hiding and de-rigging the studios. He gives the a requirement for good music produced in their dressing rooms (the elusive Snow example of a ‘famous Russian concert in house under the BBC’s control, I think the studios. After the war the large coal-fired boiler Patrol) – it’s easy to get the feeling that pianist’ who became irate when she was Maida Vale will survive.’ rooms were removed, allowing additional recording stu- the place hasn’t changed all that much asked to re-record a piece of music (‘Nev- Back in Maida Vale studio 3, Yusuf dios to be added throughout the 1950s and 1960s. since its inception in 1934. Graham er tell them they’re singing out of tune Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Bunce is a music studio manager who – just tactfully invite them to ‘do anoth- Stevens, holds court as assorted radio The BBC Radiophonic Workshop – creators of the Doc- has worked in the same role at Maida er one, and then we’ll use whichever is types loiter slightly guiltily, waiting for tor Who theme music – was established in Apri1 1958. The Vale for 35 years. He remembers a time best’,’ advises Graham. ‘You have to keep the great man to do Father and Son. Be- department survived the invention of the Moog and the when the production line never stopped the turn happy – it’s the golden rule’), tween live slots on Radio 2 the singer popularisation of the synthesizer and sequencer, and rolling: ‘Certainly in the 70s every stu- and blamed her piano stool for her poor jams with his band and at one point is continued to live up to its reputation for originality right dio had three sessions a day booked, sev- performance. cornered by a mob of handshaking sen- up until it was disbanded in 1998. en days a week. We had to provide each ‘She kept asking me for a different ior managers, let out for the birthday network with live music recordings stool,’ remembers Ted, ‘until I’d exhaust- celebrations. In their suits they look Many a famous face has passed through the studio. A because there were restrictions on nee- ed every stool in the building and she bizarrely incongruous next to the dimin- plaque on the wall in Maida Vale Three marks it as the dle time, certainly on Radios 1 and 2.’ still wasn’t happy, saying it was disgrace- utive grey-bearded Yusuf in his white place where Bing Crosby made his last recording in 1977, ‘Needle time’ meant only a relatively ful we didn’t have a decent piano stool cardigan and t-shirt. The artist, the crew, days before he died of a heart attack on a golf course in small amount of recorded music could here. Then I told her we had one last and the decision makers with the mon- Spain. bbc.co.uk/history of the bbc be broadcast by the BBC – a measure put stool locked away in the ‘Proms Room’ ey – it seems things are always as they in place to stop ‘light musicians’ being that only came out for the Proms, and have been at Maida Vale. 6 Features a 03·11·09 PHOTOGRAPH: ANNA GORDON ANNA PHOTOGRAPH: Compliance? We can help

On demand make it creative and open by Laura Scarrott source, internet Her first brush with fame came when referred to her on air as ‘that stuffy lady’ from compliance. protocol tv is But Claire McLaughlin is the keeper of some very valuable infor- mation. From her open plan office in the Broadcast Centre she is one big news. of only eight people who know exactly how the public have voted on . As head of the BBC’s interactive advice and con- Clare Bolt tracts unit – or ITACU if you want to be snappy - it’s her job to make sure that each and every member of the public who interacts with meets Richard the BBC is treated fairly, from Strictly voters to Blue Peter viewers and Moyles’s own listeners on Radio 1. Halton, the Designed to future-proof the BBC against another competition Labour of love: ‘scandal’, ITACU manages all of the corporation’s competitions, votes, man with a Richard Halton, free prize draws, awards and charity appeals. If you want to run any programme kind of interactive event on any platform, a call to the team is manda- ‘virtual team’ director of IPTV tory – yet McLaughlin insists that they are there to make things hap- pen, and not to smother bright ideas in a compliance blanket. ‘What we’re trying to do is bring back interactive events which are both creative and compli- ant,’ she says, without a trace of stuffiness. ‘People assume that everything is banned and they worry that they’ll get fired if they do anything interactive. That’s The Canvas just not the case.’ Of course, if the children of Britain had looked at the Blue Peter cat and plumped for ‘Socks’ in the first place, rather than a name the BBC Controversial cats: Blue Peter‘s deemed unsuitable, ITACU connection Socks (left) started a scandal might not exist. Phil Parsons, an exec pro- ducer in entertainment, says the unit arrived at a time when production The BBC Trust is deciding now technology will have in the short the linear channel could become teams had been ‘severely put off’ hosting any kind of interactive event. if a joint venture partnership term, and underestimate how much an important navigational tool. ‘The audience love competitions and it wasn’t fair to deprive them,’ he between the BBC, Channel 5 and impact it will have in the long term. If you went to watch Waking says. ‘The ITACU team has been really helpful in implementing competi- BT to deliver IPTV is workable... We’re not suggesting that everybody the Dead and had missed the tions and the world of phone voting is now so complex, it would be al- We’re waiting for approval, which will suddenly be interacting with previous episode you could use most impossible to do it without them.’ should be fairly imminent. their tv sets all of the time, but I the programme on the linear EPG As well as managing phone votes, they advise on new technolo- think there’s potential for Canvas to jump back in time to get it. gies and formats and can help devise new ways to engage the audi- Canvas has been described to change their experience. ence. This year they designed Comic Relief’s ‘text to donate applica- as ‘connected tv that paves That’s quite neat... tion’ which saw the charity raise a record £80m, a mobile project in the way for mind-boggling In what ways? Or if you’ve just missed Strictly Bangladesh and oversaw the big Saturday night formats like Strictly. services’. Can you elaborate? Well, it will bring a lot more – you could turn on, go back Given that the unit is tasked with improving audience trust, We talk about Canvas on-demand content within reach in time through the EPG, hit McLaughlin says the increase in the number of people participating ‘democratising’ access to the living of more people. And the sort of play and instantly watch it. in shows like Strictly – where voting is up 30 percent this series – sug- room. If you want to be on a tv set interactivity available will probably gests they are doing a good job. at the moment, you have to be a be more exciting and engrossing What about the social networking Even dissenters like Moyles, who once dismissed ITACU as ‘sounding big broadcaster with Freeview or than the current Red Button. aspects of Canvas? like a Star Wars planet’, are coming around. ‘He loves us because we’re Sky. The great thing about IPTV is Think about what you can do today starting to bring things [competitions] back,’ McLaughlin confides. ‘Now that it will allow different forms Are you working on new ways on the internet and take that to that message is getting across, we are actually being welcomed.’ of content, like video on demand to link tv programmes with a different screen in the house. tinyurl.com/interactiveevents or web services, to get to the tv interactive content? You could construct formats so screen. And, like the internet, there We’re looking at lots of different people could play along against are no limits [on the amount]. ways in which interactivity – as their friends, which could work ‘We’re less anxious’ we see it today on the television well for entertainment formats. What sort of things will with Red Button – can change and ITacu helped Joe Harland, exec producer, Radio 1 punch through best? evolve. It’s part of the multiplatform Who is the team working on Canvas? We’re talking about the tv set in agenda anyway, particularly It’s a bit of a labour of love. There How did you feel about interactive events post ‘Socks-gate’? the living room. The services you in News and Sport. We’ve been are a lot of people giving up some Very anxious. While we were confident that our processes were develop for that screen have to running trial services, and at of their time, but until we have robust, we started to ask endless questions....what if a caller isn’t be televisual, so you can’t have a last year’s Electric Proms the test approval from the trust, it’s a virtual answered? What if someone texts us by mistake – should we let standard webpage with little links service showed different stages team. Kingswood’s R&D department them know? and tiny fonts. IPTV has to be big and artist information. They are is looking at IPTV and a lot of and impactful, immersive and programme extensions really. what we’re doing is piggybacking How, if at all, does ITACU help? navigable with a remote control. on their good thinking. They are able to clarify where to draw the line between under- What will IPTV mean for the standable caution and excessive measures. Do you think that this is how linear tv channels? Are you still hoping to get set the majority of people will It could create a real identity top boxes for Canvas in the So what’s improved? end up watching tv? around them: audiences could shops by next Christmas? We’re now confident we can help listeners win tickets to all the big Hmm. Let me try to paraphrase Bill go to the BBC One homepage Yes, but it depends on the BBC Trust. Radio 1 shows, be that Muse in Teignmouth, Robbie at the Round- Gates: he said that people always and have programmes of the day The price is up to manufacturers, house or the Big Weekend. overestimate how much impact recommended for them. And but £150-£200 feels about right. a 03.11·09 Features 7

coming up

u League of Gen- tleman actor Mark week@work Gatiss will star in his own Soap Opera: Stephanie adaptation of McGovern, Matt Bourne HG Wells’s The and Michael Millar First Men in The Moon. The 90 minute drama about two men who find extraterrestrial life on the moon was commis- sioned for BBC Four by channel controller Richard Klein and controller of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson. It will be made by Can Do Productions and exec produced by Jamie Laurenson.

u BBC One has commissioned a new drama series by writer Jimmy McGovern for 2010. The Accused will follow a similar format to The Street but will revolve around characters who are all accused of a crime. Made by RSJ Productions, it was commissioned by Ben Stephenson and will be exec pro- duced by Poly Hill.

u Presenter Nadia Sawalha will meet people who have experienced extreme weather conditions in the UK for a new daytime drama series. Living Dangerously is a ten part series for BBC One and will be made by Maverick Television and exec produced by Tanya Gottlieb. It was commissioned by executive editor for Market data and Bank of England base explains McGovern. ‘So we had the idea the sketches taking a bath. daytime and early peak rates can be pretty dry stuff, admits Rob- for a 90 second weekly round-up that ‘The idea behind it is that we can tell you Tracy Forsyth. ert Peston’s producer Stephanie McGov- explains everything in a funky way.’ the important bits in the same time it takes ern. But with the help of radio business Called Biz Bites, the round-up broad- for Matt to turn into a superhero in a tel- u Big Talk Productions reporter Michael Millar she came up with casts on the News Channel and On De- ephone box or, in this instance, run a bath.’ will delve into the a way of making it more accessible. mand every Saturday, but with no budget McGovern says the novelty of Biz Bites private lives of a young ‘Over the last year business news has the duo had to call in favours from has earned positive feedback. ‘It’s a for- couple in a new comedy become very dominant but we felt that friends. ‘We begged and borrowed,’ mat that can go on developing and some- series for BBC Three there was nothing the BBC really did to admits McGovern. ‘The graphics guy thing that possibly could be rolled out in called Young, engage young people and others who donated his spare time to help us out.’ other departments.’ Unemployed and wouldn’t normally take an interest in it,’ Actor Matt Bourne appears in one of Lazy. It will star Russell Tovey (pictured) and has been written by Stefan Golaszewski. Executive editor for Shameless pLUG comedy, Cheryl Taylor, commissioned u Colin the series. Warhurst, technical coordinator, Manchester AI SCORES From 2007-2009, I had the audacity u Matt Baker’s camel milking SPEECH PATTERNs to shoot my own (as featured in last week’s feature film, entirely Ariel) provided Around the u Disintermediation ...is an economic on a PD170 and Z1, World in 80 Days with its expression that describes what happens with no budget, in biggest audience to date of where the transaction between producer Manchester and 4.2m (an 18.1 percent share). and consumer becomes so transparent that Manhattan. People tuned in to see Baker the broker is cut out. Aka cutting out the The end result is a and fellow presenter Julia middle man. With a laptop and an internet 90 minute Mancu- Bradbury navigate their connection, who goes to a travel agent to nian-themed take way through Kazakhstan, buy a holiday or a dating agency to find a on a Woody Allen Russia and Mongolia. The date? Do you see where we’re going with rom-com, entitled third programme in the series this? As broadcasters, we deliver content Mancattan. also scored an AI of 85, up two that is underpinned by broad expertise, but A year after finishing the edit, the film is having its premiere points from the previous week it is still content that we have chosen. With as part of this year’s free Salford Film Festival. and three points more than the Spotify and Flikr and iPlayer at their finger- Mancattan will be shown at The Lowry Theatre at 8pm on factual average. Viewers of the tips, the audience can consume and cre- November 21. To see the trailer visit mancattan.co.uk series, which is raising money for ate content when and how they want – and (The Salford Film Festival runs Nov 20 until 29 - salfordfilm- , said it was a high they’re in danger of cutting us out of the festival.org.uk). quality programme, which they loop. It’s a process of disintermediation. had made a special effort to watch. 8 Features Features 9 P AP photograph: the master strategist hoto/david j.phillip j.phillip hoto/david turning vision to reality Waving

the flag: ‘It was the best moment of my BBC cameras will have been at the life,’ sighed a euphoric Dave Gordon Wimbledon venue just a few weeks heptathlete on his return home from Singapore in before, as does the rowing, which the 2005, after London was named host BBC covered for the world in Beijing. city for the 2012 Games. ‘The domestic operation is our main Jessica Ennis But the master strategist, who is focus, though – the programme mak- leading BBC Sport’s operation for the ing, commentary, presenting, inter- is among GB London Olympics, had made a rare view positions,’ insists Gordon, ‘Our 2012 error of judgement. responsibility is to UK audiences.’ hopes for ‘‘What about the birth of your The IBC, on the northern part of two daughters? What about marry- the site close to Hackney Wick tube, gold in 2012 ing me?’ my wife countered. I soon is just a shell at the moment. ‘We’re the biggest changed it to ‘one of the best’,’ chuck- working out what space we need and les the man who has worked on more what we can afford.’ Olympic Games than anybody else at And Sport is closing in on studio the BBC – his first being in 1976. space, in the heart of the Olympic Marriage rebuilding aside, Gordon park, that will afford viewers a back- has been engaged with turning drop of the stadium, the aquatics Olympic vision into reality. ‘We’re arena and the Olympic flame. So far, team effort doing a lot of programme planning, former US sprinter Michael John- production planning, budget plan- son is the only member of the on-air ning, site visits...’ team to be revealed. ‘Expect some He admits that the move to Salford old faces from Beijing alongside is ‘not ideal’, but points out that tv sport some new talent.’ are a nomadic lot. ‘They do an awful lot Every sport will be covered, with dig- of travelling. But the reality for the ital space used to maximum potential. of all Olympics is that we’ll have a core plan- So where should success seekers be ning team – around 20 to 30 people – looking? based in London for the duration, with Cycling, rowing and sailing, reckons reinforcements from Salford arriving a Gordon .’They’re the three sports we’ve few days before the games.’ done so well at in the last few Olym- With just under 1000 days The operation will be huge and pics. Our swimmers are getting better sprawling, with football and golf taking and I’ve high hopes for the athletes. I until the start of the London place across the country. ‘We’ll have just hope the 80,000 in the Olympic a major presence in the International Stadium spur them on to some great games, Claire Barrett Broadcasting Centre and on the performances.’ Olympic park at Stratford. We’ll be Gordon, who considers London finds that preparations are using Salford to the full, Television 2012 the ‘absolute pinnacle’ of his Centre and possibly the new W1,’ says career, says being collared for tick- steaming ahead - and sport’s head of major events. ets to big events is an occupational The BBC is not the host broad- hazard. ‘It hasn’t been too bad for the hundreds of staff caster, as many believe, but will Olympics so far,’ he muses. ‘Every- be asked to broadcast a handful of where you go in the BBC, everybody are already involved events on behalf of Olympic broad- wants a piece of the Olympics. That casting collective OBS. The tennis chance to work on the games is the

photograph: anna gordon anna photograph: seems likely and logical, seeing as most sought after ticket.’ photograph: anna gordon anna photograph:

Roger Mosey expects the nation the landmarks of the year... we’re Their help will be needed to Melbourne despite its traditional country or capital – a city that 17 days of multiple FA Cup Finals to be tighter than Chelsea’s back really steaming ahead.’ ensure that the games belong to rivalry with Sydney.’ will, of course, have been vacated played all over London, plus Wim- four by the time the Olympic flag Currently, all these BBC con- the w rather than just the capital, At the same time, you can’t by BBC Sport after its move to Sal- bledon, but we made a promise is handed over to Rio de Janeiro nections exist as a sprawling fam- with local coverage of the torch ignore the capital. ‘London is ford in 2011. Surely that’s a case to the audience that if they want on August 12 2012. The Union ily tree – the relationships and re- relay, for instance, expected to massively more diverse than the of bad timing? to watch centre court while the Jack will be working overtime sponsibilities mapped on a table draw in the nation. The pledge rest of the nation, massively more ‘You can’t make a strategic aquatics is being shown on BBC that summer – streaming behind top-sized piece of paper in Mos- from the relay organisers is that international. This could be an decision on where the BBC should One, they will be able to do so.’ car aerials during the European ey’s office. Workstreams are mov- the flame will travel within an opportunity to showcase this city be located for the next 50 years Mobiles are likely to see the big- Football Championships, waved ing at different paces. ‘We can’t hour of 95 percent of the popula- and connect it back to the UK. based on two weeks in 2012,’ gest change from China. ‘We want in admiration for a monarch cel- book any rock concert elements tion. ‘At the moment some may returns Mosey, diplomatically. ‘The Olympic content on mobiles, but ebrating 60 years on the throne yet because we don’t know which see it as a bit of an abstraction,’ Credit crunch Olympics BBC did the Manchester Com- if you do it in an unregulated way and draped over the shoulders of acts will be at the top in three accepts Mosey, ‘but if you talk to The next six months should de- monwealth Games when sport it puts an enormous strain on the our Olympic and Paralympic med- years time,’ Mosey explains, ‘but the Aussies – which we did the termine whether the opening production was based in Lon- mobile infrastructure,’ says Mo- allists who, if host country statis- we will be deciding in the next other day – the torch relay was a ceremony is themed around don, and did it rather well. It cov- sey, frustrated by his own recent tics serve us well, will be 25 per- few weeks where our studio on massive moment for ers the Six Nations in Cardiff, the attempts to check the football cent up on a bumper Beijing. the Olympic site will be.’ Open Golf in Turnberry...’ scores from the Emirates Stadium. ‘I hope it will bring the UK to- oods biggest brands.’ Yes, accommodation and trans- ‘We can’t have the chair of the Chi- We could see Tiger W gether,’ admits the BBC director of A bit of an abstraction The BBC will track the torch on port requirements may take some nese Olympic Committee getting bear the Olympic torch aloft as he London 2012, who sees New Year’s Mostly, though, this will be its epic 80-day journey, starting planning, but ‘the upside is we’ll off the plane at Heathrow and not strides down the 18th fairway at Eve 2011 as the starting gun for a the year for listening. Mosey on Mount Olympus in Greece have a state of the art digital pro- being able to get a signal.’ the Open. year of Olympic driven cultural, is visiting every regional cen- in March 2012. It will then tour duction centre in Salford which There’s still time to talk – to mo- The flame may be community and sporting events. tre before Christmas to whip the UK, linking in with a huge will play a strong part in the over- bile operators, potential partners, part of the Queen’s - If they act as national glue, the up Olympic ardour and ambi- event in every nation and re all production’. LOCOG and the Olympic teams. Diamond Jubilee cel - - London Olympics – now just 1000 tion. ‘We’re inviting people gion. ‘The closest many peo If these have been dubbed the ‘Mark Thompson and I went to Bei- ebrations, or turn up in days away – are also uniting BBC around the BBC to start their ple will get to the games will credit crunch Olympics, Mosey is jing in October 2006,’ says Mosey. ‘At Albert Square, cheered people from all corners of the cor- own discussions,’ he says. ‘I’ve be when the torch comes to not about to rein in his ambition. that point China was really getting Winning on by the EastEnders’ poration around a common pur- done a lot of this sort of thing town,’ says Doran. He’s pledged to make more than into the Olympics; the stadium was formula? cast. in my time and I’ve had more The flame will spend its 5000 hours of sporting action under way, test events were taking There are pose. ‘Hundreds are already in- ‘We have a lot of volved,’ says Mosey, who expects feedback and follow up from final week in London, on a available to audiences – around place and traffic management test- big plans creative and excit- the games to influence anything this than anything else – peo- whistlestop tour of the 32 double that from Beijing – via ad- ed. After next year’s World Cup the for mobile ing plans,’ says torch from Radio 1’s Big Weekend to ple offering ideas, wanting to boroughs. ‘The relay is a ditional broadband and interac- London 2012 story will start to get Rings of confidence: Roger Mosey and Dave Gordon on the site of the old services relay editor Carl Doran. . ‘We’ve picked out be involved.’ really exciting part of the tive streams. ‘It will be like having very much stronger.’ Olympic stadium at White City – the venue for the 1948 games ‘We want to tie in the Olympic Games, but a lot of relay with some major people don’t realise that yet.’ sporting events and some of our All our music is covered by the BBC’s blanket licence a 03.11.09 11

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

torial standards? Or was it a case of the emper- or’s new clothes? Same job thousands of pounds apart Tom Jensen BBC Monitoring a Can I have a pair of cashmere socks from management either. I don’t even view and a silver bangle please? Jay Hunt get a clothes allowance. Any notion n I am not usually the pedantic-type who told Ariel (September 1) it was ‘eco- of a hair and make-up artist is just a points out people’s spelling mistakes, but I nomically sensible’ to give them to bonkers dream. would have thought the Ten O’Clock News (October 28) may have taken time to spell daytime tv presenters because they I think the enormous differential in check their top headline, before describing a don’t earn much money. I bet they pay between some of the higher pro- report as ‘Damming’ (see below). earn more than me and many of my file network news presenters and Surely the correct spelling is ‘Damning’, as SALLY HILLIER colleagues at North West Tonight. reporters and us lot in the regions is in a verb of damn? I’ll be damned if it isn’t…. Richard Price I present breakfast tv bulletins here offensive. I don’t care that they earn rights assistant, photo unit in Manchester where, in recent years, more, just not a few hundred grand Ashes coverage we’ve gone from a team of five to a more. I can’t think of another indus- team of two – me and a director. We try that discriminates so deliberately A hole to fill pays off for 5 live haven’t received a penny extra for our between its employees. What dreadful treatment of the Aramark staff, who were sacked last week after the with former fa executive David Davies soon additional duties and no little pressies Carol Lowe, North West Tonight ‘refurbishment’ of the canteen. It to complete his review of sports events that are hardly meets the standards of trust and fair- available free to view, Barbara Slater made a timely ness one would expect for contracted out plea last week to maintain the current ‘listed It’s no sacrifice automatically highlights people who have employees of the BBC. events’ arrangement, which protects the likes of I don’t know whether I am jumping for joy sent multiple texts. I’m appalled too that during the hard night Wimbledon, the Olympics, The Grand National and or indifferent about Mark Thompson’s latest Within the constraints of a single, frantic time shifts done by so many at Bush House the FA Cup Final for everyone to enjoy. email about pay for executive directors and hour, we try to balance the texts in terms of there will not be provision for a decent fresh ‘We have a system that works, and we should senior managers. Maybe it sends out a great opinions and their geographical origin and hot meal. This decision has clearly been taken leave well alone,’ the BBC’s director of sport told message that, in a time of recession, the BBC we give priority to texts which include a name by those who have not worked night shifts. the Westminster Media Forum. is taking a close look at how the licence fee and town – making an on-screen appeal at the There is no other provider of food at 3am and Her case was strengthened by research con- is spent and that is all to the good. And I also start of each programme for texters to include staff do need to eat outside of office hours in ducted by Ipsos Mori, which showed that only nine have no doubt that if someone wanted to those details. order to work effectively. percent of audiences who do not already use a knock a large chunk off my pay I would be The pithier, most focused texts stand the Martha Littlehailes premium pay service would subscribe to watch hopping mad. best chance of appearing, as we only have a senior studio manager, radio drama an event they currently access free on terrestrial tv. So jumping for joy or indifferent? I don’t very limited display space on screen. ‘We believe there is a finite number prepared to know. What I do know is that I am a little The text team takes its role seriously – this Anne Branigan, head of commercial manage- pay and that number has plateaued,’ said Slater. bored with hearing how people who receive is a direct chance for interaction with the pro- ment, BBC Workplace, replies: The manage- A happy consequence of this emerged two vast sums of cash are actually making great gramme and each other – and would stress ment of catering staff in London is an issue for days later, when Rajar figures, for the period June sacrifices to work for the BBC. It’s certainly that no preferential treatment is given to any the catering subcontractor to handle. However, 29 to September 20, showed that Radio 5 live hard for me to envisage what sort of sacrifice individual texter. the BBC has sought and received assurance Sports Extra attracted a record 963,000 listeners a person earning more than a hundred thou- from them that proper union and staff consul- a week over the summer, an impressive 42.5 per- sand pounds is making. If anyone can help tation took place before the staff affected were cent rise. The boost was attributed to the chan- me I would appreciate it. Quay to the future made redundant. nel’s coverage of the Ashes, which was not avail- Denis Nightingale In response to Allan Ramsay’s letter about BBC staff on night shift at Bush House able on terrestrial tv but shown on Sky Sports. West Cornwall reporter crewing for Weakest Link (October 27)... the orig- continue to receive a full hot meal service ‘We knew many cricket fans would not be pre- inal article missed out one word that substan- throughout the night including soups and pared to pay to watch, and this gave us a real tially changes the meaning: ‘The studio crew are jacket potatoes, lasagne or cottage pie, vegetar- opportunity,’ explained Jonathan Wall, commis- One more Question CURRENTLY (ie in London) mostly freelancers.’ ian option, hot bacon or sausage baguettes as sioning editor, Radio 5 live. Gary B from Uxbridge When the show transfers to Scotland, we well as chilled grab and go options eg sand- The digital network had made a concerted Jim from Glasgow will be largely crewing from the excellent wiches and salads. effort, he added, to attract cricket lovers with David from Surbiton skills base within Pacific Quay. There is also a top of the range vending a marketing campaign and initiatives such as Andy from Liverpool For the first couple of weeks of its 14 week machine offering further hot meal options. ‘Cricket in the Park’ events in Liverpool and If you’re a regular observer of texts into run next year, we will bring a few of the cur- Feedback we’ve received from customers London. It had also worked closely with the BBC Question Time on BBC One, (Ceefax p155 and rent team up to Glasgow to ensure a smooth who’ve tasted the vending machine meals sug- sport website, which saw a significant increase by pressing the red button digitally) you’ll handover and transition for this important gests they are comparable in standard to a in the number of users during the Ashes. notice these names cropping up week in programme. Marks and Spencer meal. However, despite the popularity of the BBC’s week out. Mark Munro radio and online service, many cricket lovers were Like many others I text in my comments production executive, entertainment and events disappointed they couldn’t watch the Ashes on but never have them published. Water tight terrestrial tv. As Slater pointed out, it is the big In these days of Safeguarding Trust I have just been charged 10p for hot water at sporting moments that allow people to unite in can we be assured that such people really Dam shame the Bush House canteen. I didn’t need the cup a shared television experience. Having to pay exist and if they do, why are their texts ‘DAMMING as I instantly poured the water over my noo- for the privilege just isn’t cricket. given precedence over thousands of others REPORT’, read dles but was told that the water had to be put who never have their voice heard? the large open- in a cup first and I was still charged 10p even Mike Powell ing caption on when I handed it straight back. Previously, I Ups and downs bj, Radio Solent October 28. Bea- would just have held my tupperware under- The Rajars brought joy too for Radio 4, which has vers leading the neath the urn tap, but the new canteen set up broken the 10 million barrier to achieve its largest Chris Berthoud, editor, interactive – news Ten O’Clock News? means that people can no longer make their audience since current research methodology programmes, replies: Question Time receives I was pleasant- own tea. The urn and teabags are now out of began in 1999, and Radio 3, which posted its larg- an average of around 3000 texts each pro- ly surprised. reach. Why? Are we considered neither respon- est audience in five years (2.2 million listeners) in gramme and takes great care not to show But no – the inquiry in question was about a sible nor trustworthy enough to make our own a period that featured the BBC Proms. favouritism, with every text considered on Nimrod plane crash. Damming must be its au- drinks any longer? But while the network run by Mark Damazer content alone. thor’s surname, I concluded – like Laming or What happened to change being for the bet- was celebrating its high of 10.22m listeners, the Some regular contributors send texts Hutton. Wrong again! ter? Or is this inefficiency purposely done to picture was less rosy at the BBC Asian Network, week in, week out and clearly have mastered A horrible thought entered my mind. Could wind us all up to the point that we stop visit- which saw its audience drop to 357,000 from the art of conveying their views in the most the caption writer, editors, newsreader and ing the basement for food and the space can 473,000 a year ago and 405,000 last quarter. economical way. But we always do our best everyone else at the flagship BBC programme then be abandoned and all the canteen staff Rajar results swing up and down from one to restrict any one texter to a single be... illiterate? Did nobody spot the basic spell- fired in order to save a few quid? quarter to the next, but any further fall for the ‘appearance’ in any programme, and have ing mistake before it was displayed across the Lindsay Alexander Asian Network would be bad news indeed. just started using a new console which globe as living proof of the decline in our edi- WSB, African English daily programmes Sally Hillier is deputy editor of Ariel

Talking of a putting your foot in it: His minor ‘acting’ role on EastEnders was not one of Boris 12 Classified 020 7878 2313 a 03.11.09 a 03.11.09 www.bbcarielads.com Classified 13

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Plasterer all types of interior/ 07834 356721. Email 07985 169744 to Friday let. Massive room in http://www.theratandmouse googlemail.com. freezer, washing machine, Email andyinchamonix@ exterior plastering work [email protected] gorgeous, quiet garden flat. .co.uk/riversidehouse/ References available oven/hob. Sensational roof pobox.com undertaken over 30 years 15 minutes walk from TVC. [email protected] garden, underground car Large semi in Prestwich experience no job too small. 2 bedroom garden flat close £450pcm incl bills. Call Joel Clean, furnished 3 bed Dorset. Thatched cottage. parking. Borehamwood Manchester, 3 double Seamus 07723 534225/ To advertise Askew Road. £1,100pcm plus 07787 184401 flat White City Estate W12. Sleeps four. Near Lulworth 10 minutes station. bedrooms, 2 reception 020 8205 1048 bills. Call 07860 663563 Available immediately. Email Cove. Website in Ariel £250pw Paul telephone rooms, fitted kitchen, utility Stunning 2 bed 2 bath flat [email protected] www.snailsplace.co.uk please call 07956 392335 room, conservatory, fabulous 3 double bedrooms. near TVC. £1,430pcm bills bathroom, GSH, furnished, Media City 20 miles. Luxury, thatched holiday Haley Willmott 2 reception rooms, fitted extra. Trudi 07795 205841 gardens, cellars. £850pcm. cottage in pretty Dartmoor kitchen, utility room, Bright double room in Exceptional large immaculate on 020 7878 2313 Contact Catherine telephone 5 bedroom detached Hamlet, Devon. Sleeps conservatory, fabulous W6. 2 bedroomed flat To rent. Cool, modern, 07944 947646 family home in semi rural four. Website bathroom, GSH, furnished, with sitting room, shower spacious 2 bed, 2 bath Rossendale. Available now www.moorlandview.com gardens, cellars. £850pcm. room, bathroom, kitchen, flat in Peckham SE15 Loftus Road, 1 double no chain. Offers around Contact Catherine 2 balconies. The flat has a available end November. bedroom flat to let £1,200pcm. £400,000. For full description Remote, luxury, Scottish 07944 947646 new W/M, D/W, boiler and Balcony, secure parking, Aga, Email [email protected] and pictures email idyll in Ayrshire hills. WiFi. No smoking flatshare 45 minutes door-to-door from for photos [email protected] or log fire, endless walks 4 bedroom fully furnished with female professional. BH. £1,200pcm excl bills telephone 07860 636326 from front door. Sleeps detached house for house £720pcm, includes all bills. + council tax (incl water). 6 adults + 4 children. sitting ideal for Media City Please call Katy on Media City, Manchester. Facebook pics at tiny.cc/ Moving to Salford? Brand Website www:http. Manchester 07525 390384 or 07881 622797 Luxury 6th floor, two bedroom jWgka. Telephone new homes at Hulton Square theowlhouse-scotland.co.uk www.2let.info apartment overlooking Lowry 07971 641960 just ten minutes walk from Cool, modern, spacious Centre and BBC centre. Media City. Apartments from Suffolk cottage. Sleeps Accommodation available 2 bed, 2 bath flat in Available from November. W10 stylish 2 bedroom period £89,950 and townhouses 8. Coast and countryside now. Shared flat with three Peckham SE15 available end £775pcm. Email Adrian at conversion flat, original from £149,950 ready late Christmas/New Year others in Manchester student November. Balcony, secure [email protected] wooden floors, modern 2010. Also available on 50% Telephone 07899 811667 village. Opposite BBC offices. parking, 45 minutes door-to- bathroom and kitchen, large shared equity. Open weekend Negotiable rent no reasonable door from BH. £1,200pcm balcony, 10 minutes BBC. 7-8 November (10am-5pm). www.menaduemill.co.uk Modern two bedroomed top £400pw. Susie 07860 836687 offer refused. Contact Billy’s excl bills + council tax (incl floor flat. 10 minutes walk Call LPC Living on sleeps 8, walking, beach, mum on 07885 438440 water). Facebook pics at from BBC Elstree site and free Wanted central London 0800 587 8186 or visit surfing, stunning seaviews. tiny.cc/jWgka. Telephone shuttle bus to W12. £775pcm. 2 bed flat to rent. www.hultonsq.co.uk for Long weekends. Telephone Acton Lane W3. Bright 1 bed 07971 641960 further information 01840 214920 garden flat. Good transport Contact 07785 220426 20 December - 4 January links. £950pcm excl bills. approx. Prof couple. Email Relocating North? Alma Double room to rent in Winter sun. Small Telephone 07734 000756 Muswell Hill. Large two [email protected] House. Large 4 bed 2 bath newly refurbished flat, double bedroom apartment. Telephone 07766 609279 detached Grade II listed in charming bush camp in southern Gambia, just A flat sit rental in Poets sharing with English male Kitchen with terrace, modern quiet Hamlet. Immediate Wembley 3 bed semi 15 minutes stroll to lovely Corner W3. Immaculate and artist in my early 30s. bathroom, great open plan access to walks in Peak detached house. To let secluded beach. Safari spacious living room, kitchen, £160pw excluding bills. Close living/dining room. £350pw. National Park. Occupied by in excellent condition. style tents with proper Italian bathroom, underfloor to Ravenscourt Park. Contact Simon Smith telephone BBC families for 30 years. £1,300pcm. Great tube/ beds. Birdwatchers heating, sunny bedroom Oliver on 07932 040571 07867 566420. Email Ample parking. Easy access Overground/bus links. Close to paradise. Great value, overlooking Mediterranean simonantonysmith@hotmail. to motorways/Salford. schools and shops. Available unforgettable holiday. Website garden. 5 minutes car White Ealing Broadway, friendly com £540,000. Contact Gascoigne November. Call 07906 566718 thegambianhideaway.com. City. Close to Overground, BBC flatshare from Halman 0161 427 2488 Call 07758 223312 tubes, buses, restaurants. 28 November. Large double Newly refurbished West Ealing 2 bed. Delightful room in 2 bed flat, Sky+, Victorian 3 bed flat with Shepherd’s Bush borders. Available now. Single non- ground floor furnished 1 bedroom flat light and smoker. £195pw excl. Info/ WiFi, big lounge. £600pcm access to a shared garden on flat in Seaford Road. Recent excluding bills. Call Dan a quiet road at the border of spacious 1st floor conversion 7)6:-')7 photos: [email protected] full refurb. Shared garden. flat. Good transport links and 07957 164533 East Dulwich/Peckham. Ten £1,100pcm excluding bills. B&B London/Bucks/Bristol minutes equal distance walk walking distance to BBC. Phone 07843 435100. £219,950 + share of freehold. homes inexpensive, Ealing lovely double room in to Peckham Rye and East A tax return to complete? Email [email protected] Telephone 07957 466367 flexible. Telephone 2 bed flat 20 minutes to TVC. Dulwich station. Excellent Let us help! For all 020 8840 1071. Email £590 + bills Lucy telephone amenities. Contact Willesden Green NW2. Spacious and bright flat taxation and accounting [email protected] 07967 047330 [email protected]. Telephone Pleasant two double bedroom with three double bedrooms services contact Anthony, 07780 691267. £1,200pcm furnished flat in quiet street. in Strand on the Green Wells and Co, Chartered BBC house share Perivale Just off Portobello Road Washing machine. Close (Chiswick). Seconds away Accountants, Room 4502, tube opposite, 12 minutes W11 a spacious studio flat One bedroom flat to rent, shops, restaurants. 10 minutes from the River Thames with White City (and London N2). White City. Bedroom with balcony separate off Green Lanes, Haringey. walk to Jubilee line. £950pcm shared outside area. Excellent For free initial consultation (WC ensuite) overlooking kitchen and bathroom. Modern decor, communal (excl bills). Contact Caroline transport links. £350,000. call Alan Wells on garden £365pcm. £215pw Katy telephone gardens. £800pcm. Call Helen 020 8960 5975. Email Details and viewings. Damian 020 8455 7733. Email Telephone 01895 634610 07973 833429 07812 118821 [email protected] 07917 627992 [email protected]

To place a classified ad in Ariel please telephone 020 7878 2313 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, you may post your ad to: Ariel Advertising, Ten Alps Media, One New Oxford Street, High Holborn, London WC1A 1NU To place an ad online go to www.bbcarielads.com Ariel Advert 2009-11-02:30th MARCH 2004 Page 12[1].qx 02/11/2009 12:10 Page 1

14 Jobs See Attachment JOBS

PROGRAMME MAKING —————————————— —————————————— TECHNOLOGY Broadcast Journalists, Senior Policy Adviser Executive Editor, News Channel London London White City Technical Architect TV Centre London Great to London 7D/Ref: 21070809 9D/Ref: 20011809 Broadcast Centre Media E C 05-Nov-09 SM2/Ref: 21163709 C 15-Nov-09 A 07 months —————————————— Village C 15-Nov-09 —————————————— Commercial Manager 10D/Ref: 21084609 —————————————— Broadcast Journalists C 10-Nov-09 London be at uni Producer, Radio 1 (Multimedia) —————————————— London London White City Technical Author Yalding House Bush House 8D/Ref: 21149709 London 7D/Ref: 21125609 7D/Ref: 20829009 E C 23-Nov-09 Broadcast Centre Media Radio Lincolnshire news C 11-Nov-09 E C 10-Nov-09 A 12 —————————————— Village —————————————— months Broadcast Assistant 8D/Ref: 21084509 editor Maggie Curtis Network Development —————————————— (Satellite Co-ordinator) C 10-Nov-09 Assistant Producer Broadcast Journalist, London —————————————— enjoys her return Cardiff News Interactive 5D/Ref: 21058009 Senior Software 7D/Ref: 18395109 Bristol C 12-Nov-09 A 06 months Engineer to the academic world E C 10-Nov-09 A 06 5/7D/Ref: 21180109 —————————————— London months E C 12-Nov-09 White City Team Assistant, So how long are the holidays? It was the ques- —————————————— —————————————— Direction Office 8D/Ref: 16263309 Assistant Promotions Broadcast Journalist, E C 14-Nov-09 tion on most people’s lips when I told them that I London was being ‘loaned’ to the University of Lincoln and Producer (Job Share) BBC Lincolnshire White City —————————————— London Lincoln 4D/Ref: 21264309 Producer Moderation the city’s community radio station for a year. But Services for anyone who thinks returning to academia after 5/7D/Ref: 21139209 C 10-Nov-09 6D/Ref: 20157309 London E C 10-Nov-09 —————————————— Broadcast Centre Media years as an sbj is a holiday, think again... E C 02-Nov-09 A 06 —————————————— My main three objectives were to meet ‘real’ peo- months Team Assistant Village —————————————— Broadcast Assistant, London 7D/Ref: 20902309 ple and make contacts; develop my management BBC Radio C 10-Nov-09 A 12 months Concerts & Events White City skills and share our current professional standards Gloucestershire —————————————--- with journalism students. Assistant, BBC Proms 3H/Ref: 21106609 London Gloucester Application Support Lincoln’s community radio station, Siren FM, hap- Broadcasting House 3/4H/Ref: 21083609 C 09-Nov-09 A 06 months Specialist pens to be based in the University of Lincoln: my job E C 11-Nov-09 4D/Ref: 21119409 —————————————— London as communities editor was to raise the profile of this E C A 16-Nov-09 Various Head of Employee Broadcast Centre Media 24/7 operation. I also wanted to recruit a diverse —————————————— BUSINESS SUPPORT Relations Post Production ANDZ MANAGEMENT London Village Assistant, BBC Switch White City 7D/Ref: 16381009 London E C 14-Nov-09 Flexi I’ve HR Director, Audio & Under Review/Ref: —————————————— 2D/Ref: 20996009 Music 21188109 C A Network Engineer 08-Nov-09 06 months London E C 09-Nov-09 come SM2/Ref: 21129309 London C 09-Nov-09 Media Centre JOURNALISM back —————————————— NEW MEDIA 7D/Ref: 15852609 Finance Partner, Vision E C 14-Nov-09 Assistant Editor, BBC Productions —————————————--- with Radio York London Technical Project Junior Software York Manager 9D/Ref: 21227209 TV Centre Engineer some E C 16-Nov-09 11D/Ref: 21241909 London London —————————————— E C 15-Nov-09 Broadcast Centre Media —————————————— White City great Assistant Editor, Radio Village Head of High Risk, BBC 5D/Ref: 21152509 Lancashire E C 03-Nov-09 Safety 8D/Ref: 21154909 contacts Blackburn E C 10-Nov-09 —————————————— 9D/Ref: 21119509 London White City —————————————— Problem Manager C 11-Nov-09 A 08 months Senior Accessibility London new base of presenters to move it away from the —————————————— 11D/Ref: 20152209 naturally student-dominated line up. E C 16-Nov-09 Specialist Broadcast Centre Media Senior Broadcast —————————————— London Village It was very different. You can’t expect volunteers Journalist Business Planning Broadcast Centre Media Under Review/Ref: to behave in the same way as salaried, experienced Stornoway, Isle of Lewis Manager Village 21084709 BBC employees. Very few work at the speed of light 8D/Ref: 21088709 8D/Ref: 21145909 C 11-Nov-09 demanded in radio or the tv newsroom, which in E C 03-Nov-09 London C 17-Nov-09 —————————————— White City itself was a lesson. But the commitment of some of —————————————— Production Manager 9D/Ref: 21268509 BBC WORLDWIDE the volunteers, who presented shows at night and E C 16-Nov-09 Business Analyst, BBC on weekends, was impressive. It was refreshing to London / Salford Quays —————————————— ONLINE meet people who were so excited by broadcasting, 8D/Ref: 21069209 Communications Management C London who would love to do the jobs we take for granted. 16-Nov-09 Manager, South Accountant, BIS —————————————— Bristol Broadcast Centre Media London By the time I left I had recruited and trained SBJ - English Regions Village another five community presenters, including a Sport 9D/Ref: 21116909 White City Multi Location C 10-Nov-09 7D/Ref: 21136309 2W/Ref: 20805809 local police officer and a mum who wanted to E C present a programme in Arabic and English. 8D/Ref: 20873109 —————————————— C 10-Nov-09 A 12 months 05-Nov-09 C 12-Nov-09 A 22 months Research Manager, —————————————— —————————————— I finished the year with Lincoln’s first full day of —————————————— Audiences & Marketing, User Experience PA to Chief Operating community radio. We broadcast from a deprived city Assistant Producer housing estate. (Development), BBC BBC Trust Unit Designer Officer, BBC Worldwide Weather London London / Salford Quays London Alongside this I spent time with would-be jour- London Media Centre nalists and producers. To be asked, why do you do 9D/Ref: 20913109 7D/Ref: 20523109 TV Centre 3W/Ref: 21219309 it like that? not only made me think, it challenged 7D/Ref: 21145109 E C 16-Nov-09 A 06 E C 10-Nov-09 months E C 05-Nov-09 some of the methods that had become automatic to C 15-Nov-09 A 15 months —————————————— —————————————— —————————————— —————————————— Junior Designer, Audio me as an experienced journalist. Art Assistant/Junior Broadcast Journalist, Diversity Adviser, BBC Just being there meant I was always on the spot & Music Interactive Designer BBC Parliament Trust Unit London for advice for students and volunteers. It also helped London London the BBC to cement its relationships with the Univer- London Henry Wood House Millbank 9D/Ref: 20912909 Media Centre sity of Lincoln and the community radio station. I’ve 7D/Ref: 21073609 E C 16-Nov-09 A 09 5D/Ref: 21125809 4W/Ref: 21144709 come back with renewed inspiration, great contacts C 08-Nov-09 A 12 months months C 10-Nov-09 A 12 months C 04-Nov-09 and some potential new recruits for the BBC from —————————————— —————————————— —————————————— —————————————— areas we might never have traditionally reached. And, for the record, I got five weeks’ holiday. The FULL DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS loan out didn’t extend to a summer lecture tour! Full details and how to apply are on Gateway at: Vacancies published on this page are open to BBC Staff. Been anywhere nice? https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc02.asp Where indicated (E ), external applicants may also be considered. Send your attachment stories to Clare Bolt Please contact (quoting the appropriate ref.no.): Recruitment BBC HR For assistance contact BBC Recruitment’s Response Team Direct, PO Box 1133, Belfast BT1 9GP Tel: 0370 333 1330. Textphone: on: 0800 082 8080 or 0370 333 1330 028 9032 8478

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

14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 03·11·09 What am I doing here 15 dan clarkson & foreign Jeff Turner bureau CBBC presenters and potted candace story piette masters south america correspondent buenos aires

The wedge of papers we collect every morning from the news-stand currently comes with a series of specially commis- sioned prints of paintings of Argentine and Latin American writers. They are a grisly lot. All old men, with balding pates and baggy, whiskery faces. In other cultures you might find a free calendar or poster. But Buenos Aires has a passion for literature. There are fine bookshops everywhere, with attend- You both started off as actors. been otherwise. So we turned office. We started doing week- must be very good at synopsis. ants who know the stock. And you see peo- Were you at acting school Harry Potter into an hour long ends, and when Ed and Oucho Dan: We’re very good at taking ple reading books in the wonderful cafes. together? show and took it on tour. left we covered weekdays someone else’s hard work and The theatre industry is the largest in Latin Dan: I went to Bretton Hall in afternoons, then mornings shortening it to two minutes. America; many people go, from all social west Yorkshire, which was once So did you pitch ‘Potted Potter’ until they got Iain and Hacker. Jeff: It’s a bizarre and not overly strata. The city also offers a dizzying array called the Rada of the North. to the BBC? It turns out Jeff wasn’t as cute useful talent to have. of cultural workshops and courses. Yoga Jeff: I didn’t go to drama Jeff: They came to us. We were as a little Scottie dog. Dan: JK Rowling loved that we competes with poetry and creative writing school. I went to university in doing Potted Big Brother for Jeff: I try, I do try. took years of her work and alongside chess (taught in primary school!) Plymouth and studied drama Channel 4 and someone from condensed it into an hour. art, theatre, circus skills and philosophy. there. programme development saw So tell me about Potted Pirates At my local swimming pool, the elderly it. and the ‘compressed capers’ Did you have to ask her first? people doing water aerobics chat about So how did you meet? Dan: They told us they were Dan: It’s everything you want- Jeff: Her lawyers were fantas- their Portuguese Dan: We were jobbing actors at looking for new writing and ed to know about pirates in an tic. They could, if they’d want- lessons and cook- Madame Tussauds, filling in presenting talent and would be hour. ed to, have turned around and It’s a labyrinth ery classes. between all the other jobs that in touch in the next year. Then Jeff: And a lot of things you don’t. said no. But my initial were so readily coming in. We three days later they asked us where you impression was auditioned together, hated each to come in for a screen test. Doesn’t she have a reputation very different. It other, then fell in love. Jeff: Unfortunately we were in for being quite litigious? can easily was that the cul- deepest darkest Wales for the ‘I got to tell Dan: I think that’s the people ture was deeply, Ah, the classic rom-com week doing Potter, and our audi- around her; she tolerates us lose yourself darkly corrupt. I formula... ence of 40 needed us. children they like a big sister. She has seen formed this image Jeff: We didn’t hate each other! Dan: There was hardly any sig- the scripts and the reviews, and in a cloud of fury at the airport coming back Dan: I was just trying to add nal, so I only heard that they could turn over the show has done well with from a reporting trip to Bolivia. I was greeted some drama. wanted us to replicate Ed and critics and audience. It’s a lov- by customs officials who opened my box of Oucho’s Big Debate and do a to CBBC or watch ing parody...we’re fans of the technical equipment, found I was carrying How did the idea for Potted competition between cheese books and we never set out to two laptops and told me I would have to pay Potter come about? and New York. the inauguration take the mick. $US3000 of duty for illegal importation. Dan: A friend of mine got me Jeff: I was actually quite a big After many attempts to explain that I used a job as a ‘solo storyteller’ in a Ed and Oucho fan, being an of the first black What have been your CBBC high- it for my job, they insisted they would have bookstore. They asked if I could actor working very odd hours, US president’ lights so far? to impound it. They were of course after a pull together all the Harry Pot- and we were able to piece some- Jeff: I got to tell children that bribe. I finally managed to persuade them ter stories in 20 minutes for thing together. they could turn over to the to allow me to take the laptop back without a book launch. Obviously Jeff CBBC channel or stay on BBC paying the duty. But during their inspection looks a lot like Harry Potter, so What was your screen test? One to watch the inaugura- several valuable items went missing. we made it a two-hander. Dan: We read Ed’s diary and Do you have a stash of pirate tion of the first ever black pres- Now more settled, I struggle to under- Jeff: Randomly, we ended up found that he had left some historians behind closed doors? ident of the United States. That stand this complex culture, the way the past doing it on Richard and Judy money lying around and also Jeff: It’s just the two of us and was my absolute favourite. Oh, pulls so hard at people here, and how the and on the day it went out, a muffin. Jeff searched for the the director. and meeting Ed the Duck. I city often seems inhabited by ghosts. The one of the Blue Peter editors was money and I went through a Dan: We spent four months thought, my eight year old self ghosts of the ‘disappeared’ are strongest; watching. time vortex to a weird land researching dates and pirate would high five me for this. the thousands tortured and killed by the Dan: He’d been trying to make where I found the muffin... history and then we found out Dan: We’ve done the voiceover military government which ended in 1983. the show’s book club more it was a lot funnier to put on for when the Queen dies. That’s There are monuments, plaques and inscrip- exciting: we ended up doing It sounds very Mighty Boosh... a silly hat and go aaarrrrr. It what I’ve told my grandparents. tions on paving stones where they were last Blue Peter for a year. Jeff: There were influences made the show better, but we If the Queen dies, watch CBBC seen or where they were killed. knocking around. have a lot of useless pirate and you’ll hear my voice. My abiding impression is that of sadness, That’s pretty jammy.... information at our disposal. Jeff: We’re the sombre voice of that this great country seems to have lost its Jeff: We were very lucky. Then ...but you got the gig children’s telly. We have to send way. ‘The 4th richest in the world in 1940!’ Blue Peter stopped Jeff: Yup, they asked us if we’d What else are you potting? the kids over to the CBBC chan- taxi drivers and shopkeepers say as they Dan: ....it went on, it stopped us. like to be the new CBBC pre- Dan: We’re doing Potted Panto- nel in case it upsets them. look in disbelief at the antics of their politi- Jeff: ...as far as I’m concerned, senters. mime at Christmas in the West Dan: We give them a choice. cians. They are surprised when I say I like it when we left it stopped. Then Dan: Of course we said we’d End. We’re condensing the six Your monarch has died, but here. It’s fascinating. As one of those dead we realised we had done abso- have to think about it... most famous pantos into one if you want to watch Nev the Argentine writers, Jorge Luis Borges, put it, lutely nothing to raise our hour and doing all the parts. Bear, turn over! Buenos Aires is a labyrinth where you can profile, which was very low but Is there still a broom cupboard? easily lose yourself. still higher than it would have Dan: Yes, but it’s now a sort of That’s quite ambitious. You Interview by Clare Bolt

> CONTACT SUE LLEWELLYN to suggest a colleague for this feature 16 a 03·11·09 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: Has fearless inquisitor Andrew Marr now ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off fallen out with be-quiffed singer Morrissey, per- UPSIDE Being dressed in the fearsome garb of haps due to the views expressed in his recent ▲ Star Wars baddie Darth Maul for Saturday’s Hal- BBC Two series exploring the history of modern loween celebrations didn’t stop business corre- Britain clashing with the Smiths singer’s some- ▲ spondent Joe Lynam (pictured) from chasing what conservative views on the old empire? a breaking news story with all the tenacity of a It would appear so: ‘Marr: there’s no ▲ Sith Lord. Joe got the call from his editor while between me and Morrissey’ trumpeted News at a party, calling his contacts at the treasury as Online last week. Then we remembered that the he took a taxi home. ‘I’m dressed as Darth Maul,’ guitarist in the Smiths is called Johnny Marr. ▲ he announced to his interviewee, who laughed Oh, well… and answered, ‘And I’m dressed as a vampire!’ ▲ Amusing metaphors abound: has the BBC It’s not just senior managers who are feeling turned to the dark side? Or is the treasury suck- the pinch of our brave new world of pay policies. ▲ ing the blood out of the banking system? ‘They don’t pay you very well do they, the BBC?’ moaned Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens) in ▲ between live spots on Radio 2 during Maida Vale’s 75th birthday celebrations. A murmur of ▲ agreement from the star-struck audience of crew and loitering radio types would appear to ▲ suggest that they do not... Was that a smile on Sian Williams’s face as ▲ she followed up a News at Ten report on how one in five British companies won’t pay any ▲ money towards staff Christmas parties this year? Was there just a hint of irony in her cheery ▼ DOWNSIDE Sixteen years after becoming pint- pronouncement of ‘ho ho ho’ after the report, pulling matriarch in EastEnders, one for which somehow neglected to mention the BBC? ▼ Barbara Windsor has announced she is call- Sian wouldn’t be drawn on the matter: ‘News ing it a day to, as she puts it, ‘spend a bit more has managed to find a free venue for our party, ▼ time with my old man, as he’s not getting any though we’ve got to pay for our drinks, which younger’. Perhaps she’ll also the album seems fair,’ she told Green Room. ‘You can’t spend time reflecting on really expect wassailing to come out of the ▼ her achievements over Caution all staff who have taken you’d be wrong. Here are four people licence fee.’ If we knew what ‘wassailing’ was, the years, which are an in-house production course in who may not have messed up too we’d surely agree… ▼ many and varied. In the last 40 years –thanks to an illicit much in the fashion stakes, but can 1976 she was given the deal with a mysterious figure in deep serve as an example: Stephen Frears, The Thick of It producer Adam Tandy has hinted ▼ first ever Rear of the Year White City car park we have your director of The Queen and other films, that the New Labour parodying series may not award, and she once ran team photos. So be careful in your looking a bit like an extra from Animal actually come to an end if the party passes over ▼ a boozer in Bucking- dealings with your friendly neigh- House; Jeremy Paxman displaying an the reins of power in the next election. ‘I don’t hamshire with then bourhood staff newspaper, or you early incarnation of his trademark think we want to let the other side off entirely,’ husband, publican may find your sepia-tinged self from incredulous smirk on a film training he told the Evening Standard. ‘We’re having a ▼ Stephen Hollings - 20 years ago staring out from the course; newsreaders Michael Buerk think about that.’ They’ll be hard pressed to find the latter experi- page. You may think that gigantic col- and Angela Rippon looking, well, another Alastair Campbell (inspiration for foul- ▼ ence no doubt lar, ill-advised moustache or bizarre like they always have done. mouthed force of nature Malcolm Tucker)... aiding her in the pose were a thing of the past, but So play nice. ▼ rendering of her immortal catch- Win a Children in ▼ phrase ‘Get out of my pub!’ sugar gets Need tech cover EARWIGGING stitched up OVERHEARD AT THE BBC Can you imagine a no time. Yes, the chilling olds includes the head knitted Alan Sugar lurk- vision of a four year old of a corpse (it’s a prop, …I brought a spare pair of ing among the rest of child acting out The but jaded crime writ- trousers in today in case your childhood cud- Apprentice using a plush ers looking to crowbar these ones fall apart… dly toys? He’d have the menagerie presided some internet action teddy bears devising an over by a fearsome knit- into their work should …They don’t have any entrepreneurial scheme ted Alan Sugar is surely take note of this po- to make money by wash- an example of kids tential horror plot line, If you’re worried your portable electrical bacon and sausage and ing cars in Lego town in learning about the joys example title: ‘I know equipment is looking a little worse for wear, they haven’t got any sausage of capitalism just a little what you UGC’d last liven it up and trumpet your charitable creden- too young. Fortunately summer), an original tials at the same time with the new Children in and bacon either… the pictured doll is not a take on James Bond, Need phone and mobile covers from wrappz. …How can it be five to 10? All I set out to do merchandising wheeze and plenty of portrai- com. Created in the style of Pudsey’s bandana, from Worldwide (al- ture. It’s great stuff, the Wrappz are made of 3M vinyl and a propor- was write an email!… though…) – he is just one submitted in a variety tion of each sale goes to the charity. Ariel has in 10,000 pieces of ‘user of media – proof multi- four mobile phone covers and one laptop cover …Come and smell my sweaty foot… generated content’ that platform content is the to give away. To win one of these, just answer have been published in future even if the kids this question: Which fruit is also the name for a …Will somebody zip that bear up at the back; BBC Blast’s online gal- are blissfully unaware brand of mobile phone? Email ariel competitions he’s exposing himself!… lery. Other content sent of such acronyms. by November 9, stating mobile or laptop. If into the Blast Showcase tinyurl.com/bbc- mobile, please check on the Wrappz website that …Do butternut squashes grow on trees?… by creative 13-19 year blastshow your phone is one of the models listed.

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