p h otograp 09·03·10 Week 10 THE BBC NEWSPAPER explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel h: D h: omini c L ipinski /PA wire /PA

Richard Sambrook reflects on a long a news career Page 10

Time to listen: ◆ ‘Public consultation means what it says,’ declares Mark Thompson amid continuing controversy over his plans

selling the strategy ◆ Staff question DG ◆ Website can’t do ◆ Davie defends plans about review everything, says for Asian Network and proposals Page 2 Huggers Page 3 6 Music Page 4

> NEWS 2-6 WEEK AT WORK 7 OPINION 10 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 162 News aa 00·00·08 09·03·10 a 09·03·10 News 3 STRATEGy REVIEW OUTREACH: a WORRIES

Room 2316, White City Nobody 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS Q A 020 8008 4228 & where YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS else is

Editor Candida Watson 02-84222 Why close 6 Music when it serves journalism on the Asian Network What about jobs? Where will any cuts be applied to We will want to keep control of crit- doing this an area the commercial sector and that has come to benefit the en- I know the strategic change of local radio; are they planning more ical brands like Top Gear and oth- Deputy editor currently has no interest in? tire BBC. We’ve struggled to use a sin- direction around the web and ra- shared output and when will the ers. Radio Times is not BBC brand- by Claire Barrett Cathy Loughran 02-27360 The director The issue with 6 is it doesn’t reach gle radio network to reach what is an dio, in particular, mean uncertainty changes start? ed but there’s a clear link with the Chief writer a very big audience and it is quite incredibly diverse audience. There is for staff, but this is about investing This is planned as a re-distribu- BBC in the public’s mind. Hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks attended a Sally Hillier 02-26877 general spent an expensive. If you built it up it no other audience we would attempt in new content and programmes tion within local radio. We want But over time the strategic direc- song writing session on the BBC Blast Features editor would be competing more to serve with a single radio station. and it will mean new opportunities to shift money to spend more on tion of Worldwide will be away from tour and are now recording their first Clare Bolt 02-27445 hour last week aggressively with mainstream com- We will work hard to ensure that the and jobs being created. The 600 fig- local newsgathering and a little things like magazines and into dig- album. AJ Odudau came through Blast’s Broadcast Journalists mercial radio. Dropping any BBC money and talent from the Asian ure is reasonable to use for the are- more on getting the key journalis- ital. We don’t know what the pre- creative traineeship to become a present- Claire Barrett 02-27368 answering staff service is a painful and difficult Network is used elsewhere. We look as of the BBC which might be affect- tic ‘shoulders’ of the schedule, ie cise solution is going to be. What- er for BBC Switch. And Bristol woman Adam Bambury 02-27410 decision but in our view it is better to local radio, network radio and tv ed but the net effect will be much breakfast, drivetime and midday, ever we end up doing with them, Fliss, who was living in a car, moved from Rumeana Jahangir 02-27630 questions about to go ahead with two strong music to ensure we reflect our very diverse smaller. It’s going to happen over as good and as strong as we possi- the success story of these magazines three months on a Blast radio production and the people who work for them AV Manager stations [Radios 1 and 2]. Asian audiences. years, and I believe our chances of bly can... We know that really local scheme into a job in Boots and a perma- dealing with all of the job issues relevance is critical to the local ra- is going to go on. nent address. Peter Roach 02-24622 the details of the How much pressure will it take to What is the timetable and process largely through redeployment and dio audience in those key day parts; The legacy benefits of the BBC’s youth Art editor strategy review, persuade you to keep 6 Music? to establish clarity over the 25 vacancies and people deciding to elsewhere we think slightly more Where is the £600 million we keep creativity service are multi-faceted and Ken Sinyard 02-84229 Public consultation means what it percent cuts to online? leave are very good indeed. shared content will still be relevant hearing about coming from? deep rooted, says Myles Runham, head of Digital Design Executive as it became says. It’s appropriate we listen. But This is the biggest single change, the and we can do it with the resourc- We hope to shift about 3 percent of interactive learning. ‘What Blast is trying to David Murray 02-27380 we are here to serve 26m house- biggest movement of money and Why close Switch? Justify your es we’ve got to a higher standard. the licence fee, about £110m, out do is have a meaningful impact on people’s clear that much holds and the business of how you strategy in the proposals. We want reasons for closing Blast The hope is by moving the money of the costs of running the BBC lives. Whether we can do that through around we’ll improve the quality, into content. Guest contributors this week balance licence fee spend inevita- to do it carefully and properly, over We are fundamentally a broadcast- broadcasting is a tougher argument.’ is still to be bly might leave some people feeling time, involving content divisions er, rather than an educational out- stem some of the audience losses, The reductions in some services But it’s an argument that underpins hard done by. But if you don’t have with FM&T in the decisions. We want reach. We have to ask, to what and do it within the resources we [such as] acquired programming, Mark Thompson’s proposal to axe the Georgie Bevan brings the younger worked out. that potential the danger is of the to focus our website. It’s enormous, extent is it part of our mission to have available. the website, will get you to nearly service. The dg believes that more of the audience viewpoint to News BBC ossifying. We need the flexibil- with hundreds of top level be involved in that and can we ever another £100m. target 13-19 year-old audience can be planning. Page 14 Here are a ity to invest in some parts and take domains... When we come to web put enough money into Blast or Is Radio Times going to be sold The other £400m is already reached through programmes. money for others. I ask those who original content we will focus it Switch to reach enough young peo- off? Are BBC Magazines going to in budgets locked into different Runham argues, though, that ‘to Michael Voss on treading selection of the are passionate about 6 to step back round our five categories, so when ple? We don’t have the money to be sold, and when? channels and services, and we reach the hard to reach you have to go a delicate path with the Cuban and look at the totality of services. you look at the web you know you are build Switch into a really credible Magazines have an incredible herit- want controllers, commissioners out and find them – both in physical and authorities to organise live tv from questions – going to get great journalism, great resource, and even if we were to age in the BBC; we have a very suc- and other staff to focus on mov- virtual communities’. Havana. Page 15 Does the closure of the Asian content for children and so on. We have it we would be bumping into cessful magazine business. It’s abso- ing that money into high quality It’s what BBC Blast has been doing for and answers Network not reinforce the view in are going to work our way – with the Channel 4. lutely not about a fire sale, or even content which backs up our prior- inner cities that the BBC is a white, teams – through what that means on Broadcast services to the public that there is going to be a straight- ities. For example on BBC One can middle class organisation? the ground and how we can ensure must come first. We’ll still do out- forward sell-off of the magazine we shift towards really significant Ariel mail I don’t accept that. Over recent what we spend on the web goes to reach but, in future, more of it will division – that would not be a home grown drama, like 5 Days, [email protected] years we’ve put more money into those priority areas. be done through partners. good idea. like last year’s Occupation? Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 Erik HUGGERS insists that too many sites just don’t cut it ONLINE: REaction Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS Advertise in Ariel the last six years. An online team of 12 Ten Alps Media 020 7878 2313 runs the Blast website which provides interactive tips and tools for young cre- www.bbcarielads.com teams are left to wonder atives, portfolio space for them to up- Printing The days of doing load content, messageboards and advice Garnett Dickinson Group where the axe might fall on media opportunities. The ‘safe, crea- Rotherham 01709 768000 tive learning space’ has 40,000 to 120,000 Subscribe to Ariel unique users each week. everything are over by Cathy Loughran as mud,’ said one of the website’s A 12-strong outreach team oversees Six months: £26, £36, £40 senior content producers. all face-to-face activity, engaging around Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 by Cathy Loughran of sections could be misleading. ‘It linking to external sites, we think Across FM&T and the content Chowdhury adds: ‘A lot of the 250,000 young people each year – 40 per- (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world means what it says on the tin – 200 that advances in technology will let divisions there is clearly frustra- websites singled out to go (in- cent of them from black and minority respectively) ‘There used to be a saying about the fewer TLDs,’ he says. us automate more, and investment tion that there is no real indi- cluding celebdaq, /sportdaq, /na- ethnic backgrounds. At its heart is the 27 Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, BBC – that where there was a vacu- So why ask the trust to slash the in new platforms will allow us to de- cation yet where the online axe turestop40, /jamiekane and /bb- week Blast tour that travels the UK with Brookfields Way, Manvers, um, we’d fill it. Well, those days are BBC Online service licence budg- liver in more efficient ways.’ might fall and which jobs might cpartners) have been taken down its mobile media village, working along- Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL over,’ says Erik Huggers. et (£133.8m last year) by 25 percent, Unlike with the plans to close 6 be under threat. already and aren’t the kind of side around 600 partners. Tel 01709 768199 That mentality, coupled with alongside ‘a corresponding reduction Music and the Asian Network, where ‘When Creative Future was an- sites that have teams behind them Pinball site: fun but baffling Blast also offers around 400 work-relat- INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY the limitless shelf space of the in staffing levels’, as Mark Thompson savings would be reinvested in dig- nounced we knew that day which so removing them has no impact ed learning placements – from creating a web – compared with broadcast talks about the web becoming the ital radio, the 25 percent would go teams would be affected,’ says Nay- on costs or staffing. It’s hard to see content, as damaging to the web- fashion label to taking over at 1Xtra. Telephone 0800 0688 159 media, reined in by spectrum – is only platform and delivery system the outside online activity, he confirms. eema Chowdhury, interactive pro- where the savings will be made.’ site’s reputation. His estimate is ‘BBC Blast is firmly about skills devel- Ceefax Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 how bbc.co.uk ‘grew like Topsy’. BBC will eventually need? On the detail of what will close ducer in A&M. ‘Cuts of 25 percent Another online manager that a third of existing web pag- opment with the ability to cross over into Ariel is produced by Internal Despite ‘pruning, deleting and archiv- Huggers agrees that the top line and whether it will actually mean is a big announcement yet we’ll be told Ariel he thought the pro- es are never visited and the BBC’s broadcasting,’ says Sian Lord-Baptiste, Communications for people at the BBC ing’ over the last two years, to get the of the review is quality, not effi- a quarter less staff working on on- waiting months for any clarity.’ posal to halve the numbers own monitoring suggests that BBC Blast outreach editor. ‘Nobody else is website’s top line directories (TLDs) ciency, but within a refocusing on line content – a figure the unions fitt; Richard Deverell, COO of BBC news and sport. This much greater She also questions how a pub- of TLDs was ‘a red herring’ – news, sport, weather, iPlayer and delivering this.’ down to 400, that’s still 200 too many, Thompson’s five new criteria (the fear could be around 400 – Huggers North; and BBC Scotland controller focus on getting it right is the BBC lic consultation can be held when more a rearrangement than a the homepage account for around Her team, who see their work as a vo- reasons the director of FM&T. world’s best journalism; inspiring insists: ‘It’s way too early to tell,’ al- Ken MacQuarrie. finally acknowledging the internet the public can’t be told exactly paring back. He welcomed an em- 80 percent of usage. cational choice, are ‘surprised, angry, dis- ‘To make a site attractive, knowledge, music and culture; am- though he says the work already be- Its remit is to set a strategy for as its third key platform. what is being cut. She and others phasis on quality, if it brought ‘I think the message [from the re- appointed, demotivated… and wondering interesting and of clear public val- bitious UK drama and comedy; out- gun by the online direction group online for the next three years. ‘The website had more than 29m query the fixing of the 25 percent everything up to the standard of view] for the website is to be less casu- where else they are going to do this’. PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL ue it needs to be refreshed, updated, standing children’s content; events he chairs would be looking across ‘I understand why what’s pro- unique UK users a week in January, budget cut, how the savings will iPlayer and News Online, point- ally innovative,’ he said. ‘For instance, If the door does close says Runcorn, it editorially relevant and of high that bring communities and the na- FM&T and all the content divisions. posed looks like a U-turn, but it’s ex- with appreciation measures high,’ he be found and what a cut of 50 per- ing to defunct or ‘legacy’ sites – where does a fun but baffling site like may cut off an important talent source. quality. The truth is there are a large tion together), he sees opportunities The new group, a sub-committee actly the opposite,’ Huggers says. adds. ‘There’s no way we’ll do a U-turn.’ cent in top level directories will including some old local pages bbc.co.uk/pinball/ fit with anything?’ ‘For the BBC Blast is an opportunity number of sites that don’t meet to drive better value for money. of the executive board, also includes ‘There is fantastic work going on Or in strategy review speak: ‘The look like. and sites like bbc.co.uk/otr, built However, he thought that the to bring in talent outside the normal those criteria.’ ‘This won’t be a 25 percent sav- online controller Seetha Kumar; di- in the online business, including website that emerges from these ‘While the 25 percent cash cut for the former political tv pro- whole commissioning system was mould. For young people it is about see- Huggers doesn’t accept that halv- ing across the board. But alongside rector of archive content Roly Keat- in mobile, around applications, up- changes should still reach a wide au- is real enough, what a halving of gramme On The Record – which no in need of an overhaul. ‘Maybe this ing the BBC as a relevant employer. For ing and consolidating the number doing more to help the industry by ing; Radio 1 controller Andy Par- dated search and a refresh for both dience.’ sections actually means is clear longer link to any current BBC will be the start of that process.’ both sides it is a realisation of potential.’

> ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< 4 News a 09·03·10 Radio services growing anger at plans to make asian output more local

existing, hugely successful national Asian Network channels, offering extras which en- tice listeners to digital services. staff hope that So the charge that 6 Music must remain a stand-alone station is one he a newly-launched doesn’t accept. ‘There’s a distinction between 6 Music as a network and as campaign will programming. Where programmes fit with Radio 2 there may be oppor- help to save tunities, but we also have this dig- ital spectrum, plus we have Online their station and we have opportunities to explore where the most valuable parts of 6 by Candida Watson Music go so they don’t get lost.’ The campaign to save 6 is high pro- The storm that greeted the pro- file, with online petitions and cam- posal to close 6 Music – which began paign groups, musicians, the BPI and blowing weeks before the strategy AIM, the Glastonbury festival organ- review was published – initially over- isers, and music journalists all call- shadowed the news that the Asian ing for the proposal to be dropped. A Network was also to lose its single sta- blog by Davie explaining the think- tion identity. ing behind the change did nothing to The strategy review suggests the Reaching the parts that other parts of the media don’t reach: Asian Network presenter Bobby Friction assuage the critics. ‘You can’t expect diverse British Asian communi- to placate the licence fee payers who ty could be better served by locally from national output. head of programmes, agrees with Network is now gathering pace, with love a radio station with a few radio based output, radio, online and pos- ‘There are few outlets which have some points but says the picture is more than 100 British Asians signing programmes,’ wrote one, while an- sibly tv. But it’s all up for debate. Tim access to the people, or indeed the more complex than a simple shut- a letter to the Guardian, calling for other said: ‘No one to date has direct- Davie, director of Audio and Music, appetite, to unearth the stories we down of the station. ‘We reach an the plan to be dropped. Tim Davie ar- ly addressed any of the main points told Ariel: ‘I think it’s important to do. Through us the BBC gets an idea audience other parts of the BBC and gues that as a national station Asian of our arguments regarding the clo- stress that this is one option and we of what’s going on in what is now the other mainstream media don’t. A lot Network has been less successful at sure of 6 Music.’ need to ensure that as we develop it largest ethnic minority in Britain,’ of what we do could be even better building a sense of community for The BBC Trust, which recently gave we are creating very strong audience says newsreader Sona Patel. under a franchise system, but we’re its audience than the local services it 6 Music a good review while suggest- propositions. We must learn from Her colleague Kalpana Patel says: not there yet.’ grew from. Listening figures have de- ing it needed to grow to be worth- the history of what has and hasn’t ‘Asians have no real voice in the main- He repeated a point others have clined, and its relevance is being test- while, will be the arbiter. worked with this audience.’ stream other than a token glance. made: ‘My staff feel we are struggling ed by the diversity of British Asians. Davie accepts that the public out- He said Asian Network staff would I will find another job, but what a for attention because Asian Network He says the need to drive digital cry could save 6 Music. ‘We’ve said we be closely involved in the discussion, waste for my community, whose real hasn’t got a Sting or a David Bowie radio take-up is, paradoxically, one can refocus this money and deliver describing them as ‘the experts’. life struggles will never really be speaking out. The artists we support of the reasons for closing two digit- more value. If the trust recommends The overriding concern of staff heard over the noise of the non-stop are not in the mainstream and our al radio stations. BBC management we focus it on the current construc- who have spoken to Ariel is that the music of commercial Asian radio.’ audience doesn’t Twitter.’ believes the money and output can be tion then of course we’ll do that to voices of Asian Britain will vanish Husain Husaini, Asian Network But the campaign to save the Asian better targeted at the corporation’s the best of our abilities.’

Refocus for BBC Two and BBC Four

ative of the channel’. As it happens, BBC Four broadcast Bennett looks to ‘state of the nation’ a programme about Skippy on the day the strategy review was published, along with a documentary called Paws, Claws pieces as bar is raised on originality and Videotape, providing ready ammuni- tion for Jeremy Paxman in his Newsnight interview with Mark Thompson. by Sally Hillier part thriller The Shadow Line, written by restate things.’ Skippy (‘cast and crew discuss work- Hugo Blick, and – as part of a special Comedy wise, the aim is to use BBC ing with their marsupial co-stars’) and BBC Two is a notable winner of season on the 1980s – The Royal Wedding Two as a launch pad for ‘new main- Paws, Claws and Videotape (a look at how the strategy review, which proposes and Worried About the Boy (a biopic of stream’ content. the likes of Flipper, Lassie and Clarence that it gets an extra £25m a year from Boy George). ‘The network is a great starting the cross-eyed lion ‘rose to fame and 2013 – a hefty boost, but then the net- ‘What we’re talking about here are point [for comedy],’ says Bennett. coped with stardom’) were part of a work is earmarked for some pretty big state of the nation pieces,’ says Jana Ben- ‘Think of its heritage with programmes season exploring the use of animals in ideas, the realisation of which won’t nett, director of BBC Vision, who wants such as The Royle Family, Absolutely Fabu- film. Eyebrows might have been raised come cheap. viewers to get a sense that they can ‘ex- lous and The Office.’ at this programme line-up but it should The plan is to re-establish it as ‘the pect drama more often on BBC Two’. On BBC Four, however, a reduction be pointed out that BBC Four’s March home of intelligent and ambitious dra- In factual, strong, authored works, in entertainment and comedy is pro- 2 schedule also included Rise Up Reggae ma, comedy and factual’ – program- such as Andrew Marr’s History of Modern posed as the network is ‘refocused’ to Star, about reggae musicians, and Lives ming with large price tags attached. Britain, are also seen as the way to go. complement BBC Two, with a greater of Others, an Oscar-winning German film On the drama front the intention As to whether the pledge to raise concentration on arts, music, knowl- set in East Berlin in the 1980s. is to have more ‘signature’ work along quality and originality isn’t simply a edge and culture. ‘I define culture in Where Bennett envisages a really the lines of House of Saddam, which restatement of the obvious, Bennett quite a wide way,’ asserts Bennett. ‘Sci- strong role for BBC Four in the charted the rise and fall of Saddam says: ‘Of course we always try to be orig- ence, for example, is part of culture.’ future is building a relationship with Hussein. Forthcoming productions inal but we have to strive hard and And so too, she says, is Skippy, the the BBC archive. The digital channel which, it is hoped, will follow in that encourage producers to keep raising fictional bush kangaroo, who is ‘part of House of Saddam: an example ‘could be a doorway through the programme’s footsteps include the six- their game. Sometimes it’s good to our culture but by no means represent- of strong ‘signature’ work archive’, she believes. a 09·03·10 News 5 Chairman explains what trust will do now reviewing the review As the governing body of the in-depth research. This will in- ‘The Director General’s BBC, the trust’s role is to set the clude consultation events with in- overall strategy for the corpora- dustry and audiences, discussion proposals have tion. In essence that means de- with the trust’s Audience Coun- ciding what it should do more of cils in the four nations of the UK generated huge debate and what it should do less of. and analysis of existing audience To this end, back in July last research. both inside and outside year, the trust challenged the di- We aim to publish final con- rector general to come up with clusions on the shape of the over- the BBC,’writes proposals for the future direction all strategy by the autumn, but of the BBC. We felt it was the right hope to have clarity on some are- Michael Lyons time to do this in part because of as by the summer. The key thing the changed economic picture is that these conclusions will be ‘Many parts of the and in part because of the huge guided by the public. explosion in digital media. As I have said there are areas BBC will potentially be But we also instigated the re- we already agree with, such as the view because, after three years of greater emphasis on quality, clear- touched by the out- working closely with audiences, er boundaries for the BBC’s web- our conclusion was that, in addi- site and the five priorities that un- come of this process, tion to considering specific serv- derpin the report. But there will ices, we needed to take a com- agree with and some we wish lic consultation that will run be tough decisions to be made. so I thought it would be prehensive look at the overall to explore further. until May 25. I am clear that now is the right direction of the BBC. We will be testing the pro- We are inviting the public to time to make those decisions about helpful to say a bit about So eight months later we now posals over the coming weeks send their views on the strategy the future direction of the BBC. have the director general’s pro- to make sure that the detail review proposals into us via our As the Trust takes this review for- the thinking behind the posals, which the trust has been matches the promise. To help website. We are already seeing a ward, we will work painstakingly to engaging with him on over re- us do this, and in line with strong response. That says much ensure we arrive at final conclu- review and where we go cent weeks. The trust welcomes our role as the representatives about the importance of the BBC sions that serve the best inter- the general direction they set out. of licence fee payers, we have to the public. ests of the BBC’s shareholders – from here There are some specific areas we now launched a 12 week pub- We will also carry out further licence fee payers.’

For decades the United Kingdom has en- enues straight back into content. Further, also to its UK focus. Many of the new players Director of strategy joyed higher levels of domestic media pro- pay platforms allocate very little to tv origi- are not based in the UK, and feel no obliga- duction and content spending per head than nations: around two-thirds of Sky’s program- tion to contribute to or make prominent our John Tate says UK almost any other country in the world. UK ming budget is spent on sports rights and culture. audiences have grown up expecting and receiv- films, which doesn’t benefit the indie sector Finally, increased competition across the production needs more ing a constant diet of extremely high-quality much and which isn’t available to all of Sky’s value chain drives up supply costs. Broadcast- domestic content, whether two-hour episodes own subscribers. ers are now bidding directly against device investment than ever of Inspector Morse or seminal natural history Were absolute levels of spend stable across manufacturers and platform operators for like Life on Earth – all without a subscription free-to-air channels, this rights and talent. Rising pric- and, on the BBC, without advertising. may be nothing to wor- es further threaten the abili- While this standard and quantity of output ry about. But revenues ty of broadcasters to deliver is considered normal in the UK, one glance at of all advertising-funded high quality content. schedules abroad shows it to be anything but. companies have come un- The BBC’s strategy review In the two longest-developed broadcasting der strain, with the emer- published last week, Putting Why we markets, the United States and continental Eu- gence of the internet as a Quality First, was linked rope, very different traditions dominate. Much competitor for traditional squarely to the context I of European broadcasting has gone down the media spend; the relent- have set out here – boosting ‘cheap and cheerful’ route, with content spend less expansion of digital investment in high-quality focused increasingly efficiently on what drives advertising inventory driv- content when it is needed must audiences to adverts, while in the US a higher ing prices down; and the more than ever. level of programme investment is maintained recession. Consequently, To support a more ex- but only through highly selective subscriber budgets for original UK ternal focus for the BBC be- packages. content are under con- ‘Budgets yond the strategy review, Can British exceptionalism survive? Or will stant pressure and mon- my team – Policy & Strategy focus on we inevitably end up going down the Europe- ey is coming out of less (P&S) – has been expanding an or US routes? There has been a great deal profitable genres like chil- for original its internal communications of attention focused on the troubles facing dren’s and regional news. around significant market public service broadcasting in the UK. But a The convergence of UK content trends. P&S now puts togeth- fact often lost in the debate is that billions of broadcast and internet er a brief weekly update; the quality pounds of new money are flowing into the sec- technologies is further are under monthly Media Market In- tor. It’s just that this extra money isn’t flow- changing the structure sider newsletter highlight- ing back into content production at anything of the traditional media ing important market issues like the rate that it has in the past. value chain. Platform pressure’ affecting the BBC; and an in- This is primarily because commercial fund- operators, device manu- dustry dashboard summaris- ing the health of various media sub-sectors. content ing for tv is increasingly coming from sub- facturers and other new competitors are com- scription. Pay operators do not invest in orig- ing between content providers and their audi- All are discussed at the BBC Direction Group inal content at anything like the levels that ences in an intermediary or ‘gatekeeper’ role. but also available to staff who want to access advertising-funded broadcasters do. Well un- This allows new players to take a cut of reve- them. Visit our intranet site to learn more der 40 percent of Sky’s revenues go towards nues, and reduce the amount left to reinvest and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with its programme spend, while the main free in content creation. And this is not just a risk us if there’s specific information you’re look- channel operators plough half of their rev- to the total volume of original content, but ing for.

6 News a 09·03·10 Audio and NEWS BITES Katie Taylor, executive editor, com- Music festival – edy entertainment, has been appoint- He’s on the ball ed head of entertainment and events, succeeding Jon Beazley, who is leaving is bitter sweet the BBC. She will be the first woman to run the in-house department and by Kate Arkless Gray will be responsible for shows such and so are they as Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear and ‘If they ever do anything to Radio 4 swinden ed photograph: Dragons’ Den. I’ll leave the country,’ quipped actor by Rumeana Jahangir Bill Nighy as he gave a drama master- BBC Worldwide has concluded a class at the Audio and Music Festival. ‘Do you find it hard not to deal to buy the remaining 40 percent ‘I love the radio. I started out on the swear during match commen- stake in 2 entertain, the publisher of radio. I was apprenticed to the radio.’ tary?’ ‘What’s the biggest load video and music, for £17m. 2 enter- The festival was held on the same of rubbish you‘ve ever read tain was created as a 60:40 joint ven- day as the strategy review was pub- about yourself?’ and ‘What are ture with Woolworths Group. lished, but ‘the mood was pretty my chances of getting into ra- good, considering’, said senior pro- dio broadcasting?’ Four solo singers, a female trio ducer Hugh Garry, who hosted a ses- These were just some of the and a five-piece group will compete sion on creativity on a budget. questions lobbed at football in Your Country Needs You!, on March 12 James Stirling, who produces the commentator Guy Mowbray, on BBC One, to decide who represents Adam and Joe show on 6 Music, talk- former Arsenal player Martin the UK in this year’s Eurovision Song ed about involving the audience in Keown and other people con- Contest. The song is being produced creating content, which then could nected to BBC Sport at a World Football focus: Martin Keown by Pete Waterman and long-time col- be used online via the blog. Cup day for students last week. demonstrates his skills laborator Mike Stock. Radio futurologist and former BBC More than 200 students man James Cridland discussed les- from 15 universities in the A Planet Earth Live show, featur- sons that could be learned from sta- north of England packed into a dience and reveal some of the Sport staff] to come here and ing the best moments from the tv se- tions around the world. Providing BBC Manchester studio where mysteries of sport production see that.’ ries in high definition on a big screen transcripts of programmes and bul- sports broadcaster Jacqui Oat- as well as entertaining them Joe Mariner, who won the with live orchestra, will go on tour in letins to create more searchable con- ley hosted Q&A sessions with with some of our stories.’ chance to interview Mow- the US this summer. Planet Earth com- tent, allowing developers access to Mowbray and Keown. Oatley, who did a jour- bray in front of his fellow stu- poser George Fenton will conduct the application programming interfac- The young visitors tried nalism diploma in Sheffield dents, said: ‘It’s inspiring. I orchestra at the shows – to be held in es – to build apps using BBC content, their hand at match commen- before joining the BBC, said: think Manchester is the place Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and LA. and using images alongside radio tary, learned about the skills ‘I would have loved to have at- to be now rather than London broadcasts to create a more powerful needed to be a football reporter tended an open day like this.’ in terms of sports but I’m not Tim Westwood is to front a Radio experience were among his ideas. and how to direct live football Sport will be moving to the picky. I just want a job.’ 1 and 1Xtra campaign to encourage The day ended with the A&M coverage. A week’s placement new Salford site next year, and Film and media student listeners to become ‘local heroes’ by Awards, which saw Terry Wogan’s in the run-up to the World Cup the day proved useful for show- Taran Jefferson, who attended volunteering in their own areas. Start- producer Alan Boyd honoured for his was also up for grabs. ing the BBC that there is no a sports reporting workshop ing on April 18, the week long drive work ensuring the smooth transition Shelley Alexander, outreach shortage of talent and enthusi- held by Radio Manchester’s will run across radio and online with to the Chris Evans breakfast show. manager and former assistant asm in the region. United reporter Steve Wyeth, information on how to get involved editor at Football Focus, said: ‘It Liza Booth, who works for said: ‘The day was really pro- and links to local organisations. [BBC Sport] is a magical place BBC North and came up with ductive. I’d love to work in BBC to work. I think it’s essential the idea of World Cup Day, Sport journalism. I’d love to do Inside Out (North East & Cum- Now over to that we reach out to our au- said: ‘It’s really positive [for what he [Wyeth] is doing.’ bria) won the current affairs produc- tion category of the RTS North East Awards. Picture editor Robin Brown our young won a craft post-production and special effects award, and My Strike, reporters Fresh effort launched to reunite produced by the North East team for BBC Four, was named best factual pro- Interviews with the three main po- gramme in the broadcast category. litical party leaders, a world record missing people with loved ones attempt for the largest interactive Krishan Arora, BBC independents weather report, and a link-up between executive, has been appointed Out of children in London and Haiti will by Candida Watson London indies’ champion, as part of be among the highlights of School the Network Supply Review. He will Report News Day, on March 11. A third series of BBC One Daytime’s Miss- continue to work alongside the gen- Thousands of young reporters will ing Live gets under way on March 15. re commissioning teams, heads of be involved. There will be contribu- Presenter Louise Minchin will anchor, programmes and network commis- tions to the BBC’s national, regional, while Rav Wilding gets out and about sioning execs in the nations, and also local and international outlets and talking to people who have been found, with the senior team in BBC North to schools will publish items on their and telling their stories. deliver the Out of London plans. own websites, to which the School In the first week the programme Report website will link. will feature a daily report from actress Linda Smith has been voted favour- Two live channels will run between Pauline Quirke, filmed with the Metro- ite female comedian by Radio 7 lis- 9am and 4pm on both the School politan Police Missing Persons’ Unit on teners. Smith died of cancer in 2006, Report site and the red button. FM&T the streets of Hackney, which happens since when a memorial fund has been will pilot a new type of radio visuali- to be where she grew up. She says: ‘What set up in her name in tandem with sation that allows audiences to see in- really struck me is the passion the offic- Trail: Rav Wilding with Sussex search and rescue team the charity Target Ovarian Cancer. teractive content as they listen. ers have for the job – it matters to them. Helen Shreeve, overall editor, This is not the sexy side of policing. I Derbyshire. Nor is it just children fleeing unhap- mark thompson will attend the says: ‘School Report isn’t a competi- couldn’t do it for a living.’ py homes who go missing; adults can find the BBC Black and Asian Forum’s AGM tion when a few lucky children get to Quirke also stars in the associated drama, pressure of their lives too much to bear and walk on March 18 in the 3rd Floor Board present the news. Every school gets to Missing, broadcast every afternoon of the run. It away. Fiona Phillips meets Mayah, whose family Room, Media Centre, from 6-8pm. broadcast for real by publishing their follows the cases of a fictional missing persons’ disapproved so strongly of her choice of husband news on their school website.’ unit, run by Quirke’s character. she felt she had no option but to disappear. Tom Edwards, transport corre- Marie Helly, radio team leader, In the second week Missing Live will retrace Throughout the fortnight Louise Minchin will spondent for BBC London News, was agrees the project gives young people the steps of an individual who went missing at be joined in the studio by the family and friends named best journalist in the London the chance to speak for themselves one point in their life, and who discusses the of people who are currently missing. They hope Transport Awards organised by Trans- rather than be spoken about. ‘We’ve experience with a celebrity. So Dominic Little- that an extra bit of publicity might lead to their port Times. already got so many stories.’ wood talks to 18 year old Zac, who started run- loved ones being found. During last year’s series Reham Khan, Southampton broad- ning away from home when he was just six; Gail 11 of the missing people featured were traced, You can now search Gateway from cast journalist and mentor, describes Porter talks to Jess, who went missing as a teen- and this year some of them will be reunited with your web browser toolbar – tinyurl. School Report as BBC public service. ager and has now set up a runaways’ project in the people who helped find them. com/gatewaysearch a 09·03·10 week@work 7 photograph: jeff overs jeff photograph: CHANGING BBC IN ACTION When Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams returned home to Bath she PLACES got a bigger reception than she’d been expecting, thanks to Points Radio 1’s recent signing Matt West. Judith Hollingsworth, plan- Edmondson will be stepping in ner for the regional programme, for Sara Cox while she goes on had spent the previous ten days or- maternity leave… ganising an open-top bus tour of Adam Heyhurst (pictured) the city for the first British wom- leaves Children in Need after three an to win an individual winter years to become visualisation pro- Olympics gold in 58 years. Roads ducer at Radio 1/1Xtra… were closed as people turned out Ann Farragher rejoins the BBC to cheer their local star. as head of marketing for Radio 5 Stephanie Marshall, Points West live, on a six editor, said: ‘It was an amazing month con- sight. As the bus turned in towards tract, while the Guildhall the crowd was 15 Caren deep on the pavement and, even Davies though Amy is a tough woman, I’m has been sure I saw a tear in her eye.’ appoint- The event was live on the One ed to the O’Clock News, 5 live, Radio Bristol, role of Online and, of course, Points West. head of Pictured: Amy Williams with her communica- medal, cameraman Andy Alcroft tions, Radio 1, 1Xtra, Asian Net- work, Switch and BBC Introducing. trusted me to have a go instead! styling hair. Subsequently, with UK or the NSPCC. As an ex-can- Noreen Adams, head of media shamEless It went well and so she recom- my work in video operations, I’ve cer patient, Cancer Research UK management, will be joining Infor- mended me to friends and family been asked to do hair for numer- is very close to my heart. The mation and Archives as the new plug and it developed from there... ous presenters before they go in NSPCC is just a favourite char- head of metadata for the BBC… I’ve worked at Bush House for front of the camera. It’s always ity of mine and I wanted people Peter O’Kane joins the BBC as Laith Shewayish, senior almost 15 years and I started cut- great fun and we invariably have to have a choice. I really enjoy director of supplier management studio manager, World ting hair at work as a favour for a laugh about our unique hair and cutting and styling hair and it and service assurance in FM&T… Service Operations someone who was going out af- make-up facilities at Bush House. certainly brings a little light Paul Mylrea has been appointed ter work one evening and was People always offered to pay relief to the office. If as the new head of press and me- u I started cutting hair suffering from a severely bad me for the haircuts but I real- it manages to raise dia relations, replacing Donald about 20 years ago when a friend hair day. This snowballed until ly didn’t want any money for it. I a bit of money for Steel… of mine refused to go to the hair- many of my lunchtimes and after ask them to donate to charity in- charity at the same dresser but for some reason work time was spent cutting or stead – either Cancer Research time, that’s great.

CCTV Plug

...diddley diddley dee You’ll tend to hear quite a lot of this sort of music at this time of year, so you could be forgiven for thinking this is what Celtic music sounds like. Well, Kathryn Tickell is living proof that it doesn’t. Sometimes haunting, sometime joyous, always beautiful, Kathryn’s music is inspired by wild, untamed landscapes and has that uncanny knack of unlocking your emotions. Have a listen at www.audionetwork.com/playlists/celtic and you’ll be absolutely delighted. As opposed to diddleyighted.

To find out more, contact Elliott on 020 7 242 2311 or email [email protected] 8 9 Company that fought to photograph: Mark Bassett Mark photograph: how much am I bid? m photograph: Bargain Hunt is one of the most keep up wartime spirits When Rebecca Wilmshurst says in as many different genres along- popular daytime programmes. As b ark The Radio Drama Company has been playing the Radio Drama Company is like side as many different stars.’ it prepares to celebrate its tenth assett family, she means it. The portraits its part for 70 years, writes Claire Barrett, Currently, the top four gain spots outside her office of successive gen- on the Rep, where they are joined by anniversary, Sally Hillier watches erations of BBC repertory actors are providing voices for anything from two winners of the Norman Beaton regarded like those of children who contemporary comedy to classic drama – Fellowship, established in 2003 and the contestants and production have made good in the world. named after the Guyanan born classi- ‘He played Puck at the Globe... and even sleeping on the job during WW2 cal actor who went on to star in Chan- team in action at a busy auction she’s just had a baby... he’s in The nel Four’s Desmond’s. With the Hobbs Archers... they married last year... of World War Two, as radio drama the closing scene of Hamlet was fa- prize seen as something of a closed that one at the back was in Star emerged as a genre in its own right. mously a victim of the ‘pips’. The tit- shop, the Fellowship casts a wider net, Wars...’ she muses with commensu- A company of around 50 actors ular character’s fatal duel was cut with contenders put forward by 14 You would never think that a all, embracing ceramics, glassware, rate pride and affection. was whisked off to Evesham for in- short by an apologetic announcer regional theatres. paper clip would generate so much books, jewellery, objects d’art, paint- Then there are the ten still at tensive training in this new art of admitting that ‘there we must leave Final auditions for the latest excitement. But here we are at an ings, chandeliers, carpets, rugs, fur- home. A mix of established actors acting for radio. ‘Everything was Elsinore’. round of both schemes – known to- auction house in Market Harbor- niture and even a baby grand piano. and new talent, they remain on live – even the repeats,’ says Rebec- Post-war, the Rep’s populari- gether as Soundstart – take place lat- ough, Leicestershire, and tension The room is packed with goods, the books of the ready casting re- ca. ‘On contract, and paid a week- ty grew and, with television dra- er this month in London. The win- is mounting as bid number 16 ap- sellers, bidders, and local people who source for three to five months at a ly salary, the BBC could cast its live ma still some way off, it created ners will join the professional actors proaches. are simply enjoying a day out. The time, on daily call to play parts in performances with experienced ra- new stars. Some benefited from ra- on the Rep, which has shrunk from Okay, it’s not any old paper clip Bargain Hunt crew squeezes into a the many plays, comedies and se- dio performers and no hoohah.’ dio’s forgiving nature – like Marjo- its 96-strong peak to just ten. ‘They’ve but a wolf-faced silver plated version, corner to film the action – and reac- ries that Radio Drama records for Even enemy action couldn’t rie Westbury who was cast against got to be actors producers want to dating from the late 19th century. tion as items go under the hammer. Radios 3, 4 and 7 and World Service. type to play Paul Temple’s wife work with,’ reasons Rebecca. ‘Some It belongs to Bill and Paul Mee, Four shows are being filmed at As well as turning their hand to an- Steve. ‘The voice created an image of we’ve spotted on tv, others from radio a father and son team competing once, involving a total of 16 contest- ything from the Raj Quartet to Book ‘They have to be a tall, slim, stylish sophisticate,’ ex- – Silver Street’s Vineeta Rishi is about to in BBC One’s popular Bargain Hunt. ants, who revolve in and out of the at Bedtime, they also answer those plains Rebecca. ‘If the audience only join us – we get unsolicited cds, calls With a guide price of £50-£70, the clip room to watch as ‘their’ items are last minute requests from News to versatile. We need knew then that she looked like Mrs from agents and we run workshops actually sells for £170 – making a sold. provide the voice of a rape victim, Tiggywinkle.’ for groups of actors to see how they tidy profit for the Mees, who bought The format of the programme is to deliver a poem for Factual or do people who can Another distinguished performer respond to the rhythm of radio.’ it for £100 at a car boot fair a few that a red team of two takes on a a readthrough of a troublesome was Carleton Hobbs whose 1950s/60s Crucially, they need the voice. weeks ago. blue team. Each team is given £300, script for a struggling producer. double up – even role as Sherlock Holmes made him ‘It’s not about reading but inhabit- Unusually for Bargain Hunt, their the help of an expert, and an hour at ‘They have to be versatile,’ con- a household name. ‘He was prolif- ing the characters. It’s not about the opponents on the programme are a fair to buy collectables, which they Under the hammer: cedes Rebecca, the Radio Drama play a scene with ic,’ says Rebecca. ‘He had about 4000 voice beautiful, but connecting with Paul’s sons, Joe and Ed. then sell at auction, with the aim of antiques expert Catherine exec who acts as general manager roles in radio and was known for his listeners.’ ‘It’s all Mee, Mee, Mee!’ exclaims making a profit. Southon, contestants of the RDC which turns 70 this year. themselves’ generosity towards young actors.’ Once part of the RDC, they never presenter Tim Wonnacott. And occasionally it is a very Bill and Paul Mee and ‘We need people who can double up Fitting then that Radio Drama’s really leave. Some return for further The senior Mees’ moment of tri- healthy profit indeed – £600 or £700. presenter Tim Wonnacott – even play a scene with themselves. bursary scheme bears his name. stints, others join Radio Drama’s umph with the wolf clip is captured More often though people are lucky at Market Harborough sale If their voices are too distinctive; if thwart their desire to entertain, with Since 1953, it has been giving the freelance pool, some move on to big- by the BBC cameras, whose presence to make a couple of hundred quid, they can’t blend or disguise them, the company camping out in the Con- pick of accredited drama school ger things – but all keep in touch. at the auction is almost as big an and are just as likely to break even or then they aren’t useful to us.’ cert Hall stronghold at Broadcasting graduates their first professional ‘They’re family – they pop in, email, attraction as the lots themselves, make a loss. The demands were different in House so they could keep to schedule roles via the Rep. Past winners in- we see them in their productions...’ And there are lots of lots – 700 in Wonnacott, former director of memories of the decade. believes. ‘Tim is fantastic with the the early days of the ‘Rep’, which during air raids. clude Stephen Tompkinson, Richard Pushed to pick a favourite, Re- Sotheby’s, presides over it all with Whether this will include the edi- contestants. They come in and he first took form in 1925 when the ac- Most productions went out with- Griffiths and Nerys Hughes. becca singles out 1987 student win- enthusiasm, wit and insight. He has tion featuring a team of transves- says ‘You must be Fred and Alice; tors replicated for the nation what out a hitch. ‘One memorable war- ‘The selection process is rigorous, ner Stephen Tompkinson. ‘Everyone been doing the job since 2003, suc- tites, who horrified a straight-laced how are the horses?’ He does his Bristol does the business was taking place on the West End time performance of Peer Gynt was but in their five month run with the spotted something special in him,’ ceeding the equally colourful (so col- auctioneer by turning up at his sale- homework and is genuinely interest- stage. It was disbanded in 1930, three hours long and had just one RDC they will never work with as she twinkles, ‘and he’s remained a ourful that the joke was he had been room in ‘full regalia’ of wigs, dresses ed in people. He is also immensely BBC Bristol Factual has been the home of Roadshow, and Priceless Antiques Roadshow. but revived in 1940, on the brink small fluff,’ marvels Rebecca. But many different writers and directors great champion of radio drama.’ ‘Tango-ed’) David Dickin- and make-up, remains to be seen. knowledgeable about antiques.’ antiques programming for more than 30 years. The daytime spin-off brings together the son, who made his name With an audience of 2.5m, Bar- The affable Wonnacott points As well as Bargain Hunt (96 episodes a year for best Antiques Roadshow finds and the experts on the show when gain Hunt, which is filmed at fairs out that the show attracts all kinds BBC One), it makes Flog It for BBC Two (75 epi- who first spotted them. The programme it launched in and auction houses across the UK, is of competitors – from airline pilots sodes plus 20 ‘best of’ shows). reflects the passions of the experts and their 2000. a mainstay of the BBC One daytime and teachers to lorry drivers and This is another lynchpin of the daytime enjoyment of meeting the thousands of Yes, Bar- schedule, delivering the largest audi- hairdressers. schedule, in which members of the public try people who attend Roadshow events. Thirty gain Hunt – pro- ence share to the channel after East- ‘Some people are cocky, and to make money out of their antiques and family five editions of Priceless Antiques Roadshow duced by BBC Bris- Enders and the news. think they know it all, while others heirlooms. are made each year, under series editor Simon tol – is ten years old It has a cult following among are incredibly nervous,’ he says. ‘My Since starting in 2002 Flog It has made peo- Shaw. and next week will students, and is also popular with job is to make everyone feel com- ple realise that things hidden away in a cup- celebrate with five, overseas audiences – particularly in fortable.’ board or loft might be worth something. Many hour-long specials in Scandinavia and Australia. After making more than 600 ep- of the items that turn up on the show are obvi- which the teams will So why has it enjoyed such longevity? isodes he says he never tires of the ous – grandma’s china, for example – but there comprise regular ‘I think one of the reasons it is so format. ‘Every edition is different have been plenty of surprises, such as an 18th BH antiques successful is because it is fun and and every contestant is different.’ century microscope found in a skip which sold experts, who entertaining, and the audience And so far every one has lived for £1300 and a collection of 32 railway post- will revive always learns something,’ says series until the end of recording, for which ers, given to the owner by a friend but kept in a some of their editor Peter Smith. ‘There are a lot of he is grateful after an unfortunate drawer, which sold for £8000. favourite people who know about Moorcroft incident some years ago when an ‘There seems to be no limit on what’s out pottery, Whitefriars glass and Georg elderly man dropped dead during there,’ says presenter Paul Martin. ‘At every Jensen jewellery because they’ve the making of The Antiques Roadshow valuation day there is always something that seen it on Bargain Hunt.’ – all captured on camera. catches the eye – a painting, pieces of memo- It has encouraged many am- Later, his family asked the BBC rabilia or the tools of an old trade. They all have ateurs to start collecting, and for the tape so they would have a stories to tell about our heritage.’ opened a window on sales and auc- ‘souvenir’ of the occasion. Filming is currently taking place on series tion rooms, he adds. There have been many memo- nine of Flog It, which celebrates its 500th epi- Wonnacott, already famil- rable moments during ten years sode this year. Peter Smith is series editor of iar to viewers as an expert on The of Bargain Hunt, says Wonna- both Bargain Hunt and Flog It. Here’s to heirlooms: Flog It Colorful character: Antiques Roadshow before he joined cott, but thankfully no deaths Bristol is also responsible for the grand presenter Paul Martin RDC actor John Biggins with former members Ewan Bailey and Stephen Company members Philip Cunningham, Gerik Schjelderup, Olga David Dickinson, who made his Bargain Hunt, is a key part of the in front of the camera.. Not yet, dame of antiques programmes, The Antiques Tompkinson performing current Radio 4 play Say What You Want To Hear Edwards and Allan Jeayes pore over a script in 1942 name as the original presenter programme’s appeal, Smith anyway.

10 Opinion/Analysis a 09·03·10

Richard Sambrook, ‘It’s time to go, it’s been great, director of Global News, leaves the BBC this month, on with whatever’s next’ but before going photo caption in Richard Sambrook herexxxxx xxxx on his way to give he talked to Ariel xxxxxxxxxx evidence to the Hutton about his career, Inquiry in 2003 and its highs and lows

by Candida Watson

What does a man look back on after 30 years in the BBC, scaling the man- agement heights and being involved in some of the biggest events of the time? Richard Sambrook is off to the greener grass of corporate PR, and he reminisces with fondness on his career at the BBC – the hard times and the highlights. A news man all his working life Sambrook says: ‘There were three or four things which were moments of history, like being in Berlin when the Wall came down. You are so aware it is a turning point in history, and you are so privileged to be there telling the story to the world.’ Sambrook was outputting the Nine O’Clock News on November 9 1989 when the Reuters wire agency flashed the Newsgathering news editor, and head the Today programme which led to the moment for the BBC, and a crucial story that the East German govern- ‘I am sure of the department in 1996. He has Hutton inquiry, the censuring of the statement of intent. He sees it as a ment was opening the wall. ‘I knew fond memories of being there as huge BBC and the departure of the chair- real opportunity to underline the na- it was either the biggest story ever, or there will be a changes took place. When he started man of the Governors and the then-dg tional importance of the corporation the biggest cock up.’ The next day he only four BBC News bureaux in the Greg Dyke. in the digital future of Britain. flew to Berlin to cover the extraordi- smaller BBC, a world were equipped for live tv broad- David Kelly, Gilligan’s source for ‘If we show we have thought hard, nary scenes unfolding in the city. casts, and none of those were in Eu- the story, committed suicide. retracted a little and really defined He was also editing the Nine the rope. He says: ‘Within a few years we Sambrook, who was director of ourselves, the strengths of the BBC, night of Lockerbie. He describes the clearly defined were doing 24 hour news and had live news at the time, says now: ‘Although its link to its audiences, will be recog- story as one that ‘grew through the capability everywhere. That transfor- there were a lot of difficult moments nised,’ he says. evening’, from first reports of an ex- purpose’ mation in the 90s was amazing, and around Hutton, and there is no ques- plosion at a petrol station, to the sto- it was great to be a part of it tion that the BBC got some things New career ry that a light aircraft had crash land- wrong, at its core it was about de- He also believes the licence fee is ed on the petrol station, to the awful Hutton report fending the independence of the BBC safe because, he says, there is no bet- news that a transatlantic passenger o’clock, then we were on air and I But no one’s career can be all high- and that was very important. Gilli- ter model. He doesn’t think the pro- plane had exploded over the village. was trying to drive the story during lights – and Richard Sambrook was gan undoubtedly made mistakes, but liferation of ways in which viewers ‘We were scrabbling for infor- the bulletin.’ part of one of the most traumatic the story he broadcast was broadly can access content without having a mation and pictures, and all the Sambrook moved from output to events in the history of the BBC – the right.’ tv alters the fundamental ‘rightness’ time it was getting nearer to nine news management in 1992, becoming row over Andrew Gilligan’s report on Sambrook insists he doesn’t dwell of the principle, and thinks systems on the past. can be found to monetise those dif- ‘I am not someone who looks back ferent access points. and has great regrets. You keep mov- And he expresses no regret for leav- The Wall comes down – ing forward.’ ing as the BBC prepares for change one of Richard Sambrook’s And indeed he did. Within months all around. ‘It’s time to go, it’s been career highlights of the Hutton report he became head great, on with whatever’s next.’ of global news. He says, despite ru- What’s next is a couple of months mours to the contrary, that the two off, a visiting professorship at Ox- events were not related. ford, and then a whole new career in He has enjoyed being global. ‘In PR, working for Edelman, the world’s the last few years we have had sig- biggest independent public relations nificant audience growth; we have company. He’ll be global vice chair- got Arabic TV, Persian TV, more out- man and chief content officer, help- put on the web; yes we closed some ing clients produce video and online services, but we’ve had the freedom content. to build a really good service – it has As he bids farewell to the organisa- been really satisfying.’ tion in which he has spent the great- er part of his life, what will Richard Strategy review is ‘crucial’ Sambrook miss? Not much, accord- As Richard Sambrook tidies his desk, ing to this forward looking man, but and empties his diary, the ramifica- he does find one thing strange. ‘Af- tions of the strategy review are re- ter years of going in and out of BBC verberating round the BBC. buildings, I won’t have that free ac- From his vantage point at the exit, cess any more. It’s a bit like being Sambrook believes this is a crucial locked out of your house.’

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Good enough to know named programme of job and serv- Of all the proposals in the Strategy ice destruction the dg and his crew Review, the closure of 6 Music must Don’t blame the service, shoot the messenger come up with – Value for Money, Cre- be the most perverse. With its mix of I won’t repeat the many valid calls that 6 Mu- For years the great hope of DAB was the switch of ative Futures, Putting Quality First – knowledgeable, passionate and witty sic provides unique, valued content to a distinct car radios. However, this is a false dawn as DABs and with every pro-market, anti-PSB presenters and eclectic content, 6 decision the trust makes, the nearer Music represents everything that is demographic (the BBC Trust acknowledged as are relatively high in electrical consumption (af- disaster we sail. good about the BBC, and is unlike much); what does need bringing to attention is fecting overall performance). So new cars are ad- We’re in the Straits of Messina any other UK radio station, commer- that the performance of the station is distorted vertised with connectivity to MP3 players instead. now, a narrow waterway between cial or otherwise. by the slow uptake of DAB technology. This has many large implications for all radio which lurk Scylla and Charybdis. You Surely the main criterion for might be mistaken for thinking that The date of the tv signal switchover put a pres- habits (not just the digital services). assessing any programme, channel they are a vengeful outgoing Labour or station should simply be: Is it any sure on the public that has resulted in the new While I agree in principle to the re-focusing of government or a vindictive incoming good? If there is a reason why sen- format becoming ubiquitous. Radio listeners have the corporation’s breadth/cost effectiveness, this Tory one. More and more it appears ior management get paid so much had no such consumer pressure, and so DAB sales proposal smacks of a superficial concession. We they are actually Mark Thompson it should be for the ability to answer have only been slightly above the rate of replace- need to look at how our digital reality shapes and Michael Lyons. this question, and if they can’t see Who needs political hatchet men past listening figures (comparatively ment (jumping slightly each Christmas). up against what we expected, then assess its per- when the BBC will provide its own to small for 6 Music but up 12 percent So when the trust says ‘only one percent of the formance. But above all, why can’t we have quali- slash it to ribbons? year on year) and specious argu- population listens to 6 Music’ that is hugely ty AND quantity? Mark Scrimshaw ments from Murdoch and his thug- skewed by the fact that the vast majority of listen- Ben Spoor chair, Bectu BBC division gish clan, then there is something ing is still through analogue. services co-ordinator, World Service seriously wrong. Empty-headed, shameful and depressing. Six Nations in sin bin Barnaby Perkins weak and the alternatives for the pete with the 24 hour commercial and don’t have enough listeners. If the BBC is looking to cut costs and stills library future un-workable. stations, no matter how great our Am I missing something here? streamline budgets, surely one of the Poor management was behind the news programmes. Robin McMorran most obvious ways would be to cut Asian Network not performing well We should be looking to strength- OLP web producer down on the level of overstaffing for Advice from a friend in recent times, with previous ‘inter- en the national network, return to our Six Nations rugby coverage. We are concerned that Mark Thomp- ventions’ ruining this network. the format that was popular with The weekend before last we had son’s proposal to close the Asian Commercial radio simply cannot audiences a few years ago, when we Stretchmarks will show one presenter and two pundits in Network is fraught with real danger. provide the British Asian audience were pulling in almost half a million I was taken aback to hear that Mark Rome, another presenter and three While we acknowledge the BBC is with the quality of content we pro- listeners, rather than shut it down. Thompson urges us to ‘put quality pundits at Twickenham, a commen- committed to diversity, we know at duce. If quality, world class journal- And what will that mean for first’ in his latest strategy review. I’m tator and co-commentator for each the same time it is struggling to re- ism is what Mark Thompson wants, many of its talented staff? Well, a not sure if it’s been noticed in the top match, a pitch side reporter at both tain black minority ethnic staff. then we are providing it. few will return to regional pro- echelons of the BBC, but the cutbacks and Austin Healey providing statisti- One of the reasons for the BBAF We cover sport in a way that grammes and some may be taken on of recent years are forcing us day-in, cal analysis from the stands. is to try to help the BBC, as a critical nobody else in the Western world by editors who are looking to truly day-out to compromise on quality. That’s ten on air people for two friend would. And so we feel it right would even dream of. We talk about reflect the real Britain of today. For The only reason that the qual- games getting paid heaven knows to question whether this decision British Asians in sport, we give them the others it may mean leaving the ity of our output hasn’t hit rock how much for doing something that may make the problem of retention, a platform and we cover sport which industry altogether. bottom is that staff are stretching a staff of less than half could manage. progression and even recruitment is of huge interest to our audience – Please Mr Thompson, if you care themselves further and further, of- When Sky cover two football matches far worse than it currently is. which other outlet gives a detailed about the growing Asian audienc- ten well beyond the call of duty. We on a Sunday they have a presenter The message that closing the Asian report of an Indian cricket match? es, reconsider your decision because are office-bound instead of being and two pundits at the later ground Network sends, however unintended, And we’re the only radio station I fear the damage it will do in the able to go out on stories and hear who provide analysis on the first is that the BBC no longer cares for a in the world that gives a platform to long term is incalculable. about new ones, the majority of our match from afar and then get into growing section of its UK Asian artists. Even Jay Sean has Rahila Bano interviews are now telephone calls, the second game from pitch side. licence fee payers. Even though the said that, without us, he would nev- NW reporter, Asian Network broadcast equipment keeps breaking Austin Healey’s analysis is re- dg intends to reinvest the money into er have made it in music. down, the roof of our radio car lets ally good and helps non rugby fans other parts of the BBC and put Asian Seriously, how can the BBC even n I seem to remember the BBC Trust in the rain... understand the game better, but programmes on medium wave, we think about getting rid of us? telling the BBC a couple of years Where exactly do we reach the couldn’t he do that as one of the are worried that this is a backward Nikesh Rughani ago (December 2007) that it had to point when we, that is staff AND three paid for pundits? step and will do more harm than broadcaster/presenter, BBC Sport, stop chasing ratings and focus on managers up to and including the Or could we not have two pundits good. After all, aren’t we going dig- Asian Network ‘distinctive’ output. Now the BBC dg, say that enough is enough, we in the studio then him in the stand? ital in 2012? So what happens to the has decided that the radio stations are doing a disservice to our listen- Or more pertinently, couldn’t he pro- Asian Network two years from now? n The proposal to close the Asian 6 Music, a unique incubator of new ers and this has to stop? vide that analysis as the co-commen- We would urge Mark to rethink his Network is a devastatingly back- music, and Asian Network, Britain’s Jenny Witt tator? plans and implore the BBC Trust to lis- wards step. It would deprive the only national Asian radio network, sbj, Radio Foyle In a time when we’re being scru- ten to the public clamour to keep the communities of a national platform are to be shut down because they tinised from all quarters for how we Asian Network and 6 Music open. on which to air their views and one don’t have enough listeners – two spend our money, I can’t believe we BBC Black and Asian Forum which helps to define their national clearly distinctive and unique prod- Dire Straits are displaying such blatant overstaff- identity. By providing a few hours of ucts which do not chase ratings, and What’s the best oxymoron connected ing live on tv every weekend. n The reasons given for the proposed programming a day on AM frequen- which, paradoxically, are to be killed to the BBC? BBC leadership? BBC Andrew Swanson closure of the Asian Network are cies, we would never be able to com- off because they are not ‘distinctive’ Trust? With every new, ironically bj, Radio Stoke

Kristian Digby at ing for a presenter who was always playful humour and boundless OBITUARY work recently on on time, then Kristian was definitely love of television was as irrepressible new BBC daytime not your man, but what was abso- as ever. kristian digby show To Build or lutely certain was, when he did turn Kristian, who was 32, present- Passionate, energetic, creative and Not to Build up, his performance would be well ed a number of other BBC property hugely talented, Kristian Digby was worth the wait. shows including Double Agents, Living a presenter who was always a force enormous personal Although Kristian made many, in the Sun, House Swap and Buy It, Sell to be reckoned with. In six years at drive, you could al- many episodes of our series, he ap- It, Bank It? He also fronted That Gay the helm of BBC One’s To Buy or Not ways rely on Kristian proached each one with the same Show which went out on former BBC to Buy, one of the BBC’s longest run- to use his instinctive level of verve and enthusiasm as if it digital channel BBC Choice in 2001. ning property series, his warmth and qualities to propel a were his very first. Kristian Digby was a gifted indi- comic timing could always be guar- script to new heights This week we watched his final vidual whose unique qualities will anteed to brighten the face of even and make it sparkle shows and, although tinged with live long in the hearts and minds of the most demanding contributor. on screen. great sadness, we couldn’t help but all those who knew him. Bristling with ideas and with If you were look- smile, as it was clear to all, that his Adrian Padmore 12 Classified 020 7878 2313 a 09.03.10 13 a 09.03.10Classified

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Louise Call Nick 07720 805920 www.casa-sabina.com

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14 Jobs See Attachment  A child’s                      eye view                     Georgie Bevan joined          Newsgathering to              bring children’s stories             to an adult audience               I’ve done some challenging things in my time      as a journalist, but producing a live-link between         school kids in England and Haiti was one of the       toughest – especially as the only way to communi-     cate with the BBC’s Haiti team was by text. To my      amazement everything worked out and it has been     one of the highlights of my three month attach-           ment to Newsgathering.       As a producer on Newsround I’d often thought           it a shame that so many stories involving children    never get beyond CBBC. Like Georgie, the 12-year      old recovering from anorexia, or the school in Bol-         ton that’s given every pupil an iPod to help with         lessons. With this in mind, my attachment was      all about getting more children’s voices on adult                                                                                                            news, and sharing the best of Newsround with oth-     er outlets.    The first hurdle was finding out how newsgath-        ering works and who commissions the stories. To               an outsider the Television Centre newsroom is over-         whelming – so to work out who does what, I went to    every meeting I could find and toured the special-     ist offices introducing myself. The carpet bomb ap-       proach seemed to work. Once I’d survived death by        planning meeting, I was armed with a list of pro-       gramme editors and planning producers.      It wasn’t long before Newsround stories started          making an impact. On Demand put two Newsround films on the       front page of the News website: one about a cam-        paign called Pink Stinks, to stop little girls from      drowning in a sea of all things pink and fluffy. The     other was about the iPod school in Bolton: both sto-    ries were the top hitting videos on the website for         that day.      By the end of my attachment Newsround had       well and truly made its mark in adult news. We’d      provided fascinating case studies, like one on the       young girl who was abused online through a social     networking site. A questionnaire about kids’ sleep-       ing habits led to a long discussion on Today.            In all, I think the attachment was a success and     although I am now back at Newsround I want to keep producing content which can be shared across news    programmes. Newsround is a goldmine of great sto- ries which can appeal to all audiences. I hope this   attachment has proved that.                Been anywhere nice? Send your attachment stories to Clare Bolt

     

14 OCTOBER 08 ARIEL a 09·03·10 What am I doing here 15 photograph: Mark bassett Mark photograph: foreign bureau

michael voss havana correspondent It was early evening and the San Francis- co church in historic Old Havana was floodlit especially for the BBC, as a backdrop for our final live broadcast from Cuba. While Matt Frei interviewed me about what might happen here once the genera- What is a typical day like for back or you’d be huge. tion who led the Cuban revolution – Fidel you? Castro and his brother Raul – were no longer jANINE Juggling loads of balls in the air. Do you teach or show people around, both of us were trying hard not to Today, for example, we are work- how to cook? shiver or show just how cold we felt. ing on three issues at once: edit- I do demonstrations at cookery Tropical Cuba was going through a RATCLIFFE ing the May issue, testing reci- shows and what people want to bitter cold snap. None of the team had brought pes for the June issue (so I’ll be see are simple things. They want any warm clothes with them from England back and forth to the kitchen) to know how to make dinner in or Washington. Yet after two days of unprec- food editor olive and booking shoots for July and 20 minutes. Things that make edented live broadcasts from Havana for the ringing up home economists them think, ‘I could buy that News Channel’s Inside Cuba special, this was magazine and booking them. and make healthier, cheaper almost the only thing that didn’t go as planned. food for my kids.’ Even though It all started about a year ago when News When did you first become ting a job with Good Food mag- What sort of skills do you think olive is a very stylish looking Channel controller Kevin Bakhurst asked interested in food? azine. you need for your job? magazine we don’t do compli- how the Cuban authorities might react to the When I was a kid I was this com- You have to be super organised cated recipes. BBC producing a special to be co-presented plete food freak. I used to ask What was it like? and able to switch from your live from Havana. my Mam for Robert Carrier part- It was really hard, like going writing head to your cooking What do you cook for friends? It took almost a year of negotiations. It works when everybody else was back to school, and you have to head or looking at visuals and I don’t do four courses, dinner looked all set for December, but at the last asking for toys in the 70s. I had keep in mind your goal and go trying to work out what to put parties or puddings; my friends minute the authorities called it off. a set of Fanny Cradock cook- for it. I got an interview for the on the cover. It’s a really crea- bring those. I never punch In the end, after countless meetings, they books and used to cook little Good Food placement with the tive job, but if you weren’t or- above my weight cooking wise relented and in mid February senior world canapés when I was about 11. I’d then editor, the legendary Or- ganised it would be like a run- and would never try to make affairs producer Rachel Humphreys and pic- make three course meals for my lando Murrin, and it was real- away train. some Michelin star type dish or ture correspondent Rob Magee flew in from Mam and her boyfriend. It was ly difficult. I must have seemed a weird kind of souffle thing. London, teaming up with the BBC’s Cuban strange behaviour for a kid. fanatical because at the end of You have to do a lot of tasting. producer, William Rakip, and cameraman/ the interview he said, ‘Janine, Does that mean eating things Do you have a favourite type of editor Alberto Moreno. What followed was a How did you go on to a career in I’m sure whatever you do in the you don’t like? food? hectic week of shooting packages, sorting food? future, you’re going to be very There’s not much I don’t like. I love to go out and eat some- out the live positions and constant negotia- I really wanted to write about successful at it.’ I thought I’d I haven’t really got a massively thing like Japanese because I tions about access and interviews. food because it is my passion. over-egged it, but I got the job sweet tooth but I’ve found on a love the preparation behind it After their initial hesitation the Cuban But I thought I’d need more and went to work there for six cake testing day you can really and it’s not something I’d cook press authorities pulled out all the stops. experience of cooking if I was months and it was brilliant. get into the sugar thing. at home. If I’m at home then Matt Frei was able to interview a range of going to write about it. it’s curries. I’m obsessed with people including top politicians. He was also And after that? That might sound like heaven to the perfect curry and also pies allowed to spend a day with a Cuban family So what did you do? I became a freelance home econ- some people... or massive big casseroles with looking at life through their eyes. The biggest magazine at that omist which opens up the world Earlier in the week we were do- dumplings, all those really We ended up going live almost 20 times time was Good Food and I was of food. One day you could be ing a meringues feature. We homely things. over two days, hitting the One, Six and Ten a big fan. So I went to see Leith’s working on a tv commercial or tested nine different recipes in along with the News Channel, World News School of Food and Wine and at an editorial for olive or Good one day, which was a bit much! What’s the best bit about your and World News America. the interview I found out that Food and next day writing rec- Everyone in the office puts on job as food editor? Day one came from the European Broad- every year two of Leith’s stu- ipes for a magazine. a stone when they come here People say you’ve got the best cast Union’s fixed position on the 23rd floor dents get to work at Good Food and you have to hold yourself job in the world but it’s still a of the Havana Libre Hotel. Day two was an for six months and that was it. job. It’s lovely to have that buzz OB from San Francisco Square. At one point, I thought that’s what I’m going from developing and writing though, it looked as if we might be pulled off to do. I’m having that and that’s recipes and it’s great to hear air. The day before the first live, an impris- my goal. CV from someone who says they’ve oned dissident died after a hunger strike. Degree: BA, fine art, University of South Wales. MA, made your recipe and it was The next day Matt included the death in his That’s a big step and an expen- film theory, University of Amsterdam brilliant. It is nice being able introduction. As soon as it was over, the sive one, isn’t it? to make someone really happy. authorities said it was not on the list we had I spent £14,000 going to Leith’s. Career highlight: Getting the attachment at Good That’s the bit I love. given them of what we intended to cover. We My dad died so I was left some Food. It was the beginning of an amazing journey to explained that it was a breaking story and money so everything at that where I am now Interview by Sue Llewellyn there was no way we could ignore it. In the time was life changing. Basical- Favourite food: Cheese end they relented. The show could go on. ly it was a 14 grand risk on get-

> CONTACT SUE LLEWELLYN to suggest a colleague for this feature 16 a 09·03·10 green room ▲ THE ARIELAT0R WE HEAR THAT. . . A weekly take on life at the BBC: Is It us, or did Lauren Laverne’s 6 Music show ▲ who’s up, who’s down, who’s off Racing for on the morning of the strategy review contain a few messages in the playlist? It began on a posi- ▲ tive note with the Chemical Brothers’ Hey Boy Hey Girl (‘superstar DJs, here we go!’) sound- ▲ the charts ing a note of defiance in the face of adversity. Then came Bleeding Heart ▲ by Jimi Hendrix, who asked, ‘do you know what it means to ▲ be left alone’ with ‘not even ▲ UPSIDE A brush with greatness for Radio a love to call Cambridgeshire presenter Andie Harper when your own?’. Nat ▲ he seized the opportunity to have a quick word King Cole then with American civil rights leader Reverend Jesse announced ▲ Jackson. Andie was in the office early when he ‘there may be got the message Jackson was going to use the trouble ahead… ▲ station’s NCA facility to speak on that morn- let’s face the music ing’s Today programme, ahead of his talk at the and dance.’ A defi- Cambridge Union. Having been familiar with his Going underground: ant opening salvo per- ▲ work since doing American studies as a student content producer and haps, but the brave face slipped with the Pixies’ in the 60s, Andie quickly grabbed a mic and singer Silvia Costeloe apocalyptic Monkey Gone to Heaven (chorus: ▲ collared the obliging Rev to get an interview for ‘This monkey’s gone to heaven’). Our analysis his weekly 9am show. ‘For me it was something Silvia Costeloe is a woman on The song won’t be released until ends with the next track, Stevie Wonder’s Higher ▲ very special – not sure what he thought – and a mission. Not content with training April, but as all proceeds from the run Ground, which has a reborn Wonder singing ‘I’m he was brilliant,’ said Andie. ‘I don’t think the for the London marathon in April, the and single are going to Leukaemia so darn glad he let me try it again… I’m so glad ▲ people with him wanted him to do anything content producer has written a song Care in memory of her father, Silvia’s that I know more than I knew then’. A portent extra but he didn’t give it a second thought. about the particular form of gait that getting the hype machine in action of the future or just wishful thinking? The trust ▲ Clint Eastwood and then I retire!’ she will utilise in the race. Namely – early. The song and video went up on only knows… running. It’s even sung at an appro- her Myspace page this week to en- Sara Harrak, a 20 priately exhausting pace. courage iTunes presales (which also To add to the dg’s current travails, the socialist ▲ year-old runner with Though she is an accomplished count towards a song’s first week defenders of the hirsute at the Beard Liberation Post Production, has songsmith and has chart position). Front have announced a ‘beardwah’ is in effect ▲ won the First Light played plenty of gigs, ‘Running the mara- against Thompson following the strategy review. Open Access award this is the first time thon at the speed of According to group leader Keith Flett, a ‘special ▲ in association with Silvia has attempted the song might not BLF shaving squad is on the case’, with a mission Bafta for her film to get into the charts. be advisable,’ admits to part Mark Thompson from his manly growth. ▲ AWOL – an accolade With an officially Silvia. ‘But hopefully Wouldn’t happen to Adrian Chiles… voted for entirely by recognised iTunes people will download ▲ the public. release plus accom- it and feel like they’ve ‘I was extremely nervous, but also excited. My panying video and done a little exercise, heart was in my throat,’ says Sara of the glitzy promotional activi- even if they’ve only Free Best of Britain ▲ awards ceremony, which was also attend- ties, she says ‘it is all been on the London ed by the likes of Nick Frost and Ian McKellan. proving pretty chal- underground.’ and Ireland tickets ▲ Sara’s film was featured on Ariel Online and lenging’. myspace.com/costeloe she reckons the exposure ‘definitely helped’, BBC Magazines is joining over 350 exhibitors ▲ so give yourself a pat on the back if you vot- at the Best of Britain and Ireland 2010, where ed for her. Of course the film, about depres- you can hear about thousands of potential des- ▲ sion, is so good she certainly didn’t need our tinations and experience talks, tastings and live assistance. See it at tinyurl.com/awolfilm A tale of two entertainment. To claim a free pair of tickets (worth £15) for the show, which takes place at London Olympia on March 19-20, visit tinyurl. EARWIGGING cities com/bestofbi and quote promo code BbC8210 OVERHEARD AT THE BBC As the Winter Olympics drew to an Surrey in Vancouver,’ explains Mark Win 3rd & Bird toys end, the team at Mark Carter’s Drive (pictured). ‘One thing led to another CBeebies’ animation 3rd & Bird brings …’Is iced coffee ever hot?’ Show on BBC Surrey wondered how and we did a half hour simulcast with to life the adventures of a ‘The clue is in the name’... best to cover the games, given that Vancouver talk station CKNW’. community of birds who …Bill had his ears in his there were no local competitors. It may have been 4.30pm in Surrey, live in a colourful tree Then they had an idea… but it was 8.30am in Vancouver – and sing, dance and fingers… ‘The show broad- time for the Bill Good Breakfast Show. whistle their way casts each Mark and Bill discussed the UK’s through the day. ...Please don’t get Topol and evening from take on the Winter Olympics, In each epi- Trotsky mixed up... Guildford in and how a county like Sur- sode two young Surrey, and rey could make the best of the birds, Samuel ...I don’t care if they can see my bum – as fortuitously 2012 Olympics. and Muffin, explore long as they let me on the plane… we also dis- They also found time to explore their world. Now fans of covered a perceptions of each other’s broad- the series can create their ...I want to stop shooting Panorama each Guildford in cast areas – with typically confused own adventures for the duo with a results. ‘Listeners seemed to mostly new collection of toys from BBC Worldwide and week, when we’re really only doing the think of maple syrup, mountains Fisher-Price. We have two prizes consisting of a magic roundabout... and Bryan Adams,’ says Mark, ‘while Do the Muffin Talking Friend – which hops, wad- Canadian host Bill admitted to liking dles, flaps and sings – and three mini Soft Friend ...Did you get the anti-inflammatory cream a pint of Guinness. Not particularly plush toys to offer two readers. To enter to win, known as a tipple with Surrey links, tell us: who is Muffin’s brother? Email ariel for your bits?... but we went with it!’ competitions by March 15.

> IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THE GREEN ROOM, CONTACT ADAM BAMBURY