February 2021 Natural history TV From spectacle to advocacy 1 Television www.rts.org.uk September 2013 COMEDY From slapstick to satire, sitcom to sketch, belly laughs or subtle sniggers, discover a world of comedy through music - and bring your story to life SEND US YOUR BRIEF DISCOVER MORE [email protected] audionetwork.com/discover Journal of The Royal Television Society February 2021 l Volume 58/2 From the CEO Few issues of our times to say, the environmental crisis is a exhibitors across the UK. A record are more pressing than communications crisis. number of young people – more than the need to accelerate Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder 2,200 – signed up for the fair. As the sustainability and to are two of British TV’s most devoted TV talent of tomorrow cope with the effect to real social campaigners for greater diversity impact of the pandemic on their edu- and workplace diver- in our sector. Don’t miss Narinder cation, I hope the fair provided valuable sity and inclusion. Minhas’s compelling review of their insights, encouragement and career These two vital topics are highlighted new book, Access All Areas: The Diversity opportunities. in this edition of Television. Manifesto for TV and Beyond. Thanks so much to our 90 exhibitors For our cover story, Shilpa Ganatra They say that necessity is the mother and the many masterclass speakers examines how natural history TV is of invention, and so it was with this and producers. developing a greater awareness of the month’s two-day, virtual RTS Futures planet’s fragility and the need for Careers Fair. By holding the event urgent action on climate change. online, we’ve been able to provide As Sir David Attenborough likes greater access for attendees and Theresa Wise Contents Cover: Elephant (Disney) Nicola Shindler’s TV Diary Refining Sky’s winning strategy The drama producer wants to bring unheard voices to TV Sky’s new CEO, Dana Strong, is a former engineer who 5 – and to cut down her chocolate intake 18 knows how to stand out in a room, says Kate Bulkley Comfort Classic: The Good Life Our Friend in the South West A show that gently sends up the English middle class Devon and Cornwall locations are a magnet for film-makers 6 is built on a sharp script and consummate acting, says 21 – and very appreciated in lockdown, writes Chris Williams Matthew Bell Daytime fun in the sun Ear Candy: 10/10 (Would Recommend) Season 2 of The Mallorca Files is guaranteed to bring Kate Holman takes advice from Tolani Shoneye and 22 some much-needed light to BBC One’s winter line-up 7 Gena-mour Barrett on what to watch on Netflix A duty of care Working Lives: Movement director Ofcom is beefing up its rules to protect vulnerable people Polly Bennett, whose work ranges from The Crown to 24 who appear on TV shows, reports Caroline Frost 8 Bohemian Rhapsody, explains what she does on set A parenting nightmare The call of the wild Martin Freeman and his co-creators recall how they drew Shilpa Ganatra investigates how the appeal of natural 26 on their own experiences for Breeders, the no-holds-barred 10 history TV is growing in eco-conscious times Sky 1 comedy Laughing all the way to the ballet Sky reaches for the stars Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan reveal the Zai Bennett reveals why the satellite giant is splashing 12 secrets of their Sky 1 hit, Rob and Romesh Vs 28 out on a star-driven line-up for 2021 For real and lasting change The race for space Narinder Minhas reviews a radical manifesto for Tim Dams explains how the boom in scripted shows is 14 transforming television by Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder 30 driving the need for more UK studios Back against the odds Careers fair spurs ambitions David Mitchell, Robert Webb and Simon Blackwell tell This year’s virtual RTS Futures Careers Fair broke new 16 the RTS how they dealt with emergency surgery and the 33 ground and increased attendance, reports Matthew Bell pandemic to deliver the second series of Back Editor Production, design, advertising Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice Steve Clarke Gordon Jamieson 3 Dorset Rise UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2021. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman The views expressed in Television News editor and writer Sub-editor T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail) £172.22 20 Crimscott Street are not necessarily those of the RTS. Matthew Bell Sarah Bancroft E: [email protected] Enquiries: [email protected] London SE1 5TP Registered Charity 313 728 [email protected] [email protected] W: www.rts.org.uk Television www.rts.org.uk February 2021 3 TV diary Nicola Shindler wants her new production company to bring unheard voices to TV – and to cut down on her chocolate intake lmost every minute really useful – as well as, at times, of reading material alongside new of every day used being hugely frustrating. scripts. It’s vital to find space to read. to be very different. I never knew how much I’d miss I carve out time each day to read as Now, what I’m the “in-person” chit-chat around the much as possible. doing might still meeting. This is where so many ideas vary all the time, were made better or originated. ■ I’ve always tried to put the writer but each day starts at the centre of the process to bring pretty much the same as they have ■ This year has been a real new start their story to the screen, and one of Adone since last March: heading to my for me, even if the pandemic hasn’t my ambitions at Quay Street is to home office after wrangling the kids let me move far. I have launched my work with brilliant new and estab- to start their home schooling. new company, Quay Street Produc- lished writers on their best work. During lockdown, I have found it tions, partnering with ITV Studios. There is a wealth of exciting and important to sit at my desk to start It’s been full-on and exciting talking entertaining stories to tell, especially the day, even though I could work about new ideas and developments stories that are currently not repre- anywhere. Bed feels tempting but I’ve with my new team. sented on screen. I have a responsibil- resisted so far. Luckily, my office is This is in addition to my continuing ity to seek out and work with voices next to the kitchen, so I can supervise work of executive producing Ridley that have been unheard, given less the family without moving and, occa- Road, No Return, Traces season 2 and opportunity or just aren’t on screen. sionally, shout out orders and try to Stay Close, as well as Finding Alice and I want to make sure that those stop the kids from killing each other It’s a Sin, which have just gone to air. voices are given a platform and, ulti- during lunchtime. No day has been the same, which is mately, tell stories that are going to challenging and fun. Never boring. stand out from what’s already on ■ I’m still getting used to the new television. And, of course, be enter- normal. Being next to the kitchen ■ In between having dozens more taining, fun, funny and watchable. makes restricting my choco late phone calls than pre-pandemic and intake harder than usual. I spend a working on the usual production ■ While working at home, I’ve found lot of time trying not to eat all day. jobs – looking at design photos, loca- that the day never really ends. Making tion photos, costume ideas, watching tea and talking to the family merges ■ But the pandemic has made the audition tapes, having conversations into emails and more reading. When world smaller in many useful ways. about scripts, watching edits, listening the office is an extension of the Normally, I would be on the Man- to sound edits and watching rushes – kitchen, the two worlds are going to chester to London train, and back, at I’ve been having numerous meetings stay very close! least once a week, which was tough. about Quay Street and the direction But the world of Zoom/Google/ of my development slate. Nicola Shindler OBE is the award- Hangout/Teams means that I can My new development team offi- winning drama producer behind hit meet anyone anywhere in the coun- cially starts shortly, but they are series The Stranger, Years and Years, try (and the world), without the need already sparking new ideas. Working Happy Valley and Queer as Folk. She to leave my own office. Which is with my new book scout, I have a lot recently set up Quay Street Productions. Television www.rts.org.uk February 2021 5 COMFORT CLASSIC A show that gently sends up the English middle class is built Self-sufficiency in on a sharp script and the suburbs: Felicity Kendal and Richard consummate acting, Briers as the Goods says Matthew Bell here is, surely, no more fitting comfort comedy for lockdown than The Good Life, a tale of stay-at-home self-sufficiency. Tom and Barbara Good were the original artisan couple: sowing spuds, brewingT booze and weaving wool. The 1970s BBC sitcom was created by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, friends since their Clapham schooldays, who had already created one comedy classic, ITV’s Please Sir!.