May 2021 We’re all young Television www.rts.org.uk Septemberadults 2013 now 1 LOVE TV? SO DO WE! R o y a l T e l e v i s i o n S o c i e t y b u r s a r i e s o f f e r f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t a n d m e n t o r i n g t o p e o p l e s t u d y i n g : TTEELLEEVVIISSIIOONN PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN JJOOUURRNNAALLIISSMM EENNGGIINNEEEERRIINNGG CCOOMMPPUUTTEERR SSCCIIEENNCCEE PPHHYYSSIICCSS MMAATTHHSS F i r s t y e a r a n d s o o n - t o - b e s t u d e n t s s t u d y i n g r e l e v a n t u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d H N D c o u r s e s a t L e v e l 5 o r 6 a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o a p p l y . F i n d o u t m o r e a t r t s . o r g . u k / b u r s a r i e s # R T S B u r s a r i e s Journal of The Royal Television Society May 2021 l Volume 58/5 From the CEO I am thrilled to report fascinating takeaways. There was shows is taking us all by storm. Think on another super-busy much to learn from all the partici- Sex Education and I May Destroy You. line-up of RTS events, pants, not least Sky Media’s head of The phenomenon is another indica- hosted both in London insight and research, Lucy Bristowe, tion of the stunningly high quality of and by the RTS’s cen- who revealed that subscribers to the UK’s scripted output, something LOVE TV? tres across the nations Sky Q watch more content live than we should never take for granted. and regions. do other Sky customers. Don’t miss this month’s Ear Candy, The topics have ranged from mea- I am so grateful to Barb’s Justin dedicated to the ingeniously titled suring online audiences to the future Sampson for sharing fresh viewing Dead Pilots Society podcast, in which of public service broadcasting, and data with the Society, including how high-profile actors bring forgotten celebrated standout content such as audiences responded to season 4 of scripts to life. SO DO WE! the new BBC Two Iraq war film Danny The Crown when it made its debut last Our Comfort Classic is the 1996 Boy and BBC One’s heart-tugging autumn. Thanks to all the other panel- state-of-the-nation masterpiece Our Sunday night flagship, Call the Midwife. lists and to Variety’s Manori Ravindran Friends in the North, which launched the Congratulations to all those who make for chairing this headline-grabbing careers of many extraordinary actors. the show, which recently marked its session. Read Torin Douglas’s report tenth anniversary. in this issue. R o y a l T e l e v i s i o n S o c i e t y b u r s a r i e s o f f e r f i n a n c i a l Our lunchtime event “Hidden fig- Our cover story, written by Harry ures: Understanding audiences in the Bennett, looks at how the once niche s u p p o r t a n d m e n t o r i n g t o p e o p l e s t u d y i n g : on-demand age” provided some category of young-adult scripted Theresa Wise TTEELLEEVVIISSIIOONN PPRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN Cover: Ackley Bridge (Channel 4) JJOOUURRNNAALLIISSMM Contents EENNGGIINNEEEERRIINNGG Rhianna Dhillon’s TV Diary Hidden figures The television and film critic enjoys being pampered A high-powered RTS panel hears how Barb is poised to CCOOMMPPUUTTEERR SSCCIIEENNCCEE 5 like a celebrity 16 publish regular audience figures for streaming services Comfort Classic: Our Friends in the North A social history that delivers PPHHYYSSIICCSS Matthew Bell salutes Peter Flannery’s epic The creator and three of the cast of Call the Midwife 6 state-of-the-nation drama 18 discuss the secrets behind the extraordinary longevity of the BBC drama MMAATTHHSS Ear Candy: Dead Pilots Society Kate Holman enjoys dramatic read-throughs of Fit for purpose? 7 overlooked gems turned down by commissioners Narinder Minhas finds much to enjoy in What’s the 20 Point of Ofcom?, a new collection of essays examining Working Lives: Writer the role of the communications regulator F i r s t y e a r a n d s o o n - t o - b e s t u d e n t s s t u d y i n g Kayleigh Llewellyn, the award-winning creator of 8 In My Skin, talks to Matthew Bell From the battlefield to the courtroom r e l e v a n t u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d H N D c o u r s e s a t The team behind the Iraq war drama Danny Boy reveal Young adult goes mainstream 22 their approach to making the BBC Two film L e v e l 5 o r 6 a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o a p p l y . Shows once aimed at under-25s are reaching beyond 10 their target demographic, reports Harry Bennett The royal watch In the wake of Prince Philip’s death, Roger Mosey insists Leader of the Pact 24 that broadcasters covering the Windsors must move Steve Clarke profiles Pact CEO John McVay and with the times F i n d o u t m o r e a t 12 discovers how he helped secure Treasury backing for last summer’s Production Restart Public service TV at the crossroads r t s . o r g . u k / b u r s a r i e s Should traditional broadcasters get special protection in Our Friend in the North West 26 an era of streamers backed by global media giants? An Cat Lewis celebrates MediaCity’s first decade as RTS panel weighs the arguments 15 a UK production hub # R T S B u r s a r i e s 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 May 2021 3 Want to cross the finish line in style, and claim that podium place? Soundtrack the best sporting moments, from the build up to nail-biting finish with Audio Network. SEND US YOUR BRIEF DISCOVER MORE [email protected] audionetwork.com/discover TV diary pril has been a frequent occurrence and I am going strange month. to milk it as much as possible. It marks exactly 10 years of my ■ It has been a very important and career being a film memorable year for film – which critic – my first has seen a much higher level of appearance was on representation, in terms of diverse Radio 1 on April Fools’ Day. My mum, BBC and female film-makers being nom- Awho recorded it (old-school, on a inated – so it really is a pleasure to cassette), plays it back to me down be part of a programme dedicated to the phone and I sound so nervous as Rhianna Dhillon enjoys awards that don’t often get their time I chat to Greg James about why Jake being pampered like in the spotlight. Gyllenhaal’s Source Code was a pretty My job is to pull out interesting great film and why Sucker Punch, star- a celebrity facts about all the crafts and movies ring Vanessa Hudgens... was not. but I also love hearing co-host I was still a student at Reading Joanna Scanlan’s anecdotes about University but had been thrust into being on set. And I am in awe of one of the most exciting jobs I could cinemas and quite enjoyed laying Clara Amfo’s brilliant hosting skills think of. into the truly terrible ones. But, with (and her incredibly white teeth). It was never my plan to be a critic Lauren, the point is that I talk about – that job seemed so out of reach – my top recommendations across ■ I’ve heard people say that it has but Radio 1 was scouting for a new cinema, streaming and TV. not been a great year for film, given film person and decided it wanted a For a critic, finding three to critique the pandemic, but I disagree. I feel “listener on air” approach, rather than and not be critical of is more of a more hopeful about the industry’s a seasoned expert.