September 2018 Literary cravings VENUE: BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, LONDON N1 0QH RTS.org.uk/careersfair2019 #RTScareers Journal of The Royal Television Society September 2018 l Volume 55/8 From the CEO Several of the articles valuable insight into what is a very such an impact earlier this year with in this bumper issue dynamic part of the content sector. the hilarious Derry Girls. of Television embrace The third piece with a literary The highlight of the busy RTS literary themes. Centre theme is Mark Lawson’s profile of autumn programme is our London stage is Andrew Billen’s Mike Bartlett, who is equally at home Conference, “Is bigger better?”. I hope brilliant interview with writing for TV and stage. He is, of that many of you can join us: we have Simon Cornwell, course, the screenwriter behind Doctor assembled an extraordinary line-up whose company, The Ink Factory, was Foster and the RTS-nominated King of international speakers. Bob Bakish, the driving force behind the seminal Charles III. His latest show, Press, is a Chief Executive and President of the series The Night Manager. Simon’s latest workplace drama set in the world of global content business Viacom, will John le Carré adaptation is The Little journalism. The series is bound to be deliver the international keynote. Drummer Girl – a show that I am greatly one of the highlights of BBC One’s Don’t miss the interview in this issue looking forward to watching. autumn schedule. of Television in which Bob assesses the Staying with our literary theme, Without gifted writers such as Mike, state of our industry. don’t miss Simon Shaps’s perceptive we wouldn’t have the rich content analysis of why so many of today’s TV diet that we enjoy daily here in the dramas are based on books, how UK and in other dynamic television drama is raiding the bookshelves for markets. But writers need commis- adaptation ideas – and why the pro- sioners. We have one of the first inter- cess of getting from page to screen is views with Channel 4’s head of com- sometimes so painful. This provides a edy, Fiona McDermott. Fiona made Theresa Wise Contents Dorothy Byrne’s TV Diary Our Friend on the Isle of Man Dorothy Byrne meets Britain’s oldest transgender woman Michael Wilson is fast discovering there is more 7 and praises the new generation of men who work in TV 23 to the island than TT races and stunning scenery The golden age of adaptation The case for collaboration From Patrick Melrose to Vanity Fair, TV series UK broadcasters are against pooling TV ad sales, 8 based on books are driving the drama boom. 24 but there are other ways to co-operate, explains Simon Shaps investigates Gideon Spanier Press to play Doing comedy differently Mark Lawson talks to TV and stage writer Mike Bartlett Fiona McDermott, C4’s head of comedy, tells 11 as his latest drama, Press, hits the screen 26 Pippa Shawley that she is determined to build on the success of Derry Girls Viacom’s transformation man Steve Clarke interviews Viacom CEO and President Local shows for local people 14 Bob Bakish ahead of his RTS conference keynote As competition bites, HBO Europe is ramping up original 28 production across the continent, reports Stuart Kemp A global shift to home-grown Kate Bulkley explains why Netflix and other What Chinese viewers want 18 streaming services want to park their tanks on Marcus Ryder offers some advice to British producers the lawns of national TV networks 30 worried by the complexities of appealing to Chinese audiences The secret agent’s son Andrew Billen meets Simon Cornwell, whose production 20 company, The Ink Factory, is best known for adapting the novels of his father, John le Carré Cover: Gordon Jamieson 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 2018. [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 September 2018 3 RTS CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2018 26 NOVEMBER LONDON HILTON ON PARK LANE BOOK YOUR TABLE AT: WWW.RTS.ORG.UK #RTSawards Your guide to upcoming events. Book online at RTS NEWS www.rts.org.uk STEVE HEWLETT MEMORIAL EAST SCOTLAND National events LECTURE 2018 Thursday 20 September ■ Jane Muirhead Thursday 11 October TV quiz night ■ [email protected] RTS CONFERENCE Charlotte Moore, Director of Quizmaster: BBC Inside Out’s Tuesday 18 September Content, BBC. David Whiteley. Please email SOUTHERN RTS London Conference 2018: Joint RTS and Media Society [email protected] for an entry Wednesday 17 October Is bigger better? Will ‘the event. Tickets £10. All net profits form. Tickets: £10 per team of IBC 2018 review consolidation game’ help tip the will go to the Steve Hewlett Bur- four or five. Panel discussion with Q&A. Joint scales against the tech giants? sary Fund. 6:30pm for 7:00pm Venue: The Lamb Inn, Lamb Yard, event with RTS Thames Valley. Sponsored by Viacom. Venue: The University of Orford Place, Norwich NR1 3RU 7:00pm for 7:30pm Co-chaired by David Lynn, Westminster, 4-12 Little Titchfield ■ Nikki O’Donnell Venue: QMC Television Studio, President Viacom International Street, London W1W 7BY ■ [email protected] Cliddesden Road, Basingstoke Media Networks (VIMN), and RG21 3HF James Currell, President, VIMN, RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT LONDON ■ Stephanie Farmer UK, Northern and Eastern Wednesday 24 October ■ Daniel Cherowbrier ■ [email protected] Europe. Confirmed speakers Who’s watching? The challenge ■ [email protected] include: David Abraham, CEO, of digital TV measurement THAMES VALLEY Wonderhood Studios; Bob Speakers: Rich Astley, chief MIDLANDS Wednesday 17 October Bakish, CEO and President, product officer, Finecast; Tuesday 16 October IBC 2018 review Viacom; Zai Bennett, director of Matt Hill, research and planning RTS Midlands careers fair Panel discussion with Q&A. programmes, Sky Entertainment director, Thinkbox; John Litster, 10:00am-5:00pm. Tickets: £10, Joint event with RTS Southern. UK and Ireland; Karen Blackett MD, Sky Media; Sarah Rose, with 300 early-bird tickets at 7:00pm for 7:30pm OBE, UK country manager, director of consumer insight, £6. Group bookings available via Venue: QMC Television Studio, WPP and Chair, MediaCom Channel 4; and Justin Sampson, [email protected] Cliddesden Road, Basingstoke UK; Georgia Brown, director, CEO, Barb. Chair: Kate Bulkley, Venue: Edgbaston Stadium, RG21 3HF European originals, Amazon journalist. 6:30pm for 6:45pm Edgbaston Road, Birmingham Studios; Kate Bulkley, media Venue: The Hospital Club, 24 Endell B5 7QU Friday 23 November commentator and journalist; Street, London WC2H 9HQ 2018 Winter Ball Damian Collins MP; Tony Hall, Tuesday 20 November 7:00pm till late Director-General, BBC; Tim RTS MASTERCLASSES RTS Midlands Awards 2018 Venue: De Vere Wokefield Estate, Hincks, Co-CEO, Expectation Tuesday 13 Novermber Venue: Town Hall, Victoria Goodboys Lane, Reading RG7 3AE Entertainment; Ian Katz, director RTS Student Programme Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ ■ Tony Orme of programmes, Channel 4; Masterclasses ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 ■ [email protected] Carolyn McCall, CEO, ITV; and ■ [email protected] Mark McLane, global head of Wednesday 14 Novermber WALES diversity and inclusion, Barclays; RTS Craft Skills Masterclasses NORTH EAST AND THE BORDER Wednesday 5 September Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4; Venue: IET London, 2 Savoy ■ Jill Graham Is CGI the next big win for Anne Nguyen, partner and Place, London WC2R 0BL ■ [email protected] drones? managing director, London, Michael Surcombe, founder, Boston Consulting Group; RTS AWARDS NORTH WEST Leaping Wing. 6:30pm Trevor Phillips OBE, Founder, Monday 26 November Saturday 10 November Venue: BBC Wales Club, Webber Phillips; Matthew RTS Craft & Design Awards 2018 RTS North West Awards 2018 Llantrisant Road, Llandaff, Cardiff Postgate, chief technology London Hilton on Park Lane Venue: Hilton Deansgate, 303 CF5 2YQ and product officer, BBC; Beth 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 Rigby, political correspondent, ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 ■ [email protected] Sky News; Kate Russell, RTS FUTURES ■ [email protected] technology reporter, BBC Click; Wednesday 30 January, 2019 WEST OF ENGLAND Darren Throop, President and Careers Fair 2019 NORTHERN IRELAND ■ Belinda Biggam CEO, Entertainment One; Jane Venue: Business Design Centre, Thursday 15 November ■ [email protected] Turton, CEO, All3Media; Stephen 52 Upper Street, London N1 0QH RTS NI Programme Awards van Rooyen, CEO, Sky UK & Venue: TBC YORKSHIRE ROI; Kirsty Wark, writer and ■ John Mitchell ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 broadcaster; Sharon White, Local events ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@ ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. CEO, Ofcom; Deborah Williams, btinternet.com co.uk executive director, Creative DEVON AND CORNWALL Diversity Network. ■ Jane Hudson REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Venue: Kings Place, 90 York Way, ■ RTSDevonandCornwall@rts. ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 London N1 9AG org.uk ■ [email protected] Television www.rts.org.uk September 2018 5 RTS Masterclasses 13-14 November n RTS Student Programme Masterclasses: 13 November n RTS Craft Skills Masterclasses: 14 November Venue: IET London WC2R 0BL BOOK YOUR PLACE: www.rts.org.uk TV diary Dorothy Byrne meets Britain’s oldest transgender woman and praises the new generation of men who work in TV V current affairs and editorial director.