April 2019 5G TV’s game changer? NEMI - POP NEMI (POP - UK) NEMI (POP - UK) MARK PETRIE - ORCHESTRAL MARK - ORCHESTRAL PETRIE FIND YOUR SOUND Discover high-quality, original music from renowned composers, respected singer-songwriters and successful commercial musicians. AVAILABLE FOR LICENCE AT AUDIONETWORK.COM CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE Rebecca Hodges [email protected] +44 (0)207 566 1441 NUTTY P - GRIME MAXIMUM IMPACT - EPIC ORCHESTRAL NEMI (POP - UK) NEMI (POP - UK) 0285-RTS-TelevisionMagAd-A4-3mmBleed.indd 7 18/02/2019 15:09 Journal of The Royal Television Society April 2019 l Volume 56/4 From the CEO It’s been an especially to all the jurors for their hard work. story of mobile media technology. stimulating few weeks I was fortunate to attend the Cardiff Also inside, Anne Dawson, the Soci- at the Society. The Creative Cities Convention, where ety’s bursaries administrator, provides glamorous RTS RTS Wales curated a terrific session in a revealing portrait of the experience Programme Awards which Kirsty Wark interviewed ITV of being a mentor and mentee. This is ceremony was an Studios’ Julian Bellamy. He delivered a an inspirational read. amazing occasion. resounding message about how much Last, but not least, I’d like thank the We had star power in abundance and creativity we are blessed with in our indefatigable Charles Byrne for his 29 well-deserved winners (full details nations and regions. achievements over two decades as are in this issue). I am delighted that we have in this Chair of RTS Republic of Ireland. There are so many people to thank issue both a report from the conven- Sadly, Charles is standing down. The for delivering this fantastic evening, tion and an interview with BBC direc- good news is that he will still be starting with our brilliant host, Shappi tor of news Fran Unsworth, who is a involved in the Society’s activities. Khorsandi. I’m very grateful for the truly remarkable leader. contribution on the night of the one Our cover story is Kate Bulkley’s and only David Liddiment. perceptive piece on the potential that Thanks also go to Wayne Garvie, 5G offers the television sector. This is Chair of the Programme Awards, and a fascinating aspect of the unfolding Theresa Wise Contents Gary Gibbon’s TV Diary Everyone gains from a helping hand Gary Gibbon discovers that rational argument and good Anne Dawson talks to three RTS bursary students and 7 manners still exist at a Westminster mired in Brexit 22 their media guides about the mutual benefits of mentoring ‘5G will change TV for ever’ Our Friend in Scotland From revolutionising the transmission of live events to Steven Ladurantaye finds at least some things are 8 consuming content on the move, 5G represents a step 26 common to work in his native Toronto and his new job change in TV, predicts Kate Bulkley in Glasgow News takes centre stage Masterclass in creativity Tara Conlan meets the unflappable director of BBC News, If you want to write and sell a successful comedy, there 11 Fran Unsworth, as she prepares for further challenges 27 are no shortcuts, reports Steve Clarke History on a human scale Black to the future Caroline Frost learns how the creator of Sky Atlantic’s Matthew Bell learns how ITV2’s award-winning 14 Chernobyl set out to tell the disaster’s story from the 30 Timewasters blends jokes, jazz and time travel to tackle perspective of the people caught up in it big themes such as racism Make TV sustainable Act local, think global Stephanie Farmer takes notes as Chris Packham calls on Huge global commercial opportunities exist for TV talent 17 TV producers to change their ways and follow Albert 32 outside London, Julian Bellamy tells the Creative Cities Convention in Cardiff. Huw Rossiter reports BBC and ITV join the fray As the competition grows more intense, Gideon Spanier RTS Programme Awards 2019 18 assesses the prospects for newcomer BritBox Hosted by Shappi Khorsandi, the awards were presented 34 on 19 March at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, Comedy of the dispossessed in partnership with Audio Network. The winners and Actor Toby Jones debuts as a TV writer, with BBC Two’s nominees over eight pages 20 Don’t Forget the Driver. He tells Ben Dowell what it was like to co-write and star in his own show Cover: Citi GPS 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 2019. [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 April 2019 3 Apply now for the 2019 Shiers Trust Award The Trust can make a grant of up to £4,000 towards publishing work on any aspect of TV history Grants will be given to assist in the completion of new or unfinished projects, work or literature specific to the objectives of the Trust. DEADLINE EXTENDED ‘Literature’ is defined as including audio-visual media such as DVDs TO 31 AUGUST 2019 and websites. It is essential that applicants read all the conditions and criteria, which can be found online at the address below. George Shiers, a distinguished US television historian, was a Do you need long- standing member of the RTS. The Shiers Trust grant is now in its 19th year. Application procedure £4,000 Applications are now invited and should be submitted to the Trus- tees by Friday 31 August 2019 on for a history of the official application form. www.rts.org.uk/ shiers-trust-award television project? 8 Your guide to upcoming events. Book online at RTS NEWS www.rts.org.uk RTS CONFERENCE Friday 29 November Venue: The Old Fruitmarket, National events 18-20 September RTS Midlands Awards 2019 Candleriggs, Glasgow G1 1NQ RTS Cambridge Venue: TBC ■ April Chamberlain RTS SCREENING Convention 2019 ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 ■ [email protected] Thursday 25 April Venue: King’s College CB2 1ST ■ [email protected] Our Planet screening and Q&A SOUTHERN See Netflix’s Our Planet, followed STEVE HEWLETT MEMORIAL NORTH EAST AND THE BORDER April, date TBC by a Q&A. Organised jointly by LECTURE 2019 ■ Jill Graham Meet the Professionals the RTS and Wild screen. Speak- Tuesday 24 September ■ [email protected] Venue: Bournemouth University, ers: Sophie Lanfear, producer; Speaker Mark Thompson precise venue TBC Jamie McPher son, camera oper- Venue: University of Westminster, NORTH WEST ■ Stephanie Farmer ator; Keith Scholey, series pro- London W1W 7BY Thursday 25 April ■ [email protected] ducer; and Olly Scholey, assistant A celebration and screening producer. 6:30pm for 6:45pm RTS MASTERCLASSES of 63 Up THAMES VALLEY Venue: The Auditorium, Tuesday 5 November and The Up series began in 1964 ■ Tony Orme 30 Euston Square, London Wednesday 6 November at Granada TV and is made in ■ [email protected] NW1 2FB RTS Student Masterclasses MediaCity by Shiver. Speakers: Venue: IET, 2 Savoy Place, director Michael Apted, execu- WALES RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT London WC2R 0BL tive producer Claire Lewis and ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 Tuesday 14 May key contributor Tony Walker. ■ [email protected] Promoting well-being and Hosted by Lucy Meacock. mental health in the TV industry Local events 6:30pm WEST OF ENGLAND During Mental Health Week, this Venue: Compass Room, Lowry Thursday 2 May event will focus on the free- DEVON AND CORNWALL Theatre, Salford Quays M50 3AZ Our Planet – creating a social lance-centric TV workforce. ■ Jane Hudson Monday 29 April media campaign Chair: Caroline Frost, entertain- ■ RTSDevonandCornwall@rts. Dorothy Byrne: the future of Masterclass on the social media ment editor, HuffPost UK. Speak- org.uk investigative news journalism campaign around Netflix’s Our ers: Richard Bentley, creative Dorothy Byrne is head of news Planet series. Speakers: Jon Clay, director, Postcard Productions; EAST and current affairs, Channel 4. director and producer, Silver- Julia Lamb, media engagement Sunday 28 April 6:30pm-9:30pm back Films; Dan Huertas, direc- and awards manager, Mind; Alex Winterlong screening and Q&A Venue: DPL at Salford University, tor and producer, Silverback Pumfrey, CEO, The Film and TV Q&A with writer/director David MediaCity UK, Orange Tower, Films; Amy Anderson, director Charity; and additional speaker Jackson in conversation with Salford Quays M50 2HE and producer, WWF; Host: Lynn TBC. 6:30pm for 6:45pm Fiona Ryder. Screening at 7:30pm ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 Barlow, Chair, RTS West of Eng- Venue: TBC Venue: Arts Picturehouse, ■ [email protected] land. 6:30pm 38­39 St Andrew’s Street, Venue: Cinema 3, Watershed, RTS FUTURES Cambridge CB2 3AR NORTHERN IRELAND Canon’s Road, Bristol BS1 5TX Wednesday 15 May ■ Nikki O’Donnell ■ John Mitchell Tuesday 14 May Investigative journalism ■ [email protected] ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@ Copyright in productions 6:45pm for 7:00pm btinternet.com Workshop with Abbas Media Venue: RocketSpace, 40 Isling­ ISLE OF MAN Law, hosted by Nigel Abbas. ton High Street, London N1 8EQ ■ Michael Wilson REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Tickets: £30+VAT for Bristol ■ [email protected] ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 Media, RTS and Square Club RTS AGM ■ [email protected] members.