May 2018 Comedy on a wide canvas RTS / ATOS YOUNG TECHNOLOGIST OF THE YEAR 2018 Nominations now open Applicants for RTS / Atos Young Technologist of the Year 2018 can be from any sector of the TV and related industries The judges will be looking for an application that demonstrates how: l The applicant has already made an impact in this field l The receipt of the award would enhance the applicant’s understanding of the ever-changing role of technology in television and related fields l The applicant proposes to share this enhanced understanding with others, both within the RTS and beyond The prize is a full conference place at IBC, together with costs of travel to IBC and accommodation for the duration of the conference Application forms and judging criteria are at: rts.org.uk/YoungTechnologist2018 Deadline: Completed forms must be returned to Jo Sampson ([email protected]) by 5pm on 25 May 2018 Finalists will be interviewed on the afternoon of 4 July 2018 Journal of The Royal Television Society May 2018 l Volume 55/5 From the CEO I am thrilled to report pleased that so many women gave up comedy, Shane Allen. His Midas touch on the success of two their Monday evenings to attend what has given us such great shows as the recent early-evening was a passionate debate. RTS triple award-winner This Country. events in London: The Blue Planet II event brought fresh Also, don’t miss a rare interview with “Mind the gap: Closing insights to one of the best factual Lynn Novick, co-director of that stu- the gender pay gap in programmes of recent times. The clips pendous documentary The Vietman War. television” and the were amazing! You can read all about Next month, Esme Wren takes over latest in our “Anatomy of a hit” strand, the bravery of the Natural History as the new editor of Newsnight. She has “Diving beneath the waves: The mak- Unit’s team in this issue of Television. done great work at Sky News and I ing of Blue Planet II”. From Blue Planet II to Sky Ocean have no doubt that she will make a big Huge thanks to the chair, and all the Rescue, our broadcasters have been success of her new job. Tara Conlan’s panellists who gave up their time to doing great work in highlighting the profile of Esme is a fascinating read. make both these events so memorable. impact of single-use plastic products. Finally, this month’s diary is written And a special thanks to one of our Talking of single-use plastic, you by one of my favourite BBC present- speakers, Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, may have noticed an important change ers, Anita Rani. I can’t wait to see her who started the whole process for in how Television is delivered. I am new programme on Bollywood and more transparency on gender pay. delighted to say that, from this month what it tells us about modern India. Despite being delayed at the House onwards, the magazine will be coming of Commons, where MPs were debat- to you in a paper envelope instead of ing military action in Syria, Harriet a polythene wrapper. made such a vital and heartfelt contri- Our cover story is Mark Lawson’s bution to the pay discussion. I was so interview with the BBC’s head of Theresa Wise Contents Anita Rani’s TV Diary Television as catharsis Anita Rani, flush from her triumph at the RTS Lynn Novick, co-director of The Vietnam War, convinces 5 Programme Awards, makes her Bollywood debut 19 Steve Clarke that documentary can be more dynamic than drama King of comedy Social media brings a new source of pressures to the An editor steeped in politics 6 job of being the BBC’s comedy chief, Shane Allen tells Can Newsnight’s new chief, Esme Wren, bring in Mark Lawson 22 Westminster’s big beasts to the BBC Two flagship? Tara Conlan reports Our Friend in the North West Jimmy McGovern recalls how writing TV drama set in his Trust trumps all 9 native Liverpool inflamed local sensitivities Tim Dams asks when it is legitimate for makers of 24 unscripted shows to stage scenes in order to heighten Seduced by algorithms a narrative Richard Sambrook argues that broadcasters need 10 to reset their relationship with social media UKTV ups the stakes in drama The multichannel broadcaster is raising its game by How to close TV’s gender gap 26 commissioning new dramas. Ed Gove investigates Matthew Bell hears new strategies to tackle unfair pay 12 levels in television at an RTS event RTS news Reports of Society and RTS Futures events from around Dangers in the deep 28 the nations and regions Steve Clarke reveals the ordeals of the human heroes 16 who captured the awe-inspiring images of Blue Planet II Cover: BBC/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 May 2018 3 Your guide to upcoming events. Book online at RTS NEWS www.rts.org.uk RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT National events Tuesday 5 June Making shows great again Anatomy of a hit: RTS FUTURES It is one of the greatest Monday 21 May dilemmas in popular TV – U & VFX when to persist with a popular Love Island Hear from a panel of leading franchise, now long in the Angela Jain VFX and motion graphic artists tooth, and when to mothball Managing Director, ITV Studios Entertainment and producers on how to get it, only to drag it out of the Caroline Flack a first foot in the door of the store cupboard, to enchant a Presenter, Love Island and Love Island: After Sun visual-effects industry. 6:45pm whole new generation of TV Kenny England for 7:00pm viewers. Speakers: Sean Doyle, Senior digital producer, Love Island Venue: Channel 4, 124 Horseferry commissioning editor, Channel 5, Ella Umansky Head of format support, ITV Studios Road, London SW1P 2TX Blind Date; Richard McKerrow, Tom Gould executive producer, Love Executive producer, Love Island RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT Productions, The Great British Ria Hebden Wednesday 23 May Bake Off; Clare Pizey, executive (Chair) Anatomy of a hit: Love Island producer, BBC, Top Gear; and Speakers include: Angela Jain, Ed Sayer, commissioning 23 May 6:30pm for 6:45pm Managing Director, ITV Studios editor, Discovery, Wheeler The Auditorium at Foyles, London WC2H 0DT Entertainment; Caroline Flack, Dealers. Chair: Caroline Frost, presenter, Love Island and Love entertainment journalist. 6:30pm Island: After Sun; Kenny England, for 6:45pm REPUBLIC OF IRELAND senior digital producer, Love Venue: Cavendish Conference Local events ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 Island; Ella Umansky, head of Centre, 22 Duchess Mews, ■ [email protected] format support, ITV Studios; London W1G 9DT BRISTOL Tom Gould, executive producer, ■ Belinda Biggam SCOTLAND Love Island. Hosted by TV pre- RTS AWARDS ■ [email protected] ■ Jane Muirhead senter Ria Hebden. Friday 22 June ■ [email protected] This event will dissect the RTS Student Television DEVON AND CORNWALL different elements of the show Awards 2018 ■ Jane Hudson SOUTHERN that delivered ‘must-watch’ TV. Venue: BFI Southbank, Belvedere ■ RTSDevonandCornwall@rts. ■ Stephanie Farmer The session will also look at the Road, London SE1 8XT org.uk ■ [email protected] importance of casting, promo- tion, product placement and RTS CONFERENCE EAST THAMES VALLEY global distribution, as well as Tuesday 18 September ■ Nikki O’Donnell Friday 23 November the extensive digital and online RTS London Conference 2018 ■ [email protected] 2018 Winter Ball presence, which contributed to Sponsored by Viacom 7:00pm its high profile and record view- Venue: Kings Place, 90 York Way, LONDON Venue: De Vere Wokefield Estate, ing figures. London N1 9AG ■ Daniel Cherowbrier Goodboys Lane Reading RG7 Love Island is an ITV Studios ■ [email protected] 3AE and Motion Content Group RTS MASTERCLASSES ■ Tony Orme co-production for ITV2. 6:30pm Tuesday 13 Novermber MIDLANDS ■ [email protected] for 6:45pm start RTS Student Programme ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 Venue: The Auditorium at Foyles Masterclasses ■ [email protected] WALES Level 6, 107 Charing Cross Road, Venue: IET London, 2 Savoy ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 London WC2H 0DT Place, London WC2R 0BL NORTH EAST AND THE BORDER ■ [email protected] ■ Jill Graham Tuesday 29 May Wednesday 14 Novermber ■ [email protected] YORKSHIRE RTS AGM RTS Craft Skills Masterclasses Friday 6 July All RTS members are invited to Venue: IET London, 2 Savoy NORTH WEST Annual Awards attend this important meeting Place, London WC2R 0BL ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 Venue: TBC which will help shape the year ■ [email protected] ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 ahead at the Society. 6pm RTS AWARDS ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. Venue: RTS, 7th floor, Dorset Rise, Monday 26 November NORTHERN IRELAND co.uk London EC4Y 8EN RTS Craft & Design Awards 2018 ■ John Mitchell London Hilton on Park Lane ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@ 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE btinternet.com 4 TV diary Anita Rani, flush from her triumph at the RTS Programme Awards, makes her Bollywood debut ell, I only to move to London to pursue men, ern Indians, who want their stories went and money and a career in TV – though told, and old, conservative India.