April 2015 Armando Iannucci: A life in comedy Delivering quality experiences in the digital age Fujitsu helps media leaders engage global audiences. Deploying ICT solutions with exceptional security and performance. Together, we can make it happen. uk.fujitsu.com 2692_Fujitsu_in_Media_A4_advert_v04.indd 1 30/03/2015 16:28:19 Journal of The Royal Television Society April 2015 l Volume 52/4 From the CEO The Society’s most Later in the month I had the honour Interviewed by Sky’s Head of Com­ glamorous and starry of attending a memorial lunch ar­ edy, Lucy Lumsden, Armando spoke evening, the RTS ranged by RTS Midlands for Tony about his extraordinary career and his Programme Awards, Pilgrim, the Society’s former Chair­ success on both sides of the Atlantic. was a huge success. man who died earlier this year, aged In the course of a wonderfully enter­ I’d like to thank every­ 91. More than 50 years ago, Tony taining evening, he recalled what it one involved in what helped to set up our Midlands Centre. was like to work for BBC Radio in the was a glittering event at Grosvenor George Pagan made a very touching pre­digital era, and the contrasting House on Park Lane. Congratulations speech, reminding us of the man and approaches to making The Thick of It in to all the winners and nominees. his achievements. the UK and US. Thanks, too, to the evening’s bril­ Comedy is perhaps the hardest of He also recounted his first encoun­ liant host, John Sergeant, who kept all the TV genres to get right. At the ter with Julia Louis­Dreyfus, the star proceedings running super smoothly. end of March, we were privileged to of his hit HBO series, Veep. Earlier in March, I was fortunate hear from one of its most successful enough to attend the RTS West of practitioners, Armando Iannucci, at England Awards at the Bristol Old Vic: a sold­out early­evening event in the another memorable evening, and a magnificent surroundings of West­ great night for the BBC’s Natural His­ minster’s Telford Theatre. He is, tory Unit, proud winner of six awards. rightly, our cover star this month. Theresa Wise Contents Muriel Gray’s TV Diary Why diversity pays dividends Muriel Gray goes on the trail of some prized restoration Reflecting the whole nation makes business sense for 5 architecture – and ends up scooping a jackpot at the 18 broadcasters. But will the BBC’s lack of a commercial RTS Programme Awards imperative derail its diversity targets? Matthew Bell reports Funny ideas about how to do satire From the digital editor Armando Iannucci looks back on more than two decades of What you need to know to break into TV news. And 6 TV laughter and reveals his love for Morecambe and Wise. 21 comedy. And animation. Tim Dickens highlights new RTS Steve Clarke takes a front row seat online features The drama doctor Sackings, secrecy and sex Boyd Hilton interviews Jed Mercurio, whose edgy approach A new history of the BBC during the Thatcher era by its 10 to his craft has transformed storytelling on TV 22 official historian has it all. But Maggie Brown wonders if the approach lacks genuine focus A strategy for success Lucinda Hicks, COO of newly merged Endemol Shine UK, To the internet and beyond 12 has never made a programme in her life. But that hasn’t As broadcasters meet at the NAB technology show, stopped her rapid rise, says Tara Conlan 24 Adrian Pennington highlights four trends that could transform TV On a rescue mission As Tony Hall prepares for an epic Charter renewal battle, RTS Programme Awards 2013-2014 14 Anne McElvoy detects an upbeat mood at Broadcasting Six pages of the winners and nominees for the Awards, House. Can he win over the BBC’s critics? 26 which were presented at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, in March and hosted by John Sergeant Our Friend in the North Graeme Thompson shows how studying media in North 17 East England trumps North East China Cover picture: Philip Bannister 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 2015. [email protected] [email protected] London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface £146.11) Printer: FE Burman, The views expressed in Television Writer Sub-editor T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail £172.22) 20 Crimscott St, 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 2015 3 Your guide to upcoming national and RTS NEWS regional events MIDLANDS SCOTLAND National events Local events April to May Wednesday 20 May Education workshops in Annual Awards RTS FUTURES BRISTOL secondary schools 6:30pm. Tickets are free if you Monday 27 April 14-15 April These will give students in years join the RTS by direct debit dur- I made it in… digital New directions in film and 8 and 9 an insight into jobs in ing April, otherwise: members, Venue: The Hospital Club, 24 Endell television production studies the TV industry. ■ 16 April Blue £24 inc VAT plus booking fee; Street, London WC2H 9HQ Two-day academic conference Coat Academy, Walsall ■ 21 April non-members, £48 plus booking ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Venue: Watershed, 1 Canon’s Baxter College, Kidderminster fee. Online booking at Eventbrite Road, Bristol BS1 5TX ■ 23 April King Charles I School, Venue: Oran Mor, Glasgow G12 8QX RTS FUTURES Wednesday 15 April Kidderminster ■ 30 April Charlton ■ James Wilson 07899 761167 Monday 11 May The Bristol Distinguished School, Wellington ■ 17 May SCA ■ james.wilson@ First dates Address Series: Sir Peter Academy, Walsall cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk A formatting event Bazalgette Educators’ seminars Venue: Hallam Conference Centre, Chaired by Lynn Barlow. 6:00pm ■ 28 April Worcester University SOUTHERN 44 Hallam St, London W1W 6JJ for 6:30pm RTS industry update roadshows Thursday 30 April ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Venue: Arnolfini, 6 Narrow Quay, ■ 22 April Birmingham, venue Peter Kosminsky in conversa- Bristol BS1 4QA TBC ■ 26 April Worcester Univer- tion with Gordon Cooper RTS LEGENDS May – date TBC sity ■ 21 May BBC Nottingham 6:30pm for 7:00pm Tuesday 19 May RTS Futures event ■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 Venue: Bournemouth University, General election 2015: Did TV Venue: Bath Spa University ■ [email protected] 89 Holdenhurst Road, BH8 8EB come to the aid of the party? ■ Belinda Biggam ■ Gordon Cooper Jeremy Paxman and Alastair ■ [email protected] NORTH EAST & THE BORDER ■ [email protected] Stewart OBE in conversation. 19-20 May Just days after the conclusion of DEVON & CORNWALL Young People’s Video Festival THAMES VALLEY the election, two of television’s ■ Contact TBC Venue: University of Sunderland Wednesday 13 May leading interviewers will share ■ Jill Graham NAB review their insiders’ views of exactly EAST ANGLIA ■ [email protected] Venue: Pincents Manor, Calcot, what happened. Tickets are ■ Contact TBC Reading RG31 4UQ £69.60 inc VAT (£58+£11.60 VAT) NORTH WEST ■ Penny Westlake per person and are inclusive of LONDON Monday 27 April ■ [email protected] service but exclusive of alcoholic Wednesday 15 April Great Big Telly Quiz beverages. 12.30pm for 1.00pm Future technologies for immer- Venue: Compass Room, Lowry WALES Venue: London Hilton on Park sive and personal broadcasting Theatre, Salford Quays M50 3AZ Monday 27 April Lane, London W1K 1BE 6:30pm for 7:00pm Thursday 14 May Post-production training ■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Venue: BBC Research & Screening: The Day They In association with Digital Media Development, Centre House, Dropped the Bomb Training, Cardiff. 7:00pm RTS AWARDS 56 Wood Lane, London W12 7SB Followed by Q&A with Producer/ Venue: DMT, Pascoe House, Bute Friday 5 June Wednesday 29 April Director Leslie Woodhead. 6:30pm Street, Cardiff CF10 5AF RTS Student Television Awards Suspects: an unusual drama Venue: Compass Room, Lowry Tuesday 12 May 2014 The backstory of Channel 5’s Theatre, Salford Quays M50 3AZ My Grandfather Dylan Venue: BFI Southbank, Belvedere first original drama commission ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639 Screening and discussion Road, London SE1 8XT in eight years. Suspects is un- ■ [email protected] with Producer Phil George. In ■ Jamie O’Neill 020 7822 2821 scripted, with the cast devising association with Carmarthen ■ [email protected] their own dialogue based on a NORTHERN IRELAND Bay Film Festival. 1:00pm detailed plot description. ■ John Mitchell Venue: Stradey Park Hotel, RTS CONVENTION 6:30pm for 7:00pm ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@ Llanelli SA15 4HA 16-18 September Venue: Riverside Bar, ITV Studios, btinternet.com ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841 RTS Cambridge Convention 2015 Upper Ground, London SE1 9LT ■ [email protected] Venue: West Road Concert Hall, Wednesday 13 May REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Cambridge CB3 9DP and King’s Freeview Play, the natural Date – TBC YORKSHIRE College, Cambridge CB2 1ST next step iPhone and iPad workshop Friday 19 June ■ Events 020 7822 2820 6:30pm for 7:00pm Presentation by Noel Hayes of Annual Awards ■ [email protected] Venue: Riverside Bar, ITV Studios, CompuB. 8:00pm Venue: Royal Armories, Leeds Upper Ground, London SE1 9LT Venue: Studio 4, Audience LS10 1LT ■ Daniel Cherowbrier Reception, RTÉ, Dublin 4 ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280 ■ [email protected] ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092 ■ lisa@allonewordproductions. ■ [email protected] co.uk 4 April 2015 www.rts.org.uk Television TV diary Muriel Gray goes on the trail of some prized restoration architecture – and ends up scooping a jackpot at the RTS Programme Awards ’ve been travelling the coun- One of my travelling companions, Of course, I tweet this picture, try with the heavenly task of Professor Tom Inns, Director of GSA, feeling safe.