The newspaper for retired BBC Pension Scheme members • August 2018 • Issue 4 PROSPERO FIONA BRUCE ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW PENSION PAGE 2 SCHEME | BACK AT THE BBC Old Masters, Chippendale pieces and ‘YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT Roman statues – the top trumps of antiques. A few years back I also loved going to Bletchley Park where secret code breaking took place during the Second WILL TURN UP’ World War using, amongst other things, the German enigma machine. At the time, the buildings were pretty run down, rather unloved and little changed since Filming for the 41st series of BBC One’s Antiques the war – but it was hugely atmospheric. Roadshow is well and truly under way. Believe it or not, Since then, it’s been given funding and is now open to the public. this is Fiona Bruce’s 11th year presenting the show. Here Another favourite was Hopetoun House just outside Edinburgh. Part of the filming she shares some of her thoughts and highlights to date… involved going to the top of the nearby Forth Bridge in a high wind. I’m not sure all the crew enjoyed it, but I certainly did! What is it like working on Antiques Is there a story that has particularly newly discovered son. As the man told Roadshow and were you a fan before stuck with you? me this story he was moved to tears – You’ve been known to help out on you began presenting it? The man who brought along a set of GI and who can blame him? reception on the valuation days I used to watch Antiques Roadshow as a medals from the Second World War. – what’s the oddest thing that you’ve Are you surprised that people still have child when I lived at home. I would sit with seen brought along? His story began with finding a cache of treasures that they know nothing about? my parents on Sunday nights and we love letters written to his mother by an I always help out on reception, as it’s You’d think that after 40 years of would watch it together. We enjoyed it American GI who’d had an affair with her great fun. It’s the first chance I get to see Antiques Roadshow somehow people very much. I came back to it when I had while his father was away serving in the what our visitors have brought along and would run out of things to show us, run my own home and was a regular viewer Second World War. to hear their stories. You never know out of things to tell us – but I’m happy to before I got the dream job of presenting it. what will turn up. The letters revealed that his mother had report that this is not the case! If you work in television, to find yourself One year a man brought an attaché case a baby with this man and it became Thousands of people come along and we on a programme that the nation has and plonked it down on our reception apparent to him that he was that child. still find the most remarkable objects. taken to its heart, is a rare privilege. table. I thought it might contain some As you can imagine, it was a huge shock We never know what is going to turn up Antiques Roadshow is a star in the BBC’s exciting documents or letters of historical and very distressing. Everything he had and that is the great joy of the firmament and I count myself very lucky importance – but no. Inside was his known and believed about his childhood programme and we will see everybody to be a part of it. collection of loo chains. turned out to be based on a lie. As his who comes along. What do you enjoy most about the day parents had died recently, he couldn’t ask When I asked him why on earth he would It is amazing that there are wonderful of the recording? them about it and his aunt told him she want to collect them, he said he really items still out there and that the show, I’m not an antiques expert so I don’t value was sworn to secrecy. enjoyed watching the programme, which has been going 40 years, has not items on the day, but I do know what thought he should start a collection of his He tracked down the GI’s family in Virginia unearthed everything there is to unearth items make a good story and how to tell own, wanted it to be out of the ordinary who welcomed him with open arms and – it’s really quite surprising. People still it. So much of what you see on the – and loo chains were cheap! filled in the gaps. They told him that his bring along things that are just Roadshow is about the story behind the father had agreed to forgive the infidelity extraordinary and it’s a great pleasure item and the story of the owner – our and bring the baby up as his own – and to see them and hear their stories. dream combination is a great story, indeed loved him as such all his life – and Antiques Roadshow The programme has changed a lot over a great owner, and great value. the American GI decided reluctantly to comes to MCUK the years, most of the filming now takes We are never short of people who bring stay away to prevent making a delicate place outdoors. What venues have stood If you live in the North-West or along things that may not necessarily situation even more difficult. out for you? nearby, you’ll have an opportunity have great monetary value but tell a story The GIs’ descendants knew all about the I’ve been so lucky to go to some of the to attend a recording of Antiques that can be incredibly poignant, very baby being brought up in Britain and most wonderful places in the UK. Roadshow when it visits BBC amusing or reveal something about were thrilled to meet him at last. It was a MediaCity, Salford on Thursday ourselves or history that we may not have Last year for our 40th anniversary series very moving experience for all of them. 30 August (9.30am-5pm). No ticket thought of before; I enjoy that part of the we visited Castle Howard, which I’ve required. Just turn up – no tickets Roadshow enormously. Some of the most The man came to the Roadshow with his always wanted to see and it was just or booking. It should be fun – with moving stories stick in my mind, many of American GI father’s war medals, which as fabulous as I thought it would be. a special Blue Peter moment too! which I will never forget. the family had decided should go to his It had the finest collection of paintings, 2 YOUR ‘PEN’-FRIEND PROSPERO Prospero is provided free of charge to retired Scheme IS ON ITS WAY members, or to their spouses and dependants. Prospero provides a source of news on former Sometime this week you can expect to receive a colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension leaflet summarising the easy steps to registering for issues, plus classified adverts. It is available online at myPension online – as well as your branded BBC Pension bbc.co.uk/mypension Scheme pen with built-in stylus. The soft-touch stylus To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. lets you navigate or make notes on your tablet or screen. 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Life after Auntie 6-7 BBC publishes Annual Report 2017/18 - Scottish Variety & Radio Orchestras The BBC published its Annual Report and Accounts team committed to a big idea – and worked tirelessly - Suspension of Disbelief for the 2017/18 financial year on 11 July. In an email to for years to make it happen. all staff, director-general Tony Hall said: ‘There’s much ‘I’d also like to thank everyone involved in running our to celebrate – 12 new language services, a successful finances. Our track record on efficiencies is second to first year for BBC Studios before merging with BBC none – and the amount we’re spending on overheads Memories 8 Worldwide, our best ever year for iPlayer, our biggest is at industry leading levels at just 6%.’ investment in children’s services in a generation, and - Good old Harry Rogers the biggest transformation of our local and national Tony also talked about the culture of the BBC and services too.