BBC

The BBC has released a statement regarding the 15-month jail sentence handed down to BBC presenter Stuart Hall for sexual abuse against young girls.

The official statement said:

“The BBC is appalled that some of Stuart Hall’s crimes took place in connection with his work at the BBC and offer an unreserved apology to the people he abused.

“Dame Linda Dobbs is leading a detailed investigation into Hall’s conduct at the BBC and her conclusions will be published as part of the Dame Janet Smith Review later this year.” Continue reading »

The BBC has apologised after one of its radio stations aired a segment that suggested Clare Balding could be “cured” of homosexuality.

Radio 5 live’s Fighting Talk show aired the comedy segment Defend the Indefensible on Saturday night in which Colin Murray asked Bob Mills to defend the proposition: “Give me 20 minutes with her and I’m sure I could turn around Clare Balding.”

Mills went on to suggest that “there is not a woman in the world who cannot be cured” of homosexuality.” Continue reading »

The BBC is taking a shot at trying to adapt one of its successful radio sitcoms for television.

The Radio 4 sitcom In and Out of the Kitchen is being lined up as a potential TV series with BBC Two being the preferred channel.

The Miles Jupp-created sitcom focusses on the day-to-day life of London cookery writer Damien Trench and his partner Anthony.

Count Arthur Strong is an example of a previous BBC radio sitcom to make the jump to TV.

Veteran TV presenter David Dimbleby has spoken out regarding the UK television industry’s lack of older female hosts.

The BBC host says there needs to be a “cultural shift” in the UK and that we should be following a more American model, which “keeps women at work”.

“Why should age matter with women?” Dimbleby told Radio Times. “Women mature elegantly and better than men very often. I don’t think age should be a factor for women appearing on television.” Continue reading »

The BBC has confirmed the appointment of Danny Cohen as director, BBC Television.

Cohen’s appointment follows an open recruitment process and is the final addition to new Director-General Tony Hall’s senior management team.

Cohen will sit on the BBC’s Executive and Management Boards and will oversee the BBC’s four main channels, BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four alongside BBC iPlayer and online content for BBC Television. He also oversees the Drama, Entertainment, Knowledge and Comedy genres as well as BBC Films. In addition, he will be responsible for the BBC Television archive and BBC Productions, Europe’s largest television production group. Continue reading »

The BBC is said to be about to announce Danny Cohen as their new director of television.

Currently BBC One controller, Cohen is tipped to become George Entwistle’s successor ahead of BBC North director Pater Salmon.

The pair are the frontrunners for the role, with external candidates also in contention.

Former BBC London 2012 head Roger Mosey has been acting director of television since August last year.

David Dimbleby has been charged with hosting the BBC’s coverage of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral next week.

The coverage will begin at 9.15am on Wednesday, April 17 on BBC One.

Lord Bell confirmed the arrangements for the funeral: “She specifically did not want a state funeral and nor did her family.

“She particularly did not wish to lie in state as she thought that was not appropriate.

“And she didn’t want a fly-past as she thought that was a waste of money – somewhat in character you might think. Continue reading »

Matt Lucas will be back on BBC One next year with a brand new comedy series with a working title of Pompidou.

Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC One and Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, have commissioned a 6×30-minute prime time visual comedy series from Matt Lucas called Pompidou (w/t).

In his first solo authored narrative series, Matt introduces a new set of characters. The series will also feature guest appearances from some of the world’s finest physical comedy performers. The series will transmit late 2014.

Danny Cohen says: “Matt’s new project is wonderfully original and ambitious. I can’t wait to see what he and his talented team produce.” Continue reading »

John Cleese has taken a pot shot at the BBC, accusing them of not knowing how to do comedy.

The former Fawlty Towers actor believes the current crop of BBC executives don’t know how to make comedy shows.

“The people who became executives (in the 1960s and 1970s) had produced or directed a great deal of comedy,” he says on Goodbye Television Centre, which will air later this month.

“Now there seems to be an executive class and they have never written and never directed. Continue reading »

The BBC is taking on one of the greatest novels of all time in War and Peace.

A six-part adaptation of the Leo Tolstoy novel has been announced by BBC One controller Danny Cohen for a 2015 broadcast.

Danny Cohen says: “War And Peace is truly epic in scale and builds on BBC One’s commitment to bringing audiences drama of the highest quality and impact. Told over six episodes, Andrew Davies will bring his exceptional powers of adaptation to this literary masterpiece.”

Andrew Davies says: “Not just a great novel it’s a wonderful read and it’ll make a wonderful serial. A thrilling, funny and heartbreaking story of love, war and family life. The characters are so natural and human and easy to identify with and Natasha Rostova just beats Lizzy Bennet as the most lovable heroine in literature.” Continue reading »