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New Channel 4
Series Criticised
A new Channel 4 show in which a group of children are left in
a house unsupervised has been criticised as "voyeuristic and low grade
entertainment".
The channel has billed Boys and Girls Alone, part of its autumn line-up, as
a "fascinating look" at gender differences, and denied they had created a
mini Big Brother.
Ten boys and ten girls aged eight to 11 spent two weeks living in separate
cottages in Cornwall.
David Davis MP said: "Given how hard adults find it to cope with a series
like Big Brother, to put children in that environment is asking for trouble.
There's a danger this could leave children traumatised."
The children were told to cook and clean for themselves, make their own
sleeping arrangements, and decide how to spend their money.
The children's parents were able to watch their offspring on CCTV.
Channel 4 said the purpose of the fly-on-the-wall documentaries was to see
whether the boys or girls "will build a better world".
"The parents thought it was an incredibly positive experience for their kids
to go through. We were taking them away for two weeks so they were highly
monitored," said Andrew Mackenzie, Channel 4's head of factual
entertainment.
"We wanted to see what happens if the parents were not there.
"You are just left with this positive feeling that these kids are wonderful.
We've got this generation here of brilliant kids. If they're let loose
they're brilliant.
"The safety of the kids was absolutely paramount. There were security
guards, chaperones, production staff and CCTV for the parents."
But Andrew Hibberd, director of pressure group the Parent Organisation, said
children risked being bullied by their classmates as a result of appearing
on the series.
He said: "If it's intended to be educational then it's a good thing but I
don't think it will be.
"I'm sure the programme will serve no useful purpose and will simply be
voyeuristic and low grade entertainment."
Claude Knights, director of charity Kidscape, said: "When Big Brother first
came on the scene we were told it was an observational documentary and we
would obtain psychological data, that it would be a step forward in finding
out about relationships.
"You have to be really very deluded to think that we're getting that from it
now."
17:20
August
22 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Rab C Nesbitt Returns
The much-loved Govan philosopher Rab C Nesbitt returns to BBC
Two for the first time in a decade for a new one-off 45-minute special.
With his inimitable patter Gregor Fisher will once again don his string
vest.
Elaine C Smith as Mary "Mary Doll" Nesbitt, Rabs's long-suffering wife,
joins him.
The original award-winning series created by Ian Pattison first appeared in
the late Eighties and ran for eight series.
The special is again written by Ian and will be shown later this year,
directed and produced by Colin Gilbert from the Comedy Unit (part of the RDF
Media Group), and commissioned by Roly Keating and Lucy Lumsden.
Lucy Lumsden BBC controller of comedy commissioning, said: said: "The return
of a great character such as Rab C Nesbitt, along with two new audience
sit-coms, reflects the wide range of diverse, distinctive, quality comedy
BBC Two continues to offer viewers."
17:01
August
22 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Big Brother Zombie
Drama
E4 has commissioned a new horror drama series set in a
fictional Big Brother house.
The new five-part thriller, Dead Set, is written by Charlie Brooker and will
be the centre-piece of E4’s autumn 2008 schedule.
The drama is set in a Britain where the walking dead are attacking the
living. It stars Jaime Winstone as a production runner working on a
fictional series of Big Brother who tries to fend off the walking dead
alongside the remaining housemates.
Dead Set also features a range of cameo guest appearances including Davina
McCall and several former Big Brother housemates.
In Dead Set the Big Brother house suddenly becomes one of the few remaining
safe places in the country, with the contestants blissfully unaware of the
horrific events unfolding outside. Until an eviction night where all hell
breaks loose…
Charlie Brooker is well known for his weekly columns in The Guardian and his
BBC 4 series Charlie Brooker’s Screen Wipe. Charlie co-wrote the Channel 4
comedy series Nathan Barley with Chris Morris and was the creator of the
hugely successful TV Go Home website.
Brooker said: "Just as a shopping mall was the ideal setting for the
original Dawn of the Dead back in 1978, so the Big Brother house seemed
fitting for a TV zombie epic set in the 21st century. Dead Set isn’t an
out-and-out comedy, but an unashamedly populist horror-thriller with blackly
comic undertones. Think 24 with zombies. And housemates. And gore."
Angela Jain, Head of E4 said, “Charlie Brooker is a hugely talented writer.
It's a real coup that he has penned something so unique for E4. Dead Set’s
take on horror and the world of Big Brother will I hope, surprise and
entertain viewers and be a real treat to watch."
16:40
August
22 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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The X Factor
Accused Of Bullying
ITV has denied putting pressure on an X Factor contestant to
speak on the talent show about a spate of apparent suicides in her home
county.
Alexandra is from Bridgend, south Wales, where 23 young people in or from
the county are believed to have killed themselves since January 2007.
The show's host Dermot O'Leary last week introduced her to viewers by
saying: "She's hoping that success today might provide some welcome good
news for a town that's been living under a cloud."
Alexandra was then shown saying: "Because of all the bad press that Bridgend
has been getting lately, I just think that (getting through) would be the
good bit of news that we need."
But the teenage hopeful told the Western Mail newspaper references to the
suicides were invented after pressurised questioning from the show's
producers.
She said: "They thought that up when I said I was from Bridgend. The
producers wanted me to talk about it but I didn't want to, just in case I
offended someone's family.
"I would much rather be known for the talent than the girl that comes from
the suicide town."
An ITV spokeswoman said: "Alexandra gave a wide ranging interview about
issues which were relevant, important and personal to her, which we
accurately reflected in the programme.
"She talked openly and candidly about wanting to bring some good news back
to her home town of Bridgend. There was absolutely no pressure placed on
Alexandra during filming nor did she, or her parents, raise any concerns
about her interview."
10:55
August
22 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Antiques Roadshow
Returns
BBC One's Antiques Roadshow returns next month with new
presenter Fiona Bruce.
As she steps away from the news studio, Bruce starts a 10,000
mile journey around the country at the ruins of Bolton Abbey, near Skipton
in North Yorkshire, where thousands of visitors arrive for an appraisal of
their treasures.
Among the objects uncovered by the experts is a lambing
chair, first used 200 years ago by farmers to offer protection against poor
weather while sitting up all night with their flocks. A bullet hung on a key
ring reminds one owner how her father narrowly survived the First World War
dodging enemy snipers in the trenches. The bullet had been removed from a
direct hit in his bottom! And two lucky owners hear the magic word "Faberge"
when showing jewellery expert Geoffrey Munn a small trinket that's
languished unloved in a cupboard for many years.
10:11
August
22 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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This Morning
- Friday Presenters
It appears that Eamonn Holmes and his partner Ruth Langsford
take over as permanent Friday presenters of ITV1's This Morning.
ITV said the couple are in talks to host the flagship show every Friday from
next month
Langsford already regularly hosts This Morning on Fridays with Phillip
Schofield.
The rest of the week, the long-running daytime show is presented by
Schofield and co-host Fern Britton.
But Langsford has been joined by Holmes on This Morning for short stints
during the past two years, covering for Schofield and Britton during their
summer break.
They began presenting the show during half term holidays last year, before
taking the helm five days a week for seven weeks last summer.
09:02
August
22 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Autumn On Five
A series of previously unseen interviews with 1960s figures
such as Peter Cook, Quentin Crisp and Enoch Powell undertaken by legendary
broadcaster Bernard Braden is to be broadcast as part of Five's autumn
season.
The three-part 1968 Unseen will look at what has changed socially,
politically and culturally in the intervening 40 years.
Best known for his consumer programmes such as On the Braden
Beat and Braden's Week, Bernard Braden recorded more than 350 interviews at
his own expense with a range of iconic faces of the 1960s.
His interviewees also included Cilla Black, Robert Maxwell, Lulu and Sean
Connery.
The series, which will be made by independent producer Silver River, will
re-interview some of those originally filmed to reveal what the 1960s meant
to them.
Ben Gale, the Five director of programmes, said: "I'm delighted we have
secured 1968 Unseen - it's a fascinating insight into one of the pivotal
years of the 20th century and still resonates today. It is a welcome
addition to our rich autumn line-up."
Other new shows include Dangerous Adventures for Boys, based on the
published Dangerous Book for Boys, which will see famous dads such as Martin
Kemp, Vic Reeves, Todd Carty and Bradley Walsh and their sons undertake
Boy's Own-style journeys of "adventure and self-discovery".
The six-part series, made by Mentorn, will also trace the journeys of
historical figures from Captain Scott to Nelson to reveal the "unique
relationship between boys and their fathers".
Comedian Paul Merton will also return to Five for a new journey after his
exploration around China.
The five-part Paul Merton in India will see the comedian meeting holy men,
musicians, criminals and a host of ill-tempered animals including delinquent
monkeys and spitting cobras.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and a panel of green-fingered experts will also
appear in new four-part series I Own Britain's Best Home and Garden.
07:37
August
22 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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