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Major Radio Sci Fi
Drama
BBC radio is to launch a major cross-station drama season
based around the science fiction genre, which will see BBC 7 broadcast its
biggest original series commission to date.
The season will be spread over two weeks in February and March and will see
BBC Radio 4, Radio 3 and BBC 7 play host to a number of science
fiction-themed plays, featuring both original works and adaptations,
including Arthur C Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama and Iain M Banks’ The State
of the Art.
Radio 4 will transmit a total of five science fiction productions in its
Afternoon Play slot, another in its Classic Serial slot and one in Woman’s
Hour, while Radio 3 will transmit three plays based on the genre. The season
will see BBC 7 air its biggest original drama series yet, with a ten-part
series called Planet B, which it will broadcast alongside archive
productions from the Corporation’s back catalogue.
Jeremy Howe, drama commissioner for Radio 4 who has driven the
initiative, said he felt there was “an audience and appetite” for science
fiction that has been underserved until now.
“What we are interested in doing is contemporary science fiction. Science
fiction now as opposed to hoary old-favourites as it were. You look at some
of the contemporary science fiction from writers like Clarke and William
Gibson and radio is their natural home - they are fantastic works of the
imagination,” he said.
He added the productions will be made both in-house and by independent
companies.
23:16
September
30 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Record Deal For Choir
Only Men Aloud, the winners of BBC One's Last Choir Standing,
have signed a multi-million pound record deal.
The welsh group have been taken on by Universal Music for a five-album deal
after a "bidding war".
Universal said that they only had 24 hours to seal the deal, with the choir
requesting the contract was written in Welsh as well as English.
The choir was formed in May 2000 by choir master and musical director Tim
Rhys-Evans, who aimed to re-invent the Welsh male voice choir tradition.
They were supported in the competition by fellow Welsh performers including
Katherine Jenkins, Charlotte Church, Bryn Terfel, Aled Jones and Cerys
Matthews.
Their debut album is due for release on November 17.
18:54
September
30 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Ant and Dec To Be Sued
Ant and Dec are to be sued for £16 million by an American
comedian, according to reports.
A newspaper said that Anthony Kalloniatis, who also refers to
himself as Ant, has begun legal proceedings, claiming that confusion over
the names could damage his career.
Kalloniatis is the host of the US version of Celebrity Fit Club.
He began legal proceedings after the former Byker Grove actors travelled to
the US to host a version of You Bet! this summer.
13:35
September
30 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Reader Comment
So what if someone elses name is ant. god its pathetic
highflyercraig
...........................................................................................
This is worrying. I can't beleive that some guy feels he
has sole ownership of a christian name. Those yanks will sue for anything!!!
Maybe I should keep my head down for a while.
Elvis
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Major New BBC
Religious Series
The BBC announced today a major new religious series for BBC
Two.
Presented by Peter Owen Jones, Around The World In 80 Faiths
will explore the astonishing diversity of the world's religions.
Part-time Anglican Vicar, Jones embarks on a challenge – to travel the globe
and observe and take part in the most important rituals of 80 of the world's
faiths.
He will also be participating in some remarkable events, including an
Aborigine baby-smoking ceremony, exorcisms, a séance, a Christian healing,
Muslim Prayer, a Hindu cremation and Zoroastrian wedding.
The series has been commissioned by Adam Kemp, Commissioning Editor for
Arts, Music, Performance and Religion, and is being made by the BBC's
in-house Religion & Ethics team.
Kemp said: "Around The World In 80 Faiths is BBC Two's biggest ever
religious landmark series and underlines the channel's commitment to bold,
pioneering peak time religious output.
"Peter Owen Jones is a remarkable, entertaining and insightful guide to the
extraordinary diversity of faith on earth."
Filming for Around The World In 80 days started in January and the
series will be broadcast early in 2009.
13:15
September
30 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Christopher Biggins New Countdown Host
Christopher Biggins has been asked to be the new face of
Countdown, he revealed today.
The actor, who has appeared regularly on the Channel 4 quiz as a guest in
the Dictionary Corner, was tipped for the job after current host Des
O’Connor announced he was quitting the show in July.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning programme, Biggins said that his
long-standing pantomime appearances could potentially cause problems.
He said: “I’d love to do it. They are talking to me but the problem is they
are going to be filming while I’m doing pantomime in Southampton. I’m
playing Buttons in Cinderella. So there’s a whole process going on.”
It is also reported that actor Alexander Armstrong, 38, is
also in the running for the job.
12:44
September
30 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Reader Comment
According to the Countdown Page, Christopher Biggins has
never been a guest in Dictionary Corner. This seems correct in my mind as I
have missed very few episodes since it started.
Simon
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Celebrity Scissorhands
British hairdresser Lee Stafford returns to take the helm at
the Celebrity Scissorhands Hair & Beauty Academy to turn a team of
'celebrities' in to fully-fledged hair and beauty experts in just three
short weeks.
Amongst this year's celebrity trainees are: The Apprentice's Lucinda
Ledgerwood, Ex-EastEnders actress Shana Swash; R&B singer and MOBO nominee
Jay Sean and Stedman Pearson from Eighties pop sensation Five Star.
Also returning to Scissorhands is pop icon Steve Strange. This year Steve
has a new role as the academy's Image Consultant.
The 'celebrities' will be working six days a week, nine hours a day
perfecting their techniques on willing members of the public.
Clients will be asked to pay what they think their treatment is worth and
can also be sponsored for their haircuts and treatments.
All money donated to the Academy goes to BBC Children in Need, whose mission
is to positively change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people
across the UK.
Presenter George Lamb is back to host the hour-long primetime show from
inside the purpose-built state-of-the-art academy in Camden, London.
12:30
September
30 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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ITV To Axe
Hundreds Of Jobs
Plans to reduce ITV staff numbers by 1,000, including 430
from its regional news operation, have been revealed today.
The company has started a period of consultation with its staff, stating
that it expected there to be "approximately 430" job losses from the ITV
News division, which would help it save £40m a year.
An ITV spokesman said: "ITV plc remains committed to guaranteeing the
provision of regional news to 2012."
ITV said that in total it expected to cut about 1,000 posts this year and in
the first two months of 2009. The broadcaster said some of the job cuts had
already been made.
Media regulator Ofcom said in a statement: "Ofcom welcomes ITV plc's
commitment to guaranteeing the provision of regional news to 2012.
"In relation to regional news, Ofcom has no powers to set or
influence ITV's budgets."
Following a restructure of the finance, press and publicity, brand and
commercial and global content divisions, ITV has already reduced headcount
by 425 positions. A further 75 roles are in the final stages of
consultation.
ITV today started a separate review of its technology department.
"We are committed to a self-help, self-funding solution to securing ITV's
future," said the ITV chief operating officer, John Cresswell.
"In order to sustain our investment in UK content, we have to keep on top of
our cost base."
The announcement comes days after Ofcom revealed proposals as part of its
review of public service broadcasting to allow ITV to drop some regional
news bulletins, reduce regional programming by 50 per cent and cut back on
some current affairs programmes.
Ofcom also backed ITV proposals to restructure its regional news services as
a "credible means to sustain quality national and regional news services on
ITV1".
ITV wants to rationalise news bulletins in the England and Scottish Borders
region from 17 separate programmes to nine.
"ITV must meet the minimum requirements for regional news coverage set out
by Ofcom but, beyond this, all commercial and operational decisions are
matters for ITV for which they are responsible," Ofcom said.
"Ofcom's recent proposals for ITV news set out minimum requirements and are
focused on the need to protect the interests of audiences in the regions,
particularly around newsgathering and peak time programming."
ITV also said that, due to the worsening economic climate, it had decided to
make further cost savings, of £35m, across the company by 2010.
The National Union of Journalists said that ITV planned to cut 40 per cent
of its regional news employees and threatened industrial action.
"Unless ITV meaningfully engages with unions over its plans for the future
of regional news, industrial action seems inevitable," said the NUJ national
broadcasting organiser, Paul McLaughlin. "Any attempts to force through
these massive cuts will be met with strong resistance."
12:20
September
30 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Reader Comment
Unfortunately ITV has chosen to expunge Border TV from the
ITV map. Our highly popular local news programme, Border News and Lookaround,
affectionately known locally as Border Crack and Deekabout will now be 15
minute opt-out from programme based in Gateshead, shared with Tyne Tees.
Staff levels in the Carlisle newsroom drop from 54 to 13! We hardly ever get
mentioned on the BBC equivalent, also based in the North East.
Simon
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Richard Bacon
- Blue Peter Ban
Former Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon has claimed he has
been banned from appearing in the Blue Peter 50th anniversary celebrations
at Buckingham Palace.
Bacon, 32, was sacked from the show in 1999 after admitting to snorting
cocaine. He said: “I’m a former presenter, but I have not had an invite.”
And it emerged that another of the show’s ex hosts, Janet Ellis, is set to
miss out on the reception at Buckingham Palace next month.
Bacon talked of his disappointment on his Radio 5 Live show
and rang Janet, 53, to see if she had been invited.
Ellis, the mother of singer Sophie Ellis Bextor, caused a stir in 1985 when
she announced she was having a baby out of wedlock.
She continued: “I feel that you and I have atoned for our crimes.”
Referring to another two former Ble Peter hosts, Bacon: “Valerie Singleton
apparently had a fling with Peter Purves but I bet you she’s been invited. I
want that invite rescinded.”
03:14
September
30 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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