Question Time

London-based production company Mentorn has retained the contract to make the flagship BBC One current affairs programme Question Time for another three years.

The independent has made Question Time since 1998.

David Dimbleby will continue to host the show from venues around the country when the new production contract begins in September.

Question Time last year switched production from London to Glasgow, with Mentorn Scotland picking up the contract.

The Mentorn Media chief executive, John Willis, said: "We're absolutely delighted to secure the contract for a further three years. It's well deserved recognition of the brilliant work of David Dimbleby and the Question Time team led by editor Nicolai Gentchev and executive producer Steve Anderson."

May 17 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Click here to comment on this story
 

Dermot O'Leary

Dermot O'Leary will return to host the sixth series of The X Factor, it has been announced.

The presenter is the latest addition to the line-up for the ITV show, which will be screened later this year.

Simon Cowell said: "Dermot has done a brilliant job for the past five years - he is Mr X Factor."

Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Tulisa Contostavlos have already been confirmed to return to the judging panel.

But the fourth seat is still empty, less than a week before the judges head out to see the hopefuls at the auditions.

O'Leary said: "I just love the gig.

"I hope The X Factor 2012 continues to bring a sense of fun to Saturday and Sunday nights and gives the nation a show that they can laugh, cry and sometimes scream at."

May 17 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Click here to comment on this story
 

The BBC's Jubilee Coverage

The BBC is to broadcast an array of television and radio output for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next month. This includes 14 hours of live programming across the Jubilee weekend itself, from June 3-5.

Television

George Entwistle, Director BBC Vision said: “A series of epic events in 2012 will make this an unprecedented year for the country and for the BBC. Our coverage will aim to bring the whole nation together and deliver all the excitement of having a front row seat for every moment.”

The Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant

A four-and-a-half hour broadcast spanning the pageant route and more, the BBC will film the 1000 boats from the UK and the Commonwealth accompanying The Queen along the River Thames.

Coverage will be led by Matt Baker and Sophie Raworth from their special studio at the historic former Thames fish market Old Billingsgate, looking right over the river and the climax point of the flotilla at Tower Bridge.

Clare Balding will be aboard the Royal Row Barge The Gloriana, which will lead the rowing section, rowed by 18 oarsmen including ex-servicemen, Olympic Gold Medallists and Thames watermen.

A surprise celebrity guest has been learning the art of bell ringing and will be on board the specially built belfry that will lead the entire flotilla. Its peeling bells will ring out and be answered by churches along the river.

On board the BBC’s exclusive presentation boat, The Zephyr, right at the heart of the Pageant will be Frank Skinner, Griff Rhys Jones, Omid Djalili, Sue Johnston and Sandi Toksvig providing an alternative and amusing reflection on the pageant as it takes place.

Alex Jones and the Hairy Bikers will cook up a Jubilee feast aboard the passenger vessel Hollywood.

Sian Williams and the cast of Horrible Histories will be at Tower Bridge reflecting on proceedings.

Angellica Bell will be at one of London’s oldest hospitals, St Thomas’s, meeting Jubilee babies and members of the public who have met The Queen throughout her reign.

Aboard the boat Neeltje Matt Allwright will talk to an ex-naval officer and his wife who live on this converted Dutch barge with their dog Gigi.

Ben Fogle will row a Triple Skiff with some friends giving an insight into what it’s like to take part in the man-powered section, at the front of the pageant.

John Sergeant will be at Westminster Bridge with John Major, Richard E Grant and others taking a political, literary and satirical look at the Thames’s place in culture and history. Richard E Grant will read the famous Wordsworth poem On Westminster Bridge.

Anneka Rice will be at the Millennium Bridge with artists capturing the Pageant as it passes, via a number of mediums, and also talking to those who created the Royal Barge.

Any unexpected events will be reported by Chris Hollins from The Constant, the BBC’s dedicated boat that will be one of the only boats that can travel up and down the emergency lane of the flotilla.

Fearne Cotton will report from HMS Belfast where she will be speaking with veteran sailors and will have a bird’s eye view of the climax point of the whole day.

The BBC will also be aboard one of the music boats, the “Symphony”, which has a full symphony orchestra and choir aboard. They will perform the musical finale, being the last boat in the flotilla.

Legendary commentator Paul Dickenson, plus maritime expert Tom Cunliffe will also be commentating on the whole Pageant for BBC One HD.

Diamond Jubilee Concert

The BBC and Gary Barlow are bringing together a galaxy of great musicians from the last 60 years of rock, pop and classical music, on a stage built around The Queen Victoria Memorial, in front of Buckingham Palace.

The concert will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC One HD and BBC Radio 2 on Monday June 4 and concludes with HM The Queen lightning The National Beacon.

Service of Thanksgiving and Royal Procession

The final day of the Diamond Jubilee weekend, Tuesday June 5, is a State Occasion and will be marked by a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh together with other members of the Royal Family.

Commentary from St Paul’s will be provided by James Naughtie. Sophie Raworth will be reporting from St Paul’s; Fiona Bruce will be at the Palace of Westminster; and Chris Hollins and Sonali Shah will be in The Mall. Fearne Cotton and Jake Humphrey will be taking a lighter look at the events of the day; and Clare Balding will be at the Knightsbridge Barracks meeting new trainees of the Household Cavalry who have been learning to ride in time for this historical day.

The Royal Family will appear on the balcony to and watch the RAF fly past and a Feu de Joie – a cascade of rifle fire by The Queen’s Guard.

The Service of Thanksgiving, Lunch with the Nation, the Procession, the fly past and the Feu de Joie will be shown live on BBC One and BBC One HD.

The coverage will be anchored by Huw Edwards, who said: “The Diamond Jubilee weekend is set to make the summer of 2012 one of the best ever. I am delighted to be playing my part in the BBC’s comprehensive coverage of the events. Our only goal is to engage and entertain our viewers, who watched the BBC in such massive numbers last year for the Royal Wedding.”

A Jubilee Tribute to The Queen by The Prince of Wales

As part of the Diamond Jubilee weekend, BBC One will broadcast a personal tribute to Her Majesty The Queen by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In this unique film The Prince will reflect on various public events and private family moments during the 60 years of The Queen’s reign, and will explore previously unseen photographs and cine films from Her Majesty’s private collection – many of them shot by The Queen herself. The filming has taken place at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral and Highgrove, under the direction of John Bridcut, who worked with The Prince on Charles at 60: The Passionate Prince (BBC One 2008) and The Prince and the Composer (BBC Four, 2011).

May 17 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Click here to comment on this story
 

Sarah Lancashire In New BBC Drama

Sarah Lancashire will star in a new BBC department store drama expected to rival the fortchcoming ITV series Mr Selfridge.

The 47-year-old, who played Coronation Street favourite Raquel Watts, will star in BBC One's The Paradise, a love story set in the 1890s around the opening of the first department store in the North East.

The show could reportedly be screened early next year on Sunday nights, as will Mr Selfridge, which stars another former Coronation Street actress, Katherine Kelly.

The Paradise, based on the Emile Zola novel Au Bonheur Des Dames, is described as an eight-part, rags-to-riches tale. It will also star newcomer Joanna Vanderham, Trial And Retribution's David Hayman and Fingersmith's Elaine Cassidy.

Lancashire will play Miss Audrey, a firm-but-fair character who oversees ladieswear.

May 17 2012 - waveguide.co.uk

Click here to comment on this story

                                                                                                    Next       Previous