BBC Launches Search For New Blue Peter Presenter

The BBC is launching a talent show with a difference - to find a new presenter for Blue Peter.

CBBC duo Dick and Dom will host the search for the right person to join Barney Harwood and Helen Skelton on the Blue Peter sofa.

Contenders will have to win their way through a series of challenges to reach the final where the winners will be chosen by the CBBC audience.

CBBC controller Cheryl Taylor said: "Working on Blue Peter is a dream job for any aspiring presenter and our search for a new face to join Helen and Barney will generate a huge level of excitement for CBBC viewers. With the irrepressible Dick and Dom on hand to orchestrate proceedings we anticipate high tension and high jinks."

The series, which has a working title of So You Think You Can Be A Blue Peter Presenter, starts this summer.

The BBC's flagship children's show was first screened in 1958 and popularised the phrase: "Here's one I made earlier".

March 04 2013 - waveguide.co.uk

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X Factor Cleared Over Complaints

ITV has been cleared over complaints from an X Factor contestant who claimed she was "misrepresented" by producers.

Pink tribute act Zoe Alexander was shown swearing and pushing people and stage equipment after her performance of the US rocker's song, So What.

Ms Alexander complained to broadcast regulator Ofcom that she was unfairly portrayed as "a laughing stock".

ITV admitted "advising" the Welsh singer to consider a Pink song but denied ignoring her own song choices.

During the X Factor hopeful's audition, broadcast on ITV on November 18 2012, Ms Alexander revealed that she was a tribute act to the American singer-songwriter.

Despite telling judges that she wanted to move away from the tribute act, to their surprise, she went on to sing one of the artist's songs.

Ms Alexander was invited to sing another song, this time by Brit-winner Emeli Sande, but the judges told her that while she had a "pretty good voice", she needed to find herself as an artist.

She told broadcasting watchdog Ofcom that the programme makers had "ignored her track choices, changed her song list and dictated her outfit and hair style, insisting on her appearing in her Pink persona".

Ms Alexander claimed her outburst, which included throwing her microphone as she stormed off the stage, swearing and hitting a cameraman, was because she had been "sabotaged" and "set up" by the programme makers.

ITV "accepted" that Ms Alexander was extremely agitated and very angry after the audition but said the judges' comments were "balanced" and her violent reaction after the audition was "unacceptable by any standards, whatever her perceived grievance".

Ofcom backed ITV's stance that the broadcast programme was a "fair summary of the events".

"Accordingly, Ofcom has not upheld Miss Alexander's complaint of unjust or unfair treatment in the programme as broadcast," said the regulator.

In a separate ruling, Ofcom also cleared ITV of unfair treatment following a complaint made by Ms Alexander's father, Glenn Smith, who joined his daughter on stage after she became upset by the judges' comments.

Mr Smith also complained that footage was unfairly edited to "create an unfair impression of him and his behaviour".

The complaint was rejected by Ofcom, with the regulator supporting ITV's position that editing "had not taken place".

"Ofcom therefore found no unfairness to Mr Smith in this respect," it added.

March 04 2013 - waveguide.co.uk

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