I'm sure others, who knew him more closely, will want to write tributes to Jolyon Monson, who has died at his home in Darcey, Burgundy.
He came to the BBC Radio Newsroom from papers, and soon moved to current affairs. I first met him as a trainee on attachment to The World Tonight, where Jolyon was a senior producer with a pipe, a cravat and plenty of very sensible advice. He spent nearly a decade at Today, including a spell as acting editor in the interregnum between Julian Holland and Jenny Abramsky. As Jenny's deputy, he helped shape our current Radio 4 worldview, as this piece from John Humphrys in a Mail feature from 2007 explains. Take yourself back, now, to 1987...
"The phone is ringing at my home in Henley-on-Thames as I unlock the front door. That surprises me a little because it’s almost midnight. I’m tired and a bit grumpy after another long day at Television Centre and I toy with letting it ring. But curiosity gets the better of me. Five minutes later my life has been changed. The caller is an old friend, Jolyon Monson, deputy editor of the Today programme. He comes straight to the point. John Timpson, the programme’s presenter, is retiring in a couple of months and the editor, Jenny Abramsky, wants to know if I’m interested in taking his job.
"I hesitate for all of ten seconds. Yes, I say. Yes of course I want the job. I want it so much I don’t even ask how much they’ll pay me to do it."
I think Jolyon and John bonded in New York, when Humphrys was correspondent there in the early 70s, and Jolyon was the radio producer on secondment. Jolyon moved on from Today in 1988, producing coverage of the Bush-Dukakis election, and editing a regular programme (another Abramsky idea), Europhile. Yes, you heard right.
Jolyon took early retirement in the 90s, briefly helping launch the London News Radio incarnation of LBC, which ran under Reuters ownership from 94 to 96.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
I need a dollar
How's our old mucker and former BBC DG, Mark Thompson, doing ?
On Friday, the New York Times CEO sold 50,000 shares in the company, at $25.08 each, netting him $1,254,000.00 - around £903,356 at today's rates.
He still holds another 419,095 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,510,902.
On Friday, the New York Times CEO sold 50,000 shares in the company, at $25.08 each, netting him $1,254,000.00 - around £903,356 at today's rates.
He still holds another 419,095 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,510,902.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Pectorals
Piers Morgan's negotiating style at GMB is revealed in a new Radio Times interview, conducted by Emily Maitlis.
"I actually quit in the summer. I said, 'I'm out,' because I couldn't do it any more. Then we came to a new arrangement, which is great. I feel completely different."
Before the new deal, he was arriving at the ITV South Bank studios at 4am three days a week. Now he's allowed to bowl up at 5.30pm. Co-host Susanna Reid is still required to come in earlier - Piers believes this is to do with hair and make-up.
"It takes them longer [to get ready] because they get more attention and pressure on how they look, how their hair is and everything else. I'm lucky. Five minutes of slap and on I go. I said, 'Does anyone really care if I come in at 5.30 and we just have a catch-up on the phone?' Which is what we now do."
So now, presumably, someone else writes all the links he mangles....
"I actually quit in the summer. I said, 'I'm out,' because I couldn't do it any more. Then we came to a new arrangement, which is great. I feel completely different."
Before the new deal, he was arriving at the ITV South Bank studios at 4am three days a week. Now he's allowed to bowl up at 5.30pm. Co-host Susanna Reid is still required to come in earlier - Piers believes this is to do with hair and make-up.
"It takes them longer [to get ready] because they get more attention and pressure on how they look, how their hair is and everything else. I'm lucky. Five minutes of slap and on I go. I said, 'Does anyone really care if I come in at 5.30 and we just have a catch-up on the phone?' Which is what we now do."
So now, presumably, someone else writes all the links he mangles....
- Last year, Emily was on less that £150k from the BBC; it's believed she now has a new deal at over £200k. As well as this Radio Times work, she recently penned a feature for The Times about meeting The Chippendales in Las Vegas, a insight shared with readers of The Sun. It was based on a Newsnight report, prompted by a challenge to Emily from Piers Morgan. Which sort of shows you how Newsnight reaches big editorial decisions.
FLBer
We now have the minutes from the November BBC Board meeting. Dull. But there's news of the 2018/19 budget, and it's safe to say that unless you're in one of businesses mentioned, you're in line for big cuts....
"The First Look Budget (FLB) provided an overview of the income and expenditure in the public service side of the BBC and set out the movements in income over the licence fee period. The Board noted the strategic investment priorities, which were in line with the plans approved last year to increase investment in children’s, digital services, and in the Nations and Regions. "
"The First Look Budget (FLB) provided an overview of the income and expenditure in the public service side of the BBC and set out the movements in income over the licence fee period. The Board noted the strategic investment priorities, which were in line with the plans approved last year to increase investment in children’s, digital services, and in the Nations and Regions. "
Monday, February 26, 2018
Holdings
Hold The Sunset, with added Anne Reid, failed to hold all its audience for its second outing on BBC1. The opening overnight of 6.21m fell to a still-very-respectable 5.03m, with share down from 29.1% to 23.7%.
On BBC2, the Matt LeBlanc-led revival of Top Gear returned with 2.39m (10.3%). That compares with the last series' opener which got 2.79m (11.2%).
I think we can guarantee that the Hard Sun has set. We're often asked to judge drama by consolidated figures, allowing people to catch up. It averaged 2.94m.
On BBC2, the Matt LeBlanc-led revival of Top Gear returned with 2.39m (10.3%). That compares with the last series' opener which got 2.79m (11.2%).
I think we can guarantee that the Hard Sun has set. We're often asked to judge drama by consolidated figures, allowing people to catch up. It averaged 2.94m.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Movement
Two bits from the Sunday Times: Richard Brooks believes the job swap between Sarah Montague and Martha Kearney, changing chairs at Today and The World At One, is around three weeks away. This suggests peace may have been established over Sarah's salary and back-pay, without recourse to tribunal or other legal action.
Meanwhile business presenter Steph McGovern volunteers that her salay has just nudged over £100k. She says class, accent and prejudices about education have held her BBC earnings back. Steph went to MacMillan City Technology College (now Academy) in Stockton Road, Middlesbrough and then to University College London to acquire a degree in Science Communication and Policy.
Meanwhile business presenter Steph McGovern volunteers that her salay has just nudged over £100k. She says class, accent and prejudices about education have held her BBC earnings back. Steph went to MacMillan City Technology College (now Academy) in Stockton Road, Middlesbrough and then to University College London to acquire a degree in Science Communication and Policy.
Tragedy
Pure Original Greek Epic Poetry Drama does not seem to be cutting it with BBC1 audiences on a Saturday night. Despite opening with scenes featuring throat-cutting human sacrifice, of a daughter by her father, the second episode of Troy: Fall of a City lost a third of the opener's average audience, dropping to 2.12m, a share of 11.8%.
Are Netflix and the BBC really contemplating an Odyssey to follow ?
Are Netflix and the BBC really contemplating an Odyssey to follow ?
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Off their rockers
Elements of last night's Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC4 were inauthentic. The studio was way too big, and the show only over-ran by 1 minutes in 180. Perhaps that was because of the fleet of carers waiting outside TVC.
It was, largely, old blokes talking to each other - and loving Bob Harris, the least interesting of the show's roster of presenters. The complaint was always that the production team was making the show for each other. The same accusation could be made about last night.
An average of 730,000 watched the show, according to the overnight ratings.
It was, largely, old blokes talking to each other - and loving Bob Harris, the least interesting of the show's roster of presenters. The complaint was always that the production team was making the show for each other. The same accusation could be made about last night.
— Cassian Harrison (@cassianh) February 23, 2018
Fabulous line up of live music and treats from the archive and stories from the presenters. Enjoy @bbcfour @bbcmusic https://t.co/ZYBQz5U1GF— Jan Younghusband (@youngjanhusband) February 23, 2018
An average of 730,000 watched the show, according to the overnight ratings.
Friday, February 23, 2018
Everything must change
The Times is the only paper that seems to have been briefed about the latest BBC initiative....
"Donalda MacKinnon, director of BBC Scotland, will compile recommendations to remove barriers to female advancement and report to Lord Hall of Birkenhead, the director-general, by June. She will investigate whether schemes adopted by other organisations or BBC departments should be extended throughout the corporation.
"One option could be to expand a programme in its nations and regions division that seeks to fast-track women just below management level by developing self-belief, work-life balance, personal brand and influencing skills."
Of course, Donalda couldn't do all that on her own, so we now have a job ad for a Head of Change, Culture and Progression Project. Remember, somebody at the BBC thinks about job titles. And somebody, maybe even the same person, writes this sort of job ad...
"This person will ensure that there is a defined and agreed vision, with a clear picture of the future state that ensures women at every level have the opportunity to contribute to developing a set of proposals and targets to support and enable the BBC to be one of the best organisations in the world for women to work.
"The Head of Change will ensure that the change environment is understood, the benefits are evaluated, and that effective change leadership is in place. Specifically the role will identify good practice that is already existent and will consider how it can be up-scaled and potentially applied across the organisation. They will galvanise existing BBC women’s groups alongside the wider employee base to contribute alongside considering the organisational context within which we operate to allow real and lasting change to be implemented."
"Donalda MacKinnon, director of BBC Scotland, will compile recommendations to remove barriers to female advancement and report to Lord Hall of Birkenhead, the director-general, by June. She will investigate whether schemes adopted by other organisations or BBC departments should be extended throughout the corporation.
"One option could be to expand a programme in its nations and regions division that seeks to fast-track women just below management level by developing self-belief, work-life balance, personal brand and influencing skills."
Of course, Donalda couldn't do all that on her own, so we now have a job ad for a Head of Change, Culture and Progression Project. Remember, somebody at the BBC thinks about job titles. And somebody, maybe even the same person, writes this sort of job ad...
"This person will ensure that there is a defined and agreed vision, with a clear picture of the future state that ensures women at every level have the opportunity to contribute to developing a set of proposals and targets to support and enable the BBC to be one of the best organisations in the world for women to work.
"The Head of Change will ensure that the change environment is understood, the benefits are evaluated, and that effective change leadership is in place. Specifically the role will identify good practice that is already existent and will consider how it can be up-scaled and potentially applied across the organisation. They will galvanise existing BBC women’s groups alongside the wider employee base to contribute alongside considering the organisational context within which we operate to allow real and lasting change to be implemented."
Distinction
First in what may be a continuing but occasional series: Things you'd rather hoped they'd never say.
Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content "I can't wait for Brendan O'Carroll to bring his own inimitable warmth and wit to a brand new comedy panel show for BBC One."
Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content "I can't wait for Brendan O'Carroll to bring his own inimitable warmth and wit to a brand new comedy panel show for BBC One."
Thursday, February 22, 2018
More
So the tv licence fee goes up by £3.50, to £150.50, from April 1. The increase has been calculated using the Consumer Price Index, measured as the average rate of CPI over the last 12 months to September which works out at 2.23%. (It's currently 2.7%).
If all the people who had a licence last year stick with it, the BBC will gain an extra £90,391,413.
If all the people who had a licence last year stick with it, the BBC will gain an extra £90,391,413.
Well done everyone
Those worried that Alan Yentob might be winding down will have been delighted to spot him at The Brits. Eagle-eyed viewers saw him back-slapping both Ed Sheeran and Stormzy on their way from the celebrity pit to the winners podium. Now all we need is to track down his favoured after-party....
Changing the Praetorian Guard
New BBC Director of News Fran Unsworth has turned to trustie Sarah Ward-Lilley as her Managing Editor. Keith Blackmore, James Harding's chum from The Times "decided earlier this year that he would be leaving the BBC". Keith, who tweets mysteriously as @floppers57, joined four and a bit years ago, and has been overseeing presenter pay - so that's all good then. He's presumably decided the lonely commute from Brighton is too much without James at the end.
Sarah joined the tv newsroom as a producer 28 years ago, with a degree in English from York.
Fran tells staff she'll bring 'warmth' to the role, though I suspect that wasn't in the job spec. You need some sort of warmth to be chair of governors at both Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (beloved of Michelle Obama) and Copenhagen School in Islington.
Sarah is currently in charge of Newsgathering's overseas offices. She'll now look after on-air staff, including their pay and career development.
Sarah joined the tv newsroom as a producer 28 years ago, with a degree in English from York.
Fran tells staff she'll bring 'warmth' to the role, though I suspect that wasn't in the job spec. You need some sort of warmth to be chair of governors at both Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (beloved of Michelle Obama) and Copenhagen School in Islington.
Sarah is currently in charge of Newsgathering's overseas offices. She'll now look after on-air staff, including their pay and career development.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Glamour
Publishing news: Bloomsbury has signed up Labour MP Chris Bryant to pen "The Glamour Boys", chronicling a group of MPs, ostensibly led by Antony Eden, who opposed Chamberlain's appeasement of Germany in the run-up to the Second World War. They included Harold Nicolson, Leo Amery, Robert Boothby, Edward Spears, Ronald Cartland (Barbara's brother), Jack Macnamara, Victor Cazalet, Rob Bernays, Ronnie Tree, Brendan Bracken, Paul Latham and Harold Macmillan.
Publishing director Alexis Kirschbaum (who is also Mrs James Purnell) says it's a "crucial" and "overlooked" narrative. Bryant, the first gay MP to celebrate his civil partnership in the Palace of Westminster, said: "This is a story I've wanted to tell for years. It's about very secret heart-rending bravery, and I’m delighted to be doing so with Alexis and the team at Bloomsbury."
Bryant was Head of European Affairs at the BBC from 1998 to 2000. James left Auntie as Head of Corporate Planning in 1997. They made the news jointly in 2006, after a fundraising auction they organised for Labour included a copy of The Hutton Report, which nearly broke the BBC. It was signed by Alastair Campbell and Cherie Blair.
Alexis is on a run at the moment: "Somebody I Used To Know", by Wendy Mitchell about working and living with dementia, was Radio 4's Book of The Week earlier this month.
Publishing director Alexis Kirschbaum (who is also Mrs James Purnell) says it's a "crucial" and "overlooked" narrative. Bryant, the first gay MP to celebrate his civil partnership in the Palace of Westminster, said: "This is a story I've wanted to tell for years. It's about very secret heart-rending bravery, and I’m delighted to be doing so with Alexis and the team at Bloomsbury."
Bryant was Head of European Affairs at the BBC from 1998 to 2000. James left Auntie as Head of Corporate Planning in 1997. They made the news jointly in 2006, after a fundraising auction they organised for Labour included a copy of The Hutton Report, which nearly broke the BBC. It was signed by Alastair Campbell and Cherie Blair.
Alexis is on a run at the moment: "Somebody I Used To Know", by Wendy Mitchell about working and living with dementia, was Radio 4's Book of The Week earlier this month.
Regrouping
With 25 cases of alleged sexual harassment to resolve, something over a hundred pay grievances unsettled, a new presenter grading system to design and implement, and many staff complaining about where their old straightforward title and grade has gone in the new all-singing and dancing Career Path Framework, it's a joy to see BBC HR Director Valerie Hughes D'Aeth imparting wisdom at the HR Leaders' Summit in Sydney. By the way, when did directors at the BBC start putting 'Group' in their title ?
Patisserie
I was taken with a former colleague's suggestion of a likeness, and decided to test it out....
Graphic scenes
700 buyers at the BBC Worldwide Showcase in Liverpool have been treated to a first glimpse of a new logo for Dr Who, and a Q&A session with Jodie Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall.
Series 11 will be ready for transmission from October.
Series 11 will be ready for transmission from October.
Doctor
The emergence of Dr Yvonne Thompson as chair of the Radio Academy is clearer, once you read the blurb for her 2014 book.
"Coined as "the board woman's bible", 7 Traits of Highly Successful Women on Boards - views from the top and how to get there is an essential read for women on boards, and those aspiring to get there, not only in the private, but also public, charity and Sme sectors. It delves into the hearts and thoughts of 22 highly successful women on corporate boards in the Uk [sic], sharing gems of advice, tips, traits and their essential characteristics that will help you chart your journey to the room at the top".
Yvonne is a Doctor twice over, thanks to honorary degrees from London Metropolitan University and Plymouth University. She spent 15 years on the board of Choice FM.
"Coined as "the board woman's bible", 7 Traits of Highly Successful Women on Boards - views from the top and how to get there is an essential read for women on boards, and those aspiring to get there, not only in the private, but also public, charity and Sme sectors. It delves into the hearts and thoughts of 22 highly successful women on corporate boards in the Uk [sic], sharing gems of advice, tips, traits and their essential characteristics that will help you chart your journey to the room at the top".
Yvonne is a Doctor twice over, thanks to honorary degrees from London Metropolitan University and Plymouth University. She spent 15 years on the board of Choice FM.
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Chickening out
The overnight bulletins team serving Radio 4 need some aversion therapy. This morning's lead; an underwhelming, oversold and overpromoted preview of a David Davis speech in Austria. They fell for similar with Bojo's recent apology for a speech. This is not agenda-setting; it's a default response from shaky editors. Find another lead.
LBC, meanwhile, have found the missing KFC chicken.
LBC, meanwhile, have found the missing KFC chicken.
Monday, February 19, 2018
Plugging away
Writer Charles McKeown (71 ?) will be pleased with the ratings for the first episode of his comedy, Hold The Sunset, starring Alison Steadman and John Cleese. An average of 6.21m watched - a share of 29.1%. They seem unphased by the gaps between jokes, staying more or less with it throughout.
Charles' writing credits stretch back to Brazil, with Terry Gilliam and Tom Stoppard, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and one episode of New Tricks. He appeared in the background, non-
speaking, of the 1980 Fawlty Towers episode, The Kipper and The Corpse, and spoke, as a BBC radio producer in Jobs for the Boys, a Yes Minister episode from the same year. He had more lines as Frankie, Victoria Wood's suitor in her stage play, Good Fun, which had a short run at the Crucible in Sheffield, but never made the West End.
Charles' writing credits stretch back to Brazil, with Terry Gilliam and Tom Stoppard, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and one episode of New Tricks. He appeared in the background, non-
 |
| McKeown (left) in Yes Minister |
Outreach
And now, some commissions from the rapidly-improving Channel 5 for BBC Studios. There's a 2 x 60 minute look at the success of Hotel Chocolat (spookily, now with a shop just a couple of blocks down from Broadcasting House); and a 3 x 60m presenter-led (presenter so far unnamed) look at the Bermuda Triangle.
The third is an archive series of four two-hour shows, each focussed on a single year examined through the Top 20 most-watched programmes of that year, with clips and stories from some of the original participants. It'll be called Top of The Box.
The third is an archive series of four two-hour shows, each focussed on a single year examined through the Top 20 most-watched programmes of that year, with clips and stories from some of the original participants. It'll be called Top of The Box.
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Niffy
The story of Troy should bring you the aromas of ancient Turkey, not ancient turkey. The BBC/Netflix co-production, filmed on location in and around Capetown, drew an average audience of 3.21m to its first episode, a share of 18.3%. Hard Sun, in the same slot, started with 3.43m and finished with 1.61m.
Over on BBC2, "Imagine... Mel Brooks: Unwrapped" was watched by an average of 550k (4.2%). Editor, producer, director and presenter Alan Yentob also gave himself a credit for 'Additional Photography'. Cell-phone shots of his chicken meatballs with spaghetti in Carl Reiner's bedroom, I'm guessing.
Over on BBC2, "Imagine... Mel Brooks: Unwrapped" was watched by an average of 550k (4.2%). Editor, producer, director and presenter Alan Yentob also gave himself a credit for 'Additional Photography'. Cell-phone shots of his chicken meatballs with spaghetti in Carl Reiner's bedroom, I'm guessing.
Scorchio
Yesterday's fire on the B506 (Great Portland Street W1 to me and you) was a set-back for the developers of "17 Uncommon Apartments" (priced from £950k).
Darling Associates are the architects of 38 Langham Street; behind the charred scaffolding they may not yet have got to the work of interior designers, No. 12 Studio. The money comes from Altum Capital, a property investment company in Mayfair, and Great Marlborough Estates, run by Dean Clifford and Grant Lipton, along with Sir Stuart Lipton who is a non-exec. The building is Grade II listed.
Habituees of the nearby Yorkshire Grey will be hoping there's only minor impact to their hospitality; perhaps an additional smoky piquancy to their excellent pork scratchings....
Habituees of the nearby Yorkshire Grey will be hoping there's only minor impact to their hospitality; perhaps an additional smoky piquancy to their excellent pork scratchings....
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Tricky Tuesdays
Caroline Thomson, offered as a 'safe pair of hands' yet still thwarted in the race to be BBC DG in 2012, is struggling with her new crisis as Chair of Oxfam. Though most of the trouble happened well before her accession, in October last year, her organisation's response as been nearly as unsteady as the BBC's handling of the early stages of Savile.
Her first public statement on the matter, on Sunday 11th February, offered a seven-point plan of platitudinous promises in a press release - when DFID Secretary Penny Mordaunt went out on the front foot on The Andrew Marr show. In press interviews, Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children, has come across as the leader with an organised, sector-wide response to the matter. The BBC's James Landale then found Oxfam's leadership in the USA, with a second new plan (anyone going to work on the salaries paid by the charity in the States ?). Yesterday, Oxfam CEO Mark Goldring seemed to have missed whatever training on crisis communications he's been offered, and told the Guardian attacks on his organisation "are out of proportion to the level of culpability".
So we now look forward to Tuesday at 1030 when both Caroline and Mark appear in front of the Commons Select Committee on International Development. Committee member Nigel Evans has already called for Goldring's resignation; Caroline Thomson has described Mr Goldring as "doing a brilliant job".
Her first public statement on the matter, on Sunday 11th February, offered a seven-point plan of platitudinous promises in a press release - when DFID Secretary Penny Mordaunt went out on the front foot on The Andrew Marr show. In press interviews, Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children, has come across as the leader with an organised, sector-wide response to the matter. The BBC's James Landale then found Oxfam's leadership in the USA, with a second new plan (anyone going to work on the salaries paid by the charity in the States ?). Yesterday, Oxfam CEO Mark Goldring seemed to have missed whatever training on crisis communications he's been offered, and told the Guardian attacks on his organisation "are out of proportion to the level of culpability".
So we now look forward to Tuesday at 1030 when both Caroline and Mark appear in front of the Commons Select Committee on International Development. Committee member Nigel Evans has already called for Goldring's resignation; Caroline Thomson has described Mr Goldring as "doing a brilliant job".
Friday, February 16, 2018
I'm in charge
The 40-page judgement of the Tax Tribunal featuring HMRC versus Christa Ackroyd Media Ltd is a hoot. Christa was, until 2013, co-presenter of Look North from Leeds, having been poached from their ITV rival, Calendar back in 2001. In 2013, the BBC abruptly terminated her seven-year contract. HMRC says that CAM Ltd was liable for back income tax, equivalent to the amount Christa would have paid as a direct employee of the BBC. Ignorance of the law in these matters was no defence. Though most papers todaysuggest other BBC presenters will be trembling at the outcome of the tribunal, the Tribunal is not so sure. "We understand that the present appeal is one of a number of other appeals
involving television presenters and personal service companies. However, this is not a
lead case as such."
The findings offer a note about Christa's performance before the Tribunal. "Ms Ackroyd’s evidence did, we think, reflect the fact that she is more used to interviewing than being interviewed. It seemed to us that at various points in her cross-examination she was more concerned with understanding where the line of questioning was going than in giving direct answers to the questions being asked. We had to remind her to answer the questions being asked on several occasions. We do not consider that she was deliberately trying to evade difficult questions, but we did form the impression that she was keen to identify opportunities to present her case in the best light. She was clearly aware that cases such as this turn on value judgments as to the significance of various features, some pointing towards employment and some pointing towards self-employment. In her evidence she was keen to highlight those features which she considered would help her case, occasionally at the expense of directly answering the questions being asked."
There's then a long diversion about how much control Christa had at Look North - which her lawyers said should limit her liability. She clearly thought she edited large parts of the programme, selected her own stories, trained most of the staff, set up the studio, decided which shifts she would do, and much more. The Tribunal deemed this to be a red herring (but it's still a good read).
The Tribunal clearly found that the BBC pushed Christa towards the contract via a personal service company (something the BBC has sought to deny in many other fora).
"Ms Ackroyd’s evidence which we accept is that it was the BBC who suggested that she should work using a personal service company and that Ms Ackroyd agreed to do so. This contract and later the Contract were drafted and negotiated by the “Talent Rights Group” of the BBC rather than by BBC News. In 2001 CAM Ltd had already been incorporated by Ms Ackroyd and when the BBC suggested she should use a personal service company she decided to use CAM Ltd. The BBC did not want Ms Ackroyd to be an employee and we also infer that they did not want any potential liability for PAYE and national insurance if she were to be classified as an employee. Ms Ackroyd had never previously come across the term “personal service company”. She checked the terms of the arrangement with her accountant, Mr Biggin, who advised her that everything was in order.
Agents and others will be delighted that the full terms of Ms Ackroyd's contract are appended to the tribunal's findings, including the marvellous Clause H. Are there similar in other news presenters' contracts ?
"In addition the BBC agrees to make payment to the Company of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Pounds (£7,500) at the end of June and the end of December in each year of this Agreement SUBJECT TO the programming of the Broadcaster consistently and significantly exceeding the ratings of its commercial competition (in the opinion of the BBC) over the relevant preceding Six Month period."
The findings offer a note about Christa's performance before the Tribunal. "Ms Ackroyd’s evidence did, we think, reflect the fact that she is more used to interviewing than being interviewed. It seemed to us that at various points in her cross-examination she was more concerned with understanding where the line of questioning was going than in giving direct answers to the questions being asked. We had to remind her to answer the questions being asked on several occasions. We do not consider that she was deliberately trying to evade difficult questions, but we did form the impression that she was keen to identify opportunities to present her case in the best light. She was clearly aware that cases such as this turn on value judgments as to the significance of various features, some pointing towards employment and some pointing towards self-employment. In her evidence she was keen to highlight those features which she considered would help her case, occasionally at the expense of directly answering the questions being asked."
There's then a long diversion about how much control Christa had at Look North - which her lawyers said should limit her liability. She clearly thought she edited large parts of the programme, selected her own stories, trained most of the staff, set up the studio, decided which shifts she would do, and much more. The Tribunal deemed this to be a red herring (but it's still a good read).
The Tribunal clearly found that the BBC pushed Christa towards the contract via a personal service company (something the BBC has sought to deny in many other fora).
"Ms Ackroyd’s evidence which we accept is that it was the BBC who suggested that she should work using a personal service company and that Ms Ackroyd agreed to do so. This contract and later the Contract were drafted and negotiated by the “Talent Rights Group” of the BBC rather than by BBC News. In 2001 CAM Ltd had already been incorporated by Ms Ackroyd and when the BBC suggested she should use a personal service company she decided to use CAM Ltd. The BBC did not want Ms Ackroyd to be an employee and we also infer that they did not want any potential liability for PAYE and national insurance if she were to be classified as an employee. Ms Ackroyd had never previously come across the term “personal service company”. She checked the terms of the arrangement with her accountant, Mr Biggin, who advised her that everything was in order.
Agents and others will be delighted that the full terms of Ms Ackroyd's contract are appended to the tribunal's findings, including the marvellous Clause H. Are there similar in other news presenters' contracts ?
"In addition the BBC agrees to make payment to the Company of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Pounds (£7,500) at the end of June and the end of December in each year of this Agreement SUBJECT TO the programming of the Broadcaster consistently and significantly exceeding the ratings of its commercial competition (in the opinion of the BBC) over the relevant preceding Six Month period."
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Down under
The HR Leaders Forum in Sydney next week will end with a bang. And a spelling mistake. And kisses.
Women's movement
Two top BBC women heading to Channel 4 in one day. Louisa Compton, co-creator of the Victoria Derbyshire show, and believed to have been a candidate for the Newsnight editorship, seems to have had the job of Editor, Dispatches up her sleeve, forming part of Ian Katz' new team. And Liliane Landor, who rather mysteriously and abruptly left BBC World Service just as huge inflows of cash were arriving, gets back to foreign news with the C4 News team with Ben de Pear.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Out and about
Tom Jones and Alan Yentob chatting away at the Hay Festival auction dinner in Battersea earlier this week. Amol Rajan was on another table.
I'm free
I keep seeing soft-glow flashes of Fiona Bruce's chiselled features in the trails for ITV's Crime and Punishment series, where apparently she is to present a show, alongside other talents such as Piers Morgan, Trevor MacDonald, Susanna Reid and Ross Kemp.
What can have attracted Fiona to this not-at-all-exploitative strand ? She's on somewhere between £350k and £399,999k at Auntie, for some light news presenting, the Antiques Roadshow and Fake or Fortune. The papers believe she's moved from a personal service company back to BBC staff member. Why would Auntie let her freelance - or has Auntie offended her in someway so that she wants to freelance ?
What can have attracted Fiona to this not-at-all-exploitative strand ? She's on somewhere between £350k and £399,999k at Auntie, for some light news presenting, the Antiques Roadshow and Fake or Fortune. The papers believe she's moved from a personal service company back to BBC staff member. Why would Auntie let her freelance - or has Auntie offended her in someway so that she wants to freelance ?
Or else
In a world where more of us are watching programmes online, either streamed or on demand, the BBC is super-pleased with the iPlayer, but very worried that little boxes hanging off your telly, or subscriptions to Amazon Prime and Netflix, might distract viewers from its most excellent content.
Auntie spent much of the last part of the last century demanding prime position on Electronic Programme Guides offered to Sky and Virgin subscribers. Now it's concerned that, if your little box or dongle offers you a route to BBC content, it needs to be prominent and branded on the box or dongle's landing page.
So it has started a consultation, which leads you to a Distribution Strategy Document of 15 pages, but one message....
"The BBC considers that, in the light of its duties under the Charter and Agreement, and to showcase British content, BBC content and services should be prominently positioned within platforms’ user interfaces so as to be easily found by licence fee payers. Unlike linear channels within an EPG, neither the prominence of on-demand content and services nor the prominence of the linear EPG are currently regulated, and so the BBC engages in bilateral negotiations with platforms to agree a fair and appropriate positioning. The BBC seeks to achieve prominence in line with what audiences expect12, and in ways that are consistent with the discovery mechanisms a platform seeks to deploy. Where a third party platform will not offer fair and appropriate prominence so that it no longer meets the BBC’s conditions of distribution, the BBC may accordingly no longer support BBC iPlayer or withdraw it from that platform."
Auntie spent much of the last part of the last century demanding prime position on Electronic Programme Guides offered to Sky and Virgin subscribers. Now it's concerned that, if your little box or dongle offers you a route to BBC content, it needs to be prominent and branded on the box or dongle's landing page.
So it has started a consultation, which leads you to a Distribution Strategy Document of 15 pages, but one message....
"The BBC considers that, in the light of its duties under the Charter and Agreement, and to showcase British content, BBC content and services should be prominently positioned within platforms’ user interfaces so as to be easily found by licence fee payers. Unlike linear channels within an EPG, neither the prominence of on-demand content and services nor the prominence of the linear EPG are currently regulated, and so the BBC engages in bilateral negotiations with platforms to agree a fair and appropriate positioning. The BBC seeks to achieve prominence in line with what audiences expect12, and in ways that are consistent with the discovery mechanisms a platform seeks to deploy. Where a third party platform will not offer fair and appropriate prominence so that it no longer meets the BBC’s conditions of distribution, the BBC may accordingly no longer support BBC iPlayer or withdraw it from that platform."
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Hidden
9pm on BBC1 and BBC2 last night seemed to be the wrong way round. Heavily-trailed pure British drama Collateral, on BBC2, returned an average audience of 3.26m - a 15.6% share of the available audience. Julius Caesar Revealed by Mary Beard, on BBC2, got 1.96m, a 9.5% share.
One might surmise that David Hare's political thriller has twists to come that will irritate the columnists of The Daily Mail - his tv offerings usually do.
Happy returns
Esme Wren returns to Newsnight as Editor after 12 years running politics for Sky News. Esme has a degeee in political science from Bristol (including a spell as a Fulbright scholar) and a post-grad qualification in journalism from City University. That seems to have been enough to get her straight into the BBC in 1999 as a political producer working for Newsnight, back in the days of the programme's first female editor, Sian Kevill.
Will the funny business beloved of Ian Katz survive under Wren ? Back in 2012, for Valentine's Day, Esme was on a Sky News panel judging "Britain's Most Fanciable MPs".
Reminder
Middle East Eye has news of a conference about Qatar, held in the badlands of Grennwich back in September. Despite the event's title, 'Qatar Stability', MEE reckons it was more designed to rally opposition groups bent on regime change.
The world greatest living journalist John Simpson chaired a session in which he interviewed a former Al Jazeera journalist who had been jailed in Egypt. A BBC spokesman tells MEE "John was chairing the panel in [a] private capacity. We have reminded him of the BBC News guidelines."
John, 73, may also need to be reminded of the fee; he told MEE that he had been paid for his appearance, but he did not know how much as it had been arranged by his agent. John earns between £150k and £199,999 for his part-time contract with the BBC; more, of course, than Carrie Gracie, who was never part-time and nobody said anything like that.
The world greatest living journalist John Simpson chaired a session in which he interviewed a former Al Jazeera journalist who had been jailed in Egypt. A BBC spokesman tells MEE "John was chairing the panel in [a] private capacity. We have reminded him of the BBC News guidelines."
John, 73, may also need to be reminded of the fee; he told MEE that he had been paid for his appearance, but he did not know how much as it had been arranged by his agent. John earns between £150k and £199,999 for his part-time contract with the BBC; more, of course, than Carrie Gracie, who was never part-time and nobody said anything like that.
Monday, February 12, 2018
Doctor required
They'll be kicking their heels with joy in the newsroom at New Broadcasting House: whilst redundancy trawls and salary grievances continue unabated, the BBC is a recruiting a Head of Data Science Solutions to work amongst them.
"As Head of Data Science Solutions you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure that BBC News's data science products and services are implemented and matured across BBC newsrooms. Working alongside the Head of Audience Engagement you will lead a team of Data Scientists and Analysts to drive the development of the data-led newsroom. You will design and (with engineering resource dedicated to the team) build and deploy software and systems that help journalists attract the widest possible audience for our content and build reach with underserved audiences."
Tasks include "applying advanced statistical and predictive modeling techniques to build, maintain, and improve on multiple real-time decision systems in BBC News." That should sort out the Ten running order.
"PHD degree preferred, OR equivalent experience."
"As Head of Data Science Solutions you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure that BBC News's data science products and services are implemented and matured across BBC newsrooms. Working alongside the Head of Audience Engagement you will lead a team of Data Scientists and Analysts to drive the development of the data-led newsroom. You will design and (with engineering resource dedicated to the team) build and deploy software and systems that help journalists attract the widest possible audience for our content and build reach with underserved audiences."
Tasks include "applying advanced statistical and predictive modeling techniques to build, maintain, and improve on multiple real-time decision systems in BBC News." That should sort out the Ten running order.
"PHD degree preferred, OR equivalent experience."
Multi-tasking
The credits are in; three for Alan Yentob, on top of his role as strand editor, in "Imagine: Mel Brooks: Unwrapped", anchoring the BBC2 Saturday night schedule at ten o'clock. It's an hour and 15 long, which probably avoids rows between the producer, director and editor. Leave it all in, eh ?
The billing on iPlayer makes it pretty clear this show is running late aready.
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Imagine Winter 2017
At the age of 91, Mel Brooks is unstoppable, with his musical Young Frankenstein opening to great critical acclaim in London in late 2017. Alan Yentob visits Mel at home in Hollywood, at work and at play. With the aid of BBC archive stretching back decades, together they embark on an unpredictable, irresistible journey through the city of stars, meeting the legendary Carl Reiner along the way. The driver is Mel Brooks. You have been warned!
Credits
Mel Brooks: Unwrapped
Imagine Winter 2017
At the age of 91, Mel Brooks is unstoppable, with his musical Young Frankenstein opening to great critical acclaim in London in late 2017. Alan Yentob visits Mel at home in Hollywood, at work and at play. With the aid of BBC archive stretching back decades, together they embark on an unpredictable, irresistible journey through the city of stars, meeting the legendary Carl Reiner along the way. The driver is Mel Brooks. You have been warned!
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Grump
There may some discussions ahead about the BBC drama pipeline, and whether or not it is being squeezed slightly too hard. Hard Sun finished last night with an average of just 1.61m viewers, 9.8% of the available viewers. Welsh contribution Requiem, on Friday night, was down to 2.22m (12.2%).
Series 4 of Scotland's Shetland starts on BBC1 on Tuesday. The last run-out averaged above 6m. Collateral starts on BBC2 on Monday. Next Saturday night we get Troy.
And in the world of continuous re-invention, Still Open All Hours, a comedy about lovable yet unbelievable old duffers, finishes tonight, to be followed in the same slot by more lovable old duffers in Hold The Sunset next weekend.
Anyone seen a concert, some quality opera, or anything uplifting recently ?
Series 4 of Scotland's Shetland starts on BBC1 on Tuesday. The last run-out averaged above 6m. Collateral starts on BBC2 on Monday. Next Saturday night we get Troy.
And in the world of continuous re-invention, Still Open All Hours, a comedy about lovable yet unbelievable old duffers, finishes tonight, to be followed in the same slot by more lovable old duffers in Hold The Sunset next weekend.
Anyone seen a concert, some quality opera, or anything uplifting recently ?
Read the Radio Times
Hello. This was simply a case of human error due to the earlier than normal BBC Weekend News. Nothing to do with the new graphics or any forecasting issues. Thanks— BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) February 10, 2018
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Holmes Time
"The UK's most exciting new speech radio station, this is personality driven radio at its best."
Is the bag of Winegums we want never the bag we get? Eamonn Holmes finds out - watch below ▼ @EamonnHolmes pic.twitter.com/OENNTp09tr— talkRADIO (@talkRADIO) February 9, 2018
Where's Eddie ?
Sebastian Shakespeare, in the Mail, thinks there's more to it. His source says Eddie's absence from the mike, since 18th January "is definitely because he is refusing a pay cut".Hi Sue - yes he likes to take a longish break in jan/Feb. My last day on Friday. All well with you?— carolyn quinn (@carolynquinncq) February 7, 2018
Eddie is in the £300,000 to £349,999 bracket. The BBC has hinted at a £320,000 cap for news presenters.
Friday, February 9, 2018
Yanked
Former BBC News boss James Harding is the only 'between-jobs' speaker at an FT event on "The Future of News" in New York in March. He'll be able to catch up with old FT colleagues Lionel Barber and Gillian Tett, and network with CNN CEO Jeff Zucker, James Goldston of ABC News and Dean Baquet of the New York Times. Tickets for the event, at the Time Warner confernce centre 10 on the Park, are a snip at $875 for the day.
Demo
Good to see the BBC's drive to the youth audience continuing apace. An anniversary edition (thirty years since it ended) of The Old Grey Whistle Test is on its way to BBC4, to be hosted by Bob Harris, 71. There'll be live music from Peter Frampton, 67, Richard Thompson, 68 and Albert Lee, 74.
BBC Music for tv is run by Mark Cooper, 65 and Jan Younghusband, in her early fifties. The executive producer is Caroline Wright, who's been producing programmes for the BBC for 27 years.
BBC Music for tv is run by Mark Cooper, 65 and Jan Younghusband, in her early fifties. The executive producer is Caroline Wright, who's been producing programmes for the BBC for 27 years.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Wider still and..
This week, BBC Studios have landed their first not-from-the-BBC commissions.
The Natural History Unit is making a two-hour film for Discovery, about The Red List, which International Union for Conservation of Nature produces to monitor endangered species. And the Science Unit is making a one-hour documentary for Channel 4 with the working title of Fatberg Autopsy.
Now all we need to know is if these ideas were pitched to the BBC and rejected, or if Auntie's run out of spending money...
The Natural History Unit is making a two-hour film for Discovery, about The Red List, which International Union for Conservation of Nature produces to monitor endangered species. And the Science Unit is making a one-hour documentary for Channel 4 with the working title of Fatberg Autopsy.
Now all we need to know is if these ideas were pitched to the BBC and rejected, or if Auntie's run out of spending money...
Decomposing incoherence
The big BBC push on voice services, led from the top by James Purnell, continues apace.
At least ten jobs are currently on offer.
Atop these is a hunt for a Senior Architect - Cognitive Services, who will have the "ability to decompose the BBC’s current voice offering and understand the underlying architectures" and skills which "have the potential to transform the approach to architecting products across the BBC and thus reduce duplication and incoherence in current product ecosystem."
At least ten jobs are currently on offer.
Atop these is a hunt for a Senior Architect - Cognitive Services, who will have the "ability to decompose the BBC’s current voice offering and understand the underlying architectures" and skills which "have the potential to transform the approach to architecting products across the BBC and thus reduce duplication and incoherence in current product ecosystem."
Breakfast credits
Sarah Sands, on her way to complete her first year in the job, might reflect on the latest listening figures for Today on Radio 4: weekly reach is 7.15m this quarter, from 7.45m a year ago.
Nick Grimshaw, at Radio 1, reaches 5.72m, compared with 5.37m last year. At Radio 2, Chris Evans has 9.43 million listeners per week, compared to 9.21m last year. On Radio 3, Petroc Trelawny is at 607,000, compared with 647,000 last year. 5Live Breakfast is more or less unchanged, at 2.25m.
In the commercial sector, Chris Moyles at Radio X now has a weekly reach of 910,000, up from 717,000. Classic FM breakfast with Tim Lihoreau, is up to 1.9m, from 1.7m. TalkSPORT, anchored by Alan Brazil, is down at 1.1m, compared with 1.2m.
Nick Grimshaw, at Radio 1, reaches 5.72m, compared with 5.37m last year. At Radio 2, Chris Evans has 9.43 million listeners per week, compared to 9.21m last year. On Radio 3, Petroc Trelawny is at 607,000, compared with 647,000 last year. 5Live Breakfast is more or less unchanged, at 2.25m.
In the commercial sector, Chris Moyles at Radio X now has a weekly reach of 910,000, up from 717,000. Classic FM breakfast with Tim Lihoreau, is up to 1.9m, from 1.7m. TalkSPORT, anchored by Alan Brazil, is down at 1.1m, compared with 1.2m.
Los sibaritas de la gastronomía
BBC Worldwide's latest league table of success has Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes, now ten years old, as their most popular show in Spain.
Las escapadas de Rick Stein por el Mediterráneo is shown on regular rotation on La 2, part of RTVE. The six-part series makes one call in Spain, to the island of Mallorca.
Mallorca con Rick Stein from jmmalleus on Vimeo.
Las escapadas de Rick Stein por el Mediterráneo is shown on regular rotation on La 2, part of RTVE. The six-part series makes one call in Spain, to the island of Mallorca.
Mallorca con Rick Stein from jmmalleus on Vimeo.
Bald
It's only right that publicists look for the positives in the quarterly radio listening figures. I'm going to stick to year on year comparisons.
Radio 1 - weekly reach up to 9.84m, from 9.56m a year ago.
Radio 2 - 15.49m, up from 15.05m last year
Radio 3 - 1.95m, down from 2.12m
Radio 4 - 11.25m, down from 11.33m
Radio 5Live - 5.45m, down from 5.71m
Radio 5Live Sports Extra - 1.06m, down from 1.17m
1Xtra - 1.01m, up from 909,000
6Music - 2.34m, up from 2.33m
Radio 4 Extra - 2.26m, up from 2.18m
Asian Network - 661,000, up from 632,000
World Service (in UK) - 1.51m, down from 1.53m
BBC Local Radio - 8.3m, down from 8.89m
Radio Cymru - 126,000, up from 114,000
Radio Wales - 335,000, down from 375,000
Radio Scotland - 839,000, down from 952,000
The swings and roundabouts continue at BBC Radio London - up to 574k, from 359k - close to 60% up.
Classic FM - 5.6m, up from 5.3m
TalkSPORT - 2.8m, down from 3.0m
TalkRADIO - 242,000, down from 252,000
Radio 1 - weekly reach up to 9.84m, from 9.56m a year ago.
Radio 2 - 15.49m, up from 15.05m last year
Radio 3 - 1.95m, down from 2.12m
Radio 4 - 11.25m, down from 11.33m
Radio 5Live - 5.45m, down from 5.71m
Radio 5Live Sports Extra - 1.06m, down from 1.17m
1Xtra - 1.01m, up from 909,000
6Music - 2.34m, up from 2.33m
Radio 4 Extra - 2.26m, up from 2.18m
Asian Network - 661,000, up from 632,000
World Service (in UK) - 1.51m, down from 1.53m
BBC Local Radio - 8.3m, down from 8.89m
Radio Cymru - 126,000, up from 114,000
Radio Wales - 335,000, down from 375,000
Radio Scotland - 839,000, down from 952,000
The swings and roundabouts continue at BBC Radio London - up to 574k, from 359k - close to 60% up.
Classic FM - 5.6m, up from 5.3m
TalkSPORT - 2.8m, down from 3.0m
TalkRADIO - 242,000, down from 252,000
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Dramaturge
Jeremy Howe, born in Bexleyheath and now in his early 60s, is the latest editor to be given care of The Archers. For this honour, he is forsaking the role of Radio 4's Commissioning Editor for Fiction and Drama. Jeremy joined the BBC as a drama producer in Belfast in 1986; he'd directed Dr Faustus for the Oxford University Dramatic Society in 1978, and tried to establish himself in various provincial theatres.
Will The Archers now have incidental music and perhaps even a narrator ? "I'll just open this door" FX door opening.....
Will The Archers now have incidental music and perhaps even a narrator ? "I'll just open this door" FX door opening.....
Bargain hunting
The latest BBC schedule-filling warhorse to be put through a Game-Of-Thrones re-commissioning process is Bargain Hunt. Made, currently, by BBC Cymru Wales - so to keep the out-of-London balance correct, indies wishing to bid will have to commit to a Welsh production base. In 2013 the show cost £2.4m for 72 hours of broadcasting over a year.
Bargain Hunt was moved from Bristol to Cardiff in 2014 under the aegis of Jeff Anderson as Head of Daytime Factual. Spookily, this month, Jeff has left the BBC for Elephant House Studios, part of Viacom's Channel 5, so will not be leading the BBC Studios pitch.
Bargain Hunt was moved from Bristol to Cardiff in 2014 under the aegis of Jeff Anderson as Head of Daytime Factual. Spookily, this month, Jeff has left the BBC for Elephant House Studios, part of Viacom's Channel 5, so will not be leading the BBC Studios pitch.
They didn't do well
The BBC's long-gestated ambition to re-invent the Generation Game to 'save Saturday nights' seems to have run aground.
According to the Sun, four 'new' episodes were recorded with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as hosts - but executives have decided that only two are good enough to go to air.
The reboot was launched last year, by Guy Freeman, Editor, Formats and Special Events. The level of re-invention was radical enough to include the puppet Basil Brush, first seen on tv 55 years ago, in each show, recorded in November at Elstree. Mr Freeman left the BBC in January.
According to the Sun, four 'new' episodes were recorded with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as hosts - but executives have decided that only two are good enough to go to air.
The reboot was launched last year, by Guy Freeman, Editor, Formats and Special Events. The level of re-invention was radical enough to include the puppet Basil Brush, first seen on tv 55 years ago, in each show, recorded in November at Elstree. Mr Freeman left the BBC in January.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Front
It's today. Or, at least, it starts at lunchtime. The BBC's new weather graphics system, from MeteoGroup, finally reaches our tv screens ten months late, during the 1 O'Clock bulletin. There's still no word of explanation from project director Liz Howell for the delay. I'm sure the National Audit Office will eventually be able to explain why BBC News has been paying two contractors for one weather service for the best part of a year.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Divisionally aligned
Anyone who suggests that the re-naming of HR operatives as "Talent Executives" was part of the presenter pay inflation problem at the BBC would have to prove it.
Why not find out ? Why not join the BBC as Head of Talent, Factual ?
"A unique combination of our BBC editorial values, cutting-edge craft, and access to diverse creative talent from around the country, helps us produce the boldest of ideas. In April 2017 we launched as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BBC, working with customers around the world and generating financial returns for license fee payers. Core to the success of BBC Studios is our ability to re-energise the organisation with fresh and diverse talent and new perspectives.
"The Resourcing & Talent team are responsible for delivery the end to end process ensuring we attract, support, retain and develop the broadest range of talent and continue to grow BBC Studios reputation as an employer of choice for all.
"Divisionally aligned and embedded in the businesses they support, the Studios Resourcing & Talent team work closely with Managers and HR colleagues leading talent acquisition across all types of hiring. Having the right people in place at the right time is key to our continued success and as Head of Resourcing & Talent for the Factual genre your role is critical in making this happen.
"You will lead on all aspects of resourcing, manage a highly skilled team and work closely with divisional HR teams on workforce planning to support the wider people agenda for Natural History, Science, History, Arts, Documentaries, Features and Daytime. In addition an important aspect of your role is the accountability to manage senior hiring, identifying and leading on talent identification for key roles."
Why not find out ? Why not join the BBC as Head of Talent, Factual ?
"A unique combination of our BBC editorial values, cutting-edge craft, and access to diverse creative talent from around the country, helps us produce the boldest of ideas. In April 2017 we launched as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BBC, working with customers around the world and generating financial returns for license fee payers. Core to the success of BBC Studios is our ability to re-energise the organisation with fresh and diverse talent and new perspectives.
"The Resourcing & Talent team are responsible for delivery the end to end process ensuring we attract, support, retain and develop the broadest range of talent and continue to grow BBC Studios reputation as an employer of choice for all.
"Divisionally aligned and embedded in the businesses they support, the Studios Resourcing & Talent team work closely with Managers and HR colleagues leading talent acquisition across all types of hiring. Having the right people in place at the right time is key to our continued success and as Head of Resourcing & Talent for the Factual genre your role is critical in making this happen.
"You will lead on all aspects of resourcing, manage a highly skilled team and work closely with divisional HR teams on workforce planning to support the wider people agenda for Natural History, Science, History, Arts, Documentaries, Features and Daytime. In addition an important aspect of your role is the accountability to manage senior hiring, identifying and leading on talent identification for key roles."
Homing target
ITV's plans to redevelop its South Bank site go before Lambeth Council tomorrow, and planning officers have recommended approval of the scheme, which includes two towers, 31 and 14 storeys high, and 213 homes.
But the next stage could be trickier: the Greater London Authority looks set to call the plans in, because they only offer 10% affordable housing. Sadiq Khan's target is 35%. ITV is reported to have offered an additional £3.7m to provide extra affordable housing off-site, but that would only raise the scheme's provision to 16%.
But the next stage could be trickier: the Greater London Authority looks set to call the plans in, because they only offer 10% affordable housing. Sadiq Khan's target is 35%. ITV is reported to have offered an additional £3.7m to provide extra affordable housing off-site, but that would only raise the scheme's provision to 16%.
Outdated
From a distance, former BBC HR boss Lucy Adams takes a swipe at organisational transformation within personnel teams, in a blog entited "HR Transformations don't transform HR". Wonder if she knows any big public sector teams that have embarked on this route ?
These Transformation programmes are based on an outdated construct of how work is done. As part of the project plan, we spend ages giving people the right job title, working out who they report to, what level they are at and therefore what permissions they should have. But what about the people who work for us who aren’t actually employed by us? As Kennedy Fitch writes, we are witnessing “an explosive growth of the ‘off-payroll’ employee … and in less than a decade we can expect to have more than 50% no longer on our payroll”.
Perhaps even more worryingly, for an effort that is all about making us work more productively – the actual work of organisations isn’t delivered through this neat organisational structure that we have so carefully populated. As Marcus Buckingham writes, “work gets done by agile, dynamic teams that are constantly changing”. Most new systems can’t cope with that.
These Transformation programmes are based on an outdated construct of how work is done. As part of the project plan, we spend ages giving people the right job title, working out who they report to, what level they are at and therefore what permissions they should have. But what about the people who work for us who aren’t actually employed by us? As Kennedy Fitch writes, we are witnessing “an explosive growth of the ‘off-payroll’ employee … and in less than a decade we can expect to have more than 50% no longer on our payroll”.
Perhaps even more worryingly, for an effort that is all about making us work more productively – the actual work of organisations isn’t delivered through this neat organisational structure that we have so carefully populated. As Marcus Buckingham writes, “work gets done by agile, dynamic teams that are constantly changing”. Most new systems can’t cope with that.
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Arrers
For those of you puzzled as to why BBC America has suddenly embraced darts, here's part of a 'conversation' between Cablefax and channel President Sarah Barnett.
The acquisition of the Worlds Darts Championship and the Premier League seems different for BBCA. How’d it come about?
It’s another sign of the elastic, dimensional nature of this brand based on the DNA that comes from the UK. It’s live, which is the Holy Grail. It shares some elements with WWE in terms of the colorful spectacle of the fans and some of the characters. There’s no trickery, the sport itself is quite serious. There’s a democratic sense to it. It’s in no way an elitist kind of sport. There aren’t players in the US yet that are world-class just because it’s not a sport people think of professionalizing in the same way. But there is amazing passion. It being exuberant, having a passionate fan base and having the live aspect to us felt like a really great experiment.
There's much more guff like this in the full 'interview'.
The acquisition of the Worlds Darts Championship and the Premier League seems different for BBCA. How’d it come about?
It’s another sign of the elastic, dimensional nature of this brand based on the DNA that comes from the UK. It’s live, which is the Holy Grail. It shares some elements with WWE in terms of the colorful spectacle of the fans and some of the characters. There’s no trickery, the sport itself is quite serious. There’s a democratic sense to it. It’s in no way an elitist kind of sport. There aren’t players in the US yet that are world-class just because it’s not a sport people think of professionalizing in the same way. But there is amazing passion. It being exuberant, having a passionate fan base and having the live aspect to us felt like a really great experiment.
There's much more guff like this in the full 'interview'.
Read the papers
Founded in 1994, Corporate Research Forum (CRF) is a membership organisation whose international focus is on research, discussion and the practical application of contemporary topics arising from people management, learning and organisation development.
You'd think their cuttings service might be dominated by stuff on gender pay issues at the moment.
Meanwhile, former Africa Correspondent Jane Standley tells the Guardian about mascara and covering South Sudan, and why she left the BBC. The Mail says Anita Anand was dropped by Radio 4 from Any Answers ?, for fear of BBC pay being on listeners' agenda. In a 'with friends like these' moment, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen thinks this is daft. ‘What the BBC is saying is that none of the victims of pay discrimination can be trusted to discuss the issue impartially and fairly. It smacks of some sort of throwback to the days of Soviet Pravda.’
You'd think their cuttings service might be dominated by stuff on gender pay issues at the moment.
Meanwhile, former Africa Correspondent Jane Standley tells the Guardian about mascara and covering South Sudan, and why she left the BBC. The Mail says Anita Anand was dropped by Radio 4 from Any Answers ?, for fear of BBC pay being on listeners' agenda. In a 'with friends like these' moment, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen thinks this is daft. ‘What the BBC is saying is that none of the victims of pay discrimination can be trusted to discuss the issue impartially and fairly. It smacks of some sort of throwback to the days of Soviet Pravda.’
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Beans
The ground floor of Yalding House, along Great Portland St W1, finally has a tenant. The former home of Radio 1, and previously, the BBC sheet music library, is to be a new branch of Caravan, the coffee-roasters/all-day restaurant chain, which should open in the summer.
The new restaurant will make a feature of a 'record room', and offer a private dining room downstairs.
The new restaurant will make a feature of a 'record room', and offer a private dining room downstairs.
Friday, February 2, 2018
Pardner
The Times believes that James Harding has found a business partner for his new online venture in Matthew Barzun, former US Ambassador to the UK. Matthew, originally from New York, has history with both internet start-ups (CNET) and fundraising, chairing the finance committee for the Barack Obama Presidential campaign.
He was in the UK last week to receive an honorary degree from De Montfort University, but his now based in his wife's hometown, Louisville, Kentucky. Mrs Barzun is from the Brown-Forman family, distillers of Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve. Mrs Barzun and Mrs Harding were both on the committee of the Cliveden Literary Festival 2017.
He was in the UK last week to receive an honorary degree from De Montfort University, but his now based in his wife's hometown, Louisville, Kentucky. Mrs Barzun is from the Brown-Forman family, distillers of Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve. Mrs Barzun and Mrs Harding were both on the committee of the Cliveden Literary Festival 2017.
Barron's barn
What happens to former editors of Newsnight ? Peter Barron (Royal Belfast Academical Insitution, Manchester University, BBC News trainee and self taught guitarist) left in 2008, for a job running comms for Google in the UK, Ireland and Benelux. He's since risen to Vice President and Head of Comms and Public Affairs across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Over those ten year, Peter has been (wrongly) put in the runners and riders time and again for a return to a top job in the BBC. No sign of it now - he's leaving the Google mothership and heading to Spain to convert a barn.
Over those ten year, Peter has been (wrongly) put in the runners and riders time and again for a return to a top job in the BBC. No sign of it now - he's leaving the Google mothership and heading to Spain to convert a barn.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Four more years
The estimable Simon Jack, the BBC's-probably-underpaid-Business Editor, has blogged on the flagging fortunes of Interserve.
His piece makes no reference to their work for the BBC. In October, Interserve won a £140m extension to a contract to provide cleaning and security services for the BBC, managing Auntie's estate until 2023. So that's all good, then.
His piece makes no reference to their work for the BBC. In October, Interserve won a £140m extension to a contract to provide cleaning and security services for the BBC, managing Auntie's estate until 2023. So that's all good, then.
Watching brief
Without fanfare, minutes have appeared for four meetings of the BBC Board subcommittee looking at Remuneration. The regular non-execs are Steve Morrison, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Nick Serota.
There's no sense of an impending khazi in the notes. At one stage the members are assured that the Executive's Senior Management Remuneration Committee exercises 'significant control'. Is that the same sort of committee that signed off salaries for Jon Sopel, John Humphrys, Jeremy Vine, Huw Edwards, etc, etc ?
If the cap fits....
Here's an entertaining theory put to me by a seasoned BBC watcher.
There was weekend spin from the BBC about a cap on news presenters' pay of £320k. This figure, you would hope, has not been plucked out of thin air, but subject to full Towers Perrin scale and scope review, and extensive work on market comparators.
It would be a bit weak-kneed if it was simply the salary of the highest-paid presenter currently refusing to volunteer for a pay cut, wouldn't it ?
Unsettling
There are still many contradictions in the BBC Executive's position on Carrie Gracie's pay.
We learned yesterday that, after James Harding 'had gone on bended knee' asking Carrie to be China Editor in December 2014, it was left toFran Unsworth, Head of Newsgathering, to agree terms. Fran said Carrie asked for £150k; they settled on £130k, which was £2k more than that paid to then North America Editor Mark Mardell. This reads like an acceptance that the jobs are of the same scale and scope.
By April 2014, Fran has moved from Newsgathering to be Director of the World Service group and deputy to Mr Harding. Mr Mardell is moved to presenting on Radio 4 (where his salary still doesn't break the £150k disclosure rule). The salary for new North America Editor Jon Sopel is set by new Newsgathering Editor, Jonathan Munro. No agent was involved, and Mr Sopel transferred to the post on his existing salary, sanctioned by a remuneration committee chaired by Anne Bulford.
Ms Bulford didn't seem to quibble at the case, which put a spread of around £100k on the five international editors.
The argument as to why Jon should have retained his previous salary is entertaining and now wrong. Lord Hall, with Carrie and her two children sitting in the row behind, tried to argue that there should still be a hierarchy of Editors, paid at different rates but within a narrower band. Ears in various solicitors' offices will have pricked up when the DG said 'different amounts' of work were involved.
'Impact' was also an issue for Lord Hall, which had Ms Gracie bridling. Does Jon Sopel have more of this than Mark Mardell ? Does a two-way on the Ten (audience c5m) have more impact than a feature on the Ten, World Service and World News (audience up to 100m) ? And how many correspondents are there to share the load in Beijing and Washington ?
And we learned yesterday that Ms Gracie's grievance was heard by David Holdsworth, departing boss of News in the English Regions (departing or redundant with the transfer of his fiefdom out of News ?). Carrie described his findings as 'nine pages of spin and error'.
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