
Rossing around
It looks like Georgina Baillie will be laughing all the way to the bank after an exclusive interview with her appeared on The Sun’s website. And you know what that means, that cash must have changed hands.
Sure, Russ and Ross might have overstepped the mark by sharing with the whole-wide world Brand’s times with Georgina. But the story has really been blown-out out of all proportion. I mean, to have a debate in the House of Commons, have the Prime Minster share his thoughts on the joke and for people and journalists to call for heads to roll at the BBC? This is just crazy. Well, it isn’t that crazy given that a lot of attention has been put on the value of Ross’ contract and the fact that people are jealous of his salary. And with a great plan in place it looks like Georgie could be making her celebrity money.
As for comedy, well, let’s just keep it clean, decent and with a stiff upper lip chaps, otherwise the media intelligentsia will hound us down with a front page spread that will rattle England’s green and pleasant land. After all, when the programme was aired it received hardly any complaints. Obviously the Mary Whitehouse brigades quick to act. This was followed by other titles, including The Mail on Sunday. After that, and with the help of four willing horsemen hacks sharpened their pencils and got to it, with the help of:
· A few shocked Tories
· A handful of politicians willing to play to the gallery
· A BBC without balls
· A dash of tears.
The finished article, surely with the support of somebody acting for Georgina, will ensure that we no longer are allowed a laugh. The BBC reported yesterday in a clever way, by asking people that were going to the filming of ‘Gardeners World’ for the thoughts. Their answers were to be expected: “Vulgar”, “Ross is over-paid”, “They should be sacked”. At the same time a crew asked people going to the filming of ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’ for their thoughts. Their answer differed just a bit, with more “blown out of all proportion” and “they’re not that funny anyway”.
And what will happen after the furore dies down? Well, it’s obvious, Georgina’s bank manager will be happy by her improved bank balance, her PR will be thrilled by the exposure received and will hope to line her up fronting some TV programme, Ross and Russ will go into hiding – making money elsewhere and readying themselves for a comeback to ITV or Channel 4. Remember how Moss returned from the scandals of her and Pete, with big cash offers everywhere? Exactly!
Still, I do wonder if Georgina’s PR saw the size of the snowball created. Wouldn’t it be even funnier if Andrew Sachs knew all along about the plan. Now that would be comedy!


Let’s be honest, people are getting wise to the workings of the media.









Dead Air
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008The move to Manchester’s purpose-built Media City has been in the air since the renewal of the BBC’s Charter way back when.
At the time the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) believed that the BBC had to part of the community, it had to be spread and shared with the nation. Or at least, thats what it sounded like. Needless to say that when it came to renegotiate the renewal of its Charter the BBC found themselves in quicksand. Incumbent Director General Mark Thompson, while at Channel 4, stated that Auntie had a “jacuzzi of cash”, something that came back to haunt him when he was in negotiations with the DCMS.
The BBC was going to move and there was nothing that could be done about it. Really, it was a case of Deal or no Deal. Who knows where the idea came from, but, like it or not the BBC was going to lift up some of its interests and move them to Manchester, and as we have discovered Five Lived is one such station. The question is how much has this been thought out?
Would the presenters move? The producers? The staff? If they were to, and here’s the crunch, for a station that prides itself in, not just news, but debate and talk shows, how would it go about securing speakers and spokespeople for it’s shows? After all, government departments are based in London, head-quarters for unions, companies, financial institutions are based in, wait for it, London.
So, remembering this, does the move to Manchester signal the end of face-to-face studio debate? Van Klaveren has already signaled his dislike for Paxman-esque style interviews. So maybe, just maybe, the Five Live news that debates, analyses and dissects news will be dead sometime soon.
Good talk radio requires people. But the move to Manchester leaves the spokespeople behind. And as common as down-the-line interviews might be in PR, interviews with people in the studio are still needed. Moving away from the centre of business, government is not right.
But, the decision has been made and it looks like these ISDN are not just here to stay, but are set to increase, making debate that much more impersonal, which is what the BBC is becoming, impersonal and distant.
Tags: bbc, five live, guardian, london, manchester, mediacity, move, radio, studio, van klaveren
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