All Features articles – Page 109
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FeaturesThe Word: the genesis
Oxford-educated Charlie Parsons started his career as a reporter on local newspaper the Ealing Gazette before becoming a researcher at LWT, and then series editor of Channel 4’s groundbreaking factual show Network 7 and arts magazine show Club X.
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FeaturesThe Word: the launch
The show launched on 17 August 1990 with guests including Brookside actor Bill Dean, Bond girl Maryam D’Abo and music acts The Farm and Adamski. It ran for 11 episodes at 6pm, playing host to LL Cool J, Pixies and The Charlatans, before it was switched to 11pm on 9 ...
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FeaturesThe Word gets serious
In series one, items included a piece on ex-criminals in the evangelical Christian ministry Power Team. The storytelling side was important to Parsons.
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FeaturesThe Word: series two
Sebastian Scott became the series editor for the second series, having worked with Parsons on Network 7. Scott came from Janet Street Porter’s BBC2 youth strand Def II and worked alongside series producers Boland, Lux and Richard Godfrey.
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FeaturesThe Word: creation of Planet 24
After series two, Parsons was offered the opportunity to pitch for The Big Breakfast. He and Alli partnered with Bob Geldof and Tony Boland, father of Murray Boland, to create Planet 24 and the new company beat a host of rivals to win the five-day live breakfast show.
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FeaturesThe Word: the controversy
Series three’s eclectic guests included Peter Stringfellow, Bill Hicks, Pamela Anderson and the Marquis of Blandford.
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FeaturesThe Word: The Hopefuls
The Hopefuls, a segment in which people offered to do ‘anything to be on TV’, from snogging a granny to licking armpits, is one of the most vividly remembered parts of The Word. Created by Sebastian Scott, it was taken on by Paul Ross.
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FeaturesThe Word: successors
In The Word’s wake, shows like The Girlie Show and Something For The Weekend tried to capture something of its spirit, but it wasn’t until The Big Breakfast alumnus Chris Evans launched TFI Friday in 1996 that C4 really had another Friday night youth hit on its hands.
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FeaturesIP: live broadcast
The technology to work with IP-based video in live production has been promised for years. We’re now at a tipping point, says Adrian Pennington
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Behind The ScenesBig Kitchens, Travel Channel UK
We used innovative filming technology to shake up the food genre - but drew the line at flying drones in a kitchen, says Carlo Massarella
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The Broadcast InterviewAlan Clements, STV Productions
Alan Clements talks to Matthew Campelli about delving into different genres to find the next show that, like Antiques Roadtrip, nails the three Rs: rights, returnability and reputation
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FeaturesBlazing a trail for 4K live sport
BT is taking a huge step forward with the launch of Europe’s first dedicated UHD sport channel, but its aim of delivering it live over IP remains some way off.
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Behind The ScenesIf Katie Hopkins Ruled The World, TLC
After our first big hit with the outspoken columnist, it was time to step out of our comfort zones, says Sarah Thornton
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FeaturesMusic licensing
Following the lifting of the BBC’s ban on music by the Doors and Neil Young, Kevin Hilton explores how new technologies and disruptive distribution models are reshaping UK licensing
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FeaturesMinicams: Case Studies
Minicams and special rigs are increasingly shaping broadcasters’ coverage of sporting events and offering factual and drama producers a new set of tools to hook jaded audiences. Michael Burns looks at five examples
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Behind The ScenesLenny Henry's Got The Blues, Sky Arts
Lenny Henry wanted to know why there are so few black British blues singers. The story we uncovered was far more colourful and complex than we ever imagined, says Chris Wilson
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Behind The ScenesThe Boy Who Wanted His Leg Cut Off, BBC3
BBC3 took a risk with our doc, but it was a human story worth telling, says Jazz Gowans
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Behind The ScenesMan V Viral/Experimental, Channel 4
We wanted a brave, athletic and charismatic stuntman to recreate the crazy clips we’d seen on the internet, says Jago Lee. But instead we chose west London’s answer to Woody Allen
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The Broadcast InterviewJulian Bellamy, ITV Studios
Fresh from welcoming Mammoth Screen and Twofour Group into the ITV Studios family, Julian Bellamy talks to Matthew Campelli about building a creative powerhouse - and the importance of getting the chemistry right
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Behind The ScenesSupershoppers, C4
Firecrest’s Nicole Kleeman on combining satire with stunts to create a new kind of consumer programme