Newsnight's Mr Nice Guy - July/August 2015 - Royal Television Society
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July/August 2015 Newsnight’s Mr Nice Guy
RTS/IET JOINT PUBLIC LECTURE Wednesday 4 November 6:30pm for 6:45pm Demis Hassabis Founder of Deep Mind, artificial intelligence researcher, neuroscientist and computer game designer Venue: British Museum, London WC1B 3DG Booking: www.rts.org.uk
Journal of The Royal Television Society
July/August 2015 ● Volume 52/7
From the CEO
The great summer of Back in London, the Society’s early- Convention. I can’t promise yellow
sport is here and evening event “Diversity: job done?” jerseys, but I can guarantee an exciting,
cycling fans need no featured a stellar panel and a capacity international line-up, including:
reminding that the crowd. Michael Lombardo, President of Pro-
2015 Tour de France is It was an electrifying debate, gramming at HBO, Sharon White,
unfolding on a TV set chaired brilliantly by Afua Hirsch, Chief Executive at Ofcom, David Abra-
near you. Social Affairs and Education Editor at ham, CEO at Channel 4, Adam Crozier,
Last year the world’s biggest bike Sky News. I am extremely grateful to ITV CEO, Viacom President and CEO
race began with a thrilling two days everyone who made this a night to Philippe Dauman, Josh Sapan, Presi-
in Yorkshire. remember. dent and CEO of AMC Networks, and
At June’s RTS Yorkshire Awards, I In Bristol, I was fortunate to attend David Zaslav, President and CEO of
was reminded of the excitement that “BDH unzipped”, a celebration of the Discovery Communications. The
the event generated. When the Tour de company’s fabulous work directing convention will be chaired by BBC
France Came To Yorkshire, made by commercials and creating brand Director-General Tony Hall.
Roger Keech Productions, was a win- identities, music visuals and motion Enjoy the rest of the summer.
ner at the ceremony in Leeds. graphics. It was proof again of the
I was very graciously hosted by RTS range and excellence of creative talent
Yorkshire in the grand setting of the that the UK is home to.
Royal Armouries Museum. Thanks for Finally, as readers prepare for their
a wonderful evening and congratula- summer holidays, now is the time to
tions to all the winners and nominees. book for this year’s RTS Cambridge Theresa Wise
Contents
5 Lucy Lumsden’s TV Diary
Gigs, Guinness and going to Soho screenings are all part
of a week’s activities for Lucy Lumsden 18 The king in waiting
Raymond Snoddy takes the measure of Philippe Dauman,
the man poised to inherit the Viacom crown
6
Newsnight’s Mr Nice opens up
As Newsnight struggles to define itself in the
post-Paxman era, Andrew Billen asks Evan Davis
if the chief presenter’s job is a poisoned chalice
20 Our Friend in the North
Stuart Cosgrove identifies new, edgy Scottish news sites
that challenge the narrative provided by the mainstream
10 Diversity: job done? Don’t get me started...
A highly charged RTS event asked whether broadcasters’
plans to address diversity are delivering real change.
21 ITV’s big drama
Neil Midgley asks ITV’s drama chief, Steve November,
how he will fill the void left by Downton Abbey
24
Steve Clarke found that the jury is still out Smartphones: TV’s friend or foe?
By next year, 80% of UK adults are expected to own
14
Rock on, John a smartphone. Paul Lee assesses whether phones are
It isn’t only John Whittingdale’s passion for heavy likely to further erode live TV viewing
metal that confounds his stereotype as an old fogey.
27
Anne McElvoy profiles a political enigma How to be the best researcher
Common sense, resourcefulness and enthusiasm are all
16 Hill sweeps to the top essential skills for a job that is the lifeblood of TV, learns
Polly Hill has risen through the ranks to head BBC Matthew Bell
Drama, with an estimated budget of £200m.
Maggie Brown assesses her biggest challenges
Cover picture: Phillip Bannister
Editor Production, design, advertising Royal Television Society Subscription rates Printing Legal notice
Steve Clarke Gordon Jamieson 3 Dorset Rise, UK £115 ISSN 0308-454X © Royal Television Society 2015.
smclarke_333@hotmail.com gordon.jamieson.01@gmail.com London EC4Y 8EN Overseas (surface) £146.11 Printer: FE Burman, The views expressed in Television
Writer Sub-editor T: 020 7822 2810 Overseas (airmail) £172.22 20 Crimscott St, are not necessarily those of the RTS.
Matthew Bell Sarah Bancroft E: info@rts.org.uk Enquiries: publication@rts.org.uk London, SE1 5TP Registered Charity 313 728
bell127@btinternet.com smbancroft@me.com W: www.rts.org.uk
Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 3
RTS NEWS Your guide
to upcoming
national and
regional events
Heggessey; Jay Hunt, Chief RTS MASTERCLASSES snacks and food available.
National events Creative Officer, Channel 4; Tuesday 10 November Venue: Tyneside Bar Café,
Michael Lombardo, President RTS Student Programme Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St,
RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT of Programming, HBO; James Masterclasses Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6QG
Tuesday 14 July Purnell, Director, Strategy and Venue: BFI Southbank, London ■ Jill Graham
In conversation with Chris Digital, BBC; Josh Sapan, President SE1 8XT ■ jill.graham@blueyonder.co.uk
Bryant MP and CEO, AMC Networks; ■ Booking opening soon
Chris Bryant MP, Shadow Sir Howard Stringer; Sharon NORTH WEST
Secretary of State for Culture, White, Chief Executive, Ofcom; RTS MASTERCLASSES ■ Rachel Pinkney 07966 230639
Media and Sport. Chair: Anne The Rt Hon John Whittingdale Wednesday 11 November ■ rachelpinkney@yahoo.co.uk
McElvoy. 6:30pm for 6:45pm OBE MP, Secretary of State for RTS Craft Skills Masterclasses
Venue: The Gallery at The Culture, Media and Sport; and Venue: BFI Southbank, London NORTHERN IRELAND
Hospital Club, 24 Endell Street David Zaslav, President and CEO, SE1 8XT ■ John Mitchell
London WC2H 9HQ Discovery Communications. ■ Booking opening soon ■ mitch.mvbroadcast@
■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Chair: Tony Hall, Director-General, btinternet.com
BBC. RTS AWARDS
Venue: West Road Concert Hall, Monday 30 November 2015 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Cambridge CB3 9DP and King’s RTS Craft & Design Awards ■ Charles Byrne (353) 87251 3092
College, Cambridge CB2 1ST 2014-2015 ■ byrnecd@iol.ie
■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk The closing date for awards
entries is Tuesday 1 September SCOTLAND
Venue: The London Hilton, Park ■ James Wilson 07899 761167
RTS Futures Summer Party
Lane, London W1K 1BE ■ james.wilson@
cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
RTS FUTURES
Thursday 16 July
Local events SOUTHERN
Summer Party ■ Gordon Cooper
Organised jointly by RTS Futures BRISTOL ■ gordonjcooper@gmail.com
and Guardian Edinburgh Interna- ■ Belinda Biggam
tional Television Festival Talent ■ belindabiggam@hotmail.com THAMES VALLEY
Mike Darcey
Schemes. Sponsored by Chan- ■ Penny Westlake
nel 4, Sky and Warner Brothers DEVON & CORNWALL ■ info@rtstvc.org.uk
International Television. 6:30pm RTS EARLY EVENING EVENT ■ Contact TBC
Venue: Design Museum, 28 Shad Monday 28 September
Thames, London SE1 2YD In conversation with Mike EAST ANGLIA
■ Book online at www.rts.org.uk Darcey, Chief Executive ■ Contact TBC
Officer, News UK
6:30pm for 6:45pm LONDON
Venue: The Hospital Club, ■ Daniel Cherowbrier
24 Endell Street, London ■ daniel@cherowbrier.co.uk
Eisteddfod
WC2H 9HQ
■ Booking opening soon MIDLANDS
■ Jayne Greene 07792 776585 WALES
JOINT PUBLIC LECTURE ■ jayne@ijmmedia.co.uk Tuesday 4 August
RTS Cambridge Convention
Wednesday 4 November Eisteddfod: TV and broadband
Joint RTS/IET public lecture NORTH EAST & THE BORDER in rural areas
with Demis Hassabis Wednesday 29 July Welsh-language event at the
RTS CONVENTION Demis Hassabis is founder of Networking evenings National Eisteddfod
16-18 September Deep Mind and an artificial For anyone working in TV, film, Venue: S4C Pavilion, National
RTS Cambridge Convention intelligence researcher, neuro- computer games or digital Eisteddfod of Wales, Meifod,
2015: Happy Valley or House scientist and computer game production. The RTS event is Mid Wales
of Cards – Television in 2020 designer. 6:30pm for 6:45pm held on the last Wednesday of ■ Hywel Wiliam 07980 007841
Speakers include: David Abraham, Venue: British Museum, Great the month. Future dates: ■ hywel@aim.uk.com
CEO, Channel 4; Adam Crozier, Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG ■ 26 August;
CEO, ITV; Philippe Dauman, ■ Booking opening soon ■ 30 September; YORKSHIRE
President and CEO, Viacom; ■ 28 October ■ Lisa Holdsworth 07790 145280
Tim Davie, CEO, BBC Worldwide Start at 6:00pm, with a free TV ■ lisa@allonewordproductions.
and Director, Global; Lorraine and film quiz at 8:00pm. Bar co.uk
4 July/August 2015 www.rts.org.uk Television
TV diary
Gigs, Guinness and going to Soho screenings are
all part of a week’s activities for Lucy Lumsden
J
ust back to Sky’s new hot- across the evening is the fragility of a (again), surrounded by a bunch of
desking haven, “The Hub”, truly original idea: if it feels difficult, acrobats asking me if the show’s any
after a Guinness-fuelled week- then it’s likely you’re on to something good. “Good? It’s brilliant, of course!”
end in freezing Kilkenny at the special.
Sky Cat Laughs Comedy Festi- ■ Blur tonight in Hyde Park with my
val. Boss Stuart Murphy plonks ■ Up at 3:30am to take son to meet friend Nira Park in the rain. A bril-
himself opposite me, which is coach for school day trip to France. liant gig, it’s a total 1990s-nostalgia
disastrous for concentration Back to bed. fest. Blur look happy, the crowd are
levels. Woken up by the doorbell at ecstatic. I even briefly jump up and
Tonight, it’s the Sky News party for 5:30am: my son, standing on the step down with my umbrella.
MPs at the top of the Millbank Tower. looking forlorn. Trip cancelled as We meet up with Alfie Allen and Kit
I wish Yvette Cooper good luck; she’s teacher with all the passports didn’t Harington afterwards. Nira and
wearing a baby-blue jacket – easy to show up. We’re all speechless. I spend the night chatting about the
spot in a sea of grey suits. I go bowling later with my lovely 1990s, when we worked at The Comic
team. As it’s Ben Boyer’s birthday, Strip Presents… together. We took the day
■ The RTS Student Television Awards, I let him win. job so seriously but, boy, did we have a
chaired by Stuart, on a gloriously hot ball. Unadulterated pre-Twitter fun.
day at BFI Southbank. The chilly wind ■ I’m seriously aware of how much
of Kilkenny is a distant memory. time I spend on my iPhone. Doesn’t ■ I’m on the RTS diversity panel
Came out feeling full of inspiration generate ideas for me, just regur- event tonight. Oh my, thank God our
and admiration for the nominees. gitates them. I know far too much targets are simple. A scrap breaks out
Forced my kids to watch the new about things like “the top 10 disas- in the crowd – amazingly, between
Clangers. Hubby and I are transfixed, trous facelifts”. three people from the BBC disagreeing
they are bored after two minutes. As a tiny antidote, I’m going to a about their own policy on diversity.
How depressing! life-drawing class tonight. I draw a This is a scene from W1A, surely.
very naked Barry to the sounds of
■ New series of Doll & Em starts this Frank Sinatra. Not an iPhone to be ■ At the Broadcast Digital Awards
week on Sky Atlantic. So nice to see seen, it’s very restoring. on a beautiful balmy evening, Sky 1’s
the girls again at the South Bank Sky Wild Things collects an award – one of
Arts Awards at the Savoy. Made the ■ Insane day with a ton of reading to the team dressed as a squirrel.
mistake of thinking they might win, do, followed by three screenings to Very happy for my old pal Cheryl
but The Trip To Italy gets it… again. And attend across Soho in one night. Taylor, who wins award for CBBC. We
well deserved. Hey ho. A quick hello to Idris Elba at King reminisce about BBC days for the few
I’m delighted to be sitting next to for a Term, then hot foot it to Working minutes we share before being swept
Don McCullin who presents an award Title to see the Yonderland cast, then back to our respective camps.
to the guys behind the poppies at the on to Kim Cattrall’s Ruby Robinson.
Tower of London. The running theme I end the night drinking Guinness Lucy Lumsden is head of comedy at Sky.
Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 5
Newsnight’s
Mr Nice
opens up
E
mailing me directions to Robinson, John Simpson – they are
his flat in Earls Court, The Billen Profile basically people we would all die to
Newsnight’s Lead Presenter, have on our programme.”
Evan Davis, mentions the
“fascinating cluster” of
As Newsnight struggles Beyond that lies a greater challenge.
The net offers not only facts but opinion,
estate agents where he to define itself in the plenty of it, and cheaply. Newsnight’s
lives. “Fascinating” and “estate agents” brand of analysis is expensive.
appear infrequently in the same post-Paxman era, One can see the attraction of Evans
sentence, but this is classic Evan Davis.
Here is a man interested in everything
Andrew Billen asks for BBC Two. He had hosted one of its
banker shows, Dragons’ Den. He might
– the inheritor of the intellectual curios- Evan Davis if the chief be in his fifties, but has a modern,
ity of Brian Redhead, a predecessor at shaven-headed, open-necked, tight-
his previous workplace, Radio 4’s Today. presenter’s job is a suited look. He is funny. Most of all, he
To Davis, a cluster of estate agents poisoned chalice had brought to Today a new style of
suggests a rental property boom that is interviewing: inquisitive rather than
forcing other traders out of business he had known from BBC News in the inquisitorial, explorative rather than
– and a very good reason to move from 1990s. He hoped to discuss his options. confrontational.
the one-bedroom flat he shares with his “Instead, he made it very clear it was With Paxman going, this was exactly
civil partner. Interesting, all round. probably better for me to go, and I what Katz wanted for his Newsnight.
A year ago, it was Davis himself, how- thought, ‘If the Director-General wants In an article in the FT last September,
ever, that was the hot property. In April me to go, I am going to go’,” recalls he called for a shift from the current
2014, after 25 years, Jeremy Paxman Davis, dressed in the shirt and suit “sullen equilibrium” between inter-
announced he was leaving Newsnight. In trousers he will wear that evening on viewers and the political class. He
only his seventh year as a presenter on air and half-sitting, half-lying on a sofa issued a challenge to politicians: “If
Today, Davis gave the matter little in his top-floor apartment. you dare to be a little more candid, to
thought, assuming that PM’s Eddie Mair, But has Evans accepted a poisoned come to your crease a little less padded
who had presented during some of the chalice? The ratings of all TV news and up, to answer questions rather than
darkest nights of the programme’s Sav- current affairs shows have suffered avoid them, we will give you the space
ile-McAlpine crisis, would get the gig. from the plethora of 24-hour and inter- to explain your politics and yourself.”
Then the call came from Newsnight’s net news, yet Newsnight has suffered The previous March, Davis had given
still new Editor, Ian Katz, formerly a more than most. a remarkably compatible lecture in
Guardian Deputy Editor. If asked, would When Evans left the programme in Oxford on “adversarial journalism”,
Davis consider himself a candidate? 2001, after a stint as its Economics in which he argued that, while every-
He responded with “an 80% no”. Editor, a “good” figure would be over one needs to be held to account, “no
Katz phoned back. The job was not 1 million viewers. These days, 600,000 one should be held to account to the
going to Mair. “And it became clear I would be good. point where it becomes paralysing to
was the candidate.” The problem was Two things, he thinks, help to explain what they are trying to do”. He would,
that Today did not want him to go, nor the slump. BBC News at Ten is now in he said, “nudge the adversarial dial
did Radio 4. In the end, with no reas- the interpretation business, on which down”.
surances that he would be looked after Newsnight once had the patent. “When It was a marriage made in theoretical
if it did not work out, Davis emailed you look at the slew of people you get journalism. The question is now
the Director-General, Tony Hall, whom on the Ten – Robert Peston, Nick whether the theory was right. There is
6
no doubt that Evans has brought a
refreshing change of tone to the show,
his humour candid rather than snide.
On the right subject, he can be brilliant.
His interviewing of comedian-
turned-savant Russell Brand (“I am
trying to take you seriously”) should,
perhaps, have been scrutinised by Ed
Miliband before he craved an audience
with him during the election. When
Green Party leader Natalie Bennett
suffered “brain fade” about her hous-
ing policy, Davis delivered a brilliant
soliloquy on exactly what she should
have said.
But the fact is that Newsnight’s ratings
have not improved. Indeed, they have
suffered, if only from BBC One
viewers staying with an extended
regional bulletin at 10:30pm and
from Scottish viewers now not
getting to watch the show until
11:00pm. There is not, Evans
admits, any equivalent of the
“Paxman bounce” on the three
nights a week he presents.
“I stick by my lecture,” he
says. “I think the dilemma is
this. If a politician is spouting
to you the same old boring
lines of a very partisan
nature, that are somewhat
mendacious, what are you
meant to do?
“Are you meant to take
that in the spirit of the
new style of political
interview and say,
‘That’s very interesting,
minister’? Or do you
argue about it? If you
argue about it, you’re back to
square one, adversarial inter-
views. If you don’t argue about it,
you just look like a feeble interviewer.
“That is why I think the only way to
make an interesting non-adversarial
interview is to ask questions that are
different from the ones that invite the
prepared partisan answer. So my basic
view of this is we should make more
effort to think of interesting things to
ask them.”
When I ask whether Katz is a sup-
portive editor, I note that, after a quick
Sutton-Hibbert/Rex Shutterstock
“yeah”, he chooses to praise him rather
than reply directly. “He is very – what
THE BBC IS VERY COMMITTED is the word? – interventionist. He is
brilliant as improving every day’s
TO NEWSNIGHT, AND I DON’T programme.”
FEEL IT IS AN ENDANGERED There is, he adds, no political ten-
sion between them. Davis, widely seen
SPECIES YET as to the right of the former Guardian
journalist Katz, says his own views ❯
Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 7
The Davis digest
BBC
Evan Harold Davis, Lead Presenter
of Newsnight (since 2014) and
Presenter of Dragons’ Den since
2005
Civil partner Guillaume Baltz, since
2002
Lives Earls Court, London, and
Pas-de-Calais, France
Born 8 April 1962, Worcestershire,
two older brothers
Father Quintin Davis, academic
Mother Hazel Davis, social worker
and psychoanalyst
Brought up Surrey
Education The Ashcombe School,
Dorking; St John’s College, Oxford
(First in PPE); John F Kennedy
School of Government, Harvard
1984 Researcher, Institute for Fiscal
Studies ❯ are “all over the place”. Katz, he says, Newsnight: what is it for? Here is Davis’s
1988 Research Fellow, London is similarly open-minded. summary of the argument: “On one
Business School If Katz is open-mindedly reassessing side, we don’t want to be just a news
1992 Co-ordinator, Institute for interview theory, his doubts may have programme, because everyone has
Fiscal Studies been visible in Davis’s election inter- been doing it all day. On the other side,
1993 Economics Correspondent, views, which Katz edited. These were against that, is the view that if you are
BBC News for prime-time BBC One, so the style too off-piste you become missable.”
1997 Economics Editor, Newsnight was bound to be a little different. Never- I understand a Newsnight staff meet-
2001 Economics Editor, BBC News theless, Davis’s 50 interruptions of ing was held by Katz after the election
2008 Presenter, Today, Radio 4 Nigel Farage were not his usual style. to thrash out exactly this dilemma, and
2014 Joined Newsnight And his approach to Nick Clegg, high- that it left some so confused that he
lighting his mastery of foreign lan- later sent out a memo clarifying its
Books New Penguin Dictionary of guages and his Dutch mother, seemed conclusions.
Business (2003); Made in Britain uncharacteristically ad hominem. With the BBC News channel win-
(2011) “I think, in the end, we asked too few ning some 200,000 viewers for its
Dog Mr Whippy, a whippet interesting questions and the interest- cheap-as-chip-wrapping-paper
On gay relationships ‘There’s an ing questions sometimes came across review of the papers at 10:30pm, I
old phrase that it’s better not to as ad hominem,” Davis says. He was wonder if Davis considers Newsnight
know what goes into sausage. It is proud that he asked David Cameron itself endangered.
usually used about law-making… whether he was angry about rich tax He replies that, whatever its ratings,
There’s a bit of truth to that, I think, evaders. The Miliband interview Newsnight is a formidable generator of
about what urban gay men get up “probably worked the least well”: “He material for the internet. “The BBC is
to after dark’ shut down one or two areas of ques- very committed to it, and I don’t feel it
On joining Newsnight ‘It could all tioning very quickly and there was is an endangered species yet.”
go wrong, but it will at least be an kind of nowhere to go.” The evening of his Newsnight debut
adventure’ There is an even more fundamental last September, Paxman rang him and
question being asked internally about told him to “enjoy” it. On air, Davis
8
CAMERON
CLEGG
MILLIBAND
THE ONLY WAY
TO MAKE AN
INTERESTING FARAGE
NON-ADVERSARIAL
INTERVIEW IS TO
ASK QUESTIONS
THAT ARE DIFFERENT
FROM THE ONES THAT
INVITE THE PREPARED
All pictures: BBC
PARTISAN ANSWER
was quickly reminded of how much returned to Britain determined to tell grander in France to which they retreat
easier enjoying radio is. If he is “spon- his parents. every few weeks.
taneous”, he has to tell the studio “I set myself a deadline: ‘I’ve got to “I think people in successful, long-
director which camera he plans to be do this by Christmas.’ And I did so on term relationships tend to be more
spontaneous to. He reckons it will take Christmas Day. That tells you that it fulfilled,” he says.
him two years (as it did on Today) to was something that was a little difficult As for moving from Earls Court, it
find his own voice. for me.” sounds to me as if Evans is more inter-
And, I say, when did he begin to feel Did it go OK? ested intellectually in his flat’s rise in
comfortable about himself as a person? “It went very well. They were very value than actually finding somewhere
“Is this about being gay?” nice, actually, really nice.” further out to live. Nor is there any sign
Only partly, I say. He outed himself more publicly in that Evans is about to move from
“Well, look, it does get back to being 1997 when, four years after leaving the Newsnight and return to Today –
gay because I think you truly feel com- Institute for Fiscal Studies to join BBC although, I tell him, there is a precedent.
fortable with yourself only when News, he crossed to Newsnight. Gay Times When Newsnight’s forerunner, Tonight,
you’ve told people about it, and your asked for an interview and he “jumped” was floundering on BBC One in 1976,
parents in particular.” at the chance. By declaring himself gay Today’s John Timpson was persuaded
This took him longer than two years. before he was really famous the issue to come to the rescue and present it.
At Oxford, where he edited the college was neutralised, although the occa- Unfortunately, Timpson turned out by
newspaper, he realised he was much sional media jokes about his body then to have grown a face, and hair-dos,
more attracted to men than women, but piercings, allegedly intimate, and the best suited to radio. In 1978, he returned
was still not out. Afterwards, working in soubriquet “Tinsel Tits” might be con- to Today and began a long stint as Brian
London, he had a boyfriend but the sidered borderline homophobic by Redhead’s other half.
relationship was kept between them. some (but not him, it seems). Davis looks, well, interested.
It was only when he went to Harvard He met his partner, Guillaume Belts, “Do you know,” he says. “I did not
and then had an internship in a utility a French landscape architect, in 2002. know that story. That is really, really
company in California that he realised They share their impeccably minimalist interesting.” He pauses. “Shockingly
there was no need to lie any longer. He Earls Court flat and something rather interesting.”
Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 9
Diversity
A highly charged RTS
event asked whether
broadcasters’ plans to
address diversity are
delivering real change.
Steve Clarke found
the jury is still out
Diversity: job done?
Don’t get me started…
A
ll TV industry watchers For good reason, the debate has A year ago, Grey-Thompson was
know that, thanks focused on the lack of opportunities in appointed by the BBC to its newly
largely to Lenny Henry, TV for those from a black, Asian and formed Independent Diversity
diversity remains high minority ethnic (BAME) background, Advisory Group. This was part of
on television’s agenda. rather than those who are disabled. Director-General Tony Hall’s drive
In the past year or so, Attendees heard from panellist and to improve BAME representation on
the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky have each Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey- both sides of the camera.
made big announcements, pledging to Thompson, together with executives This involved a £2.1m Creative
improve their on-screen representa- from the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky. Also Diversity Talent Fund to support “the
tion of minorities and to do more to on board was actor Kobna Holdbrook- development of ideas across all genres”;
nurture and encourage multi-ethnic Smith, a campaigner for Act for Change, BAME writers, talent and production
and diverse workforces. which was set up in 2014. staff would be encouraged to get
But has genuine change finally kicked The broadcasters, especially Sky and involved, promised the BBC.
in? That was the question that Sky Channel 4, were keen to publicise their Grey-Thompson, however, wondered
News reporter Afua Hirsch wanted latest diversity initiatives. They claimed if the speed of change at the corporation
answering as she chaired a packed and these were already making an impact. was fast enough.
often emotional RTS event provoca- But, as Grey-Thompson stressed at “We need to do things much quicker
tively entitled “Diversity: job done?”. the beginning of the debate, unless the than we have done in the past and the
As she repeatedly put some of the BBC got its act together on diversity, the BBC should be leading the way,” she
main protagonists on the spot and entire TV community was in trouble. said. “If the BBC is not doing it, it gives
listened to members of the audience at Many in the room believed that the every other organisation an excuse not
the sharp end of the diversity debate, it corporation’s diversity plan lacked to do it, as well.”
emerged that, while progress is being clarity, was underfunded and too tardy Grey-Thompson spoke movingly
made, more still needs to be done. (see box on page 12). and angrily of her own experience of
10In 2012, we were able to say: ‘This is ethnic background by the end of the
not good enough.’” year.
Hirsch asked if she felt the BBC’s She said: “Diversity is very much on
Independent Diversity Advisory Group our watch to make a difference and
was independent enough. Yes, she make it happen.
replied: “I feel there are lots of people “Stuart [Murphy, Sky’s Director,
I am able to talk to at the BBC if there Entertainment Channels] didn’t take
is ever an issue…” long to come up with these [quotas]. It
Turning to Tunde Ogungbesan, the is part of the passion and pioneering
BBC’s Head of HR for Diversity, Inclu- spirit of Stuart and Sky.”
sion and Succession, the Sky News Sky wanted the terms of its diversity
journalist wanted to know if the BBC’s package – which also covers those
£2.1m BAME fund was sufficient to working behind the screen – to be as
make a difference. And was it an clear as possible.
annual commitment? “I’ve been in the industry for
He said he understood it was and 20 years. There has been such a
that accessing it “was the same as for change in the conversation this year,”
any other commission”. said Lumsden, who was formerly at
The Sky News Social Affairs and the BBC. “Producers bring up the sub-
Education Editor pointed out that the ject before we have to guilt them into
fund amounted to only 0.1% of the it… the fabric of the conversation has
licence fee. shifted.”
Would Ogungbesan like to see it She cautioned: “I’m not saying job
increased? “From what I understand, it done, I’m really not… Basically, it’s a
is not the only amount of money that commercial advantage for Sky. If
relates to diversity,” he replied. “It is
not only £2.1m, it is actually a lot more
than that.” DISABLED PEOPLE
Pressed on how much other money
was available to back diversity in pro- ARE EITHER
gramme budgets, the new BBC execu-
tive was unable to provide an answer.
PORTRAYED
Channel 4 announced its so-called AS FUN-LOVING
Paul Hampartsoumian
360° Diversity Charter in January. Ade
Rawcliffe, the broadcaster’s Creative
PARALYMPIANS
Diversity Manager, told the audience OR BENEFITS
Tanni Grey-Thompson (left)
and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
that the initiative was “a game changer”.
She said: “Every production has to SCROUNGERS
go through a diversity tick-box process
for on-and off-screen.
being discriminated against and how “It means that diversity is the first you’re pitching a show to Sky and you
the media can impact on public per- conversation that people have… What’s haven’t met our targets and you don’t
ceptions of disabled people. been a pleasant surprise for us is how believe in them, you are not going to
“If you don’t see disabled people on the independent sector has embraced get your show away.”
screen, if you don’t see them in all it.... In the past, people have felt really Actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
walks of life, it is never going to change. passionate about diversity but haven’t expressed reservations over what the
“I got disabled at seven, I am 45 now. had clear guidance about what to do. TV executives had told the RTS. “What
Disabled people were locked away from We now have clear guidelines.” I’ve heard in the year and a half that
society in care homes. They weren’t How many current Channel 4 shows we’ve been working is very exciting,
allowed out…. would pass the two-tick system? but what I’ve also heard is many peo-
“Growing up, the only representation “Most of the programmes that have ple say that they’ve been here before,
on TV was Sandy Richardson in Cross- been commissioned since January are time and time again.
roads, where they didn’t want his chair definitely two ticks. There have been “That’s a worry. We can’t do anything
on TV too much. exceptions,” replied Rawcliffe. until we’ve seen more results.
“It has got immeasurably better, but If a production company had a black “What I want to see next are mecha-
it is not as good as it needs to be.” or minority ethnic accountant, would nisms for transparency. We need to
Her sense of frustration was clear as that count as one of the two ticks? “An monitor ourselves and not just be told
she recalled how the 2012 Paralympics accountant wouldn’t hit that.” what is happening. We need to have
showed her that, when people were Sky’s Head of Comedy, Lucy Lums- the ability to go online and see it for
determined, attitudes could change den, was equally upbeat about Sky’s ourselves.”
suddenly. diversity scheme. The aim was to have Subsequently, speaking from the
“I’m slightly bored of people saying, a minimum of 20% of the stars and floor, John McVay, CEO of Pact and
‘Let’s increase numbers in 20 years’ writers of its UK-originated shows Chair of the Creative Diversity Network,
time and write another consultation’…. from a black, Asian or other minority claimed that the new monitoring ❯
Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 11Ade Rawcliffe Lucy Lumsden Tunde Ogungbesan
❯ system, Diamond, would ensure that ways of bringing sanctions,” replied
What is the
“there is nowhere to hide for broad- Ogungbesan. “We can celebrate success:
casters or indies. Diamond, which where indies and in-house producers
BBC’s diversity comes on stream later this year, covers
all aspects of diversity, not just BAME.
are doing the right things, we celebrate
that success.
fund for? It is funded by broadcasters.”
One apparent obstacle to imple-
“Where it is not happening, it is
noted. The word is getting out there
menting diversity schemes is the and they probably won’t get another
Marcus Ryder, Head of Current Equality Act. Hirsch enquired if this commission.”
Affairs, BBC Scotland: ‘You could had been a problem for the schemes Holdbrook-Smith repeated his scep-
have an all-white production announced recently. ticism: “I am excited about it, but, until
company and the show could be “We’ve been around this subject so I see the results on screen, on sets and
written by a white person, but if long and, because of being caught up in in offices, it’s the same thing that we’ve
Tanni presented it, it would still the legalities of it, it has been crippling heard.
be eligible [for diversity funding], to make change happen as quickly as “I don’t want to be negative about
despite having nothing to do with we’d like,” acknowledged Lumsden. it, but a part of me still feels a little
disability…. Has the BBC been slowed down by guarded.
‘It’s brilliant that we’ve been told fear of falling foul of the law? “No, I “The tendency is for these initiatives
today that the £2.1m is annual. It’s don’t think it’s that,” Grey-Thompson to be announced, they roll out and
the first time anybody from the answered. “Around disabled people, then, after a few years, they seem to
BBC has answered that question we’ve got some massive challenges. have evaporated.”
directly…. “At the moment, disabled people are Both Lumsden and Ogungbesan
‘If we can have it in writing, that either portrayed as fun-loving stressed the business case for having
would be wonderful, too.’ Paralympians or benefits scroungers content and a workforce that reflects
sucking money off the state… pretend- modern Britain.
Tunde Ogungbesan: ‘I will go back ing to be disabled when they’re not. Or In order to attract new customers,
and see if that’s possible.’ they are portrayed as victims. Sky needed to mirror the population
“The reality is that we don’t fit into as a whole, suggested Lumsden.
Marcus Ryder: ‘What would failure boxes or Venn diagrams.” Over the years, consultants had
look like to you?’ Turning to the issue of punishing demonstrated that companies employ-
those who fail to meet diversity targets ing people from diverse backgrounds
Tunde Ogungbesan: ‘Not hitting our – Channel 4’s solution is to cut bonuses were more likely to succeed finan-
targets in terms of the numbers – Hirsch asked what sanctions the cially, noted the BBC man.
of people or the percentages we’ve BBC had. He added: “The more diverse you
said we want to put in place by 2017.’ “Unfortunately, we don’t get bonuses are, the more creative and innovative
at the BBC, so we have to find other you will be.”
12Paul Hampartsoumian
All pictures: Paul Hampartsoumian
Recruitment advice:
When is a chat an interview?
Treise O’Brien, freelance producer: When they invite you for a chat, pre-
[speaking from the floor] ‘One of the pare for an interview.
Afua Hirsch things I’ve always found problematic ‘As an industry, we have to be more
is seeing jobs advertised and applying professional about how we recruit.’
for them.
Hirsch wanted to know if Channel 4 ‘They’re fully advertised on the main Judith Lee, sound recordist: [speaking
was addressing diversity in the craft broadcasters’ websites. You apply and from the floor] ‘I’ve been in the industry
skills area. “There are gaps in the you’re invited in for a chat. They’re thor- for 30 years. I’ve experienced inter-
industry,” admitted Rawcliffe. “If I look oughly unfair. They are unmonitored. views where the questions asked have
at our industry, diversity guidelines for ‘Often, you don’t hear anything back or nothing to do with sound.
crewing is a challenge. Our scripted you are asked inappropriate questions. ‘My race, the colour of my ears
commissioners tell me that.” The chats are all under the radar. That is doesn’t matter. It is whether I can do
“If people are struggling to find a a very big problem when you’re trying my job.
crew, we would love a conversation to recruit people, especially BAMEs.’ ‘I still come up against, “Oh, well,
about it. If it’s impossible on this show, we’ve never worked with a black wom-
make sure it’s possible on the next Ade Rawcliffe: ‘When you’re working an before, so we’re not sure if we can
one,” recommended Lumsden. in TV, there is no such thing as a chat. work with you”.’
“We have funds sitting there, if it is
Don’t hire people like yourself
hard to find someone from outside
your immediate talent pool. They
might have to travel and add cost to the
budget. Talk to us. If there is a sensible Kobna Holdbrook-Smith: ‘Reach out- them. That is basically saying, “Come
business case, I will top up funding. wards, rather than stand still with open and be me”.’
“I am not sure everyone is aware of arms. If not, the people who come to
that. People are not coming forward…. you will always be the same…. Tunde Ogungbesan: ‘You need to ensure
This is a tricky year. There’s been a ‘Thinking about diversity is as much that job panels are diverse and are
squeeze on the talent pool.” about adapting what you think you prepared to take a risk.
Broadcasters and producers needed know to someone else, as bringing ‘By that, I mean: think serious-
to do more to tell young people of the someone who is different into your ly about [recruiting] someone who
opportunities that exist in the craft existing organisation and adapting doesn’t look like yourself.’
sector, the panellists agreed.
Lumsden said that the recent RTS
Student Television Awards once again beginning to work its way through. As that…. You’ve got to be much smarter
illustrated the lack of diversity among Simon Albury, Chair of the Campaign about how you use budgets…. If you
young wannabes. for Broadcasting Equality, said: “Money were going to ring-fence an amount,
She said: “It was a brilliant event, but drives change.” it would probably have to be £100m.”
it was weird how it was very white. I It can’t, however, be only about
found it odd that the nationwide stu- money. “It’s also got to be about shifting ‘Diversity: job done?’ was an RTS early-
dent awards were so white.” attitudes…,” stressed Grey-Thompson. evening event held at One George Street,
Fostering a diverse TV community “You do need an amount that is ring- London, on 22 June. The producer was
won’t happen overnight, but change is fenced [see box, left] but if it is only Angela Ferreira of Joy Media.
Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 13Profile
Tony Buckingham/Rex Shutterstock
It isn’t only John Whittingdale’s
passion for heavy metal that
confounds his stereotype as
an old fogey. Anne McElvoy
profiles a political enigma
Rock on, John
J ohn Whittingdale is a conun-
drum. A politician who can seem
old beyond his 55 years, he has
been in Parliament since 1992,
nine years longer than David
Cameron. And, although only a
few years older than his boss, Whitting-
fogey with a mild interest in Gilbert
and Sullivan.
The man who headed the Culture,
Media and Sport Committee for nearly
10 years from 2005 relishes heavy
metal in the form of an extensive col-
lection of AC/DC and Deep Purple.
than he looks and the bloke likely to
linger after dinner, suggesting you play
some old 45s.”
Whether his new job, in the anxious
period leading up to the renewal and
revamp of the BBC Charter, will pro-
duce such jollity is doubtful.
dale’s style and political heritage are One of his first trips out in his Whittingdale has been an outspoken
soundly late-Thatcher era, with a enhanced brief was to the Camden critic of the licence fee as “worse than
voting record that is pro-fox hunting Roundhouse, north London, to see the poll tax” in terms of its regressive
and anti-gay marriage. what remains of the line-up of the impact on low earners, and “getting
Yet, the freshly minted Secretary of chirpy punk band Sham 69. harder and harder to justify”. The BBC,
State for Culture, Media and Sport also “Whitters,” says one senior member meanwhile, has stuck to its strategy of
confounds stereotypes of the shire of Team Cameron, “is a lot more fun defending its funding mechanism (at
14least for the short term) and attempted solution that Director-General Tony the headlines, [Whittingdale] is a good
to stave off talk of a partial subscription Hall and strategy chief James Purnell choice. He’s really well-informed,
service. have sounded unenthusiastic about. knows people in the independent
The Culture Secretary’s stance has Perhaps the real point of the Whit- sector and around the country.”
spooked BBC executives. Many of them tingdale era will be to open up a wider But broadening out a limited appeal
think a Conservative Government, policy debate about public-sector beyond the Conservative right will
emboldened by an overall majority, is broadcasting and the arts in general take work on his part. Slipped Disc, a
out to dismantle the public broadcaster – and where they fit in a modern Con- classical music website, described him
in its licence fee-funded form. servative vision. as a “dry stick”. One subscriber com-
Another school of thought is that Both Cameron and Osborne are irked mented that he wore the facial expres-
Cameron’s choice of an unflashy sort sion of “someone who had just left a
with a good knowledge of the archae- Stockhausen performance”.
ology of the BBC to head the licence- WHITTERS IS A Although generally viewed as close
fee talks is intended to startle, rather
than affront.
LOT MORE FUN to the centre-right media, he can be
THAN HE LOOKS
firm with allies as well as foes. He
This is reflected in the pragmatic brusquely summoned both James and
way Cameron has approached the Rupert Murdoch to give evidence
subject (barring the odd, testy election about the phone-hacking scandal at his
outburst and carefully barbed joke by a narrative that regards the arts (and select committee – and made clear he
about alleged bias). the BBC) as the natural preserve of would take a dim view of any excuses
The sharp intake of breath caused Guardian-reading lefties. for not attending. They duly came.
by Whittingdale’s appointment helped Rohan Silva, an arts entrepreneur If his Cabinet appointment looked
Downing Street put pressure on the and former aide to David Cameron, like an inevitability, it did not seem like
corporation’s negotiators to content thinks that Whittingdale’s role may that to him. He says he was “amazed”
themselves with a licence fee-freeze end up being “about much more than when the call came from the PM and
and a commitment to widen commis- the licence fee”. his “jaw hit the floor”; he had expected
sioning opportunities to external Silva reckons that the Chancellor’s “a place on the lower rungs of
bidders. “northern powerhouse” plans and the government”.
In fact, when the new licence-fee idea of creating a new London concert If relations with the BBC squirearchy
settlement was announced in a surprise hall (overseen by Sir Simon Rattle) “are are superficially cordial, disagreements
move by Whittingdale on 6 July, the intended to show that the Government lurk not far below the surface. The
BBC’s Director-General, Tony Hall, has a concept and approach to urban usually emollient Hall used uncom-
described it as a “strong deal” for the culture nationally, as well as to the monly strong language recently about
BBC. It could even see the corpora- economy”. the looming decision on the BBC’s
tion’s income rise over the next five When his Culture, Media and Sport future. “This [broadcast] ecology
years, suggested Hall. Committee conducted an inquiry into works,” he told Broadcast magazine.
The five-year deal, pegged to RPI, Arts Council England last year, “Don’t screw around with it.”
involves the BBC having to cover the The new owner of the culture and
cost of licences for the over-75s, phased media portfolio is far less convinced
in from 2018-19 at a cost of £650m that HE IS A GOOD that the ecology works – or that it can
year. At the same time, the BBC’s com-
mitment to fund rural broadband will
CHOICE. HE’S withstand the forces of disaggregation
REALLY WELL-
and choice buffeting today’s media.
be reduced. One straw in the wind is a major
Whittingdale comes with a CV that INFORMED, HE study under way by the Centre for
reflects his support for the right of his
party. He has advised three trade and KNOWS PEOPLE… Policy Studies, the more right-leaning
of the main Tory think tanks, on alter-
industry secretaries, done a stint in the AROUND THE natives to the BBC licence fee.
commercial sector (specialising in big
privatisations) and was Political Secre- COUNTRY “That,” says a Number 10 insider,
“will most likely reflect John’s instincts
tary and a close friend to Margaret that the BBC needs to change quite
Thatcher in her turbulent final period as profoundly – his Freudian id, if you
Prime Minister – working for her even Whittingdale decried the “imbalance like.” But political life is about calcula-
after her ejection from Number 10. in favour of London at the expense of tion, as well as instinct. The true
Certainly, the new boy has laid down taxpayers and lottery players around dilemma of a second-term Conserva-
early markers on his instincts, suggest- the country”. tive Government lies in its tension
ing that the corporation needs to think In a shot across the bows of Arts between an appetite for radical change
again about how rigorous and effective Council England and its Chair, Sir Peter and conserving British institutions.
its impartiality commitments are and Bazalgette, he announced that the The “dry stick” is at the forefront
how they should be monitored. committee should regularly review of one of the most intriguing and far-
His first target is the BBC Trust, arts funding decisions – with a clear reaching choices the new Government
which he deems past its sell-by date. preference for moving investment in will make.
That opens the way to governance by the arts outside the capital.
Ofcom, the media regulator, including Diane Coyle, the former Vice-Chair Anne McElvoy is Public Policy and Educa-
on sensitive editorial matters – a of the BBC Trust, thinks that, “despite tion Editor at The Economist.
Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 15Hill
sweeps
to the
top
I
n a smooth transition, the She steps up to the top role following
personable Polly Hill has become BBC drama five years as Head of Independent
the BBC’s new Controller of Drama, so one of her early decisions
Drama Commissioning. She takes
over without so much as dropping
Polly Hill has risen will be to fill her old post. Her commis-
sions were wide-ranging and included
a script from LA-bound Ben through the ranks to The Honourable Woman, Accused, Ripper
Stephenson. Street, The Village and Death in Paradise.
Her new job is one of the most cov- head BBC Drama, with Hill describes her last job as “cheer-
eted and powerful positions in UK
television. Hill is responsible for the
an estimated budget of leading for the English independent
producing community”. This con-
wide range of drama across BBC One £200m. Maggie Brown nected her to the most prolific writers
and BBC Two, an estimated budget of and thrusting industry players. It also
£200m annually, spiced with the chal-
assesses her biggest enabled her to cherry-pick the best
lenge of devising a new online policy, challenges ideas – at least, that’s the theory.
principally for BBC Three. She also has Kate Harwood, a former BBC Head
oversight of EastEnders, Casualty and love of it,” she says. “My dad was part of Drama Production, England, regards
Holby City. of the Bill Bryden Company for many Hill as “a fellow soul” and her replace-
But one of the key strengths that years, which had a huge impact on me.” ment of Stephenson as “signifying
marks her out is that she was born Asked to name her favourite books, continuity. The BBC’s drama has been
into the world of television and stage she replies: “Most reading is for work.” doing so well that it was not going to
drama. She is the daughter of actor Hill can zip through 10 scripts a day. bring in an outsider.”
Dave Hill, whose lengthy credits She joined the BBC 10 years ago and Harwood, now Managing Director
include playing proud, flirtatious York- has been at the heart of the drama of Euston Films, adds: “Ben was very
shireman Bert Atkinson in EastEnders, department’s success, most notably its collegiate. Polly will know everything
between 2006 and 2007. renaissance on BBC Two. Many date that is in the slipstream.”
“I was brought up around theatres this from The Shadow Line, executive Danny Cohen, Director of BBC Televi-
and new plays… and have a continuing produced by Hill four years ago. sion, says that she was given the job
16because of her “exceptional track record suggest she was uncritical. What we all plays, “which I went to whenever I
in delivering outstanding drama”, from felt, every step of the way, was that could”; Bryden directed an acclaimed
Wolf Hall and Poldark to The Missing. Polly was behind us. She isn’t like a National Theatre version of part of the
Respectively, the most acclaimed BBC faceless bureaucrat.” cycle in 1985.
drama of the year, the most popular, This was particularly noticeable in The shows she loved when growing
and the most gripping. In other words, the edit. He explains that the version up were House of Cards, Widows, Boys from
Hill played a key part in Stephenson’s of Wolf Hall that he shot was very dif- the Blackstuff, Moonlighting and classic
successful tenure. ferent to that on the black and white films. More recently,
But she will have to outside of the BBC,
grapple with the still it has been The Good
fluid situation unleashed Wife, Five Daughters
by Director-General Tony and Modern Family.
Hall’s proposal to let BBC
Production pitch for
SHE HAS Brought up in Lon-
don, Hill studied
external commissions. INHERITED A drama at Manchester
Hill’s intuitive style of
working (and nose for STABLE SHIP University (as did her
predecessor, Stephen-
the popular) is AT A TIPPING son). Her first break
described in intriguing
detail by seasoned POINT FOR came from producer
Verity Lambert – “an
screenwriter Kay Mel-
lor. She recalls how,
BRITISH inspirational woman”.
She graduated to
following the 2010 DRAMA script editing on East-
broadcast of her play Poldark Enders, recruited by
A Passionate Woman, Hill then-Executive Pro-
asked to see her. ducers Corinne
Mellor prepared three Hollingworth and Jane
ideas, including In the Club – recom- page and not Harris. “The ability to
missioned for a second series by BBC in exactly the same order. engage creatively with the writer is at
One last year. “Instead of sitting there puzzled, she the heart of what we do, so I value my
“As I left, having pitched the ideas, said: ‘Oh, I see why you’ve made training as a script editor,” says Hill.
All pictures: BBC
I said over my shoulder that I had that....’ Instead of feeling that she was In 2005, she joined BBC Drama, rising
another idea, about a group of people the dead hand of the BBC, you felt she by 2008 to Commissioning Editor/
who win the Lottery. Polly said, ‘Oh my would go into battle on your side. I Executive Producer. Her EP credits
God, that’s it.’ She knew instinctively.” can’t tell you how important that is.” include Inspector George Gently, The Ark,
Mellor duly wrote what became BBC But a disgruntled independent puts New Tricks, Remember Me, Death Comes To
One’s The Syndicate. She then moved a different spin on her passion. “She is Pemberley, The White Queen, Bonekickers,
on to In the Club. A third idea is in passionate about the things she likes The Gruffalo, Hustle and The Silence.
development. and knows, but I find it very hard to At the same time, she has had to
“She is absolutely the right person get anything away. I repeatedly came cope with pressure on BBC budgets
for the job,” adds Mellor. “It was a nat- to her and said, ‘Here’s a new writer’, and the need to raise more money
ural progression for her. She knows but it cut no ice. through international co-productions.
when to give a note and when to leave “If you are Jimmy McGovern, Tony Several leading independent pro-
alone. To me, this shows she is confi- Jordan, Kay Mellor, Billy Ivory – or, ducers confirm that Hill’s name is
dent and trusts the creative that she now, Hugo Blick – it is fine. She gets already well known in US TV circles.
has commissioned.” popular drama, but she has quite a One priority is to broaden the range
Peter Kosminsky, Director of Wolf closed mind.” of BBC One drama in order to appeal,
Hall, says simply: “She values writers.” Mellor provides a slightly different particularly, to younger, more diverse
Greg Brenman, who executive take. She passed Hill some edgy mate- and more male-skewed audiences.
produced The Honourable Woman and rial that her company, Rollem, had Then, there is BBC Three’s online
Ripper Street, elaborates: “She has a love commissioned from a woman in drama offering and, perhaps, an
of writers, and gets totally immersed, Leeds, who had written about the opportunity to create a kind of British
but can also see [a prospective drama council estate she had grown up on. Netflix. “She has inherited a stable
from the viewpoint of] a member of Hill said she would love to meet the ship at a tipping point for British
the audience. She has massive passion. new writer, though her work was not drama,” says Harwood, who underlines
She is not embarrassed about asking quite right for the BBC. “It will never the rise of on-demand drama that will
difficult questions. In the edit, she will be a flat no with Polly,” says Mellor. compete for the BBC’s audiences.
say if something doesn’t make sense.” And everyone agrees that she is good Some sceptics wonder if Hill will be
He continues: “Ripper Street was at answering her phone. tough enough to dump established
boysy and violent. She doesn’t try and Hill, a 44-year-old mother of two, shows to make way for the new. The
homogenise everything into a mulch. says that, at primary school, she was consensus view is that “it will take
Polly is very good at understanding a obsessed with Grease, which started time for her to acclimatise – look how
unique property.” her love of musicals. She was particu- Ben changed” – but that she will rise
Kosminsky adds: “I don’t want to larly influenced by medieval mystery to the challenge.
Television www.rts.org.uk July/August 2015 17You can also read
