Continuity Booth – Television News and Nostalgia

Jessie Wallace, the actress that played Kat on the EastEnders will soon star in a new drama that documents the start of Coronation Street according to a new announcement by the BBC. Wallace will be playing Pat Phoenix who has starred as Elsie Tanner on the soap since its early days.  The famous soap celebrated its 50^th anniversary this year.

Also slated to star in the drama is Celia Imrie as Doris Speed who portrayed Annie Walker on Coronation Street and Lynda Baron as Violet Carson who took on the role of Ena Sharples. The drama will be made in Manchester and air on BBC Four towards the end of 2010.

The plot will focus on how creator of Coronation Street, Tony Warren (portrayed by David Dawson) first launched his characters on television back in the year of 1960.  Warren worked on the drama as a consultant along with writer Daran Little who also has worked as a writer for the soap opera for the last two decades.

Margaret Morris, the casting director for the show during its birth, will be played by Jane Horrocks while John Tompson is also slated to appear in an unknown role.

Keeping it in the family, Bill Roache who has been on the cast of Coronation Street since the first episode will be played by his son. Bill first showed up on the show as student Ken Barlow and a mere five decades later is now a retired grandfather on the popular soap.

Vodafone, O2, and Orange have teamed up together in order to test out a TV broadcast service that would let mobile phone users across the UK watch television channels on their mobiles.

The three leading companies in the UK have the bulk of the control in the UK mobile industry, and are testing out technology that would allow them to broadcast TV across the 3G mobile spectrum.  In order to do this, they have teamed up with Streamezzo, Ericsson, and IPWireless on a three month trial of IMB technology in Slough and West London.

Currently, each of these UK mobile phone companies offer mobile TV services on their 3G networks, but there is a great deal of congestion across the networks if more than a few customers use the service within the same general location.  The new IMB technology however can utilize airwaves from the 3G spectrum so that lines remain uncongested.

The spectrum is great for television broadcasting since it is not able to receive and send signals, which means it does not to interfere with mobile phone calls.  Plus, since it is already a part of the spectrum that already exists, it is easy to bill customers for the use, which is available across 60 countries from 150 different operators.

The trial which begins this coming October, is the second attempt at the technology, which Orange and T-Mobile tested out in 2008.

Head of technology research and development at the Vodafone Group, Luke Ibbestson, stated that with the growth of data traffic across 3G networks and the increase in support of broadcast technology across the mobile industry the time has never been better to push the IMB initiative.

Usually the BBC followers consider the channel BBC 4 the place to turn for stimulating your mind, but following this train of thought, would the rest of the television channels be created for those that do not want to spend their viewing time actually thinking?

At the moment, this seems a little true as Stephen Fry attacked the standards of many of the television programs currently airing, stating that they are made for adults in the UK who exhibit infantile thinking.

Fry called them ‘chicken nuggets’ implying while these types of programming can be enjoyed from time to time, they are not great and fulfilling choices on a regular basis.

It is hard to debate his point given the fact that a large percentage of peak viewing time programmes can be considered adult centric, with even BBC2 schedules stocked full of reality shows about DIY, cooking, games shows, and fashion.  On the flip side, ITV and BBC1 continue to air shows that almost always are dramas that are either thrillers or heartbreaks making everything a bit of escapist fun that airs today.

In fact, it is almost possible to say that mainstream television is now designed to be enjoyed while doing other activities, but not for those who simply want to seriously sit down and enjoy a show due to the lack of current stimulation in the programming.

This thought only becomes stronger when you take a look at Doctor Who in his latest episode goes back in time to see Van Gogh encouraging children to take a different view of art history.

In theory it was a great idea, but although adults may have enjoyed watching the educational, creative, and entertaining show; its intellectual level was aimed at children more than adults, making it just another show that fails to fully captivate the adult viewing audience.

Simon Cowell got a special award at the British Academy Television Awards (Bafta)  on Sunday.   The creator of ‘The X Factor’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ was presented with an honorary award for his “outstanding contribution to broadcasting”, and says that he will be expanding his horizons in the near future.

Chairman of the Bafta TV committee, John Willis, called Cowell “one of the most brilliant entertainment producers of our time”.  Willis cited the role Mr. Cowell played in bringing new and exciting talent to the attention of the British public, and his major contribution to TV entertainment on Saturday nights.

Since rising to fame in Britain with his role as a judge on ‘Pop Idol’ and in the U.S. with ‘American Idol’, the TV mogul has made his fortune by giving unknown performers a chance at celebrity, and his sometimes biting but always entertaining commentary on their performances.  Now he says he wants to enlarge his participant base as well as his audience by taking on the other 65 countries that have bought his format.  His new show would have the winners from each country competing for global fame.

The winner of Saturday night’s finale of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ was a group of acrobats called Spelbound, and members of the troupe told reporters that they had offers to perform in Las Vegas, and dreams of performing in the 2016 Olympics due to recognition on the show.

There is no question that Simon Cowell knows how to attract and hold an audience.  His current shows are the most watched in all of British television, and there’s no reason to think a global approach will not be just as popular.

Homer Simpson has been awarded the titles of the best film and TV character of the past twenty years in a new survey by Entertainment Weekly.

Homer is best known for eating and drinking beer, which surprisingly enough was all it took for him to beat out Harry Potter for the top slot.

Matt Groening, the creator of Homer’s character, stated that people enjoy Homer because secretly they can relate to his desires, which most people are too embarrassed to admit while he gets to enjoy them out in the open.

In third place was Buffy the Vampire Slayer portrayed by Sarah Michelle Geller and in fourth place was Tony Soprano from of course, The Sopranos.  Rounding out the top five was The Joker from The Dark Knight instalment of the Batman trilogy played by the late Heath Ledger.

Also ranking in the top ten were Hannibal Lector played by Anthony Hopkins, Rachel from Friends played by Jennifer Anniston, and Edward Scissorhands played by Johnny Depp.

In ninth and tenth place finishing off the top ten list was the child favourite Spongebob Squarepants and Carrie Bradshaw from Sex & the City played by Sarah Jessica Parker.

The Tories have rethought their previous attempts to freeze the TV licence fee, while also making the BBC reveal how much its top stars are actually earning in an effort to draw attention to the fact they are willing into go to combat with the BBC.

New minister for media and arts, Ed Vaizey, stated in his first interview that the BBC will be treated in a very firm fashion by the coalition government, but it will still be fair, and went as far as to say that BBC 6 Music, which was to be cancelled should be saved.

Last year, the Conservatives were not able to win the vote in parliament to freeze the licensing fee, but now that they have taken office they have not made plans to block a three pound annual increase of the fee coming up in April of 2011 and 2012.

Vaizey stated they only reason they attempted to freeze it last year was because the inflation rate was flat.

Outside of their stance on freezing the license fee, the Tories have also lightened up when it comes to forcing the media group to publish the salaries of its top celebrities.  Vaizey addressed this fact, as well stating that the Tories are still considering whether this should be forced or not.

He did state however that there should be more transparency when it comes to the salaries of top BBC managers.  In fact, the Government wants any top person from a publicly funded organization to be allotted a salary that is no more than 20 times the amount that the same company’s lowest paid employee earns.

FORMER stars of Channel 4 soap Brookside are backing an internet Campaign to bring out a “Best of” DVD.

An online petition already has more than 4,600 fan signitures and now previous cast members are calling for episodes to be re-released including, Dean Sullivan, Louis Emerik, Suzanne Collins, Bryan Murray, Steven Fletcher, Stephanie Chambers, Kris Mochrie, Sarah White, Steven Pinder, Mickey Jones & more.

Gritty storylines included Soaps first lesbian kiss and the murder of wife-beater Trevor Jordach who was buried under the patio, Sheila Grants rape storyline, Also in the later years was the seige in 2002 & Anthony Murray’s bullying and on the last episode Drug dealer Jack Michealson was killed.

The last episide was aired in 2003 after 21 years on TV screens. Brookside launched the careers of Jennifer Ellison, Ricky Tomlinson and Anna Friel.

Now past stars from The Close say a whole generation of Soap fans have missed out and are calling for Channel 4 to bring out a box set.

Dean Sullivan, who played lovable rogue Jimmy Corkhill, said: “I would love to be involved in any initiative to keep the Brookside name alive.”

Lynsey McCaffrey who starred as Ruth Smith (one of the Gordons) added: “It’s great news regarding the Brookside DVD campaign its great to hear that Brooky hasn’t been forgotten!   I was brought up watching it as a child so the show is very close to my heart.”

And Steven Fletcher who played Ste Murray said: “I believe that there is probably still a massive audience of hardcore brookside fans out there who would love to have access to some, if not all of the episodes that went out over the 21 years it ran for.  For me working on the show was such a great experience and a fantastic form of training infront of a camera, it brought alot of opportunity to actors in the city and made headlines for its groundbreaking storylines. “

But there’s confusion over who actually owns the rights to the Scouse Soap Opera. Creator Phil Redmond owns the name “Brookside” but Channel 4 are not clear if they own the show.

Brookie fan Lee Brady from Liverpool & Danny Burton from Essex both came up with the idea of running a Campaign to get Brookie released onto DVD after a visit to the close in 2007.

Lee, 23, said: “Our aim is to get anything onto DVD really, we would love Box sets, spin-offs, Classic episodes, The Best of Brookie.  All other soaps have DVD’s of Classics out on sale, They have Crossroads, Corrie classics to buy on DVD. Why not Brookie? Brookside was probably the Biggest ground breaking soap of all time. Brookside done everything first but it seems to be last bringing out a DVD.  I grew up watching Brookie, and for me Brookside is regarded as an academy of excellence, not just for its behind-the-scenes teams, but for the sheer volume of acting talent that has come and gone through its doors over the 21 years, To support their Campaign please go to www.brooksidefans.webs.com.”

Doctor Who will soon step out of the television and land on the theatre stage as the Doctor along with his friends and foes such as Oods, Cybermen, and Daleks will be out around the UK this coming autumn with the Doctor Who Live series.

The tour follows a long string of other television shows that have been adapted for the stage such as Coronation Street, The X Factor, and Strictly Come Dancing.

The stage show is being adapted by the head writer for the show, Steven Moffat, and will feature everything from special effects to on-stage battles to pyrotechnics.

The show is being produced by BBC Worldwide and will premier set in wartime London ending with what is described as an ‘epic onstage battle.’  For those who enjoy the show, there will be a live soundtrack on the market performed and led by Dr. Who’s Murray Gold that also wrote its newest theme tune.

Moffatt, who also is the television show’s executive producer, stated that the live version of the show is everything he has dreamed of since age eleven.  He added that with all of the monsters on show live, a great plot line, and new screen material will make it something that should not be missed.

The tour will include 25 performances in nine different cities with opening night at London’s Wembley Arena on October 8^th followed by in no specific order with stops in Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Sheffield, Nottingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, and its last stop on November 7^th in Belfast.

Live show conversions of television shows has increased in popularity due to the revenues produced by ticket sales, live performances, and merchandising.

EastEnders stole the show at the British Soap Awards walking away with ten awards, clearly outshining Coronation Street, which only took three.

Included in its large haul for Enders’ was best actor (won by Scott Maslen), best soap, and best actress (won by Lacey Turner).

Betty Driver, age 89, who plays Betty Williams on Coronation Street took home the lifetime achievement award. Driver was not on hand to pick up the honour in person due to illness, but in a pre-recorded message stated she was so excited about the honour she had no idea what to say.

Doctors from the BBC took home two awards, while Emmerdale on ITV1 and Hollyoaks on Channel 4 each took home one award.

Adam Woodyatt who accepted the best soap prize on behalf of the Eastenders cast, stated that he did not have a speech ready because Babs Windsor was nominated for the honour, but she was ill so he was the last minute stand in if the soap won.

Up on stage to pick up the best actor prize and the sexiest male award later in the show, Maslen stated that the award cannot be taken too seriously, but makes a great doorstop.

Other EastEnders awards include the best exit award given to Charlie Clements who died during the show’s live episode which was the 25^th anniversary of the soap.  The anniversary episode also took home the award for the best single episode.

Villain of the year went to Larry Lamb for his role as Archie Mitchell, while the plot centering on his character’s death won for the best storyline.

The best newcomer award was taken home by Marc Elliott from EastEnders.

British viewers watched over four hours of television per day during the first three months of 2010, which means that they watched 48 ads every day which was a new record.

They also increased their overall average viewing time to four hours and 18 minutes a day, which totals up to an 8% increase during the first quarter of 2010 according to the newest Thinkbox TV marketing report.  The report details the results of the Broadcasters’ Audience Research figures.

Last year, during the first quarter the report showed an average viewing time of four minutes shy of four hours and that people watched about 45 ads per day.  Over the last five years people are watching 22% more ads every day.

In total, most British viewers average about 30 hours of television every week, which is an increase of about two and a half hours over last year.

There are a few reasons for the growth in viewing time this year, which include the introduction of a new measurement system that is thought to offer more accurate viewing measurements since it accounts for on demand viewing and multiple television sets in one home.

Additional factors that may have resulted in the increase in viewing include the spread of production from digital channels, the economic recession forcing people to remain at home, and the fact that the winter was much colder than previous winters.

Also reported by Thinkbox was the fact that viewing growth seems to have increased equally among all age groups.  The group also predicts that as digital TV enters more homes and slowly is closing the gap between the 90% of homes that have it and a future where 100% of homes have access to digital channels television viewing will continue to increase.