tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post8341676170506640210..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Trouble at the 'Leftfield' BBCIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73933434585673821592009-07-23T10:59:15.119+01:002009-07-23T10:59:15.119+01:00The BBC needs complete reform. Not only because o...The BBC needs complete reform. Not only because of its obvious left-wing bias (try getting them to do anything on the Smoking ban - even just allowing a comment on a news piece - and see where it gets you) but because it just isn't doing its job. HBO is a small channel run entirely through subscriptions. As a result it isn't constrained by ratings, advertising revenues etc, and as a result it produces masterpiece after masterpiece - "The Wire", "The Sopranos", "Six Feet Under", "Curb Your Enthusiasm" etc.... <br /><br />The BBC is essentially an enormous version of HBO where subscription is enforced upon everyone at pain of fines or imprisonment. Yet it churns out "DIY SOS," "traffic Cops" and "Cash in the Attic". Where are our "Sopranos" or "Wire"s?<br /><br />It's left-wing bias is truly scary enough but the fact that it can't even do its basic job properly demands it be reformed, totally, from top to bottom.Mr Ahttp://mr--a.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84571137495508561252009-07-22T14:31:21.736+01:002009-07-22T14:31:21.736+01:00Thanks Anon. He obviously meant "left-field&q...Thanks Anon. He obviously meant "left-field", but it's a bit of a sad reflection on the yoof of today in meejah jobs that he didn't understand this difference. It's always funny when one hears people trying to be super-fashionable and tripping up over the language.<br /><br />What do all you Beeb-bashers make of the way the BBC has given full coverage to Malloch-Brown's leaving present on helicopters for his less-than-adequate nulab "colleagues"? It must be confusing for Iain and the rest of you New Rightists to have the Beeb not siding with NuLab. Do your brains auto-reject this contrary evidence to the (almost religious with many of you) belief that the BBC hates you, or is there scope for thinking in there?<br /><br />Just curious.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65606806224837780322009-07-22T12:44:58.334+01:002009-07-22T12:44:58.334+01:00Guardian Thursday 16nth July 2009"If people d...Guardian Thursday 16nth July 2009"If people don't like BBC drama, they should come and speak to me'BBC drama commissioning controller Ben Stephenson responds to Tony Garnett's criticisms of the corporation's drama output<br /> <br /> <br />Ben Stephenson: 'I have instituted some big changes after listening to criticism.' <br />Making drama is the best job in the world – the privilege of working with writers with a unique vision, the spine-tingling spirit of camaraderie between a production team, the privilege of broadcasting into the nation's front-rooms. What could be better than that?<br /><br />But what I love about it the most is how passionate the people who work in drama are. Working in TV drama isn't a nine-to-five job, it is a wonderful, all-consuming lifestyle. It gobbles up everything. It is glorious.<br /><br />And with passion comes debate, discussion, tension, disagreement. If we didn't all think differently, have different ideas of what works and what doesn't, wouldn't our lives, and more importantly, our TV screens be less interesting? We need to foster peculiarity, idiosyncrasy, stubborn-mindedness, left-of-centre thinking.<br /><br />But what unites us is that we all want the same thing – great drama – be it on the BBC, on ITV, on Channel 4 or on Sky.<br /><br />So let's work together to get there. Let's talk to each other in person about our thoughts – let's get red in the face and disagree, but then find a way through. Let's have a chat, a lunch and listen to each other's point of view. And let's start believing we all want the same thing, because we do – we just have different ideas of how to get there.<br /><br />I have been contacted by a number of writers over the past few days. Some passionately agree with Tony, but want to talk to me about it and I welcome the discussion.<br /><br />But others passionately disagree with what he says and have asked for their words to be published. I know they will be accused of being in my pocket but, seriously, what have they got to gain? They could just whisper sweet nothings in my ear and then dart back to their computers. Besides Tony Jordan, Peter Moffat and Billy Ivory – to name a few - are proper grown-up scary writers. No one puts them in the corner. But their experience at the BBC has been different and they want to join in this passionate debate.<br /><br />And what does this tell us? Well, a few things. There is clearly more than one point of view in this complex debate. For a lot of people – particularly audiences who recognise the BBC as the home for the best drama in the country – BBC drama is something they love to watch. And for many of those who make the drama it is a great place to work.<br /><br />But there are a lot of people who don't like what we make and have been caught in development hell. I recognise much of what Tony Garnett says, and am happy to talk to him and anyone else about it. I don't want to list a point-by-point response – that would be reductive – but anyone who knows me will know that I take this very very seriously. My open Friday surgeries are designed for this very reason.<br /><br />After nine months in the job I have instituted some big changes after listening to criticism – the open door policy, a radically smaller ratio of development to production, one indie department instead of four.<br /><br />And that's just the beginning. I am going to continue to make changes. So now is the time to come and speak to me. I am an open book and have an open door. I will even buy you a BBC cup of coffee, if you are unlucky. Let's start engaging with each other – not over blogs, or in newspaper, but face to face. That is the only way we will change anything.<br /><br />I have to say I feel heartened by this. It tells us that for all the naysayers about a crisis in drama in this country, about us having no good writers, about the US being better, we are a country that has never been more passionate about television drama. We love it, we are passionate about, we are good at making it and we are in it together.<br /><br />• Ben Stephenson is the controller of BBC drama commissioningAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-6529826143205440932009-07-21T21:05:59.091+01:002009-07-21T21:05:59.091+01:00@ Carl Gardner, Head of Legal
Indeed, but one oft...@ Carl Gardner, Head of Legal<br /><br />Indeed, but one often has noticed the blurring, intermingling, of news and drama at all levels and in all quarters of the BBC.Unsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307116169498533047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43383992120201186742009-07-21T20:42:44.100+01:002009-07-21T20:42:44.100+01:00Yes, it's so tragic that there is one element ...Yes, it's so tragic that there is one element of the media left that is not rabidly right-wing.<br /><br />Best thing is to flog the Beeb off cheap to Murdoch so that there is no public voice in Britain not following a news agenda designed to ensure that News International pays zero tax in all territories.<br /><br />Then we will all be better off.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4851079490832077432009-07-21T19:14:11.297+01:002009-07-21T19:14:11.297+01:00Several friends of mine who worked for the BBC lef...Several friends of mine who worked for the BBC left in frustration at this sort of bias and outlook. They found their work meddled with if it was not "on message".Andrew Ian Dodgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16293965494182995460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70407802095582479602009-07-21T17:04:14.036+01:002009-07-21T17:04:14.036+01:00Where's the sodding link to this piece?Where's the sodding link to this piece?Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82411746729199300362009-07-21T16:03:44.401+01:002009-07-21T16:03:44.401+01:00If Boris is appearing in EastEnders he should be i...If Boris is appearing in EastEnders he should be impeached. Crossroads would have been permissible but not the disgusting apology for 'edgy' drama that is Eastenders. No one right (or left for that matter) minded person should support that odious piece of junk.<br /><br />The BBC are not 'Labours mouthpiece' - they are happy to throw bricks at the Iraq invasion and Afghanistan. They view the world thought the same lens as labour activists.<br /><br />Now this is indeed very similar but it is not quite the same thing. The BBC is institutionally left wing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82911938900559114892009-07-21T15:46:45.783+01:002009-07-21T15:46:45.783+01:00Re Alcuin @ 10.19 am.,
How right you are not to u...Re Alcuin @ 10.19 am.,<br /><br />How right you are not to underestimate the voter impact of BBC coverage and the need for a cohesive strategy to challenge it, at studio level if necessary.<br /><br />BBC power is being misused as never before, with or without the backing of it's supine management. Air time is being given away for party political gain, McBride and Purnell being two recent examples. To buy this time commercially would be expensive but since the helpless licence payers fund it, who cares?<br /><br />BBC has become so powerful it can deflect criticism with apparent ease while the Conservative party appears reluctant to confront it seriously, pre-election.<br /><br />The BBC has become a bully and it is betraying it's impartiality. It must be confronted now.jon deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17354116589298046787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-35738400439415482362009-07-21T15:07:42.257+01:002009-07-21T15:07:42.257+01:00Am I the only one thinking boris is only going on ...Am I the only one thinking boris is only going on eastenders to boost his vaginal profile further? Will he run fir mayor again or try to get on the Tory front bench?FonyBlairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08960051001993635260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90618515843133899292009-07-21T15:04:34.883+01:002009-07-21T15:04:34.883+01:00golden_balls
"were the bbc easy with the lab...golden_balls<br /><br />"were the bbc easy with the labour party when it came to the iraq war cash for honours hutton report i could go on."<br /><br />No they weren't, but on all occasions they were criticising the government for not being left-wing enough.<br /><br />I don't think that the BBC is biased in favour of the government, but only a fool would deny that it has a pronounced left-wing bias in its reporting and covering of issues.<br /><br />The BBC is, I am certain, biased AGAINST the Tories, and will always take the opposite side to them in any argument, which leads people to believe that it is pro-Labour. Of all the political parties, it is the Lib Dems - especially Vince Cable - who get the easiest ride, and of the minor political parties, the Greens get far more positive exposure than, say, UKIP. Left-wing bias, you see.<br /><br />I can't think of a single example of the BBC being critical of the government from a right-wing perspective. Can you?Green Heronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11388748676839524682009-07-21T14:57:17.635+01:002009-07-21T14:57:17.635+01:00Sorry I couldn't get back to you earlier Golde...Sorry I couldn't get back to you earlier Golden Balls, I was too busy live chatting the three and a half hours of the select committee and uploading all the video.<br /><br />Doh!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.the-daily-politics.com/2009/07/select-committee-vs-coulson.html" rel="nofollow"><b>Coulson before the Select Committee</b></a>.<br /><br />Live chat's over so you'll just have to watch the video.Swiss Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05732145048794762624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-71417095447846258972009-07-21T14:33:13.256+01:002009-07-21T14:33:13.256+01:00I read Peter Whittle's column in the Telegraph...I read Peter Whittle's column in the Telegraph carefully. He does not link to the Ben Stephenson quote in the Guardian. A search on the Guardian website does not show any such quote from Stephenson and it does not appear in the Guardian today.<br /><br />Can anyone point me to the original Guardian article?<br /><br />Just wondering if this is in fact a Whittle fabrication or over-statement - it wouldn't be the first. He is after all, as the Telegraph confirms, " founder and director of The New Culture Forum, a think tank that challenges the Left-liberal stranglehold on culture and the arts."DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-60948443141280314982009-07-21T12:57:22.961+01:002009-07-21T12:57:22.961+01:00As the BBC say that they have to pay eye-wateringl...As the BBC say that they have to pay eye-wateringly high salaries to its staff to prevent them going to the commercial sector,then I suggest that it will be no hardship to this fellow to resign and find lucrative work elsewhere.bergennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-32290500503518598732009-07-21T12:50:47.259+01:002009-07-21T12:50:47.259+01:00I agree this was a wrong thing for a BBC controlle...I agree this was a wrong thing for a BBC controller to say. I think it reveals as much or more about attitudes in the world of drama, though, than about the BBC. Among artsy sorts, an unthinking, infantile leftism seems often to be accepted as the only possible view of the world, I'm sorry to say.Carl Gardner, Head of Legalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11623620299558039098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-31877127529380804152009-07-21T12:35:22.614+01:002009-07-21T12:35:22.614+01:00Has anyone seen Toenails' latest blog?
Absolu...Has anyone seen Toenails' latest blog?<br /><br />Absolute pile of incomprehensible wank.Clawingly Sanctimoniousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38810220393807925432009-07-21T12:34:46.147+01:002009-07-21T12:34:46.147+01:00Years ago, the Politic Show did a package on an &q...Years ago, the Politic Show did a package on an "innovative" policy that was being carried through by the Labour Mayor of Newham. I was a councillor at the time; I phoned and e-mailed the reporter who covered the piece pointing out that what was being lauded by their program was, in fact, not legal - I offered to provide proof.<br /><br />The response from the reporter: "Are you trying to convince me that a Labour Mayor would be doing something that wasn't legal? I don't believe you."<br /><br />I asked what his view would be if it were a Tory mayor... he hung up.mikelaw_per@yahoo.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-18577242531202271442009-07-21T12:27:13.679+01:002009-07-21T12:27:13.679+01:00As opposed to the BBC bias by allowing Tory counci...As opposed to the BBC bias by allowing Tory councillors from outside of Norwich North to take centre stage in the Norwich North debate on BBC East last night.Nich Starlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63135179354470102682009-07-21T12:21:57.305+01:002009-07-21T12:21:57.305+01:00It was Ben Stephenson, BBC drama controller, who s...It was Ben Stephenson, BBC drama controller, who said <br /> "we need to foster peculiarity, idiosyncrasy, stubborn-mindedness, left-of-centre thinking"<br /><br />-in a written article, so not just a throw away remark but a considered statement which he had plenty of time to retract but didn't.<br /><br />Lying shite. Should have been sacked on the spot for an obvious breach of the BBC's charter of political impartiality.<br /><br />His pathetic attempt to extricate himself with " what I meant to say was" is about on a par with " I vos only obeyink orders"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52803311491325880422009-07-21T12:08:11.073+01:002009-07-21T12:08:11.073+01:00Scrap the Beeb.
Give every honest household a ann...Scrap the Beeb.<br /><br />Give every honest household a annual tax rebate.<br /><br />Spare young soldiers paying a TV tax for the TV in their bunk while prisoners do not.(I find this disgraceful and unforgiveable)<br /><br />Flog what is left to fill the Brown holes in the economy (delicious irony in the BBC paying to fix their hero's errors/excesses)<br /><br />Sell it as an environmental action: one less major power user and less CO2 (the BBC's bete noire - more irony there)<br /><br />Its a no-brainer. Dave could start his new term as PM with a tax-cut that hurts no-one.<br /><br />(BBC employees do not count - they have never cared about anyone other than themselves and their Party)JMTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49539051825004379792009-07-21T11:21:11.468+01:002009-07-21T11:21:11.468+01:00Swiss Bob got it in one, straight off. Privatise i...Swiss Bob got it in one, straight off. Privatise it. No reason not to. Complete no-brainer. Sorted.<br /><br />A.T.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58633991450191377032009-07-21T11:15:38.965+01:002009-07-21T11:15:38.965+01:00Most of us know that the beeb is consistently left...Most of us know that the beeb is consistently left-wing. See the BBC-Biased blog for daily proof. (Here: http://www.biased-bbc.blogspot.com/)<br /><br />However, how effective is this bias?<br /><br />The beeb were and are anti-Thatcher, but she won 3 elections.<br /><br />The beeb were and are anti-Conservative, but they were in power for 18 years.<br /><br />The beeb were and are pro-labour, but they will only have been in power for 13 years - even the beeb cannot conceal the depth of labour's incompetence and its effect on the people.<br /><br />So it has all worked out in the end and justice will be done.gordon-bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249699675694944419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-81051725715138854502009-07-21T11:05:31.466+01:002009-07-21T11:05:31.466+01:00I have just heard Milburn, another plank of the Za...I have just heard Milburn, another plank of the ZaNULab propaganda on equality. i.e. vote lab and you will get a well paid professional job. More pie in the sky politics from McDoom and co.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-56576064577980608052009-07-21T11:05:02.179+01:002009-07-21T11:05:02.179+01:00Dimoto I didn`t realise! I often catch up on the &...Dimoto I didn`t realise! I often catch up on the "News" online.<br /><br />Call me naive but thanks for the information!Cjamesknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29330798291427999422009-07-21T10:51:01.984+01:002009-07-21T10:51:01.984+01:00Cjamesk, you mean that you haven't noticed tha...Cjamesk, you mean that you haven't noticed that BBC TV and Sky have a "news sharing agreement" ? Rigorously the same stories, in the same order, with the same video footage, and very often at the same time.<br />As I recall, (fading memory), Labour place-man Greg Dyke saw nothing wrong with the dodgy dossier story because it was pretty common knowledge, however, he then committed the cardinal error of backing his jorno when Campbell had ordered him to be fired. That provoked a full-on New Labour purge, and the pure New-Labourite junkfest that is the BBC today.Dimotonoreply@blogger.com