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Iran to launch news service in English


Owen Gibson, media correspondent


As the BBC World Service puts the finishing touches to its plans for a Farsi satellite TV channel, it has emerged that Iran's state broadcaster will start an English news service next week.

Press TV, scheduled to launch on Monday, is staffed by Iranian and overseas journalists including Britons and Americans.

Following the same logic as al-Jazeera English and others, including France 24 and Russia Today, the broadcaster said it would seek to compete against CNN and BBC World but from a different perspective.

"The news is mostly covered by the western media. We would like to have a say in this," Nader Rad, head of live programming, told Reuters.

"They don't usually cover the whole story ... The news about Iraq does not cover all perspectives. The news about Palestine and Beirut is also like this."

Iran already runs the Arabic satellite channel al-Alam and the Farsi channel Jaam-e Jam.

Officially, ordinary Iranians cannot see any of these channels at home because satellite dishes are banned. In practice, the ban is only sporadically enforced. Mr Rad said Press TV would carry news bulletins, talk shows and documentaries, some of which would be bought from abroad.

"It is a state-owned channel but it is not managed by the state. It has its own guidelines," he said, but would not give further details about editorial policy.

The BBC's plans for a Farsi channel are well advanced as part of an attempt by the World Service to branch out beyond its traditional radio services into the web and satellite television. Last year, the Foreign Office agreed to fund the service to the tune of £15m, promising it would remain editorially independent.
guardian

BBC iPlayer to launch next month


Mark Sweney and Stephen Brook - MediaGuardian.co.uk


iPlayer: the BBC's broadband TV catch-up service has been in development for more than three years. Photograph: BBC

The BBC's much-delayed on-demand broadband TV catch-up service, iPlayer, is to launch on July 27.

The service will give broadband users free access to TV and radio programmes that the BBC has broadcast over the previous seven days.

After conducting a public value test, the BBC Trust gave final approval to the service at the end of April. The iPlayer was expected to launch by November, but this has now been brought forward by several months.

The BBC said today it was in discussions with potential distribution partners including MSN, Telegraph.co.uk, AOL, Tiscali, Yahoo, Myspace, Bebo and Blinkx. The iPlayer service will not be available on Apple computers at launch.

BBC licence fee payers will be able to use the iPlayer to catch up on any television or radio programme aired in the previous seven days.

They will also be able to download programmes and save them on their computers for up to 30 days. Once opened, programmes will be viewable for up to seven days.

The iPlayer project has been in gestation for more than three years, during which time rival broadcasters including Channel 4, ITV, BSkyB, Virgin Media and Channel Five have launched their own on-demand services.
guardian

60 SECONDS: Marcus Brigstocke

Comedian Marcus Brigstocke is a regular on radio comedy shows. He has also presented spoof TV documentary show We Are History, satirical news programme The Late Edition and Trophy People about people with odd hobbies. He can be seen alongside Sir Trevor McDonald on ITV1's comedy current affairs show News Knight on Sunday nights.

What’s News Knight all about?
Trevor McDonald will be reading the news in a funny way then, instead of journalists, he has three comedians who provide comic reports on the various news stories. It’s Trevor McDonald and some comics being funny. Hopefully, it will be a bit like Have I Got News For You – it’s got that level of comedic banter and gags.

Presumably you’re hoping News Knight will be better than ITV’s last ill-fated comedy show, Ben Elton’s Get A Grip?
If it turns out like that Ben Elton thing I will do the first show and no others and I’ll never appear on TV again. I used to be a big Ben Elton fan. I don’t know what happened there.

Are you funnier than Alexa Chung?
Who’s she? The woman on that Ben Elton thing? The one who was being so breathtakingly spontaneous and immediately witty and accessible? It was toe-curling, wasn’t it? The great thing about this is that Trevor’s much funnier than anyone realises. He’s read the news for 30 years so there’s no story he doesn’t know. He’s got all these amazing stories and fantastic insights. When you see him going off on one, it takes you aback. It’s a joy. He’s especially into American politics and has his opinions on the Bush administration.

You were Anne Robinson’s comedy sidekick for a while. How was that?
It was a bad experience. I’ve played this role before, being a comic alongside a presenter who isn’t a comic, but the difference between Trevor and Anne is that Trevor’s nice. By the end of that series [BBC1’s short-lived What’s The Problem?], Anne and I weren’t speaking – which is difficult on a show you’re both co-hosting. That programme was lightweight and trivial.



Did the original proposal of your Trophy People show aim to ridicule the people who competed in obscure competitions?
No, I said at the original meeting that on paper it looked like we’d do what telly people do these days, which is to turn up with a camera and say: ‘You must be dicks because you don’t have the camera and we’re brilliant.’ It’s too easy to edit people badly and make them look stupid and it’s cheating. There’s too much arrogance in TV – too many people thinking just because they make programmes, they are more interesting and important than anyone else. My favourites were the Youth Debaters. Kids today are like: ‘Yeah, whatever because it’ll be rubbish when we get there, innit’, so I was blown away by how enthusiastic they were.

Anne Robinson and I weren't speaking - which is difficult on a show you're both co-hosting

Do you still do stand-up?
Yes. The basic function of a comic is stand-up because it’s so straightforward and simple. If the audience don’t laugh, you didn’t do your job. I’ve had some audiences where I didn’t care if they laughed or not because they were either too drunk or stupid.

How can you tell if an audience is stupid?
The first thing you notice is a sign saying: ‘Welcome to Liverpool.’ It’s a nightmare place to play as a stand-up because there’s a great tradition of storytelling there. You get people heckling saying: ‘Our Bazza is funny as f***.’ Yes, Bazza might be very funny… but probably not on stage. Also, if two-thirds of the audience are stag parties, it’s likely they don’t want to hear my thoughts on where we fit into the European Union.

Why did you want to do stand-up to begin with?
I failed to get into drama school and my best friend told me I should do stand-up instead. I was always doing gags and voices, so he booked a gig for me without telling me. I only had four days to write it. I did a seven-minute set; the first four minutes were terrible but the last two were amazing. I stumbled on a joke idea and style that worked, the audience went with it and, from that moment on, I was hooked. It’s an amazing feeling. I still get that buzz now.

You were a goth. Would you go back to it?
Goth music isn’t as good as it used to be. I was into The Cure, Sisters Of Mercy and Fields Of The Nephilim. That style of music was at its peak at the time. I’d goth up for the day now – why not? I haven’t kept any of my old goth gear because I was very, very fat. You could have stuck poles in my old goth gear and used them for camping. I have no clothes from that time, only sullen memories.

What’s the worst gig you’ve done?
I was booed off a few times during the early stages of the Iraq war because I’ve always been opposed to the invasion and said so at the time. I was booed off in Manchester and Portsmouth. You have to take it on the chin. If you go on stage with an agenda, you have to accept not everyone’s going to agree with it.
http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/ ... page_id=11]Metreo[url=[/url]

Spice Girls announce reunion tour
The Spice Girls

The group won four Brits, including a lifetime achievement award
The Spice Girls have confirmed they will reform for a world tour to take place in December and January.

The full line-up has not performed on stage since Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell quit in May 1998.

The 11 dates announced include a London show on 15 December, eight days after the tour begins in Los Angeles.

"I think for us it was about celebrating the past, enjoying each other and it's about our fans. It was the right time," said Halliwell.


SPICE GIRLS TOUR 2007/08
Los Angeles - 7 December
Las Vegas - 8 December
New York - 11 December
London - 15 December
Cologne - 20 December
Madrid - 23 December
Beijing - 10 January
Hong Kong - 12 January
Sydney - 17 January
Cape Town - 20 January
Buenos Aires - 24 January

The only British date announced is in London, with the venue not yet confirmed. The other European dates are in Cologne and Madrid.

'Fears and doubts'

Earlier this month Mel Chisholm, also known as Sporty Spice, told the BBC she had resisted reforming the group in the past because "it was amazing, it was magical. We could never recreate it".

Asked why she had gone back on her word she said: "A girl is allowed to change her mind and also this is something that we have only seriously started this year really.

"I think really all of us have had our fears and doubts but we feel that the time is right."



Halliwell added: "For us it's about celebrating the past, enjoying each other and it's about our fans. It was kind of now or never."

Good-natured

All five women laughed and joked constantly with photographers and reporters, even good-naturedly booing one journalist.

There had been rumours they would perform at the Concert for Diana memorial show in London on Sunday, but with Emma Bunton currently pregnant they decided not to appear.

"We would have loved to have been there this weekend but the timing has been impossible for us," said Chisholm.

As the conference drew to a close, all five women left the stage holding hands as Brown shouted, "You have been spiced!"

Global success

The tour is being put together by Simon Fuller, whose 19 company masterminded the group's global success more than a decade ago.


They famously spent time with Prince Charles and Nelson Mandela
Under his guidance, the five-piece notched up a string of hits - including Wannabe and 2 Become 1 - while also capitalising on their fame with a stream of sponsorship deals.

Emma Bunton, Mel Brown, Mel Chisholm, Victoria Adams and Geri Halliwell quickly became household names - although they were better known as Baby, Scary, Sporty, Posh and Ginger.

They sold more than 55 million records around the world, and even starred in a film, Spice World.

Halliwell quit in 1998 citing "differences", leaving them to complete a sold-out world tour as a foursome.

Since 2001 each member has since pursued solo careers with varying degrees of success, while Posh Spice has become better known as fashion icon Victoria Beckham.

BBC

Stone plans biopic of Iranian President
02/07/2007 - 15:38:10

Moviemaker Oliver Stone has petitioned Iranian officials in a bid to make a biopic about President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The maverick director, who has chronicled the lives of Richard Nixon, Jim Morrison and Alexander The Great on the big screen, has requested official support from Iran's Cultural Heritage & Tourism Organisation.

Iranian filmmaker Ali Reza Jajjadpour and Ahmadinejad himself are currently considering the idea.

Stone upset many Iranian scholars with his depiction of Persians in 2004 flop Alexander.

Hollywood recently came under fire from the same scholars for the depiction of Persians in hit action movie 300.
breakngnews

Cartoon rat bites into US chart

Ratatouille features aspiring chef Remy the rat
An animated adventure about a rat living in a Paris restaurant beat the return of Bruce Willis in Die Hard to the top of the US box office.
BBC

Hughie Green Biography

BBC Four is to screen a one-off biographical drama about Opportunity Knocks host Hughie Green.

It is expected that Ben Evans, who was responsible for for Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! and Fear Of Fanny, will produce.

The Hughie Green biography has been written by Tony Basgallop and is expected to be broadcast in the autumn of next year.

waveguide.co.uk

Five To Timeshift Channels

Five is to launch +1 services for its two digital channels, Five Life and Five US, it was announced today.

The time-shifted channels, Five Life +1 and Five US +1 will launch on satellite in the autumn this year.

Five’s CEO, Jane Lighting, said: “I’m delighted we can offer these new services to our viewers less than a year after so successfully launching Five US and Five Life.”



Elvis Presley

ITV1 is to mark the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death next month with an hour-long documentary.

Young Elvis In Colour will feature the singer's early film screen-tests together with footage of him in concert.

There will also be interviews with his childhood friends and musicians.






Flintstones Composer Dies

Flintstones TV music composer Will Schaefer has died in the US aged 78.
Schaefer died on Saturday of cancer in a nursing home in Cathedral City near Palm Springs, California, said Danny Flahive, a family friend.

The Wisconsin native also wrote background music for TV shows including The Flying Nun, Hogan's Heroes, The AristoCats, The Jetsons, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

He composed and recorded music for more than 700 commercials.



Channel Four Announces Timeshift

Channel 4 today announced that it is to become the first terrestrial broadcaster in the UK to transmit a time-shifted version of its core TV channel.

The launch of Channel 4 +1 on August means there will be an exact replica of Channel 4’s schedule on a one-hour delay, including all live programming, US acquisitions and TV advertising including regional variations.

At launch Channel 4+1 will be available on Freeview, Sky Digital and Virgin Media.

Andy Duncan, Chief Executive of Channel 4, said: “This gives our viewers another opportunity to watch Channel 4’s high-quality content while ensuring maximum value from our investment in commissioned programming.

"Given the ongoing shift in consumer behaviour within television, we believe the launch of Channel 4+1 is a logical strategic move. It’s consistent with our commitment to do everything appropriate to secure Channel 4’s public service model longer term.”

Andy Barnes, Sales Director at Channel 4, added: “This will also benefit our advertisers by giving them additional access to the high-quality audiences Channel 4 already delivers.”

waveguide.co.uk

Corrie and Full Monty stars join new ITV1 show


MediaGuardian.co.uk



Former Coronation Street actor Johnny Briggs and The Full Monty's Hugo Speer are to join the cast of ITV's innovative new linked shows Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach.

Soap Echo Beach will detail the goings-on of fictional Cornish town Polnarren, while behind-the-scenes show Moving Wallpaper will feature the antics of the cast and crew. Jokes, characters and stories will also cross from one show to the other.

Echo Beach was originally due to air on ITV2 with Moving Wallpaper on ITV1, but the soap will now also air in a post-watershed slot on ITV's main analogue channel.

Briggs and Speer will play characters in Echo Beach, alongside former EastEnders star Martine McCutcheon and Neighbours actor Jason Donovan.

Speer will play the husband of McCutcheon's character, while Briggs will play a long term resident of the town.

Echo Beach marks the return of Briggs to ITV1 following the departure of his long-running character Mike Barlow from Coronation Street last year.

The Echo Beach cast will also include Eragon's Ed Speelers, Hollyoaks' Marcus Patrick and newcomer Hannah Lederer Alton.

In Moving Wallpaper, comedian and actor Ben Miller will be joined by Lead Balloon's Raquel Cassidy, Teachers' James Lance and Peep Show's Sarah Hadland. Susie Amy will appear in both shows.

Both 12-part shows, which are being made by Spooks producer Kudos Productions in association with RedPlanet Pictures, have been created by EastEnders lead writer Tony Jordan.

He will also executive produce both shows with Kudos's Jane Featherstone and Alison Jackson.
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Kylie And Doctor Who



Picture - Kylie - Doctor Who. Picture from the BBC.The first picture of Kylie Minogue in her role as Astrid in Doctor Who has been released by the BBC.

The snap was taken two days ago in Cardiff and reveals Minogue as a waitress on the Titanic in the Christmas special called Voyage Of The Damned.

The episode was written by Doctor Who's executive producer and head writer Russell T Davies.

Sitcom actors Geoffrey Palmer and Clive Swift will also play lead roles in the Christmas episode.



Liverpool Signs Deal With Setanta

Liverpool Football Club has signed a three-year deal with Setanta Sports to be the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor of its new club channel Liverpool FC TV.

The channel will launch in the autumn. It will become the ninth channel offered as part of the Irish broadcaster's £9.99 per month sports package Sky's digital platform

Rangers TV and Celtic TV are also available as part of the package.

Freeview subscribers will be able to watch Liverpool TV-branded Champions League and Premier League matches on Setanta Sports 1.

The channel will also be simulcast on the channel's website as part of the football clubs e-Season ticket premium content offering.




Autumn On BBC One

Peter Fincham, Controller BBC One, today announced details of his channel's new autumn season which includes a set of interviews with Tony Blair, a behind-the-scenes look at The Queen and the introduction of a new 20:00 news bulletin.

Fincham said: "We're keeping up the pace of change on BBC One. This autumn sees the introduction of a new nightly news summary at 8pm each weekday evening.

"Designed to bridge the gap between the Six and Ten O'Clock news, it joins Panorama, now firmly established in the 8.30pm Monday slot, and The One Show, each weeknight at 7pm.

"In drama fresh new talent mix with some of the finest and most established talent the industry has to offer. Newcomers Danny Lee Wynter and Tommy Jessop lead Stephen Poliakoff's Joe's Palace and Mark Haddon's Coming Down The Mountain respectively.

"Dame Judi Dench, Sir Michael Gambon and Philip Glenister return to BBC One in Cranford Chronicles, created by award-winning producer Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin and written by Heidi Thomas. And four talented contemporary writers have each taken a classic fairy tale and re-invigorated them for a modern BBC One audience.

"Michael Palin takes us on a unique journey to New Europe and Alan Titchmarsh travels the length and breadth of our country to explore the huge diversity of The Nature Of Britain.

"Saturday nights will be bursting at the seams with top entertainment as Strictly Come Dancing and Robin Hood return, along with a dazzling one-off special Eurovision Dance Contest presented by Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman.

"With remarkable access, our cameras have gone behind closed doors with the Queen and other members of the Royal Family, and Tony Blair speaks candidly about his ten years as Prime Minister."

Drama

Jimmy McGovern's Bafta and RTS award-winning series, The Street, returns for a second series this autumn. Timothy Spall returns to his role as taxi driver Eddie.

Timothy Spall also stars as Fagin, with Tom Hardy as Bill Sikes, in the story of Oliver Twist, adapted for BBC One by Sarah Phelps.

Spooks, Waterloo Road, Silent Witness and Murphy's Law all return in the autumn.

Comedy

British-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili appears on BBC One this autumn with his own stand up and sketch show.

Hugh Dennis, Claire Skinner and Samantha Bond star in Outnumbered, a new comedy about the daily chaos of family life, written by the creators of Drop The Dead Donkey, Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton.

Learners is a comedy drama written by, and starring, Jessica Hynes (nee Stevenson). Following the trials and tribulations of a group of learner drivers, it also stars David Tennant and Shaun Dingwall.

Mutual Friends stars Marc Warren, Keeley Hawes and Alexander Armstrong and follows the disastrous sequence of events for happily married man Martin after his best friend Carl throws himself under a train...

Alun Armstrong, Elizabeth Berrington, George Cole, Lee Evans, Rupert Graves Alison Steadman and Jessie Wallace star in People Like Us.

After You've Gone, Not Going Out and The Green Green Grass all return this autumn.

Entertainment

Nick Knowles hosts a new, Saturday night National Lottery show Who Dares Wins in which complete strangers are coupled up to put their general knowledge and nerve to the ultimate test.

Eurovision Dance Contest will see professional and amateur dancers compete for a new international crown. This major Saturday night event is presented by Graham Norton and Claudia Winkleman.

Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, Strictly Come Dancing and Have I Got News For You also return.

News and Current Affairs

In a number of open and candid interviews, Tony Blair looks back on his dramatic decade in power, considering both domestic and international events, alongside the challenges of governing a democracy.

Factual

In a new series, Michael Palin's New Europe, the presenter explores the parts of Europe that were once off-limits behind the Iron Curtain.

Alan Titchmarsh presents a new series, The Nature Of Britain, taking a close look at Britain's wildlife.




Sky Customers

Sky Dish. Picture (c) Waveguide 2007BSkyB announced today it had added 90,000 net new customers in the three months to the end of June, up 17 percent year-on-year, to give it 8.6 million subscribers.

It had record total new customer additions of 349,000, up 20 percent year on year. The company said churn, or the number of customers leaving the service, had fallen to 12.1 percent from a previous figure of 13.7 percent. It said it had 716,000 broadband customers.

Chief Executive James Murdoch said: “Our transformation continues to gather pace. Today we are adding new customers at the fastest rate since analogue switch-off; we are adding more broadband customers than any other provider; and we are the only major residential telephony provider growing its customer base.

"Looking forward, we will continue to grow our share of an enlarged sector opportunity by delivering a superior customer experience, investing in the products and services customers want and by continuing to offer exceptional value to all our customers.”

Other figures show Sky+ subscriptions were up by 207.000 to 2.734 million and HD subscribers increased by 48,000 to 292,000.




Tennis Show For Channel 4

Stars of the tennis court are to show off their skills for Channel 4.

It will cover a new tournament at the O2 arena, formerly the Millennium Dome.

Andy and Jamie Murray plus Tim Henman are among the line-up for the one-day Betfair Turbo Tennis event.

C4 will air the semi-finals and final live on September 15.

Channel 4 head of sport Andrew Thompson said: "This is a fast and furious new tennis format which will bring in the younger tennis fans. There will be no rain delays and no time wasting, just the very best tennis action from some of the world's best players. "

waveguide.co.uk

ITV's Autumn Schedule

ITV Dish. Picture (c) Waveguide 2007ITV's director of television, Simon Shaps, has announced details of ITV1's autumn schedule which will include the moment JK Rowling completed the final instalment of Harry Potter in a documentary about the author.

Rowling allowed TV cameras into her life for the first time for A Year In The Life ...JK Rowling.

Simon Shaps, said: "Talent is what makes ITV tick and this season we will more than deliver."

The line-up includes factual programmes such as The Iraq War by Numbers, presented by Rageh Omaar, and Alzheimer's documentary Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell.

Other factual programmes include Storm, which tackles the biggest UK storm on record in 1987 while Commando: The Front Line follows 50 recruits from the 925 Troop over an eight month training regime before they face action on the frontline in Afghanistan.

Drama includes a new version of EM Forster's classic, A Room With A View, and The Old Curiosity Shop, starring Sir Derek Jacobi.

Other ITV1 autumn dramas include a modern-day version of Frankenstein and My Boy Jack, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Kim Cattrall.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here returns in November and The X Factor along with Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Musician Elton John also appears in a musical journey through his life called Elton John: Me, Myself and I.



Little Britain Goes To The US

A lucrative deal has been signed by David Walliams and Matt Lucas to make a US version of Little Britain for HBO, it has been announced.

The series will feature a mix of brand new characters and Little Britain favourites, although its unclear how characters like "only gay in the village" Daffyd will go down with US audiences.

Walliams said: "The new series will be a sketch show set in contemporary America.

"We are taking some existing characters and writing new material for them, as well as introducing new characters and ideas.

"We're very keen to take Little Britain to as wide an audience as possible, so we're looking forward to working in the States."

Lucas added: "We have grown up with huge respect for American comedy, so going to work there with HBO, which is the home of some great talent, will be a great experience for both of us."

The show will be executive produced by Simon Fuller, the man behind the Spice Girls and Pop Idol.

"Matt and David have created something original and definitive in Little Britain. The show is an absolute smash everywhere it is seen and I am certain it is going to be loved by a US TV audience as well," Fuller said.

The six-part series will begin shooting in the US this autumn and will be broadcast year.





ITV Exec Is New BBC Daytime Controller

Liam Keelan. Picture (c) BBCITV executive Liam Keelan has today been named as the new BBC daytime controller, replacing Jay Hunt.

Keelan, currently ITV's daytime controller, will report to Peter Fincham, controller of BBC One. He is expected to start with the corporation later this year.

He was previously BBC One's head of scheduling and planning.

At ITV he commissioned Golden Balls with Jasper Carrot, The Alan Titchmarsh Show and Daily Cooks.

Keelan said: "I've had a great time working at ITV and being part of the changes Simon Shaps and the team have brought about. The opportunity to take on this role at the BBC was too good to pass up, though. It's a very exciting time to be developing the strategy for daytime and I'm really looking forward to getting started."




BBC Apologises To The Queen

The QueenThe BBC has apologised to the Queen after it was implied in a film clip that she walked out of a photography session with Annie Leibovitz during a documentary.

The Queen had a dispute with Leibovitz over whether she should wear her tiara or not but the programme's trailer suggested she walked out.

The BBC said in a statement: "This was not the case and the actual sequence of events was misrepresented."

The documentary, A Year With The Queen, will be shown later this year.

"The BBC would like to apologise to both the Queen and Annie Leibovitz for any upset this may have caused", the corporation's statement continued.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz is seen in the trailer telling the Queen she will look better without her tiara because "the Garter robe is so..."

Before she can say "extraordinary", the Queen replies, pointing to what she is wearing: "Less dressy. What do you think this is?"

The clip then cut to the Queen walking through a Palace room immediately afterwards, implying she had stormed off from the portrait session.



Axe To Fall On BBC Dramas

Several dramas could be axed as BBC One controller Peter Fincham looks at refreshing the drama output of the channel.

Yesterday, Fincham confirmed that legal drama New Street Law and veterinary drama The Chase would not be returning.

Now it appears that Dalziel and Pascoe and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries may also be dropped.

Holy Blue is to return for a second series in the autumn when there is also to be a new 20-part series of Waterloo Road.

The latter is reported to be under consideration as the replacement for Neighbours when it leaves BBC One.



New UKTV Controller

Matthew Littlejohn is being taken on by UKTV as controller of its ten channels.

Littlewood will join the company in the autumn from ITV where he is currently controller of digital channels. He will replace UKTV's chief operating officer John Keely.

UKTV is a joint-venture between BBC Worldwide and Virgin Media's content division, Virgin Media TV.



Art Attack Axed
Neil BuchananITV's long-running children's show Art Attack has been axed after 18 years.

Fronted by Neil Buchanan, the Bafta award-winning show has run for 19 series. It was produced by Buchanan's own independent The Media Merchants.

It is thought that a number of other programmes on Children's ITV, such as Jungle Run and Grizzly Tales For Gruesome Kids, have also not been recommissioned.




Channel 4 Looks For Racing Sponsors

State-owner bookmaker The Tote are withdrawing their sponsorship of Channel 4 Racing at the end of the year due to a change in television advertising regulations from September 1.

The deal, struck in June 2005, was originally for one year and was believed to be worth £5million.

However, the Tote are to pull out after two years because, from September, bookmakers will be able to advertise during the commercial breaks.

Tote chief executive Trevor Beaumont said: "We've been very happy with our sponsorship of Channel 4 Racing and it has worked extremely well for the brand.

"However, the landscape will change towards the end of the year allowing rival bookmakers to advertise, so it is with regret that we will end our current sponsorship deal.

"We will continue to support Channel 4 Racing by advertising on the channel and we wish them well in attracting a new sponsor.

"Our support of Channel 4 Racing has been of huge benefit to the racing industry as a whole, including other bookmakers."

Channel 4's head of sport Andrew Thompson: "We are committed to covering 80 days a year until the end of 2009 and I'm confident we can work with the racing industry to find the sponsorship and support to continue that broadcasting.

"We'll be putting the sponsorship package to market. We'll be talking to the racing industry and I think it's really important we work with the industry on this.

"As well as providing great entertainment, clearly our broadcasts help the racing industry financially as well.

"That's something they recognise, we recognise and we want to work together to achieve something to ensure we keep racing on telly.

"Racing is part of Channel 4's DNA and it will remain on Channel 4. It's been here for 25 years and I am determined we keep it there."




John Barrowman's Project

Waveguide - John BarrowmanTorchwood star John Barrowman is the guest presenter on Channel 4's Friday Night Project on July 27.

He will face no-holds-barred questions from the studio audience and presenters Justin Lee Collins and Alan Carr.

Barrowman's appearance comes at the end of a week of special programming on Channel 4 marking 40 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

waveguide.co.uk

INTERROGATION: CHRISTOPHER WALKEN
Christopher Walken, 64, has a reputation for playing menacing film roles. But he’s not scary at all – in fact, he’s a practical joker who loves to potter around in the garden


You’ve been in showbiz for over 50 years, are you surprised by your success?
Christopher Walken: I consider myself lucky that Hollywood still wants me. The fact I get some respect in my craft is something I didn’t anticipate. I’m financially better off than I ever thought I would be. And I’ve already done more than I thought, and that still amazes me to this day.

Why do you think you’ve got this reputation for being intimidating?
CW: I think it’s because of the parts I play. I play a lot of terrible people.

Does your wife Georgianne find it amusing when people think you’re a psychotic type of guy?
CW: Occasionally, but I don’t sense terror in anybody in my family. Although I wish my wife was a little more afraid of me. But she’s more aggressive and assertive than I am.


Is she in the business?
CW: She used to be an actress, but now she runs a casting agency. She cast The Sopranos. We met 40 years ago when she was my dance partner in West Side Story. I was Riff, leader of the Jets, and she was Graziella, Riff’s girlfriend.

You’ve been married for nearly 40 years. What’s the secret to a successful marriage?
CW: The older I get, the more I think everything is luck. Everything. I picked the right one by luck. Also I’m very easy to get along with. I don’t argue with anybody really, I just say ‘OK’.

Why did you decide not to have children?
CW: Who knows? I think it had something to do with being an actor. Before I was making movies, I was never making any money, but my wife had a job so that was OK. I lived simply and travelled. Children are very expensive. It wouldn’t have been a good idea.

You have a reputation for being a big prankster on set. What’s your favourite joke?
CW: I pretend it’s my birthday a lot. The trick is to play the joke very early in the morning. I’ll be sitting in the make-up trailer with the lady patting my face with a brush, and I’ll pull a sad face. Sooner or later she’ll ask, ‘What’s the matter? You look a little down today.’ And I’ll say, ‘I’m all right.’ Then she finally says, ‘Come on. What is it?’ Then I’ll say, ‘It’s my birthday, and I’m sad, because I’m alone… and I don’t have a cake.’ Then I’ll say, ‘But don’t tell anyone.’ By lunchtime everybody knows and a cake is wheeled out.

Any other favourite pranks?
CW: Sometimes when they call for me to be on set, I’ll stand outside my trailer and look up at the sky for a long time. A really long time. Finally, someone will ask, ‘What are you looking at?’ Next thing you know, you have 10 people standing looking up at the sky for no particular reason. Then I’ll just casually walk off.

Tell us something about you that would surprise us.
CW: I don’t own a computer or a mobile phone and I don’t even wear a wristwatch. I’m old school.

What are you passionate about?
CW: I have a lovely garden at home in Connecticut that I like to potter about in. I grow my own tomatoes and vegetables.

What’s your favourite dish?
CW: I love Italian food. I could eat spaghetti every day. I like to cook. I’m not a very sophisticated cook, but I think the real secret is perfect timing – not to cook too long and not too little. Very difficult.

Is there a part you’d love to play?
CW: I’d like to play a psychiatrist. I think I’d be good in that role. I went to a psychiatrist once and he was so strange I left. I thought, ‘I can’t take your advice, you’re crazy.’ I didn’t need a psychiatrist, but somebody had said to me, ‘You should go and talk to this person.’ So I said, OK. It was in his own apartment and the phone rang in another room and I could see into his kitchen and there were all these dirty dishes. He was obviously grubby, and I thought, you can’t tell me about my life if you can’t wash your dishes.

Ever had a crazed fan approach you?
CW: No. That must be the advantage to having an intimidating persona. I don’t get the crazies coming up to me. People are usually friendly. They say, ‘Hey, Chris’. They are very familiar with me. I like that.

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?
CW: When I was a kid I joined the circus for a summer and I became a junior lion tamer. The guy who owned the circus had an idea for an act where his son would come on dressed just like him. But he didn’t have any kids, so I went on. I had an identical outfit to him, with the hat and everything. At the end, when he was finished with his lions, they’d all leave except for this one called Shiba. She was a very nice lion. Old. Not too many teeth. She’d rub up against your legs. She wasn’t dangerous at all. I didn’t get paid. I just did it because I found it all so interesting.

Tell us about your character Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray.
CW: I think Wilbur is a very good-natured man and doing the right thing just comes naturally to him. He’s crazy about his wife, Edna, who is, of course, played by John Travolta. It actually made me think I never get the girl (in a film) and the first time I do get the girl, it’s John Travolta!

What was it like to dance with John Travolta?
CW: We rehearsed for a long time. For weeks. Then John put that big fat suit on and heels, but we knew the moves so well we shot it in only a few takes. Very fast. I had a DVD of the steps and I’d play it in my house. I’d do the moves and then it’s just kind of in your bones, until you don’t think about them anymore.

Michelle Pfeiffer also stars in Hairspray. You last working with her in Batman Returns in 1992. Was it good filming with her again?
CW: Last time I saw her I threw her out of a window, so it was great to see her again! I didn’t know that she’s a world-class singer. That’s really her singing in the movie.

CHRISTOPHER'S REALITY CHECK

What is a brolly?
An umbrella. (Correct)

What was the last CD you bought?
I listen to a lot of the old show tunes. Jazz and the classics. But I don’t buy CDs for myself. People give them to me.

What was the last domestic thing you did?
I organised the refrigerator. Put things in small containers.

Who are Posh & Becks?
Isn’t that the footballer David Beckham and his wife? (Yes).

How much is a pint of milk?
About two dollars and some change. (Sounds expensive, but as they sell milk in larger cartons in America we’ll let him off this one)

Hairspray will be in cinemas nationwide from 20 July

17/O7/O7

Former Neighbours Actor In Torchwood

Alan Dale, who played Jim Robinson in Neighbours is to guest star in the new series of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.

Dale, last seen in Ugly Betty, will play a baddie in the popular series, which is moving to BBC Two

He said: “I’m thrilled. I am a huge fan of British TV drama.”

Buffy actor James Marsters is also to guest-star in the new series - again as a lovable baddie.

He said: "I'm really excited about my character. He is naughty and a bit of a psychopath."

And Doctor Who's sidekick Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) will appear for the first time before returning to the BBC One show.

Plots in the 13-part series starting early next year include an encounter with a rogue Time Agent and a First World War time-slip.

Show creator Russell T Davies said: "We aim to be bigger and bolder than ever."








F Word Episode Faked

An episode of Gordon Ramsay's The F Word which appeared to show him spearing sea bass off the English coast was faked, Channel 4 has admitted.

The celebrity chef headed into the sea to catch some bass for a beach barbecue in one of the series' "action" items and was shown returning to shore holding several large fish he seemed to have caught.

But while Ramsay did take part in the fishing expedition off the Devon coast, spending around an hour trying to spear a fish, in reality he failed to catch anything, Channel 4 said.

Spearfishing expert Dave O'Callaghan told the Sunday Times he had caught the fish the celebrity chef cooked on an open fire in the episode.

"I went in 20 minutes before everyone else to make sure we had fish to put on the barbecue.

"I caught about four and then Gordon got in and we spent about an hour in the water. When we came back in we threaded the fish onto a stringer and he carried them."

A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said the broadcaster had looked into the incident and discovered the show's makers had misrepresented what had happened.

"The production company Optomen has informed us that, after investigation, regrettably it appears that one part of the sea bass VT gave viewers an inaccurate impression about Gordon's involvement.

"We are working with Optomen to ensure this does not happen again."

She added: "Channel 4 does take such errors of judgment seriously and we regret that viewers may feel they were let down on this occasion."




Anne Widdecombe ITV Show

Tory politician Anne Widdecombe is getting her own campaigning show on ITV1 following the success of her report on hoodies for Tonight With Trevor McDonald.

Wiiddecombe will tackle social issues in the three-part series which kicks off with Anne Widdecombe Versus The Sex Trade in which she visits areas that have been blighted by the sex trade.

For another programme she looks at the benefit culture in the UK and moves in with a jobless father and his wife who receive more than £25,000 in benefits to support their children.

The final programme sees her spending time with gypsies and looking at the issues that surround them.

Geldof begs BBC to axe Yates documentary

Bob Geldof is urging the BBC to axe plans to broadcast a documentary based on the life of his late ex-wife Paula Yates.

The documentary, entitled 'Sincerely Yours', is expected to follow the events leading up to her death from an accidental drugs overdose in 2000, including the discovery that Hughie Green was her biological father.

But the former Boomtown Rats frontman believes the programme should not be broadcast, branding its content "grubby".

"If I say anything on the record, I will simply be giving these people publicity for their grubby little programme," said Geldof.
However, a source told British newspaper The Sunday Telegraph: "As a maker of television programmes himself, Bob sees this for what it is - an entirely spurious excuse to dredge up a lot of sensational old headlines and, in the process, some intensely memories for him and his family.

"He has made the point to the producers that Paula only found out that Green was her natural father after he died and that the wretched man played no part in her life at all.

"If it is true, as he understands, that the programme will show them together then that will have no basis in truth. He'd expect this of Channel 4 or Channel 5, but he is amazed that the corporation is prepared to stoop so low."
BREAKINGNEWS