BB FANS

BBC Agrees Heroes Deal

BBC Two has agreed a deal with NBC that will give the channel first refusal on future series of the sci-fi hit Heroes.

BBC Two is currently showing the 23 episodes of the first series with the second to follow.

The deal gives the BBC will have the option of buying all content beyond series two at a pre-agreed price.

The BBC said in a statement: "We're delighted to have secured an exclusive ongoing deal with NBC Universal.

"This means that if NBC Universal produce more seasons of Heroes (beyond season two which is already in production) the BBC can buy them at a pre-agreed price.

"This ensures that the BBC can continue to show Heroes at a cost that represents real value for money."



Big Brother Will Be Back

Waveguide - Big BrotherChannel 4 said today that reports of Big Brother being axed were "a flight of fancy".

A spokesperson for the broadcaster said that claims made in the Sunday Mirror were unfounded, especially as the show advertised for housemates for the ninth series during Friday's night's final.

Channel 4's head of programmes, Julian Bellamy, announced last week that Celebrity Big Brother was to be given a rest next year, a move would help to build anticipation for the summer series.

The channel also defended its decision not to evict a second Big Brother housemate for using racist language during the last week of the show.

In unaired footage, Ziggy Lichman made reference to a "trigger ******", a term used in rapper 50 Cent's song This is 50, in earshot of black contestant Brian Belo.

Lichman was summoned to the diary room and warned that he would be evicted if he used the word again.

Channel 4's actions contrast with an incident earlier in this series when producers ejected contestant Emily Parr for using the same term.

In a statement, the Channel 4 said it had "acted swiftly and appropriately" over the latest instance.

It said: "The incident was not shown as part of the 'as live' streaming on E4 and referred up to senior producers at Brighter Pictures."

"In consultation with senior executives at Channel 4, it was agreed that Ziggy should be called to the diary room and given an immediate first and final warning for using racially offensive language in the house.

"Ziggy was told that any further transgression would mean his immediate eviction. We gave careful consideration to the context of Ziggy's offence.

"Ziggy was repeating a lyric from a song and his words were not directed at anyone. Nobody in the house was offended and the incident was not broadcast, so no offence was caused to viewers."




No Doctor Who Series In 2009

Doctor Who The BBC confirmed today that their will be no Doctor Who series in 2009 but the science fiction favourite will be back for a fifth series in 2010.

Series four, which went into production in July 2007, will hit UK screens in spring 2008 with a special episode for Christmas 200 and 2008.

In 2009, Doctor Who will return with three specials starring David Tennant, with Head Writer, Russell T Davies.

Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction, said: "Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas. Its journey over the past three series has been one of the most ambitious and exciting that we have had, and I'm delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010."


Freesat Managing Director Appointed
Emma Scott has been named managing director of Freesat, the planned free-to-view satellite service from the BBC and ITV.

A former BBC head of projects, Scott will be responsible for recruiting a team as well as developing and implementing a launch strategy for spring next year.

Scott will report directly to Tim Davie, the Freesat chairman and to the board of directors.

She was at the BBC for ten years. In 1999 she was appointed to work for former director general Greg Dyke as head of projects and was responsible for delivering large scale, pan-BBC initiatives.

Tim Davie said: "Emma brings a wealth of experience and energy to the role and has been instrumental in Freesat's journey from the start.

"Since coming on board in 2006 as project director, Emma has been responsible for successfully developing and implementing the strategy behind the proposition on behalf of the Joint Venture partners BBC and ITV."


BBC Presenter Calls For Digital Axe

Radio presenter John Humphrys today called for the BBC to think about axing its digital TV channels rather than cut funding for its core radio and TV programmes.

Humphrys, 64, told The Independent he was "massively concerned" at the prospect of further cuts at Radio 4's flagship Today programme.

He said he feared the show, which he has presented for 20 years, could have its funding cut by as much as a fifth.

The presenter told the newspaper: "We have already cut our budget by about 15% in the last few years and there are rumours - I've no idea if they are true - that we might have to cut as much as another 20%. We are then left with virtually no reporters.

He added: "If continuing with channels like BBC Three and BBC Four, if funding those channels means the price to pay is that there must be damaging cuts to core programmes then I don't believe it is a price worth paying.

"The case cannot be made if the price to be paid is the kind of salami slicing which meant Today not just suffers but is seriously damaged."

He said the BBC should "shoot a white elephant or two" instead of taking money away from current affairs, adding it would be "better" to close BBC Three or BBC Four.

In a statement, the BBC said: "The BBC must ensure that we meet our six public purposes, as set out in our Charter, to deliver maximum public value.

"The licence fee settlement faces us with difficult decisions about how to meet those requirements in the best interests of licence fee payers.

"In the current reprioritisation of budgets, our priority is to deliver distinctive, quality programming and content, particularly in the areas for which the BBC is renowned.

"The reprioritisation may mean the BBC gets smaller and makes less, but we are committed to ensure that will not be at the expense of quality."



BBC Two To Screen Nureyev Documentary

BBC Two is to screen a documentary about Rudolf Nureyev on September 22 called Nureyev: From Russia With Love.

It explores the little-known story of his years as a ballet student in Leningrad, and then his three years as a soloist with the Kirov and demonstrates that, before the West had ever heard of him, Nureyev had achieved star status. And it screens, for the first time, cine-camera footage of him on and off stage in Leningrad.

Narrated by Kenneth Cranham, the documentary features interviews with Nureyev's friends and colleagues who conjure up the character and artistry of the dancer in his late teens and early twenties.

It tells the new story of his infatuation with an East German ballet student Teja Kremke, who encouraged his "blood-brother" to leave the USSR in pursuit of a career on the world stage.

Teja filmed Nureyev performing on the stage sometimes from the wings, sometimes from a stalls seat behind the conductor and this material broadcast as part of the documentary includes scenes from Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Laurencia and The Sleeping Beauty.

The film also features an intensely dramatic account of Nureyev's defection at Le Bourget airport outside Paris in June 1961, when the dancer outwitted his KGB escorts to secure political asylum with the help of the French police.

One of his close friends is filmed returning to Le Bourget for the first time since that day. He re-traces their steps and recalls the incident in what is an emotive and chilling narrative of Nureyev's escape from the Soviet Union.




John Hurt In New Quentin Crisp Drama

John HurtMore than 30 years after John Hurt took the lead in the television play The Naked Civil Servant he is set to return to star in a sequel.

The original was shown on ITV in 1975 and featured Hurt as Quentin Crisp, who referred to himself as the “stately homo of England”. It was based on Crisp’s own memoirs.

The sequel will be set mainly in the 1980s and 1990s in New York where Crisp had gone to live.

The original production is considered ITV’s most successful and highly rated single drama.

An Englishman in New York has been written by Brian Fillis, who also wrote last year’s BBC Four drama Fear of Fanny, a biopic about the celebrity cook Fanny Cradock. “Quentin had always looked on New York as a romantic place and he decided to go there after the success of the ITV drama,” said Fillis.

Crisp’s romantic view of New York and America was coloured by wartime relationships with GIs in London and by a love of Hollywood movies.

Crisp was born in 1908 as Denis Pratt. He became well known in parts of London after the war for his bright make-up, crimson died hair and painted finger and toenails.

The new drama is based on the diaries Crisp wrote in the magazine The New York Native and on conversations with New Yorkers who remember him. “He went there because he wanted to be his own man in a new city, and because he also wanted to entertain and be entertained,” said James Burstall, who runs Leopardrama , the company making the play for ITV.



Sharon Osbourne Sacking Reports Denied
Reports that Sharon Osbourne was briefly sacked from The X Factor, following claims made yesterday in the News Of The World by her brother David Arden, have been denied.

Arden alleged Osbourne had been dropped from the show because co-judge Simon Cowell had tired of her constant gay jibes and attempts at sabotage by encouraging one contestant to quit the TV talent search.

A spokeswoman for the show said: "These claims are ridiculous. Sharon has never been sacked from the show and the fact that she's now back for a fourth series speaks out for itself.

"It's no secret that (contestant) Ben (Mills) and Sharon disagreed over song choices but no way did she try to sabotage the show."
waveguide.co.uk

Citizen journalism TV show launches

IKOPTV Endemol, the developer of Big Brother, has this week started to produce daily user-generated TV news shows.

The daily half-hour programmes - called IK OP TV (Me on TV) - debuted this week on seven regional TV channels in Holland.

Endemol is working in partnership with Dutch citizen journalism service Skoeps on the project.

The Dutch-language shows ask viewers to send in their own reports from which they make local news TV items.

Citizen reporters can upload their news videos on to the Skoeps.nl website, as well as uploading content via the show's site.

Videos are then screened before being placed on the sites and selected for the presenter-led TV show.

"The regional channels, like all news agencies, have reporting guidelines. We also have similar guidelines, so there is some level of training," a spokesperson for Endemol told Journalism.co.uk.

"We tell them [citizen reporters] how to report, the dos and don'ts, to make sure they don't get in the way of emergency personnel, for example. We have told them that in some situations they need to keep a certain distance, if not the will be blocked from IK OP TV."

The programme has already enlisted 150 citizen journalists, who work unpaid but have been given a suitable mobile device with which to capture stories. It hopes to have around 300 contributors across the Netherlands in the next few weeks.
journalism

How Ricky Gervais' friend got his own back on Sir Elton - very, very slowly Mail

Ozzy Becomes Radio 1 DJ

Ozzy Osbourne and Sir Paul McCartney will DJ on BBC Radio 1 to mark the station's 40th anniversary.

The two are among a list of 10 who will be hosting shows and playing the music which inspired them.

The series, called Radio 1 Legends, starts on September 7, with Sir Paul hosting the first show.

Other artists involved include Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher, Blondie's Debbie Harry, the Arctic Monkeys, Gwen Stefani and Paul Weller.

DJ Paul Oakenfold, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Fatboy Slim are also taking part.

Sir Paul will play tracks from Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis to the Rolling Stones and songs from his old band.

The star said: "As I am a legend in my own street, they've very kindly asked me to do my own show, talk about people who inspired me and play my favourite records."

Radio 1 marks its 40th birthday from September 17 - 28.

As part of the anniversary, current DJs from the Radio 1 roster will co-host shows with DJs from years gone by.

On September 30, the date of the station's first broadcast in 1967, breakfast show DJ Chris Moyles will host a show with Tony Blackburn - the first DJ to appear on the network.




Sky News Signs Jeff Randall

lThe Daily Telegraph's Editor at Large Jeff Randall is joining Sky News from September 24.

The BBC’s former business editor, is to present a news strand - Jeff Randall Live - as part of Sky’s 24-hour rolling news service.

Jeff Randall Live will take a business look at the big news stories and issues of the day.

He will broadcast live on Monday evenings at 19:30.

Sky News Head of News, John Ryley said: “The name Jeff Randall is synonymous with quality, accessible and challenging journalism. He is a terrific addition to the presenting team and will further strengthen Sky News’ journalism.”

Commenting on his new presenting role, Randall said: “British TV has needed a grown-up business discussion show for years. I’m thrilled to be launching the first one, as part of Sky’s rolling news service.”

waveguide.co.uk

60 SECONDS: Lee Latchford Evans

Lee Latchford Evans danced about in the background in pop outfit Steps, notching up hits such as Tragedy. He's put that all behind him with his new rock band The Latch. Lee also did a stint in reality show Totally Boyband, before Dane Bowers and Danny from New Kids On The Block kicked him out. The Latch's single, Miracle, is out now.

What is The Latch all about?
It’s myself and a guy called Simon. We met at a recording session three years ago. We hit it off straight away. I was writing solo stuff at the time and we decided to write together. He’s rock-based, I’m commercial pop-based, as everyone knows, so together we’ve created the sound that is The Latch. We’ve been doing gigs all around the country.

What’s the biggest crowd you played to?
A festival crowd of 15,000 in Scarborough. It’s very different from Steps. I was used to arena crowds of 200,000, so to do the indie clubs when you get from 20 to 200 people is very different. I enjoy it more because it’s my own music. You get very close to the audience, which is a change for me.

Do you just sing or play the guitar, too?
I’m learning the guitar and piano just to help with the songwriting. I’m not going to blag that I’m some great musician but I’m learning. I’m mainly the singer/songwriter.

Who are your musical heroes?
Everyone thinks that, because I was in Steps, I must like cheesy pop but I’ve never really been into that. Growing up, I was into Depeche Mode and Bon Jovi. I like big commercial rock bands like The Calling and Nickleback. I even like The Fray.

Do you miss being in Steps?
Steps was my job. I went to the audition and got the job and I did it well. We made it last five years. I miss performing on stage and meeting people all over the world. I don’t miss that pop genre and the politics behind it. No one tells me what to do now. We do our own thing.

I know that a lot of people want Steps to reunite but, then again, a lot of people don’t

Didn’t you like being told what to do the whole time?
We were directors of our company, we weren’t just puppets. But when you get to a certain level and you travel all over the world, it starts getting run by other people. We were always told where to go and how to behave. It was hard if there were problems in your family or if you got out of bed on the wrong side and you had to put on a big smile and wear the matching costumes and be all happy. Now if I feel like telling someone to f**k off, I will.

What was the highlight of being in Steps?
When One For Sorrow came out and we were in a fight to get to No.1 with the Manic Street Preachers and they beat us by about 800 sales. We did 144,000 sales that week. Now if you do 20,000, you can get to No.1. The industry is so different these days. We went on tour and, when we got back, suddenly everyone knew our names and recognised us.

What was the most embarrassing outfit?
It’s difficult to pick just one. We looked like lemons in one lot of outfits. We were the first girl/boy band for ages, which is why people said we were the new Abba. That’s why we decided on the colour theme to tie us together as a band. It got a bit out of control, though.

Would you get back together again with Steps?
We were asked to reunite two years ago, before Take That did it. We were all doing other projects and I’m obviously very involved in The Latch. Two of us wanted to do it, three of us didn’t. I don’t know if it will happen. I know a lot of people want it to but, then again, a lot of people don’t, ha ha.

Do you regret doing MTV reality show Totally Boyband?
They told me that I could do my own music in the band and we’d all bring different things to it. I thought I’d get a bit of promotion for The Latch. I didn’t know the programme was called Totally Boyband until the day of the press launch. I was only in the band for nine days but they dragged my involvement out for three and a half episodes. I got booted out, the guys didn’t want me in their band for whatever reason, so they decided they had their story and edited the show so it was about me getting kicked out. I did a few bum notes in the studio and they showed those clips.

Are you angry about that?
I hated the way they dealt with it. I was aware of how they were filming things and going to edit it to stitch me up. I guess I’ve learned from my mistakes. I’ve been offered every reality show going but the only ones I’ve done had a purpose to them. I did The Games, where I learned to dive and pole vault, and Commando VIP. I was up against Nigel Benn yet won the whole thing. You wouldn’t expect a guy from a pop band to shoot weapons and drive tanks.

Did you laugh when the Totally Boyband project only got to No.38 in the charts?
I loved the fact they just scraped into the top 40 one week and, the next, they were at No.80. That says it all. By getting rid of me, they shot themselves in the foot. If they’d done it right, it could have been quite big. I was happy to get out of there.
Metro

JK and Joel axed in Radio One shake up

BBC Radio One early morning breakfast duo, JK and Joel, have lost their two shows after the station's biggest DJ shake-up in years.

As well as losing their 4am to 6.30am slot, they will also be losing the chart show to Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates. They will leave the station after three-and-a-half years together.

JK and Joel said: "We've had a great time at Radio 1 and have presented some of the biggest shows on the network like early breakfast and the Radio 1 chart show.

"We've got a variety of TV shows for different TV channels that we are filming at the moment - we'll now have more time to concentrate on even more exciting new projects."

The early breakfast slot will be filled by Greg James, 21, from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, a new DJ who was recently plucked from student radio by the station to stand in for other DJs.

Kelly Osbourne has signed up as a DJ on Radio 1 while Chris Moyles's show has been lengthened, the station announced today.

Her show is aimed at under-18s. The shake up will also see an unknown - Greg James - take over the early breakfast slot.

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne's daughter, 22, will host the BBC's flagship station's Surgery slot, part of the new "teen zone" on Sunday evenings.

Her show will tackle "all the questions young people face from relationships through to health and education" as well as play music.

The Chris Moyles Show, which has 7.26 million listeners, will start at 6.30am instead of 7am from October 15.

Moyles, whose listener numbers are catching up with Britain's most popular breakfast DJ Terry Wogan on Radio 2, said: "I'm really pleased with my extension.

"We always run out of time on the show so it'll be great having an extra half hour a day. Although 'cos it means getting up earlier I'll probably be late more often!"

Friday nights will be dedicated to dance music and Saturday nights to urban music as part of the revamp of the daytime and evening schedules, which comes into effect on October 12.

Sunday evening will also include a new show with Annie Mac.

Other changes will see Nihal take over from Cotton and Yates on the weekend breakfast show. Cotton and Yates will host a new audience request show as well as the chart show.

TV duo Dick and Dom are being drafted in for a new Sunday morning show. Radio 1 Controller Andy Parfitt said: "It's important that we keep up the pace of change and innovation both on air and online.

"This simplifies and strengthens Radio 1 and is an important step in providing programmes focussed on the under-18 audience.

"The Sunday PM line-up, which I'm delighted includes Kelly Osbourne as a great addition to a zone that will include Fearne Cotton, Reggie Yates and Annie Mac.

"The new Radio 1 schedule coupled with the recently announced changes for 1Xtra, really give us the chance of turbo charging the BBC's performance with young audiences over the coming years."

Metro

Brain Game For BBC Two

BBC two has commissioned a new "brain-games" fornat for transmission on BBC Two during the afternoon.

BrainBox will see challengers compete head to head in high jeopardy mind games that require both mental agility and raw nerve.

The show comprises a collection of games which have been developed with psychologists and are structured around three distinct areas – sequencing, language and memory.

Contestants play for money and one wrong answer means they could be knocked out at any point and walk away with nothing. They have to decide to enter a round before they know if it is a game that plays to their strengths.




Abc1 To Be Dropped From Freeview

Walt Disney Television is to axe the entertainment channel abc1, which broadcasts daily via Freeview.

According to Disney, the inability to extend broadcasting into the evening peaktime was a key factor in its decision.

Walt Disney Television Europe Middle East and Africa executive vice president and managing director John Hardie said: "Since we launched abc1 in 2005 we have re-focused sharply on the development of the Disney brand, in particular the Disney Channel and the growth in UK and Europe in the past few years has been phenomenal.

"While abc1 successfully found a strong audience in day time through introduction of day long fiction, the inability to get access to a Freeview primetime spectrum together with our focus on the Disney brand led us to the conclusion that it was best to move on."



The World's Greatest Elvis

Venon Kay hosts BBC One's The World's Greatest Elvis later this month, a two-part programme to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the American singer's death.

The opening show sees Elvis fan Kay, who was named after Elvis's father, travel to the four corners of the globe to audition hundreds of Elvis tribute artists. The 30 best impersonators are then invited back to London for the follow week's studio final.

Kay's search begins in Blackpool where he meets some of the best British Elvis tribute artists. Next stop is Bad Nauheim, in Germany, where Elvis was based during his national service.

Kay also meets some of the best Elvis tribute artists the rest of Europe has to offer. He ends his journey in Las Vegas – home of the Elvis tribute artist – where he actually gets to don his very own jumpsuit and perform at an Elvis chapel wedding.



Cricketer Appears In The Archers

Former England cricket captain Mike Gatting can be heard on Sunday in BBC Radio 4's The Archers, the world's longest running radio drama.

The former England captain takes part in the special show recorded at Lord's cricket ground during the npower Village Cup Final.

Gatting is at the centre of a misunderstanding between publicans Sid (Alan Devereux) and Jolene Perks (Buffy Davis). When, having been missing for an hour, Jolene spots the cricketer leading her husband to an MCC box, anxious Jolene thinks Sid is being kidnapped and immediately gives chase.

Listeners will learn the outcome of the mix-up during the programme, broadcast just hours after being recorded.

The cricketer joins a list of famous names who have appeared inThe Archers, including HRH Princess Margaret, Terry Wogan, Dame Judi Dench, Alan Titchmarsh, Zandra Rhodes, Griff Rhys Jones and Chris Moyles.

Gatting's reaction when asked to appear in The Archers was that he would love to do it: "It's a great honour to appear in a show that forms part of everyday life. I remember my mum and dad listening to the programme when I was growing up."

He also joked that his acting career began when he appeared in a school production of the Pied Piper Of Hamelin.

Julie Beckett, senior producer of The Archers, said: "After a heroic attempt to win the cup themselves, the whole Ambridge cricket team were of course disappointed not to be taking part in today's final at Lord's.

"But nobody was more disappointed than Sid who, like the former England captain, was aggrieved by one or two of the umpiring decisions in the early rounds. But it's fair to say that meeting one of his all time cricketing heroes goes a long way to healing Sid's wounds."


Yentob In Noddy Controversy

The BBC today admitted that Alan Yentob, the corporation's creative director, performed "noddy shots" on interviews that he did not personally conduct for his arts series Imagine.

It is the first instance of a senior BBC executive being drawn into the TV trust issue.

A senior corporation source said that Yentob does not conduct all the interviews for Imagine himself, but he appears to be nodding or reacting. Editing work on the programme gave the impression that he was present.

The BBC has yet to make an official statement on the revelation.






Billie Piper In ITV Call Girl Drama Series
Billie Piper is appearing as a call girl in a new eight-part series debuting on ITV2 later this month.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl sees the former Doctor Who Actress take on the role, based on the real-life diaries Belle de Jour: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl.

The 24-year-old admitted she undertook research for the part, saying: "I met high-class hookers who were very candid.

"I wanted to know if they get anything out of the sex...if they ever fell in love with the guys. Surprisingly, some of them did."

The diaries, first published in 2005, were based on an anonymous blog.

Piper denied that the drama glamorised prostitution, saying: "I don't want people to think it's advocating prostitution or glamorising it.

"It's one girl's story, a very different story." But she added: "This is TV so it looks slightly glamorous. It always does when you put a camera on these things."

The actress said: "There are many scenes that I think will shock viewers. I read the script and I was endlessly shocked.

"But this is going on and just because it's not right for us we get on the moral high ground.

People are different. People deal with things in many different ways and I'm sure this show will really divide people."

Piper met the real Belle behind the story.

She said: "I was shocked that she seemed to be OK with it. I thought surely something bad must have happened, she must have been neglected, had no love from men or her dad walked out, there are many things.

"But what shocked me was that she seemed like a well-rounded, well-read, smart and witty woman."

The star said that after leaving the set she did worry about the scene, thinking: "Was that too much? God, that's quite full-on."

Before taking on the project she "asked people that I love what do you think about this?"

Sexual scenes include a foursome with a married couple, a sex party and Piper cracking a whip.

Asked what she learned from her role, she said: "The most shocking thing for me was that I imagined guys wanting to sleep with prostitutes being quite bolshy but it actually isn't like that.

"They feel quite vulnerable. These women are man-eaters. It shocked me that it would be like that. These guys get so wound up that perhaps they can't perform."

Piper said she took a few outfits home with her, adding: "Usually I'm not really like that - I'm quite scruffy."

She said: "I get quite shy about certain things but you have to enter this state where you get quite robotic."

She said of prostitution: "It's an extremely lonely existence. You're having a dual life. It's like always having an affair... I haven't really explored the dark side of things but I'm aware that things occur and I'm not entirely sure what should be legal."

Toyah Wilcox plays Belle's mother and Cherie Lunghi her 'madam'.

Belle de Jour: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl launches on ITV2 on September 27.




Shilpa Shetty's Berlin Musical

Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty will star in the musical Miss Bollywood, which is set to premiere in Berlin, her publicist Dale Bhagwagar said.

"The show has been designed to familiarise the West about Bollywood and Indian culture," Bhagwagar said.

"The premiere is set to happen sometime by the end of this month or beginning October."

Shetty has been rehearsing for two months for the elaborate song-and-dance show whose theme would be along the lines of "Moulin Rouge," he added.

The actress would start with shows in Berlin and would then travel to Britain and later to the United States and Australia.




Jeans On For The News

Conservative MP David Davies has hit out at the way some BBC reporters dress for their on camera appearances.

He has criticised reporters who wear jeans and casual shirts for their pieces to camera.

He said that casual wear does not befit serious news reporting.

He said: "I certainly wouldn't turn up to a broadcast looking like I have come off the beach.

"T-shirts and jeans would be fine if they were on Blue Peter but these are programmes that pride themselves as the country's top current affairs and news programmes.

"A suit would be more appropriate.

"I was brought up in the Seventies - but personally I think you have got to dress for the occasion and that means smart clothes for TV."

The latest criticism follows an outcry after appearances by Emily Maitlis led to a debate about dress sense on the BBC about two weeks ago.

Maitlis, 36, provoked viewer complaints after she perched casually on the edge of her circular desk, and swung one toned leg over the other.

A BBC spokesman said: "We don't have a formal dress code but it is important that what people wear doesn't distract viewers."

September 07 2007 - waveguide.co.uk

To dress or not to dress - click here to comment


Matthew Wright BBC Show

Matthew Wright is to present his first prime-time BBC One programme as he becomes the new face of Inside Out for London, the regional opt-out current affairs programme.

The programme returns for a new series starting on Wednesday September 19. returns

IWright will continue to present his daily morning show on Five.

Speaking about the BBC show he said: "It's a dream job for a born Londoner. I've lived all over the Capital, from Croydon in South London to Acton in the West, Bow in the East and currently Camden in the North.

"Having been all over the world, I can say that London truly is its greatest city.

"I sat at home watching Inside Out and it's great for me now to have the opportunity to bring interesting stories into Londoners' homes through the BBC.

"I love the mix of features that the team have brought to our screens, from hard-hitting to investigative journalism to London's heritage and I'm pleased to say this will continue this series."

- waveguide.co.uk

Is the chatshow dead?


Michael Parkinson has asserted - not for the first time, if memory serves, but neatly timed to coincide with the launch of his final series of interviews this autumn on ITV1 - that the chatshow as he knows it is dead. Brazen publicity hunting, however, does not stop him being correct. For some time the trend has been for hosts who are not quiet, Parkyesque probers, but limelight-huggers in their own right. Jonathan Ross, Clive Anderson, Paul O'Grady, Davina McCall, Charlotte Church, Sharon Osbourne, Graham Norton - you would be looking at this list a long time before you were reminded of a row of shrinking violets. If a parade of different guests is questioned by someone not instantly recognisable, so the thinking goes, then viewers will break their TV sets with rocks and injure the viewing figures.

It is also partly to do with the interviewees themselves. With a few honourable exceptions, these are not scintillating conversationalists. Beyoncé is no Bette Midler. David Beckham is no Muhammad Ali. Nobody is the new Peter Ustinov. Today's stars are surrounded by protective phalanxes of PRs who demand question approval and have the power to withdraw their services (and those of whoever else is under their aegis) if an interviewer oversteps the boundaries of blandness. Plus, most are too young to have interesting anecdotes, too thick to string a sentence together or too worried about where their next $20m fee is coming from to risk rocking the boat with an off-the-cuff story. So the host must pick up the slack with musical interludes, sketches, or his own ebullient personality.

So until we stop worshipping youth, start producing Joan Crawfords again and unearth someone more interested in guests than themselves, the chatshow, along with our chances of a decent night's entertainment, is indeed well and truly dead.
guardian

LBC's O'Brien steps up at 'virtual Speakers' Corner'




LBC morning show presenter James O'Brien is to post a weekly thread on the debating website Friction TV.

O'Brien's weekly post will also become a feature on his LBC show, under the working title Friday Friction.

LBC listeners will then be invited to converse on Friction TV, an online service where people can upload videos of themselves talking about local or global issues.

The initiative is a sign of the multimedia ambitions of LBC, which this spring dubbed itself London's Biggest Conversation and claims to broadcast around 3,000 hours of user-generated content a year.

Friction TV has previously partnered with Five News to provide content for the Your News user-generated feature in the bulletin.

Launched five months ago and touting itself as a "virtual Speakers' Corner" and a "YouTube for grown-ups", Friction TV's figures suggest the website attracts more than 100,000 unique visitors each month.

So far, topics of debate have ranged from international politics to local shop owners protesting against a planned Sainsbury's supermarket.
guardian

60 SECONDS: Shia LaBeouf


Shia LaBeouf was just another teen actor. But now he's Hollywood's hottest young sensation thanks to Steven Spielberg, who produced his new thriller Disturbia, and the Michael Bay-directed Transformers. He's currently playing Indiana Jones's son in the fourth film in the franchise. Still only 21, Shia is being called the new Tom Hanks. Disturbia is out now.

It’s been a huge summer for you thanks to Transformers. How has your life changed?
I lead a pretty modest life. I drive a Nissan, live in a two-bedroom flat, go to Dodgers’ games. My life is pretty normal outside of this. I’m sure it’s going to change and I’ll deal with it when it comes. I’m not nervous about it, though. I’m pretty grounded. My life is stable.

The buzz around you gets bigger month by month, especially now you’re playing Indiana Jones’s son. Has it sunk in?
No, because I’m reclusive. I don’t hang out in crowds or in places where that would be perpetuated at all. I’ve had the same friends my whole life and, if I’m not with those people, I’m usually working.

Why did you do Disturbia?
Steven Spielberg was involved, so I knew it wasn’t going to be the normal teen thriller, which I definitely wouldn’t have signed on to. The best thrillers are the ones like Psycho. Hitchcock left enough room for your imagination to completely mind-f**k you and that was the scariest thing.

Your character is under house arrest in the film. How would you handle that in real life?
If I was 18 or 19 and under house arrest for real, like my character, I’d probably be ********** a lot. Why not? I’d also be watching a lot of movies. I’m a total film junkie.

Are teens getting more isolated nowadays, with e-mailing and texting replacing actual talking?
Sure. The initial idea for cell phones was ‘this is something we’ll create so humans can talk to each other more’. Now it’s got to the level where you have the cyborg earpiece. No conversation is that important, seriously. I hate those things.

I’m extremely competitive at the audition process but then I’m competitive at everything

You’re also a voyeur in Disturbia. What classic voyeur films do you like?
I love Rear Window. People have compared Disturbia to Rear Window. They might have similar plot lines but they are not the same movie by any means. Anyway, we are all voyeurs. If you read any kind of celebrity magazine or have a MySpace or Facebook page, or watch reality shows, you’re a voyeur.

Are you a fan of reality shows?
I love them. My favourite is a show called Intervention. They take these drug addicts and have interventions with them. It’s super-dramatic and wild.

What are you hoping to do with your career?
It’s all about change and diversity. If people don’t get bored with you then you’re safe. You have to put yourself out there sometimes and do something really crazy. It might not quite work but that’s OK. You watch some of Johnny Depp’s movies and not all of them work – but the fact he put his neck out and had the balls to try something new is enough. Sometimes, a movie comes around that’s good but just too similar to something you’ve done before. Even if it’s a good film with good actors involved, you can’t do it because it’s too similar to something else.

Any examples?
They asked me to play Allen Ginsberg in the film of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road. Now for me, my family and my lineage – my grandmother was a beatnik lesbian poet in the 1950s – that was right up my alley but he was too similar to the character I played in Bobby. Sometimes it’s tough. Playing Ginsberg would have been wild.

How competitive are you as an actor?
I’m extremely competitive at the audition process but then I’m competitive at everything. That’s my youth. It’s a stupid thing but it fuels me sometimes.

You’re quite unusual in being a young guy who reads books.
I have to read. It’s my job. Lots of people don’t even read actual books. They download them on their iPod and listen to them.

Are you into technology?
I have an Apple computer and I’m big on the Internet. Big on the cell phone. I’m not a technological wizard, though.

Is being Hollywood’s ‘It guy’ helping with the opposite sex?
I’ve been with the same girl for a long time. I’m not competitive in that realm. It’s extremely helpful. There’s stability in your life and you don’t focus on it the same way you would if you were lonely and that was fuelling your every move. That’s not happening in my life.

Do you feel like the luckiest guy in the business?
I just feel that I’m fortunate enough to be working and that’s really as far as it goes.
Metro

BBC To Show Super Bowl

The BBC is to broadcast the Super Bowl live, over the next two years, having signed an exclusive free-to-air deal with the NFL.

The two-year deal will also include exclusive free-to-air highlights of the NFL London game on October 28 between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants at Wembley Stadium, plus any other NFL London games that may be scheduled for next year.

Super Bowl XLII will be broadcast live from Arizona on February 3 2008 and Super Bowl XLIII will be broadcast live from Tampa, Florida in 2009.

Philip Bernie, Head of BBC TV Sport Editorial, said: "The Super Bowl is one of the world's great sporting events and we are delighted that, after many years of covering it on BBC Radio 5 Live, we are now also going to be showing it on BBC Television.

"The Super Bowl always attracts great interest and we are really looking forward to providing a new showcase for this huge occasion."

Alistair Kirkwood, Managing Director of NFL UK, commented: "We are thrilled to be announcing a partnership with the BBC.

"This represents a major landmark in the growth of our sport in the UK and will help us to establish the NFL as a significant part of the sporting landscape here.

"The BBC's reputation in the presentation of televised sport is unrivalled and we are very excited about working closely with them."




Strictly Come Dancing

The line-up has been announced for the fifth series of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, which starts next month.

Former England footballer John Barnes, actress Stephanie Beacham actress and model Kelly Brook, rock star Rod Stewart's wife Penny and snooker player Willie Thorne will take part.

Sports presenter Gabby Logan also features, with her Scottish rugby star husband Kenny.

Cricketer Mark Ramprakash won last year's series of the show.

The series pairs 14 celebrities with professional dancers, with viewers voting for their favourites each week.

Former EastEnders star Letitia Dean, singer Alesha Dixon and GMTV presenter Kate Garraway complete the show's female line-up.

Actor Brian Capron - best known for playing serial killer Richard Hillman in Coronation Street - joins EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo, Blue Peter host Gethin Jones and TV presenter Dominic Littlewood are the other men taking part in the series.

Judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli also return along with presenters Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly.

Forsyth said: "It's hard to believe this is the fifth series and the show goes from strength to strength. So many people I meet can't wait for it to return."

The daily spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two will also return to BBC Two with Claudia Winkleman.

The Men's Line-up

John Barnes
(dancing with Nicole Cutler)
Brian Capron
(with Karen Hardy)
Matt Di Angelo
(with Flavia Cacace)
Gethin Jones
(with Camilla Dallerup)
Dominic Littlewood
(with Lilia Kopylova)
Kenny Logan
(with Ola Jordan)
Willie Thorne
(with Erin Boag)

The Women's Line-up

Stephanie Beacham (dancing with Vincent Simone)
Kelly Brook
(with Brendan Cole)
Letitia Dean (with Darren Bennett)
Alesha Dixon
(with Matthew Cutler)
Kate Garraway
(with Anton Du Beke)
Penny Lancaster-Stewart
(with Ian Waite)
Gabby Logan
(with James Jordan)



Gordon Ramsay's Brother Jailed

The younger brother of television celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has been jailed for 10 months for heroin possession on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Ronald Ramsay, who was arrested in February with 100mg of heroin in his pocket during a search outside a supermarket, sat quietly as the ruling was read out.

Under Indonesia's tough drug laws, Ramsay could have faced up to 10 years in jail, but the panel of three judges decided to be lenient after he pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.

The defendant's lawyer, Erwin Siregar, told reporters the sentence was too harsh because the heroin was intended for personal use, not for distribution.



New Five Series For Dom Joly

Dom Joly is to appear in a new light-hearted consumer series for Five, it has been revealed.

The comedian will front The Complainers, leading a team of the country's greatest complainers who set about campaigning on behalf of "the little man".

The series of six hour-long programmes will be broadcast early next year and was commissioned by Five controller of factual entertainment Steve Gowans. It will be produced by North One.

Gowans said: "Dom was the natural choice as our fearless champion of the people and he's also very funny."



Emu Is Back

Emu is making his long-awaited comeback to television next month.

The puppet, who once attacked Michael Parkinson on his show in the 1970s, will be part of a new series with Toby Hull, the son of Emu's late creator Rod.

At his peak, Emu was entertaining primetime audiences of more than 11 million.

The new 26-part series will be shown on children's channel CITV and will be aimed at six to 11-year-olds.

Apparantly the new Emu will only lash out in self-defence. It will be operated by puppeteers.

Hull, 30, said of the new show: "It's just a great honour. My dad carved a niche, touching the hearts and minds of viewers, and I hope this will entertain a new generation."

Hull's father died in 1999 after falling while trying to adjust his TV aerial at his Sussex home.

Executive producer Christopher Pilkington said: "I am delighted to be working with Toby and bringing Emu to a brand new audience.



Best And Worst UK Places

Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsop return to Channel 4 next month with the annual The Best And Worst Places To Live In The UK - and this year it will be broadcast live.

All areas were judged on six categories – crime, environment, lifestyle, health, education and employment using data from local authorities, the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics.

This time everyone can get involved as for the first time ever, Phil and Kirstie will be revealing the results in the 90-minute special. Showing courage in their convictions, they’ll be linking live to the worst place to live in the UK and listening to what the public think of the countdown.




Gareth Hayle Joins The Royal

Comic Gareth Hale has joined the cast of ITV1 60s medical drama The Royal, which returns on Sunday.

The 54-year-old, half of comedy duo Hale and Pace, will play ex-Merchant Navy Officer Jack Bell, who steps into his cousin Ken's shoes as a Porter at St Aidan's Royal Free Hospital.

Jack gets off to a bad start by fainting at the sight of blood on his first day.

Hayle said: "I'm really excited about joining the cast of The Royal.

"It's a fantastic show and I love my character, I think Jack's got the potential to get himself into some mischief."

Ken Horn, Producer on The Royal, commented: "Gareth is a great addition to the cast.

"Jack is a fun loving character and I'm sure he'll prove popular with the viewers."





Warrant Out For Waterloo Road Actor

Thames Magistrates Court yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of actor Craig Fitzpatrick who failed to appear at court after beating up his pregnant girlfriend.

Fitzpatrick, 20, who plays Lewis Seddon in the BBC drama Waterloo Road, failed to appear for sentencing following an attack on girlfriend Julie Owens.

His lawyer Mark Harper said his client had failed to arrive at the court because he was attending the funeral of his aunt.

The actor confessed to punching Miss Owens in the face following a row at his home on July 28 this year.

His partner suffered no serious injuries in the attack, but was left with bruising and swelling to her face.

He pleaded guilty to one count of Section 47 Assault at a hearing on August 22.

The court heard he had also since failed to keep an appointment with probation services last Monday as this was the day his aunt died.

Magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest. Once he is taken into custody he will appear before court and a new date will be set for sentencing.



Doctor Who Church Service

Young people are to be invited to compare a Time Lord with the Lord of Time at a special Doctor Who themed church service.

Teenagers and people in their early 20s are being targeted for the Communion service, with music and video clips from the hit series, at St Paul's Church in Grangetown, Cardiff.

The Anglican church was used as a location three years ago for an episode of the series starring Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Doctor.

Fr Dean Atkins, youth officer with the Diocese of Llandaff and one of the organisers of the service, said: "The figure of Doctor Who is somebody who comes to save the world, almost a Messiah figure.

"In the series there are lots of references to salvation and the doctor being almost immortal. We are using the figure of Doctor Who as a parable of Christ.

"The language used in the series lends itself to exploring the Christian faith."

He added: "Christ is a kind of cosmic figure as well if you like, somebody who does not travel through time but all eternity is found in him.

"He is a kind of encapsulation of the beginning and the end, in fact he existed before time began and he will exist when time ends."

Parish priest Fr Ben Andrews said: "I love the series, and it has such a great following that we couldn't resist doing something for young people on a Doctor Who theme."

waveguide.co.uk

Oi referee! It's Pete Soccerty Sun

Marco said on GMTV this morning he thought Adele should win...



[Barry McGuigan in tip top shape[/b] Sun

BBC Head Of Films On The Move
David Thompson. Picture from the BBC.BBC head of films David Thompson is leaving the corporation to set up his own independent production company, which will focus on producing television drama and film.

Thompson’s new company, which does not yet have a name, will have a first look deal with BBC Fiction.

Alan Yentob, creative director of the BBC, said Thompson has been responsible for some “remarkable British movies and television drama” during his tenure at the corporation.

On the television side, his credits as producer and executive producer include The Gathering Storm, Shoot The Messenger and The Lost Prince.

Films he has executive produced include Notes On A Scandal and The History Boys.

Controller of BBC Fiction, Jane Tranter, said: “David Thompson leaves BBC Films with an impressive slate of international and domestic successes and an awesome contribution to the film and drama creative community in Britain.”

Thompson said: “I feel really privileged to have had the chance to work for BBC Films for many years and work with such an amazing array of talent.

“I’m delighted that my new arrangement with the BBC will enable me to build on these relationships in the years to come.”



Changes At 5 Live
Radio 5 Live is making a number of key changes to its schedule next month with a new line-up for 5 Live Drive, a new name in the late evening weekday slot and a new feel to Sunday mornings.

Jane Garvey, the first voice heard on the network, is leaving after 13 years because of family commitments.

Anita Anand joins Peter Allen from Monday October 8 to present 5 Live Drive (weekdays, 16:00 - 19:00).

She replaces Garvey who has partnered Peter Allen in various programmes on 5 Live since 1994.

Anita Anand said: "I am delighted and really rather honoured to be taking over on 5 Live Drive. Jane has always been a presenter I have admired and respected.

"To get the chance to work with a journalist of Peter's calibre is a joyous prospect. Drive is such an important news programme and I relish this new challenge."

Former Blue Peter and Capital Radio presenter Richard Bacon takes up his own permanent slot on the station with late night programme (Monday–Thursday, 22:00 to 01:00 of news entertainment and sport.

Richard Bacon said: "I think it's always best if possible to work for a radio station that you listen to. There's no station I listen to more than 5 Live and I think this show will be great fun."

Gabby Logan will present a new two-hour news programme on Sunday mornings from 10am to noon, replacing Worricker On Sunday, starting in the New Year.

Logan has presented her own programme throughout the summer on Saturday mornings on 5 Live, and was on Breakfast with Nicky Campbell for a month earlier this year.




Michael Palin's Broken Journey

Michael Palin has admitted his new travel series may not be all it seems.

The former Monty Python star has revealed that his voyage across the former Eastern Bloc in Michael Palin's New Europe - presented as a single journey - was actually half a dozen separate trips with breaks in between.

That is in stark contrast to Palin's most famous TV odyssey, Around The World In 80 Days.

The new seven-part series, which begins on BBC One this Sunday, sees him visit 20 Eastern Bloc countries.

The new series starts with Palin in the Slovenian Alps where he tells viewers: "I'm turning my back on western Europe and heading east."

He does not mention that his journey will be broken up by several trips back to western Europe and his British home.

"I think that provided you don't lie and you don't edit people's conversations to make them say things they didn't say, then presenting it as a single journey - which is what it is over a period of time - is okay," Palin said.

The TV show sees Palin travel across such countries as Croatia, Bosnia, Romania, Russia and Poland by various means of transport.

The series tackles often serious subjects including Auschwitz, the bombing of Dresden and sex trafficking. The final episode, titled Journey's End, takes in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany.


Beckham Won't Go Gay For Housewives

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria has ruled out rumours that David Beckham and Robbie Williams are to go gay for an episode of her hit US series.

The actress admits even she was taken in by the reports, and felt she had to ask Beckham's wife Victoria if they were true when the Spice Girls star showed up on set to film a forthcoming episode.

Longoria said: "I talked to Victoria the other day. I told her about that rumour and she was laughing. David had a good laugh out of it. They (Beckham and Williams) are not coming on the show."




Radio 4 At Forty

Stephen Fry and Matt Lucas host an "irreverent and affectionately satirical romp" through BBC Radio 4's broadcasting life in Radio 4 - This Is Your Life on Sunday, September 30.

In a one-off audience show recorded in the newly refurbished Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House to celebrate Radio 4's 40th birthday, Fry and Lucas are joined by a cast including Sue Perkins, Michael Fenton Stevens, Dave Lamb and Richie Webb.

There are also contributions and appearances from a number of Radio 4 stars including John Humphrys, Sue Lawley, Jonathan Dimbleby, Barry Cryer, Rabbi Lionel Blue, James Naughtie and Martin Jarvis.




Major GCap Network Overhaul
Mylene Klass and Bam Bam have been given their own networked shows across GCap's One Network of 42 stations as part of a major overhaul.

Klass, currently with Classic FM, will host a new Sunday evening show while Bam Bam, currently with Capital 95.8, will host a networked show on Saturday evenings.

Jeremy Kyle and Ryan Seacrest will also host network shows as will former Kiss 100 DJ Toni Philips.

The group will make its news bulletins more relevant to local issues and travel information will be improved.

Programming director Steve Orchard said: "We want to improve local strength but pool national quality. This might sound contradictory but we need our talent to match the talent at BBC Radio 1 and 2 and keep content engaging and relevant."

All stations across the One Network will be relaunched to reflect the changes.

The increases in networked shows could mean that some local presenters will lose their jobs.

The One Network consists of Capital 95.8 (London), BRMB (Birmingham), Red Dragon FM (South East Wales), Southern FM (Sussex), Power FM (Hampshire), Fox FM (Oxford), Invicta FM (Kent), 2CR, 2-Ten FM, 96.9 Chiltern FM, 97.6 Chiltern FM, Coast FM 96.3, Beacon FM, Broadland 102, Buzz 97.1 FM, Champion 103, Essex FM, TEN 17, FM 103 (Horizon), Gemini FM, GWR FM, 102.7 Hereward FM, Lantern FM, Leicester Sound, MFM 103.4, Mercia FM, Mercury FM Surrey and Sussex, Northants 96, Orchard FM, Ocean FM, Plymouth Sound, Q103, Ram FM, Severn Sound, SGR Colchester, SGR Ipswich/Bury, South Hams, Trent FM and Wyvern FM.






Diddy Commercial Banned

A controversial TV commercial showing rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs cavorting with scantily clad women has been banned in the US.

The shoot for his fragrance 'Unforgivable' depicts the hip-hop star in a stairwell and hotel room hiking up a model's skirt and putting his hands under her dress.

Television executives have scrapped the commercial - ordering Combs to make changes to it or it will not be aired.

Last year, the print advertisements for 'Unforgivable' were deemed too raunchy for city bus stops and department stores, and the rapper was forced to do a re-shoot.

waveguide.co.uk

60 SECONDS: Christian Bale

Christian Bale first tasted stardom at the age of 15 in Steven Spielberg's Empire Of The Sun. He's since made a name for himself with demanding roles in films as diverse as American Psycho and The Machinist. He's currently filming Dark Knight, the sequel to Batman Begins, and also starring opposite Russell Crowe in a remake of classic Western 3:10 To Yuma.

How was your first Western?
It was a lot of fun being out in the desert, riding horses and shooting guns. It got bloody freezing though on some of the night shoots. We had the worst recorded winter storms in New Mexico history.

Russell Crowe has a certain reputation. Were you concerned about working with him?
We’d never met before and whenever people asked me what I was doing next and I said I was going to be working with Russell, they looked at me and said: ‘You’re going to be in for a tough ride with him,’ and it was absolutely true. I’m joking. A lot of actors complain and whinge and do everything they can to avoid getting on with the work. So it’s nice when you’re working with somebody like Russell, where you can just get to the point and have long conversations about the scenes. He’s a bloody good actor and it’s a pleasure to work with somebody as good as that.

Did he tease you about appearing in Batman?
It never stopped and it continues still. I actually had to buy him his own special rubber outfit.

You maintained your American accent while you were filming Batman Begins. Are you doing the same again now?
Yeah. I always maintain the accent while I’m working and I found myself in the bizarre situation after Batman Begins where, because it took so long to film, it took a really long time for my English accent to come back again. I thought: ‘Oh s*** what’s happened?’ It’s a matter of your muscles changing and if you’re doing something for ten months, your mouth changes completely. I’m in the very schizophrenic position now where I feel as natural speaking American as I do English.

You’ve played unlikeable characters in films such as American Psycho. Do you take those home with you?
I guess I do. I certainly know that my wife and friends have times when later on they’ll say: ‘Man, we just couldn’t stand you around that time, you were an a***hole.’ I didn’t realise I was doing anything different – it’s just the nature of the work. It’s all swimming around in the back of your head even if you’re not working. I have discovered through being told that I do behave differently.

I’m in the very schizophrenic position where I feel as natural speaking American as I do English

Will we ever see you in a frothy romantic comedy?
Probably not. I don’t want to say never but the only movies I’ve never enjoyed are light romantic comedies.

Is there a superpower you wish you had?
Bruce Wayne’s only power is incredible wealth and that’s the only realistic power we have nowadays that can give us the luxury of time to do what we truly desire to do. It sounds incredibly materialistic but I think being born to incredible wealth would be a really nice thing.

Where exactly did you grow up?
All over the place. I grew up in Wales, then Surrey and Dorset. I’ve lived in LA longer than I ever lived in any one place in Britain. I lived in Portugal for a while. I’ve lived in about 15 different towns and houses.

Why did you move so much?
My father had always moved around a great deal as a kid. He was somebody who liked to travel a great deal and then found himself with three kids. He was a very interesting man and sometimes we just had to move.

You guard your privacy. Has living in the US made that more difficult?
The trickiest thing is when people say things that are completely wrong about my friends and family because they didn’t decide to be an actor and they’re suddenly having s*** spoken about them. That makes me mad. I don’t care what anybody says about me, even when it’s wrong.

What do you do when you’re not working?
I like going dirt-biking and my wife’s starting to enjoy that too. I also walk around the streets late at night sort of looking at people strangely.
Metro