Stone_Monkey
Jan 4 2007, 11:06 AM
Here's a story about the craven editorial judgements of the post-Hutton BBC that in its own small way is shocking. A month ago, I spent a long evening recording a programme which the producer said, in true Alan Partridge style, was to be "the jewel in the crown" of Radio 5 Live's Christmas schedule. It was a knockabout current affairs show called Fighting Talk in which two comedians and two serious media figures, including myself and Kelvin MacKenzie (you can decide which category we fell into), discussed the year's events. I quickly realised I had misjudged the tone. The first topic was Iraq. The floor was mine. I gave a measured answer in the manner of the Today programme. Kelvin was next up. "I think we should turn it into a big Ikea," he blustered. "It's got four letters, it begins with I, there's plenty of room for parking, and the only problem is that as soon as you start putting the country together again, there'll always be a piece missing."
It would not have had Lord Reith bursting with pride, but thanks largely to Kelvin's well-practised controversialism, it was a mildly diverting hour of radio. It was scheduled for 7pm on Christmas Eve and was heavily trailed in the preceding days. I switched on at the appointed time. But instead of Kelvin's reflections on global warming - can you believe he thinks it's all exaggerated? - we got a lame, supposedly comic, programme about Premiership footballers and their wives. There was no announcement that the schedule had been altered, even less an explanation of why the nation was to be deprived of my witty aperçus on Patricia Hewitt.
I texted Richard Bacon, the presenter. He replied thus: "After Kelvin's inflammatory comments about Hillsborough, 5 Live received a petition of 700 signatories asking for him not to be put on air." He had that week defended his well-known opinion that the Hillsborough disaster was caused by Liverpool fans, but it's not as if this subject was even discussed on our programme. Kelvin may have unfortunate views in a number of areas, Hillsborough being one of them, but who's to say he doesn't have a right to air them? It seems that any group of activists can get their mates to email the BBC, and the corporation will oblige them with terrified self-censorship. I'm now thinking of doing the same next time I hear that Sir Andrew Green, with his repellent views on immigration, is slated to appear on Today. Or David Irving. How ironic that the BBC has turned Kelvin MacKenzie into a martyr. Free the Hillsborough One!
Justthought it may be of interest
It would not have had Lord Reith bursting with pride, but thanks largely to Kelvin's well-practised controversialism, it was a mildly diverting hour of radio. It was scheduled for 7pm on Christmas Eve and was heavily trailed in the preceding days. I switched on at the appointed time. But instead of Kelvin's reflections on global warming - can you believe he thinks it's all exaggerated? - we got a lame, supposedly comic, programme about Premiership footballers and their wives. There was no announcement that the schedule had been altered, even less an explanation of why the nation was to be deprived of my witty aperçus on Patricia Hewitt.
I texted Richard Bacon, the presenter. He replied thus: "After Kelvin's inflammatory comments about Hillsborough, 5 Live received a petition of 700 signatories asking for him not to be put on air." He had that week defended his well-known opinion that the Hillsborough disaster was caused by Liverpool fans, but it's not as if this subject was even discussed on our programme. Kelvin may have unfortunate views in a number of areas, Hillsborough being one of them, but who's to say he doesn't have a right to air them? It seems that any group of activists can get their mates to email the BBC, and the corporation will oblige them with terrified self-censorship. I'm now thinking of doing the same next time I hear that Sir Andrew Green, with his repellent views on immigration, is slated to appear on Today. Or David Irving. How ironic that the BBC has turned Kelvin MacKenzie into a martyr. Free the Hillsborough One!
Justthought it may be of interest