ATV Today: Holiday Monday News Round-Up

Welcome to the August Bank Holiday edition of ATV Today Round-Up. It gives us a chance to look at some of the news stories from across the weekend that we didn’t manage to cover due to most of the staff having a weekend party in swinging Brighton with flaming Sambuca.

Today TV Critic Vivian Summers look at the expansion of output from ITV3, unfortunately, she says, it involves Piers Morgan while Andrew Lloyd Webber fancies going down-market with a move away from the beeb while BBC Three mimic the success of Charlie Brooker and also introduced lesbians to the schedule.

ITV3 Goes Further Into Factual

Arguably ITV3 these days is vastly better than the Channel 3 franchise of ITV regions. A mix of quality programming from the truly local era of ITV, when each area brought the best quality production from its region to the schedules is aired alongside classic BBC programmes and, in recent times, drama documentaries and even new dramas. ITV3’s image is one of sophistication that appeals to an audience with intelligence…

So it’s baffling why they fancy airing a documentary series featuring Piers Morgan, who is everything ITV3 isn’t. Its part of a wider change to the channel, which will see none-drama based documentaries airing. The change is partly to do with ITV’s dire performance in the drama market in recent times, which has seen the output on ITV dramatically reduced – and STV ditch most of it entirely.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road… To ITV?

Reports suggest that musical maestro Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber wants to quit the BBC and switch to ITV for his next talent-search series.

Having had big hits on BBC One with How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything he wants his next venture concerning The Wizard of Oz, to air on ITV due to the, as he calls them “nonsensical” conditions the BBC have placed on the production if it airs on BBC One. The beeb’s editorial guidelines are believed to be the main problem, which would see a ban on Webber speaking about his other current theatrical productions.

Webber has a contract with the BBC until 2011, his rights to stage The Wizard of OZ – expire next year. Sources suggest he is now trying to get his corporation agreement terminated.

Lloyd Webber told the Daily Express: “If every paper is mentioning it and there’s no mention of it on the programme it looks curious. On ITV, it doesn’t matter as it’s not using licence payers’ money. I just want to enjoy putting the show on at this stage of my career and I don’t want the waters muddied by unnecessary negative PR.”

Sources close to Lloyd Webber apparently commented to Broadcast that “Apart from anything he doesn’t want the hassle [of controversy]. He finds it demeaning and embarrassing.” Surely appearing on ITV would be exactly the same “demeaning and embarrassing”? This is after all a channel with such a ‘bad’ image its dramas (some of which are better than BBC ones) gain appalling ratings.

More Bollocks For BBC Three

We seem to be heading down the television intelligence scale as this ATV Today round-up goes on, from the heights of ITV3, past ITV and now to the television dregs that is BBC Three where Danny Cohen, Controller of BBC Three, has announced three new, original commissions for the channel. They are deemed to fulfill the entertainment, comedy and drama remit. I’ve never seen an original comedy on BBC Three that was funny.. but the other two I’ll reserve judgment…

Russell Howard, one of this year’s most celebrated comedians on the UK’s comedy circuit, comes to the channel with his own nine-week run of half hour shows, based seeming on Charlie Brookers Newswipe – but aiming at a younger (meaning dumbed down for the thicker generation) audience.

“Russell will offer his unique perspective on the big stories dominating all of our news outlets, from online and print to broadcast, as well as picking up on those sometimes overlooked things that make him smile.” Say the BBC. I say, Charlie Brooker rip-off!

The series, which is set to air this autumn, will be filmed in front of a live studio audience and comprises a seven-week run, followed by a best-of and a Christmas special. Well part of the show had to be different to Charlie, he doesn’t bother with that audience rubbish… unless he’s doing a show for Channel 4.

Danny Cohen said of the commissions: “BBC Three remains utterly focused on its commitment to young British performers, writers and actors. Russell is a huge talent who already has a great following and it’s exciting to be trying something new with him.”

Comedy-drama Mouth To Mouth returns for a six-part series later this year. Penned by newcomer Karl Minns, the series of interwoven monologues is set in contemporary Britain, and deals with the complicated and sometimes funny issues of personal identity, following the year-in-the-life story of six young people.

“The one-off special of Mouth To Mouth struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. It’s a beautifully written piece, and an opportunity to bring some monologues to the BBC Three audience.” Cohen added.

Sticking with drama Lip Service, is a six part hour long drama series which follows the sex lives and love affairs of twenty-something lesbians living in contemporary Glasgow.

“Harriet Braun’s Lip Service offers a fresh new twist on relationships through its exploration of what it means to be a young gay woman in Britain today. I’m very proud to be showcasing these programmes on the channel.” Danny Cohen said.

The views of Vivian Summers are her own, and not endorsed, or celebrated, by ATV Today, other members of the ATV News team and especially not ATV Network Limited.