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| Africa TV week not populist, says BBC |
| Written by Administrator | |
| Thursday, 17 March 2005 | |
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A fortnight after being warned not to continue re-peddling populist programmes, the BBC has launched a week of programmes devoted to Africa including Strictly African Dancing and a special edition of Ground Force.
Outgoing BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey denied that Strictly African Dancing was milking the Strictly Come Dancing format even though viewers already have Strictly Dance Fever, a spin-off hosted by Graham Norton and starring members of the public, to look forward to.
The announcement came despite the fact on March 2, the BBC was ordered to turn its back on populist programmes that chase ratings, in exchange for keeping the licence fee for 10 more years. The Government's blueprint for the BBC, announced by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, demanded a stop to dumbing down and what was described as "copycat" programming. A day later, BBC director general Mark Thompson signalled the end for Ground Force and acknowledged people got very cross when they saw the BBC "flogging a dead horse". In Strictly African Dancing, five celebrities of African origin undergo intensive training with African dance troupes. Ground Force will also join forces with the Eden Project to create a Garden for Africa before the show comes to a close. And a British family will stay with the Himba tribe in northern Namibia in Worlds Apart, produced by Endemol, the makers of Big Brother. Even Holby City will join in the Africa theme, with a storyline that sends Dr Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie) to work in a hospital in his native Ghana. The BBC said the summer season was being timed to coincide with what has been described as a make or break year for Africa, as Britain chairs the G8 conference of the world's richest nations. The 20th anniversary of Live Aid and the Commission for Africa has also put the continent in the headlines, the BBC aiming to give a more varied view of Africa than simply a land of famine, disease and war. The schedule will also include a personal journey through the continent with Sir Bob Geldof. The outgoing Controller of BBC1, Lorraine Heggessey, defended Strictly African Dancing. "This is a fantastic opportunity to display one of the things that happens to define Africa as a continent – dance," she said. "We have the ideal format in which to do that. I think it's absolutely appropriate." She said she hoped viewers would see the continent in a different light as a result of the season, which will also go out on the radio and online. She said: "2005 is a year in which Africa will dominate headlines, thoughts and conversations as never before. "People will see the continent being discussed and dissected on TV, radio, in magazines and papers _ and yet very few of the UK audience will have seen or experienced Africa first hand. "If BBC1's African output manages to whet the UK's appetite for understanding and appreciating more about Africa it will have been a worthwhile exercise." There will also be special news reports from African countries and David Dimbleby will host an edition of Question Time from South Africa. Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald will star in The Girl in the Cafe by Richard Curtis, a "powerful humanitarian message about the willingness of the richest countries to combat poverty in the third world". Ex-Casualty star Kwame Kwei-Armah travels to South Africa for a special edition of Songs of Praise featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu, while Rolf Harris will present Rolf On African Art. Last month Terry Wogan also launched a withering attack on BBC TV chiefs last month. The broadcasting veteran said the BBC was guilty of "beating an idea to death" by serving up a relentless diet of makeover and reality shows and singled out Strictly Come Dancing for particular criticism. Source |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 18 March 2005 ) |
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