The Royal Wedding - TV coverage

ITV's coverage was hosted by Katie Derham with another classic commentary from Nicholas Owen. Chris Choi unusually left aside his usual consumer reporting and instead spoke to the crowds.
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DIckie Arbiter... the oil tanker

As an aside, do we know when Fi's next book is due out?

(For those who don't know what we're talking about, Fi Glover wrote a book called "I Am An Oil Tanker", which refers to a time Dickie Arbiter was reading the news and said...

"Good evening. I am an oil tanker. Dickie Arbiter is on fire in the Gulf."

The book was later renamed by the publishers "Travels With My Radio" as they thought no one would understand the original name. It's a fantastic book which I thoroughly recommend.)

Haven't seen BBC Events used on-screen before.

For a long time, well into the 90s, BBC Events was part of BBC Sport and Events.

The logic being that Sports and Events programmes were both pretty much OB based, so it was possible for directors and producers to work on both genres of programmes - with the Come Dancing director also directing Football Matches for example. There were also overlap shows - like Superstars (the original 80s series) which were sporting, but made by Events. However OB Events shows became less numerous throughout the 90s and early 00s - with Come Dancing and One Man and His Dog both being "rested", leaving the department with a smaller portfolio of shows.

More recently Sport split off and become its own department, with Events moving into Factual Group (General Factual I think) - and so joining shows like Children in Need, Watchdog etc. - which are also OB based.

I don't know if Events is now a separate dept. again - I don't think it is - though there are staff who specialise in Events (particularly OB Events) productions - like D Day, Crufts, Royal occasions etc.

There are, of course, overlaps in programmes, with News, Religion etc. - and it isn't unusual for staff from all of these areas to be called in to assist, either formally on attachment, or in co-operation "on the day".

What on earth were ITN's designers on when they came up with Purple Flock Wallpaper as a motif - had they been watching Property Ladder this week?

Either side of the ITV1 special, ITVNC's coverage has been anchored by Felicity Barr in Windsor and Owen Thomas in London.
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Noggin that is spooky - I was thinking exactly the same thing when watching about the Property Ladder wallpaper!! Those graphics are ghastly.
And Katie Derham was her usual chirpy chirpy self of course

Who the heck was lighting designer for the BBC's rather bizarre sitting room-like set-up for commentary - it was terribly harsh and one-dimensional.
Also, Mernaghan's constant interruptions, both into conversation with Morgan & Co, as well as during the service were less than pleasant.

Overall, very well produced though - particularly the room chosen for commentary with that lovely mullioned window as backdrop. For one a solid, static set

And here's Owen Thomas in the studio
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No purple wallpaper here

They have changed the name of the new Alton Towers rollercoaster to "Camilla-Queen Of Speed" for the day. As you probably already know, it's called "Rita-Queen Of Speed". They even renewed their TV promotions and changed the signs at the park. I actually visited Alton Towers last week and went on it.

Am I wrong in thinking that it actually WAS a sitting room?

I think it was, actually - I was half expecting someone to start doing the hoovering...

Think the cheapo wrought-iron wall-light sconces from Argos said it all