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Operation London Bridge: the death of the Queen

Includes interesting info on how the media would respond (March 2017)

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SD
ShinyDave
623058 posted:
With Queen mums death, Peter Sissons was on the BBC, he was never great with live breaking news, over on ITV Mary Nightingale who was rather new to the job but did a good job.


Sissons was considered to have done a good job later in the process with Diana, in fairness, but that was a few hours down the line. Perhaps he was one of those who just needed that little bit of time to gather his thoughts.

Hadn't Nightingale just finished off a regular ITV Weekend News when the announcement was made? Wonder what would have happened if the news broke ten minutes earlier. Seem to recall that she finished off the bulletin, then changed clothes during the weather and commercial break before whatever else was meant to be on got pre-empted by another newsflash.

The rest of that evening saw most but not all of the frothy Saturday evening schedule play out as planned. There was some spectacular tonal whiplash:



Sombre ident announcing changes to the schedule are possible, into Stars in Their Eyes... then an adjusted programme menu slide that gets crashed into by a news cold opening, an unsponsored weather introduction slide I'm fairly sure only ever got used that one time... and then Laughter File.

Nobody seemed to know how to cover the Queen Mother's death. Certainly the BBC were on the record as ratcheting down the coverage plans post-9/11, and I can't imagine ITV not considering the same. At least everyone knows that the Queen's death will get smothering sombre coverage to start with...
LL
Larry the Loafer
ShinyDave posted:
Hadn't Nightingale just finished off a regular ITV Weekend News when the announcement was made? Wonder what would have happened if the news broke ten minutes earlier. Seem to recall that she finished off the bulletin, then changed clothes during the weather and commercial break before whatever else was meant to be on got pre-empted by another newsflash.


As the bulletin came to a close, Mary was apparently told the news while the credits ran. During the ad break, a big wig at ITV was demanding whoever was in charge to "get on air" as the BBC were already in full flow, but decided against a rushed interruption to ensure everybody was calm. Mary wore the same grey suit in the initial bulletin and when they came back to break the news. She commented that if she was wearing more vibrant colours, she would've got a similar backlash to what Peter Sissons got for his burgundy tie.
IS
Inspector Sands
623058 posted:
That might not be possible, Depending at what time of day and how long the ITV/SKY and the BBC get notification before any embargo can be broken.

That's not how embargoes work. They wouldn't (well shouldn't) break the embargo otherwise there's no point having one
WH
Whataday Founding member
Although the embargo on Diana's death was broken by the Press Association, closely followed by the rest of the media.
NT
Night Thoughts
Whataday posted:
Although the embargo on Diana's death was broken by the Press Association, closely followed by the rest of the media.


Didn't the French media break the embargo a little before PA did?
HC
Hatton Cross
IIRC the AFP put it on their wire service, ahead of the PA/Reuters.

As most news organizations keep and eye on all three - the French going early forced the hand of broadcasters who had no choice but to report what the AFP were coming out with.
WH
Whataday Founding member
It was definitely the PA that broke it, citing "British sources".
WH
Whataday Founding member
Here are the agency reports from the night:

00:54 PA
Diana, Princess of Wales, was badly injured in a car crash in which another person is reported to have died in Paris shortly after midnight, according to French news agency reports.

00:58 Reuter
PRINCESS DIANA SERIOUSLY INJURED IN PARIS CAR ACCIDENT - POLICE

01:08 Reuter FRANCE-DIANA-URGENT
Princess Diana seriously injured in crash - police
Britain's Princess Diana was seriously injured in a car crash in Paris early on Sunday, French police said.

01:15 Reuter
Harrods heir Dodi Al Fayed was killed in the accident, which occurred shortly after midnight, police added.
A police spokesman said the accident happened while the princess's car was being pursued by press photographers on a motorcycle.
The driver of the princess's car was also killed in the crash, the spokesman said.
The fourth person in the car, one of the princess's bodyguards, was injured and freed from the wreckage.

01:54 AP France-Diana-Crash, 4th Ld-Writethru
Princess of Wales injured in car crash, Dodi Fayed killed
Eds: RETRANSMITTING; UPDATES with police declining to give details on extent of injuries, ADDS background, byline
By CHRISTOPHER BURNS
Diana, Princess of Wales, was seriously injured in a car crash in Paris early Sunday that killed her beau Dodi Fayed and the chauffeur, police said. The crash occurred shortly after midnight in a tunnel along the Seine river at the Pont de l'Alma bridge, while paparazzi followed along the car she was riding in, a police spokesman said on customary anonymity.
The high-speed pursuit ended in a crash in the tunnel trapping several people in a pileup, France Info radio reported. Police cars and vans with flashing lights filled the site outside the tunnel and officers blocked off the area.
Fayed, the Egyptian playboy who is Diana's latest beau and son of the owner of London's prestigious Harrods department store, was killed in the accident along with the chauffeur, the spokesman said.
The fourth person in the car, a bodyguard, was also seriously injured in the crash, the spokesman said. He would not say where Diana or the bodyguard were hospitalized, and he would not elaborate on their condition.
Dodi and Diana's close friendship became clear to the outside world over the past five weeks, as the couple took a series of holidays together in the Mediterranean.

02:18 PA PRINCESS INJURED, DODI KILLED IN PARIS CAR CRASH
Diana, Princess of Wales, has been seriously injured in a car crash in Paris early today that killed her friend Dodi Fayed and the driver, police said. The driver is said to be the security officer at the Ritz hotel.
Diana's bodyguard is being cut from the wreckage, it was reported.
The crash occurred shortly after midnight in a tunnel along the Seine river at the Alma bridge, while paparazzi followed along the car she was riding in, a police spokesman told AP.
The high-speed pursuit ended in a crash in the tunnel trapping several people in a pileup, it was reported.
Police cars and vans with flashing lights filled the site outside the tunnel and officers blocked off the area.

02:37 Reuter FRANCE-DIANA-CLINTON-1STLD
Clintons "very concerned" about Diana's accident (Adds details, background)
EDGARTOWN, Mass., Aug 30 - President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, were informed of the car accident in Paris involving Princess Diana and were very concerned about it, the White House said on Saturday.

02:54 Reuter FRANCE-DIANA-HOSPITAL
Lady Diana in Paris public hospital emergency room
Britain's Princess Diana, seriously injured in a car crash in the French capital early on Sunday, has been taken for emergency treatment to a Paris public hospital, police and hospital officials said. Police officials, who earlier said that Lady Diana had been seriously injured in the crash, said her precise condition was unknown.

03:03 PA 5 ROYAL Diana Substitute
Prime Minister Tony Blair was woken to be informed of the accident, said a Downing Street spokesman.
The spokesman added: "He is shocked and saddened by what he sees as a devastating, appalling tragedy.
"He is deeply anxious about Diana, Princess of Wales and is being kept informed of her condition."
The British Ambassador in Paris has taken control of the situation "in regards to the well-being" of the princess, said Government sources today.

03:07 PA 4 ROYAL Diana
(reopens)
Mohammed Al Fayed is on his way to Paris by helicopter, but his spokesman Michael Cole said he could not confirm reports that Dodi Fayed was dead.

03:11 Reuter FRANCE-DIANA-COOK
UK's Cook speaks of photographers "hounding" Diana
MANILA, Aug 31 -- British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said on Sunday that the Paris accident which injured Princess Diana and killed Dodi Al Fayed would be "doubly tragic" if it was partly caused by the press photographers pursuing their car.
"We understand the princess is in hospital," Cook, who is on an Asia tour, told reporters in Manila. "We are deeply shocked by the news and our first thoughts at the present time are with the princess and her family.
"Our ambassador is at the hospital and will provide every possible assistance we can.
"I think it will be doubly tragic if it does emerge that this accident was in part caused by the persistent hounding of the princess and her privacy by photographers," Cook said.
The crash killed Diana's companion Dodi Al Fayed and the car's driver. A police spokesman in Paris said it happened while Diana's car was being pursued by press photographers on a motorcycle.

03:17 Reuter FRANCE-DIANA-HOSPITAL
The officials said Lady Diana was in the intensive care unit of the hospital, which they declined to name.
They said that British Ambassador Sir Michael Jay and his wife, French Interior Minister Jean-Pierre Chevenement, the British consul-general and Paris police chief Philippe Massoni were at the hospital with the princess. Harrods heir Dodi Al Fayed was killed in the accident, which involved at least one other car and occurred as press photographers on motorcycles pursued their car through a tunnel under the Place de l'Alma in the capital's posh eighth district, Paris police said.
Also killed in the accident was the driver of the car, a security officer at Paris Hotel Ritz, police said.
A fourth passenger in the car, one of the princess' bodyguards, was injured and freed from the wreckage, police said.

03:23 PA 5 ROYAL Diana
The news agency AFP are reporting today that the Princess is suffering from concussion, a broken arm and cuts to one of her thighs.
She is being treated at the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in south-east Paris.

03:42 AP FRANCE-DIANA-CRASH,-6th-Ld
URGENT
Princess of Wales injured in car crash, Dodi Fayed killed
Eds: UPDATES with reported condition of Diana
By CHRISTOPHER BURNS
Diana, Princess of Wales, was seriously injured, and her companion, Dodi Fayed, killed in a car crash early Sunday as they were being chased by photographers, police said.
Diana was at a Paris hospital with a concussion, a broken arm and a serious injury to her thigh, Radio France Info reported.

03:47 Reuter FRANCE-DIANA-CHARLES
Charles told at Balmoral of Diana's crash
Britain's Prince Charles was telephoned at the royal family's summer home at Balmoral in Scotland during the night and told that his divorced wife, Princess Diana, had been injured in a Paris car crash. "We are aware of this awful accident but we are awaiting further details about what has happened." said a spokeswoman for the royal family.
"The Prince of Wales has been informed at Balmoral but at this stage it is too early to say what his movements will be until we have more details."
The princess's companion, Harrods heir Dodi Al Fayed, and the car's driver were killed in the crash early on Sunday morning.

03:50 PA 6 ROYAL Diana
Witnesses said the Mercedes appeared to have struck the inside wall of the tunnel and ended up facing the wrong way.
Both the driver and front passenger airbags are said to have inflated.

04:00 PA 7 ROYAL Diana
Five photographers were detained by French police who also seized motor cycles, said French news agency AFP. One member of the paparazzi is said to have been beaten up by a witness at the scene.

04:31 BC-FRANCE-DIANA-CRUISE
Actor Tom Cruise denounces photographers' actions
WASHINGTON Aug 30 - Reacting to reports that an attempt to escape photographers may have caused Princess Diana's Paris car crash, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise called on Saturday for laws to curb press "harassment" of celebrities.
Interviewed on CNN television, Cruise said it was "an absolute lie" that celebrities "co-operate in any way whatsoever" with paparazzi.
"I've actually been in that same tunnel being chased by paparazzis, and they run lights, and they chase you and harass you the whole time. It happens all over the world, and it has certainly gotten worse," he said by telephone.
Referring to reports that photographers tailing Princess Diana on a motorcycle may have triggered the crash on Saturday that seriously injured her and killed her companion, Dodi Al Fayed, Cruise called it "distasteful that people are probably looking now for that guy who took those pictures to give him money".
"So he's part of the problem, and now he's going to make money off it... I just hope that no one will run any of those photographs," he said.

04:35 AP France-Diana-Crash,-8th-Ld
Princess of Wales injured in car crash, Dodi Fayed killed
Eds: UPDATES with radio saying Diana's condition is very serious, but no details; adds detail on car in 4th graf.
By CHRISTOPHER BURNS
Princess Diana, whose storybook marriage ended in a divorce that shook the royal family, was seriously injured and her companion, Dodi Fayed, killed in a car crash early Sunday as they were being chased by photographers. Diana was being treated at a Paris hospital.
Police would not give details on the condition of the 36-year-old princess, but Radio France Info said her condition was "very serious".
It did not give any details, however, beyond an earlier report that her injuries consisted of a concussion, a broken arm and a serious injury to her thigh.
The crash happened shortly after midnight in a tunnel along the Seine River at the Pont de l'Alma bridge.

04:41 PA
PA NEWSFLASH: Diana, Princess of Wales has died, according to British sources, the Press Association learned this morning.

04:43 Reuter
PRINCESS DIANA HAS DIED, SKY TELEVISION SAYS

04:43 AP NewsAlert
Press Association says Princess Diana has died, according to unnamed British sources

04:44 PA
The Princess was taken from the mangled wreckage of a Mercedes car next to her close friend Dodi Fayed, who was also killed in the crash in Paris earlier today.

04:50 Reuter
PARIS -- PRINCESS DIANA DEAD -- FRENCH MINISTER
VM
VMPhil
VMPhil posted:
It's still on TV Whirl: https://www.tvwhirl.co.uk/play?id=2099

Watching this again just now, there are less announcements from the continuity announcer than I remembered - at one point, almost two minutes go by without anyone telling you what's happening.
BH
BillyH Founding member
I remember feeling seriously sorry for Sissons when the news broke that Jean Charles de Menzes had been killed in error. He was hosting News 24 at the time and slowly deteriorated into a stuttering mess as the information came in, not the best person at all to be delivering such important breaking news at that time. He was brilliant as a newscaster and up there with BBC's greats, but never quite took to rolling news in the same way.

VMPhil posted:
VMPhil posted:
It's still on TV Whirl: https://www.tvwhirl.co.uk/play?id=2099

Watching this again just now, there are less announcements from the continuity announcer than I remembered - at one point, almost two minutes go by without anyone telling you what's happening.


I was watching that Steptoe repeat at the time, my Dad confidently shouted out "Queen Mother!" the second the News Report caption showed up. We then had to wait for ages to know if he was right!

I've mentioned before that when Crossroads was interrupted by a sombre-looking ITV1 logo on a September afternoon a few months earlier, I briefly assumed that she'd died then.
Last edited by BillyH on 31 March 2017 6:05pm
IS
Inspector Sands
BillyH posted:
I remember feeling seriously sorry for Sissons when the news broke that Jean Charles de Menzes had been killed in error. He was hosting News 24 at the time and slowly deteriorated into a stuttering mess as the information came in, not the best person at all to be delivering such important breaking news at that time. He was brilliant as a newscaster and up there with BBC's greats, but never quite took to rolling news in the same way.

I wouldn't agree that he's one of the great BBC newsreaders, he spent most of his career at ITN.

Like Nicolas Owen I always think of him as being on the wrong channel
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 31 March 2017 8:38pm
LL
Larry the Loafer
Still not sure what made BBC Two cut away so early. BBC One were showing Auntie's Bloomers or something of that ilk. What would News 24 have been showing at the time? I imagine it's tricky to seamlessly slip into obit mode when you're continuously delivering news.

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