VM
A major oversight in the Guardian article, for sure.
lol - if she really did die, the discussion of coverage would be in the Newsroom, not here.
A major oversight in the Guardian article, for sure.
JA
Operation London Bridge has a full section dedicated to how TV Forum will handle it, don't worry about that.
HC
Operation London Bridge. Nice codename, because until now, if anyone overheard that in the newsroom who didn't know what it was - they would think it's probably a soon to be executed Metropolitian/City Of London police raid or criminal roundup that the home affairs/crime correspondent + camera crew would be invited on to.
Absolutely no clues or hints that it refers to the telling forth to the nation of the demise of Brenda.
Guess the codename has changed by now.
Operation Southwark?
Operation Bermondsey?
Operation Dollis Hill?
Carrying on the Jubilee line station name connection - which is probably where the insperation for the code name sprouted from.
Absolutely no clues or hints that it refers to the telling forth to the nation of the demise of Brenda.
Guess the codename has changed by now.
Operation Southwark?
Operation Bermondsey?
Operation Dollis Hill?
Carrying on the Jubilee line station name connection - which is probably where the insperation for the code name sprouted from.
SW
Yes, I was surprised at the time how much other programming got on that night, mostly because I'd read a similar article to this one in The Guardian about twenty years ago, which said that all we would get for ten days would be "music from military bands of regiments of which she is commander-in-chief and ballet from companies of which she is patron".
But we got Casualty and 24 on BBC2, and even BBC1 were back showing normal programmes by 9.30 that night. As well as Stars In Their Eyes and Denis Norden's Laughter File (which was already in the schedule), ITV also showed The Premiership that night, although they dropped their whizzy graphics and Beautiful Day as the theme tune (Des: "In the circumstances we thought it inappropriate").
Of course, Roger Mosey's book is fascinating because he was Controller of Five Live when Diana died and Head of News when the Queen Mother died. He says the reason Peter Sissons didn't wear a black tie was because the idea always ways that the news would break gradually, so they'd be reporting she was ill and in hospital, and then eventually they'd report she'd died. That was supposed to be the point at which they'd change to black, but it was decided that not only would it be too much to ask the newsreaders to change clothes in less than a minute while they played the national anthem, but also because it would be distracting to the audience for them to have suddenly changed, and that would detract attention from what they were actually saying. So It was decided that as long as the clothes were suitably sober, that was alright, and they could change later.
But when it actually happened, there was none of that build-up, and the first they knew what that she was dead. So the whole rehearsed idea went out of the window. Mosey said that the newspaper coverage would have viewers believe Sissons was wearing a pink bow tie that had revolved.
Mosey also says that when he first joined the Beeb, the death of a royal would still have been marked by the ringing of the Croydon Bell on all channels for an hour, and that it was only when Sophie Rhys-Jones was taken ill in the late nineties that they realised she was on the list of Category 1 obituaries which would have meant interrupting all channels for rolling news.
I'm surprised ITV decided to keep Stars In Their Eyes and Laughter File in the schedules. Clearly they were nervous having spelt Denis wrong.
Yes, I was surprised at the time how much other programming got on that night, mostly because I'd read a similar article to this one in The Guardian about twenty years ago, which said that all we would get for ten days would be "music from military bands of regiments of which she is commander-in-chief and ballet from companies of which she is patron".
But we got Casualty and 24 on BBC2, and even BBC1 were back showing normal programmes by 9.30 that night. As well as Stars In Their Eyes and Denis Norden's Laughter File (which was already in the schedule), ITV also showed The Premiership that night, although they dropped their whizzy graphics and Beautiful Day as the theme tune (Des: "In the circumstances we thought it inappropriate").
Sombre colours was a BBC guideline rather than ITV, but Mary was initially wearing grey because she'd been wearing it during the news bulletin that she'd been presenting before the news broke. I think ITN still would have taken the view that black was most appropriate.
Of course, Roger Mosey's book is fascinating because he was Controller of Five Live when Diana died and Head of News when the Queen Mother died. He says the reason Peter Sissons didn't wear a black tie was because the idea always ways that the news would break gradually, so they'd be reporting she was ill and in hospital, and then eventually they'd report she'd died. That was supposed to be the point at which they'd change to black, but it was decided that not only would it be too much to ask the newsreaders to change clothes in less than a minute while they played the national anthem, but also because it would be distracting to the audience for them to have suddenly changed, and that would detract attention from what they were actually saying. So It was decided that as long as the clothes were suitably sober, that was alright, and they could change later.
But when it actually happened, there was none of that build-up, and the first they knew what that she was dead. So the whole rehearsed idea went out of the window. Mosey said that the newspaper coverage would have viewers believe Sissons was wearing a pink bow tie that had revolved.
Mosey also says that when he first joined the Beeb, the death of a royal would still have been marked by the ringing of the Croydon Bell on all channels for an hour, and that it was only when Sophie Rhys-Jones was taken ill in the late nineties that they realised she was on the list of Category 1 obituaries which would have meant interrupting all channels for rolling news.
VM
And people using them as usernames…
Always wonder what the point of these codewords are if they're published in articles?
And people using them as usernames…
JA
I think times have changed anyway, and I don't think there's an appetite for normality to be suspended for over a week, even if the queen has died. The world's moved on so much since the last time a monarch died- most people alive today weren't even born then. I think most people will just want normality and normal programming and would get annoyed by constant news and sombre replacements.
BR
I would expect a suspension of programming on the day her death is announced and extended news bulletins and some special programming in the forthcoming days, plus they'll be some things they'll need to cover live, but I agree a full suspension of normality for days on end would not be expected - it's also not really the British way.
LL
London Lite
Founding member
Even back in 1997, there were some channels that maintained a normal service, mainly children's channels from what I remember with straps to change to Sky/CNN depending on who owned the channel.
However, I wouldn't expect BBC1 or ITV to have a normal schedule until at least 36 hours after the announcement and then special programming on funeral day with some slight changes in between.
However, I wouldn't expect BBC1 or ITV to have a normal schedule until at least 36 hours after the announcement and then special programming on funeral day with some slight changes in between.
BC
Of course, Roger Mosey's book is fascinating because he was Controller of Five Live when Diana died and Head of News when the Queen Mother died. He says the reason Peter Sissons didn't wear a black tie was because the idea always ways that the news would break gradually, so they'd be reporting she was ill and in hospital, and then eventually they'd report she'd died. That was supposed to be the point at which they'd change to black, but it was decided that not only would it be too much to ask the newsreaders to change clothes in less than a minute while they played the national anthem, but also because it would be distracting to the audience for them to have suddenly changed, and that would detract attention from what they were actually saying. So It was decided that as long as the clothes were suitably sober, that was alright, and they could change later.
But when it actually happened, there was none of that build-up, and the first they knew what that she was dead. So the whole rehearsed idea went out of the window. Mosey said that the newspaper coverage would have viewers believe Sissons was wearing a pink bow tie that had revolved.
Reminds me of when Nelson Mandela died. The South African government would definitely give a few hours notice of the announcement and there would be plenty of time to prepare. Not how it panned out...
Blake Connolly
Founding member
Of course, Roger Mosey's book is fascinating because he was Controller of Five Live when Diana died and Head of News when the Queen Mother died. He says the reason Peter Sissons didn't wear a black tie was because the idea always ways that the news would break gradually, so they'd be reporting she was ill and in hospital, and then eventually they'd report she'd died. That was supposed to be the point at which they'd change to black, but it was decided that not only would it be too much to ask the newsreaders to change clothes in less than a minute while they played the national anthem, but also because it would be distracting to the audience for them to have suddenly changed, and that would detract attention from what they were actually saying. So It was decided that as long as the clothes were suitably sober, that was alright, and they could change later.
But when it actually happened, there was none of that build-up, and the first they knew what that she was dead. So the whole rehearsed idea went out of the window. Mosey said that the newspaper coverage would have viewers believe Sissons was wearing a pink bow tie that had revolved.
Reminds me of when Nelson Mandela died. The South African government would definitely give a few hours notice of the announcement and there would be plenty of time to prepare. Not how it panned out...
MA
I don't believe that is the inspiration, actually...
Carrying on the Jubilee line station name connection - which is probably where the insperation for the code name sprouted from.
I don't believe that is the inspiration, actually...
PC
I presume the bosses at ITV just prioritised getting back on air over a change of clothes. It's not quite as simple as switching a tie for a woman, and her outfit was perfectly suitable. Also, they don't face the same scrutiny as the BBC.
Once they had a chance to get off the air, they'll probably have considered the situation again (and probably heard early complaints about Peter Sissons) and switched accordingly.
I wish to ask about the presenter clothes, and if somber colours are still bench mark? If you look here when ITV broke the news about the queen mum: https://youtu.be/gFoEC2O9R4U?t=2562 yet go forward an hour and she changed. https://youtu.be/y7QJ2oEXYBU?t=37
I presume the bosses at ITV just prioritised getting back on air over a change of clothes. It's not quite as simple as switching a tie for a woman, and her outfit was perfectly suitable. Also, they don't face the same scrutiny as the BBC.
Once they had a chance to get off the air, they'll probably have considered the situation again (and probably heard early complaints about Peter Sissons) and switched accordingly.