Star For A Night

Just caught the opening of this 'live' programme and over a VO was the front of Television Centre all lit up but it looked very very dark - I'm about an hour away from London and it's still pretty light here, so what's going on?

The programme itself seems a bit too slick and fast paced to be live as well. 'Recorded live' maybe?

Cheers, Asa

On a related note I remember seeing an interview done on News 24 when one of the Beeb's Washington people were sitting in their Washington studio, with that little plasma screen view of Capitol Hill behind them - it looked like it was night time in Washington. The odd thing was, was that when I turned over to Sky about 3 minutes later I saw a Capitol Hill that was infact bright and in the sunshine. Confused, I turned over to Fox, who were also in Washington at the time, to find the hill was light on there too. What was going on? The interview on the Beeb had the little live DOG and everything, it looked like a live interview, yet two other networks had a totally different picture of exactly the same thing. Just seemed to be a little odd.

(Edited by c@t at 6:05 pm on Oct. 20, 2001)

On Tuesday they were rehearsing or perhaps recording in Studio 1 at television centre as when I was there, strangely they would let anyone in but when Dog Eat Dog was rehearsing we got in so maybe parts of it is or something or maybe they just dont want anyone to see it?

Perhaps they used a recorded shot of Capitol Hill if for whatever reason they couldnt have a live one? Im sure the BBC wouldnt be lie about beng 'live' would they?

(Edited by Martin at 6:20 pm on Oct. 20, 2001)

Just noticed this oddity:

http://www.tvhome.f2s.com/ikonboard/upload/NW%20Tonight%20-%20Nigel%20Jay%203.jpg

The graphic says North West 'Tonight', but it doesn't really look like it's being broadcast in the night. The camera shot looks very light to me! Surely some mistake?

I'll explain:

North West Today is used for Breakfast, lunch and 3.25pm

North West Tonight is used for 1830, 2225 and weekends

That screenshot was from a weekend bulletin in the summer. That means it was broad daylight at about 5pm!! Its confusing, in winter they have the Tonight titles and the presenter says 'Good Evening' and in summer they have the Tonight titles and the presenter says Good Afternoon!

I was in the audience for last year's 'live' final of Star for a Night.

We didn't get into TVC1 until the program had started being transmitted - we thought we'd missed our opportunity to get in... but then we were led into TVC1 and it became clear that what was on BBC 1 at the time was definatly NOT live!!!!

The first bit of the show is actuall recorded on the previous Thursday. The second bit, the live result, is live. There was some very careful continuity going on such as getting the family members to sit in the same seats as before, making sure the set looked identical and making sure Jane McD was wearing the same makeup and clothing etc.

It was a real eye opener and a fabulous night. Before the live result all the performers did their acts for the cameras to rehurse and so we got our very own private show! The whole audience were dancing in the isles because we knew it wasn't being filmed! Oh, and there was free wine!

If it's the same as last year, when the winner is announced they will be invited to perform again and this really is live. It got really emotional in the studio last year just because the song was so good and everyone was in such an uplifted mood!

Hope this answers your questions,

Peter.

Going back to Star for a Night, maybe the sequence of songs have been recorded with the results later on live. Of course, if I am right, its a bit of a cop-out! 20 minutes live! Maybe London is actually dark, and the show is live! Or maybe they rehersed incredibly well so there hasn't been a hitch. Pure speculation however. Someone e-mail them.

Yes, this happened last year as well. We saw that on the studio monitors but after standing in the rain outside TVC for about 1hour before hand if was obvious to us that this is just stock VT.

I suppose lighting TVC like that would be quite expensive. Star for a Night isn't quite on the same scale as Children in Need or 2000 Today is it!

Peter.

Thanks Rob! Suggestion: In the summer, they should call it 'North West Still Light'!

Actually,is is dark in London. Well it was.

TV centre looks far, far more impressive in the dark anyway (especially when its lit up by a laser show).

I liked it when they did the lottery (Lottery Good Luck Stories with Carol Smilie?) from what looked to me very much like the current reception area before the News Centre was up and running.