RTS London Podcast

"It’s 12 noon in London, 7am in Philadelphia... And around the world, it’s time for Live Aid..."On the 38th anniversary of Live Aid on 13 July 1985, RTS London presents this wide-ranging, full-length interview with Harvey Goldsmith CBE by broadcaster Andrew Eborn.Harvey Goldsmith is an iconic and visionary figure known for his exceptional work as a producer and promoter of rock concerts, charity events, and television broadcasts. Working with most of the world’s major artists, Harvey has successfully managed, produced, and promoted shows that have shaped the music industry. Among his extraordinary achievements, Harvey orchestrated two of the most monumental music events ever held: Live Aid and Live 8. These ground-breaking spectacles have solidified his reputation as a trailblazer in the field, leveraging the power of music to inspire global audiences and support meaningful causes.In the fascinating interview, Harvey discloses how childhood formed his character, his early career leading to an accidental start in the music business, the secrets behind Live Aid & Live 8, Wham! in China, Pavarotti in the Park, F1 in London, the secrets to televising music events, successful negotiation, and the future of the music business.A Barnestorming Production for RTS London     © Harvey Goldsmith 2023

When it comes to game shows and reality TV formats, taking a popular series from one country and making a new version is fairly easy. But remaking scripted formats has always been a harder nut to crack. From homegrown hits Doctor Foster and Liar to global phenomena like Call My Agent! and Skam, scripted formats are traveling further than ever. With streaming services battling for more localised content, they're also a multi-billion dollar business.Yet for every successful remake, whether The Office or Shameless, there are countless dramas that haven’t cut through the cultural divide. Add in the accepted position that “comedy doesn’t translate,” and this begs the question, what makes a good or bad adaptation, and who gets to decide? In this session, RTS London brings together a panel of leading experts to answer this, alongside what formats sell, how scriptwriters can address the challenge of creating cultural relevancy while keeping the values of the original, and why in the age of global media consumption, do broadcasters still need to adapt when they can just dub or use subtitles.They’ll also explore the reaction towards remakes in fan communities, whether having the original creator be involved impacts success, and what role the choice of platform/channel has on the form and style of the adaptation. Chair:Dr. Andrea Esser, Professor of Media and Globalisation, King’s College London Panel:Sumi Connock, Creative Director for TV Formats, BBC StudiosMarianne Furevold-Boland, Head of Drama, NRK, and Producer, Skam Sabrina Duguet, EVP Asia-Pacific, All3Media InternationalMatt Baker, Writer, Professor T, Before We Die, and SuspectProducer: Damien Ashton-Wellman

RTS London marks the BBC's centenary with a look at the BBC's history, the celebrations planned and the inspiration for the next generation.Created 100 years ago, on 18th October 1922, the BBC transformed people's lives at the turn of a dial, bringing voices out of the ether and conjuring up the magic community of radio. The TV services followed and now, many aspects of our lives are inextricably linked to broadcasting. It is how we remember where we come from and who we are — from the Moon Landing to the 9/11 attacks, Monty Python to Strictly, and Live Aid to London 2012.In this RTS London event, Head of BBC History Robert Seatter charts the story of a broadcaster and a nation, reflecting the story of our lives across ten eventful decades. He looks at how the BBC is celebrating its centenary and how it can inspire upcoming generations to join the national and global conversation, building on the foundations of public service broadcasting.Host:Lettija Lee, PresenterSpeaker:Robert Seatter, Head of BBC HistoryPeter Rippon, Executive Editor, BBC ArchiveProducer: Carol Owens

Starring Emmy-nominated Carice van Houten (Game of Thrones, The Fifth Estate, Race) and Golden Calf winner Halina Reijn (Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, Black Book, Valkyrie, Instinct), Red Light is an immersive thriller that portrays how three women's lives unexpectedly intersect when a well-known philosophy professor suddenly goes missing. Sylvia (van Houten), an aging sex worker, runs a brothel with her toxic partner in Antwerp’s Red Light District. Esther (Reijn) is a well-known opera soprano who comes from a well-educated background. Evi (Maaike Neuville) is a cop trying to combine a major case with her role as a wife and mother. Their stories intertwine to liberate themselves from the situations they’re each trapped in.  Following an exclusive screening of the first episode, there will be a panel discussion and Q&A with stars and series Co-Creators Carice van Houten and Halina Reijn, alongside director Wouter Bouvijn (The Twelve). This event is supported by Walter Presents, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the UK, and the Diplomatic Representation of Flanders in London. There will be a drinks reception held after the Q&A. Tickets include a complimentary drink after the session.Red Light launches on Channel 4 on Sunday 9th October at 11pm while the entire box set will also be available to binge via Walter Presents on All 4. Chair:Walter Iuzzolino, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Walter Presents Panel:Carice van Houten, Co-Creator, Creative Producer, and ActorHalina Reijn, Co-Creator, Creative Producer, and Actor Wouter Bouvijn, DirectorProducer: Damien Ashton-Wellman

How do you produce a live topical Sunday morning discussion show out of Northern Ireland, with a studio in London and support from teams across the UK?The BBC recently awarded the tender to produce Sunday Morning Live, its flagship BBC One religious and current affairs discussion programme, to Tern TV and Green Inc, two companies working together to make this important commission from Northern Ireland.  This Production Focus session brings together key members of the production team to explore the challenges and opportunities of producing this successful live strand. With production happening across three nations - their joint production base in Northern Ireland, the studio in London, and crew and support teams in Glasgow, Manchester, and Sheffield – the panel will talk about how they coordinate the various elements and locations involved and the balance between planning ahead yet responding to breaking events by the hour.  This session promises to be an informative and entertaining insight into bringing such a complex live show to air every week.This session is a co-production between RTS London and RTS Yorkshire. Chair:Dr. Fiona Thompson, TV Exec and AcademicPanel: Brendan Hughes, Exec Producer and Head of Tern TV, BelfastStephen Stewart, Exec Producer and Founder of Green IncNeil Dimmock, Executive EditorRosina Davis, Production ManagerProducer: Phil Barnes

What’s next for the future of content? Bring yourself up-to-date with news from the world's leading media, entertainment and technology show. For those who weren't able to attend this year's show held 9-12th September, this panel discussion, co-hosted with the IET, is the next best thing. It promises to be an informative and lively discussion on the key trends, products and research covered.The IBC Conference is an unrivalled global destination for discovering and debating the many different challenges and opportunities facing the electronic media and entertainment industry, both in its sessions and in the range of networking opportunities it affords. Meanwhile, the IBC Exhibition covers up to fifteen halls across the RAI Conference Centre and hosts thousands of exhibitors spanning the media, entertainment and technology industry, combining a world-class exhibition with specially curated feature areas and events.Hosted by the award-winning presenter and journalist Nadine Dereza, our panel of experts will guide you through the most exciting exhibitors, and give you an overview of the hottest sessions. and timely topics featured in the conference. Following the session, there will be a drinks reception. Please book complimentary tickets through our partners at the IET through the link above. Panel:Neal Romanek, Editor in Chief, FEED magazineMuki Kulhan, IBC Accelerator Innovation Co-leadMehboob Siddiqui, Client Partner, NTT Data UKRussell Trafford-Jones, Chair IET Media Technical NetworkJonathan Chappell-Seetayah, IP Broadcast Project Engineer, Timeline TV, and RTS Young Technologist of the Year 2022Producer: Terry Marsh

Professor Brian Cox fulfils a childhood dream: Back in 1980 twelve-year-old Brian Cox wrote to NASA asking for photos from some of their missions to the planets. The images they sent him from Voyager and the Viking mission to Mars inspired him to become the physicist he is today.Now watch as he has the chance to visit NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab to witness the workings of the Mars mission as it guides the Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter (the first powered aircraft we have ever sent to another planet) across the surface of Mars. Seven Days on Mars, a feature-length documentary for BBC Two follows Professor Cox’s visit as, just over a year after touching down on the red planet, Perseverance embarks on the most demanding part of its mission to date – striking out at ‘top speed’ for the sites most likely to reveal signs of life.This Production Focus brings together the production team to explore their approach to filming such a unique event, the background to gaining this special access, and the technical and editorial challenges of bringing such an exciting story to life.Chair: Ash Potterton - Executive Producer, Arrow MediaPanel:Professor Brian Cox CBE, Physicist and TV PresenterMichael Lachmann, Director of Seven Days on Mars Dr Vandi Verma, Chief Engineer, Perseverance Robotic Operations, NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryProducers: Terry Marsh & Phil Barnes

Join RTS London for this exclusive in-person Q&A of Walter Presents’ new crime drama Snow Angels (Snöänglar) — a daring character-driven crime drama about motherhood as three women — a mother, a policewoman, and a child nurse’s — fates become intertwined following the disappearance of a 5-week-old infant.Panel: Mette Heeno, Creator and WriterAnna Zackrisson, Co-Creator and DirectorJosefin Asplund, Lead ActressChair:Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen, Professor in Scandinavian and Comparative Literature, UCL School of European Languages, Culture and Society / Founder of the original Nordic Noir Book Club in LondonProducers: Damien Ashton-Wellman and Philip Barnes

Virtual Christmas Lecture by Dame Esther Rantzen DBE followed by Q&A hosted by Paul Jackson.Dame Esther Rantzen is a legend of British broadcasting and became a household name appearing in more than 2,000 TV programmes including documentaries, talk shows, reality shows and quizzes; most notably presenting the BBC’s “That's Life!” for 21 years, from 1973 until 1994.A creative producer as well as a presenter, she invented the documentary series "The Big Time" which discovered Sheena Easton, created the "Children of Courage" segment of "Children in Need" and invented "Hearts of Gold" which ran for seven years, honouring unsung heroes and heroines. She is a regular contributor to "The One Show", political and news programmes on many different topics especially those relating to broadcasting, growing old ungracefully, and to the abuse of children and older people.  She writes for newspapers and magazines and is the author of five books including a history of Childline, and one novel.  Dame Esther has been recognised for her contribution to television and society. She was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting in 1991, a CBE for services to children in 2006, and in the 2015 New Year Honours, was made a Dame for services to children and older people through Childline and The Silver Line.She’s played Dick Whittington in Bognor and rather rashly took part in "Strictly", "First Dates" and "I'm a Celebrity".  Now Dame Esther has agreed to give the RTS London Christmas Lecture.   Producer: Philip Barnes

RTS London and RTS Scotland come together to proudly present a virtual panel discussion on the importance of sustainability and how it's currently implemented in the world of television. Fresh in the minds of many following the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this November, the session will look at both the making of and the consumption of TV — from production level to the digital footprint from audiences. Host:Richard Parsons, COO of International Production, Sony Pictures Television Panel:Kevin Keane, Environment & Transport Correspondent, BBC Scotland NewsChloe Fletcher, Sustainability Data Scientist, BBC R&DCarys Taylor, Director, AlbertJoanna Langan, Production Manager, Raise The Roof ProductionsProducers: Liz Cooke & Aradhna Tayal

How has COVID-19 impacted children’s media consumption and the content created in response?In January 2020, we held a joint event with the Children’s Media Foundation: “Are the Kids Alright?” The session looked at how the mainstream media were providing engaging content for our youngest audiences. Then the pandemic changed everything. How did the media industry rise to the challenge? RTS London and the CMF now bring you an hour of insights and information, exploring key case studies of content created and delivered by broadcasters, producers, digital providers, and online creators that responded to, or reflected, the COVID-19 crisis, and how it impacted children's TV audiences. As life returns to something like normal, discover how some of the most brilliant content makers and platforms rose to the occasion, what they made and how they achieved it to boost public service.Chair:Gary Pope, CEO of Kids Industries.Panel:Louise Bucknole, VP of Programming Kids, ViacomCBS Networks International UK & IrelandHelen Foulkes, Head of Education and Newsround, BBCLucy Murphy, Director of Kids Content, Sky UK & ROIMaddie Moate, Presenter and YouTuberGreg Foot, Science Presenter and ProducerProducers: Nikki Stearman, CMF, with Execs Carol Owens, RTS London and Greg Childs, CMF.

Challenging the Status Quo — Production, Mental Health & NeurodiversityWith nine in 10 people working in the UK’s film and TV industries experiencing mental health issues*, something needs to change.The Film and TV industry is full of amazingly talented and skilled professionals working hard to provide content to people's screens. However, it is not all sunshine and rainbows. In recent years, we have become increasingly aware that it can often be an unhealthy work environment for many people, particularly those who struggle with mental illness or are neurodiverse. With long working hours and intense stress daily, even people who consider themselves healthy or neurotypical can crumble under the pressure of a long shoot. As we emerge into a world where mental health and neurodiversity are more openly discussed, RTS London and The Film and TV Charity bring you an insightful discussion with industry professionals about their experiences and how to make our industry accessible for everyone.*Survey of 9,400 people undertaken by The Film and TV Charity in 2019/2020Chair:Lucy Tallon - Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing, The Film and TV CharityPanel:Stewart Kyasimire - Managing Director, Create AnythingLeo Anna Thomas - WBF (Wellbeing Facilitator)Zeb Chadfield - Founder, The Finish LineLennie Varvarides - Founder, DYSPLAProducers: Amber Fisher and Aradhna Tayal

This exclusive look at Walter Presents’ compelling new drama series, asking the question: can whistleblowers ever win? Inspired by the true stories of Norwegian corporate whistleblowers, Heksejakt (Witch Hunt) looks at how those fighting for justice often become targets themselves.Following an exclusive virtual screening of episode one, series co-creators Anna Bache-Wiig and Siv Rajendram Eliassen, along with lead actress Ingrid Bolsø Berdal join the Radio Times’ Frances Taylor for this live behind-the-scenes discussion ahead of Witch Hunt's release on All 4 and Channel 4.This event will include a live audience Q&A.About the Show:A mysterious invoice from an unknown Dutch company lands on the desk of Ida Waage, Chief Accountant at the influential law firm Biermann and Gude. The amount is modest but seemingly lacks basis. Soon Ida discovers that the invoice is part of a money-laundering operation on behalf of her firm’s biggest client, businessman Peer Eggen... She alerts the board, but instead of going after the ones responsible, they turn on her with harassment and fabricated accusations.Shaken, Ida alerts the Norwegian Police Unit for Investigating of Economic Crime, Økokrim, expecting this to be the end of it as far as she is concerned. Økokrim's investigator, Eirik Bråten, soon finds that the invoice is a cover-up for a transaction between Eggen and the husband of Norway's Minister of Justice. Others have also caught the smell of corruption…Chair:Frances Taylor - Streaming Editor, Radio TimesPanel:Anna Bache-Wiig - Creator and WriterSiv Rajendram Eliassen - Creator and WriterIngrid Bolsø Berdal - Lead ActressProducer: Damien Ashton-Wellman

As we approach the twentieth anniversary of the four plane tragedies of 11th September 2001, this event looks behind the scenes of the moving two-hour documentary transmitting on Channel 4, which follows six children born after their fathers died on that day.On 11th September 2001, many children lost their parents, with over 100 born after their fathers’ deaths on that fateful day. Children of 9/11: Our Story does not return to that dramatic day but looks forward, to follow some of those children, now coming of age, from all sorts of diverse backgrounds across America and the world beyond, in order to unveil the hidden cost of the tragedy.This Production Focus brings together commissioners and production staff to explore the unique approach to filming such intimate stories, and the editing of the combination of new footage, family photos, and home archives into a feature documentary. And, as this unique project is a three-way commission from Channel 4, PBS, and ARTE France, the session will also explore the collaborative process of these three significant and equal partners. Arrow Pictures, with their distinguished track record of films on 9/11, share the story of their creative process, and their sensitive exploration of 9/11's impact on an entire generation.Chair:Aradhna Tayal - Producer & Consultant, Clockhouse MediaPanel:Bill Gardner - VP, Programmes and Development, PBSDanny Horan - Head of Factual, Channel 4John Smithson - Creative Director, Arrow PicturesLucie Ridout - Executive Producer, Arrow PicturesLiz Mermin - DirectorProducer: Terry Marsh

Skewering the politicians and celebrities who need it the most! Join the Spitting Image team for a look behind the revival of this bitingly funny sketch show. Described as “one of the most innovative and daring television programmes ever conceived” by the BFI, Spitting Image was first broadcast on ITV all the way back in 1984 and continued to mercilessly caricature the great and the good of British society (and beyond) till 1996. Now rebooted in 2020 with Boris Johnson, Joe Biden, Donald Trump and XI Jinping leading the global stage, the Royal Family in tabloid turmoil (again) and a new generation of selfie-loving celebrities on our screens, Spitting Image co-creator Roger Law could hardly have chosen a better moment to re-animate his satirical puppets courtesy of the streaming service BritBox. Joined by a whole new batch of celebrated writing talent including Jeff Westbrook (of Futurama and the Simpsons fame), and a cast of characters from the UK, America and around the world, no one is safe from satirical roasting.With widespread critical and social media acclaim, the return of Spitting Image has delivered record subscribers for BritBox UK, the BBC and ITV created streaming platform, and a 4.4 million audience for ITV with a one-off US Election Special, the highest Saturday night ratings for at that time in four years (one of ITV’s biggest Saturday night ABC1 audiences of 2020).  Across official social media channels, the new Spitting Image series content has been hugely popular with over 200 million views globally and three No. 1 trending videos on YouTube.  The show is also a success internationally and it was announced earlier this year that Sky Germany will bring a bespoke Spitting Image show to German audiences.Revealing the extraordinary technical achievement of the series, join the RTS London Centre as they bring together the creative team behind the hit to talk about the challenges of updating a British classic for modern, global audiences, keeping up with an increasingly faster 24/7 news cycle and… maybe even showing off a few never before seen surprises in advance of the next series this autumn. HostBenji Wilson - Journalist and TV Critic, Private EyePanel:Roger Law - Co-Creator and Executive ProducerJeff Westbrook - Showrunnner and Executive ProducerNana Hughes - Commissioning Executive, BritBoxMatt Forde - Writer and Voice ActorBert Tyler-Moore - Consulting Producer and WriterProducer: Damien Ashton-WellmanBarnestorming Production for RTS London

Join the stellar production team behind Small Axe for a look at the love letters to resilience and triumph within London's West Indian community.Small Axe has been one of the most talked about drama series of recent years. Sharing the untold challenges and triumphs of London's West Indian community in such a truly authentic way has been a major cultural eye opener to the world and to the UK TV industry itself. Written, directed and produced by Oscar winner Sir Steve McQueen, each episode of the critically acclaimed anthology series shares the vivid stories of hard-won victories in the face of racism and intolerance. From police brutality to unofficial segregation in schooling, Small Axe shines a light on 1960s, 70s and 80s London like never before.Join the panel as they discuss the casting, costume, screenplay, research and honest stories behind each episode of the much needed series, exploring all the elements that have been central to its success.Chair:Aradhna Tayal - Producer & Consultant, Clockhouse MediaPanel:Tracey Scoffield - Executive ProducerCourttia Newland - Co-WriterGary Davy - CastingProducer: Lettija Lee

How the Creative Industries Embraced Live Streaming.Is streaming coming to the rescue of the creative industries?  The music sector is using live streaming to create high-quality Pay Per View concerts, with theatre also getting in on the streaming act. In this session we take a look at the emerging business models based around live streaming with some of the industry’s top experts and practitioners.The global pandemic wreaked havoc on the live music industry with global revenues falling some 75% in 2020 year-on-year.  No concerts, no fan engagement.  It was harsh.  But across the course of last year, artists have gone from playing pianos in their living rooms to performing in high-quality, ticketed live streams. The list included Gorillaz, Pete Tong, Foo Fighters and not forgetting Dua Lipa’s Studio 2054 livestream drawing in an impressive 5 million viewers.US rapper Travis Scott took it a step further with more than 12 million players logging into Epic Games Fortnite to watch Scott's in-game concert and millions more have since watched it via Twitch, YouTube and other streaming platformsAn unprecedented period of innovation and experimentation has created a whole new virtual concert ecosystem.  One that is also able to address the environmental concerns of touring and simultaneously side-step the recent visa fiasco for touring artists in Europe.Over the last 11 years, NT Live had sold over 11 million tickets worldwide, live streaming 83 shows, in 65 countries. The National Theatre was a godsend for drama lovers during the first lockdown, streaming some of its most famous productions on its YouTube channel for all to see through National Theatre at Home. We were treated to the likes of Tamsin Greig in Twelfth Night, Benedict Cumberbatch in Frankenstein and James Corden in One Man, Two Guvnors.Now, the theatre has built on the global success of NT Live and decided to re-launch National Theatre at Home as a streaming service, with many productions available on demand. Join our panel as we discuss if it’s full stream ahead and what impact this could have on the TV industry and more conventional broadcasters.HostNadine Dereza, Journalist and PresenterPanelLisa Burger - Joint Chief Executive, National TheatreMark Mulligan - Managing Director and Analyst, MIDiA ResearchJames Sutcliffe - Chief Marketing and Content Officer, LIVENowProducers: Nadine Dereza and Philip Barnes

Anna and Jörg Winger in conversation with Stephen Armstrong. Anna and Jörg discuss concluding the UK's highest-rated foreign-language drama after three series. Featuring a special introduction by Walter Presents Chief Creative Officer Walter Iuzzolino.With Deutschland 89, Anna and Jörg Winger conclude their Emmy Award winning 80s set political drama which has explored the fraught system that divided Germany from the end of WWII through to the fall of the Berlin Wall. At the heart of this thrilling, action packed, and at times very funny, trilogy has been series lead Martin Rauch, played boyishly by Jonas Nay. Beginning the story as a young East German border agent, coerced into life as a double agent by his Stasi agent aunt Lenora, Martin ends up a world hero and international superspy. From thwarting nuclear war in 1983 to South African arms dealing in 1986, coming face to face with Libyan terrorism, the AIDS crisis and much more. Now, in 89, he’s being pursued by just about every spy agency out there as the world he’s known his whole life comes crumbling down.Join Anna and Jörg Winger as they talk about the ins and outs of concluding the saga while doing justice to it’s characters, and the very real human stories around the fall of the Berlin Wall, alongside how they brought the 80s to life and why the message of the series is more relevant than ever.Chair:Stephen Armstrong - Journalist and AuthorPanel:Anna Winger - Creator, Writer and Executive ProducerJörg Winger - Creator, Writer and Executive ProducerProducer: Damien Ashton-Wellman

TikTok has become one of the most talked-about social media launches of recent years, but producers and broadcasters are still in the dark on how best to navigate it. TikTok has grown as a major cultural force over the past 18 months, spawning countless memes, trends and cultural moments that have set the Internet ablaze, along with launching direct on Samsung Smart TVs. With household names from the worlds of TV, sport and entertainment all joining its ranks - Strictly Come Dancing to I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Gordon Ramsay to Jamie Oliver - being part of the TikTok conversation is now an unmissable destination for all major media brands.Join TikTok’s European Strategy Manager Edward Lindeman, Public Figure Partnerships Manager Michael Djan and Digital Content Producers from ITV and the BBC, as they show you how to make an impact on the fastest growing short-form video platform in the UK. Learn the core features and functionality of TikTok, understand what resonates with its audience, find out how to work with TikTok’s creative team and see what TV shows, broadcasters and public figures are doing on the platform.This session will be of interest for independent producers, production companies and all major broadcasters across the UK looking to better understand how to connect with and be discovered by Millennials, Gen Z and beyond on TikTok, driving new kinds of engagement with their content.Chair:Lettija Lee - Culture and Entertainment PresenterPanel:Edward Lindeman - European Strategy Manager, TikTok Jen Leeming - Senior Digital Producer, Entertainment, ITV Dave Gibson - Senior Content Producer, BBC Michael Djan - Public Figure Partnerships Manager, TikTokProducer: Damien Ashton-Wellman

Are we on the verge of having too much TV?  With soaring investment in production from the streamers and American imports alongside the UK’s PSBs, it looks like we are entering a golden age of TV — particularly with drama.   However, the fragmentation of platforms to view much of this content is making it harder for viewers to easily find what they want to watch.    Is the streaming market becoming over-saturated with an increasing number of subscriptions and rising costs? Is word-of-mouth marketing more important than ever?  How do viewers navigate this new world? Why hasn’t technology caught up and come to the rescue? How do series stand out to make their return on investment?    In this session, we challenge our panel to come up with some of the answers.  Chair:Abby Robinson - TV Writer, Digital SpyPanel:Manori Ravindran - International Editor, Variety Frances Taylor - Streaming Editor, Radio Times Nigel Walley - MD, DecipherProducers: Philip Barnes and Damien Ashton-Wellman