North Pier, Tynemouth
TUESDAY 15 JANUARY 2008
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BBC
In an effort to tear away the veils of almost mystical awe surrounding the BBC - and in the spirit of honesty and openness which has long been the BBC’s second motto - I have decided to pull back the chenille curtain just a little so that truckshunters can know a little more about my employer and thus become even more well-disposed towards it than they are already. After all, none of us wants the BBC to acquire the ‘secret society’ aura of special handshakes, ‘speaking in tongues’ and performing ludicrous rituals with rolled-up trouser legs to which other august and ancient bodies have succumbed.
The BBC is the oldest and unarguably the most famous broadcasting organisation in the world. The BBC 'brand' is one of the top three most recognised brands on Earth. The sheer magnitude of these facts - and the awe with which my employer is regarded in all four corners of the world - can sometimes serve to conceal the human face of the organisation. It should always be borne in mind that the BBC virtually invented broadcasting, which was as new in 1922 (when the BBC was founded) as Web 2.0 and digital social networking are now. Newer, in fact. The waters were totally uncharted and the fledgling BBC had to steer a course into completely unknown territory.
As with any pioneering organisation like this, superstition and ritual to ensure success quickly took hold and as you would expect, many of these are widely maintained and observed to this day - partly to uphold the BBC’s traditions and partly out of respect for the avuncular nature of the BBC itself.
For example, immediately before going on-air, all presenters make a kite sign with their hands - index finger to index finger and thumb to thumb. No-one knows the origin of this ritual, although it is thought to be a reference to Herbert Fosset Smyth’s ‘human kite aerial’, used for the first ever outside broadcast in 1923 from The Grimsby Cod-Gutting Festival. Unfortunately, a lightning storm blew up. Mr Smyth was buried at sea after the accident.
Naturally, all BBC studio premises display a prominent picture of Lord Reith and on ‘Reith Day’ (which this year falls on October 11) the portrait is draped in purple velvet (kept in the ‘Founder’s Box’) and staff gather to intone the Reithian undertaking to ‘inform, educate and entertain’. For unknown reasons, this does not happen in Wales.
Additionally, each studios proudly possesses its ‘relic’ of 'The Reekie Old Scowler ’ (as Lord Reith is respectfully known to BBC staff). Every studio keeps its relic in a glass container which must be on public view. Our Reithian memento in Newcastle is the lower half of His Lordship’s dentures, which grin unsettlingly at Marlene, our receptionist, all day. As has been pointed out to her many times, she should count herself lucky. The reception staff at BBC Radio Suffolk have to gaze upon a much more upsetting relic than that.
CONTACT ME
Post comments on this blog or contact me in any one (or more) of these ways....
ian.robinson@bbc.co.uk
text 07786 200954 (while the programme is on-air)
call (between about 0545 and 0630 Monday to Friday) 0191 232 6565
Ian Robinson, The Nightshift, BBC Radio Newcastle, Spital Tongues, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE99 1RN
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BBC
In an effort to tear away the veils of almost mystical awe surrounding the BBC - and in the spirit of honesty and openness which has long been the BBC’s second motto - I have decided to pull back the chenille curtain just a little so that truckshunters can know a little more about my employer and thus become even more well-disposed towards it than they are already. After all, none of us wants the BBC to acquire the ‘secret society’ aura of special handshakes, ‘speaking in tongues’ and performing ludicrous rituals with rolled-up trouser legs to which other august and ancient bodies have succumbed.
The BBC is the oldest and unarguably the most famous broadcasting organisation in the world. The BBC 'brand' is one of the top three most recognised brands on Earth. The sheer magnitude of these facts - and the awe with which my employer is regarded in all four corners of the world - can sometimes serve to conceal the human face of the organisation. It should always be borne in mind that the BBC virtually invented broadcasting, which was as new in 1922 (when the BBC was founded) as Web 2.0 and digital social networking are now. Newer, in fact. The waters were totally uncharted and the fledgling BBC had to steer a course into completely unknown territory.
As with any pioneering organisation like this, superstition and ritual to ensure success quickly took hold and as you would expect, many of these are widely maintained and observed to this day - partly to uphold the BBC’s traditions and partly out of respect for the avuncular nature of the BBC itself.
For example, immediately before going on-air, all presenters make a kite sign with their hands - index finger to index finger and thumb to thumb. No-one knows the origin of this ritual, although it is thought to be a reference to Herbert Fosset Smyth’s ‘human kite aerial’, used for the first ever outside broadcast in 1923 from The Grimsby Cod-Gutting Festival. Unfortunately, a lightning storm blew up. Mr Smyth was buried at sea after the accident.
Naturally, all BBC studio premises display a prominent picture of Lord Reith and on ‘Reith Day’ (which this year falls on October 11) the portrait is draped in purple velvet (kept in the ‘Founder’s Box’) and staff gather to intone the Reithian undertaking to ‘inform, educate and entertain’. For unknown reasons, this does not happen in Wales.
Additionally, each studios proudly possesses its ‘relic’ of 'The Reekie Old Scowler ’ (as Lord Reith is respectfully known to BBC staff). Every studio keeps its relic in a glass container which must be on public view. Our Reithian memento in Newcastle is the lower half of His Lordship’s dentures, which grin unsettlingly at Marlene, our receptionist, all day. As has been pointed out to her many times, she should count herself lucky. The reception staff at BBC Radio Suffolk have to gaze upon a much more upsetting relic than that.
CONTACT ME
Post comments on this blog or contact me in any one (or more) of these ways....
ian.robinson@bbc.co.uk
text 07786 200954 (while the programme is on-air)
call (between about 0545 and 0630 Monday to Friday) 0191 232 6565
Ian Robinson, The Nightshift, BBC Radio Newcastle, Spital Tongues, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE99 1RN
NOTE
Please bear in mind that the views expressed in this blog are my own and NOT the views of the BBC.
3 comments:
Absolutly excellent piece. Hugely informative! And you work for them, you lucky broadcaster you.
Lawrence
You don't know the half of it. More of the BBC's secrets will be revealed in due course.
Hmm, sonds juicy..... can't wait.
Loz
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