B.B.C. Improvised To Beat Studio Blackout

Press, Volume C, Issue 29497, 26 April 1961, Page 10

B.B.C. Improvised To Beat Studio Blackout

(From the London Correspondent of “The Press"!

LONDON. An electricians’ strike emergency did not find BB.C. television wanting in -ability to carry on in the dark or to find excellent substitutes for live programmes that cannot be televised without powerful studio lights. > The daily documentary programme “Tonight” abandoned Its blacked-out studio D at Lime Grove. Its compere. Cliff Michelmore —after Richard Dimbleby, the 8.8.C.*s least flappable commentator —went with his team on to a studio fire escape 100 feet above a rumbling train route to catch the fading light of a damp London evening. “We decided about lunchtime. for one reason or another, .to try to get a fresbair look into the programme,” Michelmore told viewers as they overlooked Shepherd's Bush. With the imperturbable geniality that has won him a reputation as the most amiable and relaxed of television men, he reported: "The weather has turned out disappointing. It’s raining like mad.” Most of the programme was on film. The interviewer. Derek Hart, worked live from a dim, balcony room. The West Indian singer, and guitarist. Cy Grant, donned a raincoat, emerged from a cellar and appropriately corrupted a calypso song: “Day-O the daylight goes and I wanna go home.” . For the camera crew and Michelmore the work was wet. For the audience, the improvisation was a delight: instead of a world map backdrop they saw a brick wall: without a desk, Michelmore leaned on an iron handrail. Tube trains rattled below, rain streamed down. Earlier, the 8.8. C. cancelled two live programmes, the popular "What’s My Line?” panel guessing game, and a light musical programme. Instead, viewers saw a Columbia Broadcasting System film. “Blood, Sweat and Tears—plus 20 Years,” an hour look at the British through the eyes of an American television reporter. This film was a fair penance for recently showing two strongly critical films about America: one on Chicago, the other “Harvest of Shame” (a film which embarrassed its narrator. Mr Ed. Murrow. in his new role as director of the United States Information Agency). This was a grim picture on the life of migratory . wdrkers in America. In “Blood and Sweat” the criticism of Britons was largely self-criticism by men and Women who were inter-

viewed. Viewers found this hour of introspection unexpected and fascinating. Seventy telephoned the 8.8. C. complaining that it was "anti-Brittsh.” Other programmes were cut or replaced by film to keep the screens of insatiable viewers alive. So well did the corporation face the challenge to keep broadcasting that it almost seemed a shame wben, within hours of declaring a stoppage, the electricians were told by their Communist-controlled Electrical Trades Union that they should return to work. The 135 electricians stopped work over the redistribution of working hours after they had been reduced to 42 a week. The 8.8. C. had cut the two hours from the nine hours and a half night shift. The men wanted their 14-hour working day reduced.