Old Blues who have worked at CH

Deb GP · Post by **Deb GP** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:17 pm

J.R. wrote:I love the joke on 'Mock The Week', this week.

Priceless.

I went to see the last in the present series being recorded last night at White City. It was Fantastic. But they have to cut (censor!) so much of it. We were there two and a half hours. I was in stitches. Actually - the censoring bit did upset me a little. It seems there is so much we can't say in case it offends people. Two that were axed from the show were not mentioning that David Blunket is blind and that Muslims must be pretty dedicated to pray five times a day as many of us can't even manage to eat five pieces of fruit and veg a day.

Scone Lover · Post by **Scone Lover** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:27 pm

Where did you get tickets from Deb? I have always wondered how you get on these shows

Deb GP · Post by **Deb GP** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 4:22 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/whatson/tickets/

Getting tickets is a bit of a lottery and they don't guarantee entry to the show. If you're late (on time even!) you may not get in. So far we've seen Mock the Week, the Late Edition and the Now Show. Alternatively, SRO Audiences is a good TV ticket provider (QI, the F word, et c)

We also saw some other "new" comedy show called Blunder which was being recorded. We walked out halfway through. It was terrible (in terms of being slow). It hasn't made it onto air...

Scone Lover · Post by **Scone Lover** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:52 am

Hey thats great, thanks Deb, I will have to see if I can get tickets for a show that Ann might like.

J.R. · Post by **J.R.** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:48 pm

Deb GP wrote:
J.R. wrote:I love the joke on 'Mock The Week', this week.

Priceless.
I went to see the last in the present series being recorded last night at White City. It was Fantastic. But they have to cut (censor!) so much of it. We were there two and a half hours. I was in stitches. Actually - the censoring bit did upset me a little. It seems there is so much we can't say in case it offends people. Two that were axed from the show were not mentioning that David Blunket is blind and that Muslims must be pretty dedicated to pray five times a day as many of us can't even manage to eat five pieces of fruit and veg a day.

I watched 'Mock' last night and BOTH the items you mentioned were included !

That was the last in the series. Roll on the next series.

Deb GP · Post by **Deb GP** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 2:21 pm

They didn't bang on about the blindess for quite as long as they did in the studio. The producer made them re-record bits of that four times begging them to please not mention the fact that Blunkett is blind- which of course meant they went ahead and did it.
I was surprised to see the vegetable bit. They made the comedian re-record alternatives as the lawyer sat in the producers box said it was too contentious. They cut his punchline though. And they cut lots of the things you wouldn't hear said on Blue Peter. They were hilarious. And they made them re-record a couple of sentances with an "allegedly" or a "people like that" so as not to liable anyone.
And Frankie - wow - he really is offensive - but very very amusing with it. He was well and truely snipped.
They also cut the bits about Russell constantly getting pins and needles in his legs, about Frankie getting death threats from a prisoner for suggesting lewd things about male prisoners, and most of Mark Steele's random rantings. Mark Steel's lectures on BBC4 were very good - but he's not quite as polished in a stand up situation - it was a little disappointing.

Scone Lover · Post by **Scone Lover** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:22 am

So how long do these recording sessions last?
Do they tell the audience how to behave before shooting starts

Deb GP · Post by **Deb GP** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:10 pm

I guess it dependson the nature of the show.

When I went to Going Live (that Saturday morning show with Philip Schofield back in the late eighties) on my third form, we were there from 6am. My husband and I were on a big BBC game show in 1999 called 2000-1 (we were hoping to win a year off work! - instead my husband won us a two week holiday to the Caribbean - which was nice) and that lasted ALL day (10am until about 7pm). Even though half the audience had been knocked out in the first fifteen minutes we still had to sit there for the rest of the day. That was tedious... until Hubby made the final that is. Then I was very interested.

Boozing in the Green Room with Lenny Henry (he's SOOO tall), Parkie and Katie Hill afterwards was quite fun too.

But back to the question - Mock the Week was arrive at 1830 and we left about 2130. The time flew by - it was that good. There is usually a warm up comedian for fifteen minutes and to cover any technical outs during filming (there were no technical stops in Mock the Week - which was excellent and made it easier to stay engaged - It was a very slick show). The Producer usually comes on as well before hand to say a few words of welcome and introduce the show. He was very funny too. Obviously, there are some pauses while they move cameras or they have to re-film a sentance at the end for a link or because someone used the "c" word.

The Now Show was just over an hour. The Late Edition was nearly two hours. They generally record more material than they need
Jools Holland Show took *hours* of playing the same piece over and over again to get a variety of camera shots. Blunder had been going a painful two hours when we walked out. It had a terrible warm up act too who was really annoying.

Some of the BBC recordings have a bar / cafÃ© outside which is really good if you've rushed there from work. And let's face it, a civilised swift pint or two beofrehand is always going to oil the chuckle muscle.

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:21 pm

One of the artists whose CD we distribute was once on 'Later with Jools.......'.

It was interesting watching the setting up and rehearsals during the day, but come recording time it ran very smoothly, pretty much as you see it on TV. There was only one short stoppage for part of a chat Jools was having with some poet (can't remember his name).

Given the number of acts in the studio at the same time it was pretty impressive stuff, and it was very nice to have the run of Broadcasting House for most of the day. The club bar at the top of the building is very nice!

Scone Lover · Post by **Scone Lover** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:04 pm

So it is the centre to a near complete day out. Sounds like real fun, I will have to see if I can get some tickets for a show.

Scone Lover · Post by **Scone Lover** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:08 pm

Getting back on topic before I get moaned at again, are there any OBs presently working at CH and what do they do/

My first Housemaster Mr Waller was an OB and a former button grecian as he always used to point out to us.

blondie95 · Post by **blondie95** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:36 pm

There is a clasics teacher called Charlie Farq...... cant remember rest of name who is an OB

Scone Lover · Post by **Scone Lover** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:20 am

Is he a dish then Amy?

Mrs C. · Post by **Mrs C.** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:03 am

he`s a she!

Richard Ruck · Post by **Richard Ruck** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:35 am

Scone Lover wrote:Getting back on topic before I get moaned at again, are there any OBs presently working at CH and what do they do/

My first Housemaster Mr Waller was an OB and a former button grecian as he always used to point out to us.

Hey Sean, have a look at the first post in this thread - it's quite informative and, for a Plum post, very long!