News & Analysis
BBC Arabic ‘civil war’ runs up £65,000 bill BY JAke kANter
The BBC has spent more than £65,000 on legal wrangles with staff at BBC Arabic, according to figures seen by Broadcast. The Global News division was hit by 10 employment disputes from nine individuals between 1 April 2010 and 15 July 2013, which resulted in compensation and settlement payments of £48,363. It paid a further £16,727 in barrister fees. The figures, released under a Freedom of Information Act request, highlight some of the internal tensions at BBC Arabic, which were revealed by Broadcast in October last year. At the time, insiders complained of a “civil war” between management and staff. Of the 10 cases, three were withdrawn by the claimants and one was struck out before reaching tribunal. The BBC won two, and a third was partially upheld in its favour, but it lost one case and settled out of court for a further two. BBC Arabic reporter Ahmed Elsheikh successfully proved at a tribunal in November 2013 that he was blocked from securing a promotion because of his involvement
BBC Arabic: Global News division dealt with 10 employment disputes
with the National Union of Journalists. He was awarded £9,000 in compensation by the BBC. In another tribunal, the BBC successfully defended itself against a claim by broadcast journalist Said Shehata that he was passed over for promotion because he was a Coptic Christian. Shehata is understood to be appealing the ruling. Broadcast can also reveal that presenters on BBC Arabic have been warned that they should improve the way they treat make-up artists. The disclosure was made by BBC director general
Tony Hall in a letter to Labour MP Stella Creasy last week. The latter raised questions about the treatment of a make-up artist in her constituency. BBC Arabic installed Tarik Kafala as head of service last year and the consensus is that the division’s working culture has improved. A spokeswoman said: “BBC Arabic has undergone significant structural changes over the past year. A system of informal mediation has been implemented to resolve staff issues before they become intractable.”
BBC1 places order for full series of Still Open All Hours BBC1 is to keep Still Open All Hours in business, committing to a full series after the successful update of the 1970s comedy at Christmas. The corporation’s in-house comedy unit will produce a 6 x 30-minute run, with the aim of getting it on air in the autumn. BBC Productions controller of fiction and entertainment Mark Freeland said creating a full series was “irresistible” given the Boxing Day performance, when it was seen by 12.2 million (44%). That made it the most-watched comedy on UK television since an episode of The Vicar Of Dibley in 2007. Freeland said star David Jason had wanted to assess how well the revival was received before committing to a full series and was now “dying to do more”. Introducing a love interest for Jason’s Granville is a priority for writer Roy Clarke, who has begun scripting the series. Still Open All Hours was ordered by BBC comedy controller Shane Allen and BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore. Gareth Edwards will produce and Freeland is exec producer. Allen said: “Roy has done a terrific job of updating the characters while keeping what was warmhearted and enjoyable about the original series.”
CPL developing controversial dating format for C4 BY JAke kANter
Channel 4 is in the early stages of developing a controversial Danish dating format in which strangers get married after meeting each other for the first time. The commercial broadcaster is in talks with CPL Productions to work up Married At First Sight for a UK audience, after it was taken to series in Germany, France and Australia. The format is distributed by Red Arrow International, which is owned by CPL’s parent company, Red Arrow Entertainment. The A League Of Their Own indie has been helping to pitch it to UK 6 | Broadcast | 31 January 2014
It sounds horrific, but it is one of the most life-affirming shows you are ever likely to see Murray Bolan, CPL
Married At First Sight: Danish format
broadcasters, and is now in formal talks with C4. The original Danish show is billed as an “extreme social
experiment”, in which six singletons marry a complete stranger. Cameras follow the couples’ every move, from their honeymoon to their first six weeks living together. The couples then return to their families and friends to reflect on their experience before they are reunited with their spouse. At that
time they decide to either stay together or file for divorce. Red Arrow’s Snowman Productions created the format in Denmark and it has been a ratings hit on public broadcaster DR3. CPL creative director Murray Boland said: “On the face of it, it sounds horrific, but it is one of the most life-affirming shows you are ever likely to see. If we can get that right, it will be one of those programmes that makes people question their lives – in a good way.” A C4 spokeswoman said: “We can confirm we are developing an idea with CPL based on the Danish format.” ➤ See Interview, page 26 www.broadcastnow.co.uk