Coronavirus is transforming the TV industry and pushing broadcasters to find ingenious ways to keep the nation entertained and informed, says Steve Clarke
Protect and survive weeks. News bulletins were extended as grateful millions tuned in to trusted public service broadcasters. This year’s TV calendar will have to do without such landmark occasions as Euro 2020, Eurovision, Glastonbury and the Olympics. Across the board, networks have responded with speed and ingenuity to keep the UK informed and entertained. Jamie Oliver’s new show is filmed by the celebrity chef in his own home using an iPhone – and aided by his family. Alex Mahon, CEO of Channel 4, says: “The Covid-19 outbreak presents huge challenges for broadcasters and the
Responding to the national lockdown, daytime TV is being beefed up. On Channel 4, Grayson Perry will teach a nationwide art course, while Kirstie Allsopp is fronting her own craft show. Elsewhere in the schedules, the pandemic is generating a creative response. ITV staged a Virtual Grand National using CGI and sophisticated algorithms. For devotees of arts TV, Simon Schama is to present a virtual museum tour, part of the BBC’s Culture in Quarantine initiative. Graham Norton’s BBC One chat show returns on 10 April, but hosted from his home and with virtual guests; Channel 4’s
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arch 2020 was a month like no other in television. Concern that staff might become infected by Covid-19 brought rapid changes as broadcasters cancelled filming on some of their biggest shows. For what is believed to be the first time in more than half a century, even the set of Coronation Street went dark. Other high-profile suspensions in the production freeze were Emmerdale, EastEnders, Peaky Blinders, Line of Duty and Holby City. Schedules were upended to accommodate new programmes
Feel-good entertainment: Outnumbered commissioned for the pandemic, such as Channel 4’s Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On, a cookery show for an era when basics such as eggs are not always readily available. On BBC One, Question Time – with each panellist socially distanced – was promoted to primetime, albeit minus an audience and screened from the same location every week. Presenters such as Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid and BBC journalist George Alagiah (who tested positive for Covid-19) self-isolated. In common with many other presenters, Reid broadcast from home for two
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Practical advice: Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On creative industries, and we’re doing all we can to support our partners at independent production companies to help them through this. “Together, we are at our best when we use our creativity and ingenuity to respond to challenging circumstances, and I’m incredibly grateful to them for the way that they are working with us to respond to this and help entertain and inform our audiences through these strange and unprecedented times.” Thinking outside the box is second nature to commissioners and producers, and new ways of working have already become commonplace.
new daily series The Steph Show was brought forward and is broadcast live from Steph McGovern’s home. Also, expect more feel-good fare in primetime following the BBC’s decision to run classic comedy such as Gavin & Stacey and Outnumbered in BBC One peak time on Saturday evenings. With most of us marooned indoors, TV audiences have increased hugely – and not only for news programmes. “The figures are amazing,” says one executive. “Young people are watching linear-TV in big numbers.” On 21 March, ITV’s entertainment blockbuster Saturday Night Takeaway
