The Root of all evil
On this, the day of BBC TWO's 40th anniversary, Jane Root, the soon-to-be-ex controller of the channel, took part in a web chat bollocks thing, to discuss the past, present and future of the channel. And, as Leelu The Cat of BTLi spotted, the subject of Red Dwarf was raised:
Newshost:
And we keep having people who want to know about specific programmes. Alistair Grant from Bath says: A channel that brought us Red Dwarf you've got to love it, will we see that again?
Jane Root:
No but you're probably going to see a great new science fiction comedy.
Newshost:
Oh yes tell us more about that.
Jane Root:
Well we haven't commissioned it yet, we're just talking to people from very good writers and some brilliant stars are thinking about a new science fiction programme. So watch this space.
"Space"! She said "space"! Like some space! Anyway, the reasons why this is complete shash:
- Ms. Root knows nothing of the show. She never commissioned a series, and is presumably unaware that the movie is in pre-production. Note how she dismisses the question with a simple 'no'.
- Very soon, Jane Root will have no control whatsoever over BBC TWO's output. Hurrah!
- Despite cast comments to the contrary, GNP have never ruled out a return to the small screen.
- This one's speculative, but whoever the new controller is, they'd be potty to knock back a show that hits the eight million viewer mark.
- The thing about Jane Root... the thing you have to remember about Jane Root... Jane Root... Jane Root is a pratt.
All this has told us is that there are currently no plans for the BBC to make any new Dwarf. And, erm, we knew that anyway. This is not newsworthy, really, but I'm at a bit of a loose-end. Still, good news about there being a new sci-fi comedy on the BBC, eh?
Comments
If Jane Root were to commission any new Dwarf, it'd probably be The Big Smeg (aka The Nation's Favourite Red Dwarf Episodes), with a different celebrity every Saturday night extolling the virtues of their favourite episode, followed by a screening of the episode. Then there'd be an internet and phone vote, with a tense run-in at the end, hosted by Griff Rhys-Jones,
at the end of which "Back To Reality" (chosen by John Sergeant) would narrowly triumph over "Gunmen of the Apocalypse" (Carol Vorderman's choice). Garry Bushell would probably pick "Pete (Part Two)".
Wait, that actually sounds quite good (apart from the Garry Bushell part). Damn.
Posted by Seb Patrick at April 21, 2004 12:08 AM
That would clearly be the best thing ever. Come on, BBC!
Posted by Ian Symes at April 21, 2004 08:26 AM
No, it'd be The Big Lovely Jubbly
Cos the Beeb only give a fuck about OFAH
Posted by Drzymala at April 21, 2004 08:28 AM
OFAH seems to have been replaced by the Orrifice
as BBC's 'jewel in the crown' judging by the Hype.
The current trend towards 'Ricky' seems to have
made the very recent 'Sit com thingy' something of an
even more pointless exercise (47th was it?)...
Whilst I like the Office to a degree, the Beeb
seem to now ignore it's chart position...
I find it strange that the top ten is a true
reflection of the nations likes, but seemingly 47th
is a non-sense (according to them)..
I also thought Mr Gervais was not doing anymore,
but seemingly Ms Root thinks/knows otherwise :-
"I'm really happy that Ricky's going to be doing more things for BBC Two and a lot more Offices."
Posted by Cpt-D at April 21, 2004 01:40 PM
The Office came 25th. And as for what Jane Root said; well, she's an ignorant fool. Gervaise has even auctioned off all the constumes and props form the Office as a final declaration that no more will be done.
He is, however, doing something else that's 'not liek the office, honest'. Something about a failed actor, or something.
Posted by Cappsy at April 21, 2004 01:52 PM
Yeah, and she spoke about Little Britain as if its success was down to her, and the masterplan to let it run on BBC3 first. Of course, it's nothing to do with the quality of its writing and performances. Oh, no.
Posted by Seb Patrick at April 21, 2004 02:21 PM
Although the following BBC thingy from January
seems to suggest more 'Office' though maybe not
a series....
I would have thought that props and costumes would
be a minor problem (Staples, Marks & Sparks etc)..
There are also more emtpty offices in city towns
than you can shake a stick at.......
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2641919.stm
Posted by Cpt-D at April 21, 2004 04:44 PM
From January *2003*.
Posted by Darrell Jones at April 21, 2004 05:12 PM
Thank christ! Don't scare me like that, Darling!
Let hope Gervais' new stuff is actually not just another Brent.
Posted by Cappsy at April 21, 2004 06:06 PM
Gervais has never played anything other than Brent, even in interviews.
Posted by Ian Symes at April 21, 2004 07:45 PM
Or in real life.
Posted by Darrell Jones at April 21, 2004 07:53 PM
Oh, I don't know. I actually quite liked him in Animals cos he was *slightly* more like himself rather than Brent.
Posted by Cappsy at April 21, 2004 08:41 PM
You preferred him in that boxing thing.
Posted by Norton Antivirus and Firewall 2004 at April 21, 2004 08:44 PM
I must appologise for the rather out of date news I managed to come up with......That'll teach me to 'surf' when I should be working, won't it...P.S they are going to make a Red Dwarf Movie, No wait, That was 2001, sorry.....
Posted by Cpt-D at April 21, 2004 11:24 PM
Had the voting been done now the Office would be top 10, but it was done at the start of 2003 as far as I know ??
And how you can say its replaced as the 'jewel in the crown' is complete bollocks.
Erm... what was on BBC1 AGAIN thisd week?
Righty.
Posted by Drzymala at April 22, 2004 07:58 AM
The end of 2003..
My point is the BBC seem to regard it now as the
'Jewel in the crown' as read in a recent Radio Times..
Maybe this was meant as the 'current' crop but there seems an awful lot of Hype..
I've nothing against the show, but it wouldn't be in my top 20...
Maybe it's more to do with a lack of opposition rather than its own brilliance...
Still, thats my own opinion and 'Bollocks' it may be.....
Posted by Cpt-D at April 22, 2004 09:57 AM
Everythings given an awful lot of hype nowadays. The Darkness, LOTR Films, Donnie 'Ok Film' Darko and countless other things.
I said it was bollocks as how can you say its replaced OFAH when OFAH will still be getting endless repeats for years and years to come.
Posted by Drzymala at April 23, 2004 12:06 PM
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