Arena: Mike Leigh: Making Plays
02:20 am - 03:40 am, Tuesday, January 13 on BBC Four (9)
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About this Broadcast
Mike Leigh: Making Plays
A 1982 profile in which the dramatist talks about his career and demonstrates the unique processes of character-building and improvisation that led to such successes as Abigail's Party, Grown-Ups and Nuts in May. With contributions by Sam Kelly Alison Steadman, David Threlfall Eric Allan, Marion Bailey, Brenda Blethyn, Philip Davis, Sheila Kelley and Antony Sher
subtitles
Arts/Culture (without Music)
Documentary
General
News/Current Affairs
More Information
Did You Know..
Alan Yentob
(Series editor)
Born:
March 11, 1947
in
London
Best Known For:
His stint as a BBC TV executive.
Early-life:
Born in London on 11 March, 1947. He and his non-identical twin brother, Robert, who went on to run the family textile business, boarded at the King's School, Ely. Alan passed his A-levels at 16, and left school for spells in France at the Sorbonne in Paris and the Grenoble University before studying law at Leeds University. He made his first foray into TV as a general trainee in 1968, taking his first job in the BBC World Service. In 1978, he created the mould-breaking arts series Arena, and was the programme's editor until 1985. During this time, Arena produced a number of influential documentaries including The Private Life of The Ford Cortina and My Way.
Career:
In 1985, Yentob became the BBC's Head of Music and Arts and stayed in the post until 1988, when he was appointed Controller of BBC Two. Under Yentob's five-year stewardship, he introduced many innovations in programming including The Late Show, Have I Got News For You, Absolutely Fabulous and Wallace and Gromit's The Wrong Trousers. He was appointed Controller of BBC One in 1993 and worked at the BBC under the title of Creative Director until he resigned in 2015. He has fronted the Imagine strand, the BBC's answer to the South Bank Show, since 2003.
Quote:
"The relationship between TV and film is a very potent one. It's extraordinary how much British talent there is."
Trivia:
He is a patron of the Shakespeare Schools Festival, a charity that enables children to perform Shakespeare in professional theatres.
