The Late Show(British TV programme)

The Late Show(1989–1995) was aBritish televisionarts magazine programme that was broadcast onBBC2weeknights at 11.15pm—directly afterNewsnight—often referred to as the "graveyard slot"in terms of television scheduling.

Details

The programme was commissioned byBBC2ControllerAlan Yentob,who had a background in serious arts documentaries, but the production team – led byMichael Jackson– were mostly from youth programming backgrounds includingNetwork 7.The programme combined a number of format elements from earlier BBC arts magazine programmes such asMonitor,Late Night Line-UpandHorror Cafè(hosted by famed horror writerClive Barker). In the week, during the first two series, the slot featured a round-table discussion hosted byClive Jameson Friday nights.

With the cancellation ofThe Old Grey Whistle Test,The Late Showfeatured music performances, live or pre-recorded, includingVan Morrison,Leonard Cohen,Public Enemy,Joni Mitchell,The Stone Roses,Dick Dale,The Cramps,The Smashing Pumpkins,The Fall,R.E.M.,Little Village,Jane's AddictionandJeff Buckley.At the time,The Late Showcame under the now closed Music and Arts Department of BBC Television, which also producedOmnibusandArena.

The forty and sometimes fifty-minute programmes were presented mostlylivefrom a bare black set inLime Grove Studio Duntil 14 June 1991, when it transferred toBBC Television CentreinWhite City,westLondon.The regular format was for a single presenter to provide links for a number of packaged features and interviews or panel discussion in the studio. Some editions were given over to in-depth coverage of a single topic, for example a whole programme onNational Poetry Day.The 1989–1995 revival ofFace to Face,this time presented byJeremy Isaacs,was also an element of the programme.

Some weeks would be given over to one subject across the week, such asItalyweek,Berlinweek and, in 1995,Irelandweek. Someoutside broadcastswere made at the time by theLate Showteam including the ceremonies to award theBooker Prizeand theMercury Music Prize.Most items were pre-recorded onvideotape.Amongst the directors who worked on the programme arePaul Tickell,David Upshal,Sheree Folkson,Mark Cooper,David Evans,Anand Tucker,Mary Harron,Vanessa EngleandSharon Maguire.Later in the programme's run a regular panel discussion –Late Review– was introduced looking at new films, books and plays and other arts and cultural events. Regular contributors to this includedTony Parsons,Tom PaulinandAllison Pearson,and it was chaired byThe GuardianjournalistMark Lawson.

In 1991, Jackson left the programme to become Head of Music and Arts at the BBC; he later became Controller ofBBC2in 1993. From 1992The Late Showwas joined by the follow-on weekly music slotLater with Jools Hollandthat also drew away the programme's appeal to popular music acts. As Controller ofBBC1,Alan Yentob began to revamp that channel's arts coverage which also competed editorially withThe Late Show.

The programme proper was cancelled by Jackson in 1995.Late Reviewcontinued until March 2013 when it was moved from BBC Two toBBC Fourand went from a weekly to a monthly broadcast slot. It went through a number of incarnations, and now entitledThe Review Show,it is produced by the team that makesNewsnight.Former EditorRoly Keatingis now the Chief Executive of theBritish Library.Janice Hadlowis now the controller ofBBC Two.

Presenters

The Late Show's presenters were mostly picked from up-and-coming writers and critics rather than professional broadcasters or journalists. For many it was their first exposure on mainstream television.

Regular presenters included:

• Paul Morley,presenter of first episode
• Tracey MacLeod
• Michael Ignatieff
• Sarah Dunant
• Clive James
• Waldemar Januszczak
• Matthew Collings
• Kirsty Wark
• Francine Stock
• Mark Lawson

Occasional presenters:

• Melvyn Bragg
• Jeremy Isaacs
• Fintan O'Toole
• Susan Sontag
• Clive Barker

Regular reporters:

• Benjamin Woolley
• Tom Brook

Notable moments

• Outburst by actorKeith Allen(eventually directed at a producer on the studio floor) during a round-table discussion on comedy. He mockedFarrukh Dhondywho was sitting at the table saying "you don't have a chip on your shoulder, you've got avindaloo"Allen had been drinking heavily and eventually stormed off the set, hurling abuse at the producer.
• Host Michael Ignatieff barking at a guest "Don't patronise me!"
• In the 1990 showHorror Cafèfamed author, director and horror master Clive Barker welcomed a discussion of fellow horror writers, directors and icons such as Lisa Tuttle, John Carpenter, Roger Corman, Ramsey Campbell and Peter Adkins.
• Studio power was accidentally cut-off whenThe Stone Roseswere performingMade of Stone.As presenter Tracey Macleod struggled to cover and link to the next item lead singerIan Browncould be heard repeatedly shouting "Amateurs".
• The autocue freezing on Matthew Collings and him saying "I haven't got my script"
• Matthew Collings talking to artistMichael Craig-Martindiscussing one of his works on display in the studio: a glass of water on a high shelf which the artist claimed was an oak tree.
• Sarah Dunant interviewingSalman Rushdiewhilst he was still officially in hiding following thefatwacondemning him to death.
• XTCperforming 'Books Are Burning' from theirNonsuchalbum in 1992. After the group had stopped playing live ten years previously, it was a rare live performance from them.
• An episode featured prisoners atHM Prison Wakefieldperforming an opera with the help ofOpera North.

External links

• The Late ShowatIMDb
• The Late Show,BFIdatabase, with episode listings