Huw Wheldon

‘The three duties of the broadcaster are to the subject, to the audience and to the craft.” Huw Wheldon’s achievements and words live on, 30 years after his death. I doubt that there is a BBC Director-General since his day who hasn’t used the great Wheldon incantation about public service broadcasting and its duty “to make the popular good and make the good popular”.

Wheldon himself was never DG – his most senior job was as Managing Director of BBC Television – but the people who did get the top job have seldom achieved his creative impact or his quotability.

For two weeks the celebs will give up the comforts of their showbiz lives, say goodbye to their family and friends and make a remote, uninhabited island their home.

Armed with nothing but the clothes on their back, some basic tools medical supplies, and the minimum of fresh water, they will be fighting for their very survival.