Midlands

The West Midlands is my home and I bloody love it. So why do I barely see it on the big old telly? Don’t get me wrong, I know everyone from the Spaghetti Junction to Bolivia loves Peaky Blinders – it’s a great show – but it hardly feels like it’s created here.

I enjoy some gangster shizz set in my neck of the woods as much as the next former criminal but, as soon as some of the characters open their mouths, I’m hearing accents that sound like a Welsh guy who has spent considerable time in Berlin, not Small Heath.

Aimed at 16-24 year olds who are interested in working in the broadcasting industry, at places like the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, the fair will feature people who have experience working on some of the country’s biggest shows including Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor and The Great British Bake Off.  Massive youth brands such as Radio 1 and BBC Three will be in attendance; plus the BBC’s training arm - the Academy and locally made BBC One daytime drama Doctors and BBC WM. More names are being added to the line up every day. 

Green, the first head of technology at ITV Network and the founder of the RTS London Centre, came armed with a series of fascinating test transmissions and films from the 1930s.

The BBC officially launched its TV service from Alexandra Palace London on 2 November 1936. Its first major outside broadcast was the coronation of George VI in May 1937. This technological breakthrough was captured in a BBC film, Televising the Coronation Procession, which Green showed at the event.

The Baird Lecture traditionally focuses on how technology influences TV production and BBC One’s Planet Earth II is the perfect example of recent innovation.

Gunton, who is creative director of factual at the BBC’s Natural History Unit, explained how the latest technology has shaped the content of programmes.

The production team used infra-red cameras to shoot the amorous rhinos and the baby iguana who outran the snakes hot on its tail.