RTS Midlands

The networking event was a great opportunity for the RTS Centre to bring itself up to date on the progress of the many projects currently in production in the Midlands.

“We wanted to get a real insight into everything that is happening in the independent sector in the Midlands, so the RTS can work out how best to serve the sector,” said RTS Midlands Chair Caren Davies.

“We’re aiming to boost the profile of TV production in the Midlands and provide more opportunities where we can celebrate and showcase the rich diversity of the programmes that are made here,” she added.

Hosted by Slade star and local living legend, Noddy Holder, the teams were put to the test on all things “telly” – and, as an extra treat, BBC WM’s Richie Anderson fronted the interval game.

“The Radio Brainwaves”, a team from BBC Radio claimed the top spot, beating other teams from the BBC, Central News, members of the Doctors cast and The Producers’ Forum, as well as independent production companies such as North One and Full Fat Television.

How do you go about creating a new TV drama for a worldwide audience? “It has to have something recognisable globally; it has to show good old England – you need to harness a global brand,” reckoned Jude Tindall.

The writer and producer Ella Kelly were sharing their secrets with students at an RTS Midlands masterclass at the University of Wolverhampton in mid-February.

Dunnett was able to draw on her vast experience of developing and making programmes for all terrestrial channels. She joined Channel 4 from Scottish indie Raise the Roof in 2016 where her credits included BBC One’s Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman.

The masterclass helped students understand how different types of programmes fit into the schedules by unpicking popular programmes to show the simple rules of formatted factual.

The RTS Midlands event was held at the National Motorcycle Museum on Solihull on the same day as the Centre’s Programme Awards.

At the RTS Midlands Centre conference, the Director of the BBC Academy and BBC Birmingham, Joe Godwin, discussed training and apprenticeship schemes as well as the success of BBC Drama in the region.

Diversity was the theme of the workshop chaired by former BBC community affairs correspondent Barnie Choudhury, which featured actor and broadcaster Phina Oruche, BBC head of business development Tommy Nagra and Godwin.

Birmingham-born writer Phil Ford – the co-creator, with Russell T Davies, of CBBC series Wizards vs Aliens – discussed his career in front of an audience of RTS Midlands and Writers’ Guild members in October.

Ford was quizzed by BBC One Midlands Today presenter Joanne Malin at the BBC Academy in Birmingham, with the conversation covering his TV work and valuable insights into the craft of writing.

The chairs of the Society’s 13 regional centres, along with representatives from RTS HQ and Board of Trustees chair John Hardie, were tasked with creating their own Morph figurine.

Led by Aardman Productions animator Jim Parkyn, the group set about crafting their own plasticine creations, and photographer Jon Craig was on hand to capture the results.

While the RTS Midlands Chair, Isabel Clarke, scooped up the prize for the best likeness with her well-made Morph, it’s safe to say that the Centres’ Council won’t be giving up the day job yet.