The Film programme
Encyclopedia
The Film programme is a British
film review
television programme, broadcast weekly on BBC One
, presented by Claudia Winkleman
and Danny Leigh. The title of the show changes each year to incorporate the year of broadcast, with the current series being Film 2011, but when referring to successive series, the BBC calls it "the Film programme". The show was previously presented by Barry Norman
between 1972 and 1998, and by Jonathan Ross
from 1999 to 2010, before receiving a format revamp with the introduction of Claudia Winkleman as host from 2010.
, Iain Johnstone
and Barry Norman
.
, while his first studio interviewees were Charlton Heston
and James Stewart
.
Barry Norman remained as host until 1998, except for a few months in 1982, when he was busy with other projects and Iain Johnstone returned as temporary host. Norman eventually left the show after signing a contract with BSkyB, with his last appearance being at the end of June 1998 hosting Film '98.
With the series now described as the BBC's flagship cinema review, Norman's departure to Sky was said by The Guardian
in 2002 to have been "seismic", and due to its nature and timing, his exit was described as being acrimonious. Norman said of the departure, "I honestly believe that if they had said to me, 'We would like you to work out your contract but then we don't want you any more,' they would have given me quite a big send off - at least they would have had a drinks party. But because I left at a time that was not convenient for them I became a non-person. Even on the last day, nobody called up to say, 'Good luck in your future life,' or even 'drop dead'.". Norman also said of his film reviewing style, "I always knew that nobody's right and nobody's wrong in criticism. The only thing I could do was to make sure that whatever I said was what I really believed.".
was chosen as the next host, and presented the show from 1999 until March 2010. Reflecting the change in host, the phrase "with Jonathan Ross" was appended to the show's title, although the show is often still referred to simply as 'Film (year)'.
With Norman having left at age 64, it was reported that the BBC were looking for a younger presenter for the show, and had chosen Ross from a shortlist of test broadcasts which also included Mariella Frostrup
and Johnny Vaughan
. Ross began presenting the show as Film '99 in March 1999, on a contract reportedly worth £500,000 a year. Ross, described by the BBC as a long time film buff and fan of cult movies, stated that he had dreamt of doing the job since childhood.
To mark the turn of the millennium, the viewers of Film 99 voted in a poll to name their favourite film of the century, with the top 100 published by the BBC and with Star Wars (1977)
coming top overall. After the millennium, the show switched from the two digit format to using the full year in the title, i.e Film 2000, Film 2001...
Film 2008 was briefly removed from the schedules during Ross's 12-week suspension from all BBC activities following the Sachsgate controversy.
Ross presented the Film show for the last time on 17 March 2010. This came after Ross announced in January 2010 that he would not be renewing his BBC contract, with his BBC One chat show and BBC Radio 2 show both also ending in July 2010.
took over as host of Film 2010 in a revamped format. This saw the adoption of a live studio format and the introduction of a co-presenter, film journalist Danny Leigh. The first episode of Film 2010 with Claudia Winkleman aired on Wednesday October 13 at 10.45pm.
BBC Radio 5 Live's Mark Kermode
had been identified as a likely successor to Ross for the show. In March 2010 however, Kermode ruled himself out of the job, stating he had not been approached and did not expect that he would be, given the contrast between his uncompromising views and forthright opinions and his belief the show followed a more moderate line, and instead, Claudia Winkleman was announced as a surprise choice for the presenter's role.
Damon Wise of Empire
feared that Winkleman's appointment represented a rejection of film knowledge as a requirement for a host of the show, and that it might forestall the demise of the series in the same manner as Top of the Pops
, as "another flagship BBC show that was allowed to slide out of existence". The Guardian stated, through her recent hosting of Sky Television's coverage of The Oscars, Winkleman had "proved both a passionate and engaging advocate of cinema", while her husband Kris Thykier is a film producer with credits on several mainstream releases. She also presents a weekly arts show on BBC Radio 2 on Friday nights, which covers film.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film review
Film criticism
Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films, individually and collectively. In general, this can be divided into journalistic criticism that appears regularly in newspapers, and other popular, mass-media outlets and academic criticism by film scholars that is informed by film theory and...
television programme, broadcast weekly on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
, presented by Claudia Winkleman
Claudia Winkleman
Claudia Anne I. Winkleman is an English television presenter, film critic, radio personality and journalist.- Early life and family :...
and Danny Leigh. The title of the show changes each year to incorporate the year of broadcast, with the current series being Film 2011, but when referring to successive series, the BBC calls it "the Film programme". The show was previously presented by Barry Norman
Barry Norman
Barry Leslie Norman, CBE is a British novelist, impresario, film critic and media personality. He was the BBC film critic on television from 1972 to 1998.-Early life:...
between 1972 and 1998, and by Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
from 1999 to 2010, before receiving a format revamp with the introduction of Claudia Winkleman as host from 2010.
Early years
The show was first broadcast on 16 November 1971 but it was only aired in the South East area of the UK under the title Film '71. It was then aired in all areas of the UK in 1972. The show was first hosted by several presenters including Joan Bakewell, Frederic RaphaelFrederic Raphael
Frederic Michael Raphael is an American-born, British-educated screenwriter, and also a prolific novelist and journalist.-Life and career:...
, Iain Johnstone
Iain Johnstone
Iain Johnstone is an English author and broadcaster.In April 2010 he published two books, 'Streep: A Life in Film' a biography of Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep and the novel'Pirates of the Mediterranean'....
and Barry Norman
Barry Norman
Barry Leslie Norman, CBE is a British novelist, impresario, film critic and media personality. He was the BBC film critic on television from 1972 to 1998.-Early life:...
.
Barry Norman
Barry Norman became permanent host of the series in 1972. For his first episode on Film 72, his first film review was of The Last Picture ShowThe Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show is a 1971 American drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, adapted from a semi-autobiographical 1966 novel of the same name by Larry McMurtry....
, while his first studio interviewees were Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
and James Stewart
James Stewart
James Stewart was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart may also refer to:-Noblemen:*James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland*James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn James Stewart (1908–1997) was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart...
.
Barry Norman remained as host until 1998, except for a few months in 1982, when he was busy with other projects and Iain Johnstone returned as temporary host. Norman eventually left the show after signing a contract with BSkyB, with his last appearance being at the end of June 1998 hosting Film '98.
With the series now described as the BBC's flagship cinema review, Norman's departure to Sky was said by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
in 2002 to have been "seismic", and due to its nature and timing, his exit was described as being acrimonious. Norman said of the departure, "I honestly believe that if they had said to me, 'We would like you to work out your contract but then we don't want you any more,' they would have given me quite a big send off - at least they would have had a drinks party. But because I left at a time that was not convenient for them I became a non-person. Even on the last day, nobody called up to say, 'Good luck in your future life,' or even 'drop dead'.". Norman also said of his film reviewing style, "I always knew that nobody's right and nobody's wrong in criticism. The only thing I could do was to make sure that whatever I said was what I really believed.".
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan RossJonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
was chosen as the next host, and presented the show from 1999 until March 2010. Reflecting the change in host, the phrase "with Jonathan Ross" was appended to the show's title, although the show is often still referred to simply as 'Film (year)'.
With Norman having left at age 64, it was reported that the BBC were looking for a younger presenter for the show, and had chosen Ross from a shortlist of test broadcasts which also included Mariella Frostrup
Mariella Frostrup
Mariella Frostrup is a Norwegian-born journalist and television presenter, well known on British TV and radio, mainly for arts programmes. Her 'gravelly' voice was once voted the sexiest female voice on TV, and research to find 'the perfect voice' has indicated that Frostrup's voice is one of the...
and Johnny Vaughan
Johnny Vaughan
Jonathan Randall Vaughan is an English broadcaster and journalist. Vaughan has become well known as a television and radio personality and has also built a reputation as a film critic. He co-presented Capital Breakfast alongside Lisa Snowdon on 95.8 Capital FM between 2004 and 2011...
. Ross began presenting the show as Film '99 in March 1999, on a contract reportedly worth £500,000 a year. Ross, described by the BBC as a long time film buff and fan of cult movies, stated that he had dreamt of doing the job since childhood.
To mark the turn of the millennium, the viewers of Film 99 voted in a poll to name their favourite film of the century, with the top 100 published by the BBC and with Star Wars (1977)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
coming top overall. After the millennium, the show switched from the two digit format to using the full year in the title, i.e Film 2000, Film 2001...
Film 2008 was briefly removed from the schedules during Ross's 12-week suspension from all BBC activities following the Sachsgate controversy.
Ross presented the Film show for the last time on 17 March 2010. This came after Ross announced in January 2010 that he would not be renewing his BBC contract, with his BBC One chat show and BBC Radio 2 show both also ending in July 2010.
Claudia Winkleman
In October 2010 Claudia WinklemanClaudia Winkleman
Claudia Anne I. Winkleman is an English television presenter, film critic, radio personality and journalist.- Early life and family :...
took over as host of Film 2010 in a revamped format. This saw the adoption of a live studio format and the introduction of a co-presenter, film journalist Danny Leigh. The first episode of Film 2010 with Claudia Winkleman aired on Wednesday October 13 at 10.45pm.
BBC Radio 5 Live's Mark Kermode
Mark Kermode
Mark Kermode is an English film critic, musician and a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. He contributes to Sight and Sound magazine, The Observer newspaper and BBC Radio 5 Live, where he presents Kermode and Mayo's Film Reviews with Simon Mayo on Friday afternoons...
had been identified as a likely successor to Ross for the show. In March 2010 however, Kermode ruled himself out of the job, stating he had not been approached and did not expect that he would be, given the contrast between his uncompromising views and forthright opinions and his belief the show followed a more moderate line, and instead, Claudia Winkleman was announced as a surprise choice for the presenter's role.
Damon Wise of Empire
Empire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
feared that Winkleman's appointment represented a rejection of film knowledge as a requirement for a host of the show, and that it might forestall the demise of the series in the same manner as Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, as "another flagship BBC show that was allowed to slide out of existence". The Guardian stated, through her recent hosting of Sky Television's coverage of The Oscars, Winkleman had "proved both a passionate and engaging advocate of cinema", while her husband Kris Thykier is a film producer with credits on several mainstream releases. She also presents a weekly arts show on BBC Radio 2 on Friday nights, which covers film.