The Stage

Producers accuse Corporation of wasting money on presenters as radio drama is slashed

Published Wednesday 16 April 2008 at 12:05 by Matthew Hemley

The BBC has been accused of sacrificing radio drama to pay for big name presenters and TV talent shows.

Independent producers made the criticisms this week after learning that BBC Radio 2 would no longer be commissioning new dramatic readings in the station’s Friday night schedule. The slot offered radio production companies the chance to make six to eight-part serialisations read by famous actors.

BBC Radio 2 is the latest station to announce cuts to its drama output, after BBC Radio 4 revealed it would be cutting back on the number of plays it broadcasts in order to make savings, following the smaller than expected licence fee settlement the Corporation was awarded.

The latest cost-cutting exercise is likely to save BBC Radio 2 more than £100,000 a year, but drama producers argue the BBC should be looking to find this kind of money by cutting back the fees they pay top presenters or by spending less on reality TVshows, such as I’d Do Anything.

The Friday night slot on Radio 2 has been described by producers as a “stand-out, showcase slot”, because it is the only one of its kind on the station and regularly attracts big names. Recent works have been read by actors including Derek Jacobi and Brenda Blethyn.

Producers claim the move will affect both actors who perform in the slot and writers, who abridge the stories that are narrated.

Clive Stanhope, managing director of independent production company CSA Word, said he felt BBC Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas was “very supportive” of readings, but added: “They could save far more money by cutting down on the over-inflated fees they pay to some presenters rather than cutting back on readings, a comparatively small part of their overall budget which helps actors and authors who generally earn far less.”

Another independent radio producer, who did not want to be named, said the government had forced Radio 2 into making cuts, but added: “Why can’t we have one less Andrew Lloyd Webber show on BBC1 instead? It is aggravating. This is damaging to our sector but also the acting sector and the writing sector. Where do new adapters go to learn their trade? It can’t be BBC radio anymore as there is nothing to adapt.”

A spokeswoman for BBC Radio 2 said the station was not currently commissioning new readings because it had an archive of productions that could be repeated.

She said: “As ever, Radio 2 is looking to deliver its schedule in the most efficient way possible. We have a rich archive of readings and it makes both economic and editorial sense to give the audience another chance to enjoy them.”

But she said the station would commission new readings to reflect seasons and anniversaries.