The Telegraph and The Daily Mail have expressed shock today that the BBC marked the closure of Television Centre with a party for staff.
Readers of a gentle disposition might want to sit down for this next bit.
Apparently there was drinking. And dancing. Somebody may or may not have smoked indoors and there may even have been some sex - either in a studio or an office, The Telegraph isn't quite sure because it's pretty much cobbled together its entire report based on a couple of tweets and an article on the Daily Mail's website:
"The farewell gathering, held in three recording studios, was a raucous affair at which BBC employees drank and danced until the early hours."
The Heathens!
Helen Williamson, a producer, wrote: "At the BBC's 'goodbye TVC party'...did a nostalgic walk of the donut & heard someone s------- in one of the offices. Sackable offence?
Now, I REALLY hope the word The Telegraph has timidly censored there is "shagging".
If it is "shitting" I don't even want to know.
But if two consenting adults had sex at a staff party is this really news?
There's part of me that hopes that they were also dressed as Pudsey the bear and a Cyberman, doing it against the TARDIS. But it still wouldn't be news.
The Telegraph continues:
"Just days earlier, the BBC was accused of "over indulgence" after broadcasting extensive coverage of its lat [sic] days at Television Centre... Viewers branded the coverage "self congratulatory claptrap" and pointed out that it was not a story for anyone who did not work for the BBC."
Among the many things The Telegraph doesn't quite find room to mention in its article - such as the fact BBC staff had to buy tickets for their party which had a cash bar - is the fact that a great many viewers enjoyed the coverage. A survey of Media Blog readers found the majority supported the amount of coverage dedicated to Television Centre by the BBC.
Funnily enough, The Mail also overlooked the detail of the party being self-funded by BBC staff and the similarities between the two articles don't end there or with the use of exactly the same tweets...
The Mail: However, presenter Vernon Kay – married to Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly – was reportedly stopped by security as he left the building with a dressing room sign.
The Telegraph: Presenter
Vernon Kay, who is married to Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, was
reportedly stopped by security as he left the building with a dressing room
sign.
The Mail: In a second
evening of celebrations on Friday, Madness performed live outside the building. Journalist Julia Raeside said: 'Drunk watching Madness. Might smoke indoors. It's that kind of night.'
The Telegraph: The following evening, last Friday, Madness performed live outside the building. Journalist Julia Raeside wrote on Twitter: "Drunk watching Madness. Might smoke indoors. It's that kind of night."
The Mail: Presenter Dave Berry added: 'Off to ghost town BBC television centre to work a stunning TV show project and also to pinch some stuff.' The day after the farewell party, photographer Ray Burmiston said: 'Feels like a ghostown [sic]...
The Telegraph: Presenter Dave Berry wrote online: "Off to ghost town BBC television centre to work a stunning TV show project and also to pinch some stuff." The day after the farewell party, photographer Ray Burmiston said: "Feels like a ghostown (sic)...
The Mail: Although most of the interior had been stripped of furniture and equipment...
The Telegraph: Although much of the building, in White City, west London, had been stripped of furniture and equipment...
Perhaps when it comes to giving the BBC a kicking the two newspapers are happy to share the workload.
See also:
BBC TV Centre remembered
Has the BBC been self Centred?