Spring is upon us and whilst the weather doesn’t feel much like Spring, there is a lot in store to keep you entertained around the Uni as we move through the last term.
Starting with the Coventry Conversations:
Friday 4th May (1pm): The Herbert plays host to a special Coventry City Football Club event in which the fans have the chance to meet CCFC chief-executive after an unsuccessful 2011-2012 season in which Coventry are relegated.
Filed under Coventry Conversation, CU events, CU Today Automotive
How do you make an interesting football programme? It is not an easy question but it seems that Duncan Jones, BBC’s Late Kick Off producer, has found a recipe. Last Thursday he offered the audience of Coventry Conversations the story of his career in BBC some months before he leaves it.
Everything For The Audience
“BBC and sports journalism have been very good to me. But I wanted to do something closer to the audience and interact with them.” said Duncan.
Written by Galya Dimitrova, First Year
Filed under Coventry Conversation
Sir Peter Bazalgette, a media consultant in television and digital entertainment, could not come to Coventry University last Thursday but he remained faithful to the Coventry Conversations audience and talked about his life and work via Skype.
Always A Move Ahead
“You’ve got to look forward. You can’t keep doing the same thing”, says Sir Peter. Perhaps this helped him to become who he is now – the inventor of a several shows with international success such as “Ready Steady Cook” and “Changing Rooms” and Chief Creative Officer of the leading Dutch TV producer Endemol for the period of 2004-2007.
It is curious how the person who was once interested and involved in student politics and a degree in Law from Cambridge University is now known as the one who brought Big Brother to UK and is a non-executive chairman of two of Sony’s television divisions in the country.
Written By Galya Dimitrova, First Year
Filed under Coventry Conversation
“My heart is in entertainment”, said Mark Linsey, controller in the BBC entertainment commissioning. This is his fifth year in the department and it seems he is living his dream – to work in the entertainment.
It’s all about ideas
Mark describes a large part of his business as “returning business”. Shared viewing is essential when it comes to diverting kind of shows. And in the very core of success in that area is the good idea – something fresh and attention drawing on Saturday night, when people stay home and watch TV. As Mark pointed out, it is “always a good destination of shows”.
“Most of our output is in the prime time, so it is really competitive”, he added, “We are looking for something that screams for attention.”
Written By Galya Dimitrova, First year
Filed under Coventry Conversation
The year is 1987 and Coventry City Football Club are having a brilliant F.A. Cup run. They are beating teams left, right and centre. The team push through to the 1987 final where they encounter Tottenham Hotspur, who were also having a very good season. The big day comes, the 16th May 1987, the team make their way to the tunnel where they wait anxiously for their opponents to join them. As Tottenham make an appearance, the two teams walk out into the middle of England’s most prestigious football stadium, (Old) Wembley Stadium in front of 98,000 roaring fans. A thrilling game sees five goals being scored with a fantastic 3-2 win in extra-time to Coventry City…
Twenty five years on, Dave Bennett, former Coventry City player and scorer in the 1987 final, and David Pleat, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur during the 1987 final, came together at a Coventry Conversation to talk about the big game and how it is more than just a memory.
Dave Bennett began the talk by saying that he remembers the lead up to the final very well and of course the final itself. He still remembers what it was like to score at Wembley and also the famous cross over to Keith Houchen who scored a magnificent diving header which remains as one of the best goals at Wembley.
Written by Alex Maidment
Filed under Coventry Conversation
An interesting person always draws lots of attention and brings good mood. That was exactly the case with Formula One racing driver Karun Chandhok. The lively talk about his life and career and the numerous autographs he gave after that made this Tuesday Coventry Conversation one of the most exciting and well attended meetings for this term.
Karun was born and raised in India where, ironically, there was never a Formula One race when he was a child. His family were those who “pushed” him into racing and he does not seem to regret it at all:
“It is one of those businesses where you have passion for the job,” says Karun, “There is no other sport in the world that combines so much competition, technology, sport itself and drama.”
Written by Galya Dimitrova, First Year Student
Filed under Coventry Conversation
