City of Culture: How the BBC plans to put Coventry in the spotlight
THE BBC has revealed details about how it is planning to put Coventry firmly in the spotlight during its year as UK City of Culture.
Highlights include a new film about the car industry reflecting Coventry’s lengthy period as the UK’S ‘Motor City’ - and a documentary about Coventry musical legend Delia Derbyshire who helped to create the iconic Doctor Who theme music.
Other plans from the national broadcaster include a new programme about the destruction and rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral and a huge poetry and spoken word festival.
The BBC has said that throughout Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture, it will be bringing big events to the city and delivering new content that reflects Coventry’s history, heritage and creativity.
BBC Four’s Arena is to take a look at the life and work of Delia Derbyshire, a Coventryborn composer who helped create the famous Doctor Who theme music.
Delia worked for the BBC’S Radiophonic Workshop and is now seen as a pioneer in electronic music. ‘Delia Derbyshire: The Myths & The Legendary Tapes’ will explore her life and legacy.
Other BBC Arts programmes include BBC Four’s ‘Classic British Cars: Made In Coventry’ which will document the rise, fall and rebirth of the motor industry in Coventry.
The documentary will feature rare archive films and photographs as Coventryborn motoring journalist Mark Evans shares the story of the cars made in Coventry, from the Daimler to the Triumph texts of post-war reconstruction and reconciliation.
Speaking about the BBC’S City of Culture focus, Tim Davie, BBC Director General, said: “To be chosen as the UK City of Culture 2021 is a huge honour and whilst things may run a little differently this year, I can’t think of a better place than Coventry to embrace the uniqueness of the event and make it an even bigger reason to celebrate.
“The BBC will be here to support the city every step of and from the Riley to with traditional architectural reduced Coventry’s medieval the way, helping to showcase the Jaguar, meeting some style and commissioned cathedral to ruins - to 1962 the many talents of a city that great characters on the way. modernist Basil Spence to when the new cathedral was is on the move and drawing
Another BBC Four documentary rebuild the city’s new centre consecrated. on its rich history to connect ‘Phoenix at Coventry’ of worship. The design and construc- with audiences through the is to explore the creation Using a wide range of tion of the cathedral and the joy and celebration of music, and building of Coventry rarely-seen archive footage creation of its artworks by arts, poetry, film, comedy and Cathedral. and stills, the film will focus Graham Sutherland, John much, much more.”
It will tell the story of how on the years from 1940 - when Piper and others is set against As well as new documentaries the Church of England broke a German bombing raid the social and political con- on Coventry some familiar BBC favourites will also be getting in on the act.
Antiques Roadshow is coming to the region and will feature an interview with The Selecter singer Pauline Black, as well as items celebrating the Two-tone music scene.
That is actually the first Coventry-related broadcast and takes place this Sunday (March 7) when Antiques Roadshow comes from Kenilworth Castle at 8pm
In September, the BBC Arts annual poetry and spoken word festival ‘Contains Strong Language’ - a partnership between the BBC, Coventry City of Culture Trust, Writing West Midlands, and Nine Arches Press - comes to the city for the biggest celebration of poetry ever seen in the region.
The four-day festival will
showcase some of the best spoken word and poetry artists, revealing the best existing and emerging talent from across Coventry and the Midlands which will be available for audiences on BBC radio and online.
In addition, the festival will be running a selection of community based projects throughout the year of celebration. There will also be a range of local initiatives courtesy of the BBC in the Midlands.
Local BBC radio station, BBC CWR will be at the centre of UK City of Culture 2021 celebrations bringing special programmes and events straight into people’s homes throughout the year - telling the story of the people of Coventry and uncovering what makes and shapes the city.
BBC CWR is linking its coverage through ‘The 21’ - a group of diverse people from across the city who have been recruited to be the station’s face of Coventry City of Culture and immerse themselves in everything the year has to offer.
BBC CWR is also joining forces with community radio in the area for a Community Radio Takeover Day, which aims to put the people of Coventry at the heart of content and help develop local skills and talent. Throughout the year there is also going to be regular television coverage from Coventry UK City of Culture on BBC Midlands Today.
Archive footage has been made into the Coventry Moves short film as part of City of Culture 2021
Stuart Thomas, BBC head of the Midlands said: “Only the BBC can broadcast the excitement, ambition and colour of the UK City of Culture to the region, the UK and the world.
“Right now it’s impossible to predict what kind of restrictions we will face in the next year - but if people can’t come to the Midlands, we can bring Coventry to them.
“We’re fully embracing the challenge and will have coverage across TV, radio and online throughout what promises to be an extraordinary year.”
Jonty Claypole, BBC director of arts, added: “Since its launch in 2013, UK City of Culture has shown it has the power to transform cities and the lives of its people by shining a light on their creativity.
“The BBC has played a critical role in sharing those stories with the rest of the UK and the world. Despite every obstacle the pandemic has thrown at it, Coventry is launching an astonishing programme this year, which the BBC will be both covering as well as adding to through our commissions.”