BERKOFF SAVAGES BBC DRAMA

Acclaimed writer and director Steven Berkoff criticises quality of BBC drama and how it has forgotten its roots of giving chances to young writers and directors. "They are obsessed with format", he says. The interview is an edited version of a appearance on HARDtalk.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Berkoff
• interview
• hardtalk
• bbc
• drama
• theatre
• television
• film
• uk
• england

[randomdave30]

Berkoff is BRILL!!!!

[killerofbloo]

let the man speak! that woman keeps butting iN!

[TruckOnTyke1]

@WillWatchesWhat - Absolutely spot on. Berkoff just tells it straight - tv that does not engage or stimulate people, dements them. And the level that tv has by and large dropped to in the present day has played its part in desensitising the public who watch tv. As he says, there are excellent writers out there, whose work is never seen on tv, because it doesn't fit the format or agenda that tv bosses are trying to push.

[WillWatchesWhat]

This is absolutely true, tv drama isn't engaging us or ultimately having an impact, it's presenting us with images, filling a space and not getting any genuine messages across. For every series it's the same can of beans but a different label. The woman is just the same, she isn't listening to what he's saying and is being ignorant to the truth. @Rigbylane how is he fake? his drama style is realism if anyone is ignorant it's the British public and the BBC aren't helping with their tv dramas.

[Rigbylane]

I honestly cannot stand that man. He is one of the most fake and ignorant people in the theatre.

[QFIhawkman]

Like a hellish powerball!

[VanguardVonVesling1]

spot on, this man is jesus!

[georgehanvey]

"Absolutely!" classic.

[newsreeldemocracy]

4443 VIEWERS

[documentaryunit]

The BBC is not designed to challenge. It's designed to stupor. Did you see their coverage of the royal wedding? I actually puked on the TV!

[documentaryunit]

@documentaryunit Saw On The Waterfront with my teenage children. They came out inspired. They felt understood and challenged as individuals. Same with Harold Pinter's 'The Caretaker' recently. That's what hes talking about. In the BBC you see American stupidity ad infinatum. You don't even see the good stuff.

[documentaryunit]

@documentaryunit You speak the truth! We have become a nation of James Bond intrigues, Harry Potter adventures and Royal Wedding bullshit. We get what we deserve.