Let me respond in the style of TV crime series drama dialogue given that two of my series are currently being re-run on ITV, 9.00pm, that is Liverpool 1 and Thieftakers.
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN A HACK AND AN EDITOR - FICTIONAL OF COURSE!!!
"Ok, what is the perp's crime? an article has been written in the regional press about a soap he is pitching for with Jimmy McGovern, and it is alleged that it is not news worthy"
Really? What are the facts? Are McKeown and McGovern news worthy?
Well, flicking through McKeown's CV, when he was 19 he was Lawrence Olivier's editor, in his early 20's he created a soap in the Middle East, in his late 20's he established ENG for ITN covering the Iranian Siege, the Pope's Tour and the Royal Wedding.
He managed to persuade Central Television to shoot a mini series in Liverpool, the first major drama to be located to Liverpool, starring Michael Gambon and introducing to the screens of ITV, John Hannah.
McKeown
He then co-created Brookside with Phil Redmond in 1982, which ran for 25 years.
Other successful regional dramas were Liverpool 1, being re-run on ITV, Nice Guy Eddie starring the region's finest, Ricky Tomlinson, and helping the BBC and Channel 4 find a location, ie. Liverpool, that would allow them to shoot two of the most controversial dramas seen on British TV, that being The Bradford Riots and Holy Cross and then..........
Ok, Ok, he is well known in the ‘Regions’.
What about this McGovern chap? As an English teacher following in the footsteps of Bleasdale and Russell, he was a huge stalwart with the soap Brookside, shot in Liverpool. He created Cracker, also shot in the region, picked up three BAFTA's, the latest being for The Street which is being used as the basis of a format they're pitching for the BBC soap which has provided the story for this comment and the earlier article.
I have to say, they seem to have credibility oozing out of every pore, anything else they've done in the region?
Well, there was that little film they did that got world-wide release, was directed by the Oscar nominated Stephen Frears and therefore was written by a Liverpudlian, Jimmy McGovern, produced by a Liverpudlian, Colin McKeown and starred.... (interrupting) please tell me it starred somebody in the South, unfortunately not, it starred Ian Hart a local lad.
Seems to me their regional credentials are pretty watertight.
Slagging them off by saying a regional paper shouldn't find them newsworthy would seem futile.
Anyway can you conjure up a list of insightful, industry recognised, solid professionals that can't (thinks) No, we could always roll out Derek, Mr Burgess, Kirk, Dale and Clive - who are they? Don't know, but they seem an informed bitter bunch, go with them it makes good copy.
But what if somebody creditable challenges us? No matter, we're just doing our job.
Colin McKeown is responding to postings on the site relating to the story How-Do published. Comments expressed about regional credentials and his personal circumstances were not stated by How-Do.
On a related note, How-Do understands that the BBC’s decision on which indie it will be choosing for its Neighbours replacement, is expected to be made by October. How-Do further understands the short list has narrowed to four or five and in addition to LA Productions, Lime Pictures, also of Liverpool, is one of the other short listed companies.
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