Yentob: The pretend interviewer
Friday, 7 September 2007
Turns out Alan Yentob, the BBC’s “creative director” has been filming “noddy shots” and then having them inserted into interviews he didn’t even carry out.
According to MediaGuardian:
…Scenes featuring Mr Yentob reacting to some of the more peripheral figures and experts featured in his programmes were edited in even though he was not actually present. Editing work on the programme later gave the impression that he was present.
When I defended noddy shots as part of the “magic of television” earlier this week, I was doing so on the basis that the interviewer on film was actually involved in the interview. It’s one thing to have a reporter film noddies after the interviewee has left or before they arrive. But it’s kind of unacceptable as an interviewer to pretend you were in the room when, in fact, a researcher asked the questions.
The thought of Yentob nodding away in a studio - perhaps stroking his chin - to an interview that he didn’t even carry out, is farcical. I’m also intrigued by the thought of what else he was doing that meant he couldn’t be there in person. Washing his hair? Combing his beard? Dealing with his expense account? The mind boggles.
No. 1 — September 8th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Yeh but if you could get away with it you would. Imagine never having to speak to an agent in person ever again…
No. 2 — September 20th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
It’s been quite clear to me for a while that this goes on all the time. Subtle changes of light and shade on noddies are, albeit almost imperceptible, often noticeable if you look for them.
Which I do.
What have I become?