Fans of the Royal Family unable to make the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations in person next year will need to 're-tune' their Television sets to catch the coverage. It has been announced that the BBC will not be the channel utilised to provide television pictures for the general public of the planned show. Instead, their broadcasting rivals ITV will be trusted with what is expected to be a lavish and grand affair at Windsor Castle.
Spectacular celebration planned
The precise itinerary has yet to be finalised, but it is expected that around 1500 performers and 600 horses (given the traditional association between the Royals and such animals) will be involved in the spectacular official celebrations that are being planned.
Confidence in ITV's ability
The producer and director of the show, Simon Brooks-Ward was reticent when quizzed about whether the BBC had wanted to be included in the coverage. Instead he re-assured the waiting reporters that he had "complete confidence in ITV's ability" and was looking forward to working with them on the coverage.
Royal Family back in public eye
The news was shared on Friday of the channel 'hop', in a clear indication that the BBC's previous coverage of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations was not quite up to the expected standard. The Royal Family are very much back in the public eye again, after the birth of Princess Charlotte to Prince William and Kate Middleton. The expectation will be that they will retain their popularity for years to come and interest in anything to do with them attracts millions of viewers on television across the country.
'Snub' for the BBC
With that in mind, the choice of ITV represents something of a 'snub' for the BBC. With its high standards previously having been held up as a sign of professionalism, to suffer such ignominy over a high profile event such as this will not be well received. There are continued calls for fresh looks at the value from the licence fee and there are even those who wonder if it should be scrapped completely.
One point in the BBC's favour is that events relating to the Queen and her family have commonly been the domain of 'Auntie Beeb'. It seems that such 'ear marking' of events in future will not be made.
Modernisation backfired
In an effort to modernise their coverage of earlier Royal Family events, the BBC seems to have suffered something of a backlash from those who would prefer that it retains its previous decorum and respectful approach instead.
They are said to have received in excess of 4,000 complaints after covering the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant alone. Although commonly lauded for the involvement of fresh faces such as Fearne Cotton in their coverage of musical events in the past, it seems that the discerning British public are not quite as pleased when such presenters take on what are seen as more 'stately' events.
