Directed by Sam Collins Executive Producers: Keith Haviland & Mark Stewart
Western Edge Pictures for the BBC Two
The Gazza documentary has been bubbling away as an idea since 2014 when editor Graham Taylor and director Sampson Collins first discussed the possibility of the film.
Over the next five years Graham and Sam began to find the shape for an archive film as more pieces of the puzzle fell into place and then with the BBC coming on board to provide the best possible outlet for the film, lending their journalistic integrity to the project. With pressure on public figures more intense than ever, Graham and Sam shaped the narrative into a commentary on today’s culture as much as on a previous era. What emerged is a cautionary tale of the curse of fame and the commodification of people’s lives into entertainment, or for personal gain, regardless of the consequences.
We spoke to Graham who said “editing the film was key to actually understanding the story, as the more we weaved the stories together, the more we found out what film we were making. Taking on the life of an icon is always tough, and people will bring their own expectations to the story. But in the end you have to chose what story you want to tell, and what the life of your subject tells you about the world we live in. The resulting film is bold and subversive, yet warm and nostalgic, asks more questions than it answers and was a dream project for a documentary film editor.”
Gazza airs at 9pm on Wednesday 13th April 2022 on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Produced by Quizzical Pictures (SA) and Serena Cullen Productions (UK) – originally for MNET (SA) Freemantle (UK)
Directed by Zee Nthuli and Catharine Cooke.
Channel 4
Channel 4 has acquired South African detective drama The Cane Field Killings, otherwise known as Reyka starring Kim Engelbrecht (Bullet Proof, The Flash, Eye in the Sky) and Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey). The eight-episode series, which launched last year to rave reviews in South Africa, will launch on Channel 4 on 10th April 2022 at 10pm. All episodes will then be available on All 4.
The Cane Field Killings tells the story of a brilliant criminal profiler, Reyka Gama, who is struggling to comes to terms with her dark past. Having been abducted as a child by farmer Angus Speelman (Iain Glen), Reyka now channels that traumatic experience to enter into the mindset of Africa’s most notorious criminals. The series follows her investigation into a string of brutal murders committed by a serial killer in the sugar cane fields of Kwa-Zulu-Natal.
Melanie Goldenedited Catharine Cookes Episodes – episodes 3, 4, 6 and 8. “Catharine and I have been an edit/director team for over 10 years now – wow!! From the first time we worked together, we clicked. She has become one of my extremely close friends on top of a director I adore editing with.As we have complete trust in each other, it allows the edit to be a place to push our story and characters to new levels. Creatively we are always on the same “vibe” and have long chats about moments, characters, music – we keep discovering as we edit”
The post production on The Cane Field Killings was a collaboration across the globe! Catharine based in Johannesburg SA, Melanie based in Weymouth UK, Zee and Matt in Cape Town SA and the producers, a mix of in SA and UK. Melanie has some interesting insights to the edit process “As Cath and I have such an established relationship, the edit was run the same as it would be if we were together. I will get a full episode cut, with sound and scratch music in place ( best way to sell any crazy ideas I may have) and then she will watch. We will go through it, make notes ( for this over Zoom) and I do the next round and so on. We all had a very clear vision for the show before filming started from characters, filming style, edit style, music – it was a solid team”.
Melanie enjoyed working on the project and explained “I loved the characters – all a bit messed up- which is real, makes for deeper characters”. I loved that we got to allow the textures of the characters and surroundings to play out within scenes- it was something discussed up front”.
The Cane Field Killings will launch on Channel 4 on 10th April 2022 at 10pm
DNA Journey’s is back for a second series! This heart-warming ITV show takes celebrities around the world on a quest to discover where they come from and unearth secrets from their past. Cutting edge DNA technology and genealogy will uncover the truth behind their bloodlines, as well as coming face to face with living relatives they never knew existed.
Editor Steve Flatt cut two episodes from this series as well working on series 1. Steve said “I always enjoy working on DNA, the challenge is trying to make it entertaining, and condensing the stories down”. He worked on the Torvill and Dean episode as well as the Anne Hegerty and Shaun Wallace (The Chase) episode.
The nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards have been announced! These awards recognise and celebrate the very best of television broadcast in the UK in 2021 and we are very proud to see numerous programmes cut by our editors have been selected on this year’s shortlist.
The Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards ceremony takes place on Sunday 8 May on BBC One and BBC One HD.
Daytime
The Chase (ITV) Andrew Wattersis an expert editor on this programme as he has worked on it for several years including the 2021 nominated series.
Specialist factual
The Missing Children (ITV) Ella Newtonedited this poignant and important feature length documentary about the scandal of Ireland’s Missing Children at the Tuam mother and baby home.
Reality and constructed factual
Married at First Sight UK (E4) Jack Brown,Chris Naggs, Ian Smith and Mike Kerr all worked on this series where singletons, matched by a panel of experts, marry a total stranger who they meet for the very first time on their wedding day.
Comedy entertainment programme
Race Around Britain (Munz Made It/YouTube) Hettie Griffiths worked on this comedy travelogue which follows Munya Chawawa as he travels the UK and uses his quick-witted comedy to have real conversations with different communities about race in Britain.
Features
Sort Your Life Out (BBC One) Ben Burgess edited an episode from this life-style series which is presented by Stacey Solomon.
The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC One) Belle Borgeaud and Tom Savage were editors on this beloved series where amateur sewers take on challenges as they compete to be named Britain’s best home sewer.
Live event
The Brit Awards 2021 (ITV) James Cheetham has worked on several of The Brit Awards including the 2021 awards.
Congratulations to all the nominees! Tune in on the 8th May to see the ceremony.
Ever kept a toy in its box to make sure it’s pristine? Or looked for that vintage doll you had when you were a tot, that doesn’t exist anymore? In this new 10-part observational doc series, BBC Studios goes behind the scenes at Vectis Toys Auctioneers in County Durham where buyers and sellers from all over the world come to trade vintage and limited edition toys.
In collaboration with UKTV, the series discovers how toys are valued and catalogued ahead of their weekly auctions, taking viewers on a nostalgic journey back to their favourite childhood toys, from Sindy dolls and Thunderbirds figures, to Matchbox cars and treasured teddies and meeting the passionate people selling the treasured collections they’ve amassed over decades.
Andreas Torner commented: ‘it was a great programme to work on, with editors and producers logging in remotely from all over the UK and Europe. The world of Vectis auction house, which the series revolves around, is a real treasure trove of extraordinary toys and people. Part social history and part human interest, it’s a fascinating look into the age-old human urge to collect.’
The first episode, recommended by to watch by The Times is on tonight on Yesterday Channel at 9pm.
We are delighted to report that ‘Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution’ has won best documentary series at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards on Friday.
Jen Hampson edited episode one in which we witness the start of the young MPs’ careers and the inception of the idea for the New Labour party.
A huge congratulations to Jen and all those involved in making this insightful series!
‘The Real Peaky Blinders’ is a two-part BBC2 documentary that will reveal the true story behind the hit BBC1 drama Peaky Blinders, about Birmingham gangster Tommy Shelby and his dodgy brother, family and hoodlum entourage.
Editor Sarjit Bains worked on this series which explores the origins of the real Peaky Blinders phenomenon in Birmingham, starting with the first mention of the term in the popular press in 1890 and the street gangs that stretched as far back as the 1860s, when they were known as slogging gangs. The documentary builds a picture of the gang movement that has its roots in the working-class areas where territorial loyalty was all and underground gambling was common practice. Professor Carl Chinn uncovers the stories of the real Peaky Blinders, several renowned experts on the gang phenomenon are interviewed as well as Steven Knight, the writer of the Peaky Blinders drama, who based the series on his own family’s anecdotes.
The Real Peaky Blinders will be shown on BBC2 on Monday March 7 at 9pm. It will subsequently be available on BBC iPlayer.
Brand new eight-part sketch show, Comedy Central’s East Mode, follows Nigel Ng and Evelyn Mok from popular comedy podcast, “Rice to Meet You.” In a UK first, Comedy Central is gathering an amazing line-up of East & South East Asian heritage comedy talent to turn a playful and utterly unique lens onto the world right now, providing a relatable and brilliantly funny commentary on modern life.
East Mode Premiere’s 4th Feb on the comedy Central UK Youtube channel
Sundays 9pm on Channel 4 or all episodes available on All4
Celebrity Hunted it one of our favourite reality shows. Famous faces attempt to avoid detection from a team of police, intelligence and military personnel armed with the powers of the state in this real-life thriller! Can the celebrities survive 14 days on the run? This year the teams consist of:
Olympic silver medallist Iwan Thomas and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead.
Made in Chelsea stars Ollie and Gareth Locke.
Actress Chizzy Akudolu and queen of UK garage Lisa Maffia.
Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne and international reality TV star Chloe Veitch.
The hunters are led by Hunted’s first female chief, Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable Lisa Theaker. The celebrities will be taking part for Stand Up To Cancer, the joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4. Simon Holmes edited Episode 4 and Steve Flatt worked on Episode 4 and 5. Assembly editors Will Adams and Matthew Henley also worked on the series.
Celebrity Hunted is on Sundays 9pm on Channel 4 or all episodes of the brand-new series are currently available to watch on All4
Jamie Oliver and Plum Pictures bring a brand-new format to Channel 4, unlike anything the channel has aired before. The Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver will see a group of wannabe cookbook authors from across the country pitch their unique cookbook ideas. The contestants will compete in both cooking and publishing challenges in front of a panel of judges, to win a publishing contract with Penguin Random house. All the while, Jamie, a cookbook star himself, will mentor them and share his experience to help each of them develop their cooking and publishing skills.
Gwyn Moxham and Melanie Golden worked on the second half of the series (Episode 4 and 5 respectively) and enjoyed the challenge of creating a totally new format of cookery/competition show. Melanie commented: ‘it’s a really positive show, warm, funny with great insight into what goes into creating a cookbook, which is not the same thing as being a great chef! I hope everyone has as much fun watching it as we are having creating it.’
Get ready to find out the secret recipe to becoming a real cookbook star. First episode will air at 8pm on Channel 4, Monday 31st January. And who knows, maybe you can be the next Naked Chef?!
Box to Box for Netflix Exec Producers: James Gay-Rees & Paul Martin Editor: Chris Duveen It’s almost time! Netflix have announced that the new season of Formula 1: Drive To Survive will land on their streaming service 24th February. Chris Duveen worked his little socks off on this series,… Read More
Can you believe these two young entrepreneurial businesswomen highflyer types 🤥😂 have been running Satusfaction for 20 years! That’s right, Satu and Louisa have been managing the Faction, a happy home for freelance editors for TWO DECADES! We know, it’s crazy…… Read More
Ventureland for Netflix Editor: Graham Taylor Streaming from 9th Nov In less than a month’s time, Qatar will become the first ever middle eastern country to host the FIFA World Cup. Qatar’s successful bid to host the World Cup has proven to be one of the most controversial moments… Read More
To marks its 50th anniversary, The Grierson Trust has named the most influential and ground-breaking documentaries of the last five decades. Included on the list is Life, Love, Death in A Day edited by Nick Follows. Sue Bourne’s extraordinary documentary captured the joy and heartbreak of an ordinary… Read More
The Nominations for the 2022 Grierson awards have been announced! The Missing Children has been nominated in the ‘Best History Documentary’ category. Made by True Vision for ITV, this documentary explores the scandal of Ireland’s Missing Children from behind the closed doors of Irelands most notorious mother and… Read More
