Social change? Only for some
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Your support makes all the difference.This weekend sees the sparkly start of Strictly Come Dancing, fronted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. It's also the launch of the BBC's season celebrating works of 20th century literature, all with noteworthy female leads.
The series of four Sunday-night films kicks off with D.H Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. The BBC are PR-ing the adaptations as highlighting a period of social change.
You could say, then, that women are at the front and centre of the schedules, but what about those in the industry. Have they seen this "social change"? "Strictly is run by women, the heads of BBC1 and BBC2 are women, as are the chief creative officer of Channel 4 and the head of entertainment at ITV," said Winkleman. But we must remember that Winkleman and Daly are the exception.
A report released earlier this year by the House of Lords concluded there are "simply not enough" women in news and current affairs broadcasting. It also found male TV experts outnumber women four to one.
So when you're watching aristocrat Constance getting it on with the gamekeeper, don't think we can sit back. Times have changed, but more is needed.
Welcome return for Well'ard friend
There are some characters that stick in your mind. For me, it's the four-legged ones: Neighbours' Bouncer; Blue Peter's Bonnie and Robbie Jackson's beloved German Shepherd, Well'ard.
So I'm happy to report that EastEnders' most famous pet is making a comeback, sort-of. "Well'ard 2" will join Dean Gaffney when he reprises his role as Robbie for six episodes.
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