BBC Look North needs to go back to basics - Keith Massey

This is completely unacceptable and probably due to the management mess created by involvement with government and the free TV licence debacle for over-75s.

The BBC should be pouring massively more funding into Yorkshire when it has the same population as Scotland but a minuscule budget in comparison.

If we want this Northern Powerhouse to live up to its name, then the MPs need to be jumping up and down – but socially distanced – to correct this imbalance, and this applies to ITV Yorkshire, which has also lost so much.

I shouldn’t be surprised at these cuts, but as someone who loves and values the regions and has filmed for them for 50 years on camera and as a director, I am deeply saddened.

I was there from day one in 1968 when the BBC were pushed into action in Leeds to launch a news programme, Look North, from All Soul’s Church Hall in Blackman Lane, stealing the limelight from Calendar and the massive studio complex of Yorkshire Television under construction on Kirkstall Road.

Even then, it was a token gesture as the BBC equipment was all clapped out and sent up from London.

Despite this Heath Robinson start, it gave opportunity to a batch of new on and off screen talent who maintained the BBC standard.

Barry Chambers, James Hogg, David Seymour, Eddie Waring and John Burns soon became household friends and the programme developed its own popular identity.

They were followed by a cluster of talent who went onto national fame including Philip Hayton, Jeremy Thompson, Tim Ewart, Brian Hanrahan, (Dame) Jenni Murray, James Robbins, Peter Bazalgette, Alan Green, Mark Byford, Mike Smartt, John Williams and Sophie Raworth.

Other favourites locally have been Harry Gration, Judith Stamper, John Thirlwell, Jeremy Hibbard, Christa Ackroyd, Ken Cooper, Khaled Aziz, Clare Frisby and Cathy Killick. They were all made in Leeds. We had fantastic editors and directors.

Despite the present talent, the BBC regions do need change. In my opinion, they have been going adrift for many years through no fault of theirs but management’s.

The power has moved from the front line who do the job, to the desk. They tried to change Look North 30 years ago into a hard national news programme clone which, on its budget, it could never be.

I distinctly remember a colleague, mentor and legend, cameraman Dave Brierley who, at a meeting, told the management that Look North “was not a news programme” but “a magazine programme”. He was dead right but they didn’t want to hear. The first 15 minutes can be news but the second 15 minutes should be features and studio chats.

The programme now is boring. The writing and video journalists have had their time and it needs changing. Yes, good BBC accurate journalism for the main items but it’s time to revert back to basics. It is television. It’s not radio and words. Pictures are as important – as this newspaper recognises with its contribution of great photography.

I, and I think the audience, want to see a reflection of our region of places and people with great cinematography that tell us some of the fascinating history in ten-minute quality items that we used to make.

There is no artistic content now that allows the visual creative side of directors and camera to flourish. I can still remember the wonderful work of Ken Russell and his beautiful film on composer Sir Edward Elgar.

The BBC in London must have a condescending view of the regions which explains why all the Yorkshire regional output is still in fuzzy standard definition and you have to change channels from the national news – unless you want to hear barking dogs and a funny coloured picture – on a 55” television. Why? High definition has been around for years now.

I don’t know if the BBC can now survive but if it does then it needs more decentralisation. No one can afford to move to London and have any quality of life. Production needs to expand in this great county of Yorkshire. We deserve better.

- Keith Massey was a freelance cameraman and director for the BBC.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor