Prince of Wales bemoans loss of South Bank Show
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Latest in TV & Radio
On Facebook
From the blogs
Roy Hodgson for England: A club of one
To argue against Harry Redknapp for England is akin to arguing in favour of bankers bonuses. While s...
Time for a reality check on the Sri Lankan civil war
Sri Lanka, much like Britain, has side-lined accountability long enough.
Children Of Alcoholics week: One million children may just be the tip of the iceberg
Children Of Alcoholics week starts today. So, what are the aims for Nacoa during this important week...
Review of Being Human: ‘Being Human 1955’
Following on from an episode tinged with tragedy, this week lifted the mood with something lighter.
The Prince of Wales has criticised ITV's decision to scrap its flagship arts programme The South Bank Show, saying civilisation had lost one of its "greatest champions".
Charles made the outspoken comments as he congratulated Lord Melvyn Bragg, the presenter of the programme, who was recording his last ever South Bank Show Awards.
ITV announced last year that it was axing the Sunday night show after more than 30 years and has cited budget constraints.
Lord Bragg, 70, today dismissed the idea that the show was axed for financial reasons and said he was "baffled" as to why the programme - whose subjects have ranged from Paul McCartney and Walt Disney to distinguished poets and writers - had to go.
Embarrassingly for ITV, the Prince made the comments in a recorded speech played during the awards, which the broadcaster is scheduled to air on Sunday.
Charles called it "the very end of one of the most important beacons of the arts this country has been lucky enough to enjoy".
He said: "The South Bank Show has been much admired along with Melvyn Bragg's steadfast determination to force so many serious artists and their work into the midst of the popular agenda.
"The programme remains without rival and a long time ago it rightly became an important contribution to the vibrancy of this country's culture."
Referring to the famous episode when Lord Bragg enjoyed a drink with the artist Francis Bacon, he said: "The range of films has been truly breathtaking. But perhaps many will find it hard to forget the memory of Lord Bragg stoically asking his more-or-less sober questions of Francis Bacon as all around him swam deeper and deeper into wine-filled oblivion.
"Now oblivion is not the place for the arts and so I cannot say I am encouraged as mainstream television abandons such a unique and special commitment.
"Civilisation needs all the help it can get, more so today than ever before, but now it loses one of its greatest champions. It is a sad loss."
The programme had helped "shine a light on the core of what we are", he said.
- 1 Kate Allen: It's time for America to put an end to this shameful scandal
- 2 Spotify: 1 million plays, £108 return
- 3 Chemotherapy is 'safe during pregnancy'
- 4 Rhodri Marsden: What we like and what we don't like are often closer than you'd think
- 5 BBC to issue global apology for documentaries that broke rules
- 6 Lightning kills an entire football team
- 7 I was born to be a killer. Every night I see the Devil in my dreams
- 8 Henry does it his way, ending on a high note
- 9 Modern lovers: The 'sexual body warriors' and pioneers transforming 21st-century relationships
- 10 Redknapp hints at same old faces for England
- 1 Lightning kills an entire football team
- 2 Fear for deported Saudi 'ridiculous', says Malaysian home minister
- 3 Eight arrests as Murdoch 'throws staff to the wolves'
- 4 Israel blames Iran for embassy bomb attacks
- 5 Now The Sun tries to call in its favours from Downing Street
- 6 I was born to be a killer. Every night I see the Devil in my dreams
- 7 BBC to issue global apology for documentaries that broke rules
Free trial of new Independent iPad app
Get your daily dose of the best of British journalism, sponsored by American Airlines
Win a three-week coastal jaunt
Spend three weeks exploring every nook and cranny of gorgeous Atlantic Canada.
Amazing restaurant offers
Three glasses of free champagne and a special menu at 46 top London restaurants.
Latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Day In a Page
Apple admits it has a human rights problem
James Lawton: AVB looks all at sea
Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy
Silent revolution at the Baftas
The diva who had – and lost – it all


Comments