I was downstairs in VT editing the D Day highlights from the various OBs that had broadcast live earlier in the day. We watched the problems on BBC 1 live as we edited and in order to help what seemed an worsening situation we picked up the tape of the previous days Beat Retreat, which I had directed in Portsmouth and sourced a number of ins and outs at various durations and gave it to Pres. We thought yet another wildlife programme on 1 was not a great idea when that was what was on 2. They were very grateful.
I heard that this was because the company booking the satellite hadnt checked its footprint would cover the position of the QE2 at the time of the broadcast. I was in VT at TVC at the time and there was a right stink going on about it.
I remember my mum and dad, who lived through WWII, were looking forward to this occasion and their heartfelt disappointment over the failed satellite link up and subsequent abandonment - "BLOODY BBC!!!", my mum exclaimed. But...........she was amused about the embarrassed Peter Bolgar making the announcement "there will now be a short film about raccoons......."
Concord in Flight being that day’s precursor to “Coast” it would seem! Fascinating to watch this, as it isn’t a typical BBC breakdown, even for the 90s. No apology caption and accompanying breakdown music for several minutes - because the programme hadn’t broken down as such, more so as they couldn’t get to air. Only other similar example I can think of, is where Noel’s House Party couldn’t go live due to a bomb scare, meaning a repeat of Noel’s Christmas Presents from a couple of years earlier was played out, followed by Tom and Jerry! As another poster mentioned earlier, clever programme shown here, so had the satellite connection been fixed, it could then be faded out at anytime, the Globe faded up and launch into the programme. Really fascinating to watch, so thanks so much for sharing this!
At least this arks back to a time when apologies and profuse apologies used to be made for faults such as this and the cool, collected, apologetic voice of the great Peter Bolgar trying his best not to let it get to him. No wonder he was a voice regularly heard on the BBC World Service. Not like today, where you're lucky if you just get "Sorry it looks like we got a problem, innit!" 😉
