Blog on
August 27 2013
Picture: BG
Well, that was fun - ten days making a programme for BBC2 on... top secret, I'm afraid. The historically minded among you may guess the subject matter from the above photo. The programme will probably go out sometime next year, and though I can't say much now, it should be a good one. It's a little more history than art this time, which is something I've always wanted to do, being a historian by training.
This was my first programme as a solo presenter, and if it was possible my admiration for people who work in telly is higher than ever. Everyone has to work so hard. A twelve hour day was entirely normal, and most days were longer. I was lucky to have an excellent crew, a wonderful director, and an efficient support staff to organise everything from hotels to travel. You quickly begin to exist in a bubble, where it's nothing but work, sleep and the occasional meal, so that soon you are totally immersed in making the film, as the outside world (tedious things like news and paying bills) vanishes entirely. To be honest, I'm not quite used to it all being over.
Still, it's good to be back. This week, I'm going to be immersed in Samuel Cooper miniatures, as the deadline for our catalogue (we're having a Cooper exhibition in November) is fast approaching.
