Latest news with #StuartAndrew
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Trump's tariffs could push up BBC licence fee, Tories warn
Trump's proposed 100pc tariff on foreign films could push up the cost of the BBC licence fee, the shadow culture secretary has warned. The UK government said it was in 'active discussions' with the White House after the US president suggested he may apply tariffs to foreign-made films to revive America's movie industry. The move could cripple the revenue of BBC Studios, the corporation's commercial arm, which last year made £454m by selling productions to the American market, according to its annual report. Some of its most notable exports include Doctor Who and David Attenborough's Frozen Planet films. It is unclear whether Trump's tariffs will be applied solely to films or also television series. Either way, shadow culture secretary, Stuart Andrew, warned the loss of income could leave British licence fee payers footing the bill. In an urgent question to the Government on Wednesday, he asked: 'What assessment have they made on the potential drastic cut in the BBC Studios profits, that sells into the US market, could have on the licence fee?' Sir Chris Byrant, the culture minister, said in response that Labour was 'already in active discussions with the top of the US administration on this subject'. More than £1.8bn was made by BBC Studios last year by selling its popular British film and television productions to audiences around the world, down from £2.1bn in 2023. The money is a lifeline for the corporation as more viewers cancel their licence fees and turn to streaming services like Netflix instead. When asked by The Telegraph how it planned to deal with the impact of the tariffs should they come into effect, the BBC declined to comment. Mr Andrew said it was proof Labour should have begun trade negotiations with President Trump sooner. He told The Telegraph: 'They wasted five months when they could have been negotiating. They need to highlight [to President Trump] that tariffs will hurt US businesses as they have invested in UK facilities.' The Government is racing to seal a trade deal with President Trump to reduce the impact of his tariff regime – under which UK exporters will pay a blanket 10pc tariff. Last month, Trump initiated a 90-day pause before the regime was implemented. On Tuesday, it was reported Angelina Jolie's father, Jon Voight, had advised the White House to include films produced outside of the US in its tariff war in a bid to save Hollywood. However, the President appeared to soften his stance late on Tuesday, telling CNBC: 'I'm not looking to hurt the industry, I want to help the industry.' Experts said it may spark a total overhaul of the £174.50 annual licence fee scheme. Patrick Barwise, emeritus professor of management and marketing at London Business School, said: 'This will further feed into a sense that it is going to damage BBC Studios ability to generate revenue from [the US] market. 'The contributions from BBC Studios are used to subsidise the licence free. My hunch is that we'll end up with a different model from the licence fee.' He added it was 'another blow on top of the massive funding cuts since 2010. This is going to hit its exports but also it will hit other UK studios. It hits the whole distribution system and it will increase costs'. The BBC's charter, which authorises it to administer the licence fee to generate profit, is due to end in 2027, with discussions between the corporation and the Government starting this year and its renewal thereafter. Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, previously criticised the model as 'unenforceable'. A government spokesman said: 'Talks on an economic deal between the US and the UK are ongoing – but we are not going to provide a running commentary on the details of live discussions or set any timelines because it is not in the national interest. 'We will continue to take a calm and steady approach to talks and aim to find a resolution to help ease the pressure on UK businesses and consumers.'
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Gen Z is turning Britain into a nation of early-bird diners as 5pm the new 8pm even at Michelin-starred restaurants
It seems the days of booking a table for a late dinner are long gone as Gen Z favour eating earlier - and restaurants are following suit. While an early dinner time used to be reserved for families with young children and grandparents, many young people are favouring the early bird menu and getting home for 8pm. The ever increasing cost-of-living crisis and flexible work patterns have contributed to a growing trend for 5pm table bookings, according to The Guardian. Covent Garden's Spring, a modern European restaurant, is now offering a £30 scratch menu in a bid to tackle food waste, which is served between 5.30pm and 6.15pm. The Michelin star Bulrush in Bristol offers a mini version of its signature tasting menu three days a week at 5.30pm. Instead of £90 for nine courses diners pay £65 for six. The modern Portland restaurant in London, which has held a Michelin star since 2015, offers four courses for £55 between 5.30pm and 6.30pm. Its standard post-6.30pm tasting menu will set you back a steep £110 while a three course meal from its à la carte costs £89. Daniel Morgenthau, co-founder of the Woodhead restaurant group, which operates five restaurants including Portland told The Guardian they originally planned to run the early menu for a month in January to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Daniel Morgenthau (L) said Portland's set menu was so popular they made it a fixture. He is pictured with Stuart Andrew at the Condé Nast Traveller's UK's Top New Restaurant Awards last year Thanks to its popularity, six months on it has become a firm fixture. The cost of living is one of the factors driving demand. Morgenthau describes the Portland menu, which changes monthly, as 'striking a really nice balance between providing the full Portland experience and a lower price point'. George Livesey, chef and founder of Bulrush, said that prior to 2020 his 8pm tables were taken for casual dining by a much younger crowd. Now 90 per cent were booked for special occasions. Part of the reason he introduced his earlier and cheaper menu was to attract the younger demographic back. 'This gives people a chance to experience a decent Michelin-sized tasting menu at a not outrageous price point,' he said. The trend is also having a knock-on effect on pre-dinner drinking. The Firmdale group, which includes London's the Covent Garden hotel, has introduced a Martini hour from 5pm to 6pm. WHAT IS GEN Z? Generation Z (Gen Z) refers to the demographic born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s. They are the generation following Millennials and are often referred to as digital natives due to their upbringing in a world dominated by the internet and technology. Gen Z is defined as those born between 1997 and 2012. In 2025, individuals who are considered part of Generation Z will be between the ages of 13 and 28. Hybrid working is another driving factor and since January, OpenTable, an online reservation site, has reported a 6 per cent rise in bookings for tables between 4pm and 6pm in Britain. Morgenthau describes the 5.30pm slot as 'busier than ever' across his group. The TWaT trend (Tuesday to Thursday in-office work) has also resulted in the traditional end-of-week dinner moving to Thursday. 'We get a lot of couples that come into central London to work,' Morgenthau said. 'They want to meet up before heading home but don't want to be out too late.' This week, Livesey had a customer who flagged on their 5.30pm booking that they needed to leave by 8pm to catch a train home. Morgenthau said: 'What creates a good atmosphere in a restaurant isn't the time. The lovely hum comes from having a full room.' But earlier meal times is not the only Gen Z trend surprising older generations. MailOnline reported that Gen Z Brits are turning their backs on British sandwich classics like ham and mustard and cheese and onion in favour of 'fancy' fillings like avocado, olives and continental cheese. Snacks like mochi ice cream and Dubai chocolate have become more popular for younger generations in recent years - but now it seems even their drinks are changing. More young people are ditching the traditional English breakfast tea with drinks such as bubble tea and matcha. The Taiwanese bubble tea has garnered 4.5 billion views on TikTok and there are more than 400 cafés in the UK - and You Magazine recently reported that reported Gen Z's matcha obsession is causing a crippling global shortage. Pop icon Dua Lipa reportedly has more pics on Instagram with her iced matcha than with her boyfriend and Blank Street's £3.90 matcha is so popular that TikTokers have traveled from Newcastle to its 35 London stores. One of its bestsellers is the white chocolate matcha latte with oat milk, chocolate syrup, vanilla extract and matcha. So whether it's eating at 5pm or drinking matcha, it seems Gen Z is changing the way the country's dining habits.
The Independent
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
BBC pulls controversial Gaza documentary from iPlayer in apology for ‘serious flaws' amid Hamas questions
The BBC has apologised for 'serious flaws' in the making of the programme Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, and added it has no plans to broadcast the documentary again or return it to iPlayer. The corporation removed the documentary after it emerged that the child narrator is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture. The broadcaster, which has now conducted an initial review of the programme, said independent production company Hoyo Films, who made the documentary, told them the boy's mother had been paid 'a limited sum of money for the narration'. This comes after concerns from shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew that public funds had 'indirectly supported a terrorist organisation'. After the discovery about Abdullah Al-Yazouri, who speaks about life in the territory amid the war between Israel and Hamas, the BBC added a disclaimer to the programme and later removed it from its online catch-up service. A BBC spokesperson said its review 'has identified serious flaws in the making of this programme'. They added: 'Some of these were made by the production company and some by the BBC; all of them are unacceptable. BBC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the corporation's reputation. We apologise for this. 'Nothing is more important than the trust that our audiences have in our journalism. 'This incident has damaged that trust. While the intent of the documentary was aligned with our purpose – to tell the story of what is happening around the world, even in the most difficult and dangerous places – the processes and execution of this programme fell short of our expectations. 'Although the programme was made by an independent production company, who were commissioned to deliver a fully compliant documentary, the BBC has ultimate editorial responsibility for this programme as broadcast.' The spokesperson said one of the core questions was around 'the family connections of the young boy who is the narrator of the film' and added that the production company 'was asked in writing a number of times by the BBC about any potential connections he and his family might have with Hamas'. 'Since transmission, they have acknowledged that they knew that the boy's father was a deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas government; they have also acknowledged that they never told the BBC this fact,' the spokesperson said. 'It was then the BBC's own failing that we did not uncover that fact and the documentary was aired. 'Hoyo Films have told us that they paid the boy's mother, via his sister's bank account, a limited sum of money for the narration. 'While Hoyo Films have assured us that no payments were made to members of Hamas or its affiliates, either directly, in kind, or as a gift, the BBC is seeking additional assurance around the budget of the programme and will undertake a full audit of expenditure. 'We are requesting the relevant financial accounts of the production company in order to do that.' Hoyo Films said in a statement: 'We are co-operating fully with the BBC and Peter Johnston (director of editorial complaints and reviews) to help understand where mistakes have been made. 'We feel this remains an important story to tell, and that our contributors – who have no say in the war – should have their voices heard.' In another statement, the BBC's board said mistakes made in producing the documentary were 'significant and damaging to the BBC'. The statement said: 'The subject matter of the documentary was clearly a legitimate area to explore, but nothing is more important than trust and transparency in our journalism. 'While the board appreciates that mistakes can be made, the mistakes here are significant and damaging to the BBC. 'The board has required the Executive to report back at the earliest opportunity on the outcomes of the work the director-general has commissioned.' Former BBC One controller Danny Cohen, who was among those wanting the BBC to pull the programme, said: 'The BBC has now acknowledged the very serious journalistic failings of this documentary and the damage it has caused to the BBC's reputation.' He added: 'The BBC must allow a full independent inquiry to investigate the processes that led to this documentary being produced.' On Tuesday, protesters gathered outside Broadcasting House in London claiming the BBC had aired Hamas propaganda. The BBC also faced criticism in pulling the documentary, with Gary Lineker, Anita Rani, Riz Ahmed and Miriam Margolyes among the more than 500 media figures who had condemned the action. In an open letter addressed to the BBC's director-general Tim Davie, chairman Samir Shah and chief content officer Charlotte Moore, hundreds of TV and film professionals and journalists called the decision to remove the documentary 'politically motivated censorship'. Earlier in the week, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she had met the BBC director-general at her request 'in order to seek urgent answers about the checks and due diligence that should have been carried out ahead of the screening of a recent documentary into Gaza, about the commissioning, the payments, and the use of licence fee payers' money.'
The Independent
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
BBC apologises for ‘serious flaws' in making of Gaza documentary
The BBC has apologised for 'serious flaws' in the making of programme Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone, and added it has no plans to broadcast the documentary again or return it to iPlayer. The corporation removed the documentary after it emerged that the child narrator is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture. The broadcaster, which has now conducted an initial review of the programme, said independent production company Hoyo Films, who made documentary, told them the boy's mother had been paid 'a limited sum of money for the narration'. This comes following concerns from shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew that public funds had 'indirectly supported a terrorist organisation'. After the discovery about Abdullah Al-Yazouri, who speaks about life in the territory amid the war between Israel and Hamas, the BBC added a disclaimer to the programme and later removed it from its online catch-up service. A BBC spokesperson said the its review 'has identified serious flaws in the making of this programme'. It added: 'Some of these were made by the production company and some by the BBC; all of them are unacceptable. BBC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the corporation's reputation. We apologise for this. 'Nothing is more important than the trust that our audiences have in our journalism. 'This incident has damaged that trust. While the intent of the documentary was aligned with our purpose – to tell the story of what is happening around the world, even in the most difficult and dangerous places – the processes and execution of this programme fell short of our expectations. 'Although the programme was made by an independent production company, who were commissioned to deliver a fully compliant documentary, the BBC has ultimate editorial responsibility for this programme as broadcast.' The spokesperson said one of the core questions was around 'the family connections of the young boy who is the narrator of the film' and added that the production company who made the programme 'was asked in writing a number of times by the BBC about any potential connections he and his family might have with Hamas'. 'Since transmission, they have acknowledged that they knew that the boy's father was a deputy agriculture minister in the Hamas government; they have also acknowledged that they never told the BBC this fact,' the spokesperson said. 'It was then the BBC's own failing that we did not uncover that fact and the documentary was aired. 'Hoyo Films have told us that they paid the boy's mother, via his sister's bank account, a limited sum of money for the narration. 'While Hoyo Films have assured us that no payments were made to members of Hamas or its affiliates, either directly, in kind, or as a gift, the BBC is seeking additional assurance around the budget of the programme and will undertake a full audit of expenditure. 'We are requesting the relevant financial accounts of the production company in order to do that.' In a separate statement, the BBC's board said mistakes made in producing the documentary were 'significant and damaging to the BBC'. The statement said: 'The subject matter of the documentary was clearly a legitimate area to explore, but nothing is more important than trust and transparency in our journalism. 'While the board appreciates that mistakes can be made, the mistakes here are significant and damaging to the BBC. 'The board has required the Executive to report back at the earliest opportunity on the outcomes of the work the director-general has commissioned.' On Tuesday, protesters gathered outside Broadcasting House in London claiming the BBC had aired Hamas propaganda. The BBC also faced criticism in pulling the documentary; with Gary Lineker, Anita Rani, Riz Ahmed and Miriam Margolyes among the more than 500 media figures who had condemned the action. In an open letter addressed to the BBC's director general Tim Davie, chairman Samir Shah and chief content officer Charlotte Moore, hundreds of TV and film professionals and journalists called the decision to remove the documentary 'politically motivated censorship'.
