The most famous enigma of all, David Bowie, was one of the first innovators to bypass these longstanding gatekeepers of fan-artist relations and start communicating with his en masse via the messageboards of his pioneering fansite Bowienet. It’s easy to fetishize that era now that millions can savour every minutiae of Selena Gomez’s ‘private’ life, but truthfully this lost secrecy was rarely self-imposed. Back in the sepia-tinged, pre-MTV’s Cribs 1990s (when ‘social media’ meant clustering round your friend’s tiny TV to share some serious Fresh Prince of Bel-Air chuckles) the thoughts and lives of artists were shrouded in mystery.įans would buy up tastemaker publications such as Melody Maker and NME to obsess over every word of each interview with their idols, desperate to peer behind the curtain and catch a glimpse of the real Kurt Cobain/Madonna/Marilyn Manson. In 1998 presenter Richard Bacon was sacked for taking cocaine, while others, including John Leslie and Anthea Turner, have endured well-publicised tabloid travails since leaving the show.What very few observers talk about is the simultaneous, quieter revolution that the internet has ushered in: the removal of the traditional barriers between musicians and fanbases. But more recently it has also had its share of controversy. The programme, launched in 1958, became known down the years for its wholesome presenters. It doesn't explain why they shouldn't have done it," said Prof Miller, who also claimed that the show broke its own reporting guidelines by using the word "Ulster". "It's welcome that they apologised but it's not exactly full or frank. Salmon, a former Miss Northern Ireland, caused further controversy a week later when she selected a competition entry that featured a map showing the whole of the British Isles decorated with the Union flag.ĭavid Miller, professor of sociology at Strathclyde Univer sity and one of those who complained originally, said that the BBC had also received complaints about this edition. She argued that the programme's researchers were advised that of Ulster's nine counties, three were located in Eire and that "both communities are equally attached to the red hand as representative of their province".īut on further investigation she accepted that the show, which runs five nights a week on the digital CBBC channel and three times a week on BBC1, had made a mistake. "We can assure you that the symbol was used in good faith and it certainly wasn't our intention to be provocative or promote sectarianism," added Ms Gilchrist. Those who complained were this week sent a detailed apology by Anne Gilchrist, head of entertainment and Blue Peter at CBBC, admitting that the choice of livery was "inappropriate and mistaken" and apologising "for any upset or concern we have caused". The corporation said it received four complaints following the comment by the 24-year-old presenter, who is from Bangor, Co Down, and was introducing a competition inviting viewers to design a livery for a Boeing aircraft that represented "the best of British".
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