George Orwell statue

[aeolium]

It appears that the outgoing D-G of the BBC Mark Thompson rejected a proposal for a statue commemorating George Orwell at the BBC on the grounds that he was "too left-wing". That'd be the Orwell who wrote the dystopian satires Animal Farm and 1984, then

Has there been a more mediocre and depressing (and ridiculously overpaid) man in charge of the BBC in its history? Good riddance to him as he seeks his fortune in the US

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

It appears that the outgoing D-G of the BBC Mark Thompson rejected a proposal for a statue commemorating George Orwell at the BBC on the grounds that he was "too left-wing". That'd be the Orwell who wrote the dystopian satires Animal Farm and 1984, then

Has there been a more mediocre and depressing (and ridiculously overpaid) man in charge of the BBC in its history? Good riddance to him as he seeks his fortune in the US

don't think so aeolium .... a real stinkpot ...

[Pabmusic]

It appears that the outgoing D-G of the BBC Mark Thompson rejected a proposal for a statue commemorating George Orwell at the BBC on the grounds that he was "too left-wing". That'd be the Orwell who wrote the dystopian satires Animal Farm and 1984, then

Has there been a more mediocre and depressing (and ridiculously overpaid) man in charge of the BBC in its history? Good riddance to him as he seeks his fortune in the US

Perhaps he's just fed up with Old Etonians.

[Bryn]

It appears that the outgoing D-G of the BBC Mark Thompson rejected a proposal for a statue commemorating George Orwell at the BBC on the grounds that he was "too left-wing". That'd be the Orwell who wrote the dystopian satires Animal Farm and 1984, then

Something to do with a Blair stature reminding folk of the Big Brother Corporation then?

[Stunsworth]

Has there been a more mediocre and depressing (and ridiculously overpaid) man in charge of the BBC in its history? Good riddance to him as he seeks his fortune in the US

Bean counter John Birt? I remember when he introduced the BBC's 'internal market' someone involved in programme production saying that it was cheaper to buy a copy of a CD that hire it from the BBC library. Probably an exaggeration, but with a grain of truth to it no doubt.

[Flosshilde]

Reading the article it's clear that Mark Thompson didn't reject the statue becuase Orwell was 'too left-wing', but because the idea was too left-wing - a subtle distinction. Also, the area already has a work by Mark Pimlott, which would be obscured by another statue, & the BBC are working with Westminster Council to site the statue outside Broadcasting House, which is where Orwell worked.

So, a rather different story than the one aeolium presented in his first post.

[Serial_Apologist]

Reading the article it's clear that Mark Thompson didn't reject the statue becuase Orwell was 'too left-wing', but because the idea was too left-wing - a subtle distinction. Also, the area already has a work by Mark Pimlott, which would be obscured by another statue, & the BBC are working with Westminster Council to site the statue outside Broadcasting House, which is where Orwell worked.

So, a rather different story than the one aeolium presented in his first post.

Without Thompson defining whose idea was too left-wing, I find it hard to make this distinction.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well whatever the ins and outs and wheres and wherefores of Orwell's statue might be, Thompson remains a stinkpot

[Gordon]

Well, if we can't give Orwell a staue at the BBC perhaps a [Wigan] pierage??

[mercia]

was Orwell's time at the BBC particularly significant, either to him or them ?

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, if we can't give Orwell a staue at the BBC perhaps a [Wigan] pierage??

That would go well with a Mark Thompson disappearage...

[Lateralthinking1]

That would go well with a Mark Thompson disappearage...

I don't see why he is going to New York. He doesn't need the money and it is selfish to take a job that could go to a young unemployed person.

It isn't even as if there isn't already a very famous Mark Thompson in the Big Apple. There is the one who presents The Morning Pigpen on WPIG 95.7.

It is "The only station that dares to give away cash". Fortunately, I doubt that their paths will cross any time soon.

Hey - he's on air now! - http://www.wpig.com/

[Flosshilde]

well whatever the ins and outs and wheres and wherefores of Orwell's statue might be, Thompson remains a stinkpot

Perhaps the thread should have simply been headed 'Thompson's a stinkpot' without being hung on spurious outrage about the siting of a statue to someone who worked at the BBC fo 2 or 3 years? Although I think that there has already been a thread on that theme.

[aeolium]

Reading the article it's clear that Mark Thompson didn't reject the statue becuase Orwell was 'too left-wing', but because the idea was too left-wing - a subtle distinction.

Rather too subtle for me. In what way could the erection of a statue to Orwell be considered "too left-wing" unless it was a reflection on Orwell's own political character and beliefs?

Also, the area already has a work by Mark Pimlott, which would be obscured by another statue, & the BBC are working with Westminster Council to site the statue outside Broadcasting House, which is where Orwell worked.

Had that been the reason given for rejecting the suggested location for the statue then presumably Joan Bakewell would not have felt aggrieved and there would have been no story. The story arose from Thompson's response.

[vinteuil]

was Orwell's time at the BBC particularly significant, either to him or them ?

... it was certainly important to Orwell between 1941 and 1946: he joined the BBC Overseas Service on 18 August 1941, becoming a Talks Producer responsible for features, talks, and commentaries on the war; he wrote at least 220 news commentaries for, and broadcast to, India and occupied Malaya and Indonesia, of which he himself read fifty six. His BBC activity occupies a significant part of volumes 12 - 18 of Peter Davison's Complete Edition of Orwell's Works.