DAVID GLOVER
Commissioning Editor
Editorial Assistant: Sagina Shabaya
Research shows that viewers don't come to channel 4 looking for straight science lesson television. They come to Channel 4 for quirkier, more startling, shocking, and innovative forms of science television. However we still wish to educate and inform, and viewers also want this from our output. So to some extent we are in the business of smuggling - giving viewers something really educational, thought provoking and worthwhile, while also being entertaining, new and exciting. Here's some of the ways we try to do that:
Powerful Images
Often some really striking images can generate a big audience for what might otherwise be seen as difficult subject matter. For example Mindshock: Feral Children began with an image of a girl barking like a dog, however the film itself was not a freak show, but rather contained very moving accounts of other children who had grown up in the wild, and an ultimately provided an examination of what makes us human.
Animals In The Womb contained images of an elephant foetus that made front page news across the world. The film was a visually stunning look at foetal development.
Often some really striking images can generate a big audience for what might otherwise be seen as difficult subject matter. For example Mindshock: Feral Children began with an image of a girl barking like a dog, however the film itself was not a freak show, but rather contained very moving accounts of other children who had grown up in the wild, and an ultimately provided an examination of what makes us human.
Animals In The Womb contained images of an elephant foetus that made front page news across the world. The film was a visually stunning look at foetal development.
Events and New Forms
Often the use of powerful new images can also lend themselves to creating new forms of television. Channel 4 science is often at its best when the programme doesn't feel like a standard documentary essay but has a sense of event or theatre about it. Everything Gunther Von Hagen has done is unparalleled in terms of intensity - in a way it sets a benchmark for how original and shocking science television can be - while at the same time it is amongst the most educational television ever made on human anatomy.
The Human Footprint turned the statistics of what the average Briton consumes in a lifetime - into a visual tour de force, laying out every cup of tea you'll ever drink in Trafalgar Square.
Animal Farm created a virtual farm that showcased the latest real plants and animals created by science. Viewers were given a superb guided tour of cutting edge science - from the "spider-goats" to the glow-in-the-dark pigs. This was an extremely innovative approach of the kind we are looking for.
Often the use of powerful new images can also lend themselves to creating new forms of television. Channel 4 science is often at its best when the programme doesn't feel like a standard documentary essay but has a sense of event or theatre about it. Everything Gunther Von Hagen has done is unparalleled in terms of intensity - in a way it sets a benchmark for how original and shocking science television can be - while at the same time it is amongst the most educational television ever made on human anatomy.
The Human Footprint turned the statistics of what the average Briton consumes in a lifetime - into a visual tour de force, laying out every cup of tea you'll ever drink in Trafalgar Square.
Animal Farm created a virtual farm that showcased the latest real plants and animals created by science. Viewers were given a superb guided tour of cutting edge science - from the "spider-goats" to the glow-in-the-dark pigs. This was an extremely innovative approach of the kind we are looking for.
Experiments
Channel 4 Science is well placed to conduct experiments of its own. Whether inventing psychology experiments, or doing our own DNA testing - television often provides budgets beyond those available to professors or ordinary people. It would be interesting to use this opportunity to really explore new territory and find out new things.
Generally as part of the Specialist Factual department the brief for science has never been wider. Do not feel constrained to only tackle subject matter that you would find in scientific journals.
Channel 4 science has continually invented new, experimental ways of approaching science. We need to continue this.
Channel 4 Science is well placed to conduct experiments of its own. Whether inventing psychology experiments, or doing our own DNA testing - television often provides budgets beyond those available to professors or ordinary people. It would be interesting to use this opportunity to really explore new territory and find out new things.
Generally as part of the Specialist Factual department the brief for science has never been wider. Do not feel constrained to only tackle subject matter that you would find in scientific journals.
Channel 4 science has continually invented new, experimental ways of approaching science. We need to continue this.
Slots
The slots for Science are almost all prime time. Monday's at 9pm - mainly for noisy one offs, specials and events. Saturdays 7pm and 8pm for mainly series, formats and co-pro. There is still some room for 11pm - think even darker, wilder, sexier.
The slots for Science are almost all prime time. Monday's at 9pm - mainly for noisy one offs, specials and events. Saturdays 7pm and 8pm for mainly series, formats and co-pro. There is still some room for 11pm - think even darker, wilder, sexier.
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