Off The Cuff

Off The Cuff
Genre:	Light Entertainment
First Broadcast:	May 2003
Last Broadcast:	May 2004
Producer(s):	Whoever wanted to!

The broom cupboard set

In March 2003 YSTV received a lot of equipment from a company called AccentureUnverified or incomplete information, including a DV camera, a security camera now known as DeathStar, pen cameras, a large equipment desk and a new vision mixer. Whilst this meant the usual DaVE vision mixer wouldn't have to be trundled out to OBs, it left the new Panasonic Max (as it was christened) lying dormant most of the time. With new content desperately needed for the station Jonathan Bufton, along with Dave Baker and Ed Jellard decided to install it in a corner of the studio, with some setboards, monitors, the desk from Election Night 2000 and the new OB sound desk, in a setup that echoed - OK, entirely copied - the "broom cupboard" Children's BBC set of the late 80s and early 90s (actually the continuity announcer's booth). The idea was people would be able to have their own shows without such pesky things as crews holding them back, and mix chat with music and whatever people wanted - pretty much as URY was doing very successfully at the time.

The four inputs on the vision mixer were assigned to the camera, the two VCRs and finally a "guest" source - which included pen cameras, DeathStar, a computer next door (to facilitate internet reviews) and live TV channels. As well as providing a presentation area, it also provided a handy booth for the Floor Manager and NaffoCue operator to sit in during programmes such as YSTV Week, with the technology for that also built into the set.

After a pilot in May 2003 and a few special Freshers' Week shows that October, word was put about that presenters were wanted for a new anything-goes slot (hence the name) every afternoon between 1600 and 1800, replacing the TMF Music Videos slot that usually went out at that time. The response was not exactly enormous. After the set was used successfully for Children In Need 2003 the slot finally launched in January 2004, but there were many problems, including the set being quite difficult to learn how to control, the music videos (taped off the telly) having to be cued from dodgy VHS machines, the components of the set frequently being removed for OBs or testing and above all lack of interest (or ability) to hold together a two hour TV show as would be easy on the radio. After a long period of inactivity the set was taken to pieces in May 2004 during the YSTV Clean-Up and lessons were learnt.

Off The Cuff with Jonathan and Ed

The broom cupboard as seen from behind the news desk

Amazingly ITV Play used essentially the same setup for their show Play DJ - well, it was one way of working within a tiny budget! Meanwhile CBBC have recently relaunched with a very broom cupboard-esque set, bringing us full circle...