BBC production team behind coverage of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize Awards and Harry and Meghan’s wedding praised for organising a ‘phenomenal’ Party at the Palace last night
- The BBC production team behind Party at the Palace have been praised online
- Brits have said they organised a ‘magical’ and ‘phenomenal’ show last night
- Claire Popplewell, creative director for BBC Studios Events led production team
- She delivered international broadcast of Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018
- BBC Studios executive producer Mark Sidaway was one of the key organisers
- He won a BAFTA last month for work on first Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony
The BBC production team behind coverage of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize Awards and Harry and Meghan’s wedding have been praised for organising a ‘phenomenal’ show to mark the Queen’s 70th anniversary on the throne.
Brits have commended organisers for the ‘magical’ and ‘phenomenal’ show last night, as thousands watched live from The Mall, with a peak of 13.4 million tuning in via their televisions.
Two of the key organisers were Claire Popplewell, creative director for BBC Studios Events and Mark Sidaway, executive producer for the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace.
Claire Popplewell, creative director for BBC Studios Events was a key organiser of yesterday’s party outside the palace
One of yesterday’s key organisers was Mark Sidaway, executive producer for the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace. Pictured last month at the BAFTAs
Ms Popplewell has been employed by BBC Studios for three years and eight months, having taken the role after a multi-award winning career as director, executive producer, producer and editor.
She had spent a more than 27 years with the BBC as an editor of ceremonial events, and executive producer.
She is currently responsible for the planning and execution of all royal, ceremonial and commemorative programming, and has delivered global events including Live 8, the funeral of Nelson Mandela, the international broadcast of Harry and Meghan’s wedding, D-Day 75 and, most recently, VE Day 75.
Brits have commended organisers for the ‘magical’ and ‘phenomenal’ show last night, as thousands watched live from The Mall, with a peak of 13.4 million tuning in via their televisions
Royal fans watch as Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, appear on stage during the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace
Drone Show above Buckingham Palace during the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace spelt ‘Thank You Ma’am’ in tribute to the Queen
The crowds heard archive recordings of the Queen speaking about the future of the planet in 1989 during her Christmas Message: ‘The future of all life on earth depends on how we behave towards one another and how we treat the plants and animals that share our world with us’
Speaking ahead of the jubilee, she said: ‘The BBC Ceremonial Events team has been at every major Royal landmark since The Queen’s coronation in 1953.
‘It’s been a challenging couple of months but long term relationships with the Met Police, Royal Parks and the Armed Forces have helped them to look favourably on our endless and sometimes bizarre requests.’
This included a 360 degree view of the Horse Guards Parade.
Mr Sidaway has been with BBC Studios for one year and five months, having worked as an executive producer for both NBC and ITV’s The X Factor.
He was also executive producer for the first ever Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021, with his team winning a BAFTA for the Best Live Event at the awards last month.
The University of Sheffield graduate said that he was ‘thrilled and honoured’ when the Queen agreed to star in a special sequence with Paddington Bear.
‘It was slightly nerve-wracking ensuring it all blended seamlessly with the live performance from Queen + Adam Lambert,’ he added.
Talking about the Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, Mr Sidaway said it was a ‘monumental challenge’ to create an ‘unforgettable and star-studded awards ceremony’ while ‘striving to achieve the highest standards of sustainability’.
This morning, Sir Cliff Richard said that last night’s spectacle was the best performance created for Her Majesty.
‘The show that I saw last night was probably the best produced show ever done for the Queen,’ he told Sky News.
‘I mean they must have spent millions on the lighting, it was just fantastic.’
NorthHouse, a design and production studio, worked with the BBC on the event, designing the visuals for the celebrations.
It brought the palace to life with projection-mapped visuals and LED screens visuals.
Its team has worked on the Coldplay Dubai expo and Liam Payne’s opening performance for the BAFTA Film Awards 2021.
Also among those praising organisers was musician Gary Barlow, and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne.
Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, said in the lead-up to the show that she was ‘thrilled’ to be bringing the nation together for the ‘incredible, once-in-a-lifetime event’ to celebrate the Queen’s ‘momentous’ 70 years on the throne.
The performance included a special two and half minute sequence between the monarch and Paddington Bear, which had been kept under wraps for several months by Buckingham Palace, BBC Studios and Heyday Films/STUDIOCANAL.
Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL said that filming with Her Majesty and Paddington at the palace is a memory to ‘cherish’, adding ‘Her Majesty’s warmth and generosity was a joy to behold’.
Last night’s set-up included three stages, linked by walkways, which created a unique 360 experience in front of Buckingham Palace and The Queen Victoria Memorial.
They were linked together with 70 columns representing each year of Her Majesty’s reign.
To the left of the palace was an orchestra stage with a 75-piece orchestra from military musicians from the British Army’s Household Division Bands.
And to the right was the Pop stage, which was backed by LED screens. In front of the Queen Victoria Memorial was the final stage, facing crowds in The Mall.
The entire front of Buckingham Palace was projection mapped — making it the UK’s biggest screen for the night.
Throughout the evening, the live concert spanned more than two and a half hours, with 30-plus artists and performers in the line-up from pop, rock, classical and musicals, with Queen + Adam Lambert opening the show.
The event was staged by BBC Studios Productions.
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