MediaGuardian briefing

Media briefing                                                                                           Tuesday 27 Jan 2015 g
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BBC director general Tony Hall steps into row over latest Archers plotlines Radio 4 controller denies soap has become too sensational following complaints after arrival of new editor  Bear Grylls pushes celebrities to the limit in Mission Survive Explorer’s ITV debut set in the rainforests of central America tests expedition skills during 12-day survival mission  Rupert Murdoch berates 'horrible elites' over the Sun's Page 3 Publisher’s tweet scorns those who ‘yak on’ about use of topless pictures  BBC launch interactive Taster service encouraging users to shape content Lena Dunham interview featured in new interactive service where audience can get involved in creative process by sharing and rating content  David Cameron: include Northern Ireland parties too in TV debates PM says good progress has been made in debate negotiations but questions why Northern Ireland parties are missing out  WikiLeaks demands answers after Google hands staff emails to US government Search giant gave FBI emails and digital data belonging to three WikiLeaks staffers under warrants served in March 2012  Man shoots himself outside News Corp building claiming Fox 'ruined his life' Man was a former employee of a local Fox affiliate in Texas and gun and suicide note found at scene along New York City’s busy Sixth Avenue  Argentine journalist explains why he fled the country Reporter tells of ‘crazy’ incidents after breaking story of prosecutor’s death  BBC3 bid: ‘We’re trying to say that there is another way’ Jon Thoday and Jimmy Mulville detail their plans to buy the channel, answer BBC concerns, and say investors are queuing up  Could BBH’s track record with BA advertising help Tesco to take off? Supermarket boss Dave Lewis believes advertising must play big role in revival
Today's newspaper headlines                                                                                                             More »
Today's media stories from the papers Our roundup of the day's media stories, including Tony Hall steps into Archers row and Rupert Murdoch berates 'horrible elites' over Page 3
Media Monkey's pick of the day                                                                                                         More »
Channel 4's The Undateables: five series and a wedding Not only has Channel 4 just commissioned a fifth run of The Undateables, the series showcasing people with disabilities picking their way through the modern day minefield of finding love. It is also celebrating the show’s first ever wedding, the fourth series climaxing on 2 February with the nuptials of Brent Zillwood and Challis Orme. Cupid – alive and well and living at 124 Horseferry Road Brent has Tourette’s syndrome and his first words to his bride across a bar were “shithead” and “fuck you, man”. Monkey is old enough to remember Cilla Black constantly telling her Blind Date contestants of her hunger to “buy a hat” to push the potential for nuptials between participants, so news of an Undateables wedding warms even the most cynical cockles. Blind Date. Some formats never go out of fashion, they just get reimagined The new series will also invite viewers to enjoy catch-ups to see how previous daters’ love lives have progressed. Channel 4’s factual entertainment commissioning editor Lucy Leveugle noted with pride the show’s “legacy with proposals and weddings”. Hats off to Channel 4.