Watch our interview with ITV2's controller

This morning I cornered Zai Bennett, controller of ITV2, for a chat about the channel's autumn lineup, its new show with Paris Hilton and new reality series CelebAir. Click 'play' below to watch:

Posted Sunday, August 24 at 14:10 by Neil

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Live blog: Channel of the Year Awards 2008

18.29: Last year I made my thoughts quite clear on the usually entertaining Channel of the Year awards, so this year's ceremony has a lot to make up for. Not having a champagne reception beforehand isn't a good start.

18.33: As the delegates fill the hall we're treated to some of that pop music people keep talking about. I believe this is 'That's Not My Name' by Ting Tings.

18.35: Oh, who am I kidding? It's 'Sweet About Me' by Gabriella Cilmi and I know every word.

18.36: Oooh, lights down, time to begin. Andrew Mackenzie, advisory chair, kicks things off by announcing the winners of the 'ITV Goal Challenge'. He then goads delegates into attending tomorrow's activities.

18.39: The real host, TV's Michael McIntyre, bounds on to stage. He jokes about his wife, the "overly familiar" Irish continuity announcer on Channel 4 and the "autistic shelf-stacker" replacement for Carol Vorderman on Countdown.

18.43: He's much funnier than Lauren Laverne.

18.44: The first award is the Fast Track Network Choice, voted for by the young delegates attending the Festival's two talent schemes. From a shortlist including Skins, Gavin & Stacey and Doctor Who, the winner is...

18.49: ...Doctor Who!

18.51: Next is non-terrestrial programme of the year, from nominees Gavin & Stacey (BBC Three), Lost (Sky One) and Skins (E4).

18.55: After some clips from the nominated shows we discover that the winner is Gavin & Stacey. "Ruth and James can't be here today because they can't be arsed," says some old dude (probably a producer? writer? yes, writer.).

18.56: On to the nominees for terrestrial programme of the year: BBC One's The Apprentice, BBC Two's Heroes and BBC One's Doctor Who. I think it's safe to say the BBC has this one.

18.59: And the winner is... The Apprentice!

19.03: The woman collecting the award (the producer? writer? no, producer) is giving a ridiculously long speech filled with anecdotes and congratulations. Grab the award and get off the stage, love.

19.04: Sir Alan, appearing on a pre-recorded message, gives his own version of the thanks. "It's very interesting to see that the fourth series has managed to attract awards," he says, but notes: "It looks a bit naff. Maybe you could do something about that."

19.06: Now the penultimate award, for non-terrestrial channel of the year. The shortlist includes BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV2, E4, Sky One and Dave, but there can only be one winner.

19.13: ... and that winner is BBC Three! Controller Danny Cohen collects the gong and manages to thank everyone in under 60 seconds. Take note, Apprentice producer/writer.

19.15: The final award now, for terrestrial channel of the year. I'm sure you can guess the nominees.

19.20: And the winner is BBC One! This gives the Beeb a clean sweep of all five awards at this year's ceremony.

19.22: With that, the ceremony comes to a close. Right, I'm off to find that champagne...

Posted Saturday, August 23 at 18:28 by Neil

Live blog: Richard & Judy in conversation

15.43: "Daytime will never be the same again," says session moderator Nick Ferrari as he introduces an interview with Richard and Judy, who fronted their last show for Channel 4 yesterday. Highlights of their tenure at the broadcaster follow.

15.47: "It can be tense sometimes," says Judy of interviewing big names. "You want them to like you and they're megastars." Richard says that he has learnt a "psychological technique" of controlling his nerves.

15.48: "We started it all folks," jokes Richard in reference to You Say, We Pay, the first competition to be exposed in the TV fakery row. He admits that the pair, as executive producers of the show, "felt some responsibility" for the error. "But we had absolutely no idea how the [competition] was structured and we had no day-to-day responsibility for it."

15.50: Talking about their upcoming move to UKTV, Judy says that the pair had decided it was "about time to call it a day" on doing a live, daily TV show. "It's really hard to put it into words," agrees Richard, "but it just felt like we'd done everything we could do with that show."

15.53: Asked if she cried after last night's show, Judy replies: "I got a bit teared up, but I managed to hold it together. Endings are little deaths in a way, even if you know it's the right thing to do. We're still with the same production company, still in the same building, still with much of the same team."

15.54: Richard explains why he's turned down Strictly Come Dancing thusfar: "I haven't got the time and I can't dance. You can learn but unless you want to look like a complete pratt, you have to dedicate a lot of time to it. As Judy would tell you, I'm fiercely competitive and although I don't think I'd win, I wouldn't want to be the first one voted off. If the time comes, and I'm not too old, I would love to do it. I think it would be a hoot."

15.57: Richard recalls being offered a deal with Sky One seven years ago but eventually went for Channel 4 because the digital market wasn't developed enough to sustain it. "Now it's different," he adds. The pair's new UKTV show will air five days a week but will be pre-recorded, offering them more time off.

16.00: Richard berates the "intellectual snobbery" over their previous work, but argues that their 'Book Club' feature changed that. "It will come to the new channel, lock, stock and barrel," he adds.

16.01: Richard reveals that the new show will air weekdays at 8pm for an hour and will possibly be repeated the following day at 5pm.

16.02: "She told him to 'fuck off' basically," says Richard of Judy's argument with David Liddiment many years ago. "I phoned him up the next morning and he was lovely about it," she recalls. "He said 'whenever you feel you're losing your rag with someone, get up and leave the room'. That was an excellent piece of advice and I've done it ever since."

16.05: Richard must have said "fuck" and "wanker" at least 20 times in the last three minutes.

16.07: "If I hadn't been working for Richard all these years, I wouldn't be working in television. I know that completely," says Judy defiantly. "My family and husband come miles ahead of my career."

16.08: Asked how he defines Judy, Richard replies: "An extremely unusual person to be a television presenter. Not because she doesn't have the talent, but she loathes many aspects of it. She's one of the least ego-fuelled TV presenters I've ever met."

16.09: As for Judy on Richard: "He's the kind of person who could do absolutely anything he wanted if he put his mind to it. He's enormously intelligent, which annoys me sometimes with the gaffes. He does make silly remarks sometimes, but he knows it."

16.11: Richard reveals that after the duo quit Channel 4, ITV had offered him a new TV project to go to the south of France, open a vineyard and create his own wine.

16.15: An impromptu game of Mr & Mrs reveals that Judy has not driven in eight years after a traumatic incident crashing into a rock in Cornwall.

16.21: Richard "absolutely" still goes commando, apparently. And he "blubs internally" when watching soppy films... or the final episode of The Royle Family.

16.24: Judy says she found it very difficult to adjust when she moved to London and spent the first 18 months feeling as if she'd made a "terrible mistake". "I felt all wrong, but it was all emotional. Now I live London and I wouldn't live anywhere else to be honest, except Cornwall."

16.27: Asked how she felt about daughter Chloe's FHM shoot, Judy responds: "Interesting. I had to do a bit of thinking about that. I never ever dreamed - feminist that I am - that I would see my daughter dressed sexily in a lads' magazine That took a bit of getting used to. On the other hand, I was impressed of her for having the confidence. She's using what she's got. She's enjoying herself."

16.30: Richard and Judy refuse to comment on Carol Vorderman's exit from Countdown, saying they haven't spoken to Carol or Channel 4 about it. "It's not our business anyway," adds Judy.

16.35: Richard says he was impressed with Judy's down-to-earth interviewing of Hillary Clinton about Bill's affair. "Lots of people think that gladiatorial style of interviewing is the way to go with politicians," she says, "but it's not."

16.38: Nick Ferrari closes the session: "They're off to a different place and different time, but I'm sure you'll watch.... Richard & Judy."

Posted Saturday, August 23 at 15:44 by Neil