RT╔ will tonight broadcast an hour-long documentary based on the extraordinary transfer of Francis Bacon's London studio to the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin. The reconstructed studio was opened at the gallery this week after a team of archaeologists and conservators spent nearly three years dismantling the room and its contents and transporting them to Dublin.
The film was originally commissioned by the estate of Francis Bacon simply as a recorded archive of the move, but after interest from RT╔ it was decided to make it a documentary. Bacon lived and worked at the studio, at 7 Reece Mews in South Kensington, for the last 30 years of his life. Filming at the tiny studio was constrained by what Bacon himself described as "the mess". Almost every inch of floor space was covered with newspaper clippings, tins of paint, books and photos and the filmmakers had to exercise special care not to disturb the archaeologists' painstaking work.
The documentary was shot on Super 16mm film to capture the natural light of the studio and features interviews with artists Louis le Brocquy, Anne Madden and Damien Hirst; poet and author Anthony Cronin, and the director of the Hugh Lane Gallery, Barbara Dawson. 7 Reece Mews is on Network 2 at 8.30 p.m. tonight and it will be followed at 11.50 p.m. by the 1998 John Maybury film Love is the Devil. The film is an account of the stormy relationship between Bacon and George Dyer - the reformed thief whom the painter met when he broke into his studio.
A new eight-part comedy drama set in Dublin goes into production on Monday. Bachelor's Walk is based on the loves and lives of four Dubliners sharing a house on yep, you've guessed it, Bachelor's Walk. The series is a co-production between RT╔ and the BBC and it will be the first drama shown on the new BBC 3 channel when it launches this autumn. The characters are described as three guys and a girl living on the margins of the Celtic Tiger. The drama was written and will be directed by John Carney, Kieran Kearney and Tom Hall. It is being produced by Eoin Holmes for Accomplice Television, a new TV drama company set up by Ed Guiney of Temple Films and David Collins of Samson Films. The series is expected to run on RT╔ in early October.
British broadcasters came under fire this week from the Labour party, with accusations of media collusion with protesters on the election campaign trail. A leaked letter from the party's general secretary, Margaret MacDonagh, to the BBC, ITN and Sky said television broadcasters had crossed the line between creating and reporting events. It claimed that the behaviour of TV crews was putting the safety of Labour politicians, party staff and the public at risk. The Labour party is believed to be concerned that the itinerary of Tony Blair, given to broadcasters in advance on an embargoed basis, is being leaked to allow time for protesters to gather. The broadcasters reacted angrily to the allegations and denied their reporters or crews were briefing protesters to encourage confrontations on the stump.
Spice Girl Mel B is to present a prime time TV music talent show for ITV beginning this summer. This Is My Moment promises to reward amateur singers with a superstar salary - for one night only. Contestants have to prove their talents on the telephone, by calling Mel B in studio and singing live on air. Viewers then cast their votes and contestants receive 50 pence for every vote. The show will be screened twice a week and contestants could win up to £50,000 sterling, according to ITV.
mkearney@irish-times.com