Brits at their Best

We have written about our disappointment with the BBC, which according to former BBC reporter Robin Aitken is in favour of "women's and gay rights, high taxation, ethnic minorities, multiculturalism, the UN, the EU and foreign governments (especially Left-wing ones)." That is to say it is not in favour of attempting to present a balanced picture of the news.

Aitken recently published Can We Trust the BBC? As far as we are aware, the BBC has not made any effort to interview Aitken about his book, but he was interviewed by 18 Doughty Street.

We posted about 18 Doughty Street, an internet-based television station, at its birth in October. Significantly, 18 Doughty Street is now inviting viewers to send in their own contributions and for those contributions to be uploaded to the site or even broadcast live.

18 Doughty Street is housed in a five storey terraced house in Bloomsbury where Charles Dickens’ daughter was born. When you walk inside, you are on the floor which houses a state-of-the art television studio with two sets and seven cameras and some

of Doughty Street's editorial and creative offices. The “redoubtable receptionist” intercepts you from her vantage point at the top of the mezzanine stairs and shepherds you into the Green Room, an ornately furnished Georgian room where you help yourself to tea, coffee or something stronger while waiting “to be grilled by Iain, Zoe, Tim or Donal".

According to 18 Doughty Street,

The first floor is where the post-production and editing suite is located and where editing, archiving and uploading of programmes and clips takes place.
The second floor houses the Chairman's Office, the hallowed sanctuary in which our owner, Stephan Shakespeare, leads the 18 Doughty Street team. This is where longer-term strategic decisions are taken.

The second floor also houses a bedroom, while the third floor houses three bedrooms. Part of the vision of Stephan Shakespeare is that 18 Doughty Street is not just a television channel, a campaigning organisation or even a home to the wider conservative movement - the house is a base for ConservativeHome.com, the Young Britons' Foundation and BritainAndAmerica.com. Stephan's vision is that 18 Doughty Street is also a place where leading conservatives from around the world can come to work, study, relax and stay. . .

The final part of the building, the basement, is yet to be renovated. When finished it will comprise a country house style kitchen and dining room.

In short, 18 Doughty Street sounds like a rather nice place to visit, especially when the kitchen is finished. Those interested in watching news with less bias or a different bias from the BBC, or in contributing news reports can find 18 Doughty Street here.

Here is Aitken's book:

An invitation to 18 Doughty Street