Arena Gazette Feed

ANT AND DEC MAROONED TOGETHER ON DESERT ISLAND DISCS

2013-11-20T14:29:13+00:00

Ant and Dec on Desert Island.jpg

TV's most famous double, act Ant and Dec, will be the final castaways on this year's Desert Island Discs on 29 December. This is the first time in over 25 years that two guests have appeared together on the show. The last pair to be marooned were Spitting Image creators Roger Law and Peter Fluck. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mlw9

Otherwise known as 'Luck and Flaw', Roger and Peter are best known for their plasticine caricatures which were the foundation for the satirical programme 'Spitting Image'. In 1980, three years before Spitting Image began, Arena made a film about the pair as they moulded caricatures in their studio that were then photographed for magazines all over the world.

Arena is currently in production on a film to mark the 30th anniversary of 'Spitting Image'. To find out more on the upcoming documentary, visit Arena's 'In Production' page http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006pn88/profiles/spittingimage

Roger Law and Peter Fluck discuss how they create their plasticine caricatures

Arena: Luck and Flaw (1980), Directed by Anthony Wall

FRANCIS BACON PAINTING SOLD FOR RECORD PRICE

2013-11-13T17:32:35+00:00

Francis Bacon painting of Lucian Freud sells at auction for record price

A painting by Francis Bacon of his friend and fellow artist Lucian Freud has sold at auction in New York for 142 million dollars (£89), making it the highest price ever reached at auction. The buyer's identity has not been revealed.

In 1982, Arena made a feature of the American writer, William Burroughs. In the course of the filming, Arena followed him to 7 Reece Mews in Kensington, the home and studio of Francis Bacon. The two masters of outrage had known each other since Burroughs' 16 years of exile in London during the 60s and 70s. On a winter's afternoon, Burroughs dropped in for a cup of tea and a catch up with Bacon. This meeting has never been broadcast and the excerpt here is shown uncut as they bemoan Jackson Pollock's paintings as looking like 'old lace'.

Francis Bacon meets William Burroughs in uncut footage from Arena rushes

Arena: Bacon Meets Burroughs (1982). Directed by Howard Brookner and Nigel Finch, Series Editor - Anthony Wall