BBC Three - Blog - Graham Matthews

Don't Tell the Bride: Scott Mills talks about Simon and Kaleigh

Graham Matthews Graham Matthews — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:09:16 +0000

Did you see this week's Dont Tell the Bride? We loved it and so did Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills.

This week it was the turn of Simon and Kaleigh in a Las Vegas special with tears, drama and more tears.

Listen to Scott and Beccy chatting about their highlights from the show…

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Watch the show on BBC iPlayer now but don't wait for too long - it's only available until 10pm, Tuesday 28th September. And you can read groom Simon's blog about his nightmare wedding planning.

Graham Matthews is Content Producer for BBC Three online.

What is an adult? Celebs share their stories

Graham Matthews Graham Matthews — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:25:00 +0000

The Adult Season explores the pressures on young people to grow up quickly, and we want you to tell us what being an adult means to you. What kind of adult do you want to be? Have you had to grow up quicker than you imagined?

Friends of BBC Three, Greg James, Jenny Frost and Liz McClarnon have given you the chance to watch exclusive versions of their experiences of becoming an adult, right here on the blog. And don't forget to share your own stories after you've watched them

Greg James:

Jenny Frost:

Liz McClarnon:

Share your story now.

The Adult Season continues TONIGHT on BBC Three with Underage and Pregnant at 8pm, with Baby Beauty Queens at 8.30pm, and Small Teen, Big World at 9pm.

If you're affected by any of the issues in The Adult Season and you want any help or advice visit the Radio 1 The Surgery website.

Graham Matthews is content producer for BBC Three online.

BBC Three Autumn 2010 Preview

Graham Matthews Graham Matthews — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Today BBC Three announced to the world what great new shows it has planned from this autumn - and we've got our hands on this mouthwatering preview of the goodies to come.

The new programmes include brand new drama Lip Service and new comedies The King is Dead and Him and Her (starring Being Human's Russell Tovey).

Your favourites also return with new series of How Not to Live Your Life, Ideal and Russell Howard's Good News. Stacey Dooley returns with a new programme in her Stacey Dooley Investigates series.

Find out more about the programmes:

See what Danny Cohen, controller of BBC Three, thought about the new programmes on the TV blog.

Graham Matthews is content producer for BBC Three online.

La La Land

Graham Matthews Graham Matthews — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:14:18 +0000

Meet Gary Garner, Brendan Allen and Shirley Ghostman... well meet Marc Wootton who plays all three of them in brand new comedy La La Land on BBC Three.

Marc's creations are entirely made up, but the people they meet are completely real and have no idea that they are talking to an actors. It's like a crazy cross between Summer Heights High, The Gemma Factor and Borat.

Gary Garner's porn-star Mum has just died. and using his inheritance he's trying to make it as a Hollywood actor. Does he have what it takes to follow in the footsteps of his heroes Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones?

Brendan Allen is an aspiring documentary maker who has plans to make a film about sharks from an entirely new perspective, although it might already have been done.

You may remember Shirley Ghostman from his previous series on BBC Three, High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman. A professional psychic, Shirley had to escape the UK after being exposed and is now trying to start again in LA.

You can watch La La Land online, then come back to the blog and let us know your favourite bits.

Graham Matthews is content producer for BBC Three online.

E20: Meet the writers

Graham Matthews Graham Matthews — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:33:48 +0000

With E20 ready to jump from the web to television, I caught up with some of the writers, who are all aged between 17 and 22, to find out about their experiences working on the programme.

Nicole Lecky: "So what feels like a million years ago is finally here. The premiere of EastEnders:E20 on BBC Three. The wait has been anticipated by me and the other writers as we feel like we have finally come full circle. From starting out with no idea on what project we would be working on to trekking down to visit the EastEnders set and actually bumping into cast such as Barbara Windsor and Patsy Palmer - it has been a lot of hard work but definitely fun."

What was it like being a writer, and working with the other writers?

Joyce Lee: "Oh my days. Being a writer on E20 is an incredible experience. Every Saturday morning, thirteen young writers invade the BBC. Security guards look at us like we're a tour group that has got lost! Sometimes, we catch a glimpse of Peggy (Barbara Windsor) and Dot (June Brown) in the canteen.

"The writing room is where it all happens. Having spent so much time together, the writing team has become a gang, a family. Not so different from the gang you see in E20. We talk. We laugh. We joke. There are endless jokes. Only we have serious writing to do as well. Everyone throws in ideas. The good, the bad, and the ugly make it onto the board. Then we get rid of the bad and the ugly. And try to make the good better. We spend so much time talking about our characters that they begin to feel like real people, like your friends. Zsa Zsa, Fat Boy, Leon, and Mercy grow into living breathing people with lives of their own... And lots of secrets."

Nicole Lecky: "We spent four weeks story lining and crafting our characters from our own experiences of East London (and as I grew up there I'd say we did pretty well!). At the end of what felt like a really hard 'writing summer school' I think we all came to the realisation that E20 could and would be much bigger than we had anticipated."

What was it like to see your writing being filmed?

Nadia Gasper: "Going to the shoot was an unforgettable experience! After weeks of drafting, re-drafting, endless cups of coffee and more re-drafting, it was amazing seeing my work jump from page to camera. Being in the presence of respectable producers, directors and artists made me feel privileged; reminded me why I'm a writer... and the biscuits weren't bad either!"

How does it feel to know your writing will be on BBC Three?

Abigail Pahnke: "If seeing my name on the credits at the end of my online episode wasn't enough to feel proud of, the prospect of seeing it rise on the television screen is unbelievable. On top of that, we've been given the go-ahead for series two, and are currently developing some juicy stories to really sink your teeth into."

"One of the best things about this journey has been the amazing people I've met, I've made some of the best friends as well as memories that, even though some are nearly a year old, still make me laugh out loud, in sometimes somewhat awkward situations, particularly when on my own.. on a bus... We've proved that young people have something to give, have our own views on the world and opinions that we want to be heard."

Graham Matthews is content producer for BBC Three online.

The Autistic Me - One Year On: Interview with Tom and Kirsty

Graham Matthews Graham Matthews — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:21:37 +0000

The Autistic Me - One Year On revisits Oliver, Tom, Alex and Kirsty 12 months on from when we last met them in The Autistic Me.

I had a chance to speak to Tom and Kirsty to find out what they have been up to since filming.

Tom. After being part of the first film, why were you keen to be in the second film?

I wanted to show people that I was happier after the first show made me look unhappy and depressed. I wanted to show other people with autism are the same as normal people and can get on okay.

Your course tutor in the film is very encouraging about your progress at college - how is the course going?

Its going really good. He said a couple of weeks ago that with my scores I could get into any uni in the country to do sound engineering. He was worried about my social problems though if I did go to uni but I think I can cope as I am so far.

Have you been making plans to continue studying music at university?

Yes. I have been to visit a uni fair and got some leaflets. I want to go and see all the uni's that I think will do the course I want. Mum thinks it will do me good to stay on campus with other students and my brother James is looking into whether his uni have a music course for me. That way I could be with him too if I need anything.

How do you feel about heading off to university on your own?

I would say 'Hooray!' I am happy to try any opportunity and I am not scared of people or being different. I have learned to just get on and do what I want to do and I am more confident. I would look for a job but I also get disability allowance so I can live on that. I know people would help me.

Tell us more about the band that you are in with your mates at college.

My band has changed its name to 'Seize the World' now We have a new bassist and rhythm guitarist and we are going to play live at a festival sometime maybe in the summer.

Kirsty. In the film we see you writing your autobiography, why did you want to write your autobiography?

I wrote my autobiography because I wanted to raise awareness and inspire people of what it is like to have autism. As it comes from me I thought it would help people to understand so there is a balance of professional's point of view but my own point of view. I also wanted to let people know that not everyone with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (thats a word i use to cover the whole spectrum) is the same, we are all different in our own way, we just need some support in our areas of our lives just to have an Independent life.

Are there some specific of aspects of living with autism that you want people to know about from reading your book?

I just wanted to show how I think and feel of what it is like to live with my autism and how it affects me. I balanced the book out not just with a negative view but also positives as I see Autism as a unique gift and not something bad it's a way I can learn to cope and accept who I am and the way I am.

We see you singing at your youth club in the film, how important do you think it is to have somewhere like the youth club where you can go and hang out socially?

I think it is very important going to my youth club as it helps me to socialise and gain new friends but also to enjoy the things that I love doing such as my singing.

Have you and Alex had a chance to meet up since your birthday in February?

Me and Alex haven't met up since February yet but we are trying our best to get to see each others. It is very difficult when we live so far apart.

Has your relationship with Alex changed how you feel about the future?

Our Friendship had developed into being a couple on August 7th. Alex asked me out and I had a think about it and in the end I said yes.

It was a sad day on August 7th as it was my dog's birthday but he were put down, but when Alex asked me out on that day it lifted my mood up into happy and excited mood. We text each other every week and there was a text saying 'If I asked would you Marry Me?', the response I gave back was asking 'is it ok, If I think about it' and Alex replied back saying 'Of course, I will let you think about it'.

I can see future working out between me and Alex. We love each other and care about each other. Alex means the whole world to me.

You can watch The Autistic Me - One Year On online, then come back to the blog and let us know your thoughts.

Graham Matthews is content producer for BBC Three online.

Blood, Sweat and Luxuries: What are the human costs of our luxuries?

Graham Matthews Graham Matthews — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:48:07 +0000

Blood, Sweat and Luxuries throws up lots of interesting issues and questions around the human cost of our luxuries. Maybe the answers aren't as clear cut as they first appear.

Did the programme change the way you think? What choices will you make?

We want to know your thoughts about this issue. Join the debate by adding your comments to this blog post.

More about Blood, Sweat and Luxuries

Graham Matthews is content producer for BBC Three online.

Exclusive Coming of Age Announcement - brapppp!

Graham Matthews Graham Matthews — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:12:13 +0000

Dana's away, but boy is she going to be gutted that she's missed this news...

We can exclusively reveal that Coming of Age has just been re-commissioned for a third series. You'll be able to see the brand new series first when it transmits on BBC Three in early 2011. If you can't wait until then (and I know I can't!), here's a clip of outtakes from the last series. BALAMORY!

Graham Matthews is content producer for BBC Three online.