Post by Teddy Bear on May 14, 2007 18:02:11 GMT
What's even worse than a programme on Cherie, is that it will undoubtedly not show how revolting this woman really is.
BBC splashes £100,000 on Cherie: The Documentary
Last updated at 21:35pm on 13th May 2007
The BBC is to spend an estimated £100,000 of licence-payers' money on a documentary about Cherie Blair's time in Downing Street.
Although normally fiercely protective of her privacy, Mrs Blair has allowed a crew access to No 10 and been followed by cameras on private trips in the UK and abroad for four months.
Presenter Fiona Bruce has even trailed the Prime Minister's wife as far as Rwanda for the hour-long retrospective.
Such a documentary is normally reserved for outgoing premiers, and critics last night questioned why the BBC felt the need to commission the show.
One suggested the Corporation was simply giving Mrs Blair free publicity for her money-spinning lecture tours.
The programme is being made by independent production company Lion Television, which is behind the reality TV show Castaway. During a trip to Africa in
February and March, Mrs Blair gave a speech at the Women Parliamentarians International Conference in Rwanda - despite not being a parliamentarian.
Then she travelled to Tanzania and Uganda, where she attended the launches of schemes to help support women in business.
Insiders say Mrs Blair has lived up to her nickname of 'Cherie Antoinette' during filming, with crew members mocking her 'regal' behaviour behind her back.
One told the Mail: "At times Mrs Blair was absolutely intolerable.
"During meetings with African presidents and ministers she was treating them as equals, as if she was a Prime Minister herself."
Mrs Blair was greeted like a visiting head of state, with a reception at the British High Commissioner's residence in Tanzania and a meeting with Rwandan president Paul Kagame.
The BBC crew only met up with her for two days in Rwanda, when Miss Bruce was reportedly banned from following Mrs Blair into a meeting with the President, much to the presenter's displeasure.
Linda McDougall, who made a TV documentary about Mrs Blair in 2001, said No 10 had done everything it could on that occasion to prevent anyone talking on camera about the Prime Minister's wife.
Mrs Blair was also said to have claimed she did not want a programme to be made about her.
But Miss McDougall said she was not surprised Mrs Blair had now decided to reveal more of herself.
"When she leaves Downing Street she will be cashing in like crazy, and this will help to keep up her profile," she said.
The show could be shown in America, Canada and Australia, either on the BBC's subscription channels or on indigenous stations.
This would give Mrs Blair vital exposure in the countries where she makes most of her money from public speaking.
Mrs Blair's last foray into television ended in controversy when it emerged she was being paid £25,000 for a Channel 4 show on Downing Street spouses, based on her book The Goldfish Bowl.
She donated her fee to charity, but failed to clarify whether she would keep royalties to which she was entitled if the show was sold abroad.
Last night a BBC spokesman said Mrs Blair was not being paid for the latest documentary.
He added: "This is a programme which is still in production. There is no date yet for when it will go out, but it will probably be shown on BBC2."
Downing Street last night declined to comment.
Last updated at 21:35pm on 13th May 2007
The BBC is to spend an estimated £100,000 of licence-payers' money on a documentary about Cherie Blair's time in Downing Street.
Although normally fiercely protective of her privacy, Mrs Blair has allowed a crew access to No 10 and been followed by cameras on private trips in the UK and abroad for four months.
Presenter Fiona Bruce has even trailed the Prime Minister's wife as far as Rwanda for the hour-long retrospective.
Such a documentary is normally reserved for outgoing premiers, and critics last night questioned why the BBC felt the need to commission the show.
One suggested the Corporation was simply giving Mrs Blair free publicity for her money-spinning lecture tours.
The programme is being made by independent production company Lion Television, which is behind the reality TV show Castaway. During a trip to Africa in
February and March, Mrs Blair gave a speech at the Women Parliamentarians International Conference in Rwanda - despite not being a parliamentarian.
Then she travelled to Tanzania and Uganda, where she attended the launches of schemes to help support women in business.
Insiders say Mrs Blair has lived up to her nickname of 'Cherie Antoinette' during filming, with crew members mocking her 'regal' behaviour behind her back.
One told the Mail: "At times Mrs Blair was absolutely intolerable.
"During meetings with African presidents and ministers she was treating them as equals, as if she was a Prime Minister herself."
Mrs Blair was greeted like a visiting head of state, with a reception at the British High Commissioner's residence in Tanzania and a meeting with Rwandan president Paul Kagame.
The BBC crew only met up with her for two days in Rwanda, when Miss Bruce was reportedly banned from following Mrs Blair into a meeting with the President, much to the presenter's displeasure.
Linda McDougall, who made a TV documentary about Mrs Blair in 2001, said No 10 had done everything it could on that occasion to prevent anyone talking on camera about the Prime Minister's wife.
Mrs Blair was also said to have claimed she did not want a programme to be made about her.
But Miss McDougall said she was not surprised Mrs Blair had now decided to reveal more of herself.
"When she leaves Downing Street she will be cashing in like crazy, and this will help to keep up her profile," she said.
The show could be shown in America, Canada and Australia, either on the BBC's subscription channels or on indigenous stations.
This would give Mrs Blair vital exposure in the countries where she makes most of her money from public speaking.
Mrs Blair's last foray into television ended in controversy when it emerged she was being paid £25,000 for a Channel 4 show on Downing Street spouses, based on her book The Goldfish Bowl.
She donated her fee to charity, but failed to clarify whether she would keep royalties to which she was entitled if the show was sold abroad.
Last night a BBC spokesman said Mrs Blair was not being paid for the latest documentary.
He added: "This is a programme which is still in production. There is no date yet for when it will go out, but it will probably be shown on BBC2."
Downing Street last night declined to comment.