Hype and Glory?

In Media Guardian, Owen Gibson talks to TV writer, Tony Jordan.
Sometimes, says Jordan, you have to wait for the climate to change before a show can get made. "I was born for this era. I'm 50 next week, but I wish I was 25 again. Because I was born for this era of high-concept, bold ideas. The six ideas I pitched this week I would never have got made or even got through the door before," he enthuses.

Well I hope that's true. Okay I know a new prodco needs a steady earner, so I can see the sense in Red Planet pushing Holby Blue as a flagship show. And okay new soap Echo Beach as a back up. And new drama Moving Wallpaper, a show about behind the scenes on Echo Beach as ........ well I'm not really sure what that is. It's a bit like Aaron Sorkin doing a behind the scenes drama about the people making the behind the scenes drama of Studio 60. Out of the three I would perhaps count that as ''bold'' because I have absolutely no idea whether it will be a complete bomb or a hit. I have reservations but it will be down to execution in the end.

But serious congrats to Tony Jordan on his fecundity. Pitching six bold, high concept ideas in a week is pretty good going. If they are being seriously considered that must be good news for us all. I just hope they weren't Holby FireBrigade, Holby Postmen, Holby LateNight, Holby...........

I kid. Tony Jordan is a very savvy guy. We all know that bold high concept isn't exactly a recurring feature of current UK TV. So what he's really saying here is - the times they are a changing. Or - in coded message to execs - the times they better start a changing and you better start a listening.