Talkback

Another part of the art of presenting in the studio comes with listening to what is going on in the control room. ‘Talkback’ gives you direct contact with the director or editor, so instructions before or during any programme item can be given easily. Using the desk telephone always looks so theatrical.

Almost every regular studio performer of any status is now equipped with a tiny, snug-fitting personal earpiece, rather like a hearing-aid. The other end is fitted to a long cable which eventually plugs into an electrical socket at the back of the desk.

You may find it impossible to use this device at first: it’s rather like the childish game of trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time. It takes practice to concentrate on speaking clearly while people in another room are chattering excitedly in your ear, often about matters which do not strictly concern you.

On the other hand it is a splendidly useful means of communication. For example, many readers like to be counted in and out of video inserts, relying on the warning voice of the production assistant in their ear, and there is more than one star television performer who has cause to be thankful for this mechanism which allows an astute producer in the control room to regularly whisper the line of questioning to be followed during live interviews.

Although the word ‘talkback’ implies a two-way process, the only way you are able to talk back to the control room is by using the desk microphone. If you do, make sure it’s not ‘live’, during transmission.

The floor manager

If you prefer, the distractions of talkback can be avoided by switching it off during transmission and putting your faith in the floor manager, who is linked by headset and microphone to the control room.

The floor manager stands out of camera range but near enough to be able to relay the studio director’s instructions by hand signals. In many cases these may consist of nothing more complicated than a series of rehearsed finger movements to denote the time remaining on a video insert. In other cases the floor manager has an essential role in the progress of live interviews or other items which need to be kept strictly to their planned duration, and so circular ‘wind-up’ and ‘cut-throat’ actions are used as time runs out.

The floor manager

The floor manager acts as the link between the control room and the presenter in the studio. (courtesy BBC Central Stills)