Newsjack History Sketch

JUSTIN:It was reported this week that the BBC have begun dropping the terms BC and AD in favour of Common Era and Before Common Era. Several programmes are already using these new descriptions. To discuss this I'm joined by BBC Spokeswoman Belinda Chive. Belinda (PAUSE) why?

BELINDA:It's quite simple, Justin. Whether you use Common Era or Anno Domini, the date is actually still the same and the reference point is still the birth of Christ. CE and BCE are becoming an industry standard among historians but the decision on which term to use lies with the individual.

JUSTIN:But at the end of the day it's only history surely?

SIMON SCHAMA:I wouldn't say that if I was you.

JUSTINh no, it's Simon Schama.

SIMON SCHAMA:The year is 2011 AD and a giant from northern England has gone too far. At the silver towers of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Justin, son of Edward is speaking to an audience of intellectuals from the home counties and as far abroad as Oldham. He questions the place in history for the Christian calendar with a frumpy wench from Public Relations.

JUSTINimon, stop it.

SIMON SCHAMA:The gallant knight Simon of Schama is asked to halt the proceedings by the blundering oath from Warwickshire.

JUSTIN:I mean it, Simon.

SIMON SCHAMA:The enormous leviathan again asks for peace in a scene not witnessed since the martyrdom of Thomas Beckett.

JUSTINimon says, stop it.

SIMON SCHAMA:As you wish.

JUSTIN:Keep perfectly still, Belinda. His vision is based on insignificant events.

END

I thought Belinda Chive was going to be expelled from the show because of her initials! And then there'd be a debate about if BBC counts, and then the air goes dead...
That wasn't what the sketch was about at all, but still well-written- perhaps they didn't think enough people would be familiar with Simon Schama's style?

Thanks for the feedback, I was going to go the BBC/CBBC route but then read that Andrew Marr and Schama had given their thoughts.

I like the sketch but can only really see it working if Schama kept popping up throughout the show (or series) as Justin's nemesis, and I don't think it's strong enough to warrant that.

Funny lines in there though. Lewis would've loved hamming up Schama, I'm sure.

Dan

Build ups fine, needs an ending.

no-one expects the Simon Schama!

I really liked the concept, but it did need a punchline, it peters out too much.

Cheers gents. It was a 1:30 am ending