Film... (TV programme)

Film...
Genre	Talk show
Presented by	Various (1971–72, 2016-) Barry Norman (1972–98) Jonathan Ross (1999–2010) Claudia Winkleman (2010—2016) Danny Leigh (2010—)
Theme music composer	Billy Taylor and Richard Lamb
Opening theme	"I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free"
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Executive producer(s)	Basil Comely
Running time	40 minutes
Production company(s)	BBC Vision
Release
Original network	BBC One
Original release	16 November 1971 – present

Film 2017 is a British film review television programme, broadcast weekly on BBC One. The title of the show changes each year to incorporate the year of broadcast. The show was previously presented by Barry Norman between 1972 and 1998, and by Jonathan Ross from 1999 to 2010, before receiving a format revamp with the introduction of Claudia Winkleman as host from 2010 to 2016. The show since September 2016 has used a rotating presenter format.

The show was first broadcast on 16 November 1971 but it was only aired in the South East area of the UK under the title Film '71. It was then aired in all areas of the UK in 1972. The show was first hosted by several presenters, including Joan Bakewell, Frederic Raphael, Iain Johnstone and Barry Norman.

Barry Norman became permanent host of the series in 1972. For his first episode on Film 72, his first film review was of The Last Picture Show, while his first studio interviewees were Charlton Heston and James Stewart. For much of his time on the show, "with Barry Norman" was appended to the show's title.

Norman remained as host until 1998, except for a few months in 1982, when he was busy with other projects and Iain Johnstone returned as temporary host. Norman eventually left the show after signing a contract with BSkyB, with his last appearance being at the end of June 1998 hosting Film '98.

With the series now described as the BBC's flagship cinema review, Norman's departure to Sky was said by The Guardian in 2002 to have been "seismic", and due to its nature and timing, his exit was described as being acrimonious. Norman said of the departure, "I honestly believe that if they had said to me, 'We would like you to work out your contract but then we don't want you any more,' they would have given me quite a big send off - at least they would have had a drinks party. But because I left at a time that was not convenient for them I became a non-person. Even on the last day, nobody called up to say, 'Good luck in your future life,' or even 'drop dead'." Of his reviewing style Norman said: "I always knew that nobody's right and nobody's wrong in criticism. The only thing I could do was to make sure that whatever I said was what I really believed."

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Wikipedia