Aiming to be the most interactive, live debate show on TV, Free Speech features responses and updates from the viewers will be displayed throughout the show using a new piece of innovative technology called the ‘Power Bar’. For the first time, viewers can use hashtags to show their like or dislike of panellists as they speak in real time. Their interactions control a big screen studio graphic that Jake can use to influence the live debate.
Ahead of the show, we caught up with Jake to talk social media, Formula One and I Am The Change.
Tell us about the show and why you are part of it…
I'm really chuffed to be hosting a show that will bring viewers closer to the decision makers and opinion formers of our country. And the viewers at home really are going to be integral to the show; it will be down to them to let us know what the hot debate issues should be, we’ll use social networking sites throughout the transmission of the show, using cutting edge technology as you’ve never seen it integrated into a live show before. I’ve always been interested in how our society runs, who runs it, and what we 'normal folk' can do to have more of a say or get our opinions heard. This show isn’t afraid to ask the big questions and tackle the vital issues that are directly affecting young people’s lives now, and just as importantly, the future.
What do you think will be the big issues on the first show?
The first thing we’ll be discussing is benefit cuts and this workfare scheme that the Government has brought out. We’ll also talk about body issues, cycling safety and, hopefully, anywhere those conversations go is where we can go with it as well. I want us to go onto air and for people to think “Great, this is a programme I can be involved in, be entertained by it, be educated by it and control it”.
At NUS, we are running a project called I Am The Change. Do you think students can Be the Change?
Yes. Absolutely. The simple answer is there are more people on Facebook today than were on the earth 200 years ago. Now, if you can mobilise that number of people, then you can make anything happen. You can make change happen in your own country, in another country, whatever it is as long as enough people believe it and enough people care. It can happen, absolutely.
How was your education?
Interestingly, I didn’t go to university. I got offered a job at a local TV channel when I was doing my A-Levels so I did work experience and got offered a place at Nottingham to do Media Studies. This TV channel said to me “Look, you can take a job here for £4,000 a year or you can go to university and take your chance when you graduate.” I had a long chat with my parents about the situation that left me in and it was a decision I took and, for me, it was absolutely the right decision. I still did get to life the university life, through my wife at Leeds Uni, so I spent a lot of time up there with her.
Are you excited about the new Formula One season? Is it your dream job?
It’s absolutely my dream job. I think, as a broadcaster, there is nothing more challenging than doing something like Formula One because you go on air for four hours, in a hot country with cars roaring up all around you. You have no autocue, you don’t really know what’s about to happen and it’s your job to react instantly to that. We get 6-8 million people tuning into every race because they love Formula One and that brings with it a certain level of responsibility.
How does Sky’s involvement change things for you and how do you feel now about Martin Brundle?
Yeah, it’s a shame actually because Martin was fantastic and, you know, a real legendary Formula One broadcaster but I think our job is to our job even better. David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan are absolutely delighted about this because their entire careers are built out of beating and challenging other people and, in some ways, when we were the only broadcaster doing Formula One, it wasn’t really that challenging as there was no-one to beat. Now, for the first time, we’re going head-to-head with other people in the pit-lane so being tall really good because I can tower over them in the pit-lane and psych them out. A little shoulder-barge wouldn’t hurt. It could be Anchorman-esque.
I think what it’ll do actually is remind people why our coverage has been successful so far and why the viewing figures have been high over the last ten years because Sky will have amazing surround sound, amazing studio, lovely gadgets and gizmos. We can’t compete with that, we don’t have the money to compete with that but, what we have got, is the strongest talent line-up of any sports broadcaster in this country regardless of what channel it is on. That’s our ace card; the people we have in front of the camera.
Who’s going to win?
Sebastien Vettel I think. I just think it’s the chance for him to do the hat-trick. Mclaren look fast, Mercedes look like they’ve taken a step forward and Ferrari look like they haven’t brought the fastest car in the world to the start of the season. The motivation for Red Bull is the hat-trick and they will be so driven to that this year and Vettel is an amazing driver and the team are brilliantly run.
What’s your favourite thing on the internet?
My twitter page because it gives me instant reaction and instant feedback to the people that are watching the programmes that I’m working on. And I think it’s an incredible tool. Not just for explaining to people what they can see on the programmes but I use twitter to make me a better broadcaster.
Jake Humphrey hosts new fully interactive, live debate show, Free Speech, on BBC THREE.