BBC production team praised for organising a ‘phenomenal’ Party at the Palace last night 

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The BBC production team behind coverage of Prince William‘s Earthshot Prize Awards and Harry and Meghan’s wedding have been praised for organising a ‘phenomenal’ show to mark the Queen‘s 70th anniversary on the throne.

Brits have commended organisers for the ‘magical’ and ‘phenomenal’ show last night, as thousands watched live from The Mall, with a peak of 13.4 million tuning in via their televisions. 

Two of the key organisers were Claire Popplewell, creative director for BBC Studios Events and Mark Sidaway, executive producer for the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace.

BBC production team praised for organising a ‘phenomenal’ Party at the Palace last night 

Claire Popplewell, creative director for BBC Studios Events was a key organiser of yesterday’s party outside the palace

One of yesterday's key organisers was Mark Sidaway, executive producer for the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace. Pictured last month at the BAFTAs

One of yesterday’s key organisers was Mark Sidaway, executive producer for the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace. Pictured last month at the BAFTAs

Ms Popplewell has been employed by BBC Studios for three years and eight months, having taken the role after a multi-award winning career as director, executive producer, producer and editor.

She had spent a more than 27 years with the BBC as an editor of ceremonial events, and executive producer. 

She is currently responsible for the planning and execution of all royal, ceremonial and commemorative programming, and has delivered global events including Live 8, the funeral of Nelson Mandela, the international broadcast of Harry and Meghan’s wedding, D-Day 75 and, most recently, VE Day 75.

Brits have commended organisers for the 'magical' and 'phenomenal' show last night, as thousands watched live from The Mall, with a peak of 13.4 million tuning in via their televisions

Brits have commended organisers for the ‘magical’ and ‘phenomenal’ show last night, as thousands watched live from The Mall, with a peak of 13.4 million tuning in via their televisions

Royal fans watch as Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, appear on stage during the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace

Royal fans watch as Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, appear on stage during the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace

Drone Show above Buckingham Palace during the BBC's Platinum Party at the Palace spelt 'Thank You Ma'am' in tribute to the Queen

Drone Show above Buckingham Palace during the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace spelt ‘Thank You Ma’am’ in tribute to the Queen 

Speaking ahead of the jubilee, she said: ‘The BBC Ceremonial Events team has been at every major Royal landmark since The Queen’s coronation in 1953.

‘It’s been a challenging couple of months but long term relationships with the Met Police, Royal Parks and the Armed Forces have helped them to look favourably on our endless and sometimes bizarre requests.’

This included a 360 degree view of the Horse Guards Parade.

Mr Sidaway has been with BBC Studios for one year and five months, having worked as an executive producer for both NBC and ITV’s The X Factor.

He was also executive producer for the first ever Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021, with his team winning a BAFTA for the Best Live Event at the awards last month.   

Mark Sidaway, executive producer for the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace, (right), with Dermot O'Leary and Clara Amfo after winning a BAFTA for the Best Live Event, after organising 'The Earthshot Prize 2021'

Mark Sidaway, executive producer for the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace, (right), with Dermot O’Leary and Clara Amfo after winning a BAFTA for the Best Live Event, after organising ‘The Earthshot Prize 2021’

The University of Sheffield graduate said that he was ‘thrilled and honoured’ when the Queen agreed to star in a special sequence with Paddington Bear.

‘It was slightly nerve-wracking ensuring it all blended seamlessly with the live performance from Queen + Adam Lambert,’ he added. 

Talking about the Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, Mr Sidaway said it was a ‘monumental challenge’ to create an ‘unforgettable and star-studded awards ceremony’ while ‘striving to achieve the highest standards of sustainability’. 

This morning, Sir Cliff Richard said that last night’s spectacle was the best performance created for Her Majesty.

‘The show that I saw last night was probably the best produced show ever done for the Queen,’ he told Sky News.

‘I mean they must have spent millions on the lighting, it was just fantastic.’

NorthHouse, a design and production studio, worked with the BBC on the event, designing the visuals for the celebrations.

It brought the palace to life with projection-mapped visuals and LED screens visuals. 

Founder Tom Bairstow said that it was an ‘honour’ to be awarded the contract and help deliver the show for the Queen and the BBC.

His team spent six months preparing for the production, and had to 3D scan Buckingham Palace, before replicating it in their purpose-built software and designing the projections to fit every angle of the building.

‘It was incredibly technically difficult,’ Mr Bairstow said. ‘It was just amazing to see it all. When we got there, everything worked perfectly.’

His team also worked closely with drone light show company, SKYMAGIC, to bring ‘ideas from the projection into the drones and back down’.

‘It was an opportunity to collaborate,’ Mr Bairstow added. ‘We have worked on big shows including the Super Bowl, and spent a year with Coldplay… but this was obviously really special.

‘It has been amazing, and there has been an incredible response.’ 

How was the drone display created? 

Created by SKYMAGIC, last night’s display featured 400 drones above Buckingham Palace.

The performance was created in the six months up to the event, with the SKYMAGIC team working with the BBC and the palace on designs.

Once a finished storyboard had been agreed, including the much-loved corgi, the design was animated by the team using specialist software.

They then assign ‘individual way points’ to each drone so that they can carry out their ‘own mission’ on the night.

The team usually rehearse the display for a week in the performance location, but the ‘top secret’ nature of the jubilee concert meant that last night’s performance was the only one in that space.

Instead, they did a few rehearsals in an ‘off-grid location’ in the north of England.

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The battery-powered drones have two geo fences surrounding them, meaning that if anything went wrong and the drone reached the fence, it would carefully lower to the ground.

Also among those praising organisers was musician Gary Barlow, and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne. 

Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, said in the lead-up to the show that she was ‘thrilled’ to be bringing the nation together for the ‘incredible, once-in-a-lifetime event’ to celebrate the Queen’s ‘momentous’ 70 years on the throne.

The performance included a special two and half minute sequence between the monarch and Paddington Bear, which had been kept under wraps for several months by Buckingham Palace, BBC Studios and Heyday Films/STUDIOCANAL. 

Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL said that filming with Her Majesty and Paddington at the palace is a memory to ‘cherish’, adding ‘Her Majesty’s warmth and generosity was a joy to behold’.

Last night’s set-up included three stages, linked by walkways, which created a unique 360 experience in front of Buckingham Palace and The Queen Victoria Memorial.

They were linked together with 70 columns representing each year of Her Majesty’s reign.

To the left of the palace was an orchestra stage with a 75-piece orchestra from military musicians from the British Army’s Household Division Bands.

And to the right was the Pop stage, which was backed by LED screens. In front of the Queen Victoria Memorial was the final stage, facing crowds in The Mall.

The entire front of Buckingham Palace was projection mapped — making it the UK’s biggest screen for the night.

Throughout the evening, the live concert spanned more than two and a half hours, with 30-plus artists and performers in the line-up from pop, rock, classical and musicals, with Queen + Adam Lambert opening the show.  

The event was staged by BBC Studios Productions. The same team produced coverage for Trooping the Colour, the lighting of the beacons, the thanksgiving service at St Paul’s and the Pageant.

They also made Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen. 

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