Finding the right tone was not always easy, but the TV marathon was a triumphant return for Kirsty Young
Short of royal correspondent Jonny Dymond changing his surname to Platinum for the bank holiday weekend, the BBC could not have made much more effort in its coverage of Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. There were 15 and a half hours of live coverage across four days on BBC One, punctuated by documentaries and specials.
The corporation, in covering royal matters, has two modes – courtier and reporter. These are generally separate – head bowed for weddings and funerals, fingers pointing for programmes about Prince Andrew or royal finances and divorces – but were merged by the circumstances of these ceremonies.
