Elizabeth Platt ([email protected])
Mon, 23 Nov 1998 16:38:45 -0800 (PST)
Geldof To Front Tv Religion Series
PA 11/16/98 06:27
Copyright 1998 PA News
By Anthony Barnes, Showbusiness Correspondent, PA News
Media boss and former rock idol Bob Geldof, who revealed
his dislike for the Church in his autobiography, is to be the
frontman for a new TV series about religion.
The 44-year-old star is to present a new series Upon This
Rock which looks at the relationship between spirituality and
pop music over the last 50 years.
The three-part series of 50-minute programmes, focusing on
the uses of religious imagery by artists like Madonna, will
begin airing on BBC1 next year.
A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "He was chosen for his
knowledge on the music business and his interest in it. He's
an intelligent man who can discuss these things capably."
Geldof became known as "Saint" Bob after his tireless
campaigning for the Ethiopian famine with the Band Aid single
and subsequent Live Aid concert, beamed around the world.
For the series he will be teaming up with director/producer
John Maguire, who worked with him on a documentary looking at
the effect of Live Aid ten years on.
The former rock star who notched up a string of hits with
his band Boomtown Rats, has been highly critical of his own
religious upbringing.
In his best-selling autobiography Is That It? he revealed
his harsh upbringing at a Catholic school and said: "I
actively disliked the Church and its institutionalised
morality which I felt bedevilled Ireland".
Geldof, who recently won a custody battle with ex-wife
Paula Yates for their three children, is no stranger to
broadcasting.
As the head of the TV and radio production company Planet
24 he has been responsible for bringing Channel 4's The Big
Breakfast to TV screens and has supplied a number of other
programmes.
He recently acted as a temporary DJ for the London radio
station Xfm when it relaunched after being acquired by the
Capital group.
Geldof also had his own interview slot on The Big Breakfast
when it first launched in 1992.
Planet 24 is reported to be up for sale and could net 10
million each for Geldof and his two business partners.
******************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Mon Nov 23 1998 - 16:48:11 PST