Texting Keith Olbermann

BBC

One night in 2016, BBC News anchor Ros Atkins was retweeted by the legendary American broadcaster Keith Olbermann. The comment? “Thank God you’re back." Two years on, despite having never met, Keith and Ros were texting each other almost every day. Keith would send pictures of his dogs, the view from his Manhattan penthouse or the oysters that he was eating. He'd also send details of his latest ratings and thoughts on Ros' show. He even sponsored the match ball at the tiny football club at the end of Ros' road in London. In Texting Keith Olbermann, Ros Atkins asks Keith what everyone was asking him: why is he doing it? And as Ros' wife realises he's texting Keith more than anyone apart from her, she has the same question for him. Two parallel conversations play out, as we hear funny, fascinating and sometimes awkward explorations of fame, money, death threats, being a TV anchor, and the backstories to some of the most notorious moments of Keith's career. We also find out what happens to this unconventional friendship when they meet in person. Producer: Danielle Stephens Artwork: Sam Gilbey

Location:

United Kingdom

Genres:

Comedy

Networks:

BBC

Description:

One night in 2016, BBC News anchor Ros Atkins was retweeted by the legendary American broadcaster Keith Olbermann. The comment? “Thank God you’re back." Two years on, despite having never met, Keith and Ros were texting each other almost every day. Keith would send pictures of his dogs, the view from his Manhattan penthouse or the oysters that he was eating. He'd also send details of his latest ratings and thoughts on Ros' show. He even sponsored the match ball at the tiny football club at the end of Ros' road in London. In Texting Keith Olbermann, Ros Atkins asks Keith what everyone was asking him: why is he doing it? And as Ros' wife realises he's texting Keith more than anyone apart from her, she has the same question for him. Two parallel conversations play out, as we hear funny, fascinating and sometimes awkward explorations of fame, money, death threats, being a TV anchor, and the backstories to some of the most notorious moments of Keith's career. We also find out what happens to this unconventional friendship when they meet in person. Producer: Danielle Stephens Artwork: Sam Gilbey

Language:

English

Website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p071wbr5

Episodes

Preview

3/11/2019

Subscribe to follow BBC News anchor Ros Atkins' funny, fascinating and sometimes awkward friendship with one of America's most notorious broadcasters.

Duration:00:00:42

1. Why Me?

3/10/2019

Two years after the texts first started and despite never having met, BBC News anchor Ros was now exchanging more texts with legendary US broadcaster Keith Olbermann than anyone else apart from his wife. They often arrive as he's making the late night trip home after his show - and they continue when he's catching up with his wife in bed. It's time to ask Keith 'why?' and to ask his wife what she makes of it.

Duration:00:17:44

2. A Death Threat A Week

3/10/2019

Keith is both famous and infamous in part because of his political polemics and very public fall-outs. And that comes at a cost: he regularly receives death threats. Ros never has. And he wants to know: Does Keith ever regret the constant conflict?

Duration:00:17:20

3. The $8 Million Compromise

3/10/2019

Keith Olbermann is one of the very few journalists in history who've become multi-millionaires. Ros isn't. They explore where money fits into their definitions of success - and Keith reveals a story from 2008 involving the Republicans, MSNBC and an awful lot of money. He also has to explain why he sponsored the match ball at the tiny football club at the end of Ros' road in London - without Ros ever having mentioned it.

Duration:00:16:34

4. The Visit, Part 1

3/10/2019

After two and a half years, the time has come. The BBC sends Ros to New York for work and, after talking to super-connected media executive Vivian Schiller, he heads to Keith's penthouse overlooking Central Park to meet the man behind the texts.

Duration:00:16:12

5. The Visit, Part 2

3/10/2019

Ros gets a crash-course in American cable news as Keith grudgingly flips through the channels while they sit on his sofa.

Duration:00:18:41

6. You Don’t Even Really Know Him

3/10/2019

Are Ros and Keith tiptoeing into a real friendship? As usual it's Ros' wife who sees through to the heart of the matter.

Duration:00:19:29