Adele at the BBC

{{Short description|Television special}} {{use British English|date=November 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date= November 2020}} {{Infobox television | image = Adele - Adele at the BBC (Official Title Card).png | image_upright = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | alt_name = | genre = | creator = | based_on =  | developer = | writer = | screenplay = | story = | director = | creative_director = | presenter = Graham Norton | starring = Adele | judges =  | voices =  | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_seasons =  | num_episodes =  | list_episodes = | executive_producer = Guy Freeman | producer = Anouk Fontaine, Lawrie Jordan, Daniel Brookes | editor = | location = London, United Kingdom | cinematography = | camera = | runtime = 65 minutes | company = | budget = | network = BBC One | released = {{Start date|2015|11|20|df=y}} | related =  }}

'''''Adele at the BBC''''' (also known as '''''Adele Live in London''''' to some international markets)<ref>{{cite news|first=Erin|last=Strecker|title=BBC America Will Air 'Adele: Live in London' Special|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6859174/adele-live-in-london-special-bbc-america|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130225140/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6859174/adele-live-in-london-special-bbc-america|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 January 2016|date=January 28, 2016|access-date=March 30, 2016}}</ref><ref name="titleireland">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/blogs/television/2015/1111/741117-on-the-box-weekly-tv-preview/ |title=On the Box – Weekly TV Preview |work=RTÉ Ten |publisher=RTÉ |date=11 November 2015 |access-date=18 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329102717/http://www.rte.ie/ten/blogs/television/2015/1111/741117-on-the-box-weekly-tv-preview/ |archive-date=29 March 2016 }}</ref> is a television special featuring British singer and songwriter Adele, hosted by Graham Norton for BBC One, and which was recorded at The London Studios, London, United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/london_studios/status/662698990043922432 |title=The London Studios on Twitter: "We are so excited for ADELE AT THE BBC which was filmed in our studios earlier this week." |publisher=Twitter.com |date=2015-11-06 |access-date=2015-11-23}}</ref> on 2 November 2015. The programme featured Adele and her live band performing songs from her repertoire and third studio album ''25'' (2015), as well as other songs from her other two albums, ''19'' (2008) and ''21'' (2011), alongside Adele being interviewed by Norton.

The show featured the first public performance of her single "Hello" and two other tracks from ''25'',<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6769249/bob-shennan-bbc-director-of-music-adeles-exclusive-tv |title=Bob Shennan, BBC Director of Music, Discusses Adele's Beeb-Exclusive TV Comeback |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2015-11-23}}</ref> and her first television appearance since the 85th Academy Awards (2013).<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title=BBC Music presents 'Adele at the BBC'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4LkVwJFf6lNYBCzJNpn3kkx/bbc-music-presents-adele-at-the-bbc|access-date=27 October 2015|publisher=BBC}}</ref> It also featured sketch sections, where Adele interacted with her fans, including a group of Adele impersonators.<ref name="telegraph1">{{cite news|author=Bernadette McNulty |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/adele-graham-norton-bbc/ |title=Adele at the BBC, with Graham Norton |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=20 November 2015 |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |access-date=2015-11-23}}</ref> The show was broadcast on Friday 20 November on BBC One from 20:30 – 21:35 GMT, the same day that her new album ''25'' was released.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2015/46/adele-at-the-bbc |title=Adele at the BBC |work=BBC Media Centre |publisher=BBC |date=3 November 2015 |access-date=3 November 2015}}</ref>

Since this was broadcast, numerous other artists have had "''at the BBC''" specials too: Michael Bublé, Harry Styles, Sam Smith, U2 and Ariana Grande.

== Background == [[File:GrahamNorton-byPhilipRomano.jpg|thumb|The special was hosted by Graham Norton (''pictured'')]]

Following the release of ''21'' (2011), Adele was considering quitting the music industry altogether, stating she thought it was better to "go out on a high". However, in early 2012 she announced she was simply taking a hiatus from music in order to "take time and live a little bit".<ref name="MTV2012">Kaufman, Gil (3 April 2012) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120405203851/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682315/adele-new-single.jhtml "Adele To Release New Single This Year"]. MTV. Retrieved 19 October 2012</ref> Her hiatus from music came to an end after the birth of her first child in October 2012, with Adele stating her son inspired her to start recording music again in order for him to "know what I do".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://radio.com/2015/10/23/adele-admits-almost-quitting-music-after-21-in-interview-with-carson-daly/|title=Adele Admits Almost Quitting Music After '21'|date=23 October 2015|access-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327085021/http://radio.com/2015/10/23/adele-admits-almost-quitting-music-after-21-in-interview-with-carson-daly/|archive-date=2016-03-27|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474548/adele-gives-birth-to-baby-boy-reports |title=Adele Gives Birth to Baby Boy |newspaper=Billboard |date=21 October 2012}}</ref> In early October, Adele released a letter to her fans through social media addressing the album, in which she confirmed that the album would be titled ''25''.<ref name="billboard1">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6737433/adele-new-album-25-release-letter |title=Adele Finally Shares Update on New Album '25': 'I'm Sorry It Took So Long' |publisher=Billboard |date=2013-02-24 |access-date=2015-10-22}}</ref>

Adele confirmed that ''25'' would be released on 20 November 2015, and revealed its cover simultaneously on Facebook and Twitter.<ref name="25 - Time">{{cite magazine|title=Adele Just Shared the Release Date for New Album 25|url=https://time.com/4083224/adele-25-new-album-release-date/|last=Feeney|first=Nolan|date=22 October 2015|magazine=Time|access-date = 23 October 2015}}</ref> On October 2, 2015 numerous music journalists began reporting that it was suspected that Adele had been offered a one-hour TV special on the BBC, however these reports were not confirmed.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mark Yapching |url=http://www.vinereport.com/article/adele.new.album.release.date.singer.to.release.new.album.titled.25.on.november.20.will.be.unveiled.during.one.hour.bbc.special/3352.htm |title=Adele new album release date: one-hour BBC special to show off new album |publisher=Vinereport.com |date=2015-10-02 |access-date=2015-10-28 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033413/http://www.vinereport.com/article/adele.new.album.release.date.singer.to.release.new.album.titled.25.on.november.20.will.be.unveiled.during.one.hour.bbc.special/3352.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 27 October, following the reports BBC One announced plans for ''Adele at the BBC'', a one-hour special presented by Graham Norton in which he will talk to Adele about her new album.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34638507 |title=Adele to film BBC One special with Graham Norton |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=27 October 2015 |access-date=27 October 2015}}</ref> The show was recorded before a live audience on 2 November and was transmitted on BBC One on 20 November 2015.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="autogenerated2"/> Tickets for the live show, which were free, were made available through a lottery style system and were requested by the public.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mic.com/articles/127479/adele-bbc-special-taping-and-ticket-info-for-adele-live-in-london |title=Adele BBC Special: Taping and Ticket Info for 'Adele Live in London' |publisher=Mic |date=28 October 2015 |access-date=3 November 2015}}</ref>

The show marks the first live performances by Adele of three songs from the album ''25'': "Hello", "When We Were Young", and "Million Years Ago".<ref name=Reveal>{{cite web|url=http://www.reveal.co.uk/showbiz-celeb-gossip/news/a677940/adele-at-the-bbc-review-honest-funny-and-spectacular.html |title=Adele at the BBC review: honest, funny and spectacular – Celebrity News News |publisher=Reveal |date=2015-11-18 |access-date=2015-11-23}}</ref>

== Songs performed == #"Rolling in the Deep"<ref name=Reveal/> #"Hello"<ref name=Reveal/> #"Rumour Has It"<ref name=Reveal/> #"Skyfall"<ref name=Reveal/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06pyvw0 |title=BBC iPlayer – Adele at the BBC |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=1970-01-01 |access-date=2015-11-23}}</ref> #"Million Years Ago"<ref name="telegraph1"/> #"Hometown Glory"<ref name="telegraph1"/> #"When We Were Young"<ref name=Reveal/> #"Someone like You"<ref name=Reveal/>

*"Make You Feel My Love" is also featured, as part of a sketch in which Adele is seen auditioning for a television special alongside a roomful of impersonators, posing as a nanny named "Jenny", before appearing on stage to surprise them.<ref>{{cite news|last=Reid |first=Joe |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/adele-surprised-impersonators-bbc |title=Adele Surprised a Room Full of Adele Impersonators, Leading to Tears |publisher=Vanity Fair |date=21 December 2015 |access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref>

== Broadcasting == The programme was broadcast on 20 November 2015 on BBC One, the same day that her new album ''25'' was released.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> BBC One aired an extended version of the programme on New Year's Day 2016, including further footage of the sketch in which Adele posed as Jenny. By 4 December 2015, footage of the scenes had been viewed 37 million times on the BBC's YouTube site, making it the most watched programme on there.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fletcher |first=Harry |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a776248/adele-just-keeps-breaking-records-as-her-lookalike-sketch-racks-up-record-37-million-views-for-bbc-youtube/ |title=Adele just keeps breaking records, as her lookalike sketch racks up record 37 million views for BBC YouTube |publisher=Digital Spy |date=4 December 2015 |access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Doran |first=Sarah |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-12-04/adele-adds-new-uk-tour-dates-as-her-bbc-impersonator-clip-breaks-youtube-record |title=Adele tickets: new tour dates announced for London's 02 Arena |work=Radio Times |date=4 December 2015 |access-date=11 February 2016}}</ref>

Prior to the show's announcement BBC Worldwide had secured numerous pre-sales for the one-off event, with broadcasters in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Germany. The BBC secured deals with VRT, CTV, NPO 3 and Canal Plus respectively for hour-long BBC One show, BBC Worldwide offered international broadcasters the choice of buying the original 60-minute version of the show, hosted by Graham Norton and with his interview with Adele, or a 45-minute performance-only edit.<ref>{{cite web|author=Hannah Gannagé-Stewart |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbcw-scores-adele-pre-sales/5095988.article |title=BBCW scores Adele pre-sales | News | Broadcast |publisher=Broadcastnow.co.uk |access-date=2015-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Mark Sweney|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/nov/19/bbc-sells-adele-show-global-audience |title=BBC sells Adele show to global audience |work=The Guardian |date=19 November 2015 |access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref>

In Ireland the programme was simulcast on RTÉ2, where it aired as ''Adele Live in London''.<ref name="titleireland"/>

== Reception == The programme received a five-star review from ''The Daily Telegraph'', which described it as 'a stroke of genius' and 'old-fashioned, generous, fun and moving.'.<ref name="telegraph1"/> Overnight viewing figures indicated that the one-off special was viewed by 4.54 million viewers, giving the programme a 19.8% audience share in that evening's 8.30pm timeslot.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hegarty |first=Tasha |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a774818/uk-tv-ratings-im-a-celebrity-attracts-7-million-viewers-on-friday-night/ |title=UK TV Ratings: I'm a Celebrity attracts 7 million viewers on Friday night |publisher=Digital Spy |date=21 November 2015 |access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> Consolidated figures show that the special was watched by a total of 6.36 million viewers and was the 11th most watched programme on BBC one during its week of broadcast.

== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links == * {{BBC programme}}

Category:Adele Category:2015 in London Category:2015 in music Category:2015 television specials Category:BBC television specials Category:British television specials Category:Concerts in the United Kingdom Category:English-language British television shows Category:Organised events in London Category:Music television specials