{{short description|British television production company}} {{EngvarB|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} '''ClearStory Ltd''' is a British independent television production company. Founded in 2010 by the film-makers Russell Barnes and Molly Milton, it produces factual programming, often in the history and science genres, and has explored provocative social issues through documentary formats, sparking controversies.
The company's credits include ''Dawkins: Sex, Death & the Meaning of Life'' for Channel 4, ''Men of the Thames'' for London Live, ''Long Shadow'' for BBC2 and World War Two: 1945 & the Wheelchair President<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05vlzsn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The ArtsDesk|url=http://www.theartsdesk.com/america/world-war-two-1945-and-wheelchair-president-bbc-fourfor}}</ref> BBC Four.
In 2011, ClearStory produced ''Gypsy Blood'', an award-winning<ref>{{cite web|title=Grierson Trust |url=http://www.griersontrust.org/news/the-grierson-trust-announces-the-winners-2012.html |access-date=27 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185221/http://www.griersontrust.org/news/the-grierson-trust-announces-the-winners-2012.html |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> observational documentary, directed by photographer Leo Maguire about gypsy fathers and sons for the ''True Stories'' strand on Channel 4. Broadcast in January 2012, the film won critical praise<ref>{{cite news|title=Guardian Review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jan/19/gypsy-blood-true-stories-review?newsfeed=true | location=London | work=The Guardian|first=Sam|last=Wollaston|date=19 January 2012}}</ref> but also drew complaints from animal rights activists for its depiction of alleged animal cruelty perpetrated by some of the film's characters.<ref name="Broadcast Website">{{cite web|title=Gypsy Blood sparks 289 complaints|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/channel-4/gypsy-blood-sparks-289-complaints/5036925.article}}</ref> In March 2012, Ofcom dropped these complaints, stating they did not raise issues that warranted investigation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gypsy Blood complaints top 1,000|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/gypsy-blood-complaints-top-1000/5037269.article|publisher=Broadcast}}</ref>
In 2013, ClearStory produced ''Sex Box'', a one-hour formatted studio show broadcast on Channel 4 as part of its Real Sex season. In ''Sex Box'', couples had sex in a specially constructed box in a TV studio, then emerged to talk about what happened and their sex lives more generally with agony aunt Mariella Frostrup and a panel of experts – Phillip Hodson, Tracey Cox and Dan Savage. The programme received mainly negative reviews. Its second series aired in 2016, bringing the show to a total of 11 episodes. ''Sex Box'' has been syndicated to several territories, including America where it was broadcast in 2015 on WE tv channel.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Daily Beast|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/21/sex-box-a-reality-tv-show-where-couples-have-sex-in-a-box-and-discuss-it-is-coming-to-america.html|title='Sex Box,' a Reality TV Show Where Couples Have Sex in a Box and Discuss It, is Coming to America|date=21 August 2014|last1=Stern|first1=Marlow}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Sex Box': WE tv's New Dating Show Goes All the Way|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/entry/view/id/420318|access-date=2 September 2014|archive-date=2 September 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140902133611/http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/entry/view/id/420318}}</ref>
In 2016, Channel 5 broadcast ''Battlefield Recovery'', ClearStory's series exploring the history of World War Two's Eastern Front. The series follows the work of authorised volunteers who excavate soldiers still left behind in the fields and forests of Latvia and Poland to bury them with honour in official cemeteries.<ref>{{cite web|title=ClearStory|url=http://clearstory.co.uk/2016/01/world-war-ii-battlefield-recovery//}}</ref> The series previously sparked controversy amongst some archaeologists when it was launched by the National Geographic Channel in 2014 as 'Nazi War Diggers'.<ref>{{cite web|title=Real Screen|url=http://realscreen.com/2014/03/25/ngci-to-premiere-nazi-war-diggers-in-april///}}</ref> In 2016, archaeologists complained about the Channel 5 broadcast but Ofcom dismissed these complaints following broadcast of the series and stated: 'The series dealt effectively with potential audience concerns about the contributors' methods. It made clear that the specific practices adopted were undertaken within recognised protocols. Scenes that featured human remains were dealt with sensitively, and the contributors appeared visibly moved by their discoveries.'
In 2017, ClearStory produced a one-off documentary, Damien Hirst by Harry Hill, for Sky Arts' Passions strand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/4269fee8-b28b-410b-8ba7-cce2a7dcf9ea/passions/episodes/season-1/episode-5|title=Passions|website=Sky|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/fnfx9r/passions--s1-e5-damien-hirst-by-harry-hill/|title=Passions – S1 – Episode 5: Damien Hirst by Harry Hill|website=Radio Times|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> The film, an affectionate parody of an arts documentary presented by comedian Harry Hill, was broadcast to coincide with Hirst's controversial show at the Venice Biennale, Treasures of the Wreck of the Unbelievable.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/apr/16/damien-hirst-treasures-from-the-wreck-of-the-unbelievable-review-venice|title=Damien Hirst: Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable review – beautiful and monstrous|last=Cumming|first=Laura|date=16 April 2017|work=The Observer|access-date=30 November 2017|issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.artnews.com/2017/05/08/a-disastrous-damien-hirst-show-in-venice/|title=A Disastrous Damien Hirst Show in Venice|last=Russeth|first=Andrew|date=8 May 2017|website=ARTnews|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref>
ClearStory's Great Village Green Crusade<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08rnzrb|title=The Great Village Green Crusade – BBC Four|publisher=BBC|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/robert-llewellyn-brought-green-revolution-cotswold-village/|title=Robert Llewellyn: How I inspired a green revolution in my Cotswold village|last=Llewellyn|first=Robert|date=29 May 2017|work=The Telegraph|access-date=30 November 2017|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/30/robert-llewellyns-quest-to-spur-a-green-energy-revolution-in-his-village|title=Robert Llewellyn's quest to spur a green energy revolution in his village|last=Addley|first=Esther|date=30 May 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 November 2017|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> starred Red Dwarf actor Robert Llewellyn in a quest to turn his Cotswolds village on to renewable energy. Promoted as a cross between The Archers and An Inconvenient Truth, the feature-length science film included sequences in Las Vegas, exploring the city's drive to use only solar power, which has been overshadowed by lawsuits with regulators and Nevada state utility companies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/the-city-of-las-vegas-is-now-powered-entirely-by-renewable-energy_us_58594291e4b0b3ddfd8ea4e8|title=Las Vegas City Services Are Now Powered Entirely By Renewable Energy|date=20 December 2016|work=HuffPost|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/07/las-vegas-casinos-solar-power-nevada-energy|title=Las Vegas casinos seek to power their bright lights with renewable energy|last=Hernandez|first=Dan|date=7 March 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 November 2017|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Utopia: In Search of the Dream<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b090w6y3|title=Utopia: In Search of the Dream – BBC Four|publisher=BBC|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/13/eden-citizen-jane-utopia-trust-me-diana-observer-tv-review|title=The week in TV: Eden: Paradise Lost; Citizen Jane; Utopia: In Search of the Dream; Trust Me; Diana: In Her Own Words|last=Ferguson|first=Euan|date=13 August 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 November 2017|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/utopia-search-dream-bbc-four-review-best-all-possible-documentaries|title=Utopia: In Search of the Dream, BBC Four review – the best of all possible documentaries?|website=theartsdesk.com|date=9 August 2017 |access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/john-motson-seven-stories-newcastle-13434531|title=Newcastle prof hunts for Utopia|last=Whetstone|first=David|date=4 August 2017|work=nechronicle|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> was ClearStory's three-part BBC Arts series, in which Professor Richard Clay of Newcastle University interrogated different notions of utopia – imagined, built or experienced – with a range of interviewees such as Norman Foster, Nichelle Nichols, Sid Meier and Frank Spotnitz, exploring how utopias spur creativity and reflect our deepest hopes and fears. The first episode featured a sequence at Wikimedia's spring 2017 conference in Berlin and interview with Wikimedia Foundation director Katherine Maher.<ref>{{Citation|last=BBC|title=Is Wikipedia a modern utopia? – Utopia: In Search of The Dream – BBC Four|date=10 August 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ldlAyC2g4|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref>
ClearStory worked in collaboration with the dance company Sadler's Wells in 2018 and 2020 to produce two series of DanceWorks <ref>{{Cite web |title=Danceworks |website=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b2lww7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sadler's Wells partners with BBC Four on new DanceWorks series |website=Sadler's Wells |url=http://blog.sadlerswells.com/sadlers-wells-partners-with-bbc-four-on-new-danceworks-series/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505193743/http://blog.sadlerswells.com/sadlers-wells-partners-with-bbc-four-on-new-danceworks-series/ |archive-date=2018-05-05}}</ref> for BBC4. The series profiled major dancers, including Dickson Mbi, Maria Pages and Sharon Eyal of L-E-V Company facing creative challenges at different moments in their careers. The episode about prima ballerina Zenaida Yanowsky, The Dying Swan, won the Grand Prix at 2019 Golden Prague festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zlatapraha.ceskatelevize.cz/en/movie/dying-swan |title=23 - The Dying Swan |website=zlatapraha.ceskatelevize.cz |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref>
In 2020, ClearStory's BBC4 series African Renaissance <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000lwf5 |title=African Renaissance: When Art Meets Power |publisher=BBC Four |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref> was broadcast to critical acclaim and shortlisted for RTS and Broadcast Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/content/bdbf15b7-1d9a-40f0-b955-bc304cca5487 |title=BBC4's African Renaissance is a dazzling investigation of art, power and culture |website=ft.com |date=14 August 2020 |access-date=2022-10-28 |last1=Feay |first1=Suzi }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-programme-awards-2021 |title=RTS Programme Awards 2021 |date=23 October 2020 |publisher=Royal Television Society |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/winners/best-specialist-factual-a-house-through-time/5159862.article |title=Best specialist factual: A House Through Time |website=broadcastnow.co.uk |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref> In the series, journalist Afua Hirsch goes on a cultural travelogue through Ethiopia, Senegal and Kenya, meeting artists and creatives including Aida Muluneh, Didier Awadi and Michael Soi.
Art That Made Us, ClearStory's eight-part history of creativity in the British Isles aired in May 2022 with a positive critical reception and shortlisting for awards including the Rose D'Or.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bvgs3f |title=Art That Made Us |publisher=BBC Two |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rosedor.com/2022-shortlist/ |title=Rose d'Or 2022 Shortlist |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tmt.knect365.com/content-innovation-awards/2022-shortlist/ |title=2022 Shortlist |website=tmt.knect365.com |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/52341008-f63a-4082-a5b5-1c7c80539817 |title=BBC series Art That Made Us sets out to upset preconceptions |website=ft.com |date=April 2022 |access-date=2022-10-28 |last1=Einav |first1=Dan }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bigissue.com/culture/tv/this-weeks-big-new-tv-picks-art-that-made-us-hacks-slow-horses-and-the-andy-warhol-diaries/ |title=This week's Big TV picks: Art That Made Us, Hacks, Slow Horses and The Andy Warhol Diaries |website=bigissue.com |date=2 April 2022 |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/an-impeccably-rule-observing-programme-from-the-bbc-art-that-made-us-reviewed |title=An impeccably rule-observing programme from the BBC: Art That Made Us reviewed |website=spectator.co.uk |date=7 April 2022 |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref> The series featured encounters between artists, thinkers and actors of today and art and literature of the past. Contributors included Michael Sheen, Antony Gormley and Lubaina Himid among many others.
In 2022, ClearStory produced Jimmy Carr Destroys Art, a programme designed to break the taboo around destruction of art and explore in what circumstances that may be justified. The programme, presented by comedian Jimmy Carr, generated controversy even before broadcast <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/oct/13/channel-4-show-art-trouble-hitler-painting |title=Channel 4 buys painting by Hitler – and may let Jimmy Carr destroy it |work=The Guardian |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/channel-4-jimmy-carr-hitler-painting-intl-scli-gbr/index.html |title=A UK TV station bought a painting by Hitler. A studio audience will vote on whether to destroy it |publisher=CNN |date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jimmy-carr-destroys-art-channel-4-hitler-painting-artwork-b1032801.html |title=Channel 4 defends new show Jimmy Carr Destroys Art which could see painting by Hitler shredded |publisher=Evening Standard |date=14 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/16/hitlers-watercolours-best-ignored-but-you-have-to-reckon-with-the-power-of-eric-gill |title=Hitler's watercolours are best ignored, but you have to reckon with the power of Eric Gill |work=The Guardian |date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
ClearStory's corporate work includes the short #Connect for Durex. A Webby and DMA awards nominee, the official version scored over 75 million hits worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/willburns/2015/03/16/durex-beautifully-slays-the-real-enemy-of-sex-in-new-marketing-film/|title=Durex Beautifully Slays the Real Enemy of Sex in New Marketing Film}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Top 10 Branded Videos: Durex's Secret Bedroom Technology Takes over YouTube|work=Adweek|date=17 March 2015 |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/top-10-branded-videos-durexs-secret-bedroom-technology-takes-over-youtube-163521}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.clearstory.co.uk ClearStory Site ] * [http://www.channel4.com/programmes/gypsy-blood Gypsy Blood Page ] at Channel 4 * [http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sex-box Sex Box Page ] at Channel 4 * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05vlzsn World War Two: 1945 & the Wheelchair President] at BBC Four
Category:Television production companies of the United Kingdom Category:Documentary film production companies Category:Entertainment companies established in 2010