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FOXIE FLIES THE FLAG FOR THE FLEET

Alpha Foxtrot – THE Concorde at Filton – has been selected by the BBC to fly the flag for the Concorde fleet in a nationwide quest to discover the public’s best-loved British design icon in a programme to be broadcast on BBC2 on Thursday 23 February 2006 at 7pm (or 8pm in Scotland).

The Great British Design Quest is a vote to discover the public’s favourite British design icon. Organised by the Design Museum and The Culture Show, the show began with a shortlist of 25 and has now been narrowed down by the voting to a Top 10; viewers now have the chance to vote Concorde into the Top 3 and on to a final winner.

Voting has re-opened and films about three of the contenders in the Top 10 were shown on 16th February. On Thursday this week – 23rd February – the edited highlights of the day spent by the BBC’s film crew and presenter Jonathan Glancey with Concorde 216 at Filton will be shown.

Although the sun was reluctant to appear on camera during the filming, Alpha Foxtrot (so named as her call sign from her registration G-BOAF) shone after her regular beauty treatment the previous day and Jonathan maintained his enthusiasm both on and off camera. Foxie was delighted to welcome former Concorde Pilot Christopher Orlebar, author of “The Concorde Story”, back to Filton where he talked to camera about the exquisite pleasure of being at the sharp end – literally – of flying the supersonic aircraft.

Afterwards, Chris chatted with Jonathan and the film crew over warming cups of hot chocolate and the filming schedule went completely to pot: the incoming afternoon group tour passengers were somewhat surprised to find the BBC and a Concorde Pilot clustered around their favourite aircraft but were delighted to find that the afternoon talk was delivered by Chris himself and he kindly autographed copies of his book and posed for photographs.

The Culture Show’s Great British Design Quest timetable:

  • Thursday 16 February 2006 – The Top 10 is announced on The Culture Show on BBC Two at 7pm (repeated at 11.20pm) or 8pm in Scotland. Voting begins to decide the Top 3.
  • Thursday 23 February 2006 – feature on Concorde (filmed at Filton) shown; voting closes at midnight.
  • Thursday 2 March 2006 – The Top 3 is announced on The Culture Show on BBC Two at 7pm. Voting to decide the winner begins.
  • Sunday 12 March 2006 – Final voting closes at midnight.
  • Thursday 16 March 2006 – The winner of the Great British Design Quest is announced on The Culture Show on BBC Two at 7pm.

The films about the finalists can also be seen on The Big Screens in Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Hull and Leeds.

There are three ways to vote:
1. Online: go to the voting page where you click on the button in the icon box and select the red ‘Vote Now’ tab: you can only vote once per each stage of the Design Quest.
2. Phone: voting by phone has started for the second stage of the Design Quest.
3. Text: voting by text has started for the second stage of the Design Quest.

Concorde at Filton is honoured to be home to the last ever Concorde to fly, and Alpha Foxtrot is proud to have been chosen to represent the Concorde fleet. You have the chance to vote for the Queen of the Skies to be crowned as The Great British Design Icon on The Culture Show between now and midnight on Thursday 23 February 2006. Be sure to watch the feature on Concorde 216 – Alpha Foxtrot – at 7pm (or 8pm in Scotland) on Thursday on BBC2.

Links:
Click here to link to The Culture Show
Click here to link to The Design Quest


Posted: Tuesday February 21, 2006