Cranford

Lets face it when the BBC takes on the dramatisation of classic novels we know at last what we pay our TV Licence fee for. This adaptation is superb of course - the starring roles and players - the women especially are without equal. Judi Dench is terrific, but Imelda Staunton is as always so good, with Barbara Flynn being her usual impressive self. Julia MacKenzie is terrific too. Quite rightly, and totally in the spirit of Mrs Gaskell the men have only minor impact on the storyline - mere adjuncts to the independent lives of these women of a certain age who can more than hold their own in the supposedly masculine world.

And the good news is Oliver Twist is on the way!

BBC in trouble

So the BBC showed a film which seemed to show that the Queen 'stormed out' of a photo session with an American photographer as a result of being told that her outfit was 'too dressy' (mmm crown, garter robes, various regal orders - too dressy?) and had to change her dress two or three times. This wasn't quite the reality. Oh dear! BBC apologises again.

Big Brother

There really is something badly wrong with Channel 4 television. Not only do they continue with the appalling Big Brother for most of the day, they propose to show an unsavoury programme about the death of Princess Diana including insensitive pictures in the tunnel where she died. This is 'in the public interest' we're told - but not according to her sons.

How about boycotting this channel - and telling them that you've given up watching anything they produce?

Richard & Judy scandal?

I derived some pleasure from the discovery that the Richard & Judy Show 'quiz' 'You Say We Pay' has been fixed. The successful candidate to appear on the show is selected early in the live programme but the hosts (unaware of the fact - we're told) continue to urge viewers to phone a premium rate number to get on the quiz. I do have another objection. Most of the 'selector questions' are so bleeding obvious that there is no skill required at all. Of course that is intentional to get more people to phone up. Premium phone lines generate huge sums for Channel 4 - so call me cynical but I'm hardly surprised that they want to have overwhelming numbers of callers. It also illustrates to me that Channel 4 do not deserve to be considered a Public Service Broadcaster. After the Big Brother troubles earlier this year (another scheme to get money from phone calls) Channel 4 should be thinking long and hard about their programme ethics.

TV Quiz Shows

I'm an insomniac - so unfortunately I regularly come across these late night quizes that most TV companies now seem to run - often featuring former Big Brother winner Brian Dowling. These shows are clearly making vast sums of money out of very vulnerable people. The 'game' is to complete a phrase (eg Play............) or suggest items (eg found in a handbag, on a beach). Then for five hours people phone in suggesting an answer. 95% appear to be wrong, and most of the 'shows' consist of the presenter dragging out time and urging people to phone in again and again and again.
I have a double gripe - firstly alot of people are spending vast amounts of money hanging on the phone, or constantly re-dialling (they pay for the call even if they don't get through) and there is absolutely no skill required, no knowledge, no intellect, and in fact many of the 'answers' are so obscure as to be unimaginable.
Licence to print money - I reckon! Gambling without a licence - definitely.

Boycott Channel 4

Lets all stop watching Channel 4 - until they stop screening these appalling 'reality' shows in an attempt to raise money whilst pandering to the worst excesses of humanity. Public Service Broadcasting? I don't think so!

Celebrity Big Brother

Just take this programme off the TV - and the front pages of the newspapers - and lets start talking about things that matter. Celebrity cultism has gone too far.
Channel 4 should be ashamed - very ashamed.