Thames Pageant

[brsince78]

As a grumpy old git, I have to complain that while the pageant itself was good, the constant to-ing and fro-ing from z-list TV presenters was just distracting.

A voice over to varying camera shots would have sufficed. They had lots of cameras all over the place and the procession along the Thames was with a thousand vessels, so surely enough to inspire commentary?

The BBC are owning up to 2500 people who have complained about their coverage of the event.

[Blink Bonny]

Ye Gods!

In these days of Spin and Smoke and Mirrors, that probably equates to 2.5 million.....

[2002EarlMarischal]

The coverage was truly dire with presenters revealing next to no knowledge of the participants in the pageant. Raymond Baxter (God rest his soul)would have had all the facts at his fingertips, revealed them to us in an interesting and lively way, and we wouldn't have noticed the rain!

[strang steel]

What amused me was when they had to have a presenter in the control room at Tower Bridge who interviewed the man in charge of its opening.

When asked what he had to do, it transpired that he pressed a button -
and hydraulic rams did the rest.

After giving us a full rundown of the button pressing, the cameras focussed on the bridge for a while and, nothing happened.

The bridge was only raised ahead of the royal boat which was another 5 minutes, or more, away.

[brsince78]

The coverage was truly dire with presenters revealing next to no knowledge of the participants in the pageant. Raymond Baxter (God rest his soul)would have had all the facts at his fingertips, revealed them to us in an interesting and lively way, and we wouldn't have noticed the rain!

I think it is time for a grown-up discussion about the definition of what public service broadcasting is, how it should be funded and who should provide it.

[strang steel]

Well maybe, but I dont think the coverage of the Jubilee river pageant seemed to be constrained by finance; it was just that the BBC hierarchy seem to think that they must always appeal to a certain audience, with presenters who try to make themselves into household celebrities by regularly appearing on dancing, ice skating or cookery shows.

This is really just a never ending circle of "manufacturing" employees, which can then give the tabloids and TV gossip magazines a source of stories about their personal lives, and so it goes on.

Some would call it dumbing down, but I am not sure that cost is the primary factor. It seems to be the fear of losing the under 35s, who are becoming less and less forgiving when confronted by old people in the media.

(But, I am way off topic for a railway forum, and getting close to my favourite rant subject, so I will leave it there).

[Mickey]

The coverage was truly dire with presenters revealing next to no knowledge of the participants in the pageant. Raymond Baxter (God rest his soul)would have had all the facts at his fingertips, revealed them to us in an interesting and lively way, and we wouldn't have noticed the rain!

Probably all true EarlMarischal but into days "media-mad 24/7 rolling news coverage world" it isn't wot you know it's wot you LOOK LIKE.

Have you noticed how 'everyone' on television nowadays thats either reading the news or the weather has to be "photogenic".

Someone like Raymond Baxter (God rest his soul) nowadays wouldn't even get passed the front door of the BBC let alone present a television programme.

[strang steel]

I wonder what they would think of Malcolm Muggeridge these days

On the subject of old TV presenters, one of the best ones I saw in the past was a chat between Arthur Negus and John Arlott on the subject of wine and cricketing antiques and fuelled by a very decent (no doubt) bottle or two of claret.

[Mickey]

I wonder what they would think of Malcolm Muggeridge these days

You can probably include Robin Day as well John not very photogenic (RIP Sir Robin ) especially after a glass or three but he knew his stuff.

[strang steel]

And what about Ludovic Kennedy?

[Mickey]

And what about Ludovic Kennedy?

Yeah and Bill Grundy remember him??. All 'old hands' with loads of experience.

[StevieG]

And no doubt the unbeatable Sir Richard D. himself would be 'the the wrong shape'.

[PGBerrie]

And shall we ever forget Eddie Waring?

Peter

[giner]

"Eeeeee's a big lad, ee can tek it" (often spoken by our Eddie witnessing a crunching tackle on an opposing forward on a wet night in Warrington or somewhere). Oh the nostalgia of it.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Eddie Waring - a Dewsbury lad!