Posted by Peter Ceresole on December 12, 2010 at 01:41:35 user PeterC.
In Reply to: Re: Swallows& Amazons the Musical posted by Owen Roberts on December 11, 2010 at 15:25:42:
Ah well; you referred to the dumbing down of the BBC, 'in general'. I simply can't agree.
As for that programme in particular, again I don't think it was dumbed down compared to what used to be broadcast in the past. Yes, the More4 mini-doc was more complete, but then it was made over a long period, and cost infinitely more than the review, which was part of a magazine programme which of necessity was short, cheap and after the event. I still didn't see it as being particularly superficial. You mention Hugh Wellbred and yes, his programmes were good; so were those of Lord Clark of Civilisation. But these were few and far between; I'd maintain that there was more good programming of that kind now than there ever has been in the past, and made and presented by excellent thinkers. Apart from the ghastly business of short term contracts, I'd say that this was one of the best times ever for making (and viewing) TV programmes.