If you’re confused by young people, left mildly uncomfortable by the way they talk, and if in particular you find the modern mode of television presentation - bright, smiley, winky, giggly - a complete bloody turn-off, you have a new hero: Professor Barwise, who has written a report criticising the presentation and grammar on CBBC, the children’s channel put out by the BBC:
Professor Barwise’s report, published in October last year, said that overall CBBC was a success, but criticised its “crass” presentation and the “tastelessness and cruelty” of some programmes on the channel.
“CBBC, aimed at school-age children, was … successful, though there were questions about tone.”Looking at the scantily dressed presenters, you have to ask: who are these people and where are they going? It’s 4pm and they look as if they’re going to a nightclub,” he said.
A question I’ve asked myself many times, at 7.30 in the morning watching with my daughter as some loved-up lovely with unfeasibly spiky hair and a grin that’s almost bigger than her head and wearing a skirt smaller than a LaCie Porsche hard drive manages to kneel down on a bean bag without exposing herself to the nation. Valerie Singleton. Whatever happened to her?
I wonder if my use of the phrase “hard drive” in that previous para might signify something rather worrying….
If I had to have a religion, I’d want it to be based on Merlism: The Book of Merl. Religion should make you happy, not miserable. Odd how it always seems to be the other way around.
This came through my door on Saturday morning:
Professor DIAKITE Great Clairvoyant & Medium
Specialist in all affective Problems
Don’t matter what your problem is,
He will help you to solve it
Fidelity between Husband and Wife,
return immediately and definitely the person
you love, Happiness, Luck
Success in Business, Sickness,
Sexual Energy, Job, Love.
I will Break Curses and Protect you and
Destroy the Power of Witchcraft, Black
Magic and Bad Luck
Satisfy and Quick Results within the Week
100% GUARANTEED So don’t Hesitate to Call
Professor DIAKITE for Advice
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Tel: 020 8670 8623
Mobile: 0795 054 5128
9 Martell Road, West Norwood, SE21 8ED
Buses: 3222, Bus Station Martell Road
5 mins walk from W/Norwood Bus Garage
I suggest we don the mantle of Arthur Miller and send this guy a lot of fan mail. If you know what I mean.
Completely missed this back in August, but here is a fantastic audio of a row between BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell and Radio 5 presenter Richard Evans over how to cover a VJ Day celebration report. They’re attempting to rehearse a Q&A on-air, but Witchell loses it when he thinks Evans isn’t putting enough thought into the questions.
I’ve always found the broadcast news Q&A format really surreal - two journalists interviewing each other always seems infinitely more staged than a to-camera report. This just confirms that, and reminds me of The Day Today’s Brian O’Hanrahanrahan’s report that “the Germans are saying they don’t like it, but they’re going to have to live with it,” despite not being able to speak German.
This may be unfair (no, actually it is unfair) but doesn’t this photoset from Gawker Media’s party for Huffington suggest that the Gawker circle is a little, er, white?
