Battle of Britain Celebrations - and the BBC
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Battle of Britain Celebrations - and the BBC
Congratulations to the BBC on their stupendous coverage of today's events in and above Whitehall. They have been trailing all day today (and most of yesterday) that they would be covering the re-enactment of Churchill's speeches and then the flypast by the Spitfire and Hurricane starting at 1540 on the dot.
So no surprise then that they missed the first 5 minutes by not going over to the OB until just after 1545, then they left an open mike in the OB vehicle so that Robert Hardy could hardly be heard above the noise from around the 'other' mike.
And then what happened to the fly past? It turned into a Press Conference (and boy did the press go on) regarding a meeting that may or may not happen in the USA. It eventually appeared in a later bulletin as 'something that happened earlier today'. Thank god we know our history - which was more than the commentator did this morning when he was having to resort to reading his script in his hand to remember what aircraft were involved
So no surprise then that they missed the first 5 minutes by not going over to the OB until just after 1545, then they left an open mike in the OB vehicle so that Robert Hardy could hardly be heard above the noise from around the 'other' mike.
And then what happened to the fly past? It turned into a Press Conference (and boy did the press go on) regarding a meeting that may or may not happen in the USA. It eventually appeared in a later bulletin as 'something that happened earlier today'. Thank god we know our history - which was more than the commentator did this morning when he was having to resort to reading his script in his hand to remember what aircraft were involved
Totally agree with you Shackman, the BBC maintains its own lamentable standards!
Where on earth do they get these abysmal operators from? ... there again I daresay 'they' all have degrees in something useful like Meeja Studies so they must know what they are doing?!
Harrummph!
Where on earth do they get these abysmal operators from? ... there again I daresay 'they' all have degrees in something useful like Meeja Studies so they must know what they are doing?!
Harrummph!
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Copy of my complaint to the BBC. Go on you know you should do it as well.
" To the BBC your coverage of US politics is more important than the history of this country; epitomised today by the ceremony to celebrate Winston Churchill's Battle of Britain Speech of 70 years ago, eulogising the FEW.
Your coverage of Robert Hardy's rendering of Winston Churchill's speech in, 1940, was ruined by an open mic. causing interference. But we hung on waiting for the advertised flypast of the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Then without warning News 24 took us to the USA to watch Hilary Clinton putting the world to rights.
Your failure to show the ' Battle Of Britain ' flypast, as you had promised throughout the day, was a disgrace; a complete disregard of our country's history and typical of the attitude that we have come to expect from the BBC."
" To the BBC your coverage of US politics is more important than the history of this country; epitomised today by the ceremony to celebrate Winston Churchill's Battle of Britain Speech of 70 years ago, eulogising the FEW.
Your coverage of Robert Hardy's rendering of Winston Churchill's speech in, 1940, was ruined by an open mic. causing interference. But we hung on waiting for the advertised flypast of the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Then without warning News 24 took us to the USA to watch Hilary Clinton putting the world to rights.
Your failure to show the ' Battle Of Britain ' flypast, as you had promised throughout the day, was a disgrace; a complete disregard of our country's history and typical of the attitude that we have come to expect from the BBC."
Last edited by Goprdon; 20th Aug 2010 at 17:52.
Gentleman Aviator
One recalls a very senior Airship in 2002 (just before the Second Gulf Unpleasantness) referring to the "Baghdad Broadcasting Corporation". 
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
So somewhat ironic then that I just heard Robert Hardy's speech on the NPR radio news here in the US and thought it was nice to hear a bit of topical news from blighty. Clearly the BBC have a tenuous grasp of "home markets'.
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To be fair, BBC 'South Today' is doing a good programme dedicated to the B of B even as I type, and I was glad to see Dudley from Tangmere Museum; for once they got someone who really knows what he's on about !
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It would appear that the mejaa's professionalism is inversely proportional to the level of tech available. Dimbleby's commentary on Churchill's funeral was a masterclass in understaetment and not saying too much, or was he drowned out by the large numbers of Lightnings flying overhead?
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It's as bad out in the colonies. In early September, the History Channel is doing a special on the major role the P-40 Kittyhawk played in the defence of Australia - and about one third of the film clips they play in the promo are of Spitfires.
Shouldn't that be commemorations not celebration? I remember some bint on the tannoy at Duxford going on about us celebrating D-Day - had me in mind of a Mel Brooks film.
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Celebrate or commemorate ?
I think we were celebrating Winston Churchill's speech of the 20th August 1940, a celebration which included a fly-past by aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. On 15th September we will commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. With a bit of luck there will be another fly-past and the BBC can redeem itself with quality coverage----or is that wishful thinking?
I think we were celebrating Winston Churchill's speech of the 20th August 1940, a celebration which included a fly-past by aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. On 15th September we will commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. With a bit of luck there will be another fly-past and the BBC can redeem itself with quality coverage----or is that wishful thinking?
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I suppose we can celebrate the courage of 'The Few' - though I would have liked more mention of the many other services and countries who provided pilots - but otherwise you're right, 'Commemoration'.
As I mentioned, 'BBC South Today' did a very good programme yesterday evening, marred only by the non-Merlin soundtrack for the stock footage.
Now what does every b+++y idiot in any media the world wide think anything with a propellor sounds like ?
Yes, a sodding Harvard again !
For the first time in my life I actually bothered with the BBC feedback system, mentioning this and the otherwise high quality of the programme.
On a lighter note, even for those who've seen it before, try youtube 'spitfire low pass' for a raise of the spirit - you'll need speakers on, and it's certainly a Merlin ! Beware naughty words.
As I mentioned, 'BBC South Today' did a very good programme yesterday evening, marred only by the non-Merlin soundtrack for the stock footage.
Now what does every b+++y idiot in any media the world wide think anything with a propellor sounds like ?
Yes, a sodding Harvard again !
For the first time in my life I actually bothered with the BBC feedback system, mentioning this and the otherwise high quality of the programme.
On a lighter note, even for those who've seen it before, try youtube 'spitfire low pass' for a raise of the spirit - you'll need speakers on, and it's certainly a Merlin ! Beware naughty words.
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the BBC can redeem itself with quality coverage----or is that wishful thinking?
Just before he left and referring to the plethora of make-over programmes then kicking off, he said: "Look, we've actually got the viewers watching paint dry".
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And ANOTHER THING
They managed to have a pic of some WWII fighters at the top of their homepage yesterday. Only they were P-39s!
Big history of this aircraft in the RAF. One squadron launched one raid with them in 1941!
Sad but not surprised. Just hope they put the film on around 15 Sep....
"you can teach monkeys to fly better than that!"
Big history of this aircraft in the RAF. One squadron launched one raid with them in 1941!
Sad but not surprised. Just hope they put the film on around 15 Sep....
"you can teach monkeys to fly better than that!"
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Wander, no, Peter Hylton-Cleaver. Also did the Beeb2 Airshow series.
Twas an open plan office and that floor also housed the "painters an decoraters" shows and some cookery shows. The latter had whiteboards up with recipes they were planning for a few months hence. We'd go round after they left in the evening and add our own ideas such as pigeon in porridge and other unlikely combinations.
Being pretentious pratts they actually tried some.
Twas an open plan office and that floor also housed the "painters an decoraters" shows and some cookery shows. The latter had whiteboards up with recipes they were planning for a few months hence. We'd go round after they left in the evening and add our own ideas such as pigeon in porridge and other unlikely combinations.
Being pretentious pratts they actually tried some.
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Souds a bit like our D Day program on the CBC, as the Swordfish flew by the comentator wondered out loud if it was a WW One aircraft, gues he never heard of Taranto, Bismark, U Boat sinkings, or even cares for that matter.
Wander, no, Peter Hylton-Cleaver. Also did the Beeb2 Airshow series.
Twas an open plan office and that floor also housed the "painters an decoraters" shows and some cookery shows. The latter had whiteboards up with recipes they were planning for a few months hence. We'd go round after they left in the evening and add our own ideas such as pigeon in porridge and other unlikely combinations.
Being pretentious pratts they actually tried some.
Twas an open plan office and that floor also housed the "painters an decoraters" shows and some cookery shows. The latter had whiteboards up with recipes they were planning for a few months hence. We'd go round after they left in the evening and add our own ideas such as pigeon in porridge and other unlikely combinations.
Being pretentious pratts they actually tried some.
The other thing which 'amuses' me in respect of the TV coverage is the way in which it appears that all Spitfires, Hurricanes, et al were all fitted with gun cameras with sound recording facilities...