Biased BBC contributor Chris Hartnett writes..
Just back from a few days away to find that one Robin Ince has got a science/comedy programme series starting today. Robin is a sidekick of Ricky Gervais and had Dara O` Briain on as a guest.
My problem is this-all three are militant atheists who have appeared at various functions to mock Christmas amongst other things. This is not to say that they may not be funny…I don`t know…but can I assume that their atheism is a major link in them all getting commissions and the invitations on each others shows. Wonder if, in the cause of “balance”, we will now get a few Christians being able to appoint each other in an unthreatening and lucrative way?It seems to me that a Marcus Brigstocke would never get a platform to go on Question Time as a ” comedian” if his brother was not something big at the Beeb-his atheistic and zealous “global warming” views are a boon to his career-because,let`s face it-in this case I Do know-he just is not (and never has been) funny!
Just feel that there is a rather creepy consensus going at by the BBCs commissioning types-same prep schools, same names and certainly same views on Europe,on “global warming” and on Christianity(but not too much said about Islam-cannot think why!) Looking forward to the BBC doing a “Family Tree” type programme on who knows who from where-and who gets to “be funny” at the taxpayers expense!
P.S-Couldn`t help but notice that we recently celebrated the first anniversary of the Ross and Brand incident with Leonard Sachs...surely this was an “iconic” moment on which contemporary BBC protocols and procedures were forged in the white heat of controversy and drame-why then no programme to mark those tremendous events of late Oct/Nov last year? I`m sure Paxman and Wheeler were by the wall in Lime Grove with fireworks so there MUST be some archive filmstock left…so why was this anniversary allowed to go unremarked upon?…God knows,the BBC usually have no reticence over marking far lesser anniversaries…answers on a postcard please but not to Blue Peter yet!
Really? This would be the same ‘militant atheist’ BBC which recently re-affirmed that there would be no atheist viewpoint on Radio 4’s Thought For The Day and is currently running the (excellent) History of Christianity on BBC4.
As I look at the list of 377 programmes which are listed under ‘Religion and Ethics’ on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/genres/religionandethics I struggle to find more than a handful which are from anything other than a Christian angle.
Songs of Praise still enjoys a regular Sunday prime-time slot on BBC1, how many atheist programs of a similar nature are there?
Oh and you claim that “all three … have appeared at various functions to mock Christmas.” So, topical comedians make jokes about Christmas during Christmas time. Hardly a terribly dangerous atheist conspiracy is it?
BBC’s religious programmes under fire
Lower budgets, broadcasts at less and less attractive timeslots, “trite drivel”, “unacceptably low production values and minimal serious religious content”. And that was in 2000!
And now Muslim to head up BBC religious programmes
Death by small cuts?
So the best defence you can find for your argument is an article from 10 years ago? Really?
And what about this from 2005: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4529869.stm
Oops, looks like the BBC did a bit of soul searching and committed to improving the quality of its religious broadcasting. Still, 2005 was a few years ago so let’s find out how that commitment worked out:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/statements2008/television/bbctwo.shtml
So in 2008 the BBC committed to 110 hours of religious broadcasting, up from 87 in 2004 and 101 in 2002. Hardly ‘death by small cuts’ even as church attendance drops steadily.
Yes, Aaqil Ahmed has been made head of Religious Programmes, and the first series he commissioned was….. The History of Christianity. Feel free to explain to me exactly what terrible impact his appointment has had on the Christian Faith when you actually know what it is.
Yes, Aaqil Ahmed has been made head of Religious Programmes, and the first series he commissioned was….. The History of Christianity.
Was he not the head of some nonsense at Channel 4?
Is he the same bloke who put on the hatchet job on Christianity on Channel 4 under the guise of being a history of Christianity? (Which Channel 4 was proud to describe as controversial). Is he now recycling that on the BBC?
Yes, I think he was commissioning editor for religious programming at Channel 4. The ‘Christianity: A History” program at Channel 4 was a pretty typical celeb driven C4 ‘documentary’ which (from what I saw of it) was terrible.
I would say that the BBC 4 program (A History of Christianity) is a completely different beast and seems a far more sober look at a fascinating subject.
The real point being that degree saw the appointment of a Muslim as part of some imaginary slippery slope when I’d say the BBC4 program he’s commissioned is a pretty respectable piece of religious broadcasting.
“Songs of Praise still enjoys a regular Sunday prime-time slot on BBC1, how many atheist programs of a similar nature are there?”
So what do you suggest, songs of no praise? Songs for nowt in particular? Programs that aren’t religious in any way are therefore atheist programs as they don’t promote worship of god. How can you have atheist programs? What? Programs about how they don’t believe in god over and over, it would be rather boring (this goes for Thought for the Day).
Fair point Marky, although personally I might be quite tempted to have a watch of Songs For Nowt In Particular. Watching Richard Dawkins et al. standing in a room singing about the vastness of infinity and the meaninglessness of existence could be quite entertaining…
When the atheist Thought For The Day story was running a couple of weeks ago, there was an example ‘Atheist Thought’ produced to show what they could be like. Not ‘anti-god’ but more looking at a moral issue from a humanist perspective. Personally I quite liked it. Can’t seem to find it online now though…
I think the humanist perspective is quite well covered these days especially on the BBC.
No please, anyone but this tosser.
For all their supposed open-mindedness, they actually do very little interesting stuff on Atheism, or even Islam for that matter, bar the usual propagandizing. No depth you see, always seeking to impress rather than express.
Channel 4 almost invariably get there first.
“ Programs about how they don’t believe in god over and over, it would be rather boring (this goes for Thought for the Day).”
And how is that different from the fact that programmes about people who do believe in God, such as Songs of Praise, are rather boring for the rest of us?
The difference being that atheism is just the lack of belief in the existence of God. That’s it, nothing more.
What exactly is ‘militant’ about their atheism? I enjoy a bit of silly hyperbole as much as the next cove but all this ‘militant atheist’ guff is really rather irritating. Call them fervent/bigoted/dogmatic or whatever but let’s leave ‘militant’ as a description of people who are actually, well, militant about something.
I’m not so sure about this since Richard Dawkins has become a target of some cruel “humour” from the SWP comedians on Radio 4. They appear to be following the party line since joining the Respect coalition as Dawkins isn’t afraid to take the piss out of Islam as well as Christianity. This may be the reason Dawkins very rarely appears on the BBC.
Shark … Jump!
Incidentally who is the other Brigstocke at the beeb and what is his job ?
A while ago “Yorkshire Ranter” a lefty but still amusing and thoughtful blogger was talking about building some kind of wiki type software that would allow his readers to entire people in the public eye and the relationships between them. Something like that would be very useful for us to map the relationships (i.e family and school) between the quite small number of people who constantly appear on the Beeb.
Does anyone recall any of the BBC identikit comedy clones ever doing any jokes about Islam ?
I have heard Brigstocke do a couple of Islam jokes (he isn’t as bad as the SWP’ers on Radio 4) but he always sounds more than a little nervous afterwards and the only response from the audience is a few nervous coughs.
Could Chris Hartnett use the same type and font size as the rest of the blog posts. It is so much better for the reader than that grey mush. Thanks.
Aah The Good Old Days. I wonder if Leonard is related to Andrew.
I wondered when someone would notice that.
(None were going to St. Ives either.)
I don’t know why more people don’t see just how simple this is: the BBC is part of a massive atheist conspirac… what’s that? I thought I just heard a knock… Jesus Christ! Marcus! My window! No! You’ve smashed my bleedin’ window! Gerof! aarcH! adf’Adfl’a#t’;elc’d’fl
“I don’t know why more people don’t see just how simple this is”
That’s if you forget how the BBC is part of a massive statist, multiculturalist, warmist, collectivist, socialist conspiracy and how that fits in with atheism.
well this post has already been torn to shreds, doesn’t do you any good DV
Bob
In your view. Please note I am not the author but I happen to agree with the author’s points. And I do not notice YOU rushing to endorse any points any writer makes here.
Paulo made good points on this, and I have previously said DB writes the best analysis of the BBC
I know you aren’t the author, but you posted it (in agreement with it) – that makes you responsible for it
true, the family tree stuff hasn’t been rubbished, but it’s a wee bit confusing – who is marcus brigstocke’s brother? The militant atheist stuff is just tripe and has been rightly called out, it just weakens an otherwise decent point
Ive now read this 3 times, just to make sure I didnt miss anything. You do not appear to have a solid point in this entire article, nor do you have anything to support this non existant arguement. You have attempted to generate a storm in a teacup but because you focussed so much on attempting to sound sharp and quick witted (Which you failed at horribly by the way…) You have forgotten to construct an arguement. However, somewhere in this painfully weak blog there were some points of interest..
* “Militant Athiest” Is almost an Oxymoron. This is a horrible misconception by everybody religous, religous people see athiests as an enemy, that does not mean the favour is returned. An athiest is usually no more at war with a religeon than they are with the local transport service.
*”Marcus Brigstock has never been, nor has he ever been funny” Strongly disagree, but even if I didnt, this was an awful example to use in your attack against…Well I still cant work out what your arguement is in this blog. He has spent years on the comedy circuit and has consistantly contributed to good TV. You have no arguement here, you shoudnt have really said it…
*”Not too much about Islam – I cant think why” Now we are getting closer to your issue! I think you really wanted to say “Why does Islam get recognition and Christianity doesnt” You are a fool if you believe your own words here, Christianity gets a lot more recognition and prestige on the BBC. Im pretty sure Nick Griffin shares your views. Maybe you should have emailed him instead of putting on this post…
That will do to start, im sorry I didnt cover your views on Comedians mentioning Christmas, your opinion on comedians appearing on Tv at “Tax-payers expence” Some drivel about the “Brand and Ross” incident. Robin Ince hosting a science programme. Some irrelevant nothing about who should be on Question Time, but frankly, I think I have given you far more attention than you deserve. I love this site and always have done, but your post is so poor, I think you should do the right thing so that no time gets taken to read your opinions and we can focus on more relevant blogs on this website.
P.S As you can probably tell I didnt spellcheck this. So please ignore any horrible spelling!
“Militant Athiest” Is almost an Oxymoron. This is a horrible misconception by everybody religous, religous people see athiests as an enemy, that does not mean the favour is returned. An athiest is usually no more at war with a religeon than they are with the local transport service.”
Rubbish.
“This is a horrible misconception by everybody religious” Everybody religious?
“Militant Athiest” Is almost an Oxymoron” It either is or it isn’t an Oxymoron?
Militant Atheists (I think Dawkins has used the term as a rallying call, a label that some are proud to wear) are those atheists who are the more aggressive variety that don’t want any religion anywhere in society and actively attack religion any chance they can. They quite often make the point that religionists should not be allowed free speech (sometimes advocating violence against those who open their mouths and talk about their religion) as talking about their beliefs or promoting them is indoctrination, bible bashing, not free thinking etc and akin to psychological abuse. Personally I cannot stand rabid atheist attack dogs any more than rabid religionist attack dogs.
“I think you should do the right thing so that no time gets taken to read your opinions and we can focus on more relevant blogs on this website. “
So you don’t agree with the author – well thats fine. But are you saying that your opinions are more relevant than others. Isn’t this what “Climategate” is about? We just want to hear the “consensus”
I dont really have a strong opinion on the subject to be honest, my issue was there isnt really a subject to have an opinion. Just some statements that were said for the sake of saying them. I have plenty of things to complain about when it comes to the BBC, as Im sure the person who posted then does, but if he had a point, he has missed by miles…
why does the left fear christianity.
why did the republicans so beloved of the bbc slaughter so many religious to provoke the spanish civil war?
Why have the left got such a soft spot for Islam? Surely Islam is by definition conservative hierachical and repressive to a much greater extent than christianity and yet the left give it free reign.
Is it a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The left have been indoctinated with a hatred of anything capitalist successful and western.
Most islamic regimes are total basket cases not unlike socialist states and thus the left see them as kindred spirits.
It really saddens me that not only are the dissaffected artschool trots not comfortable with their liberal personal conscience based christian heritage but they cannot accept other peoples personal freedoms and have to try and pull down others beliefs. Sad nihilist and ultimately empty fools
What I think you’re seeing is what George W. Bush called “the soft bigotry of lowered expectations”. The disaffected art school trots to which you refer certainly do regard the average admitted Christian believer as just as barbaric as most of us here regard these cavemen (see what I mean?) who treat women as chattel, will happily mutilate anyone who disagrees with them, and love the potential of their own death more than life itself.
The problem is that they know perfectly well that your average Third World (or no-go area of Nottingham) Mohammedan exhibits those same qualities – but they understand that and rationalize it to normalcy. They’ll call you and I racist until the end of time before they’ll look in the mirror and see that they’re the ones who tolerate and tacetly accept the caveman behavior because of the color of their skin and/or the cultural origins of your average Third World Mohammedan.
They can’t ever admit that, of course, because they’d have to also admit that they don’t actually hold the moral high ground over us. In fact, they will abet caveman behavior sooner than speak out against it because of those twisted multi-culti, post-modern relativist ideals which end up corrupting their reason.
Maybe the reason the BBC is scared of Christianity is because Christians once bombed Television Centre and Muslims haven’t yet?
Saw Marcus Brigstockes ‘God Collar’ show and a) its funny b) he has a go at Islam and c) though I’m a God-botherer I didn’t find it offensive. All sorts of people get on Question Time – maybe Will Young is the secret love child of a BBC executive?
The proof of the pudding is what the new series is like.
That would all be well and good if people weren’t forced to pay the licence fee.