MOVE OVER DARLING.

Today was Budget Day. Seeing as how government has been leaking the contents of the Budget to the media for the past several weeks, no real big surprises. But I happened to catch the BBC Radio 5 “Drivetime” programme this evening allegedly analysing this latest onslaught on the middle-classes, those cash cows beloved of the Nulabour redistribution of wealth machine. In essence the programme was just one extended sneer with … Continue reading

TERRORIST GODFATHER KNOWS THE WAY TO SESAME STREET

One of the areas of BBC activity that causes me most concern is its active role in sanitising terrorism. Take this charming photocall of IRA terrorist godfather Martin McGuinness sitting between Potto and Hilda. Who are Potto and Hilda? Well, they aren’t members of Sinn Fein (Then again..) but they the stars of the new BBC children’s programme, Sesame Tree, This local version of Sesame Street was launched in Belfast … Continue reading

“White Girl”

The Pub Philosopher reviews “White Girl”, Abi Morgan’s gritty urban drama about typical Yorkshire folk. Readers will not be too astonished to discover that Ms Morgan is the daughter of a director and an actor, nor that she reads the Guardian and does her research on Google. Nothing wrong in that, of course. But I’m pretty sure that she didn’t go to school in Buttershaw or Holme Wood, to name … Continue reading

When the Government …

… desperately trying to think of ways to promote social cohesion, comes up with the (IMHO idiotic) idea of a loyalty oath, what broad cross-section of Brits do the BBC canvass for their views ? A union leader, a republican pressure group (which I’ve never previously heard of), and a left-wing Labour peer. (Oh, and something called “the Scottish Government” – Alex Salmond’s rebranding of the legal entity called the … Continue reading

MISSING WORDS.

I was listening to an item on the BBC “Today” programme this morning concerning the missing children of Bradford. Essentially this relates to the disappearance of mostly teenage girls who it seems have been forced into marriages with Pakistan featuring heavily in the story as the destination for these unfortunates. However at no point did the BBC see fit to point out that this problem is one that is inextricably … Continue reading

EXONERATING JUDAS.

How interesting to read that the BBC is to screen a new drama about the final week in the life of Jesus Christ which appears to exonerate Judas and Pontius Pilate. Producers of The Passion have portrayed the men in a sympathetic light because they believe they have been “very harshly judged” by history. A BBC spokesman said:”We are not seeking to subvert or rewrite the Gospel narrative – we … Continue reading

Week-day BBC-related comment thread!

Please use this thread for comments about the BBC’s current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog – scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may also be moderated. Any suggestions for stories that you might like covered would be appreciated! It’s your space, use … Continue reading

A MALTESE CONUNDRUM

. I was sent this by an eagle-eyed reader which is a BBC report on the funeral of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Englishman Fra’ Andrew Bertie. The very first section of this concludes with the incongruous sentence “It is well known for the work it does in many Muslim countries.” Huh? Let’s leave BBC world for a few seconds and objectively consider what the Knights of … Continue reading

QUESTION TIME WATCH.

So, I settled down last evening to watch “Question Time” that flagship BBC programme for political debate. It was the usual uneven mix, with three leftists and two right of liberal panelists. We had the ubiquitous Lib-Dem Baroness Shirley Williams, a BBC favourite, who has now attained sainthood and whose every banal utterance is treated with due solemnity. Then there was Mr Bean look-a-like Labour Minister Ed Miliband. To balance … Continue reading