Science on the Beeb Options

[Simon Kirby]

TV can be pretty rubbish, but right now I reckon we're having something of a golden age of science on the Beeb. Horizon was good for science and medicine in the eighties but gradually the Beeb seems to have dropped everything but natural history which itself declined steadily from the Attenborough zenith to a Humble nadir. But several programmes - or more particularly presenters - have shone lately - Brian Cox, Jim Al-Khalili, and Marcus du Sautoy. I wouldn't say that anything they've done has been quite as good the the Rotten World About Us or Peter Ustinov and the E=MC² motorbikes, but it's quality TV all the same.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

TV can be pretty rubbish, but right now I reckon we're having something of a golden age of science on the Beeb. Horizon was good for science and medicine in the eighties but gradually the Beeb seems to have dropped everything but natural history which itself declined steadily from the Attenborough zenith to a Humble nadir. But several programmes - or more particularly presenters - have shone lately - Brian Cox, Jim Al-Khalili, and Marcus du Sautoy. I wouldn't say that anything they've done has been quite as good the the Rotten World About Us or Peter Ustinov and the E=MC² motorbikes, but it's quality TV all the same.

Agreed but sometimes I tire of some of the dumbing down. Richard Hammonds 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' is on example. Not one part of the program contained anything that I did not already know. The CGI graphics were good but I would have thought this should have been more aimed at school children than prime time 9pm TV.

[Andy Capp]

The CGI graphics were good but I would have thought this should have been more aimed at school children than prime time 9pm TV.

Bear-in-mind at 9pm this would be the same people who have just finished watching hours of soap operas! I agree, there's a lot of these 'science' programs, and they tend to have a lot of padding. If find, for example, the Brian Cox's approach a but too 'slow'.

I enjoyed most the recent James May 3 part series about our bodies, Universe and the weather. It was purposely made like a kids show, but I came away feeling better informed.

[NORTHENDER]

If find, for example, the Brian Cox's approach a but too 'slow'.

Not science I know but......
If you think he is a bit slow what about Robert Peston one of the Beebs annalists? If he is
on for more than a minute my Mrs want to smash the telly in. Never known a man to
bumble his way through so much.

[Andy Capp]

Not science I know but......
If you think he is a bit slow what about Robert Peston one of the Beebs annalists? If he is
on for more than a minute my Mrs want to smash the telly in. Never known a man to
bumble his way through so much.

I am in utter agreement. The bloke takes so long to say anything, and in a very odd metre too.

[Nothing Much]

Not sure which to reply to. I guess Peston's chat, could be Iambic.
As for BBC Annalists , best left uncommented to.
It's been interesting reading the Telegraph (harrumph)
ce

[Darren]

Not science I know but......
If you think he is a bit slow what about Robert Peston one of the Beebs annalists? If he is
on for more than a minute my Mrs want to smash the telly in. Never known a man to
bumble his way through so much.

You don't have to watch it.

Off button
Mute button
Channel button

Lots of options

[Dodgys smarter b...]

Analyst

.Peston

Try this link

[Andy Capp]

You don't have to watch it.

Off button
Mute button
Channel button

Lots of options

You know...that idea had never crossed my mind!

What if I am interested in what he is reporting about? The subtitling service is equally rubbish as it happens.

[NORTHENDER]

annalist... Sorry teach, I must try harder.

[user23]

Agreed but sometimes I tire of some of the dumbing down. Richard Hammonds 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' is on example.

I agree, I would have watched the program if it hadn't been Richard Hammond presenting it.

[Andy Capp]

I thought 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' was reasonably informative and interesting, albeit padded with some rather unnecessary CGI. The volcano section was good.

[JeffG]

I agree, I would have watched the program if it hadn't been Richard Hammond presenting it.

Any programme with Richard Hammond in it is best avoided, especially when his name appears (as in movie-speak) "above the title".

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main...edAboveTheTitle

[Andy Capp]

I don't understand what the problem is; very few presenters speak with Received English these days.

I notice that most shows are in colour these days with stereophonic audio compatibility as well.

[JeffG]

Not sure what your comment about RP is about, or how it relates to this thread. Your humour has gone over my head

[Andy Capp]

Not sure what your comment about RP is about, or how it relates to this thread. Your humour has gone over my head

All right ...snob!

[JeffG]

All right ...snob!

Huh? Why? Am I not allowed not to find Richard Hammond's programmes uninteresting? Programmes for Richard Hammond to trot around the world, with a bit of science (tectonic plates, volcanos) thrown in to justify them. Bit like Prof Brian Cox, then, I suppose, really

[Andy Capp]

Huh? Why? Am I not allowed not to find Richard Hammond's programmes uninteresting? Programmes for Richard Hammond to trot around the world, with a bit of science (tectonic plates, volcanos) thrown in to justify them. Bit like Prof Brian Cox, then, I suppose, really

You are allowed to think and post what you like as far as I'm concerned

[Turin Machine]

Richard hammond and Brian Cox, Ahh, science for housewives.

[Andy Capp]

All right ...snob!

Richard hammond and Brian Cox, Ahh, science for housewives.

Not just JeffG then!