Steven Broomfield Posted 15 November , 2018 Share Posted 15 November , 2018 Over the past four years (only four? Seems far longer), the BBC has put out some utter tripe. Fortunately, much of it has expunged itself from my memory banks (although I do still sometimes wake at night thinking about some of it), with very few programmes actually having deserved the light of day. Good planning and better fortune also conspired to spare me some of the worst excesses. Of everything I did watch, the only programme I recall favourably is Neil Oliver's about Skye's 'Band of Brothers' (and I charitably suspect he wasn't responsible for the title). However, the last 10 days has really shown the organisation at its very best. Huw Edwards' programme on the CWGC was a blinder; the three 'Last Tommies' were superb; a 30-minute piece on the making of Peter Jackson's film was very revealing; on Tuesday, Dan Cruickshank's Monuments of Remembrance was erudite and informed; and, of course, Jacskon's film to top it off. Good effort from the national broadcaster. Almost makes me look forward to 2045. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted 15 November , 2018 Share Posted 15 November , 2018 Wonder if the Beeb's surge of excellence is related to the fact that they (or at least Radio Four) now have a "Reality Check Correspondent," whatever that may be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 15 November , 2018 Share Posted 15 November , 2018 Agree on Dan Cruickshank`s programme. Just wish they`d strapped his hands to his sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 15 November , 2018 Share Posted 15 November , 2018 I didn't see any of the above and I'm fine about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 15 November , 2018 Share Posted 15 November , 2018 Neil Oliver's programme was BBC Scotland; but Huw Edwards' was by (so the credits say) Testimony Film, Dan Cruikshank's by DoubleBand Film, and Peter Jackson's by... well Peter Jackson. Is there variability in company output, commissioning editors etc or is it really all the Beeb? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
593jones Posted 15 November , 2018 Share Posted 15 November , 2018 10 hours ago, PhilB said: Agree on Dan Cruickshank`s programme. Just wish they`d strapped his hands to his sides. That would probably strike him dumb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyH Posted 15 November , 2018 Share Posted 15 November , 2018 12 hours ago, Steven Broomfield said: Good effort from the national broadcaster. Almost makes me look forward to 2045. Why, what's on at quarter to nine? BillyH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 16 November , 2018 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2018 Cup of cocoa and a digestive biscuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil andrade Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 (edited) There was a documetary earlier on this week called A SOTTISH SOLDIER, which I missed. Please would forumites who watched it tell me whether they think it’s worth watching on ? Phil Edited 16 November , 2018 by phil andrade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 21 hours ago, PhilB said: Agree on Dan Cruickshank`s programme. Just wish they`d strapped his hands to his sides. I half expect his fingers to come through the tv screen and poke me in the eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 16 November , 2018 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2018 1 hour ago, phil andrade said: There was a documetary earlier on this week called A SOTTISH SOLDIER, which I missed. Please would forumites who watched it tell me whether they think it’s worth watching on ? Phil Which channel was the programme on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyH Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 On the Beeb, didn't see it but available on the iplayer. About a coloured soldier, Arthur Roberts who joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1917. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGM Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 3 hours ago, phil andrade said: There was a documetary earlier on this week called A SOTTISH SOLDIER, which I missed. Please would forumites who watched it tell me whether they think it’s worth watching on ? Phil Yes! I found it a refreshing programme in terms of style (a mix of poetry, diary entries, archive footage, and talking heads etc.), and content - the voice of a 19 year old Scot and his art. A Scottish Soldier: A Lost Diary of WWI Quote Thousands of black soldiers fought in the First World War. Poet Jackie Kay tells the story of one of them - Arthur Roberts. Arthur grew up in Glasgow and joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1917. He fought at Ypres and kept a detailed diary, which gives us a unique account of the war. Arthur's evocative writing and sketches paint a vivid first-hand picture of life in the trenches. Like Arthur, Jackie Kay is a black Glaswegian, and she explores what it was like being black 100 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyH Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 Have just seen it on the iplayer, well worth a look. Arthur kept a nicely written and illustrated diary in the trenches. The point is made that no coloured soldiers took part in the 1919 Peace Parade.... Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGM Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 (edited) Also watched some of WWI's Secret Shame: Shell Shock by you've guessed it Dan Ubiquitous Snow. Worth watching as it covers more than TGW, claims to delve into previously unseen archives, and I must admit is very moving - even Dan wept. Edited 16 November , 2018 by TGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGM Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 (edited) 11 minutes ago, MikeyH said: Have just seen it on the iplayer, well worth a look. Arthur kept a nicely written and illustrated diary in the trenches. The point is made that no coloured soldiers took part in the 1919 Peace Parade.... Mike. Not surprising that no black soldiers were involved given Taranto and the 1919 - Race Riots - many were shipped back (under guard in some cases) and/or imprisoned. 1919 is a very important year for those with mixed heritage, and like me with ancestors who were stationed at Taranto. Edited 16 November , 2018 by TGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulgranger Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 20 minutes ago, TGM said: Yes! I found it a refreshing programme in terms of style (a mix of poetry, diary entries, archive footage, and talking heads etc.), and content - the voice of a 19 year old Scot and his art. A Scottish Soldier: A Lost Diary of WWI Here's the book https://www.amazon.co.uk/As-Good-Any-Man-Scotlands-ebook/dp/B00JTJE9DW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542370963&sr=8-1&keywords=as+good+as+any+man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGM Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 5 minutes ago, paulgranger said: Here's the book https://www.amazon.co.uk/As-Good-Any-Man-Scotlands-ebook/dp/B00JTJE9DW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542370963&sr=8-1&keywords=as+good+as+any+man Thank you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulgranger Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirduk Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 Sorry but I am still shuddering from the BBC trailers for Sundays "Rememberance Service" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 16 November , 2018 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2018 1 hour ago, TGM said: Also watched some of WWI's Secret Shame: Shell Shock by you've guessed it Dan Ubiquitous Snow. Worth watching as it covers more than TGW, claims to delve into previously unseen archives, and I must admit is very moving - even Dan wept. Sadly, anything with Danny Boy in creates an unbeatable urge to swear loudly at the TV, so I'll give it a miss. I also disapprove of presenters crying. I want objectivity, not crocodile tears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil andrade Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 Thanks, pals, for information about A Scottish Soldier. I’ll give it a go on the iplayer. I was a bit circumspect because I associate it with a song I remember mum listening to nearly sixty years ago ! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 16 November , 2018 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2018 Ghastly, wasn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGM Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Steven Broomfield said: Sadly, anything with Danny Boy in creates an unbeatable urge to swear loudly at the TV, so I'll give it a miss. I also disapprove of presenters crying. I want objectivity, not crocodile tears. To be fair to Danny Boy (I like it) - it was rather discrete with a tear coming down the right cheek which may not have been observed my many... On objectivity - yes agree, though IMHO I'm not sure how a G-G-GS of Lloyd George can be really that objective. His programme about LG some years ago made no mention of LG's early pro-Hitler utterances. Edited 16 November , 2018 by TGM typos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
593jones Posted 16 November , 2018 Share Posted 16 November , 2018 2 hours ago, Steven Broomfield said: Ghastly, wasn't it? Personally, I always found it quite touching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now