A foul Christmas special

Marcus Cotswell

There was a clear warning issued immediately before the programme aired, to the effect that there would be strong language from the start, and this made it clear to people watching with their families that it was not suitable for children. I agree that the programme was not particularly amusing (although it had its moments) and I have never particularly been a fan of Ms Tate's shows. I am willing to give her a 'fair go' as the Doctor's assistant and in any case I think it is downright rude for you to remark on her age and 'glamour' or lack thereof. Last night's show may or may not have been 'predictable' but this sort of knee-jerk reaction from sections of the media (what one might term the Col. Blimp tendency) certainly is. I object to the licence fee as strongly as the next man, even among the Spectator's readership. I do not think, however, that descending to a personal level against individual performers helps to make the case.

Peter

stop hating =S

verity

Marcus Cotswell writes: " in any case I think it is downright rude for you to remark on her age and 'glamour' or lack thereof." I gather from The Skimmer's review that Ms Tate was a darn sight ruder than that in the programme being beamed into people's homes. Presumably, if she can dish it out, she can take it on the chin. I'd never heard of her before, but watched a TV clip just now and she looks a bit old to be Dr Who's companion.

billy

I don't watch the BBC, or any of the others. My TV is nowadays strictly for seeing films.
I get my news off the internet and my entertainment by reading blogs and books.
My wife listens to the radio and I kid myself that our licence fee supports that.

David

"Is the constant repetition of the F-word in the first sketch of a popular comedy show on Christmas Day really the BBC's idea of family programming?" At 10.30pm? Of course it's not their idea of family programming at that hour you blithering idiot. It's some time past the watershed, and therefore quite clearly in a slot destined for adult programming. If parents let their children watch TV at that hour, then it's their fault if those children are exposed to inappropriate material, not the channel concerned. It's probably worth noting that 8 out of the ten top programmes by ratings were on the BBC this Christmas. Licence fee giving rather good value there.

Joseph H

I agree 100% with Mr Skimmer. I was one of those parents, we normally pack our kids off to bed but on Christmas we let them stay up as I imagine millions more did. We'd eaten late, and watched TV late and all settled down to what we thought would be a comedy - turning on after this warning that was supposed to have been aired. I sat open-mouthed at what the BBC was beaming into the nation's drawing rooms. Perhaps my fault for thinking one could rely on the BBC at Christmas, or at any other part of the day.

graeme archer

I switched it off for it's blatant and unpleasant homophobia. For once the word is justified. The woman is horrible and her humour is ugly.

David

"on Christmas we let them stay up" In other words, *you* let them watch something inappropriate. Don't blame the BBC for your lack of personal responsibility. The watershed is hardly a new thing; you should know that programmes scheduled after it are unlikely to be suitable for children. Presumably you wouldn't have let them watch a film like Pulp Fiction. Or who knows, perhaps you would and then blame the schedulers or director.

Trumpeter Lanfried

There's a radio programme called, I think, Feedback, in which listeners can voice their criticisms of BBC programmes. Such is the arrogance of the BBC that some producers simply say they 'cannot find space in their diaries' to respond to such criticisms by appearing on the programme. I have actually heard this phrase used.

Trumpeter Lanfried

The BBC is an organisation largely run by graduates who believe that because they are providing entertainment for the working classes they can transmit coarse language in a family context. In fact they enjoy doing so, because they know it irritates the sort of pipe-smoking Englishman who lives in Surbiton, plays with model railways and is faithful to his wife. Such men are the BBC's sworn enemies.

fnusnuank

On a general note. Given the crap on TV after the 9:00pm watershed anyone letting young children watch has no excuse, most especially if a warning is given. Donuts. Secondly, (as this is a blog) those of us familier with the arrival of a certain Polish plumber in the blogosphere this year will probably be of one of two minds. You either love him or hate him. He swears rather a lot but IS funny.

Bruce, UK

Tate is not, and never has been, funny.

dave, surrey

I find television comedy only slightly more annoying and unfunny than that dreadful right-on radio 4 stuff (usually with the bone crushingly liberal right-on sandy totsvig(?)). Best Christmas TV: watching Polar express with my 4 year old.. magical.

Dave B

I thought the BBC's Christmas schedule for R3&4 was pretty disappointing. No Christmas to it.

Classic FM, on the other hand, has been a star :-)

Freya

Surely no-one watching Catherine Tate was in any doubt about what to expect. Who on earth would let young children watch it, whatever time it was on? There was no more or less swearing than in any other episode of the show. The "Nan" character has had the same swearing catchphrase from the very beginning. Parents just seem to want to duck out of any responsibility these days. I do agree that, in general, there wasn't much worth watching on over Christmas on any channel. Fortunately my TV has an "off" button.

Verity

Freya - Tell me, why should adults have to expect a barrage of crude language on TV after "the watershed"? Why? Why does "adult" mean crude? Who is this foul language for, and why is it piped down publicly paid-for airwaves? Certainly, I use colourful and crude language myself from time to time in anger, but not as a matter of course; and I don't know anyone else who uses it as a matter of course. So who are all these TV writers and producers producing shows for? Are they deliberately, do you imagine, after dumbing down, promoting a coarsing down? Why?

fnusnuank

Verity. Have I not seen you in praise of the sainted Polish plumber?

Matthew Brendan

Just another good reason to give up on television altogether and join the White Dot Society - the campaign against TV. M

Freya

Verity, I didn't say that adults should "have to expect a barrage of crude language on TV after the watershed". My comment was directed at the parents who complained that their children saw it, even though the parents must have known Catherine Tate's reputation, and exactly what to expect (which was no different than usual). I wasn't addressing the issue of whether the BBC should screen the show or not (personally I agree that there is too much bad language on TV for no good reason) - just that this show is notorious for exactly that type of language, and easily avoided by a quick skim down the listings page of the paper. It's so sad that families can't find something better to do at Christmas than goggle at the TV until all hours.

John Cowell

It matters not if there was a clear warning issued before the programme started. Do parents have to sit for 24hrs in front of the TV to watch out for warnings.? No, this programme was a sad effort by a tasteless group of people to "shock" on Christmas Day, perhaps noy Holy to many any more but, give credit to those who like to bring their kids up in a respectable atmosphere and not breed a nation of anarchist "Thickos" Try sending your kids to bed before the watershed on Xmas day! Anyone wanting to set up a website for people who are fed up with rubbish & foul TV, please send an e-mail!! John