Armando Iannucci: James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture, 26.8.15, Edinburgh

[Nick Armstrong]

So what do we think?

(Haven't watched it yet ... but he's usually full of common sense, Mr Iannucci)

Full text available here

[french frank]

Will need some time to read and absorb this. Sometimes the stars can be loose cannons that are off target …

[VodkaDilc]

Will need some time to read and absorb this. Sometimes the stars can be loose cannons that are off target …

The front page of The Guardian gave a good summary today.

[french frank]

Basically, it seemed to be 'Hands off the BBC, a world leader not to be tampered with'. We speak, of course, of television and (light) entertainment, with some praise for the astronomy programmes. Less (as in 'nothing') about the arts more generally.

[VodkaDilc]

Basically, it seemed to be 'Hands off the BBC, a world leader not to be tampered with'. We speak, of course, of television and (light) entertainment, with some praise for the astronomy programmes. Less (as in 'nothing') about the arts more generally.

And now, according to The Guardian, someone called Sue Perkins has said much the same thing. Still very much concentrating on the lighter end of the BBC's output.

[french frank]

And now, according to The Guardian, someone called Sue Perkins has said much the same thing. Still very much concentrating on the lighter end of the BBC's output.

As has the Director of Television, Danny Cohen: 'He said the corporation should be making shows for audiences who put entertainment "top of the list" of what they want from the BBC, rather than "niche" TV programmes that "get the seal of approval from opinion formers". '

At the risk of being ridiculed by a certain person for being ridiculous , we (as in I) have taken issue with him, asking him:

'What, in fact, is your opinion of minority interest television programmes which are merely succès d’estime? Should they be left to commercial broadcasters like Sky Arts to provide?'

[gurnemanz]

And now, according to The Guardian, someone called Sue Perkins has said much the same thing. Still very much concentrating on the lighter end of the BBC's output.

What is the need for the unpleasant, casually dismissive "someone called Sue Perkins"? My first reaction is that the ensuing comments are probably not going to be worth my consideration.

[teamsaint]

Is this a " people who have done very well out of the BBC defending the BBC " shocker?

[french frank]

What is the need for the unpleasant, casually dismissive "someone called Sue Perkins"? My first reaction is that the ensuing comments are probably not going to be worth my consideration.

A bit unfair? Iannucci and Perkins do have in common that they are both involved in the lighter side of television entertainment. You can make up your own mind about whether you think her words are 'worth your consideration'.

Ed: And what teamsaint said …

[VodkaDilc]

What is the need for the unpleasant, casually dismissive "someone called Sue Perkins"? My first reaction is that the ensuing comments are probably not going to be worth my consideration.

It was not intentionally dismissive. I have just 'googled' her and now know something about her. It was not a name I previously recognised. I apologise if gurnemanz took offence.

[VodkaDilc]

As has the Director of Television, Danny Cohen: 'He said the corporation should be making shows for audiences who put entertainment "top of the list" of what they want from the BBC, rather than "niche" TV programmes that "get the seal of approval from opinion formers". '

At the risk of being ridiculed by a certain person for being ridiculous , we (as in I) have taken issue with him, asking him:

'What, in fact, is your opinion of minority interest television programmes which are merely succès d’estime? Should they be left to commercial broadcasters like Sky Arts to provide?'

It seems strange that the high profile defence of the BBC is coming from the popular end of the spectrum - exactly the type of programming which could, arguably, be produced by any of the other television channels. Where are the defenders of the unique areas of the BBC?

[french frank]

It seems strange that the high profile defence of the BBC is coming from the popular end of the spectrum - exactly the type of programming which could, arguably, be produced by any of the other television channels. Where are the defenders of the unique areas of the BBC?

I was going to comment that it almost seemed like a death wish on the part of the BBC, when even the heavy-metal, dance party fan who is the current Secretary of State for Culture is saying that the BBC could perhaps narrow its scope towards what only it would produce. Because there seemed to be a hint that there is 'too much light entertainment', the BBC feels the necessity to defend that broadcast area. And the influential voices, or in DC's words, 'opinion formers' are not the defenders of high culture, as is frequently claimed, but the comedy writers and performers, lining up to defend their own corner.

[Russ]

succès d’estime

Danny Cohen might struggle to understand that.

Russ

[Nick Armstrong]

Danny Cohen might struggle to understand that.

Agreed. I'm rapidly going off the cut of the bloke's jib.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It seems strange that the high profile defence of the BBC is coming from the popular end of the spectrum - exactly the type of programming which could, arguably, be produced by any of the other television channels. Where are the defenders of the unique areas of the BBC?

There's a sort of Catch-22 going in, isn't there. A "high profile defence of the Beeb" can only come from somebody already with a high public profile - and there aren't that many such individuals from the "unique areas of the BBC". If Graham McKenzie or Marjorie Perloff were ever to mount such a defence, the reaction would most prominently be "who?". And even when someone as well known and respected as Lord Bragg does such a thing, the general response is "well, he's only protecting his job, isn't he?"

Where to go for my holidays this year? Hmm ... Rock or Hard Place?