I've just switched off the second episode of this series, about Catherine the Great, despite watching all of the episode last night on Peter the Great. I learned a great deal about Peter the Great, but tonight I could no longer tolerate the arch posturing of Lucy Worsley. She has a great deal to offer as a presenter; but it seems to me that she is - like so many presenters - here at the mercy of the production company and director who seem to want to make her, rather than the Romanovs, the centre of the programme. I wish the BBC would make producers of documentaries for BBC4 take their brief seriously and not let them tart the programme up as though it were some kind of talent show.
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Hiya kernelbogey,Originally posted by kernelbogey View Post
I fully agree! I gave it ten minutes but can't bare to watch anymore. It's all about the presenter who in truth grates on me!
There was an interesting programme on yesterday on Radio 4 Extra presented by Roger Bolton. it was the story of the Codex Sinaiticus, the world's oldest bible, found in 1844 in a monastery in the Sinai Desert by Constantin von Tischendorf. It went to Russia and was sold in 1933 to the British Library by Stalin raise currency for the Soviet Government.Last edited by Stanfordian; 08-11-17, 20:48. -
It'll be history according to the BBC, with the house face that fits.
Of course I'm suspicious of everything, ( or so I've been told on this forum) but then that is what studying history can do to a person.I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
I am not a number, I am a free man.Comment
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The other thing that dawned on me about Lucy Worsley's presentation is that she has a little habit of speaking about executions and similar grisly events with a theatrical relish, which reminded me of Miranda Richardson's portrayal of Elizabeth I in Blackadder II, an interpretation which Miranda Richardson had based on a hated pupil at her school.
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It's such a pity when presenter's go really off the wall when they could be very watchable.Don’t cry for me
I go where music was born
J S Bach 1685-1750Comment
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Why can't all presenters be half as good as Sir David Attenborough or Christopher Trace?Comment
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The most engaging female professor presenting the recent TV series about the worldwide spread of humankind is my new hero in the world of presentation.Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View PostComment
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Yes, but re-watching The Lost Princesses films last week made me yearn for the absence of an on-screen presenter. A voice-over is not only less distracting to the narrative, but the tone of that voice can be much more appropriately atmospheric. Will we ever see the likes of the Ken Russell's Elgar or Christopher Nupen's Sibelius again?Comment
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OK call me a spoil-sport, but re-watching The Lost Princesses films last week made me yearn for the absence of an on-screen presenter. A voice-over is not only less distracting to the narrative, but the tone of that voice can be much more appropriately atmospheric. Will we ever see the likes of the Ken Russell's Elgar or Christopher Nupen's Sibelius again?Comment
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We certainly got Ken Russell's Elgar, Delius too, but on the other hand there was the appalling film about Richard Strauss. Since his early days on the programme Monitor with Hugh Weldon, Russell was given a very free hand to use the BBC's film resources at a cost which would not be acceptable today on any network.He was a man who could not restrain his inherent sense of vulgarity. Perhaps that shook the Beeb up a bit, but this was not all gain.Originally posted by ardcarp View Post
As far as history or science documentaries are concerned, there is the problem that television is essentially a narrative medium. Section A leads to section B followed by C in straightforward order for the most part. It takes about an hour to cover material which could appear on just a couple of pages in an article. Moreover, with printed information it is possible to qualify a statement where necessary. The reader can refer back to an earlier page, or read an alternative view. This is very difficult to do on television without detailed debate.
Lucy Worsley's films on the Romanov's presented a clear narrative with some nice pictures on the way, without too much resort to the dressing up box. Let's not get too censorious about it.Comment
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No good, I've googled and can't find anything. So, who is that, please?Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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... Dr Roberts, I assume -Originally posted by french frank View PostNo good, I've googled and can't find anything. So, who is that, please?
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Thank you, monsieur. I searched on TV presenter spread ghumankind [sic, typo] and got Maya Jama, aged 23, partner of Stormzy. Typical, I thought. Blokes.Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
I see Dr Roberts hails from Bristol.It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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