h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"The problem with trying to assume it's an either/or situation is, you miss out on so much of what's actually going on behind the scenes. Sarah Jane is a children's show, specifically designed for a child audience. Torchwood is specifically designed to only be watched by adults. Doctor Who's remit is to appeal to children, teens, young adults and parents. The whole family."

This is what I've been trying to say. If a programme is *designed* to appeal to a wide audience-range then it's a "family" show and that's different from a "children's" show which only tries to appeal to children and disregards adult viewers. To use a good example, "Transformers: The Movie" was a childrens' film whilst "Shrek" was a family film. The former was only interested in entertaining children (and selling toys), the latter acknowledged an adult audience and appealed to them whilst *also* acknowledging a child audience and appealing to them. Family entertainment is "childrens" entertainment in the sense it actively appeals to them but is also "adult" entertainment in the sense it actively appeals to them. I don't mind people calling New Who a "childrens" show in this context since it's true, but I object when people refer to it as such to indicate that they are the only audience members who matter. And, importantly, it's galling when people forgive or excuse poor writing, acting, sfx or whatever because children won't mind.

"They said on Confidential that "it's still a childrens show" though..."

As people have said here. It's a common perception of the show. But, at the same time, Russell T Davies has said it's "for children and adults" and emphasised the importance of holding the show's adult viewers (from which I think he's drawn the wrong conclusions, but anyway...) and the BBC advertises and promotes it on late-night television, Radio Two, and other media that is distinctly adult-only. It was notable that with the old series (which the BBC regarded as children's sci-fi even though the production team didn't) that it was largely promoted on children's TV, drew from children's TV for many of its actors etc.

Apart from anything else, it would be grossly-stupid for the BBC in these competitive times to treat something with such a huge adult audience as "kids' TV".

From the BBC:

"Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'Doctor Who'.

I understand that your family are disappointed because this programme is not scheduled to be broadcast on 12 May.

If I may explain; there hasn't been a change to the billed schedule this was pre-planned weeks in advance. 'Eurovision' is one of the longest-running television programmes in the world and is also one of the most-watched non-sporting events in the world. The BBC has an obligation to our audience to bring coverage of exciting contests such as this to BBC Television.

As we have to broadcast Eurovision at 20:00 (it is transmitted simultaneously to all countries of the union) both 'Doctor Who' and 'Any Dream Will Do' would have played substantially earlier than their regular time slots. We feel that rather than playing 'Doctor Who' at 18.00 and running the risk of viewers missing it, the best way to protect the show is to resume the run the following week.

I hope that this goes some way in clarifying the situation; however I note that you take a different view. Please be assured that your comments have been made available to the BBC Scheduling team as well as senior BBC management and the 'Doctor Who' production team. Styles and policies are continually reassessed based on the feedback we receive from viewers.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us with your feedback."



The Apprentice

So, having run Who off-schedule for the past two weeks, they're suddenly getting twitchy about changing the time... sheesh. If it was re-runs of Old Who I'd understand, but New Who is one of the Beeb's hottest properties at the moment and Eurovision is largely outdated tripe. I only ever watch it to hear Terry Wogan get progressively more drunk and sarcastic.

In my letter to the BBC, I did highlight that 'EuroVision' was a dead dog of a programme for the tone deaf and diehard Terry Wogan fans only. You're absolutely right that it seems odd the BBC should get precious about televising the show on time, given the wandering start times of the last fortnight. I have missed the start of both of the last episodes because I didn't have a clue when the programme was on!



The Apprentice

"I only ever watch it to hear Terry Wogan get progressively more drunk and sarcastic."

Doesn't everyone?

Personally, I understand why they shifted "Who" to the next week. Moving the show around for the last couple of weeks has hit the ratings badly, losing the show an estimated half a million viewers at least (many of whom tuned-in around 7pm). I think given the option of scheduling it at 6.40pm (as they originally planned) or moving it back to 7pm the next week that the BBC made the right decision from a popularity point of view.

But it means we'll have to wait a whole 2 WEEKS for the next episode.

NOT GOOD!!!!

of course, it may just be that we discover that the Daleks are respnsible for the Eurovision song contest...

...

I knew it!

We would be more likely to win with a Dalek entry than the pathetic 80's throwback we've offered this year.

What would it be called ... "The EX-TER-MIN-ATE song"

Nice.

They could actually exterminate the whole competition, and do us all a favour.

Even though we won't have the next episode for a while, we could still review it as if we had seen it;

My review is;

I was dissapointed. Why does the Doctor have to shout so much? There were several plot details that didn't make any sense.

The big fight scene was good.

I don't half fancy Freema (If I am male), David,(If I am female) (or if I am Russell).

What you all also seem to be missing is that, whether or not you like it, Eurovision generally gets a very large audience. I think it beat Who for the evening last year.

I think, on balance, the BBC have made the right decision (assuming that dropping EV or punting it to BBC2 was never an option, which I think is a safe bet). I'd rather see Who's audience figures kept high by running it at the same time, even if that means a whole week without Who, than have yet another episode starved of viewers by pushing it too early. After all, I (and, I suspect, most of you) will catch it whatever time it's on, but real people don't record it, or plan their lives around it, and those are the ones who really miss out if the programme time changes.

Not that you work for the Beeb or anything!

Do people generally see BBC2 as the lesser option? I can't say its ever been something I've thought of. Is it an older person thing from the times before BBC2 was around?

BBC2 used to be the home of all kinds of good stuff in the early afternoon. That's where the Trek family and Stargate et al used to be tucked, out of sight of the grown ups!

"but real people don't record it, or plan their lives around it,"



I'm not a real person!

What will be happening on those times when the episode would have been repeated?

Ahem! Some of us take Eurovision just as seriously as you lot take Doctor Who!

Mol