Comments on: What did you think of the BBC TV local elections results program on Thursday night?

By: mooism

mooism — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:40:00 +0000

I couldn’t understand why they kept going to London City Hall, when they weren’t going to start counting the votes until the next day.

And they’ve got the wrong idea of what to use graphics for; they’re supposed to illuminate, not entertain.

By: Sunny Hundal

Sunny Hundal — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:25:00 +0000

I’m usually supportive of the BBC but this was embarassing! OMG I’ve never seen viewers treated with so much contempt and stupidity. Its not Jeremy Vine who should be shot but the producers who thought up all those graphics.
http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/02/bbc-from-dumb-to-dumber/

By: Maximillion

Maximillion — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:52:00 +0000

I became bored with the TV show at 1:30am so went to bed. I do not understand why these programmes are so jam-packed with MPs (sorry Lynn, think you are lovely!).

There should have been representatives from the Local Government Association, and maybe the editors of Municipal Journal and Local Government Chronicle giving an analysis.

These were LOCAL elections, and so local stories should have been the premium agenda item here, not the hopes that Gordon will survive.

I heard Southampton fall - and would have liked to hear why LibDems and Lab created a coalition before the election? LibDems held Cheltenham... so what had the Tories done which had riled the local electorate to return to the LibDems?

As for who should front this entertainment programme in the future? How about Emily Maitlis - she is such a bright button, surely our only hope for bright political reporting?

By: MatGB

MatGB — Sun, 04 May 2008 00:51:00 +0000

Jennie has stolen my vote already it seems, but assures me it was what I'd have voted (ie: very bad). We were both swearing at the TV each time Vine came on, none of the graphics sets made any sense and each was both pathetic and unfunny.

I don't understand why they do it considering the only people staying up are politics wonks—we all know how the system works so patronising juvenilia just seems completely misplaced. Ah well, it's our money after all.

Still, at least they had the sense to put Alix on, more please.

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:48:00 +0000

The whole thing was exceptionally weak, seemed designed to aspire to the status of light entertainment – it’s the kind of coverage I expect the 6 o’clock news will have descended to in five years time. To see it this soon and for such an important event is nothing short of depressing.

Anyone who’s stayed up long past midnight deserves information, analysis, data, accurate charts and percentages, in-depth reviews of local situations. By treating an audience (that they could reasonably expect to be disproportionately comprised of political junkies) like ill-informed children was condescending, arrogant, rude, and a total waste of money. I’m normally a defender of Auntie, Radio4 is worth the licence fee alone (the decline in Today excepted), but they really should be ashamed of this year’s election night.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:43:00 +0000

Echoing everyone else: Vine is an embarrassment. I’m glad Alix pointed it out live on air too.

By: Mary Reid

Mary Reid — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:48:00 +0000

Can you sort out the poll, please Lynne? All I can see is an error message.

Jeremy Vine was cringe-making, but you were whatever the opposite is of that! Well done.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Undoubtedly the most determinedly anti-Lib Dem commentator on TV is the appallingly arrogant Andrew Neil. To have Chris Huhne as a guest and not let him get a word in because Andrew was having so much fun mocking Hazel Blears and rejoicing in Tory gains was worse (if that’s possible) than the standard “There-are-really-only-two-parties” line from the dreaded Dimblebore.

By: MB

MB — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:49:00 +0000

Jeremy Vine was just embarrassing and I am sure many must have turned off or over whenever he appeared (as I do when he comes on Radio 2 at lunchtime).

The BBC must find someone better before the next General Election.

The programme did seem have more problems than you would expect from the BBC. I don't know whether that was lack of rehearsal, lack of money or just the way that the BBC has to rely so much now on outside production companies.

By: Roger

Roger — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:40:00 +0000

Jeremy Vine is embarrassing at the best of times, but he excelled himself last night. Terrible. I also felt there was little hard info for the political junkies like me – and I suspect we make up the audience at 3am. Needs a full makeover before the General Election. You looked very nice Lynn.