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What wonderful publicity for the SRGC seed exchange!
Before coming on to Beechgrove I'll at least get my ten 'pennorth in about Gardener's World. The people who devise these programmes and the words which their presenters use in them are obviously certain that 98% of those watching have the attention-span and learning ability of a somewhat poorly amoeba and feel in the main that their presenters are somewhat similar! I think most of us, even those who rarely garden, would be able to make a 'stab in the dark' at making a hole and popping a cabbage seedling into it. I feel very sorry for the chap in the wheelchair, resplendent in a bright pink scarf, who was given few words to say other than helping some of the other presenters to poke into people's shopping bags in the last programme I saw. He was given nothing to do and must have felt he was only there because he was in a wheelchair. Similarly, the statuesque black lady is given so little to do...... To top everything else Joe Swift, who is only paraded occasionally, was set to interview the singer (who, in fact has a new record out!) Will Young, who obviously knows far less about gardening than he does about the inner workings of the Hadron Collider. It is to Mr Swift's credit that he was able to mask Mr. Young's lack of gardening skill and knowledge by his own depth of presenting skill.I had a lot of time for Jim McColl and the programme is much worse for his loss in my view. I think none of the presenters have come across well in this series and this must be to do with the pedestrian production of the programme. Like Gardener's World it needs a shake up and needs to become a programme about gardening for gardeners.
It is my understanding that with the onset of the new BBC Scotland channel the opportunity to 'opt out' of the standard BBC 2 schedule has reduced dramatically and programmes such as Beechgrove that might otherwise have been shown on BBC2 are now to be shown or can, if so desired, be shown on BBC Scotland. However, the viewing figures for BBC Scotland have seemingly been low and the channel's budget is being used to bolster its online activity so as not to diminish its presence. Accordingly, the channel may have to show cheaper programming such as repeats hence the reduced number of gardening episodes. The BBC has said: “BBC Scotland has the youngest age profile of any BBC TV channel in Scotland, excluding those channels specifically for children. This tells us that our offer is distinctive and the fact content can also be consumed on our online and social media platforms is helping to attract a younger, more socially diverse audience. These are early days for the new service and the indications are positive. Beechgrove is a well-loved part of the new channel’s schedule and the programme also continues to get an airing on BBC Two network. In its new format Beechgrove offers more online and social media content, available at any time.” The average age of viewers for BBC1 is 61 years and for BBC2 62 years. Though I'm an occasional viewer (of below average age for these channels) of Beechgrove perhaps we are all just being nudged (or pushed) by BBC Scotland to gain our gardening information and entertainment via other means. I do wonder when the programme returns in late summer when viewing figures are likely to be seasonally low (and particularly so on a minority channel) that the decision will be taken to move all content next year to online because of seemingly poor viewing figures (which will be construed as a lack of interest).
Beechgrove back tomorrow ...... In Scotland - on Sky and Freeview - Channel 115 Rest of the UK - on Sky Channel 457 and Freesat 108 Also available on BBC i-player
