Springwatch is back (2 Viewers)

[Euan Buchan]

I liked him in Halcyon River Diaries, but then that is a less formal style of presenting than straight to camera on live TV. He does seem stilted and uncomfortable in front of camera - I agree, he's better behind the camera.

I found it quite hard to hear him speak.

 

[The sniper]

to be honest,they are cameramen first and presenters second and i for one would rather it be like that,someone who knows what they are talking about rather than some character who is being told what to say.

 

[Carlos Davies]

I see it's Manic Street Preachers song titles this year. So far I've noticed A Design for Life, From Despair to Where? and Die in the Summertime. Anyone notice any others?

 

[Robert Wallace]

Once again Spring Watch produces a range of views and at least one person admits to enjoying having a "rant" at it, fair enough. I think SW reflects the approach of modern media for better or worse and the viewing figures will be the measure of sucess.
Interestingly it was discussed on Radio Leeds the other morning and a presenter who can't by his own admission tell the difference between a great tit and a blue tit was waxing lyrical about the programme and how excited he now is watching a nest box in his garden. SW ia aimed at the great British public and as such is doing a good job.
Incidently I do hope Chris Packham is right about the badger set and there are few, if any, further sightings. I respect CP's knowledge a key plus for me.

 

[Monahawk]

I liked him in Halcyon River Diaries, but then that is a less formal style of presenting than straight to camera on live TV. He does seem stilted and uncomfortable in front of camera - I agree, he's better behind the camera.

And lucky man being married to Philippa Forrester... Used to have a real crush on her when I was younger!! :-O

Hmm! Tomorrows World totty. 8-P Yes I remember.

Si.

 

[NoSpringChicken]

I think Charlie will be mortified when he watches his performance last night. Never mind, I am sure Philippa will be on the phone today to 'whip him into shape'. Now there's a thought to get me through a boring afternoon at work. I remember her dressed in black leather on Robot Wars.

Ron

 

[Stoggler]

I remember her dressed in black leather on Robot Wars.

Ron

Thanks for the mental image!! :t:

Is there a dirty-old-man emoticon...? :-O

 

[mike from ebbw]

I remember her dressed in black leather on Robot Wars.

Ron

Oh yes, BANGTIDY!!!!!!!!!!!!:t:

 

[James Thomas]

I think Charlie will be mortified when he watches his performance last night. Never mind, I am sure Philippa will be on the phone today to 'whip him into shape'. Now there's a thought to get me through a boring afternoon at work. I remember her dressed in black leather on Robot Wars.

Ron

He's no better tonight, sure he's got plenty to say but he needs some lessons in presenting.

He's obviously keen on Beaver http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=philippa+forrester+leather&aq=1&oq=philippa+forr

 

[Cheshire Birder]

I just don't get Kate's bumbling style. That bloke with the beavers was a poor presenter and should be put under the dam!! That recording last night didnt sound like any Little Owl i've heard.

Unfortunately the program seems to be dumbing down. Needs to get back to how it used to be but without Bill back on the sofa!

CB

 

[mickbe74]

Consentrate should be Spelt with a c lol

I'm sorry i will go back to skool and learn to write proper before i air a view again,did you really "laugh out loud"by the way?

 

[mickbe74]

You are never going to get presenters who everyone is happy with,at the same time not every subject matter will be to everyones taste.Springwatch is what it is,an easy watching programme,timed at a time when families can sit down and watch it together.It appeals to a wide range of people and has undoubtably got many more people involved in nature than other programmes.It is not Attenborough,it is simple and easy to watch and understand for millions,indeed,if it was Attenborough or someone of his stature it would only appeal to a small minority of people,probably those with an interest in nature already!!

Is undoubtably a word?

 

[ChrisWS]

I agree up to a point: they are different animals but need not be. All of Attenborough's programmes were primetime BBC slots and drew massive ratings, not just in the UK either. They also taught you stuff, proper, intelligent stuff with no fuss. And we must remember that Mr. A was the presenter - his works were the result of some pretty adept commissioning by the BBC. I find it frustrating that the same integrity and judgement cannot be applied to a SW-type programme - to blend the best of BBC wildlife programming and a popular 'family-lite' series without childishness is surely not beyond the wit of man?

I agree wholeheartedly with getting more 'amateur' naturalists to present - these sections show the best of a fine tradition of 'amateur' science.

A big point that people are missing is that SW is partly live and Sir DA's programmes aren't, and that makes a huge difference to their style and content. So they aren't really comparable.

With SW there's bound to be a lot of chat and filling between presenters and 'here's a bit we recorded two minutes ago' type stuff as they get themselves organised for the next bit. What SW does well is manage to capture the enthusiam of the professional and amateur presenters/naturalists and present our own native wildlife as being pretty amazing (and it's refreshing not to have wildlife programmes always being about the exotic).

We can never all be happy with all the presenters on these programmes (I happen to like MH-G) and there's sometimes a sense of jealousy from some commenters (not on this thread, not yet anyway) that some people just have great jobs.

So, I'm a big fan of both Sir DA and SW, but I won't be comparing them, because they both do very different things.

 

[The Valley Walker]

Get Iolo on there...local and great presenter - ditch the beaver guy

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Get Iolo on there...local and great presenter - ditch the beaver guy

Your wish is granted. Tomorrow is Charlie's last day as the guest presenter. Iolo William's turn is next week. How is that for broadcasting on demand?

Ron

 

[Himalaya]

I do not mind Charlie as a presenter but I suppose he knows his stuff. They could get some one who has very little knowledge to present that bit. he may not be a presenter but at least his passion shows through. I am glad they are trying different things.

I am happy they have shifted location but for some strange reason it appears we are seeing less wildlife and birds nests. I know the biodeiversity might not be as high as say Pensthorpe but surely there is more out there. The common garden species that people love have almost all disappeared. Would people get bored not seeing Blackbirds, Robins, Blue Tits?

They had to show the badger. They are a bit boring but in a way it is good that they show them because of the controversey with Badgers. If they did not show them they would disappear off the radar and they owuld not register with the public if the culling takes place (if it has not already - I have no clue about that issue).

The weather does not seem that great so the reserve is not looking ast appealin as it could. I hope they visit this area in winter, surely must be all sorts of migrants here.

Why do they have to start so late? The Redstarts which are only here for the summer are ready to go. We are lucky that many common British residents are double brooded otherwise we would not see anything. Are the Redstarts early? Will they have a second brood?

It is good they are covering Herons ad Buzzards. They had Buzzards in 2007 and people could learn about them more. Chris should nt have called them bad guys as Buzzards are not human and they only prey on other items to survive. The Herons could belong on a number of estates in the UK. They are very rough.

It is hard to make a programme that will satisfy everybody but the banter should be cut down. We hardly see any footage of the Redstarts outside of the box. I would love to see them hunt for food, sing, spend time outside of the nest box.

They could spend more time on the insects of the areas as their must be some unique ones. I am glad they showed the bit about the small fish and Adders. I have yet to see any snake in the UK and I found the Adder section very interesting.

 

[Amarillo]

Agree with most here, its basically a great show with brilliant features and camera footage, but the inane banter between the presenters is painful to watch at times.

 

[The sniper]

I'm sorry i will go back to skool and learn to write proper before i air a view again,did you really "laugh out loud"by the way?

Yes,and undoubtably is a word but I should of Spelt it undoubtedly,undoubtably means something completely different.I am naughty laugh out loud!!!

 

[iveljay]

C H P's book has many excellent photographs and few words - his other half's book is the other way round - probably why their combined efforts on Hacyon River Diaries worked (and that was far better than their production companys' first programme).

One aviation specialist was almost lynched by his wife after the first time he was interviewed on the World at One - suspect Phillipa might have similar plans
(I too think that some well meaning producer told Charlie or to be 'more interesting').

 

[NoSpringChicken]

I thought it was interesting that in the item about Pine Martens last night, Charlie was fine when he was talking to the woman about them. He was relaxed and natural. The problem is when he has to do the unnatural thing of walking along and talking to the camera. I also have a theory that the person behind the camera in those situations is about 3 feet tall, which is why he has to keep leaning forward to look into the camera. It's obviously his youngest son doing the filming!

Ron