How to Look Good Naked was the most appreciated programme in May, while the mid-season break in Desperate Housewives generated the most criticism.
Channel 4’s Viewer Enquiries team handled a total of 15,868 contacts – phone calls and emails – from viewers last month. Each query was logged and the appropriate people at Channel 4 notified. Of these contacts, 1,217 criticised Channel 4’s shows, while 248 complimented the programmes we had broadcast. The vast majority of contacts were general enquiries, most commonly about scheduling.
Top 10 programmes most appreciated by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in May 2008 (quote is an example of viewer comment):
- How to Look Good Naked (24 contacts) “Just to say how much I adore how to look good naked it’s fab!!!! Go Gok!”
- Inbetweeners (16) “Fantastic programme, relates to teenage life brilliantly, and hilarious. Just hope that there is a new series lined up.”
- Dispatches: In God’s Name (15) “I just wanted to say that your latest Dispatches was one of the best religious documentaries of its type to date.”
- Embarrassing Bodies (12) “What a fantastic week of shows, well done!!, I am sure the doctors have done so much good across the country.”
- Bremner, Bird and Fortune (10) “I do believe that it is still the only really sharp satirical show on TV. It does not miss a trick, and is extremely well researched.”
- Cutting Edge: The Artful Codgers (9) “Excellent programme! The chap should have an exhibition after he comes out of clink.”
- The 11th Hour (7) “Absolutely fantastic documentary. I hope it helps people to stop and think about what is happening to our planet.”
- Dispatches: Warlords Next Door? (7) “Unbelievably good… Aidan Hartley has my utmost respect for putting his life on the line to bring us this unseen horror.”
- Dispatches: The Truth about Beauty Creams (6) “Thank you for your documentary on anti-ageing skincare – I wish it was on a few years ago – you would’ve saved me lots of money!”
- Life After People (5) “This was the BEST programme I have seen in a long time. The programme makers should be congratulated…”
Top 10 programmes most criticised by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in May 2008:
- Desperate Housewives (140) “I feel that you owe to the fans to follow through and find some way to show the full series. I am very, very disappointed…”
- Dispatches: In God’s Name (107) “I found the programme biased and offensive in the way it put down and ridiculed the faith of the Christian participants.”
- Derren Brown: Trick or Treat (96) “Resist killing a kitten? What on earth is going on at channel 4 to consider this entertainment?”
- Grand Designs Live (58) “This is cheap unimaginative rubbish of the worst kind.”
- Cutting Edge: Gridlock and Road Rage (46) “The need to have some guy-public sounding off with so many expletives, even at this time of the night (09:15) is so unnecessary.”
- The F Word (39) “I think that Gordon has finally lost it. I used to like him, but now, getting his son to dissect a rabbit!!”
- Bennetts British Superbikes (38) “Very disappointed in your time slot for highlights of British Superbike racing.”
- Big Brother (30) “I just want to add my voice to the no doubt thousands of others who will be complaining about this banal crap making yet another appearance.”
- Bremner, Bird and Fortune (28) “Spare a thought for those of us trying to keep playground language slightly above the level of the gutter.”
- Embarrassing Bodies (23) “I think this series… was insulting to many women and extremely dismissive…”
How do you feel about this month’s Rated/Slated? Do you agree with the comments you’ve read?
