Despite having finished in early September, Big Brother 9 continued to dominate viewer contacts last month, attracting 810 complaints and 60 appreciative comments. Aside from BB, Dispatches: Undercover Mosque – The Return proved to be last month’s most appreciated programme, while The Sex Eduaction Show generated the most complaints.
Channel 4’s viewer enquiries team handled a total of 16,346 contacts (phone calls and emails) from viewers in September. Each query was logged and the appropriate people at Channel 4 notified. Of these contacts, 2,030 criticised the channel and its shows, while 341 complimented the programmes broadcast.
Top 10 programmes most appreciated by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in September 2008, excluding Big Brother (quote is an example of viewer comment):
- Dispatches: Undercover Mosque: The Return (32)
“I wanted to give praise for the intelligent, well-paced, thought-provoking series. It tackled issues that are prevalent around the country, addressed different responses to the issues, and showed that great intentions did not necessarily lead to great results. Fascinating.” - The Secret Millionaire (28)
“Just wanted to say what an amazing programme The Secret Millionaire is – the experience of the Millionaire and the end gifts, although giving a nice arc and happy ending, are secondary to giving visibility to a hidden side of society. Thank you for providing an opportunity to get the cameras into lives I wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to see. It’s an incredible programme.” - The Sex Education Show (25)
“Firstly can I just say what a brilliant show, it is about time Britain learned to be more open about sex and get informed…particularly for the younger generation!” - Cutting Edge: The Ambulance: 8 Minutes from Disaster (16)
“Thank you from a paramedic of 20 years from Newport South Wales. Thank you for showing the ambulance service warts and all…at last an accurate assessment of the daily life and stresses of a British Paramedic. I highly commend the producers of this programme for the accurate depiction of the modern ambulance service and what they put up with on a daily basis. THANK YOU.” - Make Me A Christian (10)
“This programme portrayed Christianity in the fairest and most balanced way I have ever seen on TV. It was so refreshing to see ‘real’ Christianity shown. The mentors were all ’sound’ and there were a variety of people on who were open and honest. The tasks given were creative and adapted to the people concerned. Well done producers” - Come Dine With Me (9)
“Come Dine With Me is great entertainment, so glad of Sky+ so I get to watch every episode even though I’m at work. The narrator is so amusing he really does make the programme. This week Tanya was unbelievable. It is a comedy. Thank you so much.” - The Family (9)
“This is the first time I have ever written to a TV channel offering praise. Superb viewing material, praise indeed where praise is due. I am going through the same problems with my 16-year-old daughter and this programme has made me smile tonight after so many days of rows and turmoil.” - Bring Back Star Wars (7)
“I’d just like to congratulate you on another fantastic Bring Back.. episode! Justin Lee Collins is, in my opinion, the best presenter on television and you should be proud to have him on board. Keep up the good work team!” - The Mona Lisa Curse (7)
“At last – a critic happy to debunk and in fact openly criticize those artists who have made fortunes from ‘modern art’, such as Andy Warhol and Damien Hurst. Robert Hughes’ programme really put this ‘curse’ into clear focus. Well done Channel 4.” - Jamie’s Ministry of Food (7)
“Good for you Jamie – reaching what are probably the majority of real people in the UK – not afraid to show when you get it wrong, but forgiven because you work so hard to spread the news. Last series left me buying only M&S chickens and free range eggs – you are reaching far more people than you realise – keep up the good work educating the country…”
Top 10 programmes most criticised by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in September 2008, excluding Big Brother (quote is an example of viewer comment):
- The Sex Education Show (173)
“I just wanted to say that I am disappointed that you have chosen to air this programme at 8pm, rather than at 9pm when it should have been to comply with the watershed. I think the producers of this programme knew damn well that it is completely unsuitable viewing for early evening, and that many people who have younger children would have problems with this.” - Dispatches: Undercover Mosque: The Return (156)
“Once again Channel 4 has aired a totally biased, offensive and insulting documentary about Islam. The scholars’ words were taken out of context. By airing such documentaries all you are doing is fuelling hatred and intolerance, you’re actually making the works of extremists easier.” - Russell Brand Live (69)
“Would you go into a temple and start swearing in front of the Virgin Mary or Jesus? Then why use such a set on such a foul mouthed comedian? He is standing in front of images to which we pray and serve with the greatest obeisance and using the worst of languages possible. Is this what Channel 4 thinks of their Hindu community?” - The Daily Show (35)
“During last night’s Daily Show the first half of the show was played in place of the second half, meaning that I was unable to watch the interview with Bill Clinton. I understand this may not be your fault… but as the hosting channel I feel that this is the correct avenue for complaint.” - One Tree Hill (35)
“Please can you advise why repeats of One Tree Hill every weekday morning have jumped from Series 1 to Series 3? Could you screen Series 2 as the storyline now is very confusing.” - Come Dine with Me (24)
“At least twice in previous weeks I have seen people asked (quite rightly) to re-evaluate the nights as they were marking down to help themselves. I believe the Monday host (vegetarian) was doing this but in an even more backhanded way. She was downright rude. I would have ejected her.” - The Secret Millionaire (22)
“I have enjoyed all the Shows except for one broadcast about the London homeless. Not a great location to choose in my view, and the millionaire featured gave away very little of his fortune – rather wisely, in my view. This episode did not ‘move me’ at all – I was completely without emotion.” - Jamie’s Ministry of Food (65)
“Very glad to see Jamie Oliver back with Channel 4 and a well presented challenging and informative programme it is. However is it really necessary for Mr Oliver to let himself down so badly by the constant swearing? It may be thought acceptable in the current broadcasting climate but it just seems so unnecessary and a real distraction from an evenings viewing experience.” - The Family (20)
“I just wanted to say that you showed the bit the father terrifying that poor cat…it was really cruel.” - Other People’s Breast Milk (19)
“What sort of sick person thinks that this is a suitable programme to have on at prime time TV. Who thinks that men want to come home from work and see a programme about breastfeeding and cross feeding breast milk? That is disgusting.” - Cutting Edge: The Ambulance: 8 Minutes from Disaster (19)
“Although I appreciate that ambulance crews have a tough time of it, the ambulance crew Iain and Stella are speaking in a disrespectful and unacceptable way about patients. The swearing is wrong and although these people may not be the cream of society these people still deserve respect.”
How do you feel about this month’s Rated/Slated? Do you agree with the comments you’ve read?
Commentsoldest first
Hi firstly i think the sex education show is fantastic i am 25 and i only wish that a show lke this was available for me to watch when i was younger.
I don’t see anything wrong with it being shown at 8pm and if you don’t like the show simply don’t watch it.
I honestly can’t beleive how people can complain about an educational show. Young children should be in bed by 8 pm any way their is nothing really appropriate for children on the t.v, after 8, so why people are complaining about the sex education show i really don’t understand.
I’ve watched all 4 episodes of the Sex Education Show to date but while it is revealing I find it extremely sexist. It seems like the entire show was made to titillate from a female point of view and the opportunity to see mens willies disguised as education.
Why is it that mainly only male genitals get shown? They showed over half a dozen live close ups of mens private parts being examined compared to only one of a woman. Why not have a team of female hockey players stripping off every week and put through a sexual health programme?
If Channel 4 want to create an education show that is informative to viewers and families to take seriously when discussing the subject of “sex” then a fair, sensible and balance approach is needed for both genders.
I’d like to reply to Tracy who cannot believe (look, I can spell it correctly) or understand why people are making a fuss about the timing of the sex education show being on at eight. What you people do not understand (mainly because you are not a parent yourselves) is that there will be young children still awake at eight. Eight isn’t late!! Children of the age of 7,8,9 will still be awake at this time and that is why people have complained about things such as seeing smegma on the end of penises. I thought there was a watershed for a reason and this is the exact type of programme that should be on after 9.00. I’d like to know what you will think when you’re a parent yourself, you’ll find out!
I really enjoyed The Sex Education Show. I think it was informative and emphasis was placed on the emotional side of sex and its place in a relationship. It was different from sex education when i was at school that focused merely on the physical process of sex. I think the presenter was brave to include her own personal sexual difficulties in the show, including her fertility fears. She was honest but approachable when she was talking to school kids about sex and the possible diseases. I think her frank talking as if to equals is exactly what would have appealed to school children.
Whilst i agree the show should have been aired at 9pm for watershed reasons, i think the people who have complained ought to consider adopting the approach of the show – sex is a normal part of life and it is information and knowledge that prevents pregnacy and sexuallly transmitted diseases, not ignorance.
Thank you to channel 4 and the presenter for introducing an informative programme that didn’t focus on the pornographic side of sex for a change.
It’s a shame the sex education show did not not show what natural active childbirth should be.Which is not on a bed in a delivery room possible in stirrups(which most births are), on monitors,drips etc.Only 3 % of first time mothers and 6% second time have natural active births.Which is more than without drugs.Childbirth should be done in one room, not moved to a delivery room and have one to one care.You should be upright and have gravity that gives you space to birth your baby and your know when to breath your baby out.Women are not even told how to birth probably..As a member of AIMS were try to improve the maternity services.The show did not show choices for women and how it should be and help educate women probably about Pregnancy and birth.That is should not be in hospitals like this.That you can birth at home or a birthing centre .A lot of women feel raped after birth.But don’t know how to talk about it.Getting someone on who has had 4 children does not mean they know what natural active birth is.Again this show could have helped empower women about Pregnancy and birth.But just shown how appalling and barbaric childbirth really is.
Having just watched the 2nd episode of Miss Naked Beauty I felt moved to comment publicly about a tv show for the first time. I am totally livid. Gok Wan, who really endeared himself to me on How to Look Good Naked, should be ashamed of himself for this piece of crap viewing. How does pitting women against each other in a competition involving;
half naked photos,
a judge from a men’s soft-porn magazine,
two incredibly unsympathetic female judges, and a room full of insecure women baying for each other’s blood, empower anyone!
This show demeans men, women, and Mylene Klass. Watching those women being moved to tears, hearing a woman who has retained her love for her body after cancer and a hysterectomy being called “arrogant” for it, listening to a self-confident barrister being dubbed “too” strong all made me absolutely sick to my stomach.
I agree that the beauty industry takes advantage of the vulnerability of young women and it is patently obvious that Miss Naked Beauty is comitting exactly the same crimes against women as those industries it is claiming to campaign against.
I am in total agreement with Claire Cullen’s comments on Gok Wan’s Miss Naked 2008 – I have never bothered to comment on tv programmes before but felt the need to state my complete disgust with last night’s episode. This programme is purely exploiting women and I for one will not be watching anymore episodes.
I was outraged last night by Miss Naked Beauty – having encouraged women to stand upon a podium and ‘proudly’ display their bodies in the buff, I was disgusted to hear one of the judges describe a contestant as ‘arogant’!! She stood up there smiling, scars and all, and simply because she was able to feel body-confident (unlike, incidentally, the majority of women both on the program and in life generally) was slated by judges. I was horrified.
You were cool, you were edgy, you were seemingly straightforward. Hang your head in shame Gok! On Miss Naked Beauty last night, you had me when you comforted and encouraged contestants to expose their least favourite body parts and exhorted them to love their bodies. But it was all a sham and a set up to hurt and ridicule them later! This disingenuous show which became a pathetic parody of The Apprentice has lost me for ever…. The initial ethos of the show seemed entirely laudable, but trading on people’s vulnerabilities is not.
I am quite at home in my body but pissed off with not being able to get clothes that fit. 30JJ boobs, narrow sloping shoulders with well rounded back, bum that has gone south sono trousers to fit. Tops big enough to fasten round me are vast everywhere else. Look like tramp. Cannot get comfortqable bras at all. Panache dig into the jelly rolls under the arms, fantasie rub everywhere and don’t come in JJ anyway. Silhouette the only ones with big enough cups. Sit high on chest so most clothes today are indecent. Grooves 1 cm deep in shoulders right down into bone from 45 years of bra wearing. Not wearing one way too uncomfortable and atracts bullying.
At 60 I am not beyond being interested in looking well turned out but the option of buying clothes to fit does not exist. I’ve spent two years learning to make to fit but hard to fit to my own back. Can’t even get jumpers.
Too much to hope that such real issues will ever be dealt with, still less that cothes to fit will ever be out there. And yes I know that Bravissiomo do some but not big enough for me.
Current fashion for tops, jackets ietc pulled in under bust looks horrible on many women with big busts. It is not always appropriate to display cleavage, nor for someone my size is it possible given the absence of supportive bras even before age took them south and left loads of wrinkles behind. Not a hint of anything anyone would find enticing.
after watching miss naked beauty 2008 on the 28th of october, i was appauled by the humiliation the girl with the short blonde hair got about choosing her back as her most self concious part. like her, i am extremly self concious about my back, hers is exactly the same as mine, as it’s strange because i don’t see any problem with hers but i obviously do with mine.i completely understood where she was coming from therefore it disgusted me how rude and inconsiderate towards her feelings. no one joked about any of the girls that chose a seemingly perfect part of their body as their worst part if it was in a common place such as the legs or boobs, but as soon as she chooses a different part of the body, she gets scrutanised and accused of lying just to show of a “sexy” part of her body! i originally thouhght the show was great about how the show helped womens confidence grow, buti’ve now lost a lot of respect for it after showing no consideration for that poor girl.
I dislike how thin or skinny women are portrayed in certain current programmes as not fitting into the recent category of ‘real’ women. Therefore I was disappointed when I watched Miss Naked Beauty 2008 to find that even this programme which claims to make women feel beautiful regardless of there shape promotes the fuller figured woman a the only ‘real’ woman. I think this term should not be used in tv because it alienates thinner women who do not necessarily have big boobs and big hips and may make them feel unattractive. This is especially the case with self-conscious teenage girls who watch the programme. Because Miss Naked Beauty favours bigger, curvier woman, easily influenced thinner teens may feel left-out and unattractive, lowering their self esteem. Just because a woman is naturally skinny and less curvy it does not mean she is a ‘fake’ woman. She is just as real as a size 14+ woman. Id like to see a show saying whatever size you are, if its natural its beautiful. so long as you’re not morbidly obese or morbily thin your fine.
After an empowering first episode of ‘Miss Naked Beauty’ and the encouragement offered to the girls throughout the show, I was appalled by the judge’s humiliation of and hostility towards them this time. Why ask them to expose the parts of the body they dislike if you’re then going to tear them apart for it? The only judge who was in any way fair and respectful was Mica Paris – Kathryn Flett was bitchy and bitter, James Brown was misogynist and rude, and even Gok joined in. Disappointing.
I am thrilled to see so many comments expressing sentiments along the same lines as mine. Nobody seems to enjoy or respect the show at all. Is there any way to complain directly to the producers of the show?
I am in absolute agreement with all of the comments about the TV show ‘Miss Naked Beauty’. I have never complained about a TV show before but I was genuinely appalled to witness the bullying tactics displayed by incompassionate, bitchy, mean judges who rather than empower and increase the confidence of the women taking part, criticised, belittled and attacked them.
I was most sickened and disturbed by the part where the poor young women are persuaded to strip in front of a camera with a frame around their least favourite body part and one woman who is bravely smiling is viciously attacked as looking ’smug’. It is such a joke that they are going to give the winner the lame made-up job of ‘Beauty Ambassador’ – I just feel sorry for whoever it is going to be! I certainly won’t be watching this programme again and I know many other female friends who feel the same way.
Why do you insult Hindus by putting on programs such as Russell Brandl Live and when they complain put it on agin on E4, are you completely mad?
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