One thing that you cannot miss in the job I do is a sense of the rich variety of audiences drawn to Channel 4. Two weeks ago we had a charming email from a group of prisoners who were enjoying the Bollywood season and reminded us that, due to their incarceration, they were unable to download programmes and relied upon the broadcast schedule. Not a group we regularly examine in any of our audience research, but a useful reminder that not all audiences are yet able to enjoy the enhanced access to programmes offered by the digital world.
This week we have had several emails from lap dancers who objected to the way their profession was portrayed in Dispatches: The Hidden World of Lap Dancing. Using hidden cameras, the film looked at the growth of lap dancing clubs and examined how close the services offered in some clubs come to prostitution. One viewer told us they ran lapdancing clubs in pubs and were shocked by what this programme revealed. “If my girls or customers behaved like this they would be shown the door”, they said.
The biggest complaint of the last couple of weeks has been about Jamie’s fruity language in Jamie’s Ministry of Food. While reaction to the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, as comments on our recent blog show, there has been some frustration expressed by both parents and teachers that the language has made the programme unsuitable for younger audiences, who they feel would benefit from the messages that Jamie is trying to get across.
I spoke to Dominique Walker, the commissioning editor for the programme, who explained that, in commissioning the programmes, both she and Jamie had hoped to build on the work of the Jamie’s School Dinners campaign and really influence how people eat at home. Her view was that, for both this series and School Dinners, it was really important that the production team captured the unfolding documentary story accurately. As one closely involved in the production, she has observed that Jamie’s journeys are often frustrating, exciting and passionate and, at times this does lead to him swearing.
She acknowledged that this language can be offensive to some viewers but was also mindful of the fact that this programme is scheduled to play after the watershed when viewers may expect there to be some strong language. A warning about there being strong language was given before the programme started. We discussed what opportunities there might be for younger viewers to see the programme, and, as a result of your feedback, she is considering making the programme available in a child friendly version, with the swear words bleeped out, on 4oD.
Whoever you are and wherever you watch our programmes, we are interested in you and your views, so please feel free to add your perspective below.
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I’m writing this whilst listening to the mouthfuls of filth coming out of Jamie Oliver’s mouth as he endeavours to work with the people of Rotherham in his latest series ‘Jamie’s ministry of food’. Is this a sad case of Oliver fighting to raise his ratings or street cred by taking on the foul format of Gordon Ramsey. As a recently retired teacher, I know that a lot of children, and I especially focus on very young children were and are excited by Mr Oliver’s style and approach – and especially the way he dealt with the subject of school dinners. He can still make a great impact on educating the young and not so young.
However his ministry is to do with mouthfuls of healthy food, not unhealthy and completely unnecessary foul language. It does NOT impress and only succeeds in detracting from what he is trying to do – and is good at.
He needs to remember his family audience – if it still exists – and that his public figure and position calls for him to take responsibility for his mouth.
I just wish someone on the programme would severely pull him up – more to the point,the producers should never have allowed him to get away with it.
Shame on you Channel 4.
nb. I am far from puritanical – played plenty of rugby in the front row of the scrum! Say no more.
BUT there is a time and a place.
Someone, please point this out to Mr. Oliver before he completely pollutes his image and self destructs!.
If Dominique Walker, the commissioning editor for Jamie Oliver’s
programme “Ministry of Food” was to insist he curtailed his bad language, she would get fired.
Joan Fryer
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