The Alternative Christmas Message – delivered by the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – sparked the most feedback from viewers last month, attracting a mixture of both complaints and appreciative comments. For more details on the reaction to this broadcast, please take a look at Paula Carter’s blog.
Channel 4’s viewer enquiries team handled a total of 15,330 contacts (phone calls and emails) from viewers in December. Each query was logged and the appropriate people at Channel 4 notified. Of these contacts, 2,484 criticised the channel and its shows, while 481 complimented the programmes broadcast.
Top 10 programmes most appreciated by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in December 2008 (quote is an example of viewer comment):
- The Alternative Christmas Message (221 comments)
“Thank you for deciding to air your Alternative Christmas Message. While I disagree with Ahmadinejad’s politics, I believe that in a free democracy the media should be free to air such controversial views.” - The Devil’s Whore (43)
“I am just writing to say how wonderful The Devil’s Whore is. The filming, acting and dialogue are all excellent and it touches upon a riveting period of British history that is rarely seen on TV.” - True Stories: Chosen (18)
“My congratulations to everyone involved in this programme: to the interviewer for knowing how to say little and let the men tell their stories in their own time; to the programme makers for not dressing this up in over-production or sentiment but allowing the stories’ content to speak for itself. And mainly to the three men who told their stories with such searing honesty and dignity. I can only imagine how hard this must have been for them to do. I think everyone watching will have learned something.” - 101 Challenges (15)
“Just wanted to say how fantastic 101 challenges was! It was funny, interesting, cultural, educational and most importantly different! Really hope you will be transmitting their American journey?! Great show – glued to the channel!” - Country House Rescue (10)
“I really loved the programme on Tuesday. Ruth Watson was much better than I’ve seen her before. I really believed she wanted to help the couple. Can’t wait for the next episode!” - The IT Crowd (5)
“My evening’s fix of comedy was just as effective as ever, but could this weeks’ episode possibly be GL’s masterpiece? Thank you! This episode is clear proof that you can be outrageous and still be humane at the same time. Genius, inspiring, thoughtful, irreverent, moving and hilarious!” - How To Look Good Naked (5)
“My 10-year-old daughter, Charlotte, is a huge fan of Gok’s…. I have to admit I was a little worried about it being too grown up for her but trusted her to be sensible and wow am I glad I did!… Please, pass on my thanks and gratitude to all involved, especially Gok, for helping Charlotte in such a positive way.” - The Secret Millionaire (5)
“Just wanted to drop a note to let you all know that watching The Secret Millionaire has motivated my family and I to go out and make a difference, no matter how the difference might be. I applaud your show and all of the people who decided to change a few people’s lives for the better.” - Jamie Cooks Christmas (5)
“Congratulations on the Jamie Oliver Christmas programmes. Jamie is one of the best communicators on TV and the styling, ambiance, recipes and the humour with Gennaro is one of the best things I have seen on TV all year. Well done.” - Unreported World: Yemen: Exodus (4)
“This is a brave and necessary piece of top notch journalism with real news from one of the epicentres of human suffering. A few more documentaries like this one and maybe the people forced to flee the horn of African will be noticed over here.” - Cutting Edge: The Fun Police (4)
“I wanted to say how great I thought this programme was. It showed the Health and Safety people for what they are and was honest about there approach.”
Top 10 programmes most criticised by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in December 2008 (quote is an example of viewer comment):
- The Alternative Christmas Message (1014 comments – 640 pre-transmission/364 post-transmission)
“I’m disgusted that you would give Ahmadinejad airtime, let alone allow him to give the Xmas message. His treatment of gays, trade unionists, political opponents and feminists tells its own story.” - True Stories: An Independent Mind (241)
“What the hell is Channel 4 doing promoting a Nazi sympathiser? Channel 4’s remit is to provide programming for minorities within Britain, not to give air to a racist who’s explicit desire is to attack those minorities.” - Country House Rescue (98)
“I object to the bad language used by Ruth Watson, what is her problem? Is she trying to shock or is she so poorly educated that she is unaware of other words in the English language to emphasise a point?” - Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live (49)
“During a recent 50-minute programme Mr Ramsay used the F word some 80 times. During my lifetime, and before TV, it was expected that radio announcers would wear evening dress when taking part in radio programmes.” - The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (41)
“The amount of gratuitous obscenities was inexcusable from a mainstream TV company. eally, the show became unwatchable after the first part because I didn’t know what unnecessary and unfunny vulgarity was coming next.” - Cutting Edge: The Fun Police (28)
“Making someone to appear an anorak did nothing to illustrate the grim figures of injury and death that occur because health & safety is ignored, both in the home and at work. No statistics presented just sketchy superficial stories. The worst documentary I have ever seen. Golden opportunity missed by this treatment of the subject.” - The Nativity Decoded (27)
“Why on Christmas Day has Channel 4 attacked the Christian faith with this programme. Claims that the conception of Christ was the result of a rape by a Roman soldier is insulting. Channel 4 is sinking to new lows of television broadcasting.” - Man Hunters: Our Turkish Toyboys (22)
“I was deeply disturbed by this film, not by the behaviour of the mothers but by the effect it had on their children. I wonder what role the film company played in this; did they pay towards the holiday? How is the child going to feel when all this is shown to the world?” - Cutting Edge: The Pregnant Man (21)
“Woman has breasts removed and starts taking male hormones, whilst retaining all other female reproductive organs and capacity to conceive, which she does. You bill this as the world’s first pregnant man and wish people to watch it. Eh? WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!” - Peter Kay’s Britain’s got the Pop Factor (20)
“We just watched this programme and we had to turn it off as the swearing is disgusting. It had horrible content and it was rubbish, we had to complain about it. It should not have been on at 8pm.
How do you feel about this month’s Rated/Slated? Do you agree with the comments you’ve read?”
