Both The Sex Education Show v Pornography and The Hospital divided viewers last month – both attracted a relatively high number of critical comments but also managed to attract more appreciative comments than any other programmes.
Channel 4’s viewer enquiries team handled a total of 10,909 contacts (phone calls and emails) from viewers in April. Each query was logged and the appropriate people at Channel 4 notified. Of these contacts, 1,138 criticised the channel and its shows, while 333 complimented the programmes broadcast.
Top 10 programmes most appreciated by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in April 2009 (quote is an example of viewer comment):
- The Sex Education Show v Pornography (43 contacts)
Shows like this demonstrate the maturity of UK media, discourse, and attitudes to sex and sexuality. Well done! I am so proud that this subject was approached in such an intellectually honest, respectful, and positive manner. A perfect example of the positive power of television for education and development, a definable fulfilment of the obligation placed on entertainment to retain relevance. - The Hospital (32)
Thank you for making this programme. It is the first thing I have ever seen that honestly represents the excellent work that the NHS staff do under difficult circumstances. If only this was mandatory viewing for everyone that uses the NHS and not just those interested few, or those whom it represents. - The Greatest Story Ever Told (22)
I just wanted to take the time to say that I’m really pleased that you showed The Greatest Story Ever Told, I mean I’m only 16 and did think it was a bit cheesy at parts, but its great to see a TV station that isn’t afraid to show what Easter is really all about and I know that it is difficult to air certain things without upsetting people especially in such a multi-cultural society, so well done and thank you, please keep it up. - The Secret Millionaire (15)
This is a brilliant programme and I really enjoyed the one in Belfast. I wish there were more programmes like this, positive, constructive, helping communities. It’s fantastic to see the responses from folks when the millionaire’s reveal the truth. It’s great that they follow up as well. Keep up this type of programme! - Dispatches: The Westminster Gravy Train (14)
An outstanding presentation of investigative journalism. It is no surprise Dispatches holds such high integrity as a mouthpiece on matters on serious public interest. I am extremely angry at the MPs ripping us off. Heather Brooke and the Dispatches production team deserve an Oscar for brilliant work. Thank god you are revealing such “questionable” behaviour on the part of our political representatives. They are an absolute disgrace. Well done Dispatches and Heather Brooke should stand for Parliament, I would vote for her. - Cutting Edge: Would You Save a Stranger? (13)
This programme is important in provoking the audience/general public to think about supporting one another as a community… This show is not simply promoting being a Good Samaritan; it provokes the audience to ask why we should consider others, even at the possible cost to ourselves. Thank you again Channel 4. Brilliant relevant show. - Kirstie’s Homemade Home (10)
What a great programme – at last something interesting, creative and helpful. No nonsense and Kirstie made you feel that you could do it too! Well done. - The Inbetweeners (8)
Just a quick note to say The Inbetweeners is the most refreshing comedy I’ve seen on TV in a LONG time. The dialogue is brilliant; in fact, it’s at Superbad levels which is quite a compliment. Keep up the great work, and give those writers a bonus! Oh, and the casting director too – genius. Cheers. - Time Team (8)
I just wanted to let you know we have really been enjoying the new Time Team shows. It’s great in this culture of sensationalist “15 minutes of fame” TV to have such a well presented, interesting and educational reality type show. Thanks to all on the show – Keep up the good work! - Shameless (6)
I just want to thank you for another stunning series of Shameless. It looked as if it was heading towards the scrapheap with the loss of many top actors and characters a few seasons ago and with the introduction of a certain Maguire family. I never stopped watching once though and this series has been by far the best so far with great depth being given to the Maguire’s and suspense fill plots and storylines. Could you please confirm that there are another series or two in the pipeline? I love Shameless and I thank you Channel 4 for bringing us such a joyous TV show. - Gok’s Fashion Fix (6)
At last, fashion for the 60’s (we are the new 40’s) PLEASE may we have more. We were the 60’s chicks and were the first to experiment and have fun with clothes. No way are we ready to forget about image…we embrace it!!! More please.
Top 10 programmes most criticised by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in April 2009 (quote is an example of viewer comment):
- The Hospital (95)
I think that The Hospital showed an unfair generalisation of teenagers. It showed continuous incidents with drunk teenagers, that came from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, the programme tended to group these minorities with teenagers in general. Surely the programme showed that there are problems in social statuses rather than age groups. Some of the issues raised in the programme, such as binge drinking and obesity, affect proportions of every age group so it is therefore unfair just to target the teenage age group for the cause of these problems to the NHS. - The Sex Education Show v Pornography (82)
I thoroughly disapprove. Putting those children in front of the camera, it is disgusting showing the naked body, what you are doing is going to increase the teen pregnancy. They should not be educated about sex because that is making them go and do it, nature will take care of it. - The Secret Millionaire (46)
As a regular viewer of Secret Millionaire, I was surprised/puzzled to find subtitles when the man working at Head Light was talking to Jonathan Hicks. I appreciate at times they we walking away from the camera but couldn’t understand why only one persons dialogue was subtitled, surely it can’t be because of his accent, he was perfectly understandable. - Embarrassing Bodies (38)
Graphic footage of a women’s vagina with close up views of her prolapsed cervix, on pre-9pm terrestrial TV?! What on earth are you thinking? Wholly inappropriate, I just about managed to divert my young son’s eyes. - Cutting Edge: Madeleine Was Here (22)
I am disgusted to read that a little girl was used to play the part of Madeleine in this documentary and even more annoyed that she became upset while filming. This is child abuse. Why wasn’t a child-sized doll used? This documentary is not a reconstruction, yet it is being called that. It will be another one-sided story. Only a Police reconstruction, which the McCann’s refused last year, would be believable and perhaps have helped the investigation into ‘missing Madeleine’. - Big Brother (22)
I would like to make a complaint about your decision to axe the E4 live feed for Big Brother 10. I think this decision is a poor decision and will not help Big Brother survive; it seems like your trying to push the programme down the drain. - The Inbetweeners (20)
I was absolutely horrified by the footage of the fish being punched on the boat. I realise that “no fish were harmed in the making of the programme”, but I watched in horror at the imitation of such an evil act, and was led to believe this act was on a real fish until the very end, when I was finally told otherwise. I am disgusted at the whole scene and sincerely hope that this imitation of animal cruelty stops and you STOP promoting it. - Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan (20)
I was disappointed in the showing of Borat as there were no subtitles given for the crucial foreign language dialogue that occurs during much of the film therefore meaning we missed out on a lot of the plot and witty dialogue. - Gok’s Fashion Fix (19)
How ridiculous to feature a group of solely overweight women as his testers for the series? I applaud Gok for his fashion sense and ability to make all women comfortable with their shape and size and am no body fascist – in fact as a typical pear shape I love that Gok empowers all shapes. But how much outcry would there be if the group ranged from a size 0 to 8? Yet it is OK to feature a group from size 16 to 28 (morbidly obese) as a cross-section and society ideal? Over-eating and lack of exercise causes obesity which is a major epidemic and as serious as smoking and drugs. So what’s next? Flattering colours to suit your smoker’s teeth? - Britain’s Forgotten Children (Trail) (18)
I do not think the trailer for the programme about children in care should be aired before the watershed. It is frightening for children especially for those who are at risk of being taken into care themselves. Do you want them to believe it is going to be as horrible as this? I would like it taken off-air altogether.
Commentsoldest first
I believe that as much as the right wing and older generation may cringe at these programes, when we really think about it they can only really do good. As a young person myself i think it is ridiculous that people can know as much as they want about horrific things taught in history lessons and yet they don’t even know their own bodies or emotions. For instance I went to school and the only sex education we got was some of the mechanics and one lesson, taught by a teacher ashamed that the other staff had ignored the subject, that was on contraception and relationships i think saved many young lives.
Pornography is being turned to by more and more young people -myself NOT included- because the impression that the older people in their lives give, is that sex is a shameful thing that should not be talked about simply because it is what it is. Surely we must all know from experience how awkward teenage years are and yet we still remain out dated and naive. Although the sex industry may play a part in this, i also think that our own culture attitudes of shame are to blame for forcing younger people to look elsewhere.
‘YOur views’
When will TV learn not to put captions on colour so you can’t read them?
When will TV learn not to have 2 people speaking at once (or more) so that one can’t hear either?
Why does TV have to put sound/music(?)(drumming usually) behind speakers so you can’t hear them? That is disrespectful.
When are you going to have more serious programmes and not a load of noisy rubbish?
I hardly watch much TV now, although I think Ch4 is about the best!
Can you tell me when Alan Yentob’s ‘Imagine’ programme about the Lilian Baylis performance group is going to be on, namely the Company of Elders? He said it would be late May or early June. Before I had strokes I used to be part of them so naturally I am interested, Please reply, thankyou!
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