Rated/Slated – August 09

How the Other Half Live was the programme that attracted the most appreciative comments from Channel 4 viewers last month, while BB10 generated the most complaints. With the exception of Big Brother (which always dominates viewer contacts at this time of year), The Kevin Bishop Show received the most criticism from viewers.

Channel 4’s viewer enquiries team handled a total of 13,116 contacts (phone calls and emails) from viewers in August. Each query was logged and the appropriate people at Channel 4 notified. Of these contacts, 2,324 criticised the channel and its shows, while 300 complimented the programmes broadcast.

Big Brother attracted 1,260 complaints and 65 appreciative comments in August.

Top 10 programmes most appreciated by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in August 2009, excluding Big Brother (quote is an example of viewer comment):

1. How the Other Half Live (34 contacts)
   What an amazing concept, so excited to see such a positive project. Please continue with this series as long as possible. Showing how we can close the gap between rich and poor in this way will do more for the attitude of our nation than any political agenda will ever do. Well done, so motivating and influential.
2. Revelations (20)
   Just wanted to say how fantastic the whole series has been – informative, balanced, and just the kind of quality religious broadcasting that is missing from the rest of TV at the moment. Keep up the good work. Thanks!
3. The Scandalous Adventures of Lord Byron (7)
   What a fabulous programme. Rupert Everett is so engaging and was a perfect choice for this programme. He has an aura that draws the viewer into the story. Beautifully shot and presented loved it, more on this line please.
4. You Have Been Watching (6)
   I have really enjoyed this series!! I think Charlie Brooker is an excellent host and I love the format of the show. I’ve watched all of them several times on 4oD!! Please make some more!!
5. Benefit Busters (6)
   I’m only half way through watching this programme and am so very impressed that C4 has chosen to bring this onto a public agenda. Please – PLEASE – make sure that the government dept in charge of benefits get a personalised copy of this to ensure they have access to what it’s really like in the real world.
6. Inside Nature’s Giants (6)
   I really enjoyed Inside Nature’s Giants, and I hope that you are planning further series. It is the best science education show to appear on television in the last 5 or 6 years, and in some ways, it beats the best the BBC has to offer. I particularly liked that the show pressed on with explaining complex concepts, instead of the usual dumbing down. Well done!
7. On Tour with the Queen (6)
   This is Kwame at his best. What a well researched and highly enlightening piece of documentary. It really gives a balanced insight into the histories and stories behind the tour, and the Commonwealth in general. Kwame adds his own, very unique and often amusing insights and methods into the mix which makes for scintillating viewing. More like this please. Thanks and well done!
8. How Clean is Your House? (4)
   I cannot believe the impact this has had on my daughter…. She is three and walks round telling everyone it’s her fav programme! (Sorry Cbeebies)
9. Dispatches: The War Against Street Weapons (3)
   Thank you Channel 4 for producing such an excellent community orientated programme on knife crime. Can we have more of the same please? Many thanks.
10. The West Wing (3)
    Thank you very much for showing the whole of The West Wing which I watched first time round and thoroughly enjoyed watching again. Also thank you very much for including the quiz in the series link. I hadn’t realised it was on and it came as nice wee surprise when it automatically recorded after the final episode.

Top 10 programmes most criticised by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in August 2009, excluding Big Brother (quote is an example of viewer comment):

1. The Kevin Bishop Show (107)
   I have been a long admirer of Channel 4 and their programmes. But seriously, The Kevin Bishop Show is poor, the jokes are non-existent, the impersonations are lame and to be frank it’s just not funny… I understand the hierarchy of comedy means that this guy should have a turn after waiting in the wings but c’mon…Friday night (a usual spot for quality entertainment?) I never do this but, Channel 4, I expect better!
2. Benefit Busters (75)
   I am watching Benefit Busters, and do not see how C4 has the nerve to use the term ‘documentary’ for this type of programming. Instead, this has been a completely uncritical platform for the current government’s neo-liberal welfare to work policies.
3. Alan Carr: Chatty Man (75)
   I was absolutely disgusted by Alan Carr and Amanda Holden in their treatment of Susan Boyle. It was tasteless and cruel particularly as Susan Boyle is vulnerable and Amanda Holden was once her protagonist. Shame on them and Channel 4.
4. How the Other Half Live (42)
   The whole idea of the programme is sick beyond belief!! It’s PR at the LOWEST level!! The families who have no money are expecting free cash bail outs from a family who are obviously involved for a self indulgent PR exercise!
5. On Tour with the Queen (36)
   I watched the beginning of this programme last night and heard the presenter make several references to the ‘Queen of England’. As I am sure you know, the Queen reigns over Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well. Why did no one correct this person? He did this several times on his vox pop on the streets of Sydney. I turned off after that.
6. Property Snakes and Ladders (34)
   This is supposed to be a new series but an old programme was repeated under the guise of updating us on the success of the two property developers… What a cheap skate way to fill a series. If you can’t find enough people to film, don’t make the series. If you can’t fund the series, don’t make it.
7. You Have Been Watching (34)
   I was appalled by the episode in which Charlie Brooker was completely out of order and highly offensive regarding his rant about God. It was supposed to be a humorous quiz but he went far beyond this abusing his position as the host in using air time to push his personal views.
8. First Cut: Bus Pass Bullfighter (28)
   I am very disappointed that Channel 4 would dignify this revolting activity by showing Frank ‘El Ingls’ Evans’ return to ‘his career’ of bullfighting. Shame on you!”
9. Sonisphere Festival 2009 (21)
   I’m disgusted by the coverage of this festival on Channel 4. Having actually been there, the programme was completely unrepresentative of the festival. One hour for such a great festival was a joke.
10. The Scandalous Adventures of Lord Byron (21)
    I would like to complain about the language used in this programme by Rupert Everett. What I thought would be a wonderful insight into Lord Byron’s life turned out to be littered with unnecessarily crude language. It gave nothing to the programme, most of it added by the presenter in a pointless manner, not describing what Byron said but embellishing what Byron thought or acted like, maybe to bring it to life. I sadly will not be watching anything presented by Rupert Everett in the future. What could have been a great programme on Lord Byron’s life was dreadfully ruined.

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