Last month, The TV Show’s Big 4 visited Poole in Dorset to find out what Channel 4 viewers there had to say about our programmes.

Watch the video to find out what viewers thought of recent shows including True Blood, Age 8 and Wanting a Sex Change, How to Look Good Naked, Ruth Watson’s Hotel Rescue, Kevin McCloud’s Grand Tour and Did Heston Change Little Chef?

Do you agree with what they had to say? Let us know by rating the video, or posting your comments below.

Channel 4’s viewer enquiries team handled a total of 12,104 contacts (phone calls and emails) from viewers in October. Each comment or query was logged and the appropriate people at Channel 4 notified. Of these contacts, 1,373 criticised the channel and its shows, while 366 complimented the programmes broadcast.

Top 10 programmes most appreciated by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in October 2009 (quote is an example of viewer comment):

1. Katie: My Beautiful Face (132 contacts)
   I just want to say I was really impressed with your recent documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face. I think Katie has been so brave in overcoming her recent attack. I wish her all the best on her road to recovery and re-gaining her confidence. I know when she looks in the mirror she sees a different person but I think she is not only beautiful on the outside but also on the inside.
2. The Force (17)
   What a riveting, unmissable programme. This is real Policing. Dogged, time consuming and tedious at times. But what a great result.
3. Race and Intelligence: Science’s Last Taboo (16)
   Many thanks Channel 4. This excellent programme was of great value to me, as a white working class male. From it I was able to understand my own role in the continued education of my children. More, I realised how important my own role is in educating my grandchildren and even questioning the ability of their teachers who were brought to account by this extraordinary piece of investigative journalism. My personal thanks go out to all involved.
4. The Secret Millionaire (13)
   A secret gem of a TV series that never fails to surprise but this episode shines out as an example of TV at its best.
5. Kevin McCloud’s Grand Tour (12)
   Thoroughly enjoying this programme. Mr McCloud is an excellent travelling companion. He should do more such informative and lively programmes. Excellent!
6. The Event: How Racist Are You? (11)
   Excellent show, I appreciate the work that Channel 4 do in showing diverse Britain. This show was exceptional and brave and very honest in the portrayal of a system of power that if corrupt can enhance and maintain racism. Programmes such as this show how we are growing and becoming less ignorant, and willing to change, and hopefully little by little the media can help.
7. How to Look Good Naked (8)
   Dear Gok, thank you so very much for having a 61yr old lady on your programme. Being 63yrs myself, I feel we oldies are being put aside as being too old to bother about. That lady looked gorgeous. I look much older than I am, but that gives me hope.
8. Jamie’s American Road Trip (70)
   Fantastic, fantastic show. Congratulations to Jamie for endeavouring to show us the real, more interesting sides of life. The series has been excellent – each episode a treat!
9. The Family – series one (6)
   The Family was one of the best programs I’ve ever seen on television! The way it was filmed and edited together to make stories about real family issues was great and because the Hughes family were down to earth, everybody could relate to the programme. It was so addictive, please bring it back for a second series!
10. Hollyoaks Later (5)
    I’d just like to thank you for 5 hours of gripping magic in the form of Hollyoaks Later. I was crying both due to suspense and sadness but also due to laughing too hard! Stunning performances from all actors and EXCELLENT storylines. Very disappointed to see Sarah leave though!

Top 10 programmes most criticised by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in October 2009 (quote is an example of viewer comment):

1. America’s Sweethearts (216 contacts)
   WHAT HAPPENED? 1 hr 40 mins into the film – on the last stretch working its way to the romantic ending and WHAT? Someone pushes the re-start button and here we are back at the VERY beginning of the movie!!!!
2. Bodyshock: Age 8 and Wanting a Sex Change (79)
   Why was it so necessary to continuously use inappropriate gender pronouns when narrating about the kids? The parents of all the children were using the correct terms, so why was it so difficult to follow their lead?
3. True Blood (74)
   The programme cut out 2 or 3 minutes before the end of the screening, there was an announcement that there was a technical fault and when it came back we were just shown the end titles and was not able to see the end of the programme, so we don’t know what happened at the end.
4. KNTV Sex (52)
   I cannot believe this program is being broadcast, this is outrageous and I have never seen anything like it in my life before, sex should be taught by parents or teachers with parental consent, not by television as parents go about their daily household procedures they trust the television for what their children watch; what if parents don’t want their children to see this awful program!? this is an enormous risk for Channel4 and I’m confident I won’t be the only one complaining
5. Bleach, Nip, Tuck: The White Beauty Myth (23)
   What was the purpose of this documentary? How does a black lady wanting smaller boobs mean that she wants to be white? But a white person obsessively covering themselves in fake tan in an effort to be darker doesn’t feature here. This was more like a comedy than a documentary.
6. The Genius of Charles Darwin (19)
   Darwin was not a genius, he was a fraud, a self confessed liar and attention seeker. The programme is also fraudulent in that it presents evolution as a fact when clearly it is not. A theory only becomes fact when there is empirical evidence plus actual fossils of intermediate species to prove it. You are being used to promote a perpetual fraud on the public. There is absolutely no proof that evolution is fact and I challenge anyone to prove it. You should in all fairness announce prior to broadcast that evolution is still only a fact.
7. Scrapheap Challenge (19)
   The new format is extremely poor and offers nothing of the passion or interest that the older format did – it feels like a second rate alternative. Disappointing.
8. School of Comedy (17)
   I would like to know who in your company finds it funny for children to swear on air, it is disgusting for such writers to have children use such language. Using children to act like adults is OK but the use of such language is close to child abuse, and you should be ashamed of yourselves, you can make this program funny without this language.
9. Hollyoaks Later (15)
   I’m absolutely horrified at the way the Sarah/Lydia/Zoe storyline has played out. We are desperately in need of some positive lesbian role models on TV but instead we get Lydia, a psycho stalker who is abhorrent, and Sarah who is now dead. Excellent, the old cliche of a lesbian being evil or dying is continued. Just what a load of impressionable teenagers need. Please can we have some positive representation of lesbians or bisexual women!!
10. The Enemy Within (13)
    I don’t understand what you are trying to achieve with this broadcast. Allowing a forum for religious hatred? This seems incredibly imbalanced & I’m sick of hearing justification for the 7/7 bombings particularly when the drawing on historical reference appears to glamorize it. Air time to terrorism in any form is wrong.

Following a 2008 acid attack that left Katie’s face badly scarred, the former model and budding TV presenter chose to share her story with Cutting Edge by making a remarkable film, documenting her journey as she attempted to get her life back on track.

This week, following an overwhelming response to the programme by Channel 4 viewers, Katie came down to The TV Show studios to answer questions from the audience and tell us about her experience making the film.

Update! A response from Katie:

I would like to say thank you to everybody who has left feedback in regards to my appearance on The TV Show.

It was the first time I have taken part in a live audience show, very different from one person and a camera, like the documentary and other interviews I have done. I was worried I would find it hard, all these unfamiliar faces looking at mine ready to question me, but that wasn’t the case – I thoroughly enjoyed it and you all made me feel at ease.

I am very touched that people have taken the time to comment on my story and interviews and if it has helped or inspired people in any way then I am absolutely thrilled!

Lots of love

Katie
xxx

Visit the Katie: My Beautiful Face website for more on Katie’s experiences, including an exclusive online interview.

The role of the scheduling team is to ensure that promotional messages are communicated effectively to the right audience, and that all trails are tonally and editorially suitable for the slot in which they are placed.  The team explained that each trail is viewed by a lawyer prior to its transmission who will advise on any necessary restrictions (for example, post-watershed). If a trail is deemed to be unsuitable for children, it will not be placed in or around programmes that are aimed at children or have a high level of child viewing.

Often there will be two versions of a trail – a 40 second version and a 20 second version. In the case of the trail for Age 8 and Wanting a Sex Change (which attracted half a dozen complaints), the longer, more explicit trail was only shown after 8pm. The shorter trail was kept away from The Simpsons and early morning children’s programming, but was shown pre-watershed at other times of the day. Following a complaint from one viewer about the trail being shown around The Paul O’ Grady Show, the decision was made not to repeat the trail in that slot.

In the case of True Blood, the longer, more explicit trails were restricted to play only after 8pm, while the shorter version was kept away from any programmes aimed at children. The 20 second trail did appear around Hollyoaks and Friends but these programmes are aimed at and appeal to predominantly teenage and young-adult viewers rather than child audiences.

While the True Blood trail could be described as sexually suggestive in style as well as hinting at themes of violence, it was edited in such a way as to ensure that nothing unduly explicit or graphically violent was shown, and avoided any overt representations of sexual behaviour.

The on-air trails team reassured me they are very aware that viewers do not choose to watch trails in the same way as scheduled programmes and, as such, they try to ensure that trails are both appropriate and enjoyable. They do monitor viewer reaction carefully and – as shown in the case of Age 8 and wanting a Sex Change – will respond when it appears that the scheduling was not quite right.

See also Paula’s blog: Trails provoke an unusual reaction

With regular posts written by C4’s viewers’ editor and various commissioning editors, our blog is one of the best places to comment on the most high profile programmes and viewer issues. You can also rate and comment on monthly video vox pops from The TV Show’s Big 4, which travels around the country gathering honest feedback from the people who watch our shows. And if you have something you want to say about television, but can’t find anyone else discussing it on the site, please use this area to kick start the debate by leaving your comments below. We’ll keep an eye on all your comments, along with those left across channel4.com, to make sure we respond to the issues important to you.

Throughout the year, Channel 4 will also broadcast a number of TV Show debates. Hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, these shows will focus on some of the bigger issues raised by viewers and give our audience another chance to let us know what they think. So, get involved in the conversation about television right now by making the most of The TV Show site. Remember, it’s your TV Show, guided by your opinions about television. Make sure you have your say!

Hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, the studio debate will be looking at the issues raised by the individual programmes in the season, and considering the importance of the season as a whole. The show will be recorded in west London on the afternoon of Thursday 5 November.

Read more about the season and see what others have had to say about it here.

If you’re interested in taking part in the programme, please email the production company at thetvshow@princesstv.com, remembering to include your contact details and a summary of your thoughts on the race and science season.

Though many expressed praise for the programme, a significant number of viewers were critical of its narration – specifically, the way in which the narrator often referred to the children by their birth gender, rather than their preferred gender.

I spoke to commissioning editor Simon Dickson about this feedback – he was keen to explain the decision behind the narrator’s use of pronouns and offers the following response to viewers:

“Thank you to everyone that has contacted Channel 4 to share their views on Bodyshock: Age 8 and Wanting a Sex Change. The film has aroused a great deal of comment, almost all of it favorable, but I am sincerely sorry to hear that some members of the transgender community were upset by our use of biologically-accurate pronouns in the narration of the programme.

“It’s important to remember that the majority of our audience will have had little or no understanding of transgender issues. The decision to use the pronouns we did was based on our responsibility to make the programme comprehensible to a mainstream audience.

“As many viewers have pointed out, the parents featured in our programme always referred to their child by their “preferred” gender. We were happy that this made it absolutely clear that each family had accepted and were extremely supportive of their child’s decision.

“I hope you’ll agree that Age 8 and Wanting a Sex Change was a story worth telling, and a story worth telling to as many people as possible, even at the risk of causing some dissatisfaction amongst those who understand the subject well already.”

As ever, if you’d like to share your thoughts on this subject, please leave your comments below.

Anchored around five thought-provoking science documentaries to be broadcast from Oct 26, the season encourages viewers to delve deep into the subject of race with online features including a Define Race tool (which asks viewers to consider the true meaning of the word ‘race’) and a selection of exclusive video interviews that reveal why our programme presenters and C4 representatives believe the subject of race is such an important one to explore.

Full details of the season can be found on the official Race: Science’s Last Taboo website – alternatively, here’s a brief summary of the five featured documentaries:

• Rageh Omaar kick starts the season on 26 October with Race and Intelligence: Science’s Last Taboo – a documentary that sets out to find the truth, featuring the views of scientists who believe that races can be differentiated, as well as those who vehemently oppose the view.
• The Event: How Racist Are You? (29 Oct) sees controversial former schoolteacher Jane Elliott recreate the shocking exercise she used 40 years ago to demonstrate how susceptible we can all be to bigotry, and what it feels like to be on the other side of arbitrary discrimination.
• On 1 November, The Human Zoo: Science’s Dirty Secret explores the 19th and 20th century phenomenon of human zoos where thousands of ‘exotic’ and indigenous people from all over the world were put on display – intended not merely as entertaining freak shows but also scientific demonstrations of racial difference.
• In Is It Better To Be Mixed Race? (Nov 2), geneticist Aarathi Prasad sets out to challenge this idea of racial purity and examines provocative claims that there are in fact biological advantages to being mixed race.
• Finally, Bleach, Nip, Tuck: The White Beauty Myth (Oct 27 and 3 Nov at 10pm) examines the emerging trend for deracialisation surgery through the stories of six people who want to westernise their bodies and faces. It is right for a person to want to erase their inherited ethnic features to fit in to a predominantly white society?

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I suspect that viewers will have plenty to say about each of these programmes once they have been broadcast. If you have any comments you’d like to share, please leave them below. If your comment refers to articles or essays published by others, please include a link to that article where possible

Race: Science’s Last Taboo will be the focus of discussion on The TV Show’s studio debate on 7 November. More information can be found here. If you’d like to share your views as part of the studio audience, please contact thetvshow@princesstv.com

Watch the video to find out what viewers thought of programmes including Jamie’s American Road Trip, Derren Brown’s How to Win the Lottery, Scrapheap Challenge, Peep Show, Channel 4 News and more.

Do you agree with what they had to say? Let us know by rating the video, or posting your comments below.

If you’d like to share your views with The TV Show, visit our Be on the Show section to find out how you can take part.

Channel 4’s viewer enquiries team handled a total of 6,621 contacts (phone calls and emails) from viewers in September. Each comment or query was logged and the appropriate people at Channel 4 notified. Of these contacts, 1,310 criticised the channel and its shows, while 324 complimented the programmes broadcast.

Top 10 programmes most appreciated by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in September 2009 (quote is an example of viewer comment):

1. 102 Minutes that Changed America (12 comments)
   I would just like to comment on how brilliant I thought this documentary was. I loved how there was no narration – it was just straight from the perspective of ordinary New Yorkers. I think that your channel makes some of the best documentaries because they give a true insight into events, which I believe needs to be seen, especially on the matter of 9/11. This certainly did not disappoint. I hope you keep up the good work of producing and/or selecting these fine documentaries. Best documentary of 2009.
2. Keith Meets Keith (12)
   After hearing the tragic news about Keith this morning I just wanted to thank you guys for this brilliant show last night. I laughed the whole way through and thought we really got to see a side of Keith not seen before. Although me and my friends are completely gutted, the show last night has left us with happy memories about what a wonderful man he was.
3. Alone in the Wild (11)
   C4 and Ed Wardle must be congratulated on such a terrific programme that succeeded on so many levels. Ed was brave not just in the physical sense but also to show such raw emotions; fear, loneliness, distress and luckily – joy… Indeed, this was the perfect counterpoise to comfy creature/survival programmes and shows why C4 still has a cutting edge. Please pass on my thanks, admiration and respect to Ed – what a tremendous achievement.
4. Jamie’s American Road Trip (9)
   What a brilliant programme. The camera work is fantastic. The researchers found such interesting people for Jamie to meet. The food that Jamie cooks is such great “Man Food”. His manner is so entertaining and it makes you want to be there. I cannot wait for the next helping!
5. First Cut: The Boy who was Born a Girl (8)
   I am enormously grateful for this sensitively handled and positive documentary. And judging by the barrage of glowing comments received after the airing I am not the only one. I would wholeheartedly like to offer my gratitude. Society is so often misinformed when it comes to transsexualism. I can only see documentaries such as this as being nothing short of a breakthrough.
6. Kevin McCloud’s Grand Tour (8)
   What an intelligent, informative and fun programme. Fantastic! More please!
7. The Secret Millionaire (8)
   I must compliment the programme in general for a well presented programme put together with great care and passion.
8. Dispatches: MPs, Planes and Gravy Trains (7)
   What would we the public do without organisations like Channel 4 and Dispatches or the Daily Telegraph who cut through the barriers and expose the gravy train that Parliament gets free rides on (how about Euro MPs next). For years I’ve been meaning to write to say I enjoy most all of your programming but tonight’s Dispatches programme tonight raised my blood pressure to such a level I had to do purge myself! Keep up the excellent work and excellent programming and Channel 4 News is the BEST also.
9. The Paul O’Grady Show (7)
   I Love the Paul O’Grady Show and I think Paul is the Best!! I always love how he tries to re-home dogs. As an animal lover myself I think this is fantastic and hope he keeps up with the good work.
10. True Stories: The Shock Doctrine (6)
    What an excellent documentary. Well compiled and collated. 10/10. Thank you!

Top 10 programmes most criticised by people who contacted Viewer Enquiries in September 2009 (quote is an example of viewer comment):

1. 102 Minutes that Changed America (88)
   Trying to watch this documentary was made near impossible by the relentless ad breaks, every 10 mins. I find myself watching Channel 4 program increasingly less because of this factor. It may seem a great idea for extra revenue but I think you my find it will have adverse effect on your viewers.
2. Derren Brown: How to Win the Lottery (70)
   I have never watched one of his shows before and will never again, the whole programme was advertised as explaining his illusion yet I feel I have lost an hour of my life watching something that didn’t explain it. When I watch “magic” shows I know I’m not going to find out how it’s done but when a TV programme actually claims to say how he did it and didn’t, I feel I have been lied to. I am very disappointed in Channel 4 behaving in such a manner.
3. The Kevin Bishop Show (45)
   I have watched the Kevin Bishop Show before and have found it disturbing but I can’t believe you can get away with showing the contents in this show! This show is completely insensitive and I can’t see how Channel 4 can air this! I refuse to watch this programme and am disgusted with Channel 4.
4. Jamie’s American Road Trip (42)
   Are you insane? Why would you willingly show (and therefore support) the horrible cruelty that has gone on for years and years in the USA’s burger industries greed of castrating cows (and horses, oh yes) I have been a massive flag-waver for Jamie Oliver – but his true colours shown here …
5. Scrapheap Challenge (35)
   What has happened to the presenters and format of the programme? Lisa Rogers and Robert Llewellyn were a winning combination. They had a good rapport and sparked off each other well… The new presenters lack charisma and the necessary humour. Also with the new format we don’t see the same gradual design progress, disasters, triumphs and the 10 hour struggle to be ready for the challenge. If it’s a winning formula why change it?
6. Keith Meets Keith (29)
   I was looking forward to this programme but it was ruined for me by the language, particularly used by KF… I understand C4 can’t be responsible for a third party’s language, but it does have editing rights and I’m dismayed that C4 didn’t even bleep the “c” word… offensive to most women… Shame, it ruined a good programme.
7. Alone in the Wild (26)
   If Channel 4 covers my costs, I will go it alone in the wild for 100 days in the same place as Ed. I can’t understand why you put this on your channel.
8. Derren Brown: How to Control the Nation (24)
   It is a piece of ***, it is a con and he should be taken off television.
9. The Secret Millionaire (22)
   Can’t believe the rubbish I have just watched. What a self-obsessed individual. Very over exaggerated, trying as usual to make Liverpool look awful. Hope he never comes back. Also -not a good idea to try to pass off other areas of Liverpool incorrectly.
10. The Paul O’Grady Show (22)
    I cannot believe that you have asked Paul to take a 30% pay cut! As a result of this we will lose a very good show, as he goes possibly to Sky. Lets be honest, if the staff were asked to take a 30% pay cut there would be 100% walkout, why then should Paul accept it? It’s disgraceful treatment of a star who has brought plenty into the coffers of C4.