Comments on: 2009

By: Glenn Aylett

Glenn Aylett — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:45:13 +0000

Or I could add BBC Four comes close to living up to the original spirit of BBC Two. The documentaries on the Beeching Axe, progressive rock, and Electric Revolution could only be done on a BBC channel free from ratings pressures. For all some people continued to knock the BBC in 2009 ( now when does this ever stop?) , they should maybe try BBC Four.

By: Nigel Fishwick

Nigel Fishwick — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:02:47 +0000

As already stated, the usual concise and considered review from your good selves. Thanks again for pulling this together, it always makes for an interesting read – glad the site held up for you to post it!

I’d meant to contibute again this year but, sadly, unexpected levels of busyness got in the way. Still, I’d like to highlight a couple of my, erm, highlights of 2009…

Firstly, the funny, affectionate and nostalgic docudrama, Micro Men, shown as part of the excellent Electric Revolution season on BBC4 was a particular favourite.

Secondly, BBC2s Victorian Farm, which I felt was truly a Reithian programme in it’s ability to inform, educate and entertain. It proved to be a fascinating insight into a particular part of Victorian society, expertly presented by three likeable ,knowledgeable, but very natural hosts. Great stuff, and I look forward to more of this in the future (with the upcoming Edwardian Farm series).

By: Dominic Small

Dominic Small — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:32:47 +0000

An excellent, epic piece of work to which I am proud to have contributed. Well done all. I’m just pleased I managed to sneak the phrase “appended frippery” onto OTT – well, it’d either be here or on my headstone, wouldn’t it!

By: Sarah W

Sarah W — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:05:11 +0000

Thanks for a great review of the year. In Entertainment though I couldn’t see a mention of the terrible John Barrowman show Tonights the Night. It made my eyes and ears bleed in the few seconds that I witnessed it. Personally, I’d like to see Torchwood back in a similar form to it’s last outing. You’ve got to love the Barrowman, but maybe in less quantities as in 2009.

By: Glenn Aylett

Glenn Aylett — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:47:15 +0000

David
Coronation St, which suffered its lowest ratings ever when scheduled against Strictly, should be cut back to three episodes a week. Also Emmerdale’s non peformance in the Christmas Day ratings could suggest this show is ailing due to overkill and ham acting. I think 2010 will see a rethink with ITV’s two soaps that could see episodes reduced.
However, nice that OTT’s review didn’t dwell on the biggest television news story of the summer, the demise of a certain Channel 4 reality show. Perhaps, with 4 axeing most of its reality shows over the next 12 months and the usual crop of reality rotters like Paris Hilton’s British Best Friend, the genre is coming to the end of its life. However, among the dross, series like Come Dine With Me and The Apprentice continue to do well and are very watchable.

By: David

David — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:10:13 +0000

An excellent, concise review. It also managed to make me remember some of the programmes I’d hated and why I had hated them in the first place! Like OTT I’ve been amazed at the manner in which ITV1 has treated its only real asset, “Coronation Street”, over the past year. My own wish for 2010 is that the BBC ditch “Weakest Link” once and for all. It is arguably the laziest piece of scheduling on BBC1.

By: Ian Potter

Ian Potter — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:07:13 +0000

Thanks OTT! Superb review which, as ever, puts pretty much all competition (virtual, broadcast or printed) to shame. This is the kind of work that makes this a must visit site. Hope you all have a great year ahead.

Ian