Autumnwatch

[ron1863]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Bill Oddie does my head in. He is the most irritating man and completely spoils the programme for me. It's now got to the stage where I switch channels when he appears live.
On pre-recorded items he is fine as he has a script to follow but being live the man just witters on, interrupts everyone and mumbles when others are talking.

I would much prefer Simon and Kate in the studio with Bill in the Forest of Dean then the man could bore the Boars with the drivel he talks, oh! and could someone tell him to change his shirt, he's had that green striped jobbie on since the start.

Ah, I feel much better now for getting that off my chest

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by coasty

Interesting thread on that strange Oddie creature this, I can tolerate him but I have to say my wife cant bear to watch him. Wonder if its primarily a woman thing????

Exactly the same in our House! She does watch, but it's painful for her!

[mh68]

Originally Posted by ron1863

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Bill Oddie does my head in. He is the most irritating man and completely spoils the programme for me. It's now got to the stage where I switch channels when he appears live.
On pre-recorded items he is fine as he has a script to follow but being live the man just witters on, interrupts everyone and mumbles when others are talking.

I would much prefer Simon and Kate in the studio with Bill in the Forest of Dean then the man could bore the Boars with the drivel he talks, oh! and could someone tell him to change his shirt, he's had that green striped jobbie on since the start.

Ah, I feel much better now for getting that off my chest

He has been a lot more subdued since Monday though Ron,and less prone to talk over the others although he still has done at times.Maybe someone has had a word? Threads like this one complaining about Bill have been posted on the Autumnwatch forum too, which will no doubt be monitored by those involved in the programme?

Mark H

[PMG]

Originally Posted by mh68

He has been a lot more subdued since Monday though Ron,and less prone to talk over the others although he still has done at times.Maybe someone has had a word? Threads like this one complaining about Bill have been posted on the Autumnwatch forum too, which will no doubt be monitored by those involved in the programme?

Mark H

Ah that explains a lot - I did wonder whether what was said here would get to there...........

I still put Bill's behaviour down to nerves - he's perfectly ordinary and easy to listen to on his own pre recorded programmes. But I'll say it again (and goosey has said the same) a lot of people will not be put off by their double act and a lot of kids will swallow it whole - and REMEMBER IT - we all might think it was a bit off Bill larking while the stag was obviously in such a mess - but kids will associate that in the way intended - Bill larking - rope harms animals - remove rope if you find it lying around in the countryside (but not if its tying up a gate of course). You'd be surprised - or maybe not - but the way to get folk to remember and associate with something is not always to tell them straight and show the horror - minds have a way of smoothing over this kind of horrible incident and forgetting it - acting the fool stays longer with its fun associations........

Pauline

And PS I think Alan Titmarsh is doing a sterling job present Britain - and its very obvious he is thoroughly enjoying it himself and is being himself - his joy at those Otters was obvious - I liked him gardening - and I like him doing this!

[mh68]

Originally Posted by PMG

Ah that explains a lot - I did wonder whether what was said here would get to there...........

Yes, although criticisms of Bill on their forum aren`t as reserved and polite as have been posted here.I`m watching the first 3 programmes again now on video, and personally, I think a lot of the apparent irritation at the "banter" is more frustration at wasted air time when they could be showing more wildlife footage....ie "get on with it!!"

Mark H

[vole-woman]

I agree, Pauline - similarly the business of the Mink eating the coots in Springwatch was well-handled because the presenters didn't hide the fact the coots had died, nor that the Mink would be killed if they could catch it. But they didn't expose young viewers to the full horror either, or labour the point.

This programme's remit is to draw in the next generation of nature-lovers - crucial, as liking wildlife is currently a bit naff in my kids' school (don't know if that's true for everywhere). Autumnwatch sets out to make the subject fun and accessible, and it does the job brilliantly. My boys adore Bill Oddie and find Simon King a bit dull; Bill makes them want to get involved and try out the things he suggests, whereas they tend to talk over Simon's reports.

I do think you have to judge a programme by what it's setting out to do.

[mh68]

Only the BBC themselves can answer that question.From whats been said on the programme the "Badger cams" have been put into use this series with the Beavers.They cant cover every species,and probably looked upon the Beavers as offering something different so went with them instead of the Badgers.

Mark H

[stripee]

Originally Posted by James Rose

Did I miss something or was there really no mention or pics of our beautiful Badgers???

Why not

Too difficult to film?

Not so.

Could it be that showing Badgers on BBC tv is politically too "sensitive" with the Government apparantly moving towards a mass slaughter policy?

Just cos tv appears very informal, chatty and lite don't mean it ain't politically scripted and edited.

Badgers "Awwwwwwww!"

I did wonder this myself.Too many cute Badgers not a good move right now...Although the Beavers are just wonderful to watch and maybe they are easier to film as they are in a restricted area. And sometimes the Badgers didn't perform!

[SweetRocket]

Originally Posted by James Rose

Did I miss something or was there really no mention or pics of our beautiful Badgers???

Why not

Too difficult to film?

Not so.

Could it be that showing Badgers on BBC tv is politically too "sensitive" with the Government apparantly moving towards a mass slaughter policy?

Just cos tv appears very informal, chatty and lite don't mean it ain't politically scripted and edited.

Badgers "Awwwwwwww!"

There is plenty of Badger coverage on Springwatch, it would be pretty boring if they concentrated again on Badgers in Autumnwatch, besides the Beavers and Boars are just as exciting to watch and very welcome.
Perhaps your comments about the BBC should be reserved for when Springwatch is back with or without the Badgers.

[KatRaven]

Hmm, very strange about the starlings - a bit like Bill's hair

I must admit I sometimes get a bit fed up with all the rambling.
Simon King is definitely the best one as far as I'm concerned

I'm glad that they're showing different things this year. Springwatch, up until this year, was getting a bit monotonous - was anyone else sick of seeing baby blue tits?

[Adam Cheeseman]

I'm sure that's a syrup Bill's wearing. He kept stroking it last night and I'm sure I heard it purring.

Cheers,

Adam

[SweetRocket]

I agree with you KatRaven, although Blue tits are so cute they can’t keep showing the same old footage over and over again otherwise the viewers would switch off in droves and that is not what any of us want, the more people educated in wildlife the better.
I must say though, I watched the cannibal Owls with eye’s half closed, dread to think what they will serve up next Springwatch.

[KatRaven]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

I'm sure that's a syrup Bill's wearing. He kept stroking it last night and I'm sure I heard it purring.

Cheers,

Adam

Oh yes, those poor little owls
Nature is very cruel sometimes, isn't she?

I hope they have flycatchers again

[PMG]

I should think the reason Badgers have been left out is because they get less active from this time of year onwards - there is a lot of darkness now and they can afford to come out later on in the evening/night and still eat and visit the latrines and patrol the boundarys. Which means the chances of seeing as much of them over the next few months is slight: plus the females should be pregnant; the boars might be banned to an outlying one-hole sett; the young from last year - esp the males might be being shooed off to find their own place - and a host of other reasons which all adds up to not much to watch or film.

Of course they may well have been warned off from showing Badgers in case folk get up in arms and sign the anti cull petition in droves - I could believe that. . . The Badgers probably don't play ball cos the filming gear isn't set up far enough in advance for them to get used to it and unless there is plenty of peanuts scattered around the sett each day ready for night - then the Badgers will move off and get on with their routines - looking for food.

Personally I'm not too fussed with the Beavers or the Wild Boar. . . it puzzles me why they arn't showing more footage from the various meres and ponds in daylight. I live about 40 mins from Martin Mere and when I go I walk around the hides and watch the genuine wild birds and have seen some interesting behaviour over the years. And if there's time left over I usually go to some of the pens - the goldeneye and smew are always a delight to watch. So why do they keep showing the swans in darkness? And why were they in the wrong place for the starling roost when they had been told exactly where to go? I mean they are getting help and advice from folks who know the spots they are using well - so why's it not quite working as well as it could I wonder?

Pauline

[geordie graham]

Another wonderfull programme on the stunning wildlife the British Isles has to offer and all the experts? on this sight can bicker about is the presenters.Here are your choices
1 if you don`t like it SWITCH IT OFF
2 If you are such experts then make your own programme
3 Just sit back and enjoy wonderfull sites and sounds and appreciate what nature has to offer and it doesn`t cost you a penny.

Graham

[bee warrior]

Oddie and Humble drive me mad and make me switch off! As for Alan Titchmarsh!!! Well he has a lot of making up to do doesnt following the decking debacle which saw many of Englands gardens decked!
For me David Attenborough is THE MAN.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

I get slightly bored with the program about halfway through, It's probably half an hour to long IMO.

As for the program content, well I found all the bits about the Wild Boar very interesting, but I don't think they have anywhere near enough about the birds that are in the country at this point, Redwing, Fieldfare etc And i'm totally fed up with the Red Dear bits, theres only so many times I can watch the same footage before being bored with it, it's a bit overkiill, like the Otters bits on Springwatch

[Gaina]

I am loving the boars (Pigs are my favourite animal next to cats), and got quite excited when Simon said at some point they will get to the point where the population needs to be controlled.

Then can it be Wolf Time please?

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Gaina

I am loving the boars (Pigs are my favourite animal next to cats), and got quite excited when Simon said at some point they will get to the point where the population needs to be controlled.
Then can it be Wolf Time please?

I love the boars too, and Simon's enthusiasm about them is infectious!
p.s. love your signature

[mh68]

The Boar right next to Simon was a bit of an anticlimax. I was expecting something more dramatic to happen, especially as they`d kept viewers hanging on a day to see the outcome....but nevertheless still great to watch,as were the piglets. The clip of the Stoat was amazing, what a sight to see in your garden!!

Mark H

[KatRaven]

Oh yes, those piglets are lovely - I could watch them all day!

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

I love the boars too, and Simon's enthusiasm about them is infectious!
p.s. love your signature

Hehe, thanks I was going to say how much I like your user name!

It's funny but I said to mum 'those piglets look like humbugs' at the same time Simon did. I thought the 'close encounter' was extra-ordinary. You could see a mind ticking away behind that furry face 'Yep, he's ok - bring the kids out dear!'

[ron1863]

Originally Posted by mh68

He has been a lot more subdued since Monday though Ron,and less prone to talk over the others although he still has done at times.Maybe someone has had a word? Threads like this one complaining about Bill have been posted on the Autumnwatch forum too, which will no doubt be monitored by those involved in the programme?

Mark H

I agree that he has been a bit more subdued but although he isn't interrupting Kate as much, the man has taken to licking his moustache while she talks, which is very very annoying and I now think of him along reptilian lines. As I said before, Bill is very informative when following a script and I enjoyed a lot of his own wildlife programmes but when live he is one of the most irrititating men on the box.

Oh! and he is still wearing that green striped shirt. If the programme is live then Kate can't have a very good sense of smell

[mh68]

Originally Posted by ron1863

I agree that he has been a bit more subdued but although he isn't interrupting Kate as much, the man has taken to licking his moustache while she talks, which is very very annoying and I now think of him along reptilian lines. As I said before, Bill is very informative when following a script and I enjoyed a lot of his own wildlife programmes but when live he is one of the most irrititating men on the box.

Oh! and he is still wearing that green striped shirt. If the programme is live then Kate can't have a very good sense of smell