0:00:10 > 0:00:13Good afternoon, and welcome to Points Of View.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15What a busy week inside the BBC.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Budgets slashed, whole departments moved -
0:00:18 > 0:00:21you will tell us if it shows on screen.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Now, can a presenter ever be too excitable? Isn't it good to be keen?
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Apparently not - Zoe Ball has taken over from Claudia Winkleman,
0:00:29 > 0:00:33she of the excitable nature and long fringe, on Strictly - It Takes Two.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38And there is a resounding cry of "Calm down, dear!" from some.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53However, Zoe has dancing experience.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Yes, unlike some of my other colleagues on Radio 2, she can move.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00And that, you tell us, helps with pertinent questions -
0:01:00 > 0:01:03which are better than impertinent ones.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07SHIRLEY BASSEY: # Get this party started! #
0:01:16 > 0:01:22So, I think all things considered Zoe is getting a "Se-ven!" so far.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Now on to Strictly's Saturday night dance partner Merlin,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28which waltzed back onto our screens last week.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29That'll be 50p, please.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42We know where we wish to go.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Was it? Wouldn't it be great if it was?
0:01:45 > 0:01:49We THINK it is actually a groat, or something similar,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51and not the howler you'd so hoped for.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55We would be hard-pressed to beat the Merlin lager cans of yesteryear,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58but we'll give it a go this series.
0:01:58 > 0:02:04Remember, do report your howlers via the website:
0:02:04 > 0:02:07But what of the rest of Merlin's return?
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Sounds as if plenty of the Doctor Who crowd have been successfully
0:02:26 > 0:02:30weaned across to Merlin, until they get their Christmas fix.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32But actually, they're not entirely happy.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36The decision to drop Doctor Who Confidential,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38BBC Three's sneak behind the scenes,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42has caused a cry of outrage from behind the sofa.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48I would like to put in a plea to the BBC not to axe
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Doctor Who Confidential.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53It's been a very important programme for both myself
0:02:53 > 0:02:57and my 11-year-old son, because it's given such a terrific insight for him
0:02:57 > 0:03:00into what goes on in a production of this sort.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Yes, other dimensions are very important for anyone
0:03:14 > 0:03:18with knowledge of the good Doctor, so why don't we head to ours,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22BBC Three - to see what they are saying about all this.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Now, you won't have to put up with a disembodied voice
0:03:35 > 0:03:37when BBC Three comes up in the future - I hope -
0:03:37 > 0:03:42because the controller Zai Bennett will be here on the show in person,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45and do make a note of that Doctor Who Confidential annoyance,
0:03:45 > 0:03:49because we need as many like that as we can, to put to him.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Now, Bang Goes The Theory.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55This BBC One pop science show has come in for stick in the past
0:03:55 > 0:03:58for dumbing down, and we're back with excitable presenting -
0:03:58 > 0:04:02on this programme, they make Zoe Ball look like a librarian.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06However, much praise for this week's episode on nuclear power.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09My hunch is it's going to be less than car crashes...
0:04:09 > 0:04:12You're quite right, it is less than car crashes.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15- I think this is going to be a surprise to you.- Wow, OK...
0:04:35 > 0:04:37So, that is "tick, VG" for them, then.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40But just before you reach for the gold stars, Theory team, wait -
0:04:40 > 0:04:44because there is another queue of viewers who would like a word.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08There are some serious charges about misuse of statistics there,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12and we're speaking to the commissioner of BBC science programmes,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Kim Shillinglaw, in our interview special in a couple of weeks' time.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17We'll certainly put those points to her,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and any others you would care to fire our way.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Sticking with statistics, our viewer Sue Johnson
0:05:23 > 0:05:25has been keeping score of Who Do You Think You Are?
0:05:25 > 0:05:29and is wondering who exactly the programme makers think THEY are,
0:05:29 > 0:05:33by following so few celebrities from ethnic minorities.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36MUSIC: Theme from "Who Do You Think You Are?"
0:05:40 > 0:05:42I'm a real fan of Who Do You Think You Are?
0:05:42 > 0:05:45and I think some previous series have been very interesting.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49I'm saddened by this series, because I think this programme
0:05:49 > 0:05:53could represent that very rich mix of people that live in Britain,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56and not just feature, as it has done this season,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59just white, mainly male, mainly middle-class,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01mainly middle-aged people.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Sue has a point, of course -
0:06:04 > 0:06:07but how do the makers arrive at their chosen subjects?
0:06:26 > 0:06:30Certainly in the past, there's been some interesting people featured -
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Julia Sawalha, whose father was a well-known actor
0:06:33 > 0:06:37who came from the Middle East, and had got a fascinating background.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Instead of answering your question,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42she asks us if you want to drink some goat milk...
0:06:42 > 0:06:45- JULIA LAUGHS - Ahhh! Nice(!)
0:06:45 > 0:06:48And I just feel that those people in this society
0:06:48 > 0:06:51are not necessarily...would not consider themselves to be white,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54they would consider themselves to be other races,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56and I think that should be reflected.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59I think the thing that hurt me most of all was
0:06:59 > 0:07:01George getting his four-year-old son
0:07:01 > 0:07:04giving him the money to buy slaves from him.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06That's just awful.
0:07:06 > 0:07:07It is so far removed from me
0:07:07 > 0:07:10in every way possible.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15This series has featured some interesting people -
0:07:15 > 0:07:17but it's about the programme,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20I think, being lazy, and not selecting
0:07:20 > 0:07:24from a broader pool of people
0:07:24 > 0:07:28that make up the society and the population of Britain.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Possibly the most famous TV excavation into someone's past -
0:08:11 > 0:08:15with historic consequences - was when David Frost got Richard Nixon
0:08:15 > 0:08:19to admit to and apologise for the Watergate affair.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22And as it is 40 years since the scandal was uncovered,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26BBC Two devoted four hours of programming to the issue on Sunday night.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31This is the climactic moment when you stay silent.
0:08:34 > 0:08:40I just can't stand seeing somebody else cry. And that ended it for me.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43And then I blurted it out,
0:08:43 > 0:08:47and I said, "I'm sorry."
0:08:47 > 0:08:50To add "gate" to the end of a word has become common parlance
0:08:50 > 0:08:55for suggesting there is a scandal or conspiracy involved.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58And as it is 40 years since Watergate,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01theoretically there's a whole generation, if not two,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03of people who may not fully understand the connection.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07So, viewer Michael Walsh thinks the habit should be dropped.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12Dear Points Of View, don't you think the suffix "gate" is overworked,
0:09:12 > 0:09:17obsolete and unintelligible to the majority of people born after 1972?
0:09:18 > 0:09:24Now we have Hackgate. The Wikipedia lists 132 usages of "gate".
0:09:24 > 0:09:27I doubt these are considered uses of the suffix. I find it irritating
0:09:27 > 0:09:32because I listen to the BBC to avoid sloppy or sensation journalism.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36So, BBC, please stop using the suffix "gate".
0:09:36 > 0:09:40Thank you for that. What was the most recent one? Catgate, was it?
0:09:40 > 0:09:43If Michael gets his way, all the gates will go.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Will we need a replacement word, though? Now, who's for a sing-song?
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Not Songs Of Praise, by all accounts.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Or, at least, not the rousing, traditional hymn-singing
0:09:52 > 0:09:55the Sunday night stalwart is famed for.
0:09:55 > 0:09:56We've touched on this issue before -
0:09:56 > 0:09:59long-term fans of the show being disgruntled
0:09:59 > 0:10:02that it's focusing more on celebrities than congregations,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05and pop songs instead of Psalms.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Last week's 50th birthday show appears to have confirmed
0:10:08 > 0:10:12that the modern Songs Of Praise has strayed a long way from its roots.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35They're getting rowdy in the pews.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Editor David Taviner, please make your way to the lectern,
0:10:38 > 0:10:39and speak to us.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Let me reassure viewers
0:10:41 > 0:10:45that hymn singing and inspirational songs, sacred music, worship songs,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48are the absolute backbone of Songs Of Praise,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50and always will be.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54It began for us in 1961 and, in that programme, 50 years ago,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Heather Harper - a leading soprano of her day - sang in the programme.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01She was a celebrity of the time, if you like.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03So, in some respects, times haven't changed that much.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07And another form of singing is causing consternation
0:11:07 > 0:11:08amongst younger viewers.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12# It's the end of a lovely day
0:11:12 > 0:11:17# The time has come to say good night
0:11:17 > 0:11:20# To say sleep tight till the morning light... #
0:11:20 > 0:11:25We very much liked the older version of the CBeebies tune, didn't we?
0:11:27 > 0:11:30What we liked about it was it was very calming.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32We used to watch it at the end of the day,
0:11:32 > 0:11:36and they'd switch off the lights and then it was time to go to bed.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38But now it's gone all a bit funked-up.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40UPBEAT: # The time has come... #
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Yeah, preferred the older one.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I used to think it was like a classic of children's television
0:11:45 > 0:11:48because I just thought the presenters
0:11:48 > 0:11:52were just so tender and lovely in the old version.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55# Now it's time to say good night
0:11:55 > 0:11:59# At the end of a lovely day. #
0:12:02 > 0:12:06# We've had so much fun today
0:12:06 > 0:12:09# Tomorrow's just a dream away... #
0:12:09 > 0:12:13'Spot the difference? Little Mo and his mum and dad certainly have.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15'And Dad is an expert.'
0:12:15 > 0:12:20HE PLAYS THE TUNE
0:12:20 > 0:12:21And so on.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25So this is the new version, and you'll find it's a fifth higher,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29which is actually half an octave higher than the original.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33PLAYS NEW VERSION
0:12:33 > 0:12:36# La, dah-dah-dah, ya dah dah... # It's more operatic.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40It feels actually as if I'm having to force it out.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Whereas the original version, that's the pitch that you'd choose
0:12:43 > 0:12:45because it's very gentle.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48So, what have CBeebies got to say for themselves?
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Result - you asked, they listened and I think we should bring you
0:13:13 > 0:13:17first air play of the new musical arrangement when we get it!
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Good night!
0:13:20 > 0:13:23At risk of disturbing the slumber you've now drifted into,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25I would just like to say, you can write to us.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31You're also more than welcome to e-mail.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Or jump onto the message board - it's always lively.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41And you can phone us.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45The number is charged as a local-rate call from a landline.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Goodbye.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk