0:00:10 > 0:00:13Good afternoon and welcome to Points Of View.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15I thought you'd like to see a little video
0:00:15 > 0:00:17of some of my preparations for the programme,
0:00:17 > 0:00:20some of the background, the technical equipment we use here.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23No? Not interested?
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Well, that'll be the same for Strictly Come Dancing, then.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46They're apparently random and spontaneously filmed,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49but they're clearly not because they are pre-planned.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51You can tell. They're not entertaining,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55they're not funny and I don't think they've got a place in the programme.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13So the instruction is clear, Strictly. Less of this...
0:01:13 > 0:01:16This is my surprise for you.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18SHE SCREAMS
0:01:18 > 0:01:20HE SCREAMS
0:01:20 > 0:01:22..and more of this.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24RHYTHMIC APPLAUSE TO MUSIC
0:01:24 > 0:01:27And whilst we're in the mood for telling professionals
0:01:27 > 0:01:29to stick to what they're best at,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32there's a call for those highly experienced, professional comedians
0:01:32 > 0:01:37Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse to be... Well, funny.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Gentleman down the front, in the blue pullover?
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Do you think Boris Johnson would make a better Boris Johnson
0:02:07 > 0:02:08than Boris Johnson?
0:02:08 > 0:02:12APPLAUSE Thank you, the woman in the pink cardigan with the big teeth?
0:02:12 > 0:02:15If the BBC spent more or less money on better programs
0:02:15 > 0:02:19then it wouldn't be such an insult to the licence fee payer.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21APPLAUSE
0:02:21 > 0:02:24And, of course, if you are Twitter and Tweet,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26then you can Twitter and Tweet us
0:02:26 > 0:02:29here at the BBC and I, for one of course,
0:02:29 > 0:02:31will not look at a word you write.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34British comedy has been taking a beating recently
0:02:34 > 0:02:36whilst American sitcoms and animations
0:02:36 > 0:02:38are going from strength to strength.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41BBC Three's purchase of the rights to show Family Guy has proved
0:02:41 > 0:02:46a good investment, as it is now one of the channel's most watched shows.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48And a BBC Two documentary,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Family Guys - What Sitcoms Say About America Now,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55suggested that these shows have taught us more
0:02:55 > 0:02:59about American politics than any other presidential campaign can do.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01And it seems you agree.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Rodney Barnes is an award-winning sitcom writer and director.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10You see divorces, you see food stamps, you see public assistance,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13you see where that kind of works its way into the humour of,
0:03:13 > 0:03:15"I can't afford that".
0:03:26 > 0:03:31From far-flung election watching to nature watching closer to home.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Autumnwatch's natural history bandwagon
0:03:33 > 0:03:35is on a reduced timetable this year
0:03:35 > 0:03:39and furry animal fans are not happy.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00We've changed the format for Autumnwatch 2012.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03One of the challenges with the traditional Autumnwatch
0:04:03 > 0:04:06has always been to try and capture how dynamic it is as a season
0:04:06 > 0:04:08because people are used to Springwatch,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11and Springwatch obviously has birds taking flight from nests
0:04:11 > 0:04:12and things bursting into bloom.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Autumnwatch is a time where things are getting ready for winter,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17and shutting down.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22So rather than doing eight shows - one per week across two months -
0:04:22 > 0:04:27we're going to be doing two events, each for four days live.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31The first one Autumnwatch, the second one called Winterwatch
0:04:31 > 0:04:34in January, and that will give us an opportunity for the first time
0:04:34 > 0:04:38in the Watch's history to be able to follow characters over the season
0:04:38 > 0:04:43and to see how their preparations for the autumn paid off in the winter.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00We're very lucky the three presenters we have are incredibly engaging.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Chris, obviously his knowledge is second-to-none
0:05:02 > 0:05:05and I think like Michaela, he's grown up with
0:05:05 > 0:05:09a lot of the audience that we have and I think that they really enjoy
0:05:09 > 0:05:13the fact that they remember them from shows like The Really Wild Show.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18We're delighted to be up in Scotland for this series of Autumnwatch.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20We have been to Scotland before to film some insert films
0:05:20 > 0:05:24but this is the first time we've based the whole show from here.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25Feels like the view that everyone
0:05:25 > 0:05:28in the UK would wish was out of their window in the autumn, really.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31We have some absolutely phenomenal animals up here.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Not only some Highland specialists which are fascinating to see,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37but also some familiar favourites which people across the UK
0:05:37 > 0:05:40will be accustomed to seeing in their garden.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Autumnwatch, which has a spin-off show, Autumnwatch Unsprung,
0:05:45 > 0:05:49based on the e-mails and Facebook comments the programme gets.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52But whilst birdwatchers may be prepared to tweet,
0:05:52 > 0:05:57viewers of Sunday Morning Live are finding Facebooking and Skype
0:05:57 > 0:05:58a step too far.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32'And there's different skill sets and use of those firearms...'
0:06:32 > 0:06:33OK, let's get some...
0:06:33 > 0:06:37'The ability to then ramp up 100,000 plus police officers'
0:06:37 > 0:06:41- 'and a firearms qualification would take years.'- OK.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44'There's a debate, but not something that can happen overnight.'
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- All right, thank you.- 'It's going to take a long time...'
0:06:47 > 0:06:50- Thank you. Set aside how long it would take and the budget.- Course.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54So why has this Sunday staple turned into a Skype-fest?
0:06:54 > 0:06:57And doesn't digital dominance exclude much of the audience?
0:06:57 > 0:07:01The idea was not for us to emulate programmes like Question Time,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03where there's a balance
0:07:03 > 0:07:06between studio booked guests and a studio audience.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Our intention was to use technology to the maximum, so...
0:07:09 > 0:07:13we've always made a virtue of using Skype.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Having said that, we're aware that there are some concerns
0:07:16 > 0:07:19over the balance between audience-based guests
0:07:19 > 0:07:23and people who contribute from Skype over the internet.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24We will address that issue.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26It is something we're working towards at the minute.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29In the cut and thrust of a debate programme like this
0:07:29 > 0:07:32with a lot of views being exchanged, getting the balance right
0:07:32 > 0:07:33isn't an exact science.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37So, you may find - and, in fact, some viewers have pointed out -
0:07:37 > 0:07:40that on occasion, our presenter, Samira Ahmed,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42will interject and cut across the studio guests.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Just because we look at other means
0:07:45 > 0:07:47through phone, e-mail and the internet,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49doesn't mean we're ignoring people
0:07:49 > 0:07:51who don't engage in those platforms but use TV.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54TV fundamentally is still where we're at.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57And we feel that we do offer people the opportunity to engage in debate
0:07:57 > 0:07:59through that format.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01A possible claim, then, that Sunday morning live
0:08:01 > 0:08:05is discriminating against its older, net-less audience,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08a view echoed by John Phaff, who believes Top Gear
0:08:08 > 0:08:12is also setting its sights on the younger generation.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14I'm a 66-year-old veterinary surgeon
0:08:14 > 0:08:17and a self-confessed lifelong petrol head.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Having watched Top Gear since the first episode,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24I find myself becoming less and less interested in the programme.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28This seems to be a general opinion amongst friends of a similar age.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31The producers appear to be catering for a much younger age group,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34as is reflected in the studio audience.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36The stunts get more and more contrived week after week,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39with the outcomes being highly predictable.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43Star In A Car and the actual road tests are enjoyable,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46but on the whole, I'm afraid that Top Gear
0:08:46 > 0:08:49is losing an increasing proportion of their older viewers.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I'd love to see more motoring magazine-like features
0:08:52 > 0:08:56and a slight change in format to cater for a broader age group.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Here we go!
0:09:04 > 0:09:06HE SCREAMS
0:09:06 > 0:09:09DRAMATIC MUSIC
0:09:12 > 0:09:18And I think I'd rather spend that sort of money on a Caribbean holiday.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19CALYPSO MUSIC
0:09:21 > 0:09:25To find out, I went to Barbados.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31The fact is, we don't make a conscious effort
0:09:31 > 0:09:35to attract any particular age.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38What we do is make the show we want to make
0:09:38 > 0:09:40and whoever wants to watch it can watch it.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42But we've never once had a meeting where we've gone,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45"How do we get younger viewers," or, "How do we get kids," or anything.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48We just don't do that. We just make the show we want to make.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51The other point is, as you can imagine,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54the BBC's got a lot of people who do lots of research
0:09:54 > 0:10:00about what percentage of age groups watch each show they make.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03And in our case, the percentage of elderly people,
0:10:03 > 0:10:07or older people, who watch the show hasn't changed.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09It hasn't changed for the last five years.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15It may not have solid, straightforward reviews of cars,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19but, you know, there is a lot of airspace for that kind of show.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Someone else can make it - it just won't be us.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26Top Gear facing claims that it is too "yoof".
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Young Apprentice, on the other hand, is back on screen
0:10:29 > 0:10:34and proud to be flaunting the failings of fresh-faced teenagers.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Where was his failure then?
0:10:36 > 0:10:38I don't doubt his bravery at all,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41but I believe some people are not made for the business industry.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45He's taken over £1,000, I think it is, flogging his stuff.
0:10:45 > 0:10:461,140, actually.
0:10:46 > 0:10:491,140 - any advance on that?
0:10:49 > 0:10:53If you look at my CV, I am doing numerous things...
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- But I do numerous things, as well. - I am excelling at...
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Everyone that got to this position has done numerous things.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37Many viewers were frozen to their seats in awe this week
0:11:37 > 0:11:41at the stunning photography on Operation Iceberg.
0:12:11 > 0:12:12Wow, look at that!
0:12:12 > 0:12:16'A wall of ice is splitting from the glacier.'
0:12:16 > 0:12:20More sights and less reaction required then.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Now, let us end our show as we began it, with a spot of dancing.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26EastEnder Sid Owen may have been eliminated from Strictly,
0:12:26 > 0:12:30but it looks like fellow Square dweller Max Branning
0:12:30 > 0:12:35is waiting in the wings to take over with a tap-dance special.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51I've never heard him described like that before.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54SCRAPING ON GROUND
0:12:54 > 0:12:56SCRAPING CONTINUES
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Now, in true news bulletin style,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11a quick check in with the weather forecast now.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14But as David McIlwaine spotted, Hurricane Sandy
0:13:14 > 0:13:17seems to have blown Jacksonville Florida
0:13:17 > 0:13:21several hundred miles north to Charleston, South Carolina,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23on the BBC weather map.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28If they can't get that right, can we rely on the predictions of local, isolated showers back home?
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Good point. To make yours, you can write to us...
0:13:34 > 0:13:37You are also more than welcome to e-mail.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38Here is the address for you...
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Or jump on the message board.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Wear a crash helmet - it gets very lively!
0:13:46 > 0:13:48And also, you can phone us, of course.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51The number is charged as a local-rate call from a landline.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Here it is for you...
0:13:56 > 0:13:57Goodbye.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd