Episode 1 Points of View

Look, we've got an apology on the website, we did an apology on The Today Programme,

I've apologised to Tony personally...now, I haven't finished yet.

He's apologised to Patton, I think he's looking for someone to apologise to as we speak.

And not just in the made-up world of W1A, in this, the real world

of the BBC's W1 building, we've had plenty to deal with ourselves.

Welcome back to a brand-new series of Points of View.

Easter Monday saw the launch of a new three-part

adaptation of Daphne de Maurier's Jamaica Inn.

But for many, the visual feast, which includes dark

and haunting moors, sweeping Cornish coastline,

and a stellar cast list, was left wanting.

Viewers complained they were having difficulty understanding

the dialogue in the first episode and many said they'd been

left reaching for the subtitles button on their remote controls.

Patience!

There's a bunch of petticoats here to see you.

Cakey's knocked his ale over.

Needs it cleaning up.

What the hell do you want, Jem? Is there trouble?

So...Jam-ake anything out?

I enjoyed the programme, the acting was extremely good,

as were the views, the photography and the production.

But the sound quality was appalling.

I've got a modern television with a sound bar

and I viewed the whole thing in high definition.

Yet I still had to switch on the subtitles in order to understand what was being said.

I know I am not in the first flush of youth,

but I have no hearing or sight problems, and after ten minutes

I had to give up the unequal struggle and switch off.

Unfortunately it seemed to contain a lot of West Country mumblings

and in the end I'm afraid we just had to give up.

-Now, someone's talking.

-You heard anythin'? No.

And he wasn't alone. On Tuesday the BBC was inundated with complaints.

Now, credit where it's due and the BBC drama department

didn't hang about on admitting there was a problem with this one.

They put their top sound technicians on the case

and we're told they would "adjust the dialogue levels

"in episodes two and three to address audience concerns."

But was it enough?

Having watched episode two and three, I did feel the sound

was brighter, but it didn't make it more intelligible.

And certain actors in certain scenes continued to mumble

and slur their lines.

Is the BBC happy for individual directors to apply their stylistic, artistic touches,

which sometimes may cause the viewer to lose the plot?

Was it a case of mumbling actors?

Is it time the BBC cracked down on poor diction in drama?

I think that actors not being clear is obviously one part of it,

but my understanding about the complaints, about Jamaica Inn,

was more complex than that.

So I think it is probably not right to just single out that,

but clearly we want actors to speak clearly.

Of course we want them to give brilliant performances,

and you've got to respect that, but if no-one can understand what they are saying then there is a problem.

We are going to learn lessons from it and look into it in real detail so

that we can correct it in the future,

because obviously it is incredibly important to us that our audiences

are not held back from enjoying the drama as much as possible.

We know that Jamaica Inn isn't the only drama that's been

accused of having a problem with the mumbles.

We'll be returning to this issue later in the series.

Next, a man who let his feet do the talking, Sir Bruce Forsyth,

and the news that he is standing down from Strictly.

There has been plenty of rumour and speculation over who will

take over, with Claudia Winkleman, who has been a big part of the series from the start, now the

hot favourite to fill his toe-tapping shoes.

To get your opinion we went to the home of ballroom...

Blackpool!

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom!

Bruce came through the old variety hall route.

He was an all-rounder. A dancer, an actor, a singer,

a comedian, it's going to be hard to replace that.

And a person everybody knows. Every generation remembers Bruce.

For me, he is Mr Strictly.

He has been there as long as I remember watching the show.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to Strictly Come Dancing...

We love the programme, we watch it avidly every week.

And yeah, it's disappointing.

I think Bruce brought his own sort of comedy to it,

and I used to love that.

But then again, I think it's time for him to go.

I liked seeing Bruce on it, I liked his line he said

when he came on, "Nice to see you..."

-..to see you...

-CROWD: Nice!

Please welcome your hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman!

I think Claudia taking over, it would be fair on her

because she has been doing Strictly for a while now

so it would be a fair opportunity for her.

Nothing against ladies and women,

but I don't think it should be a woman presenter

that would actually take over the role of Bruce, I think

it should fall directly into the lap of

maybe another male presenter to balance out the man-woman thing

that the show is all about.

That is Strictly Come Dancing 2013!

I like Claudia, she's witty. I like her natural approach.

And she's human, you do warm to her.

Once again, you've been a wonderful partner in crime. Always a pleasure.

I think it's very good for two women to present. Go, girl power!

I can't comment on that, can I?

I have to live with one!

ALL: Keeeeep dancing!

Strictly returns in the autumn and all is not lost for Brucie fans,

because we have been guaranteed he will be around to present

the Christmas and Children In Need specials later this year.

The show must go on!

I think we all agree it will be nice to see him...

-BRUCE: To see you...

-CROWD: Nice!

Now, I did say that lots of you continued to keep in touch

while we have been off air and the brand-new series,

Revenge Of The Egghead, was one that certainly kept you talking.

The remodelling of the quiz show Eggheads,

which saw the bad boy quiz boffin CJ De Mooi

take on a team of knowledge buffs.

-How are you today, CJ?

-Angry.

-Oh, really, why?

I don't need a reason, but I know who I'm going to take it out on.

When I walked into the studio there was a whiff of nervousness.

How quickly a whiff becomes a stench.

I'd like to complain about Revenge Of The Egghead and the dreadful CJ.

I don't know whose idea it was, but I would like to know

to single out this horrible man to humiliate people on television.

Well, this proved a big turn-off for some and I hope you don't detect

any discomfort here. Yes, I was the presenter.

But that doesn't mean we don't pass on your complaints with all

the force you made them with.

On this one, we went straight to the BBC's man in charge of daytime TV.

I think it is clear that CJ is quite a strong flavour.

I think like game, just like Janet, will be short and sweet.

I think the tone of Revenge Of The Egghead maybe felt

a bit different to the original series

and that may have shocked some viewers.

Yes!

I believe it was right decision to experiment with the format.

Eggheads in its original format has played on BBC Two for 11 years now.

I think it is our job as creatives to try new things.

What sort of impression does this give to our children who,

at six o'clock in the evening, are likely to be watching it?

Mike is a will writer, very appropriate for this team's chances.

MAN LAUGHS

I am not intimidated, but you may carry on.

Do they understand that he is acting,

or is he?

It's important to understand that CJ played a character in the show.

It's also important to understand the contestants knew what to expect

and it's plain to see they played along with it

in the humour that it was intended.

-How are you doing, CJ?

-I am exceptionally well, thank you, Jeremy,

but then again, wouldn't you be if you looked like this?

I think what we felt about CJ is he is a formidable quizzer and I think

the format of Revenge Of The Egghead really suited his personality.

To say CJ is one of the most formidable Eggheads is pure twaddle.

Any of the current Eggheads could wipe the floor with him.

Please take it off and bring back the proper Eggheads.

Please let's go back to the team event.

Please don't run a second series.

Revenge Of The Egghead hasn't been re-commissioned yet.

It's just recently come off air,

we are looking at all the audience feedback from the show

and looking at that slot,

and we will take everything on board before we make any decisions.

So no decision then as to whether CJ or the special Revenge format

will make a return.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

From one quiz show to another, and The Guess List,

BBC One's latest Saturday night offering.

Welcome to The Guess List where we have A-list celebrities.

Comedian Rob Bryden turns host in what people are calling

a remake of the old Blankety Blank format.

If you've just tuned in, you've joined us

in the middle of a lively debate.

LAUGHTER

Very disappointed for a Saturday night AND for a game show.

It seemed to fall flat on its face.

Certainly, a poor imitation of, if it was meant to be

anything like the original Blankety Blank or a similar game show.

The Guess List, failing to hit the high standards

expected of Saturday nights for some.

Also keeping us guessing this week is the EastEnders plotline.

EASTENDERS THEME

The biggest whodunnit since JR, Lucy Beale's murder,

winning huge audiences and plenty of praise for the soap's actors.

I held her in my arms.

And she was as good as gold.

I tell you, I see her...

I see her lying there, gone.

-That was my beautiful Lucy-Lou.

-Yes, she was.

I don't have the ability to get through this.

Staying with EastEnders, and the curious incident of a newborn pup

provided, it seems, by the craft team in the props department.

The four-legged acting here, how can we put this, is a little bit wooden.

It's heart is still beating. Come on, come on.

SUCKING SOUND

What are you doing?

Clearing her airways.

Come on. Come on, come on.

HE LAUGHS

Phil!

They captured the spirit of Easter in a wonderful way

which would have been recognised by Christians

and certainly made the Easter message very real for me.

In fact, the whole series has been a delight.

Now, if you, like Julie, want to tell us

what you have been watching, here's how you do it.

You can write to this address:

There's phone. The number is charged

as a local rate call from any landline.

Or send us an e-mail.

Not forgetting the message board.

And we are on Twitter, too.

So many ways to get in touch. Well, that's it from us, here at W1A.

Back next Sunday and I'll leave you with a look back

at highlights of just some of the programmes you've been

telling us you have enjoyed watching over the past few weeks and months.

See how many you recognise. Goodbye.

Sherlock!

DI Denton, I'm arresting you for conspiracy to murder.

-I felt that you were all owed an explanation.

-No!

All over the south coast, people started digging in.

We will be very quickly bankrupt as a nation

if we take up arms against Germany.

As soon as you go over the top, fear has left you, it is terror.

Sewers, you have ten minutes left.

CHEERING