9:30:50 > 9:30:53Hello. Jeremy Clarkson, a licence fee loophole and zombies -
9:30:53 > 9:30:56all just part of your week on the BBC.
9:30:56 > 9:30:59This is the show where the viewers take over the airwaves
9:30:59 > 9:31:01and you have your say.
9:31:01 > 9:31:03Welcome to Points Of View.
9:31:13 > 9:31:16Good afternoon. First there was the controversy over this,
9:31:16 > 9:31:21Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson appearing to use a racist word -
9:31:21 > 9:31:24and a warning that you may be offended here.
9:31:24 > 9:31:27HE MUTTERS Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch a nigger by his toe...
9:31:27 > 9:31:30Which led to him issuing this online.
9:31:30 > 9:31:34If you listen very carefully with the sound turned right up,
9:31:34 > 9:31:40it did appear that I'd actually used the word I was trying to obscure.
9:31:40 > 9:31:45I was mortified by this, horrified. It is a word I loathe.
9:31:45 > 9:31:48And I did everything in my power to make sure that that version
9:31:48 > 9:31:52did not appear in the programme that was transmitted.
9:31:52 > 9:31:58Please be assured, I did everything in my power to not use that word,
9:31:58 > 9:32:03and, as I'm sitting here begging your forgiveness for the fact that
9:32:03 > 9:32:06obviously my efforts weren't quite good enough.
9:32:06 > 9:32:10And then, before the dust had time to settle, there was the news
9:32:10 > 9:32:16that the motoring series is being investigated by the media regulator Ofcom for THIS remark -
9:32:16 > 9:32:20and another warning here that the language used might offend.
9:32:24 > 9:32:27That is a proud moment.
9:32:27 > 9:32:28But...
9:32:28 > 9:32:30there's a slope on it.
9:32:32 > 9:32:35You're right. It's definitely higher on that side.
9:32:36 > 9:32:38Now, many of you have been in touch over this -
9:32:38 > 9:32:41some to support, some to condemn -
9:32:41 > 9:32:44and we've got a few of your roadside views.
9:32:44 > 9:32:48For me, Jeremy Clarkson, the programme wouldn't work without him.
9:32:48 > 9:32:49I'll be quite honest with you,
9:32:49 > 9:32:54the BBC, if they'd taken any form of punitive action
9:32:54 > 9:32:56with regards to his job, I think that
9:32:56 > 9:33:01they'd be losing an institution that is very, very well founded.
9:33:01 > 9:33:05I don't believe he's racist. He's just making remarks.
9:33:05 > 9:33:08He didn't actually, from what I understand, say the word,
9:33:08 > 9:33:12and it's an old rhyme that's been around hundreds of years, and...
9:33:13 > 9:33:16I don't know, just sometimes he says things without thinking, doesn't he?
9:33:16 > 9:33:20I don't think the BBC's decision to let him off is a good idea,
9:33:20 > 9:33:23because I think as a journalist he should be aware of what he's saying
9:33:23 > 9:33:27and know that everything is on camera, and so
9:33:27 > 9:33:31he shouldn't be saying things that he thinks or hopes that won't be heard,
9:33:31 > 9:33:35and I think he should probably have been reprimanded more strongly,
9:33:35 > 9:33:38because I don't think it's the first time that he's done something wrong.
9:33:38 > 9:33:42It hasn't changed my opinion of Jeremy Clarkson at all.
9:33:42 > 9:33:46I don't like him particularly, I think he's obnoxious,
9:33:46 > 9:33:50but I think he's made a mistake and it's just a genuine mistake.
9:33:50 > 9:33:51And it could happen to anyone
9:33:51 > 9:33:54standing in front of a camera, I suppose!
9:33:54 > 9:33:56I think it's great that he made these comments
9:33:56 > 9:34:00because then everyone can review how we feel about racism.
9:34:00 > 9:34:03So in a funny sort of a way I think it works out,
9:34:03 > 9:34:07that we all can discuss how we feel about colour and everything else
9:34:07 > 9:34:10and different cultures and what have you. So actually it's a good thing.
9:34:10 > 9:34:13Jeremy Clarkson's a British legend.
9:34:13 > 9:34:16I think a lot of the media give him trouble for no reason.
9:34:16 > 9:34:19He's entitled to his opinion like the rest of the people.
9:34:20 > 9:34:24Clarkson's Clarkson, isn't he? Proper driver.
9:34:24 > 9:34:28Now, the view on this seems split pretty much straight down the middle.
9:34:28 > 9:34:31For its part the BBC has said it won't be commenting on the issue
9:34:31 > 9:34:37being investigated by Ofcom, but, on the incident where Jeremy appeared to use the N-word,
9:34:37 > 9:34:39they gave us this statement.
9:34:48 > 9:34:51Staying with attitudes to race -
9:34:51 > 9:34:54and if opinions were split on Clarkson, so too have they been
9:34:54 > 9:34:59in the debate over diversity raised on this programme last week.
9:34:59 > 9:35:01Now, we heard from one campaigning group which is threatening to
9:35:01 > 9:35:04boycott the TV licence if the BBC doesn't redress
9:35:04 > 9:35:09an imbalance in the number of people from ethnic minorities it employs.
9:35:09 > 9:35:12We appreciate that this might be against the law,
9:35:12 > 9:35:15but after years and years of discussing the same issue,
9:35:15 > 9:35:17we feel that there is no choice.
9:35:17 > 9:35:21Again, lots coming in on this - and here's a sample of your views.
9:35:28 > 9:35:31About 13% of the UK is non-white British.
9:35:31 > 9:35:33That should therefore be a reasonable guideline
9:35:33 > 9:35:36for the ethnic distribution of television presenters.
9:35:36 > 9:35:38Below this and it should be rectified,
9:35:38 > 9:35:42but if the figure is at least this, the BBC should defend its position.
9:35:42 > 9:35:44Only a finite number of presenters are required,
9:35:44 > 9:35:48and you have other criteria to consider, such as gender, age,
9:35:48 > 9:35:51and national and regional representation.
9:35:51 > 9:35:54You risk patronising some and alienating other viewers
9:35:54 > 9:35:57if you're too anxious to please everyone.
9:35:57 > 9:36:00Moving on, and history was made this week
9:36:00 > 9:36:02when for the first time a complete series
9:36:02 > 9:36:06was released on the iPlayer before being broadcast on TV.
9:36:06 > 9:36:09If I went swimming, and a big shark came up, I could punch
9:36:09 > 9:36:14the shark in the head and the shark would die, would just disintegrate.
9:36:14 > 9:36:17All six episodes of the new comedy series Jonah From Tonga
9:36:17 > 9:36:20were available to watch on the online service last weekend
9:36:20 > 9:36:25ahead of the first episode making it onto your TVs on Thursday.
9:36:25 > 9:36:28And this certainly is the shape of things to come, with plans
9:36:28 > 9:36:33to move all of BBC Three's content to the iPlayer some time next year.
9:36:33 > 9:36:37But, are people who watch solely on iPlayer being given an unfair
9:36:37 > 9:36:40advantage, because so long as they don't watch live output,
9:36:40 > 9:36:42they don't have to pay the licence fee?
9:36:42 > 9:36:45Andrea Solomon certainly thinks so.
9:36:45 > 9:36:48They give it away, free. It's ludicrous.
9:36:48 > 9:36:51And of course it's not theirs to give away,
9:36:51 > 9:36:56because the licence fee payer's already paid for this upfront.
9:36:56 > 9:36:58So, erm...think again, BBC.
9:36:58 > 9:37:01Myself and a lot of people I know don't watch TV
9:37:01 > 9:37:02in the traditional sense any more -
9:37:02 > 9:37:05we'll stream a show on the way to work,
9:37:05 > 9:37:07but we won't sit down in front of a TV.
9:37:07 > 9:37:10Now, it says on the BBC website in black and white
9:37:10 > 9:37:13that we don't actually have to pay a TV licence for this.
9:37:13 > 9:37:18What about if the BBC was to introduce a catch up-only licence?
9:37:18 > 9:37:20I would happily pay it,
9:37:20 > 9:37:23I feel like in a way it's my duty to pay it, and I feel like a lot of
9:37:23 > 9:37:26other people should pay it as well if they're consuming BBC content.
9:37:26 > 9:37:29Now, the top man at the BBC, Lord Tony Hall,
9:37:29 > 9:37:31has himself spoken about this,
9:37:31 > 9:37:34and he believes the licence fee should be modernised
9:37:34 > 9:37:37to cover viewing of all BBC programmes,
9:37:37 > 9:37:40whether live on TV or on demand on the iPlayer.
9:37:40 > 9:37:43Obviously any changes to the licence fee would be decisions
9:37:43 > 9:37:47the Government would have to make, but with growing viewing online
9:37:47 > 9:37:51it seems that change may need to happen sooner rather than later.
9:37:51 > 9:37:54Next up, not who pays for the TV licence
9:37:54 > 9:37:56but what it should be used for.
9:37:56 > 9:37:59You're always keen to tell us whether you think the licence fee is being well spent,
9:37:59 > 9:38:02so here's one viewer who believes in the race for ratings
9:38:02 > 9:38:06the BBC has forgotten its founding principles.
9:38:06 > 9:38:09Hi, my name's Rich, I'm from Coventry,
9:38:09 > 9:38:11I'm 26, and I run a software development company.
9:38:11 > 9:38:13I personally love the BBC,
9:38:13 > 9:38:18and I think £13 a month for the licence fee is great value for money.
9:38:18 > 9:38:21But I don't always think the money is being spent where it should be.
9:38:24 > 9:38:27I think the money should be spent on more innovative programmes -
9:38:27 > 9:38:30innovative programmes like the ones that the BBC are world-famous for.
9:38:30 > 9:38:33Play it nice and cool, son. Nice and cool, you know what I mean?
9:38:35 > 9:38:37Only Fools And Horses, Ab Fab, Doctor Who...
9:38:37 > 9:38:40- I never forget a face. - I know you don't.
9:38:40 > 9:38:42..they're all programmes the BBC took a risk on.
9:38:42 > 9:38:45By buying in formats from America like The Voice
9:38:45 > 9:38:49they're just chasing ratings, and it ends up with BBC One looking like
9:38:49 > 9:38:52every other broadcaster, when the BBC should be different.
9:38:54 > 9:38:57And it really angers me to hear that BBC Three's TV channel
9:38:57 > 9:39:01is being closed down, and its budget vastly reduced.
9:39:01 > 9:39:05BBC Three is watched by a third of 16 to 35-year-olds currently,
9:39:05 > 9:39:07and all of a sudden the BBC has decided that that audience
9:39:07 > 9:39:10isn't important enough to have its own channel.
9:39:10 > 9:39:13Instead, it would rather spend the money
9:39:13 > 9:39:17keeping middle-aged Middle Britain glued to its TVs on a Saturday night.
9:39:17 > 9:39:18BBC Three was not only for young people,
9:39:18 > 9:39:21it was a launch platform for risky programmes...
9:39:21 > 9:39:22What's occurring?
9:39:22 > 9:39:24..like Gavin And Stacey and Little Britain.
9:39:24 > 9:39:27Where do those risky programmes go now?
9:39:27 > 9:39:29Vicky Pollard, stay behind.
9:39:29 > 9:39:32- Good luck, Vicky. - Yes, thank you, Kelly.
9:39:32 > 9:39:35I believe that over the last 90 years the BBC has done the UK proud
9:39:35 > 9:39:39in its mission to inform, educate and entertain the nation.
9:39:46 > 9:39:49Isn't it time that the BBC stopped spending so much of the licence fee payer's money
9:39:49 > 9:39:52only entertaining the mainstream and chasing ratings,
9:39:52 > 9:39:57and instead spend more of it informing and educating the wider British public?
9:39:57 > 9:40:04Rich Bishop, expressing the anger of many over the plans to lose BBC Three off the TV schedules.
9:40:04 > 9:40:07Now, this is one of the issues we're going to be raising with the Director of TV
9:40:07 > 9:40:11when we interview him next month for a special Points Of View programme.
9:40:11 > 9:40:15So if you have got a question you would like us to put to Danny Cohen,
9:40:15 > 9:40:18please tweet it to us using @bbcpov,
9:40:18 > 9:40:21and the hashtag "askdanny".
9:40:25 > 9:40:30There are 3.5 million people in the UK who would not be happy at all to be up here.
9:40:30 > 9:40:33They're the people affected by acrophobia -
9:40:33 > 9:40:37an extreme and totally irrational fear of heights.
9:40:38 > 9:40:42Acrophobia, the fear of heights, and the condition
9:40:42 > 9:40:48behind an hour-long documentary titled Vertigo Road Trip on BBC One on Wednesday. Did you see it?
9:40:48 > 9:40:51Wait a minute. VERTIGO Road Trip?
9:40:58 > 9:41:03Well spotted, Elie - as remember, the show's presenter Mel Giedroyc pointed out...
9:41:03 > 9:41:08Acrophobia - an extreme and totally irrational fear of heights.
9:41:08 > 9:41:11But it wasn't just the incorrect diagnosis that got you talking on this one -
9:41:11 > 9:41:14it was the distances the production team went to
9:41:14 > 9:41:17to cure the fear of those taking part.
9:41:17 > 9:41:19We've left the Alps far behind us
9:41:19 > 9:41:23and travelled almost 3,000 miles to the United Arab Emirates.
9:41:39 > 9:41:41Hey! How are you, boss?
9:41:41 > 9:41:45- How are you? - I'm good. I'll just grab my stuff.
9:41:45 > 9:41:49Another road trip, but this time a bit closer to home -
9:41:49 > 9:41:51two likely lads took to the road for Bank Holiday Monday's
9:41:51 > 9:41:54- When Corden Met Barlow. - Can you pop the boot?
9:41:54 > 9:41:56What's happening? We're only going for two nights.
9:41:58 > 9:42:02The pair of famous friends retracing pop star turned pop judge
9:42:02 > 9:42:07Gary Barlow's rise, fall and rise again.
9:42:07 > 9:42:12- Sorry, Gary. But I was always the talented member of the band. - CHEERING
9:42:12 > 9:42:14Thank you very much!
9:42:16 > 9:42:17I mean...
9:42:19 > 9:42:23- That's all right.- It's all right NOW...- It's all right now.
9:42:23 > 9:42:30It wasn't worse than any of the other ones, but it's just...
9:42:30 > 9:42:34I don't want to dwell on... too much, like, "Feel sorry for me."
9:42:34 > 9:42:36I absolutely loved When Corden Met Barlow.
9:42:36 > 9:42:40I thought it was an amazing insight into not only Gary as a musician
9:42:40 > 9:42:43and a songwriter, but we also got a chance to see what it was
9:42:43 > 9:42:46really like for him during his downfall in the music industry.
9:42:46 > 9:42:49I thought that James Corden did a brilliant job.
9:42:49 > 9:42:53His love for Gary and Take That truly is uplifting.
9:42:53 > 9:42:57The whole documentary was inspiring, brilliant and hilarious.
9:42:57 > 9:43:00It was amazing to see Gary's story.
9:43:00 > 9:43:02We all know it, but now we got to see his point
9:43:02 > 9:43:04and how the press affected him.
9:43:04 > 9:43:08Depression affects everyone, and it's lovely to see Gary back,
9:43:08 > 9:43:11and back to his best.
9:43:11 > 9:43:13- Now, have you been doing your affirmations, love?- Yep.
9:43:13 > 9:43:16OK, do one for us now, will you?
9:43:22 > 9:43:26I'm a Partially Deceased Syndrome sufferer, and that is not my fault.
9:43:27 > 9:43:30In The Flesh returned for a new series,
9:43:30 > 9:43:33with plenty of zombie action.
9:43:34 > 9:43:36SNARLING AND GROWLING
9:43:41 > 9:43:44Looks like that one gave you the right run-around, Gary.
9:43:44 > 9:43:46These rabids are getting more vicious.
9:43:46 > 9:43:50Catching rabids - that's rabids, not rabbits -
9:43:50 > 9:43:52all in a day's work for the bounty hunters,
9:43:52 > 9:43:56and it seems like a job well done for the In The Flesh team.
9:44:03 > 9:44:06Thanks for your comments this week. If you'd like to have your view aired,
9:44:06 > 9:44:09you can do so by writing to us...
9:44:15 > 9:44:18Or there's e-mail...
9:44:18 > 9:44:19You can also call us -
9:44:19 > 9:44:22the number's charged as a local rate call from any landline.
9:44:28 > 9:44:30Or join the messageboarders, always lively there...
9:44:33 > 9:44:35And get us on Twitter too...
9:44:36 > 9:44:40Well, that's it. Another busy week. Until next week - goodbye.