0:00:00 > 0:00:00POINTS OF VIEW FKA R168J/01 BRD000000
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Chelsea without Titchmarsh, MasterChef music choices,
0:01:29 > 0:01:31and Paxman's awkward question.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Just some of the issues that have got you talking this week.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Welcome to Points Of View.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52Good afternoon. The annual Chelsea Flower Show returned this week
0:01:52 > 0:01:54with all the usual colour and excitement.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57But this year, one hardy annual has been missing.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01After three decades broadcasting from the show, Alan Titchmarsh
0:02:01 > 0:02:05has been replaced by fellow gardening presenter Monty Don.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09What on earth possessed you to replace an articulate, accomplished
0:02:09 > 0:02:13and personable presenter, like Adam Titchmarsh, with Monty Don?
0:02:13 > 0:02:16A nice enough bloke, I'm sure, but he seemed completely
0:02:16 > 0:02:20out of his depth and uncomfortable in almost every situation.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Well done, BBC, for your coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28However, I do feel that Monty Don was out of his depth
0:02:28 > 0:02:30as an interviewer.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Not to mention how shabbily he was dressed.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37As the Chelsea Flower Show was in London,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40it was a shame that no-one from the BBC could take him
0:02:40 > 0:02:45down to Savile Row and buy him a decent suit, shirt and tie.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48We joined the queue outside the show to get
0:02:48 > 0:02:51the reaction of the Chelsea set.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55We asked them the all-important question. Who is your favourite?
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Monty or Alan?
0:02:59 > 0:03:02My favourite is Alan.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04My favourite's Monty.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07I prefer Alan Titchmarsh because I followed him all through
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Gardeners' World, and he was my first endeavour into the gardening world.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13It's a small garden. Most of us are faced with tiny plots.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15And this one's only 15 feet wide.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17I actually prefer Monty.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21I like the gritty way he gets down to do things in the garden.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23He's a firm favourite of mine.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Now, I just use the side of my hand to make a furrow.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30- Alan.- It's got to be Alan.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Definitely Alan.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36And, in my view, we've come to trust him because of his very deep
0:03:36 > 0:03:39knowledge of not just horticulture, which Monty has,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42but also his deep knowledge of the Chelsea Flower Show.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44- Alan?- Welcome to my beach hut.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47I think the way Alan's presented the show over the years is unique.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50When I started watching this year, it really did feel different.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51It felt like something was missing.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Good evening. It's been a day of high excitement
0:03:54 > 0:03:57and anticipation here at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I'm an absolutely huge fan of Monty Don.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03I'm really, really glad that he's now the presenter
0:04:03 > 0:04:04of the Chelsea Flower Show.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08He brings his passion and he describes things in a way
0:04:08 > 0:04:10that even simple things
0:04:10 > 0:04:13you suddenly realise, "If only I'd done it like that."
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I'll tell you what, I'm going to take some clothes off.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20To be honest, I would have to do this and stand between them
0:04:20 > 0:04:22and say, I love them both!
0:04:23 > 0:04:26A mixed reaction from the green-fingered fans, then.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29For his part, Alan Titchmarsh is on the record as saying that
0:04:29 > 0:04:32the BBC had made him an offer he COULD refuse.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35So, did the powers that be put him out to seed?
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Here is a statement from headquarters.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Our MasterChef champion...
0:05:08 > 0:05:09..is Ping.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11MUSIC: "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Ping Coombes is crowned MasterChef Champion 2014,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18her East Asian dishes proving a very popular choice.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20But we wish we could say the same for the music,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23chosen by the production team.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26# I'm every woman
0:05:26 > 0:05:28# It's all in me... #
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I've just finished watching the final episodes of MasterChef.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33What a brilliant series!
0:05:33 > 0:05:36The highs, the lows, the whole piece in Barcelona,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38the three fabulous contestants,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40culminating in a thrilling win for Ping.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Why, oh, why, oh, why did we end up then having to listen to
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Chaka Khan's I'm Every Woman played over the last part?
0:05:46 > 0:05:49It really ruined a quite brilliant series.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11And it wasn't just MasterChef being accused of sexism this week.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15The former Italian Prime Minister faced his own accusations
0:06:15 > 0:06:18from Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman on Tuesday night.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Do have a particular problem with Angela Merkel?
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Is it true you called her...
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Now, for reasons of taste and decency and,
0:06:25 > 0:06:29given the hour of the day, I will paraphrase for you here.
0:06:29 > 0:06:30The question posed asked
0:06:30 > 0:06:33if Mr Berlusconi had called the German Prime Minister
0:06:33 > 0:06:39an unalluring woman with a posterior made of pork fat.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43- TRANSLATION:- No, I have never had any problems with Angela Merkel.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47In 20 years of politics, I've never insulted anyone.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51And this has been made up by someone who wanted to turn
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Angela against me.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Silvio Berlusconi denying that he would ever have said such
0:06:56 > 0:06:59a thing about his then European counterpart.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Although the remark was very cruel, many of you believed Paxman
0:07:02 > 0:07:06was right to have put it direct to his interviewee.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10It comes down to the intent and purpose of him doing so.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14Was it out to intimidate or abuse Berlusconi or Merkel?
0:07:14 > 0:07:18No, it was to get across a point of what was actually said.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23And what was actually meant by it from Berlusconi's perspective.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27All too often, we shy away from using terminology because somebody
0:07:27 > 0:07:32finds it offensive and we cannot go on as a society in that way.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37Still causing trouble after all these years, the great Paxo.
0:07:37 > 0:07:38Now, moving on.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41A couple of weeks ago, you may remember viewer Rich Bishop
0:07:41 > 0:07:45called on the BBC to step out of the ratings war.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Isn't it time the BBC stopped spending
0:07:47 > 0:07:51so much of the licence fee payers' money only entertaining
0:07:51 > 0:07:53the mainstream and chasing the ratings and, instead,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57spent more of it informing and educating the wider British public?
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Well, this week, two industry professionals tell us
0:08:00 > 0:08:03why ratings do, and should, matter at the BBC.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Ratings are the currency for broadcasters,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08so they are absolutely vitally important.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11At around about 9:33am,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14the ratings come through, and everybody has a look at them.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17The viewing figures we produce every day are vital.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Firstly, for broadcasters so that they can be reassured
0:08:21 > 0:08:24that they're investing in the right programming.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28And, secondly, for the commercial broadcasters, they need to be
0:08:28 > 0:08:32able to set the right rates for the cost of advertising.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37The BBC has always chased ratings.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Always has done, always will, because they want to demonstrate value
0:08:41 > 0:08:43and range for the licence fee payer.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47So, it's important for the BBC to get audiences to programmes
0:08:47 > 0:08:52such as Panorama, Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders,
0:08:52 > 0:08:58via Call The Midwife and Imagine, for range and value across all genres
0:08:58 > 0:09:00for the licence fee payer.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02We know that there's a lot of interest in the numbers
0:09:02 > 0:09:07we produce, particularly when you have a show such as The X Factor
0:09:07 > 0:09:11up against Strictly Come Dancing in the Saturday evening ratings battle.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16The ratings battle between ITV and BBC One, especially, is very fierce.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18They're the two biggest broadcasters.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20And when you're at ITV, as I was,
0:09:20 > 0:09:24what you care about more than anything is what BBC One are up to.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26And when I was at BBC, which I was beforehand,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29you care more than anything about what ITV are up to.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32It's the two biggest channels slugging it out
0:09:32 > 0:09:34for the biggest ratings share.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36It's so good tonight.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38And it's highly competitive, and it generates good ideas
0:09:38 > 0:09:42and good programming because each one wants to beat the other.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Now, did you see this?
0:09:44 > 0:09:48The story of how polio was beaten, which was told
0:09:48 > 0:09:52in Stephanie Flanders' very personal account on Monday night.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I know about polio because my own dad
0:09:55 > 0:09:58caught the disease in the Navy during the war.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02Polio put him in a wheelchair from the age of 21.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07The former BBC economics editor's troubling memories
0:10:07 > 0:10:10of the impact of the disease being shared by some.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13It was Michael Flanders' presence in the early stages
0:10:13 > 0:10:15of the battle to beat polio which initially drew me in.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17But, after that, I was hooked.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21His daughter's presentation style is extremely natural and relaxed,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24and the programme was, as a result, absolutely captivating.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27It would have been very easy for her to turn it into
0:10:27 > 0:10:30an overly personal documentary.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32But, instead, it was handled with tact and with care.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It was compelling, fascinating, and, occasionally,
0:10:35 > 0:10:37absolutely heartbreaking.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42And praise, too, for BBC Two's very raw drama about the final days
0:10:42 > 0:10:44of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54Oh, Caitlin, Cat, my beautiful, my love. What am I doing here?
0:10:55 > 0:10:59I don't want to be in this nightmare any more where no-one understands me
0:10:59 > 0:11:03but everyone wants to bite little bits off me and swallow them.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08I want to be home in Laugharne and live quietly with you and Colm.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13Tom Hollander - yup, that's him off Rev - starred as Dylan Thomas.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17A story, a sad portrayal of the great poet's demise.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Tom Hollander gave an absolutely cracking performance as
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Dylan Thomas in A Poet In New York.
0:11:23 > 0:11:29It seemed he didn't use imitation or mimicry, but he became Dylan Thomas.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34It's like he embodied the essence of Thomas. And it was amazing.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And the way he read his works I thought were absolutely fantastic.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42Brilliant. An award-winning performance, in my book. Absolutely.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Next, not so much art lovers but art collectors.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02In fact, collectors of anything that'll make a few quid.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06It's the start of the new series called Del Boys And Dealers.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11All over Britain, a unique breed of entrepreneur is on the make.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14It's just become 100 years old, so it's just become an antique.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19The flames are beautiful. This will be so easy to sell.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24For these real-life Del Boys, everything and anything is for sale.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Lot 53. Two bags of various biscuits -
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Jaffa Cakes, etc - and a box of Nurofen.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Three more of these in the series to come.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48Let's see if our real-life Trotters do make their fortune after all.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49Now, next up, pronunciation.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54Always a real bugbear here at Points Of View, as you know.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56This week, not one but two presenters
0:12:56 > 0:12:58apparently missing the mark.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08They're great on the barbecues, these aw-bergines.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11This has got the aw-bergines. The smoked aw-bergines are very simple.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15The Obella family have just started growing these...
0:13:15 > 0:13:16aw-bergines.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18This is aw-bergine that you're preparing.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21But aw-bergines are close to the Italian heart.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Countryfile's Matt Baker and James Martin from Saturday Kitchen
0:13:24 > 0:13:27incorrectly pronouncing "aubergine",
0:13:27 > 0:13:30which is oh-ber-gine, or even oh-ber-jean,
0:13:30 > 0:13:35but never aw-ber-jean, according to our official sources.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Don't get started on whether it's a fruit or a vegetable.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40That will surely open the floodgates.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Thanks for all your comments this week.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44If you'd like to have your view aired, we made getting
0:13:44 > 0:13:47your own personal video on TV a lot easier.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51From now on, you'll be able to click the link on our programme page
0:13:51 > 0:13:55and record a short message using the camera on your phone or tablet,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58or a webcam on your computer, and have it sent to us directly
0:13:58 > 0:14:02There are full instructions on how to do this on the link.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05But we haven't done away with all the usual ways of getting in touch.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08You can do so by writing to us. Here is the address.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15You can call our phone line -
0:14:15 > 0:14:18the number is charged as a local-rate call from any landline.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Or join the message boarders.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30There's always e-mail, too.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Plus, there's Twitter...
0:14:36 > 0:14:40Before we go, many of you enjoying the celebrations of 50 years
0:14:40 > 0:14:42of comedy on BBC Two this weekend.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Those celebrations continue tonight with Harry Enfield
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and Paul Whitehouse's irreverent, not always entirely accurate,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52look at the history of the channel.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55And we leave you with a sneak preview of that show.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Until next week, goodbye.
0:14:57 > 0:15:03This cathedral of programme making brought joy to the great unwashed.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- I like television, I like Bruce Forsyth.- I like Doctor Who.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08I like Coronation Street.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11How different television looks today.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- I like Bruce Forsyth. - I like Doctor Who.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17I like Coronation Street.