Episode 6 Points of View

This week, the comedy many of you find no laughing matter,

and the case of the detective who's gone missing from the schedules.

Welcome to the show that lets YOU have YOUR say on the week's TV.

Welcome to your Points Of View.

First, events this week were, of course, overshadowed

by Monday night's attack on innocent concert-goers

at the Manchester Arena.

'After many of us woke up to news of the bombing on BBC Breakfast

'on Tuesday morning,

'rolling coverage from Manchester

'replaced BBC One's normal programming

'for the rest of the morning,

'before transferring to BBC Two in the afternoon.'

I can see streams of people, clearly on their way to work.

This may have happened last night, at only 10:30 last night,

but people are absolutely determined to get back to normal.

Many of you got in touch about BBC News

and BBC Breakfast's reporting.

You also singled out Dan Walker's warning regarding social media.

There's some horrendous rumours about people making up

that they've lost members of their family to try and get re-tweets.

If you're involved in that, just stop it,

cos it's a really serious incident,

and people are desperate to find out information.

Several, however, did question the decision

to replace BBC One and, later, BBC Two's normal programming

with rolling coverage.

Our thoughts are with everyone

affected by the attack in Manchester.

This week saw a perennial favourite of the BBC's spring schedules

return to our screens.

Coverage of the annual flower fest that is the Chelsea Flower Show

began last Sunday with an hour-long preview.

Your green-fingered guides to the gardens across the week

included Nicki Chapman, James Wong,

Joe Swift and Monty Don.

This celebrates everything I love about gardening.

Not just vegetables, but it's just something about the joy of it,

and I love the way that here we are at Chelsea,

it's not trying to pretend it's anything else, it's a veg plot.

On the whole, your views on the BBC's broadcast this year

proved rosy.

Like it!

But, once more, a common complaint regarding Chelsea gained ground,

as several of you felt, yet again this year,

the focus fell too much on the presenters rather than the plants...

..while the frequent mentions of the Flower Show's sponsor

proved a thorn in the side of some.

Well, in an attempt to nip that one in the bud,

we asked the BBC to explain those sponsor mentions,

and this is what they said.

That was as much of an explanation as we could get for you, I'm afraid.

It was a case of gently does it on BBC One last Sunday

as an inspector called for the penultimate time.

Set in 1970, the first of a two-part swansong

for Inspector George Gently

saw the detective reopen an eight-year-old case.

Marion wants a body to bury. We should just close the case.

If you keep talking, I'm going to start asking

why you are so anxious to defend a flawed investigation.

Is there something I should know here? Cos if there is, tell me.

The news that George will soon be hanging up his handcuffs for good

has been met with disappointment.

Sunday's episode did, however, bring some joy to the Points Of View team

as eagle-eyed viewers spotted our first historical clanger in a while.

Well spotted. George was indeed shown

using a particular brand of torch that only became available in 1979.

The drama's producers have made a full confession on this one.

Perhaps the real mystery surrounding DCI Gently this week, though,

is just when you'll get to see the series conclusion.

Good question, Richard. That would make sense, wouldn't it?

We asked the BBC if they could shed some light

on the inspector's disappearance from this week's schedule,

and this is their response.

Next, Homes Under The Hammer does it.

Coming up, this two-bed property...

Bargain Hunt does it...

So let's take a shifty at what's coming up.

And this week, the Chelsea Flower Show was at it too...

Coming up tonight,

we'll be revealing all of this year's show gardens.

Known in the industry as a tease, or menu,

programme makers frequently reveal what's coming up

at the start of a show,

presumably in the hope of enticing us to stay tuned.

But it appears use of the technique is leading to several of you

reaching for the remote instead.

You definitely aren't alone, Nick.

This week, we heard from two other viewers

with exactly the same point of view.

We paid them a visit

to find out why they've had enough of hearing what's next.

Coming up next on Points Of View, I, Paul Southwell,

and my wife, Kairen, make a cup of tea...

..sit out in the garden,

and tell you all about one of TV's most annoying features.

I don't want to see all the most important parts of the programme

at the very beginning.

I want to watch the programme,

and watch it develop as it happens.

Not at the front.

And it makes me so mad

to the point where I really want to throw the controller

at the television.

And if I pick up a book, I don't skim through all the chapters first

and then read the book. I like the programme to be revealed to me.

There was that series that was on recently about hotels,

-Amazing Hotels...

-That is right, yes.

And they had a huge trailer at the beginning

-with all the hotels "to come" later in the series.

-Yes.

'All over the world, there are remarkable hotels,

'born of bold vision and daring endeavour.'

Also, Escape To The Country.

'Coming up, the Mystery House reaches new heights.'

I really think it's a piece of padding

that can be put at the front of the programme

to be able to fill it out a little bit.

Don't you agree?

Yes, because, very often, there's three or four minutes

at the beginning of the programme which is just regurgitated video.

Why do I have to watch a teaser at the beginning?

It's just not necessary. Just take it away.

If another habit of programme makers has you frustrated,

we want to hear about it.

Details of how to get in touch coming up at the end of the show.

Moving underground, BBC Two on Monday night

was delving deep to uncover the story behind

Europe's biggest construction project.

The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway, The Final Countdown,

took us behind the scenes

of the race to complete Crossrail, London's new railway.

Monday's episode saw the sheer scale of the task

revealed by engineer Linda Miller.

If you were to take The Shard,

which is the tallest skyscraper in Europe right now,

and lay it on its side, it would fit inside of my Farringdon Station.

This one was definitely on the right track. Sorry.

You found it anything but...

BORING.

In fact, it left you feeling rather patriotic.

And the engineering feats portrayed even inspired you to make

a technological advance of your own when sending your feedback,

albeit on a slightly smaller scale.

And, I think, the first emoji on Points Of View.

Ground-breaking moment for us here.

The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway concludes on BBC Two tomorrow night.

To Friday night comedy next,

although some would argue I'm using that word loosely.

Back last week for the start of a third series,

Count Arthur Strong stars Steve Delaney

as a 70-something faded variety star.

The new series opener saw the Count enlisted to rid

a haunted house of its demons.

-Promise me you won't be angry with me.

-What did you do?!

I've agreed to perform an exorcism at their house.

What?!

LAUGHTER

I didn't mean to, Michael.

The Count's antics split the sides of some.

Yet, despite the show coming fourth in a poll

to find the nation's favourite sitcom last year,

many of you are failing to see the funny side.

After ten minutes, I couldn't stand it any more,

and turned it off to watch a DVD

and wait for Graham Norton.

Is this really prime-time Friday viewing?

Honestly, BBC, this is complete twaddle,

and I think you really need to do better.

And finally this week,

just time to mention one of my all-time favourite shows.

This is what I watch every evening at six o'clock,

and now I'm here, it's like a bad dream.

After previously occupying a regular 6pm slot

in BBC Two's schedules, since earlier this month,

episodes of Celebrity Eggheads have been moved to 6:45pm,

and that shift has left many of you frustrated.

Good question.

Now, I'm not sure we'll EVER get to the bottom of that,

but we did ask them about moving Celebrity Eggheads.

And they said...

Whether you see a drama that has left you dazzled

or a disappointing documentary on BBC television

over the next seven days,

please do get in touch with your thoughts.

You can e-mail us at...

..or send us a message via our website,

where it's also very easy to upload a video for us.

You'll find us at...

And we're on social media, too. On Twitter we are at...

..or on Facebook you can find us just by searching for...

We're back, right here, on BBC One next Sunday at,

would you believe it, the same time?

That's 4:45pm.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.