Episode 9 Points of View

This week, the baker's car show you felt was cream of the crop,

and are older people being short-changed by the BBC?

All that and more in the show that lets you have your say on

the BBC's television programmes. Get your voice heard in there.

Welcome to your Points Of View.

First this week, the bodice-ripping

Cornish drama that galloped back onto our screens last Sunday night.

The action was coming thick and fast in the opening instalment of

Poldark's third series, beginning with a dramatic clifftop rescue.

Over the course of 60 minutes, there were deaths,

a birth and a wedding, in an episode that also saw Ross propose

a truce with archenemy George Warleggan.

And there would be no need for our paths to cross...

ever again.

You were delighted to see Poldark setting sail once more.

I waited for Poldark season three with great anticipation.

And it didn't disappoint. So much in that first episode.

In fact, blink and you'd miss a death or a birth.

Only a hint of chest hair from the lovely Mr Turner.

And by the way, happy birthday for tomorrow, Aidan.

Many happy returns from us, too, Mr Turner, if you are watching.

Aidan's appeal, it appears, well and truly spanning generations.

Fingers across the nation

no doubt crossed in the hope of some shirt-stripping action tonight.

Poldark's back on BBC One at nine o'clock.

Also making a comeback on BBC One recently, the show that aims

to transform the homes and lives of families across the country.

-Do you think it's possible?

-ALL:

-Yes!

In a series first, the DIY SOS team, joined by an army of

volunteers, were given just nine days to build

a brand-new house for two deserving dads

and their four adopted children,

some of whom had complex special needs.

You need to be very proud of yourselves, you really, really do.

I'm sorry, I'm crying again. I don't cry.

I've not stopped all morning!

LAUGHTER

Thank you, everyone, for helping me be independent.

This was a real emotional journey for some of you.

Earlier this year, presenter Nick Knowles had sounded

a bit of an SOS about the series' future,

saying it had become more and more difficult to make with the money

available, and that the team had yet to hear about a recommission.

And that led to concerns from you that the DIY SOS team could

soon be downing their tools for good.

Well, I'm pleased to say, in this instance,

we do have some good news for you.

We asked the BBC about DIY SOS's future and they've confirmed

the series is much-loved and it will be returning next year.

Oh, he's gone all emotional. Oh. Oh, mate.

It was one year ago this week,

as the EU referendum campaign was reaching fever pitch,

that the senseless murder of a young Labour MP shocked the nation.

Airing on BBC Two on Tuesday night,

the documentary Jo Cox: Death Of An MP retraced the activities of

the parliamentarian's killer in the days leading up to the attack.

The programme included access to the police investigation,

and contributions from Jo's family and friends.

I mean, I was very much in shock,

but moved very quickly into the practicalities of,

how do I do Jo proud...

..in...

..in making sure that the kids are OK?

The programme was, you felt, a touching tribute to the politician.

Now, on-screen diversity has become

a hot topic in the broadcasting world of late,

and the BBC's track record has come in for some criticism.

This year, Ofcom research revealed the public felt

the representation of older people,

women and ethnic minorities on the BBC was neutral at best.

We recently heard from one viewer who feels the BBC is selling

older people short.

So, what is the BBC doing to ensure older people are adequately

reflected on screen?

We sent Christine along to find out,

and put her point of view to one of the corporation's commissioners.

-Morning, Christine.

-Morning.

I feel that the BBC don't adequately represent us,

our interests and issues. What's your response to that?

It's really important that the BBC reflects the UK, up and down,

and I think diversity means so many things, but to me, ultimately,

it means the whole population, the BBC's for the whole population,

and we should be creating programmes that appeal to everybody.

So when I look at TV coverage on the BBC, I see

a lot of older people well represented.

You know, from David Attenborough,

presenting the wonderful wildlife documentaries, to Mary Berry.

Or I look at the election coverage and see people like David Dimbleby presenting.

We see that older viewers are watching a lot of the BBC.

So we're really pleased that older viewers,

who are sophisticated television viewers who watch so much,

are finding things on the BBC that they really enjoy.

That's something that we're really proud of.

Couldn't more be done to show the positive aspects of older people?

Certainly, I know from the work we do at the BBC that we are always

looking to find ways of portraying people in different lights.

You know, the research that's done about older viewers shows

exactly what you're saying,

they don't just want to be perceived as, you know, getting older

and staying at home and not doing anything in their lives.

When you see people dancing in Strictly Come Dancing,

or you see some of the programmes we do, like DIY SOS,

where people are volunteering, and that can include older people as well as young.

I think we are really trying to harness that, to find those areas.

But overall, I do agree,

older people want to be seen to have a wide range of interests,

and that's something that we constantly try to tap into

in the programme ideas that we come up with.

I have not seen coverage of discrimination towards older people.

How can you account for that?

There's a study that was done by the Creative Diversity Network,

several years ago, looking at portrayal of different age groups.

Actually, for the majority of older viewers,

they don't believe there is a kind of negative portrayal problem.

Their main concern is to see good programmes.

I had a series I commissioned called Holding Back The Years that

featured people like Angela Rippon and a range of people who went and

looked at what it's like to be 60 or over in the UK today,

and that threw up some really surprising things.

And the main thing I took from it was that there's actually a whole

spectrum of opinions about what it's like to be over 60 in Britain today.

So, will you now change anything as a result of this discussion?

You've raised some really interesting issues and I'll

certainly take that back with me and use it to inform my future

conversations about programme ideas.

Well, if like Christine, you are keen to air your point of view on

the BBC's television programmes, please do get in touch.

You can fire us an e-mail at...

Or get in touch via our website, where our new and improved

uploader also makes it a cinch to send a video from your phone.

So, just visit...

We're on social media, too, you can tweet us on...

Or why not join in the conversation about the week's TV on our

own Facebook page?

To find us there, search for...

This week saw BBC Four turning Japanese as a three-week

season of programmes dedicated to the country got underway.

Kicking things off on Monday night was

a new three-part series from Dr James Fox.

In the first episode of The Art Of Japanese Life,

the art historian explored the relationship between the country's culture and nature.

Travelling through mountainous forests and visiting shrines

and temples along the way.

-It's a beautiful tree.

-Yes.

And how old do you think it is?

We think over 300 years.

Over 300 years old.

By all accounts, James's journey is off to a promising start.

And you singled the presenter out for particular praise,

feeling he deserves a wider audience.

Other feedback we received on the good doctor was rather more...

How do I put this?

Straight to the point.

Whatever floats your boat, Lorraine.

As Dr Fox set out on his jaunt around Japan,

over on BBC Two last weekend,

another presenter's tour around Europe was coming to an end.

In Paul Hollywood's Big Continental Road Trip,

the motor-mad Bake-Off giant aimed to discover just what makes our

European cousins tick when it comes to cars.

After pit stops in Italy and Germany,

last Sunday's final episode saw Paul arrive in France.

12 roads converge at this point

without a single road marking to help drivers out.

Apparently, you should give way to the right.

Look at them, look at them, look at them!

-But it seems no-one's told the French.

-He doesn't care.

Pretty sure that's not Paul's favourite kind of jam!

Crumbs, praise indeed.

And, speaking of that other car series,

if they are ever looking for a new front man,

it appears they could do worse than to consider a bread baker.

But, not everyone was delighted

to see the BBC chucking more dough at yet another motoring series.

No plans for anything like that, as far as we're aware, Tom.

And finally this week there's been a big song and dance

about a recent proposal in the daytime drama, Doctors.

What the...?!

Last Friday's episode saw Heston pop the question to Ruhma

in spectacular style,

with a Bollywood-inspired song and dance routine.

-# My one and only Mehbuba

-Mehbuba... #

How could we refuse such a polite request?

We're back right here on BBC One next Sunday at 5:10pm.

Until then, we will leave you with a bit of that Bollywood bonanza.

Have a good week!

# Me baaho me nigahon

# Dil duba, dil duba

# Mehbuba, Mehbuba

# Ah-ah-ah ahhh

# Mehbuba, Mehbuba. #