Pinch punch first of the month

The snow stole our hard copy of The Times today. I hear the lorry got stuck on the A30. Not to worry, I subscribe to the online version. James Kirkup has written the Thunderer column and it’s called “The BBC needs to go back to basics if it wants to survive“ 

Some of his observations coincide with what critics of the BBC have said a million times already. Actually, they sound a lot like something I’ve said (have I written about it, or just thought it?) about the BBC before.  Namely the flaw it shares with its co-iconic symbol of Britishness, poor old Marks and Sparks - you know, that it’s forgotten its core market and instead wastes its time trying desperately to attract the youth, but it’s so uncool that no-respectable person under, say, 65, would be seen dead wearing those copies of trendy fashion that completely miss the mark. It’s like Dad dancing, says Kirkup. (He’s talking about the Beeb, but I’m talking about both of them)

Just as M & S has been out-trended by the likes of, I don’t know, hundreds of youth-oriented high-street stores, the BBC is being trounced by YouTube and Netflix. 


“The BBC reacts by trying to fight YouTube and the rest on their own ground, seeking the loyalty of future adults with youth-focused content and products. The results are predictably uninspiring. BBC Online now reports on vloggers and celebrity pap as news. To lure the indifferent young to its radio and podcasts, the BBC built Sounds, an app (kids love apps, yeah?) that has succeeded only in annoying existing listeners.” 

M & S needs to concentrate on good quality clothes like jumpers in the right colours that wash well and last a long time, (about 30 years will do) and the BBC should concentrate on “what it does best — public service journalism and programming”.

Obviously, the best bit for me is the below-the-line comments. The ability to access the comments is where subscribing comes into its own. 

Needless to say, many of them are fed up with the BBC’s bias. 

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I’m not going to be mean about Jeremy Hardy now that he has died. It’s very sad that anyone should die at only 57. But it’s hard to be forgiving of the BBC’s wall-to-wall eulogising about his wit and humour and commitment to his “causes” one of which was very vitriolic anti-Israel advocacy. 

He was undoubtedly witty and clever, but humour should be based on truth otherwise it’s not funny. Jeremy Hardy fell for Palestinian propaganda hook line and sinker and the general public’s gullibility allowed him to be sarky and inflammatory without any regard or respect for the truth.

Good cause