TV
Terry Wogan has today spoken out against many aspects of the BBC. His criticisms range from Sport and Entertainment to middle management, and Wogan even goes as far as to accuse the corporation of fiddling ratings figures.
The star accuses the Beeb of being more interested in "carpets for middle management offices" than the rights to show sporting events. The lack of golf coverage seems to have particularly displeased Wogan, who is quick to dismiss the answer that Sky out-bid the corporation for the rights, instead saying that "...the will was not there."
Wogan slams the BBC's digital TV channels, and says that the money would have been better-spent on BBC Sport:
"Funds had been earmarked for greater things: 24-hour news, BBC Choice, carpets for middle management offices - so went the way of most BBC TV sport."
Auntie's flagship sports programme, Grandstand, is also not spared: "Grandstand is now a joke," states Wogan, accusing it of only showing "rallying and bowls, with curling to add some spice during the winter months."
A spokesman for BBC Sport jumped to the rescue of the corporation's sport output, providing the following statement:
"Terry's memory is clouded by the mists of blarney. Seven world-ranked golf championships, like the US Masters and the Open, are exclusive to BBC Sport. If a winter packed with top international rugby union and a summer packed with Wimbledon tennis, Euro 2000, Royal Ascot, open golf and the Olympics is only showing minority sport, then let's have more of it."
Next on Wogan's hitlist was BBC Radio 5Live, the BBC's 24-hour news and sport radio network. He accused BBC management of artifically inflating rating figures for 5Live compared to the original Radio Five by presenting them in a different way:
"You can always fiddle the figures: 'All right, so we haven't got that many listeners, but what about our reach? And we don't want to be seen to be super-serving a middle-class minority, do we?'"
Last, but seemingly not least, Wogan attacks entertainment output across TV as a whole - although a game show featured on BBC Two is included in the blast:
"Celebrity Squares with Bob Monkhouse provided all the celebs with 'funnies' for every question, and the tradition continues, from the smart-asses of Have I Got News For You to the dunces of Dictionary Corner in Countdown."
The star accuses the Beeb of being more interested in "carpets for middle management offices" than the rights to show sporting events. The lack of golf coverage seems to have particularly displeased Wogan, who is quick to dismiss the answer that Sky out-bid the corporation for the rights, instead saying that "...the will was not there."
Wogan slams the BBC's digital TV channels, and says that the money would have been better-spent on BBC Sport:
"Funds had been earmarked for greater things: 24-hour news, BBC Choice, carpets for middle management offices - so went the way of most BBC TV sport."
Auntie's flagship sports programme, Grandstand, is also not spared: "Grandstand is now a joke," states Wogan, accusing it of only showing "rallying and bowls, with curling to add some spice during the winter months."
A spokesman for BBC Sport jumped to the rescue of the corporation's sport output, providing the following statement:
"Terry's memory is clouded by the mists of blarney. Seven world-ranked golf championships, like the US Masters and the Open, are exclusive to BBC Sport. If a winter packed with top international rugby union and a summer packed with Wimbledon tennis, Euro 2000, Royal Ascot, open golf and the Olympics is only showing minority sport, then let's have more of it."
Next on Wogan's hitlist was BBC Radio 5Live, the BBC's 24-hour news and sport radio network. He accused BBC management of artifically inflating rating figures for 5Live compared to the original Radio Five by presenting them in a different way:
"You can always fiddle the figures: 'All right, so we haven't got that many listeners, but what about our reach? And we don't want to be seen to be super-serving a middle-class minority, do we?'"
Last, but seemingly not least, Wogan attacks entertainment output across TV as a whole - although a game show featured on BBC Two is included in the blast:
"Celebrity Squares with Bob Monkhouse provided all the celebs with 'funnies' for every question, and the tradition continues, from the smart-asses of Have I Got News For You to the dunces of Dictionary Corner in Countdown."
Tube Talk
This Week's Must-See TVFind out what you should be watching on TV this week with Tube Talk
TV Interviews
'Celebrity Apprentice' Debbie Gibson Q&ADebbie Gibson opens up about her Celebrity Apprentice experience.
Reality Bites
Does Simon Cowell have new SuBo?: VideoWatch a clip of Jonathan Antoine, who is tipped for success on BGT.
TV Ratings
Judi Dench draws 4.1m on 'Graham Norton'ITV1 pips BBC One to the highest primetime audience share.
