BBC Trust

BBC One was the main channel of choice for many participants, with drama praised in particular and Doctor Who, Merlin and Atlantis singled out for praise. Eastenders was praised for its inclusion of storylines highlighting issues relating to diversity, but some felt that more could be done to normalise diversity, with one suggestion being the use of phrases such as greetings in languages other than English during dialogue in continuing dramas. In general participants felt that the quality of the BBC’s TV programming was high.

Participants heaped particular praise on the BBC’s Natural History programming, though a greater number of them would be appreciated by some participants. Some participants said that they particularly enjoyed seeing examples of how productions were realised, with the “how we did it” segment at the end of each Blue Planet episode being praised.

The channel was also appreciated by participants for “doing the big ones” and that this was a significant contributor to the BBC’s positive reputation.

There was widespread recognition of the importance of BBC Wales’ opt-out TV programming in boosting understanding of Wales amongst participants with praise for the Coal House and Snowdonia 1890 series. There was praise too for crime drama Hinterland, currently being broadcast, which was widely praised for having bilingual dialogue on BBC One Wales. Several participants praised this contribution to the ‘normalisation’ of bilingualism, with some people making the point that this kind of multilingualism was normal in broadcasts in other European countries.

Participants felt that BBC Wales’ opt-out programming was of a high quality. One participant said of BBC Wales Today “it is essential viewing for finding out what’s going on in Wales”.

Several participants felt that the raison d’etre of BBC Two had been damaged by the advent of BBC Three and BBC Four, and that as a result their viewing of the channel had reduced. It was also criticised of being “overloaded with antiques, cookery and game shows”.

Particular appreciation was expressed for BBC Two Wales’ rugby coverage, which was felt by many participants to be first class.

Younger people considered BBC Three to be very much ‘their’ channel with one younger participant saying “That’s my channel”.

The channel was praised for providing a home for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, but it was felt that it was a shame that the coverage of this world class competition had been curtailed on BBC Two.

BBC Four was praised in particular for its transmission of Scandinavian drama with subtitles.

Most participants felt that the BBC did provide something for everyone through its portfolio of channels, and that this was to be welcomed.

There was a perception that there was a lack of representation of transgender people in the BBC’s output, with participants of the view that ITV and Channel 4 were better in this respect. In relation to portrayal more generally the perception of participants was that “the media goes for the sensational and in relation to immigration for example, people are not told why people come the UK”. The BBC One Wales series about the immigration of Italians to the south Wales valleys during the twentieth century were praised. As one participant said “as a result of recent immigration, we now have a new NHS dentist in Pontypridd and they’re like gold dust!”.

There was a consensus that there was a general need to challenge stereotypes in popular programming, and that too often this was not the case – with reference being made to immigrants, gay people and transgender people in particular.

Channel 4 was praised for its 2012 Paralympics coverage.

Some participants felt that the BBC’s portfolio of channels was providing “too much for the middle classes – people with an interest in these kinds of programmes are very well catered for”.

There was a perception amongst some participants that the BBC was in general becoming more deferential and that this was made evident in its failure to make more documentaries and current affairs programmes about equality, race, poverty, the reasons for immigration and the struggles people are facing in their everyday lives, and how they’re being helped. Where the BBC did cover equality issues, then it made a big difference, in the experience of participants to the way in which the population at large understood them.