Did anyone watch the BBC's "Britain in Bloom" series? I watched the first programme, expecting it to be mostly about gardening, but there was nothing in it interesting enough to make me want to watch any more. Yesterday, the Beeb came to the park where I'm one of the volunteer gardeners, to film us for next year's series. The phrase "reality television" has taken on a new meaning for me - I'd been foolish enough to think it had something to do with reality.
I thought they would want to film us going about our normal work, and explaining over our shoulders what we were doing and why we were doing it. How naive can you be? First, we had to devise a "project" so they could film it at different stages. Yesterday they brought along a smarmy twat of a presenter who I suspect knew nothing about gardening before being assigned to the series. His on-camera discussions with volunteers were all on the lines of:. "What have you got left to do before judging day? Do you think you'll get it done in time? How do you feel when judging day comes round?". Riveting stuff.
Everything we did and said was at their bidding, and had to be done several times over. Such as gathering around a picnic table to drink tea and clink our cups together to a chorus of "Iechyd da!". ("Good health"). They took two hours to film us doing about 15 minutes' worth of planting and watering-in, all the rest was posing with trowels.
It left me wondering who their target audience is. If it's gardeners, they're missing it by a mile. But it does solve the mystery of why apparently normal people so often behave like morons on television. And we weren't even being paid. If they'd wanted me to jump through any more hoops, I'd have demanded Equity rates.
Oh josusa. Sorry to hear it wasn't much fun, after you were really looking forward to taking part too 😞. Your description of the day made me feel irritated for you, and as for the teacup clinking "Iechyd da!"... Pass the cheese please.
I used to commute on a train and like most people would always try to sit in the same seat. I got on and at the next stop, some news crew got on with some suit they wanted to interview and sent a woman with them to ask the three of us in there to move carriages.
Her - Would you mind moving to the next carriage? Me (in foul morning mood) - Yes Her - We need to do some filming in here Me - So? People across the aisle from me - We don't mind moving, do we? (They leave) Her - Thank you. So... how about you? Me - No Her - But it's for the TV! Me - So? Her - Would a tenner do it? Me - Can I have it now? Her - (goes to camera man and gets tenner) Now? Me - ok then! Thank you!
I go into the next carriage and see the couple who moved. She smirks at me and says 'so you moved then?' 'Yep. And made a tenner for it.' I waved the note at her. Her face was a proper picture!
I wish I was a glow worm A glow worm's never glum Cos how can you be grumpy When the sun shines out your bum!
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Sorry for putting you to the trouble of showing I was correct.
I thought they would want to film us going about our normal work, and explaining over our shoulders what we were doing and why we were doing it. How naive can you be? First, we had to devise a "project" so they could film it at different stages. Yesterday they brought along a smarmy twat of a presenter who I suspect knew nothing about gardening before being assigned to the series. His on-camera discussions with volunteers were all on the lines of:. "What have you got left to do before judging day? Do you think you'll get it done in time? How do you feel when judging day comes round?". Riveting stuff.
Everything we did and said was at their bidding, and had to be done several times over. Such as gathering around a picnic table to drink tea and clink our cups together to a chorus of "Iechyd da!". ("Good health"). They took two hours to film us doing about 15 minutes' worth of planting and watering-in, all the rest was posing with trowels.
It left me wondering who their target audience is. If it's gardeners, they're missing it by a mile. But it does solve the mystery of why apparently normal people so often behave like morons on television. And we weren't even being paid. If they'd wanted me to jump through any more hoops, I'd have demanded Equity rates.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Your description of the day made me feel irritated for you, and as for the teacup clinking "Iechyd da!"... Pass the cheese please.
Dare I ask if this ⬇ is your tv face?
I used to commute on a train and like most people would always try to sit in the same seat. I got on and at the next stop, some news crew got on with some suit they wanted to interview and sent a woman with them to ask the three of us in there to move carriages.
Her - Would you mind moving to the next carriage?
Me (in foul morning mood) - Yes
Her - We need to do some filming in here
Me - So?
People across the aisle from me - We don't mind moving, do we? (They leave)
Her - Thank you. So... how about you?
Me - No
Her - But it's for the TV!
Me - So?
Her - Would a tenner do it?
Me - Can I have it now?
Her - (goes to camera man and gets tenner) Now?
Me - ok then! Thank you!
I go into the next carriage and see the couple who moved. She smirks at me and says 'so you moved then?'
'Yep. And made a tenner for it.' I waved the note at her. Her face was a proper picture!
A glow worm's never glum
Cos how can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out your bum!