BBC criticised over 'lamentable' Jubilee river pageant coverage
Published Jun 4 2012, 00:30 BST | By Tom Eames
The BBC has been criticised over its "lamentable" Diamond Jubilee coverage yesterday (June 3).BBC One aired nearly five hours of live coverage of the river pageant on the Thames on Sunday afternoon, with one MP describing it as "low-grade, celebrity-driven drivel".
© Rex Features / Tim Rooke/Rex Features
© Rex Features / Jonathan Hordle
Poor sound quality and camera work were also damned, along with a description of the Queen as "HRH" rather than "Her Majesty"
Stephen Fry described the live coverage as "mind-numbingly tedious" on his Twitter page.
He tweeted: "Has the BBC ever presented a more mind-numbingly tedious programme in its history? "HRH the queen" said the first ignorant presenter. HRH?".
A BBC spokesman responded to the criticisms, saying: "We're very proud of the quality and breadth of the BBC's coverage of this extraordinary event."
Fry later added: "Don't get me wrong peeps, I'm not saying this in relation to ER II's jubilee - just expected better of the beeb. Didn't mean to upset anyone."
Former Today editor Kevin Marsh wrote: "Am I being over-critical or is the BBC commentary lamentable?"
He added: "Why cut away from Queenie's River Pageant to watch that mindless Tess Daly nonsense... scarcely credible."
Tory MP for Reading East Rob Wilson said: "Seems we all agree on terrible BBC coverage. Low-grade, celebrity-driven drivel. How did Beeb get it so wrong?"
He continued: "Which is worse, the heavy rain falling on the flotilla along the Thames or the BBC's dreadful coverage of this Royal Jubilee event?"
Photo gallery - Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace:
The Duchess of Cambridge, in a scarlet Alexander McQueen dress, and Prince William prepare to board the Spirit of Chartwell for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in London.
The BBC did broadcast uninterrupted coverage of the Thames pageant without commentary on the red button for those that just wanted to watch the boats go by. Oddly it was only available live on satellite and cable feeds, but I think they broadcast a full repeat on the Freeview red button later in the day.
The pageant was meant to be a celebration rather than a pompous ceremony, and the BBC tried to breathe some life into it despite the dreadful weather. Some of the presenters should have been better briefed (e.g. knowing the wording of the semaphore message), but I wouldn't have wanted a dour David Dimbleby / Huw Edwards / James Naughtie commentary either.
June 6th 2012 at 9:09am
I liked it as it was and so do some other twitters. If people like Stephen Fry or Rob Wilson don't then they are entitled to their opinion, only that they should not talk as if they were speaking for everybody or even necessarily most people. 10 million viewers is quite a good audience rating for any event set out in hours of the pouring rain, even when it's a royal Jubilee event.
June 5th 2012 at 10:22pm
what would people prefer Sky and ITV coverage, with Ant and Dec and kate burley of all people.
dont forget the adverts every 15 minutes.
The BBC have always come out on top for presenting Royal events, concerts etc with uninterrupted coverage.
June 5th 2012 at 9:47pm
Sky's coverage was amazing, they had their 'Royal specialist' on their, his knowledge of history and the like made for a very interesting historical coverage which I think was really good. Kids these days don't get all that interested in history, hopefully a few would have learnt something about our wonderful land
June 5th 2012 at 10:00pm
How could the BBc not know what the semaphore message said? The press release went out days before and details had already been published in various newspapers
June 5th 2012 at 11:48am
I hope the Queen doesn't waste money paying for a TV License. LOL
June 5th 2012 at 2:10am