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Original poster

Celebs on TV not wearing masks

65 replies

gingas · 26/01/2021 22:38

Hi all.
Just watching a celeb cookery show on TV. I'm wondering why, what with Covid, for the sake of entertainment, the celebrities are in one area (albeit a large one) together when on the very same channel (BBC) we're constantly being told to leave nothing to chance... and tearful nurses and lots of deaths have been on the news constantly.
I did read about the measures the programme makers took to safeguard people. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3r77hsk2WMBtJ7Lx3tRMcqj/how-we-made-celebrity-best-home-cook-during-covid-19#:~:text=As%20an%20additional%20precaution%20all,words%20and%20a%202m%20stick!
One thing is that the participants get tested every three days, as well as temperature checking, etc.
But what if they catch Covid in between and potentially spread it to each other? And won't they have potentially spread it prior to symptoms showing (so temperature check not really a safeguard)?

And some could be asymptomatic anyway and cough over the food.
They're in one enclosed area (germs move about), cooking and handling food for three famous foodies and no one is wearing a mask (yet we're told that the off-camera staff wore masks).
Is one of the rules for the cooks to never, ever touch their mouths or noses after hand sanitizing, as they go about their cooking? I doubt it.
They're seemingly not living in a bubble.
and the food experts are moving up and down a staircase with a railing so presumably touching it occasionally.
I have nothing against the show itself (honest!) and i never normally write posts or dwell on stuff like this, but when there are so many elderly, lonely, scared people staying indoors - because that's what we've been told to do - this just seems to fly in the face of these government rules.
I may be missing something obvious, but i find it very confusing. We're being told really grave in stuff by the news/media but a fair few of the TV shows don't seem to reflect this.
Any thoughts on this?
Oh and I'm really not as anal as I sound. It's just bugging me (clearly!).

OP posts:
PrettyLittleBrownEyedMe · 26/01/2021 23:29

I haven't watched this show but personally I think 'thank goodness' whenever I see anything like this. It's my worst nightmare that masks become normalised and never go away, and anything that helps prevent this dystopian world happening is good in my book. I don't know how you can worry about it when they're on the telly! They can't hurt you, and they're clearly all happy about it... AND they've gone to the trouble of explaining how and why the show is covid-secure. It's just like when people complain about TV cooks wearing nail polish....if you don't like it, guess what? Don't wear nail poliish when you cook, and you haven't got to eat their food.

The whole mask thing is supposed to reduce risk in particular circumstances (although that's not even clear, but we'll leave that aside for now....) not simply be a blanket order for everyone to follow at all times just so they can be seen to be doing so. Some people have become such mask zealots that they seem to forget that they are fulfilling a specific purpose, not just for wearing to signal how covid-aware you are. I think of that picture of the poor Queen at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, all alone (well, enormously socially-distanced at the very least) in that vast space - whatever was the point of putting her in a mask then? Some people won't be happy until we're all wearing them in all circumstances and what a miserable existence that will be.

Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 00:15

Hi PrettyLittleBrownEyedMe
I think you might have misunderstood my point. Partly my fault as my thread title is misleading.
I didn't say I'm worried about me. And I'm no mask zealot. The point I was making was about double standards. One rule for the public, and another for the 'magic' of TV entertainment. How is it 'covid secure' if they're not in a bubble during filming? I thought nothing is to be left to chance. Or is it just the public and not celebrities who carry this burden?

OP posts:
m0llusc · 27/01/2021 00:20

It does seem weird that they don't wear masks on tv when the news tells everyone to wear masks.

Its very confusing. Could the bbc and the government work together to make it clearer?

Littleposh · 27/01/2021 00:27

If they're socially distanced then what's the problem?? You don't have to wear masks at work as long as you distance

Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 08:54

Hi Littleposh.
For above mentioned reasons. Including that they're preparing food.
And on the basis you've mentioned, if my parents and I get a negative test, then I visit my parents house (making sure I keep 2m away) and cook for them, over three days, but THEN go home each night (to other household member who has, in the meantime, been out to the shop for essentials for us) over a three-day period, is that ok then?
Also this whole 2m distancing thing...pretty sure Covid bugs don't stay within their 2m space. Esp if sneezed out.
If all the celebs and staff in the show and their households are told to self isolate during the entire filming period, then yes I get it. But there's no mention of this that I can see.

OP posts:
SavageBeauty73 · 27/01/2021 08:56

My sister is working on a film and they do rapid Covid testing. I assume it's the same for television programmes.

dementedpixie · 27/01/2021 08:57

None of the talk shows or cookery shows have people wearing masks. I'm glad tbh

sunflowersandbuttercups · 27/01/2021 08:58

Why would they need a mask on to do a cookery demonstration on TV?

I also suspect mask wearing would interfere with things like sound and being able to understand people. I know I struggled to understand a lady in Tesco yesterday - we were both in masks and she also had a visor on - they're not great for that kind of thing.

I really don't see an issue and I really don't want to see masks being work just for the sake of it.

Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 09:01

Hi m0llusc
It's not that I want to see more masks worn. I dont want it normalised.
It's the seeming double standards thing of the public being told to STAY INDOORS. PROTECT THE NHS. And some TV shows being allowed to chance it a bit for our entertainment.
Seems v unfair.
As I said in my first post, I really don't normally get uptight about stuff (and am a live and let live type) but it's irking me.
Anyway, moving on... Smile

OP posts:
CasperGutman · 27/01/2021 09:06

@gingas

Hi m0llusc It's not that I want to see more masks worn. I dont want it normalised. It's the seeming double standards thing of the public being told to STAY INDOORS. PROTECT THE NHS. And some TV shows being allowed to chance it a bit for our entertainment. Seems v unfair. As I said in my first post, I really don't normally get uptight about stuff (and am a live and let live type) but it's irking me. Anyway, moving on... Smile
If you have an issue with the perceived "unfairness" and don't want to see more masks worn, then does it logically follow that you want the public to stop being told to stay home, save lives or wear masks?

Is this actually a thread inspired by your dislike of public health messaging rather than of mask-less celebs on TV?

Spanielmadness · 27/01/2021 09:06

I think you would like to think you’re not a mask zealot and you don’t want to see more worn, but judging by this post you are, sorry.

If it helps, wear yours when in your own home, and when socially distanced as an example to others, to counter balance the effect of anyone seeing the tv shows.

saraclara · 27/01/2021 09:07

You don't have to wear masks in the workplace if other protective measures are in place.

I'm not sure why you've chosen this programme to be worried about. All the live daytime programmes (on all channels) have presenters not wearing masks. And do you think newsreaders have no-one else around them?

I do understand the disconnect. It's a bit like my daughters not being allowed to visit me but being with tens of other people at work with less protection than they'd have with me.
But not all the rules can be 100% logical.

Markies · 27/01/2021 09:09

Oh for fucks sake. I watched it last night and I wondered how long it would be before someone got offended at this.

megletthesecond · 27/01/2021 09:12

I assume the studio is well ventilated too. Social distancing isn't great if there isn't fresh air coming in.

Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 09:13

Hi CasperGutman
No it's not.
It's inspired by my dislike of double standards when we're being told, in no uncertain terms, how grave this situation is. But hey, it's ok to take a wee chance for telly entertainment.

OP posts:
Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 09:15

saraclara
Yep. And I said other shows.
There are other formats which can be used.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 27/01/2021 09:16

But no-one on shows or the news wears masks. Why are you singling out one cookery show?
They will have other mitigations in place

Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 09:16

Hi Spanielmadness
Er...eh?!

OP posts:
StCharlotte · 27/01/2021 09:16

I must say the screens between guests/contestants on game shows and panel shows are laughable.

Three colleagues at work who were just about 2m apart with screens all went down with Covid over the same weekend.

Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 09:21

Hi SavageBeauty73
I can't see my post to you so might be repeating but the celebs are tested every 3 days.

OP posts:
Artesia · 27/01/2021 09:22

If all the celebs and staff in the show and their households are told to self isolate during the entire filming period, then yes I get it. But there's no mention of this that I can see.

Thank goodness- I watch tv for a bit of escapism, and the last thing I want is the full COVID compliance policy rammed down my throat during each show. Strictly did loads of that in the first few episodes of the latest series, and it totally ruined it.

We are all stuck at home, very little in the way of entertainment, so if they can keep producing new content for us to watch, I think that’s great. Who wants to watch a health and safety briefing at the start of each show, followed by mumbling and muttering a from behind masks?? Surely the general public have the wit to realise that there are safety measures in place when these shows are made, rather than dwelling on the perceived unfairness of a few celebs being allowed to chop an onion and scramble an egg without their masks on? Or maybe not....

dementedpixie · 27/01/2021 09:24

I have seen several adverts/shows with disclaimers at the start that it was filmed before covid so the serial complainers don't write in about it

Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 09:24

Just saying to everyone, I'm not calling for TV shutdown or anything! And I have nothing against the contents of this particular show but time after time I'm seeing double standards. One rule for the public. Another for (certain) TV programmes.

OP posts:
inappropriateraspberry · 27/01/2021 09:25

I think this must have been filmed last year, probably in the summer, when rules weren't so strict and we weren't in lockdown. So, they kept to 2 metres and were very likely tested regularly.

Original poster
gingas · 27/01/2021 09:25

Hi dementedpixie

Yes, so have I.
This wasn't.

OP posts: