BBC News in the morning- long stories, no other stories at all?

[VinterKvinna]

From 8am to 8.26 (possibly still going) they have been discussing the sad passing of Captain Tom.

I totally agree this is important, but is there nothing else happening in the world at the moment? Whats happening in Myanmar? Whats happening in our hospitals, the vaccine...
Anything..

Yes its sad he has died, and yes he was inspiring, thats not my argument
I want news, not half an hour on a lookback on CT, and interviews with Michael Ball....

GMB is the same. Christ above - the poor bugger was 100. It was hardly a shock!

It's an important event for lots of people, he'd become symbolic. It'll ease up and normal reporting will return soon.

Absolutely agree.

I think it’s slightly unbalanced. Over 100k dead, flags lowered for one of them ??

I agree, it’s very sad and worthy of being covered but it’s got a bit out of hand.

Totally agree. It’s a sad time but I dare say his family would be happy for the rest of us to dial it down a bit and let them grieve.

I also agree, and not just today with the passing of Captain Tom, but most days I find I am having to really root around the BBC news pages to find news on some rather big world events (I.E Myanmar). There has been a large increase in “human interest” stories on the BBC in the last couple of years, whereas I am more interested in world events. I am not sure where to go news wise now.

I've just switched over to sky news for that exact reason. Tho it's currently also covering the same.

I feel awful for thinking it, but I am fed up of it already. He was a remarkable man who achieved remarkable things last year. But he had a pretty privileged life, the family appear to be very affluent and I suspect that his affluence contributed to his longevity. My fil died in April from covid, discharged from hospital to a rehabilitation home, where he then died from pneumonia that hadn't been picked up on and he died alone in the night without us being able to see him. He was 74 and not affluent and I can't help but compare the two men and feel a bit bitter about it.

They had a cringey montage at the end of the 10pm news last night.

I think the goverment knew very well that they would get mileage out of his death when they first touted him as lockdown mascot

I think some of the Captain Tom stuff is kind of symbolic - that he still felt he could do something at his age, living life to the full and all that. Yes, he was 100 and couldn't live forever so it isn't sad, as such, but inspiring. I am shamelessly copying this from another thread (the Only Connect thread, thanks derxa) it is a tweet from Victoria Coren Mitchell and sums it up for me.

He made it count, didn't he, old Captain Tom? For all those worrying about how much time we'll have lost when this ghastly crisis finally ends, what an inspiring reminder that you might be 99 years old and still have some of your greatest adventures ahead of you.
RIP.

@Frouby

I've just switched over to sky news for that exact reason. Tho it's currently also covering the same.

I feel awful for thinking it, but I am fed up of it already. He was a remarkable man who achieved remarkable things last year. But he had a pretty privileged life, the family appear to be very affluent and I suspect that his affluence contributed to his longevity. My fil died in April from covid, discharged from hospital to a rehabilitation home, where he then died from pneumonia that hadn't been picked up on and he died alone in the night without us being able to see him. He was 74 and not affluent and I can't help but compare the two men and feel a bit bitter about it.

Thank you so much for saying this, and I'm sorry to hear about your FIL. I agree with you, please don't feel bad about saying it.

Are you my DH? He was complaining this morning about this

It’s one day. It will all be forgotten tomorrow. You only have to look at social media to see it’s had a real impact on the national psyche. A lot of people saw him as a beacon of hope in a dark time - and put their money where their mouth was. Even the White House tweeted its condolences.

I can't bear watching much news anymore and actually hark back to days when the newsreader just gave you the facts, plain and simple with no 'over to our reporter at the scene' nonsense to tell us the exact same thing I've told you. And then they have to interview folk to get their opinions. Stories like Captain Tom (and Ive nothing against the chap) get milked and milked to the point it becomes nauseating. There is plenty other stuff going on in the world besides Covid and Brexit but we never hear about it. The mainstream BBC are going the way of the other sensationalist channels - they have to fill 24 hour rolling news with something. I've started listening to the BBC world service and thankfully the quality of the news there and the decent proper grillings the journalists give their interviewees is a relief.

@CountessFrog

I think it’s slightly unbalanced. Over 100k dead, flags lowered for one of them ??

I was wondering how long the flag would be down for if it was a day for everyone who’s died.

It’s right that it should be covered but I’m not sure blanket coverage is what he or his family would want

@VinylDetective

It’s one day. It will all be forgotten tomorrow. You only have to look at social media to see it’s had a real impact on the national psyche. A lot of people saw him as a beacon of hope in a dark time - and put their money where their mouth was. Even the White House tweeted its condolences.

Its todays story, but my issue is that its too long on 1 story. Michael Ball is not news, people discussing a sad passing of an inspirational man, should not take over 26 minutes on a national news programme in the morning. I want the news, not a CT documentary

It is the news today. For one day. You’ll get your misery fest back tomorrow and every day thereafter.

Agree entirely. Our work social media platforms are pretty much awash with people lamenting how tragic it is, how he will be missed etc.

I find it all a bit much. And feel sad thinking about all the other centenarians most of whom are stuck in care homes (seeing no one for the past year, probably not even leaving the home, let alone going to Barbados!) because their family don't live in a house worth several mil where they can afford to accommodate said centenarian and pay for their care.

And wait til the Queen dies. You ain’t seen nothing yet!

@Grenlei, there isn’t a single house in Bedfordshire worth several £million. Not one!

@VinylDetective

It is the news today. For one day. You’ll get your misery fest back tomorrow and every day thereafter.

But i feel it shouldn't be in the news to this level.

There are other things happening in the world, and like I said, if I want to watch a documentary on CT, I'll look for one. The news is meant to tell us what's happening in the world.

I'm not being disrespectful to an inspiring man, I'm just saying too much

@VinylDetective

And wait til the Queen dies. You ain’t seen nothing yet!

Wow, you think it might be a bit full on when our head of state dies? Surely not

@VinylDetective

It is the news today. For one day. You’ll get your misery fest back tomorrow and every day thereafter.

No. There is plenty of other news that actually impacts people’s lives.

It's the same with Radio 4. Full of over emotional human interest magazine worthy stuff. You expect it from ITV, but the BBC should remain fact driven and objective. It's all aimed at the hun mentality now, too much emotion and dumbing down.

We've gone over to Times Radio for radio news and that's more sensible and intelligent.

@VinylDetective

And wait til the Queen dies. You ain’t seen nothing yet!

I'm about as far from a Royalist as you can get. I'll be avoiding tv, radio, internet and news for at least a month. I won't be able to take it.