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Original poster

Repetitive TV about Duke’s Death

936 replies

Thisisnotreallymyname · 09/04/2021 18:37

At a risk of being sent to the Tower, whilst I think it is sad that Prince Philip has died, am I alone in being amazed at the constant repetitive TV about his life.
It’s just going over snd over same old stuff. And I’d like to watch some normal TV !

IABU - YES
IANBU - NO

OP posts:
Stovetopespresso · 10/04/2021 09:45

@StoneofDestiny

bonfireheart

Okay - here safe the word to join in - to be sung in a hearty voice 🎶🎵

O Flower of Scotland
When will we see your like again?
That fought and died for
Your wee bit Hill and Glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward tae think again
The Hills are bare now
And Autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
That stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward tae think again
Those days are past now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward tae think again
The Hills are bare now
And Autumn…

yeah it must be nice for Scottish people that they named one of their kids Edward.Grin
PerkingFaintly · 10/04/2021 09:46

Are they discussing his many racist comments

Yes. Many times in the coverage I saw.

I already knew about those, and the many criticisms of him. In fact, that was the picture I'd formed of him. Those things rightly made the headlines, so that's what I knew.

I'm finding it really interesting seeing all the stuff I didn't know. Eg I had no idea about his involvement in promoting science and engineering in the UK. He's coming across very much like Prince Albert. I'm interested in industrial history generally, and I hadn't grasped Prince Philip's work till yesterday – not least because I'd disdained to take an interest in what I'd have written off as "royal-watching."

I'm not at all impressed with the various broadcasters (not just BBC) clearing the schedules on many channels simultaneously – why not give viewers a choice?

But I'm glad that I made my own choice to watch the more detailed obituary, because I've learned so much about the modern history of my country.

Stovetopespresso · 10/04/2021 09:46

@tara66

For information to anyone going on about DOE racism - He was a product of his time. There was a full episode of Fawlty Towers on Facebook yesterday - the ''Don't mention the War'' one - made in about 1981 - it was full of gratuitous extreme racism about Indians, Africans and Spanish - and to a lesser extent, Germans - the remarks were followed by canned laughter. Faulty Towers was on BBC. Not funny at all today. The worst ''joke'' was between Basil and the Major about Indians and Africans. Shocking prejudice about Spanish roo. Would not even see the light of day now .
yup there was racism in the 70s, right up until now unfortuantely. your point?
tara66 · 10/04/2021 09:50

Stove - if you can't see my point - I despair for the English language!

tigger1001 · 10/04/2021 10:04

@trappedsincesundaymorn

"Our mission is "to act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain" - BBC Mission Statement

Did they "serve all audiences"? - no
Were they impartial? - no
Was it high quality? - not really
was it entertaining? - no

Having the same coverage at the same time on both channels meant that the BBC failed in it's role. Had they just dedicated BBC1 and radio 4 to all day coverage, then they would have fulfilled their obligation.

Agree.

One tv channel and one radio channel is enough, not all bbc radio and tv channels all playing the same stuff.

Given we pay a licence to have bbc channels, they very much failed in their duty.

People should very much be given a choice as to whether they watched/listened to the constant coverage or whether they wanted their usual tv/radio schedules.

randomer · 10/04/2021 10:04

There was racism and Faulty Towers is toe curling to consider now. Re the DoE, perhaps a little humility......I realise some of my ideas were offensive?
As if.

Peregrina · 10/04/2021 10:07

He was a product of his time.

Oh yes? My late parents were born in 1917 and 1921, and neither of them made racist comments.

tigger1001 · 10/04/2021 10:08

@bonfireheart

Everyone who complains about the coverage needs to stand up and sing the National Anthem every ten minutes.
Why?

Yesterday was the first time I had heard the national anthem on radio 2 in what was at the time normal programming. Must admit it just made me roll my eyes. It's not my national anthem, and I certainly won't be singing it any time soon

Confusedandshaken · 10/04/2021 10:08

@tara66

For information to anyone going on about DOE racism - He was a product of his time. There was a full episode of Fawlty Towers on Facebook yesterday - the ''Don't mention the War'' one - made in about 1981 - it was full of gratuitous extreme racism about Indians, Africans and Spanish - and to a lesser extent, Germans - the remarks were followed by canned laughter. Faulty Towers was on BBC. Not funny at all today. The worst ''joke'' was between Basil and the Major about Indians and Africans. Shocking prejudice about Spanish roo. Would not even see the light of day now .
I remember seeing that episode when it first came out and being very uncomfortable with it. Even then it seemed more racist than funny to me.
UnderHisAye · 10/04/2021 10:09

@Keyring

there's a lot of ignorance on this thread. It's sad. People wrapped up totally in their own lives.

Perhaps we should start to be taught about the constitution/role of the monarch in schools. It might help.

Agree: if people were more aware of the utter inequality and indignity that being a citizen of a monarchy means, maybe we could get rid of the lot of them.
Twintub · 10/04/2021 10:09

It won’t be just the elderly population but it is more likely to be a generational thing as they lived through the King dying and expect a certain response.

I think it’s amazing that anyone was annoyed enough to post a thread about it and/or complain to the BBC for one nights telly. Sure complain amongst your friends and family.

One item I found interesting was the National Parks that he was involved in as he wanted kids in city to have access to green space not playing footie in the street .

UnderHisAye · 10/04/2021 10:16

I find it so strange that the reaction to a royal's death seems to be, in the main, quick, turn off the telly!

What does television programming have to do with anything?! The link is not clear to me at all.

ohforarainyday · 10/04/2021 10:19

The elderly people I care for, let alone across the country, would be most upset about the death of Prince Philip and would expect some respect , they would complain if there was anything but total coverage from the BBC

One channel showing coverage is more than enough "respect."

Anyone throwing a tantrum trying to force their personal feelings and desires on the entire country (NO NON-PHILIP COVERAGE EVER! NOTHING SHOULD EVER BE ON TV EXCEPT WHAT I WANT!!!!!!!) needs to be told to stop acting like a toddler.

None of the elderly people I work with give a shiny shit that Philip has died.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 10/04/2021 10:21

@ohforarainyday

none of the elderly people you work for give a shiney shit? Shock

you are making things up

Mousetown · 10/04/2021 10:22

@tara66

For information to anyone going on about DOE racism - He was a product of his time. There was a full episode of Fawlty Towers on Facebook yesterday - the ''Don't mention the War'' one - made in about 1981 - it was full of gratuitous extreme racism about Indians, Africans and Spanish - and to a lesser extent, Germans - the remarks were followed by canned laughter. Faulty Towers was on BBC. Not funny at all today. The worst ''joke'' was between Basil and the Major about Indians and Africans. Shocking prejudice about Spanish roo. Would not even see the light of day now .
Racism was still racism in 1981. It wasn’t okay then and it’s not okay now. Sick of the “it was of it’s time” excuse being wheeled out.
SinisterBumFacedCat · 10/04/2021 10:22

I think putting the exact same thing on both channels, then shutting down bbc4 for the night, and changing ALL their radio stations playlists to dirge has been overkill. The same thing happened with Diana but while that was due to a very emotional public response to her tragic young death in a horrific accident, DofE lived to ripe old age and it wasn’t really unexpected. I don’t think the bbc have got the correct measure of the public’s feeling here, or maybe they are trying to set the tone. Either way, baring in mind we are still in lockdown and not everyone can afford or has access to streaming I think it would be a mistake to have continuous news on this and nothing else.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 10/04/2021 10:22

are people still complaining about watching the TV?
sad sad people

Piggywaspushed · 10/04/2021 10:23

not playing footie in the street . . The horror.

Twintub · 10/04/2021 10:26

But unnecessarily sarccy PIggy

It was the 59’s it started so lots of reform since then and initiatives like the National Parks are a very good thing . I love the green spaces where I live especially since COVID

Twintub · 10/04/2021 10:28

Just to make my position clear I haven’t watched it I watched Brothers and sisters on Prime I can recommend for the next 7 days as there are 4 or 5 seasons :-)

AbsolutelyPatsy · 10/04/2021 10:28

plenty of mumsnetters might not have liked him/approved of him, but i get the feeling that he was a popular member of the royal family.

Piggywaspushed · 10/04/2021 10:29

I think my DF constitutes 'elderly. He whatsapped me last night (this is a vanishingly rare occurrence) to moan about the TV coverage and to share a screenshot of the John Lewis website home page. It is really patronising to caricature all older people as being and thinking the same.

I understand there are protocols for senior royal deaths and that this is obviously part of it. But exactly the same offering across stations does seem unnecessary .

MummBraTheEverLeaking · 10/04/2021 10:31

The only thing I thought was pehaps a tad OTT was last night when BBC1 and BBC2 had the exact same tribute program at the exact same time Confused

Mousetown · 10/04/2021 10:31

@AbsolutelyPatsy

are people still complaining about watching the TV? sad sad people
Sure I saw you on another thread saying that closing RHS and making people leave as a mark of respect was in appropriate and unnecessary.

Sad sad people. Still complaining about a garden closing.

Piggywaspushed · 10/04/2021 10:35

the National Parks are great but still inaccessible to many many people. I don't think he said precisely what you said about playing football in the street? if he did that sounds like classism. I am not sure the same demographic who stopped playing football/ cricket/ wall tennis in the streets after slum clearing and urban over development trotted off to a national park to be honest. Instead they lost a sense of community and saw signs sprout up everywhere saying 'no ball games'. To be clear, I don't remotely blame this on HRH! Was meant to be a wry comment about class rather than sarky twin : sorry.

Maybe it is where and when I grew up (Thatcher era Glasgow) or maybe we just live in a different age but I do feel these days like it isn't 'allowed' to be sceptical/ anti the military/ the police (as an institution) or the monarchy - soon the government?