Springwatch 28 May - 15 June (3 Viewers)

[Jaxman]

I notice there have been a few people complaining about some of Bill's sexual innuendoes. I seem to remember in the dark and distant past sitting on the sofa with my parents watching black and white wildlife programmes and having to squirm in silence as we watched images of mating rhinos. I think it's quite refreshing that Bill is able to broach the subject in a light hearted manner and crack a few jokes about it. I'm sure it must make the subject less, rather than more, embarrassing to approach as some parents on the message boards keep complaining.

Fantastic shots of Ospreys fishing in last night's programme, by the way.

Ron

exactly! brits struggle talking about "that sort of stuff" - mating is a great way to get talking about sex (sssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh - sorry if I've offended anyone typing that word)

Springwatch is great! Its family TV at its best. Without Bill and Kate's banter it wouldn't be half so much fun for the youngsters watching (or us oldies!!)

 

[Farnboro John]

I notice there have been a few people complaining about some of Bill's sexual innuendoes. I seem to remember in the dark and distant past sitting on the sofa with my parents watching black and white wildlife programmes and having to squirm in silence as we watched images of mating rhinos. I think it's quite refreshing that Bill is able to broach the subject in a light hearted manner and crack a few jokes about it. I'm sure it must make the subject less, rather than more, embarrassing to approach as some parents on the message boards keep complaining.

Fantastic shots of Ospreys fishing in last night's programme, by the way.

Ron

Some of these people need to lighten up a bit. This is an adult programme biased towards entertainment, and a bit of adolescent humour is quite appropriate. CBeebies and David Attenborough are available for those who can't cope - but I feel sorry for them.

The two kids filming Barn Owls with Gordon Buchanan 2 nights ago were priceless, especially when he gave them the choice of which presenter to meet and they both chose Simon - clearly their hero as a cameraman - then asked Gordon if he fancied Kate. "Umm- err - well if I was single umm- yes, I probably would" - put him well on the spot - cracking.

John

 

[Jaff]

The two kids filming Barn Owls with Gordon Buchanan 2 nights ago were priceless, especially when he gave them the choice of which presenter to meet and they both chose Simon - clearly their hero as a cameraman - then asked Gordon if he fancied Kate. "Umm- err - well if I was single umm- yes, I probably would" - put him well on the spot - cracking.

John

I didn't mean too but I couldn't help but laugh at the difference in quality between their little camcorders and his whacking great beast of a camera, I feel suitably ashamed of myself, really. ||

I'm liking it although I'm in the "watch it inspite of" camp. Brings back fond memories of when I went to Speyside. I wonder if they'll get round to filming Britain's only endemic, which I missed :-C (ideas? ).

Jaff

 

[claire78]

I had a great day out at Pensthorpe on Thursday with my 5 year old son. He was over the moon at getting within 5 foot of Bill and Kate and waving at them as they were recording the show advert and then rehearsing for the evening show.

My son would last about 2 mins in a hide (in fact that is how long he did last when I took him into the hide over the scrape to look for the LRP etc) but had a great day getting closer to nature by pond dipping, birdwatching, bug hunting etc outside the hides. The aviaries there are great for children as they can get up right close to Ruff, Avocet, Stilts etc and their youngsters without having to use bins.

Great day out for sharing a love of birdwatching with children - far better than sitting in a windy dark hide with the birds "way over yonder". 10 out of 10!

Claire :t:

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Folks,

I am loving every minute of watching the Ospreys, (naturally) the filming is magnificent especially with the new slow mo camera (sorry can't remember its proper name). Simon is obviously loving every minute as are a friend's two young girls, both in primary school they couldn't wait to tell me about the Ospreys fishing (I hadn't watched the first tape at that time) and I thought it was awesome when I did.

Does anyone know which pair of Ospreys they are filming I missed Monday's and only know they have been together 7 years and raised 18 chicks, if that jogs anyone's memory.

Ann :egghead:

 

[JTweedie]

I have to say I've really enjoyed this year's Springwatch so far, by far the best it's been yet. It really inspired me to get out today and do a bit of birding in Ballantrae.

I just think the programme is a welcome break from most other things on TV - it's such a relaxing hour's TV showing off the UK's wildlife as we all get to see it i.e. in a spontaneous manner.

I think I'm going to have to follow Simon King around, seems to me wherever he goes he gets great weather!

 

[sue webster]

springwatch

hi , i :cat:have only seen monday`s episode yet as i was in south wales but home now and will catch up tomorrow before the next week kicks off --oops-- i did see thursday`s episode which was great! miss springwatch trackers though .
while in wales my friend who i stayed with and i went to aberdare country park to see the peregrines . they can be seen on the screen in the restaurant via the rspb camera but sadly we saw nothing because some mindless fatheads had vandalised it --threw the camera down the mountain!! spoiled it for us and others . stupid morons! however updates on the birds are on the notice board and i did get a printout of one of the pictures of the female and 2 tiny chicks . sue

 

[CrimsonTopaz]

I wonder how many people would watch this but don't simply because of Oddie? I can't believe anybody watches it who wouldn't otherwise because of him

Rob

I watch it for Simon King (and the wildlife to also,of course) Im always up for seeing him on the box |:$||;|

 

[wee kayso]

bill's done it again,duck gangbang..!!!!!!!!.......the bbc's phones will be red hot:eek!::eek!:

 

[NoSpringChicken]

bill's done it again,duck gangbang..!!!!!!!!.......the bbc's phones will be red hot:eek!::eek!:

I had a vision of his producer wincing and covering his eyes, especially since Bill had already shown he was aware of the criticism by making a reference to his 'innuendoes'. I think you are right, the messageboards will be full of people gleefully complaining. A shame really since there was some some very good stuff in the remsining 99.9% of the programme.

Ron

 

[Scotsdumpie]

I had a vision of his producer wincing and covering his eyes, especially since Bill had already shown he was aware of the criticism by making a reference to his 'innuendoes'. I think you are right, the messageboards will be full of people gleefully complaining. A shame really since there was some some very good stuff in the remsining 99.9% of the programme.

Ron

Not so much Inuendoes more Great crested Oddieisms

 

[Farnboro John]

I laughed my head off. I'm tired of the PC crowd and the Mary Whitehouse clones. Out in the field I'm quite happy to look at a Loch Garten feeder with a couple of Cresties and go "Cor, look at the tits on that!"

Anyone who can't cope can stick to CBeebies, but leave Bill alone: he's doing much better than in Devon.

John

 

[ColonelBlimp]

I maintain that Bill Oddie is a total legend!

I loved seeing Kate Humble wince when he said it! I bet harsh words were exchanged between him and the production team afterwards...

 

[NoSpringChicken]

I didn't realise that Bill Oddie's 'indiscretions' have been picked up by the national press (I don't read the papers.) Bill mounts a stout defence of his comments on the Springwatch Blog. They are well argued and worth reading.

Ron

 

[paulwfromtheden]

I didn't realise that Bill Oddie's 'indiscretions' have been picked up by the national press (I don't read the papers.) Bill mounts a stout defence of his comments on the Springwatch Blog. They are well argued and worth reading.

Ron

Anyone who gets upset about Bill's off-the-cuff reference to Mallards 'gangbanging' needs to get out more IMHO.
A two minute walk down Thornton Heath High Street and you will hear ten time worse.
So many kids I know are absolutely enthralled by Springwatch so I think they have got te format about right...

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Anyone who gets upset about Bill's off-the-cuff reference to Mallards 'gangbanging' needs to get out more IMHO.
A two minute walk down Thornton Heath High Street and you will hear ten time worse.
So many kids I know are absolutely enthralled by Springwatch so I think they have got te format about right...

I think this year's Springwatch is the best so far. It's obvious to me that they have taken the criticisms on board and Bill and Kate are not interrupting each other so much this year. A few overlaps are inevitable when they get excited on a live broadcast.

I think the content has been first rate and has shown nature in all its forms – tragic and magnificent. The Wild Cat, Osprey and Crested Tit footage from Scotland in particular has been superb.

It's a shame the weather hasn't been better at Pensthorpe (from a Norfolk native's point of view) but it hasn't interfered too much with the programme.

There have been noticeably more people visiting our local reserves the past couple of weekends and I'm sure a lot of this down to the Springwatch factor.

Ron

 

[Alex_sk]

I didn't realise that Bill Oddie's 'indiscretions' have been picked up by the national press (I don't read the papers.) Bill mounts a stout defence of his comments on the Springwatch Blog. They are well argued and worth reading.

Ron

Here's the link for those interested.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/springwatch/2008/06/bill_on_the_blog.html

Must say that 'gangbang' is a bit near the knuckle though! Doesn't offend me, but it would be a real tricky one to explain to children!!

He defended himself well on the comments he made last week but I just dont think he's going to be able to get away with a term usually used in adult movies ! LOL!

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Must say that 'gangbang' is a bit near the knuckle though! Doesn't offend me, but it would be a real tricky one to explain to children!!

He defended himself well on the comments he made last week but I just dont think he's going to be able to get away with a term usually used in adult movies ! LOL!

I agree that expression was a bit unfortunate but he immediately realised that he had inadvertently overstepped the mark and apologised. I doubt that will satisfy everyone though.

I seem to recall first hearing the term in the '60s, in relation to Hell's Angels. I was deeply traumatised by it, as were we all in the playground.

Ron

 

[paulwfromtheden]

Must say that 'gangbang' is a bit near the knuckle though! Doesn't offend me, but it would be a real tricky one to explain to children!!

Come on! If you can deal with the "Daddy, where do babies come from from?" question, "Daddy, what is gangbang?" should be a breeze!!

 

[naturistbird]

An excellent programme last night with lots of interest, not least Bill Oddie's "off the cuff" comments, which, in reality, should offend nobody.I'm sure he delights in "telling it as it is" and by now the public should be used to him.
I certainly think his relationship with Kate appears better and much more natural than it has ever been, and this only enhances the footage: you no longer feel that two of the three presenters are at war with each other!