The Deadly 60 (1 Viewer)

[Jaff]

You know I'm not sure if this has been discussed before but if you want to watch one of the best wildlife series of recent times then watch the Deadly 60.

It's an old series but is endlessly repeated on the children's BBC TV, which is CBBC including BBC 1 sometimes at 3:05pm weekdays. I've long enjoyed it because although aimed mainly at children it is actually less childish than the likes of Springwatch and is full of great footage, a relaxed and fun format and Steve Backshall really shines through in it as the presenter.

It really is a fantastic series IMO and has had a couple of spin-offs but those are a tad stupid yet the original show with them travelling all over the world finding different wildlife is a rare gift to those who love their wildlife. And even those who think they may know a bit can be surprised, today they showed a bat species that has evolved to hunt and catch fish at night and they do it with their feet too! I never knew that.

If you can ever catch an episode I suggest you do, you won't be disappointed. :t:

 

[edenwatcher]

My sons are addicts!
A NEW series starts on Monday

Rob

 

[Farnboro John]

It gets my vote as well.

John

 

[Richard G]

My kids love it (me & the wife think it's pretty good too!!).

We went to the spin off event Live & Deadly in Gateshead last year & the kids met Steve Backshall. He was asking all the kids lots of questions & he was very impressed with the answers my son, Dominic, gave him about reptiles & lizards!!

 

[Jaff]

My sons are addicts!
A NEW series starts on Monday

Rob

I know it's on afternoons all next week on the CBBC channel, is it a new series though? I'm not sure, I'd have thought a new series would be premiered on BBC1. If it is then brilliant but as I'm on holiday next week I may miss out on it! :-C

Good to see there are other grown up fans out there also though, I think it's a rare gem of a wildlife show that adults can indeed enjoy as well as kids even more so than the '....Watch' ones. In some ways I prefer the style of it to the tried and tested natural world series, the fun and informal element of it is at just the right level. I can only re-iterate what I said earlier, if anyone hasn't ever watched one yet then do, it's as close to a perfect wildlife/entertainment show as I've seen in recent times.

 

[Peewit]

Hi Jaff

I have noted the programme myself throughout the months, and it is excellent especially aimed at kids. :t:

Good that it is starting a new series too with Steve Backshall

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows/deadly-60

Just think in my childhood I had Johnny Morris talking to the animals - so much better these days for kids. :t:

regards
Kathy
x

 

[Jaff]

Oh wow it is a new series then. Even better is that one of next week's episodes is UK based! I have mixed feelings now. Do I compromise my birding days out next week in order to see it or not? :h?: Timing could not be worse! :eek!:

 

[Peewit]

Oh wow it is a new series then. Even better is that one of next week's episodes is UK based! I have mixed feelings now. Do I compromise my birding days out next week in order to see it or not? :h?: Timing could not be worse! :eek!:

Hi Jaff

Yes, it is a new series, and is noted in Page 71 of next week's Radio Times.

Yes, it is addictive o

Regards
Kathy
x

 

[John Cantelo]

Yes, an excellent presenter who never 'talks down' to his audience and never underestimates the intelligence and interest of children. Given how well it's done I can never quite understand why it hasn't been launched, with a great fanfare, in an early evening slot aimed at an adult audience (it'd need few, if any, changes). All wildlife programme makers should have to write an essay entitled "Earth Flight vs Deadly 60 - compare & contrast"; I know which is the better programme!

 

[dantheman]

Can't stand it myself!!!!!

Even when he says 'I really should stop saying wow! so much' on one of the trailers, I thought 'no, too much!'

The wildlife is good of course, and I appreciate it is probably excellent at getting an interest in younger (male?) generation (pokemon/collecting type and short attention span situation).

Anyway, should probably be out birding more rather than watching daytime/childrens tv (Although Shaun the Sheep is top notch ... bit more domesticated animals scenario though ...)

 

[Peewit]

Can't stand it myself!!!!!

Even when he says 'I really should stop saying wow! so much' on one of the trailers, I thought 'no, too much!'

The wildlife is good of course, and I appreciate it is probably excellent at getting an interest in younger (male?) generation (pokemon/collecting type and short attention span situation).

Anyway, should probably be out birding more rather than watching daytime/childrens tv (Although Shaun the Sheep is top notch ... bit more domesticated animals scenario though ...)

If I was 8 years old, I would love a programme like this one, and be glued to the TV each time it came on

The only one dig I could have with the programme is that Steve B needs to calm down a little as he is a little OTT with his narration at times to the point he shouts .... over talking normally at his audience :eek!:

Regards
Kathy
x

 

[Jaff]

If I was travelling all over the world discovering exotic wildlife I'd never seen before I think I'd find it hard to contain my excitement and enthusiasm too. Better that than him being completely blasé about what he sees.

I think it probably helps engage with the target audience though, if kids see he is excited then maybe that might get them excited too and encourage them to want to discover their own wildlife. Only speculating on my part as I'm not a parent or a kid of course.

 

[Monahawk]

With you on that dantheman. Backshall is the worst wildlife presenter since the late Steve Irwin. This may be a wildlife show for kids and that's fair enough, but he presents wildlife programmes aimed at adults with the same cringeworthy ' let's insult your intelligence, ooh look I'm a cool brave outdoor type' style and like Irwin he has to provoke wild creatures to get a desired result. A sticky end could be in the making here.

Watched about three minutes of his kiddies programme once, that was enough. If I was five I think I would be clamouring for the remote control and learning how to master it quickly!!

Si.

 

[Peewit]

Si: I would not say that Steve B is the not the worst, just the most excitable of all the presenters who are good at what they do in my eyes. :gh:

Does anyone remember David Bellany years ago - with his endless waving, quivering arms when he expressed his thoughts - he became a bit of a laughing stock amongst viewers, but again he showed a zest for his subject and that is his way of putting himself across to people. :t:

Jaff: It certainly shows that all wildlife presenters are unique when they express themselves, although they are talking about the same wildlife over the world..even if our personal tastes are all different on this thread as to our likes and dislikes in the presenter world. I like all presenters in their own ways.

As for Steve Irwin, he played with fire, once too often, and at the end it went wrong for him - he was a little too hands on to the point it made uncomfortable viewing when he grabbed the tail of largest Crocodile he could find. :eek!:

It shows that different wildlife presenters make the world go around o

Regards
Kathy
x

 

[Jaff]

I'm in agreement that the style of presenting where by you provoke creatures into making some macabre form of entertainment to see if he will or won't get bitten is now a tired cliché and not what we want from our viewing but I would not put Steve B quite in that camp, he handles some of the creatures yes but he doesn't take undue risks with anything dangerous. Like Kathy said, it's rare that you can please everyone in this game. And in case anyone has forgotten Steve Irwin's death was a freak accident and he wasn't provoking anything when it happened.

Now if you want truly cringe-worthy and someone who takes that 'p*ss the creature off enough to keep people watching' philosophy to the extreme then try and stomach an Austin Stevens programme. Absolutely got no respect for the twaddle that his shows churn out. I think he's seen one too many Hollywood action films.

 

[John Cantelo]

Personally, I feel that the critics are being somewhat unfair - it is a programme for kids so excitement and awe is a positive. Neither do I think his programmes for adults suffer from any of the problems others report. Whatever his faults, real or imagined, his enthusiasm for wildlife is a huge asset. To suggest he is the 'worst presenter' since Steve Irwin seems very harsh to me,

 

[Bigshent]

Personally, I feel that the critics are being somewhat unfair - it is a programme for kids so excitement and awe is a positive. Neither do I think his programmes for adults suffer from any of the problems others report. Whatever his faults, real or imagined, his enthusiasm for wildlife is a huge asset. To suggest he is the 'worst presenter' since Steve Irwin seems very harsh to me,

My lad loves it I would of written more but John has done it for me:t:

 

[Green Sandpiper]

My 9 and 7 year olds love it, my 5 year old is a little young, and I enjoy it too. I don't lose sight of the fact its for kids, but if it informs the kids a little (or a lot) and inspires them to learn more, then the programme is a success.

I actually think Steve is good, but like all presenters he suffers by not being the new Attenborough. If we expect every wildlife programme to be epoch- making, then we're going to be disappointed. I accept the programme, and Steve, for what they are.

Thank the Lord for Sky+, though, as I don't think my boss would tolerate me watching it in the office.

 

[Monahawk]

Si: I would not say that Steve B is the not the worst, just the most excitable of all the presenters who are good at what they do in my eyes. :gh:

Does anyone remember David Bellany years ago - with his endless waving, quivering arms when he expressed his thoughts - he became a bit of a laughing stock amongst viewers, but again he showed a zest for his subject and that is his way of putting himself across to people. :t:

Jaff: It certainly shows that all wildlife presenters are unique when they express themselves, although they are talking about the same wildlife over the world..even if our personal tastes are all different on this thread as to our likes and dislikes in the presenter world. I like all presenters in their own ways.

As for Steve Irwin, he played with fire, once too often, and at the end it went wrong for him - he was a little too hands on to the point it made uncomfortable viewing when he grabbed the tail of largest Crocodile he could find. :eek!:

It shows that different wildlife presenters make the world go around o

Regards
Kathy
x

Fair points Kathy. I like David Bellamy, but he went against the grain in what nature programmers wanted to hear in that he denounced global warming, thus digging his own grave. That's probably why we rarely see him on our screens now.

Still I stand by my opinion of Backshall. I appreciate others have theirs on him. I like Chris Packham and Kate Humble and boy, have those two taken some stick on this forum by some here. Horses for courses I suppose.

Si.

 

[John Cantelo]

Still I stand by my opinion of Backshall. I appreciate others have theirs on him. I like Chris Packham and Kate Humble and boy, have those two taken some stick on this forum by some here. Horses for courses I suppose.

Si.

Oddly enough, I too like Kate Humble (another who's been unfairly criticised in my view) and Chris Packham (but how can I not as he's a fellow Sotonian, a good Saints' supporter, president of the Southmapton Nat. His. Soc. and went (albeit briefly) to the same school),