Post by Teddy Bear on Oct 20, 2009 22:55:08 GMT
The BBC have lost their way in all fields, even though their creative director, Alan Yentob still collects over £500,000 from the license fee
Case of Emma fatigue sees BBC viewers turn off in millions
By Daily Mail Reporter
It was supposed to be the jewel in the BBC's autumn schedule - the customary lavish period drama with an all-star cast.
But despite costing millions to make, the latest Jane Austen adaptation, Emma, has been a ratings disaster.
Earlier this week just 3.3million tuned in to watch the series, which features Romola Garai as Emma, Michael Gambon as her father and Jonny Lee Miller as the dashing Mr Knightley.
Traditionally the BBC's classic dramas get ratings of more than five or six million.
But just 4.4million watched the first episode and since then more than a million have switched off.
Emma's poor performance has led some to question the BBC's decision to adapt an Austen classic that has been on screen so many times before.
One leading drama producer said: 'I don't think audiences are as excited about Emma - perhaps they are not excited by Austen anymore.'
The book was turned in to a Hollywood film starring Gwyneth Paltrow in the late 1990s, and was reworked in a modern setting for hit teen film Clueless featuring Alicia Silverstone in 1995.
Emma was also turned into an ITV drama series featuring Kate Beckinsale in the lead in 1996.
A Corporation spokesman said: 'Its not all about ratings and we are happy from the feedback that the audience who are watching are really enjoying this beautiful adaptation of Emma.'
The ratings drop comes as leading writers criticised the BBC's drama adaptations.
Acclaimed screenwriter Andrew Davies, who adapted Charles Dickens' Bleak House and Little Dorrit for TV, said the BBC is going 'downmarket' by sticking to more populist novels.
By Daily Mail Reporter
It was supposed to be the jewel in the BBC's autumn schedule - the customary lavish period drama with an all-star cast.
But despite costing millions to make, the latest Jane Austen adaptation, Emma, has been a ratings disaster.
Earlier this week just 3.3million tuned in to watch the series, which features Romola Garai as Emma, Michael Gambon as her father and Jonny Lee Miller as the dashing Mr Knightley.
Traditionally the BBC's classic dramas get ratings of more than five or six million.
But just 4.4million watched the first episode and since then more than a million have switched off.
Emma's poor performance has led some to question the BBC's decision to adapt an Austen classic that has been on screen so many times before.
One leading drama producer said: 'I don't think audiences are as excited about Emma - perhaps they are not excited by Austen anymore.'
The book was turned in to a Hollywood film starring Gwyneth Paltrow in the late 1990s, and was reworked in a modern setting for hit teen film Clueless featuring Alicia Silverstone in 1995.
Emma was also turned into an ITV drama series featuring Kate Beckinsale in the lead in 1996.
A Corporation spokesman said: 'Its not all about ratings and we are happy from the feedback that the audience who are watching are really enjoying this beautiful adaptation of Emma.'
The ratings drop comes as leading writers criticised the BBC's drama adaptations.
Acclaimed screenwriter Andrew Davies, who adapted Charles Dickens' Bleak House and Little Dorrit for TV, said the BBC is going 'downmarket' by sticking to more populist novels.