Post by Teddy Bear on Mar 26, 2007 21:32:31 GMT
When the BBC is accused of being anti-religious (although anti-Christian would be more accurate, since they would hardly dare be critical of Islam) they invariably refute it by referring to such programmes as Songs of Praise...
One would think that in recording the show - Easter Songs of Praise, the BBC would actually wait for Easter, go into a church and film the proceedings, and present the true 'spirit' of things.
But since they were already at a church at Christmas, doing Christmas Songs of Praise, the producers felt it would save them time and money to change the set a little and do the Easter version right there and then.
Of course the BBC justify their actions - as always, they seriously can't see anything wrong with what they're doing here. I'm not religious, but I can see a definite insult to their religious audience, seeming to miss the whole point. How ignorant can you be, and still be the nation's media?
(hat tip - Anon)
One would think that in recording the show - Easter Songs of Praise, the BBC would actually wait for Easter, go into a church and film the proceedings, and present the true 'spirit' of things.
But since they were already at a church at Christmas, doing Christmas Songs of Praise, the producers felt it would save them time and money to change the set a little and do the Easter version right there and then.
Of course the BBC justify their actions - as always, they seriously can't see anything wrong with what they're doing here. I'm not religious, but I can see a definite insult to their religious audience, seeming to miss the whole point. How ignorant can you be, and still be the nation's media?
BBC defends merger of Christmas and Easter
By Duncan Hooper and agencies, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:54am BST 26/03/2007
The BBC defended its decision to film its Easter Songs of Praise special immediately after the Christmas show last November.
A spokesman insisted the corporation was not trying to deceive viewers but merely wanted to get the best value from the licence fee.
After filming the Christmas edition, flowers were swapped, lighting boosted and congregation members reportedly asked to shed their winter coats to record the show for the Spring time festival.
The BBC was forced to explain why it had filmed the programme so early after the Bishop of Lichfield said it would give "an air of unreality" to the Easter programme.
In a wide-ranging speech about the media delivered to the Lichfield Diocesan Synod, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill said:
"How do we get our knowledge of the world, of people, of politics? From the newspapers, the TV and the net. "But anyone who has any acquaintance with reporting knows that things tend to get distorted.
"Of course usually it doesn't matter. When we had the BBC to film Songs of Praise at the cathedral before Advent and they told us that after we'd done Christmas we would do Easter straightaway - just change the flowers and get bright lights outside to mimic lighter spring evenings - it wasn't a deliberate deceit but it will give an air of unreality to the Easter programme."
(hat tip - Anon)