Been watching the latest Neil Oliver spectacular on BBC2 -- Part 1 of the new History of Ancient Britain. Programme 1 of Series 1 -- looks as if we are in for a long journey, folks. Interesting and well produced, but I wish we could have had 90% history and 10% Neil Oliver, instead of the other way round.......
Some of the commentary was far adrift -- our friend totally screwed up on the late-glacial, and some of the simplifications re the Loch Lomond readvance were positively appalling. Does nobody check this stuff before it goes out on air...?
Next week we will be at Carn Meini and Stonehenge, among other Neolithic locations. I already see a tendency towards fanciful interpretations and interpolations (cf the Red Lady of Paviland) -- I dread to think what we will get about our wacky ancestors in the next programme about the bluestones!
I noticed the Scottish Neil Oliver has renamed The Red Lady of Paviland "The Red Laddie"! Someone called Cameron Balbirnie (he did "Neanderthal" for BBC) is primarily responsible for the Series' Production. Disappointed Bannockburn wasn't mentioned somehow, but then this was only Part One. Neil looked decidedly more bandy-legged at one point, not sure whether this was done for effect, or was it the result of his rock-climbing at Paviland on The Gower? Also, why no skirling pipes?
ReplyDeleteYes, I noticed the Red Laddie bit -- I thought that was quite amusing!
ReplyDeleteSad that these programmes always have to be "personality led" rather than being successful -- or not -- on the basis of the info contained. What really irritates me about this producer is that he sets Neil striding off into the distance and then locates his camera a couple of feet behind his left ear, which means he has to half turn (while still striding along) in order to communicate with the camera. Oh dear oh dear... Naff in the extreme.