Bloody Hell. People that complain about these sort of things need to get a life. Seriously. How can anyone justify complaining about a piece of dramatic art? We see worse in bloody EastEnders where people get shot in the middle of woods and left for dead!
Promotional trail -- Cliffhanger BBC One, 27 May 2003
The complaint
This promotional trail for BBC One, which was shown at several programme junctions from 7.30pm onwards, took the form of a particularly heightened scene from what appeared to be a historical drama. At its climax, a mother who had been separated from her distressed child in violent circumstances lost her hold on a cliff edge and fell to her death, while a couple intended to represent television viewers looked on impassively. One hundred and eighty-two viewers complained that the scenario was extremely upsetting, particularly for children.
Finding
The trail was misjudged, and entirely unsuitable for pre-watershed placing.
Further action
Independently of the Unit's investigation, and in response to complaints recorded on the BBC's log of telephone calls, the trail was withdrawn for reworking in the light of further consumer research. Staff in the area responsible for the trail have been reminded of the relevant BBC Guidelines, and steps have been taken to ensure that appropriate senior managers are involved earlier in the decision-making process.
Complete over reaction. Yes - some people might find it scary - but that's the idea!!! It is a very good promo (much better than the rooftop one).
If the BBC insist on filling their ever increasing trailer slots with promos which basically advertise nothing, I'd rather see something as dramatic as the cliffhanger promo in place of another ad telling us it's summer (sorry, BBC Summer) or that bloody "Where's your head at" CBBC promo!
This is good reading. It highlights the fact that there are total pratts living in our country with lots of time in their hands...
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Rogue Traders
BBC One, 20 February 2003
The complaint
A viewer pointed out that, in the closing sequence, the presenters did not secure their crash helmets before riding off on their motorcycles.
Finding
It is a rule of the programme that the presenters should be seen to ride responsibly. On this occasion, however, there had been multiple takes of the sequence, and, because of an oversight, a take in which they did not secure their helmets was used.
Further action
The Series Producer drew the oversight to the attention of the programme team, and asked them to ensure that there was no repetition.
How can anyone justify complaining about a piece of dramatic art?
What if that piece of dramatic art was a serial killer murdering babies with a chainsaw? And since when have we been supposed to accept dramatic art without question?
You can't stop people having opinions, and this promo caused genuine upset to a lot of viewers.
How can anyone justify complaining about a piece of dramatic art?
What if that piece of dramatic art was a serial killer murdering babies with a chainsaw?
The point is, it wasn't. It was a woman hanging onto the side of a cliff. OK, so there were two people sitting on a sofa right next to her, but anyone could see that the people on the sofa represented the people watching a drama on the BBC from the comfort of their own home. There was nothing upsetting about it.
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And since when have we been supposed to accept dramatic art without question?
I never said that we had to do that.
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You can't stop people having opinions, and this promo caused genuine upset to a lot of viewers.
Those people, quite frankly, need to get out more. You see worse things on other TV programmes. Why is it that shows like 'When Good Times Go Bad' or something, people never bat an eyelid yet it is real-life, but as soon as the BBC show something with a dit of drama people ring up and complain in their droves. You can't justify that by saying "But it's the BBC". It just doesn't wash with me - people want to see better TV yet when it happens they all complain.
So what's happening? All that money spent on it wasted? No editing? No once-more showing in the wee small hours when kiddies are all safely tucked up in bed? It was very dramatic but then that's the idea. I don't see the problem running it after a drama programme just before 10 or before the late film. Pulling it entirely was OTT.
And I have little sympathy with people complaining about their kids seeing it when it was initally shown moments before that well known light-entertainment, comedy, fun-for-the-family show - EastEnders.
