I think the reason for the axe of this programme is disgusting. Traditonally more teenage programmes have aired after 5 o'clock. What are these kids meant to watch now, if programmeing is being readjusted to focus at primary school children. I grew up with the series, i think it will be a shame to see it grow, what next the axe for Grange Hill, because it appeals to a similar age group. The BBC is a public service broadcaster, and should cater for all audiences, what are teenagers meant to watch on the BBC? I admit that ratings for the series have decline since it began in 1989, due to the rise of the childrens channel, but it used to mean more teenage viewing between 5 and 6, with Newsround, Byker Grove and Neighbours.
The producers started using that awful fake film effect in 2002, which ruined the show for me. Why producers seem to think it looks good is beyond my understanding. Look at BBC3, it's all over the place on every other show and 9 tims out of 10 it looks horrible. A show like Byker Grove was much more suited to the fluid VT "soap" look, same goes from Grange Hill.
PE
pear
so what are teenagers supposed to watch when they get back from school if cbbc is showing programmes for the 7-12 age group and the same with citv they only cater for the 7-12 aswell.
Very good point about teenage programmes - there is nothing at all from the BBC now!
The "youth" strand that used to air from 6pm on BBC2 has disappeared and replaced with crap like Eggheads and lifestyle programmes, while even BBC3 seems to have gone the same way between 7 & 9pm.
Whether or not you are a fan of Byker Grove, this is a worrying development. Children's BBC should, if you take the "children's" literally, cater for a young audience up to around 16. Ironically, Byker's axing flies in the face of plans for the teen brand, which, we're told, is looking to develop more shows like Byker!
CITV has all but abandoned younger teens and now CBBC looks set to do the same. Sure there are more children's/youth channels, but most rely on acquired or imported material. If the BBC follows the crowd, what hope is there for home-produced, quality youth drama?
Grange Hill's future is safe, at least until 2008 when big celebrations are planned for its 30th anniversary. But since the move up North the show has been watered down and hasn't been able to address issues in the way it could before then. In other words, the chances of another storyline with the power of Zammo's heroin addiction are slim. The BBC has already moved the Hill from 5pm to 4:30pm as part of "a considered strategy to skew the series towards a younger audience".
Another irony - the man who wielded the axe on Byker is one Richard
Deverell
. In its final year at Elstree, Grange Hill school was burnt down by an evil teacher called Mr
Deverill
!
Am I right in thinking a new person recently became in charge of childrens' presenation? If so this will be the new controllers' way of making his/her mark.
A similar thing happened in 1995 when Vanessa Chapman took over childrens' presentation for ITV, one of the notable things she did was to axe Knightmare, which at the time was still doing well in the ratings.
You are right Charlie - that man is the aforementioned Richard Deverell. He was installed as acting controller of CBBC following the departure of Alison Sharman, and recently took over permanently.
Byker Grove is going? How pathetic. What is Thompson playing at now. He seems to be taking the, "Oh they're doing it, we better do the same" approach. Yet, he wants to focus on more teenage output.....oh pur-lease!
Grange Hill and Newsround better watch out, you can't tell me he hasn't thought about getting rid of them as well. What next? Are they going to turn Blue Peter into Playschool?
The axing of Byker Grove is eerily conspicious on the BBC's message boards - by its absence. Nothing on the Points Of View board, not even the Newsround television forum.
With previous bans on discussing BBC4's DOG on the channel's message board, and the annihilation of various threads on LazyTown from the CBeebies forums, can you blame me for smelling a rat?
