Quote: David Bussell @ July 10 2009, 2:21 PM BSTYou must be so proud to have something good done in your name at last after that ropey Mel Gibson film.
You mean the one about the Son Of God? Well, it's not for me to say... *blushes*
BBC Talent wage cut Page 5
Quote: Griff @ July 10 2009, 2:31 PM BSTI think you're wrong, Tim. The people who will have watched Middlemarch on TV aren't illiterate. Novel reading is in good health. I very often see people reading classic novels when I'm commuting each day.
That's cos you commute to Oxford.
On the buses in the ghetto where I live it's hoodies trying to work out which end of the knife is the stabby one.
And people reading the Watchtower whilst wearing hats, who are worse.
Quote: Griff @ July 10 2009, 2:32 PM BSTAnd that one where he took his clothes off in the desert, Walkerbout.
Quote: Griff @ July 10 2009, 2:31 PM BSTI think you're wrong, Tim. The people who will have watched Middlemarch on TV aren't illiterate. Novel reading is in good health. I very often see people reading classic novels when I'm commuting each day.
In no way am I saying TV viewers, or the general public in general, are a bunch of illiterate philistines. This country has a brilliantly encouraging appetite for books, it's great. All I'm saying is it is a cop-out for the BBC to use this argument as a justification for not investing time and resources into original, written-for-TV drama. And "bums-on-seats" is a tired argument. McDonald's is one of the most popular places to eat, doesn't make the food the best in the land. One lavish umpteen-episode Austen adaptation could fund 2 or 3 low-budget ambitious original dramas.
I did like him in Tim Walker Texas Ranger, wicked spin kicks!
Quote: Griff @ July 10 2009, 2:34 PM BSTI was about to qualify that with "but not many of them get on at Didcot".
However, I see it on trains and Tubes into London as well.
Do you see many of them reading ebooks?
The trouble there is you don't know what they are reading, they might look nice and middle class and intellligent 'n all that but they could be reading Jeffrey Archer for all you know.
(Damn you, Bussell! You see what you've done now! 
)
'''''
Creativity used to be the heartblood of BBC Drama. It isn't any more for a number of reasons.
Quote: Griff @ July 10 2009, 2:36 PM BSTThere, we agree. Original drama is what we want. Snog Marry Avoid is what we get.
*thumbs-up* 
What Austen novel are they adapting now? Haven't they all been done very recently?
Quote: Griff @ July 10 2009, 2:56 PM BSTI am looking forward to Pride and Predator.
Has anybody read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? It's a great title but I'm concerned that's the best bit of the book.
I picked it up in a bookshop, read the first line, and I fear you may be right about the title being the best bit.
Quote: chipolata @ July 10 2009, 2:58 PM BSTHas anybody read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? It's a great title but I'm concerned that's the best bit of the book.
Haven't read it but all the reviews I've read have said it's great.
Quote: David Bussell @ July 10 2009, 3:04 PM BSTHaven't read it but all the reviews I've read have said it's great.
If Mark Lawson wasn't one of those reviewers I'm not interested!
Quote: chipolata @ July 10 2009, 3:06 PM BSTIf Mark Lawson wasn't one of those reviewers I'm not interested!
The Match of the Day pundit? 