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	Your questions answered. THINKTV attempts to find answers to your questions and comments

City Gardener

TV networks are so eager to get viewers to stay with the channel once a programme ends. I was about to do that, having watched the excellent "Selling Houses" at 20:00 but within a few minutes of the start of "City Gardener" I was off to see what was on the other side. What a contrast! "Selling Houses" is well made, punchy and informative and the camera shows us what we want to see. "City Gardener" is yet another of those gimmicky programmes where the camera is directed never to keep still. When will directors wake up to the fact that the camera should be a passive observer of well lit and well focussed events which ENGAGE the viewer and which happen within its view; not a manic object hosepiping all over the place as a substitute for content. I just can't watch programmes where the camera won't keep still, or where the director thinks it is a neat idea to keep cutting to a grainy black and white camera showing the same scene as the main camera but from a funny angle. It is not clever and it alienates viewers. Teenagers don't want to watch programmes about gardening anyway and wobbling the camera about is not going to make them watch arts programmes and serious documentaries either. Lets keep the message clear and stop fogging it by inappropriate use of the medium.

RESPONSE

Like the 70s TV series "Different Strokes" said in its title song, "it takes different strokes to build a world". What they could have gone on to say is that it takes different visual styles to make a TV channel. I'm sorry that you feel that "The City Gardener" is gimmicky - I looked after the show for Channel 4 and I feel that it offers a refreshingly modern (and not at all gimmicky) take on a subject that has been stuck in a time warp for too long. I disagree with your assertion that the camera never stays still. Personally I'm not a fan of unmotivated camera moves and I've ensured that their use is minimal in the series. I feel that the camerawork in "The City Gardener" injects real energy into the series and matches Matt James' enthusiasm. And it's always perfectly focussed and well lit. As far as the camera moves being a substitute for content I think you're really barking up the wrong tree. "The City Gardener" is crammed full of content - you shouldn't let the fact that the camera isn't static distract you from the huge amount of information that Matt delivers in every show. As for teenagers - if this series persuades even one person (whether they're under 20 or over 60) to step out into the wasteland that is their garden and make some space to enjoy life then I think we'll have achieved a huge amount. If they just enjoy watching it then I'll still be very happy - and the fact that the series has averaged well over 2 million viewers shows that many people do enjoy the show. I'm delighted you enjoy "Selling Houses" and I genuinely hope that "The City Gardener" grows on you.

Ben Adler
Editor, Features Channel 4

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NYPD BLUE

I think C4 is missing out on some 'all important ratings' by showing such a consistently excellent programme as NYPD Blue at such a late hour. Not only that but the variation in the starting time is most frustrating and guaranteed to lose even the dedicated fan! Why are you missing out on such a golden opportunity of increasing your viewing figures by not allocating this quality programme an earlier slot? Plot and dialogue are sharp, the filming and acting are high quality and, whilst maintaining tension and a sense of realism, there is actually no offensive material. Why not review your schedules and exploit your strengths rather than hide them away in the early hours of the morning!

RESPONSE

Because of the ITC requirement's, C4 can only have a certain amount of peak hours dedicated to American acquisitions, so NYPD Blue can't be accommodated as well as all the other American programmes. Priority in the schedule is given to more recent acquisitions.

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Brookside

It is bad enough that Brookside has been scrapped during the week and we only have the omnibus on Saturday afternoons but why has somebody deemed it acceptable to put this weeks omnibus on at 11.30pm on a week night. Do you really expect us to stay up to 1am watching? Please stop messing with the timings.

RESPONSE

The storyline was unsuitable for daytime viewing, bearing in mind we are answerable to the ITC.

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T4

Why do T4 competitions request date of birth - is this to keep out the under aged, or the over 35s?

RESPONSE

Because of age restrictions - you have to be over 16 to enter most & a lot have over 18 restrictions. We give away a lot of film related gifts, concert & clubs all have a legal over 18 requirement.

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Dambusters

Waited ages to see this program, ended up leaving the room on several occasions due to the inapproriate heavy metal guitar music. This even over the veterans voices so that some words were inaudable. Totally ruined! Music is not a prerequisite for any and every documenary. If it had to be there it should have been contemporary to the period, not competing the the testimony of people who were there and at least only 20% the vloume it was. For me it made a 'must not miss it' to 'a see it if I do' for next week.

RESPONSE

We were trying to bring a younger overall audience profile to the films and felt that the use of contemporary music was appropriate in this context.

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Hollyoaks

I am writing to express my opinion of the Lisa Storyline in Hollyoaks. Can I start off by saying how much I enjoy the show (although the new weird camera work etc I'm not too sure about) and how impressed I was when you decided to show the Self Harm storyline Lisa is facing. As someone who unfortunately is a self harmer I am always very glad when the topic is faced head on as I really feel this is something which should be publicised so the people who do it are able to get help without being stigmatised as is so often the case. I was however very shocked to see the latest scenes on the theme and especially the occasion when Lisa took out her SH kit in her bedroom. I am never triggered to do SH as so many people are however that was my first occasion when I was faced with such emotions. I really feel that that scene in particular should never have been shown as many people went on to SH themselves after watching it. I know this because not only did I do it but also people I am in contact with told me they had too. I know that Hollyoaks research their storylines and have been in contact with organisations helping people like me, including the Self Harm Alliance, however I really do feel that on that occasion they were irrisponsible and allowed ratings to get the better of the programme and issue as a whole.

RESPONSE

Channel 4 and the Hollyoaks production team recognise that self harm is sensitive issue that needs careful handling. However, it is also still a taboo subject which often means sufferers don't get the help they need. Hollyoaks has tackled the issue of self harm in a responsible and sensitive way right from the outset in the hope of both highlighting this difficult problem and encouraging sufferers to seek help. It also works to reverse the negative tendency to treat it as a taboo subject.

The events surrounding Lisa's self harm have also been well researched and clearly thought out as part of an ongoing storyline. This research has taken on board the comments and scenarios of real sufferers as well as enlisting the help and advice of medical and trained experts. In particular, the production team have liaised and taken advice on an ongoing basis from various organisations including The Birmingham Psychiatric Service and The National Self Harm Network.

In addition to this research, our Channel 4 Programme Support department have provided helpline information on a regular basis in tandem with this storyline. This programme support has included telephone information lines and website news detailing various organisations who can offer help to self harmers and the people close to them who are affected by their actions. This support has on occasion been intensified with staffed helplines offering one to one conversations and advice. These programme support services have produced positive feedback from many sufferers.

Given all of the above, I hope you will agree that we have endeavoured to portray this very serious subject matter in a responsible way.

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