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Cheers and Grumbles
Which show was the viewers' top dog and dog's dinner in January?
The tireless folks at Channel 4's Viewer Enquiries team dealt with 21,967 contacts – phone calls, emails and letters – from viewers last month. Each query was logged and the appropriate people at Channel 4 notified.
Of these, 1,664 criticised Channel 4 shows, while 758 complimented programmes.
The vast majority of contacts were general queries, such as: When is this series out on DVD? What is the name of the theme tune?
These were the most appreciated and criticised programmes in January. We've included the odd viewer quote to give a flavour of the comments.
Which shows did you love and loathe last month? Tell us below.
For now it's just a trial, so let us know what you think.
Top 10 most appreciated programmes in contacts with Viewer Enquiries in January 2008 (the quote is an example of viewer comment):
- Big Brother Celebrity Hijack (214 contacts)
"This show is fab. The housemates are great and the idea is too." - Hugh's Chicken Run (142)
"Groundbreaking stuff." - Cutting Edge: A Boy Called Alex (46)
"Beautifully and sensitively filmed" - Jamie Oliver: Eat To Save Your Life (43)
"Hugely thought-provoking. Already thinking about how we should change our diets & attitude to food." - Jamie's Fowl Dinners (42)
"Fascinating, informative programme." - The Big Food Fight Season (29)
"We appreciate you broadcasting these programmes." - City of Vice (15)
"It's nice to see a programme that mixes a bit of drama and history." - How to Look Good Naked (12)
"Thanks to Gok, there are loads of women out here that now feel a whole load better about themselves, me included."
Read & comment on How to Look Good Naked. - The Lie of the Land (11)
"Thank you so much for that insight into the true everyday lives of people of our country." - Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live (11)
"Please make more shows like this!"
Top 10 most criticised programmes in contacts with Viewer Enquiries in January 2008 (the quote is an example of viewer comment):
- Big Brother Celebrity Hijack (469 contacts)
"Some people who watch BB don't have E4"; "I am appalled at the treatment of John by Matt Lucas"; "Bring back the celebs". - Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live (136)
"Are you trying to make your audience motion sick? Crash zooms everywhere, whip-pans, far too many cuts."
The Viewers Editor addresses these issues here. - 1983: The Brink of Apocalypse (79)
"I am so annoyed by the narrator's inability to say the word 'Nuclear' properly."
See comments and response here. - Hugh's Chicken Run (57)
"The use of such bad language removes the program's credibility and stature." - Dispatches: The Court of Ken (50)
"Disgraceful shoddy journalism, clearly trying to ensure voters do not vote for the Mayor in the coming elections." - Jamie's Fowl Dinners (48)
"Utter disgust in the animal cruelty displayed on this show." - Dispatches: The Truth About Your Food (40)
"Pointless bit of scaremongering journalism". - Supersize v Superskinny (26)
"Discriminatory....promoting eating disorders...negative impact on women" - Channel 4 News 03.01.08 (25)
"I do not expect at 7.03 to see images of a Kenyan man being hacked to death by a group of men with machetes." - Jamie Oliver: Eat To Save Your Life (24)
"Pompous, reactionary and scaremongering."
Couldn’t disagree more? Glad to be proved right?
Which programme was your pin-up this month?
…And which did you pin to the dartboard?
Before adding your comment below, please note the terms and conditions upon which all submissions are made to Channel 4.
- See the Top 10 for 2007.
- See the Top 10 for December.
- See the Top 10 for November.
- Back to The TV Show Home
mollie187
Cheers & Grumbles
Cheers & Grumbles
wrote on 24-02-08 13:12
Loved 'City of Vice' Need more of this type of drama. The actors were brilliant. Any chance of a second series?
Mbuckland
Reply to "Hollyoaks and Heroin" from C4 Drama
Reply to "Hollyoaks and Heroin" from C4 Drama
wrote on 15-02-08 18:06
As Hollyoaks is primarily aimed at teenagers, we feel it is important to explore the diverse aspects of teenage life. It is fact that a number of teenagers use illegal substances, and Hollyoaks gives us the opportunity to explore the far reaching and sometimes devastating effects of this issue in a format that will be seen by many teenagers. We strongly believe in bringing this sort of debate into the public arena and we are fully aware of the responsibilities of exploring the subject in an early evening timeslot. Throughout the production process we have been careful to ensure that no method is ever apparent and taking heroin is never glamorised. This is a long running storyline and we hope it will inspire debate around the subject and encourage viewers that need it to seek help. The Hollyoaks Forum is an ideal place to discuss the issues being tackled in the show with other viewers and the Hollyoaks website contains a link to pages offering information on drugs and addiction.
25petite
Hollyoaks & Heroin
Hollyoaks & Heroin
wrote on 11-02-08 19:48
I cannot believe that channel 4 are even entertaining showing a programme at 6.30 in the evening where tenagers are dabbling with heroin. Even if displayed as having negative effects is not enough justification as the mere mention of it sends shivers down my spine to think it may inspire fool hardy teens to give it a try and goded each other into experimenting more it's just bringing heroin further into the public arena. This is inappropriate and should certainly not be tackled on a teen soap at 6.30pm in the evening, and even family time on a Sunday when repeated on E4.
tonygoodenough
1983: The Brink of Apocalypse
1983: The Brink of Apocalypse
wrote on 09-02-08 07:59
I had low expectations for this programme and have just got around to watching it, some weeks after it was broadcast, but what an excellent production, very gripping and informative. Well written, directed and edited. Excellent drama with a factual base, could easily have been a Hollywood Blockbuster, (but in my mind was more compelling.)
Well done.
tonygoodenough
City of Vice - Great Show
City of Vice - Great Show
wrote on 09-02-08 07:55
Well done Channel 4 for City of Vice, a breath of fresh air to the tired genre of police shows, great scripts with gripping narrative, excellent acting and superb graphics and production values and, to cap it all actually based on fact.
I hope that there will be another series in the future of certainly one of the very best shows seen for a long while.
