Well, this evening the third episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day aired. And Tim Montgomerie (Editor of Conservative Home) moaned about it on Twitter:
Torchwood is anti-business, anti-Catholic, portrays police as brutal, intelligence services as corrupted, Americans as trivial. Just saying.
And then Therese Coffey agreed with Mr Montgomerie thinking it was something CMS Select Committee should look out.
Can I just say: What planet are these people on? Torchwood is all about being slightly risque and a bit cheeky. Tonight, there were two sex scenes (1 hetrosexual, 1 homosexual). 20 years ago, maybe even 10, people like Mr Montgomerie would have been calling for Torchwood to axed.
Yes, the BBC receives taxpayer’s money, but it makes some of the best television in the world. Quite frankly getting 8 TV Channels, several Radio Stations, iPlayer and the copious amount of extra content on the BBC’s website all for £150 a year. That’s mad. And it is fundamentally right the BBC should push boundaries and offer a point of view in a science fiction program.
This sort of attitude to the BBC is astonishing. I’m pretty sure such comment wouldn’t happen if Channel 4 did something similar (they are also a licence fee funded broadcaster). I just hope the Tories are going to get real on the BBC and appreciate what a marvellous thing it is…
PS That’s my moan done for the night
#1 by Jo on July 28, 2011 - 11:06 pm
But should those boundaries include a character, who is unequivocably being portrayed in a positive role, being allowed to suggest that catholics are suffering from a sickness?
This is what was being suggested when the doctor siad: ““Yeah, I was a Catholic too once. I got better.”
Sure, its a fictional show – but this type of thing has to be handled responsibly when you a state broadcaster who effectively extracts a television tax. Including from people living in parts of the UK where sectarianism is an issue.
#2 by Harry Matthews on July 29, 2011 - 6:59 pm
I think you’re treating Torchwood as a Children’s show in essence.
It’s a point of view, and the doctor you referred isn’t really a role model – she helps a fugitive &c.