In the news ... Bricks from India for the BBC. ?

Don’t we make bricks here anymore? It beggars belief.

I expect Phil Mitchell organised some dodgy deal!

I dont watch Eastenders but I appreciate there are millions who do. I criticise the BBC at times but I think it is times like this when we recognise its utter importance in our society.

Galaxy

I dont watch Eastenders but I appreciate there are millions who do. I criticise the BBC at times but I think it is times like this when we recognise its utter importance in our society.

Yes, not the best time to criticise our national broadcaster, particularly from someone who watches and enjoys Russia Today.

I don’t think where the bricks came from has any relevance whatsoever, but the cost is extortionate, unless they are planning for the new set to be a tourist attraction as well so the costs can be recouped?

It surely wouldn’t have cost 87 million to knock down and rebuild the old set and make it secure. Typical of our today throw away society. In the meantime, my 93 year old Aunt has to find money to pay for this now her free licence fee has been taken off her. I know now why the Beeb is becoming irrelevant today.

There's been a shortage of building materials generally here. My friend struggled to get some for work she was having done. I believe the cost of all such material has risen astronomically.

I wonder if someone at the top has shares/directorships etc in the supplier or carrier? This is the way our world seems to work these days, making money off our backs for personal gain!

It is typical of the way the BBC is completely cloth-eared when dealing with matters like this. They get so wound up with their self-generated idea of the need for authenticity that they completely fail to think about how these things play out with the public.

With the corporation under threat from the culture secretary and the renewal of its charter iminent, words like 'turkeys', 'voting', and 'Chtistmas' come to mind.

The BBC make £millions from flogging Eastenders.

I don't care. The government and the BBC can fight it out. This government and the right always need something to attack the Beeb with - they will be rubbing their hands with glee.

Meanwhile, I watch their correspondents bravely letting the world know what is happening in Ukraine. I watch the BBC pulling out all the stops to let us know - far too politely - that this lying Dirty Parliament, put in place by Russian money is still up to its nasty tricks and lying to Parliament. Yesterday they lied about an elderly woman seeking to find sanctuary with her own family in the UK. That could be your or my mother in other circumstances. It could be your children's granny.

The bought and paid for press who publish this stuff as their main articles may be at the top of some peoples adgenda; it simply isn't mine.

Strangely this is old news.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6651283/How-weeks-dithering-bricks-use-helped-push-cost-new-EastEnders-set.html
One wonders why it is published today in the Telegraph over two years later, with the same figures quoted. Are the government planning a BBC announcement while everybody is distracted by what’s happening in Ukraine, or am I just cynical?

Yes I spent quite a bit of yesterday thinking how fortunate we are to have such brave people.

Casdon

Strangely this is old news.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6651283/How-weeks-dithering-bricks-use-helped-push-cost-new-EastEnders-set.html
One wonders why it is published today in the Telegraph over two years later, with the same figures quoted. Are the government planning a BBC announcement while everybody is distracted by what’s happening in Ukraine, or am I just cynical?

I don't think you could be cynical about this lot we have been lumbered with.

Eastenders is not real; it is a drama, and in my opinion, an appalling programme. I wonder how much its portrayal of east end life influences foreign viewers' idea of life in Britain today.
Wasting so much money on a set for any programme is absurd, but amazing how criticism of it can be twisted into yet another attack on the government.

Casdon

Strangely this is old news.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6651283/How-weeks-dithering-bricks-use-helped-push-cost-new-EastEnders-set.html
One wonders why it is published today in the Telegraph over two years later, with the same figures quoted. Are the government planning a BBC announcement while everybody is distracted by what’s happening in Ukraine, or am I just cynical?

I think it’s because the project took four years to complete Casdon.

eazybee

Eastenders is not real; it is a drama, and in my opinion, an appalling programme. I wonder how much its portrayal of east end life influences foreign viewers' idea of life in Britain today.
Wasting so much money on a set for any programme is absurd, but amazing how criticism of it can be twisted into yet another attack on the government.

It was not "twisted into yet another attack on the government". The attack from the government was in the OP.

"... has been criticised by MPs and the National Audit Office."

This lying, undemocratic government does not have the right to be taked serioiusly, in my biased opinion. Get your facts straight before pushing your own bias

taked taken

eazybee

Eastenders is not real; it is a drama, and in my opinion, an appalling programme. I wonder how much its portrayal of east end life influences foreign viewers' idea of life in Britain today.
Wasting so much money on a set for any programme is absurd, but amazing how criticism of it can be twisted into yet another attack on the government.

Presumably you watch it to know it is an appalling programme ?

I think people can probably cope, in the same way I dont believe that everyone on Australia has a long lost relative who will turn up to wreck their lives, just because I have seen Neighbours.

I know now why the Beeb is becoming irrelevant today.

During the pandemic the BBC almost immediately provided a broad range of educational programmes for schools and this very day there are BBC journalists risking their lives to report the horrors of war.

How is the BBC is it not irrelevant?

They get so wound up with their self-generated idea of the need for authenticity

Surely in a world where everything is transient and 'fake news' abounds authenticity is more vital than ever. The search for authenticity is something I never thought I would see used as a criticism.

Correction - How is the BBC irrelevant.

I watched Eastenders from the very first programme, for about three years, then intermittently; my daughter became addicted to it, (benefits of a university education), and I had to endure it for about ten more years until it sickened her too; now I see the tail end of the programme if I am watching the following one.
Dreadful.

Any excuse to bash the BBC - the World Service is much admired throughout the world bringing news and one British thing we should be proud of. Popular programmes like EE maybe not be to everyone’s taste but do bring in revenue as they flog it elsewhere. Yes they could have built the set out of cardboard like Acorn Antiques, but I guess they are hoping it looks more professional and enables the to sell the series elsewhere and cover the costs quite easily.