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Why oh why do they have to spoil things?

(42 Posts)
Sbagran Thu 15-Dec-11 22:16:40

I won't give any details as I refuse to spoil things for others but the BBC 'Breakfast' programme this morning aired an 'update' on the 'Soaps' Christmas storylines.

I admit I can live without them but I do enjoy my Emmerdale and Corrie. (I know it's sad!) but there are many people who are avid soap fans.

Sadly I didn't get to the remote quick enough to avoid hearing of one thing that will happen in Emmerdale that will now spoil the lead-up episodes and the Christmas airings.

OK - it's not life-threatening and there are far more important things to worry about, but why do the media 'break storylines' and spoil people's enjoyment of a purely fictional programme? The newspapers are as bad. What do they gain by spoiling someone's enjoyment and escapism?

I have a friend who always reads the TV listings book so knows what is going to happen and then 'hints' to me - again spoiling my enjoyment.

Sad isn't it sad angry

Ariadne Thu 15-Dec-11 22:31:49

No it's not sad at all! I would have hated to have heard it too - like reading the last pages of a book. x

glassortwo Thu 15-Dec-11 22:34:34

It cant be to get the viewing figures up as it is common knowledge that the holiday storylines are always a huge feature and the soaps go out of their way to beat each other so why spoil everyones enjoyment, cant see what they gain from doing so.

When my DD visits her GD she will go and turn over the Tv paper so she cant see the front for the headlines, be he invariably brings into the conversation what is going to happen over the weeks soaps.

numberplease Thu 15-Dec-11 23:46:44

I am another one who hates to hear what`s coming up in soaps, in my case, Eastenders, Neighbours and Home and Away. When reading the papers, or the TV Times, I deliberately turn over the soap pages, but hubby reads them, then makes out that he`s just guessing when he drops hints about what "he thinks" is coming up. So annoying.

Sbagran Fri 16-Dec-11 07:18:16

Aarrrggghhhh! numberplease my DH does exactly the same and it is so infuriating !!! angry
It is nice to hear that I am not the only one angry with this.

I had the Saturday evening BBC TV news one weekend when it was announced that 'Match of the Day' follows this programme so if you don't want to see the results look away now - the presenter then immediately stated that Man Utd moved so many places following their 2-1 win at somewhere etc !!!

As for Strictly - you have to join a closed convent if you record the results show as it is everywhere on Monday morning TV and radio. I appreciate that is 'news' but it is sometimes impossible to watch these things when first shown so why can't they warn you that it is coming so you can leave the room or whatever?

Peace and goodwill to all men except these spoilsports grin

jingl Fri 16-Dec-11 10:02:55

You can't help catching sight of it on the magazine shelves, can you? I dunno why they do it.

Actually, it probably does get viewing figures up. hmm

PoppaRob Fri 16-Dec-11 14:06:05

I'm one of those people who will go to the last chapter of a book or the last few scenes of a DVD if it's becoming tedious to see if it's worth persevering with.

dontcallmegramps Mon 19-Dec-11 07:45:29

The Doting grandma reads some turgid books...*
I always read the last page and read just the very last sentence out loud...


* ie books with no spaceships, explosions, gunfights submarines etc in

Faye Tue 20-Dec-11 00:05:42

hmm sigh....being single certainly has its advantages!

em Tue 20-Dec-11 00:26:50

Oh Faye I SO agree with you!!

Greatnan Tue 20-Dec-11 04:50:14

I can't watch my favourites - Corrie, Emmerdale, Doctors, Holby City - whilst I am in NZ. I could watch them on my computer using iportal but it takes up too much of my daughter's internet connection time. I have had to use the 'spoilers' to read the synopses and if I miss any really good episodes I can watch them on 'catch-up' on the computer when I get home.
By the way, I see no reason to apologise for my choice of programmes - I watch plenty of the heavy political programmes as well, such as Newsnight and Question Time, but I love the light relief of the soaps.
On my French ex-pat forum, we get some real TV snobs, boasting that they only watch French TV and French films. Well, more fools them, as they are ignoring what is still one of the best TV services in the world, in order to watch one that is nowhere near as good. These are the 'I am more integrated than you' brigade who shudder if they hear another English voice and delight in running down Britain. Not me - I still feel great loyalty to the UK, I just prefer the climate and space of my bit of France.

glammanana Tue 20-Dec-11 05:32:33

When DH and I ran our business in Spain we also came across the UK TV snob brigade,if we had TV on in the Bar area we could be sure that the conversation would be turned into running down UK even though they where cashing their UK pensions every month,and they forgot the fact that having UK TV brought us extra business into the Bar,not just from the British but from other Countries as well.
We all liked to keep up with the Soaps as they are a National Institution and if you don't want to watch there is also the choice of the off button.
Hoping you are enjoying your hols and your family.smile

dontcallmegramps Tue 20-Dec-11 08:04:54

Oh greatnan absolutely agree french TV is awful
and em and faye..... sighing straight back at you
if someone's at page 20 of some droning on about the feelings of a teenage girl who dreams of being tiddly winks champion of uzbekistan or somewhere and there another 980 close set pages the very last sentence does no harm

Greatnan Tue 20-Dec-11 08:52:09

Than you, Glam, I am having a wonderful time! I am taking my daughter's oldest son, who is also visiting her, to a whale-watching trip on Thursday. He is determined to make the most of his trip, with bungee jumping, kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park, white-water rafting, and back-packing in the mountains, staying in a refuge. I was happy to spend today shopping with her whilst the girls were at the cinema, having lunch with them, and then we had a 'barbie' in the garden this evening. I don't feel the same need to experience all that NZ has to offer in one week - I am mainly here to spend time with my family, but I can understand why a young man of 28 would want to do all the adrenaline-fuelled stuff! I expect he wants to go back to London and show his friends what he did in NZ!

glammanana Tue 20-Dec-11 09:04:10

Well done to your DGS I think at that age they should be out and about exploring the world and as long as they know we are there for them in the background they feel they do not have to be in our company all of the time,I wish at that age I had done all the worldly things my DCs and DGCs have done.

Greatnan Tue 20-Dec-11 09:35:11

I know, at 28 I was training to be a teacher with two children under five, dressing like a 40-year old and our holidays were self-catering in Wales or the West Country. I am much younger now!
My daughter is thrilled that her son is enjoying NZ so much that he is saying he would like to emigrate here in a few years! It really is a superb country, not just the wonderful scenery but the friendly, informal people. I was bowled over by the service in a shop in Nelson today - we were not buying anything expensive, but the sales woman took endless pains to help, and we found the same level of friendly, helpful service in the restaurant. I am used to French sales assistants, and the Gallic shrug when you cannot find what you want, so it was a real treat to be given such great consideration. There is nothing sycophantic about the Kiwis - they just genuinely seem to want to help you.

em Tue 20-Dec-11 10:35:51

DCMG I may have misinterpreted something you said. I had assumed that Mrs DCMG chose her own books and decided for herself if she wanted to know the denouement. If however she relies on you to point out wrong choices then that of course is up to her. Do you read aloud the last sentence to keep her right? To point out that in your humble opinion she is reading a book not worthy of her attention? To make some other point?
Oh the joys of choosing for myself!

Faye Tue 20-Dec-11 10:55:57

If you say so DCMG. I am sure DontCallMeGran might not agree with you though. hmm
sigh....being single means choosing for yourself.
being single means not being criticised.
being single means not having to listen to anyone if you dont want to.
being single means not having to clean the toilet with his toothbrush. grin

Carol Tue 20-Dec-11 11:41:39

Faye smile

em Tue 20-Dec-11 18:36:35

Oh Faye we are true soulmates. If my dear departed gran ever came across someone she regarded as irritating and pointless, she would declare 'I wouldna see him in my road!' There is the occasional time when I feel I'd like to share a moment or two with someone special but frankly, having to put up with all 'me me me' stuff is too high a price to pay!

Carol Tue 20-Dec-11 18:40:27

Ditto!

jingl Tue 20-Dec-11 18:42:36

Dontcallmegramps, the last sentence of a book is extremely important.

It could be called the moneyshot.

(I learned about that on Mumsnet, but I think it could be rude actually)

SO DON'T GOOGLE IT!!

em Tue 20-Dec-11 18:47:34

Well ladies we have a trio of soulmates! This might now invite comments about the 3 witches in Macbeth. Stand by!

Annobel Tue 20-Dec-11 18:48:36

And ditto to Faye, em and Carol
And being single means having a whole bed to oneself. grin

Annobel Tue 20-Dec-11 18:50:17

Quartet might confer safety in numbers, em. wink