Loving Merlin; so much better than X Factor.

I never got into Merlin always found it boring but do like John Hurt's voice over. I been glued to Taggart on Yesterday on Saturday night they showing them in order which is brilliant.

Mark Mcmanus was good actor in a good series he as so much personality, wit, sarcasm.

I was born in 1986 so never watched these only the ones in 1990's and lost interest in the noughties.

Cab't wait for next Saturday I know his going to say 'There's been a murder.'

Merlin is wonderful. Mind you the beeb could run repeats of Lassie against X Factor and I'd still be choosing the beeb on a Saturday night. But I'm not watching Strictly.

Overhyped kiddies' show. They'll be re-making Pinky and Perky next.

It's not officially a children's show...family perhaps. But something that angers me greatly is the manner in which television has shifted from children's programming being at the heart of what they do. Now they have graveyard channels such as CITV, and many kids are not being brought up with their own programming, instead watching rubbish such as Midsomer Murders, Paul O'Grady (whom I think is a ghastly man) and Jeremy Kyle (whom I think is a ghastly man...I've said that twice now.)

Children's programming was seen as vital when I was a youngster..late sixties, early seventies. The brilliant Biddy Baxter, ensuring that Blue Peter remained as the children's anchor programme. Then we had excellent programmes such as Jackanory, designed to encourage kids to pick up a book and read, and wonderful animation from the genius mind of Oliver Postgate...and terrific children's adaptations of The Secret Garden, Catweasle and Black Beauty. Not forgetting The Owl Service, The Tomorrow People and Worzel Gummidge.

Childhood robbed by the men in suits, whom I predicted would dismantle children's programming once they understood they could rake it in with premium line phone numbers and banal chat and quiz shows.. it is criminal.

Give a child an old washing up liquid bottle now and some sticky back plastic and they wouldn't have a bloody clue!

The Fat Controller wrote:
Paul O'Grady (whom I think is a ghastly man) and Jeremy Kyle (whom I think is a ghastly man...I've said that twice now.)

who, not whom! Here speaks a grammar pedant.

Sorry, I actually agree with everything you say!

Indeed David. Typos when I get all hot and bothered. I need a tablet to calm me down or I'll end up like children's telly...dead!

I mean I ask you! Paul O'Grady or Noggin The Nog?

I was round my girlfriends house the other week and we had kids programs on for the little one and we both looked at each other and thought the same thing that kids presenters are patronizing and insulting her little lad's intelligence.

When they have a ad break it's not insurance or loans it it's toys advert and nothing else all we had from him was 'I want that mummy.' Merlin is on CBBC and is not very accurate the writers need to read about King Arthur and Knights of the round table.

Jeremy Kyle has no idea what is like being on the dole you cannot go and get a job that easily so many people applying for one job and not enough jobs to go round for everyone.

andrew wrote:
I never got into Merlin always found it boring but do like John Hurt's voice over. I been glued to Taggart on Yesterday on Saturday night they showing them in order which is brilliant.

Mark Mcmanus was good actor in a good series he as so much personality, wit, sarcasm.

I was born in 1986 so never watched these only the ones in 1990's and lost interest in the noughties.

Cab't wait for next Saturday I know his going to say 'There's been a murder.'

I loved the original Taggarts, very straight forward in a way but with a murky and grimy undertone of Glasgae.

It all got a bit complicated later with far too many regular characters getting involved.

One reason people like me are put off the likes of Doctor WHO and Merlin and Robin Hood is that they are so wildly and incessantly over-hyped. Instead of being treated as high class hokum, which is what they are, you'd think they were up there with The Ascent of Man as truly great TV programmes and precious works of art. You can promote a show without any of this ludicrous 'must see' tosh you get in trailers these days. (It would help also if the leading 'men' stopped being weird-looking pimply twits.)

Very well put and it's also missing the chemistry and complications with co-workers and Jim Taggart also had to juggle with his relationship with his wife who was paralyzed due to giving child birth.

I'm still really enjoying Merlin though I'd like to see Richard Wilson and John Hurt used more.

I like Taggart too seveimp..being shown on cable at present although I sometimes get a bot transfixed by McManus's toupee in close-ups.

Bored with Merlin.