BBC Wimbledon Coverage : Sue Barker post match on court interview

Posted by: PatG on 07 July 2006

Hello All

I need to get this off my chest.

I absolutely deplore the interviews conducted by Sue Barker with winners and losers on court after wimbledon finals (and now it seems after some ageing player is saying farewell e.g Agassi this year).

I cannot think of anything more un-British that these cliché ridden interviews. There used to be a quiet dignity to the presentation ceremony where players were not subject to any haranging/harassment and being asked potentially akward questions, designed to enhance the emotion of the occasion. Such efforts are perhaps acceptable in US television where excessive emotion rules and post match press conferences but on the BBC in ths sacred centre court, please no!

Next they will replace the grass with artificial sufrances in SW19!

Rant over !
Posted on: 07 July 2006 by Harry
It’s the reality TV model Pat. People puking to camera is thought to be just as interesting as the match itself. Stinks doesn’t it?

We’ve reached an era in broadcasting where the old joke “other than that Mrs Linclon, what did you think of the play’ has become fact.

Not trying to justify this dumb behaviour, but I spose it’s slightly more up market than watching ordinary people doing ordinary things (where it seems that some people can’t even do a bit of decorating, go to the toilet or answer a telephone without a camera crew in tow), or in the case of BB morons doing moronic things.

Oh dear, I seem to be ranting now…

Cheers
Posted on: 07 July 2006 by Guido Fawkes
BTW - when's Celebrity Tight Rope Walking on.

When I get sick of reality TV, I just watch my DVD of The Truman Show.
Posted on: 07 July 2006 by Harry
Smile

What was the 70s forerunner? I can't remember. Nerwork? Probably terribly dated now but very biting at the time as I remember.

Cheers
Posted on: 07 July 2006 by JonR
Nationwide

[Ooh...showing my age now! Eek]
Posted on: 07 July 2006 by Harry
Naah Jon I was maybe being a bit too oblique- sorry. I film starring I think, Finch and Fonda (Jane) about a network TV presenter who catches the public interest by going off script spilling his guts on live TV. Proto reality TV.
If that rings any bells.

Cheers
Posted on: 07 July 2006 by JonR
Oh I see, well in thst case I think you're right!

Cool
Posted on: 07 July 2006 by u5227470736789439
No tele here, so I missed this decline.

I never saw anything so funny as the tennis from France (the French Open?) one year with my grandmother in Norway, when she turned off the sound, as she was so embarassed by the Norwegian commentary. Not like Dan Maskell at all! Mind it was Bjorn Borg playing (against whom I cannot) remember, but that much excitemment is stomach churning...

All the best from Fredrik
Posted on: 08 July 2006 by Harry
That's it Jon - thanks.

When I followed cticket Fredric I frequently watch pictures with TMS going on the radio. I sometimes watch F1 on mute too because I can't stand 50% of the commentry.

Cheers
Posted on: 08 July 2006 by erik scothron
Is there anything quite so tedious as listening to Virginia Wade commentate on a tennis with her vapid drawl and penchant for the bleeding obvious? Why do we have to have a couple of Americans commentate on the womens final today? Roll Eyes
Posted on: 08 July 2006 by Guido Fawkes
But what can you do when your mum's in Rampton. bouncing off the walls and singing "Who's afraid
Of Virginia Wade?"
Why do it today when you can always put it off until tomorrow was our motto
Subsequently engraved on a plaque
As a reminder of the attack
Of Vitas Gerulaitis

From Half Man Half Biscuit's Outbreak of Vitas Gerulaitis on McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt, 1991.
Posted on: 09 July 2006 by Chris Kelly
A few years ago I had the pleasure of watching Virginia Wade trying to blag her way into the British Airways Exec Lounge at Terminal4. The staff were totally underwhelmed with her "Don't you know who I am" schtick, and she was refused admission or an upgrade!