[Hawk_Eye]

Springwatch and a bit of presenter jollity have gone hand-in-hand since the first series however am I the only one who feels they need to tone it down a bit now. Several times over the past two weeks I've said to the TV "get on with the wildlife!!!".
While a bit of an annoyance it hasn't overshadowed the series as a whole this time. Charlie's stint up with the beavers was quite good especially given all the controversy over it and Lolo's pieces from Skomer this week were very interesting.

[Deimos]

I agree that it is not a presentation style I appreciate. However, I have always assumed that the program is attempting to kindle a new interest in wildlife in those who are not so inclined at the moment. And for that target audience I have no idea about what makes the subject appealing - so I hope they have got it right.

I have been very critical of past series in that whilst they encourage people/families to go out and watch wildlife, they omit the "responsibility" aspect with the results that everybody goes to a known deer "hot spot" and just disturb the deer - and when this happens day after day it starts to impact them badly. They have never really tried to include a message about "how to watch" and "responsibility" (e.g. you seem more and better if you ... and that does not damage the animals you are watching ...).

From what I have seen this series they have not used species or locations where this is a big issue - sort of side-stepped the problem.

When I do see it it always strikes me as 55 minutes of padding and 5 minutes of content. Which I do think is a shame as even those being introduced and encouraged into an interest in wildlife could stand a quite a bit more content. But I always try and remember that the program is not targeted at me (at least I certainly hope that is the case).

As an aside, Spring/Autumn-Watch already has a lot of media outlets (TV, local events, web sites, etc.) so I desperately hope that BBC Wildlife Magazine can stick to its existing content and does not feel the need for SpringWatch Specials this year (as I don't buy such issues).

Ian

[Polardave]

I used to watch Springwatch last year as Gordon Buchanan's filmwork was spectacular, and I was always hoping for more. Sadly this programme has become Much Ado About Nothing recently, and whilst I am sure that its target audience appreciates the presenter posing with silly T-shirts, I am not one of them. Please let the film-makers present their own coverage and remove the incessant flannel.

[Hawk_Eye]

Agreed.

[cabbage]

unfortunately springwatch seems to have become a bit of a victim of its own success, as its audience grows so the producers seem to feel the need to reduce the quality of the content down to the lowest common denominator. After all its well known that the attention span of the average tv watching Briton is less than 30 sec... oh look a kitten!

What was I saying?

I must admit I actually like the 'new' setup I'm a big fan of Chris Packham and Kate Humble and the wildlife was only ever really a bit of 'fluff' tv scheduling anyway. Theres only so many times you can watch footage of blue tits hatching after all. Once the programme started to gain 'story developers' then it was over as any sort of serious sciencey type show. I just let it wash over me and enjoy the animal footage that we do get. Plus I'm a big kid and couldn't help giggling along with the presenters at all the beaver references

Its perhaps becoming a bit too heavily kid focussed (beaver stuff aside!) But then that could equally just be that I'm rapidly becoming a grumpy child intolerant old man

I heartily agree with all the bring back Gordon Buchanon sentiments though!

[Hawk_Eye]

I must admit I actually like the 'new' setup I'm a big fan of Chris Packham and Kate Humble and the wildlife was only ever really a bit of 'fluff' tv scheduling anyway. Theres only so many times you can watch footage of blue tits hatching after all. Once the programme started to gain 'story developers' then it was over as any sort of serious sciencey type show.

I too like Packham as he's very knowledgeable and speaks his mind. I wonder whether it would be best for them to go to the Autumnwatch setup with it spread of 8 weeks but with maybe 2 episodes per week.