A preview of tonight's programme accuses it of being Top Gearish, cliquey, with more chinwagging than chiffchaffing. A bit harsh I think. It was also suggested that it would be better if it returned to it's orignal format - similar to Springwatch. I wondered what you all thought about this.
On the plus side, tonight's programme features the Exe Estuary and Avocet cruises - finishing in grand style!
Watch out for swifts
Hi Val
Although I love Spring and Autumnwatch and always watch it, I have to agree with the preview comments :(
More chinwagging than chiffchaffing is a really good description of what it has become. A real bird nut friend of mine won't even watch it now!!!
I really missed Bill when he went but have warmed to Chris over the last series. The human characters are warm, enthusiastic and funny, but ,especially with Autumnwatch, the focus is now on them and not the wildlife.
Perhaps Springwatch will redeem itself with lots of baby birds and nests to watch.
I'm looking forward to the last show, anyway, and I will miss it when it's finished.
Best wishes
Pipit
Hi ValO
I must agree that it has become more chinwaggy.
I would rather record it than watch it live now, then I can playback the chinwaggy bits at 1.5X speed. :-)
I never liked Bill Oddie though. I hope Simon might be back in Spring.
Best wishes Chris
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Simon King tweeted he was filming Barn Owls for Autumnwatch yesterday .. it might be for a one off like they did last year? We shall wait and see!
Also, they said there would be some surprises on tonight's show last week. Anyone want to bet against Mr Oddie being the guest presenter?
I like it in the eight week format, you get to see the whole season .. as they last year, they started in short sleeves and will be ending in thermals! It's what a season is all about!
Ant
"IT IS SAID THAT LIFE FLASHES BEFORE YOUR EYES BEFORE YOU DIE. THAT IS TRUE, IT'S CALLED LIVING."Death - Terry Pratchett (The Last Continent).
Well, firstly, the current format is probably better as they would be pushed to show anything 'live'. It would be just mainly filmed clips....but I would probably keep SW as a daily programme.
And I would agree that AW is more chinwagging - too much human and not enough wildlife. And too rehearsed, I long for the off-the-cuff Bill Oddie days.....
But it is still way better than most TV progs on at the moment!
-Graham
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I agree with Woodpecker. The show needs Simon King.
RK
Let not your heart be troubled
Think the weekly format is great and also like the guest presenter feature for this series! No complaints from me! Will miss it.... until SW! :-)
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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The earlier AW programmes were brilliant when they covered the stag rutting and the urban fox, migrating swans, geese etc. Obviously they couldn't repeat this, year after year, but now it is so obviously scripted, with far too much chinwagging. I also miss Bill Oddie's' off the cuff ' but knowledgeable remarks and not presenters trying to be heard the most.
Hi-
I barely watched it this autumn, as the birding out here was sooo good I didnt need a TV fix :) CP is a good presenter but I miss WEO and I know whom I'd rather go birding with .
Clicquey? The trouble is that any minority interest - birding, knitting, stamp collecting, wellie wanging, naked river widening ) is automatically a clicque because of the jargon etc :)
S
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Rockwolf said: Think the weekly format is great and also like the guest presenter feature for this series! No complaints from me! Will miss it.... until SW! :-)
I liked the guest presenter feature also, It was nice to see Iolo Williams, I think he ranks among the best.
Hi all
I watched it last night before I went to sleep.
I would love to see the guy with long messy hair get a hair cut!
Chris & Kate were on good form after they went inside out of the cold. Kate couldn't get her words out properly at first.
They mentioned a Christmas Special. I must look out for that. :-)