BBC criticised for howlers, tedious Jubilee coverage
June 05, 2012  15:38

The BBC has been roundly criticised for a series of howlers and tepid coverage of a pageant on River Thames on Sunday, with a leading television personality
asking: "Has the BBC ever presented a more mind-numbingly tedious programme in its history?"   As celebrities and readers heaped criticism on the BBC, the public service broadcaster said it was "very proud of the quality and breadth" of its seven-hour coverage. It said nearly 12 million people watched its coverage of the pageant.


 

But viewers and commentators listed several inaccuracies in its coverage, including referring to Queen Elizabeth as 'Her Royal Highness the Queen', instead of Her Majesty; the bow of the royal barge mistaken for the stern; upriver being confused with downriver. The headlines today attacking the coverage said it all: 'The BBC pageant backlash: Viewers attack inane stunts
and blundering presenters' (Daily Mail); 'The BBC's reputation is sunk in The Thames' (The Telegraph), 'BBC blasted for Thames Pageant coverage' (The Times). 

 

Writer and television personality Stephen Fry wrote: "Has the BBC ever presented a more mind-numbingly tedious programme in its history? 'HRH the queen' said the first ignorant presenter. HRH?" 

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