BBC 3 REPEATS ITSELF

13-10-2006

The Stirrer's been stirring it again, calling in his latest Birmingham Mail column for the abolition of BBC 3. In case you missed it, here's the article.

TV host Graham Norton's confession that he's dabbled with Ecstasy isn't the only sign that top people in the BBC are hallucinating.

Director-General Mark Thompson must also be on a weird trip if he thinks the public will swallow demands for an inflation-busting licence fee settlement.

The government is due to announce shortly how much we'll all have to pay for the privilege of owning a telly, but never mind another price rise, I've got a better idea.

Cut the licence fee by axing BBC 3.

There has never been a more pointless or repetitive channel - and with all the rubbish on cable or satellite these days, that's really saying something.

Tonight's highlights, for example, include a repeat of the Eastenders episode shown just two hours earlier on BBC1.

Blimey, surely one visit to Albert Square per night is misery enough for any viewer.

And that's only the start of it. After midnight, no fewer than six of the channel's own programmes from earlier the same evening are being shown again.

Now we know what they meant when they said it wouldn't be showing loads of old repeats.

They're too busy showing loads of new repeats instead.

BBC3's only real mainstream success so far has been Little Britain, which they also seem to replay on an endless loop.

But even this much-loved comedy actually started life on Radio 4, which has a far greater record for discovering new talent.

Simply cutting it from the schedules would save, I reckon, about £4 for every licence payer.

Not enough to pay for one of Mr Norton's wild nights out I know, but at least it would be a sign that the BBC is managing our money seriously.

As former director general Greg Dyke once so eloquently put it: “Cut The Crap.”

Reprinted from last night's Stirrer regular Thursday column in the Birmingham Mail.