God Save The Queen
That got your attention didn't it? It's a shame that BBC1's Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work couldn't beat ITV1's I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! in the all-important ratings last night. (The former managed 6.7 million on average, while the latter won out with 7.9 million.) I say it's a shame not because I support the royal family in any way. It's a shame because this, the first part of five, was a fine piece of documentary television, whereas I'm A Celebrity is just churning over the same old maggoty contents as last year and the year before and the year before that and apparently it's enough to draw a crowd. (For the record, and to sidestep any cries of snobbery, I've watched two and a half series of I'm A Celeb: the first one, naturally, which had the element of surprise; the one with John Lydon, which I felt compelled to watch for reasons of cultural morbidity ... until he left, after which I felt compelled not to watch; and the one after that, which Joe Pasquale won, which I started because of the unlikely sight of Vic Reeves, who turned out to be quite dull, but by then the TV catnip had got into my system. But this is not edifying television, especially not if you're soppy enough to care about the welfare of insects, reptiles and rodents, which seem to be treated as if they have no nervous systems and chucked about by the bucketload.)
I wish more people had watched Monarchy because this is the programme that claimed the scalp of BBC1 controller Peter Fincham, who, among other achievements in his too-short tenure, commissioned Not Going Out. This first episode was even the one with the non-offending Annie Leibovitz episode in it, creatively edited for "that highlights package" so that it looked as if the Queen was huffily walking out of the photo session when in fact, as seen last night, she was huffily walking into it. (As Katherine Flett wisely pointed out in the Observer, the Leibovitz photos appeared in Vanity Fair, a magazine that sells millions, in May - if there had been a huff, do you not think it would have emerged then, and not two months later when the highlights tape was aired?) This turned out to be a very interesting section in a 90-minute film that offered numerous fascinating insights into the life of the 81-year-old monarch, which might have been titled, She's A Celebrity ... Move Her Over Here!, as its abiding theme, following her around before and during a state visit to the States, was of the feisty pepperpot being choreographed from one walkabout to the next walkabout, via a photo op with the Kentucky Derby cup and a stop-off at a Virginia hotel where they'd installed a new, unused toilet seat. You really had to admire the logistical expertise required to keep this show on the road, which shames most rock tours. What a pity that Fincham, his head of publicity Jane Fletcher and production company RDF boss Stephen Lambert lost their heads over it when all about them lost theirs. This was good telly. The narration, read with a pulse by Tim Piggott Smith, even dared to suggest that this was the end of an era for the Royals, which it is. Will thousands of fawning Americans really line the streets of Jamestown and Washington DC when an 80-year-old Charles steps off the plane? I don't think so. The Empire may be a sour memory for all but Daily Telegraph leader writers, but until Queenie goes, the smell won't go away.
I can't wait to see the other four parts. Beautifully photographed, well edited (oh yes!) from hours and hours of footage, with enough grit to stop it being an advert and enough deference to get where other camera crews have failed to get, you don't have to be a royalist to find this stuff compelling. In fact, as a republican, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. The royal staff: where do they get them from? These plummy, forelock-tugging groupies speak like nobody speaks any more, regardless of age. What will they all do when the Royals have been put up against the wall? Who will employ them? Where will they go? I particularly liked the footage of other media, too, especially the American anchor delivering a piece to camera at Bucking-Ham Palace, who actually spoke, with no irony, about the knock-on effect of "her hit movie", as if perhaps the Queen was in The Queen.
Somebody should have quietly told President Bush that she's not technically "the Queen of England" though. Mind you, I loved his dogs.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 1:46 PM
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25 Comments:
Welcome back Andrew, you've been away too long.
I missed this programme, but probably wouldn't have watched it anyway to be honest. I am very, very anti-monarchy, and even the thought of watching the Queen parade around like the female Stan Laurel she has become makes me a bit uneasy.
Having said that, I am drinking a cup of tea out of a Charles and Diana commemorative wedding mug whilst typing this.
It was meant to be ironic, but my colleagues tend to look at me a bit funny.
Is it worth catching the next in the series, or will I want to throw things at the TV?
It won't be long before a head of state appears on one of those reality shows, either. Mark my words.
I grumpily sat reading a book through the first few minutes, while my wife watched the programme. Gradually, however, it drew my attention and, yes, it was a terrific piece of TV. Rather disturbingly, I thought Dubya came over as remarkably human, which made me want to wash my brain out with soap and water in case I'm malfunctioning.
Good to have you back Andrew! I missed this documentary but I have been watching the Blair Years which I thought might be your kind of thing. Watching Bush try to defend the war on terror by simply calling Saddam a thug ( aren't thugs just people who mug you?) and then banging on about freedom etc, then contrasting this with Blair's staff who wondered what the hell Blair was doing supporting the Iraq invasion, was masterful television. And I speak as someone who initially supported the Iraq invasion, and who has been living it down ever since.
I thought it was great. I've also said as much on my blog. I'm not a fan either, but they are fascinating. There's still a mystique there.
I'm sure we'd be much less interesting as a nation if they weren't around.
Glad your back Andrew. It's been an age.
I missed it, but will watch the remainder. As Five-Centres comments, there is something fascinating about them, regardless of your views.
Good to have you blogging again, sir.
Nice to be back, and the great thing is: there was no plan. I just felt like it this morning, and I did it. Which has to be the right way to approach this.
Definitely worth a look at episode two if you missed number one, although I think the American angle made it twice as fascinating.
Royalists can enjoy the finery and the obsequiousness; republicans can enjoy seeing a massive anachronism in globe-trotting action. It's a win-win, unless you are Peter Fincham, Jane Fletcher or Stephen Lambert, who probably all watched I'm A Celebrity.
I’m not anti-monarchy as such – and I always find the peaceful hand over of power from one government to the next, which Betty has presided over for more than half a century, very moving - just anti this particular Royal family.
But this is a blog entry about the programme itself, not the validity of the institution, and I didn’t see it. Too busy watching Ant & Dec torturing celebs in the jungle.
Anyone else slightly disappointed by the new series of Mighty Boosh so far? Sorry it's not my blog, I know...
Looks like it was a bit of a night for Dysfunctional Family TV coverage (again). I was glued to the wonderful, sad and moving documentary about Mark 'E' Eliot from Eels, and his relationship with his Quantum Physicist father. It brought tears to my eyes. I forgot about the Queen, but then I normally do.
Nice to have you back, Andrew.
I used t rabidly anti monarchist. But have surprised myself by becoming more ambivalet about them as I grow older. I think this attitude will halt once the Queen actually dies. I cannot bear Charles.
I like the fact that the queen believes in the divine right of King and that she was chosen by God to be queen. I figure if you are going to have a monarch then there is no point in being half hearted about it. I like Princess Anne to. Its difficult not to like somebody who, in the 21st Century, wears gloves any time she fears she may have to shake hands with commoners.
I didn't bother with this programme, but I wish I had seen it now. I am also a republican, but I do have a grudging admiration for the Queen as from what I have read about her, she seems to be a sharp, intelligent woman, perhaps even moreso than a lot of her ministers.
Good to have you back, Andrew, and sounding chipper.
Hey ishouldbeworking your blog is also great! REad about that E
documentary and am sorry I missed it. If Andrew ever decides to
supplement the site with music then "I Like Birds" by Eels would be
the perfect soundtrack. As a glasgow Rangers fan I feel I should
defend the monarchy but arguments arent forthcoming...
I'm pretty sure William or Harry could draw bigger crowds in the States than Lizzie did.
Cunningly, through the magic of recording machines, I watched both Ant and Dec's party fun and frolics and The Monarchy At "Work".
Both seem to be perfectly fine pieces of television to my eyes.
I'd agree with Dave re: the pulling power of William and Harry at the moment, but I think Andrew's point is that the mantle of other-age extra worldliness will pass with the current monarch. By the time (if) William becomes king the world will be a very different place and deference will be a much harder commodity to obtain.
I'm looking forward to seeing Mr E's documentary.
It's 'Everett' though, not Elliot.
Although it might be Elliot in a parallel universe...
And the sea isn't green
And I love the Queen.
It is good to see you picked up the reins of your blog again, AC. Long may you reign.
The blog is dead, long live the blog!
Congrats or the recommission of NGO
Looks like 2008 is going to be busy for you!
The recommission of NGO is not yet in any way official, although a third series was gaily mentioned in an interview Lee gave to the Times (by the writer, not by Lee). As soon as it's official, I shall announce it on here. Fingers crossed, then.
The recommission of NGO is not yet in any way official, although a third series was gaily mentioned in an interview Lee gave to the Times (by the writer, not by Lee). As soon as it's official, I shall announce it on here. Fingers crossed, then.
I sat watching it with an American (from Chicago, if that makes any difference) and she couldn't believe the fuss her compatriots were making over the whole thing. Some poor sod laboriously cleaning an entire chandelier for nobody to notice. Seemed like an awful waste of money to me. Still, made great TV.
Looks like it's been officially announced now.
I don't see why we Brits have to be either Monarchist OR Royalist? I am not a flag-waving pageantry fan, but equally I understand that many of our traditions in this country are founded on having a Royal Family and that the economics are sound, even with the freeloaders. I am not a 'fan' per se on any of them, though I always think Charles gets a rum deal out there. After all, he has had a early-adopter views on many things close to a liberal Republican's heart: architecture, green issues, wildlife, concern for poverty/equality in the UK, Prince's trust work.... In lots of ways he is more populist than 'Dave' or 'Dead-Man-Walking-Gordon' will ever be.
Roger
I used to like Anne until a friend of mine started working in a restaurant much frequented by that particular branch of the family.
So as not to get them sacked, that's all you're getting!
Beth, I stand duly corrected over Mark 'E' Everett/Elliot. I thought something looked wrong as I typed it, but I was in a rush. Hope you enjoyed the documentary - it really was excellent.
isbw - I was in a rush myself this morning and have spent all day worrying that I'd left a really snide sounding comment ... anyhow, just watched the programme, did enjoy very much, don't understand a whole lot more about quantum mechanics but then that wasn't really the point was it?
Ishouldbeworking said...
"Looks like it was a bit of a night for Dysfunctional Family TV coverage (again). I was glued to the wonderful, sad and moving documentary about Mark 'E' Eliot from Eels, and his relationship with his Quantum Physicist father".
.... it was brilliant, wasn't it? A random thought did occur to me when E made the sad point that after his old man visited Copenhagen to impress the current physics overlord Nils Bohr with his parallel world theory and was knocked back by miserable old stoat, it so dented his self-esteem that he left academia forever and set him on a drink-fuelled road to an early death. I thought it would have been comforting to point out to his son that in another reality, Bohr's would have seen the brilliance of this enginue's thereom and see that he got the praise he deserved.
God, I hope BBC4 avoids the axe over the next coupla years - it really is the best channel out there at the mome' for me.
BR
Mick S.
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