Harry's Blog

Okay Justin, we get it, you like to dress up as women. That's completely okay, you do what you like.

But you don't have to make a Cbeebies show about it surely?

I've made it pretty clear in the past how I feel about the increasing dumbing down of the once great BBC News presentation - the silly pointless live linkups etc.

One other thing that's getting on my goat is the way the news deals with people who wish to retain their anonymity. Often these people are filmed from behind, in shadow or without the camera pointing anywhere near their head.

So far so good. But what's really odd and rather irritating is how these people are given a name. For some reason, "This man, who wishes to remain anonymous told us..." isn't good enough.

Instead the reporter usually says something like, "We spoke to Dave...not his real name...about his experience..."

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Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q80wfAzeRKA

Now this is one great sports video.

Come on dads you've seen plenty of Cbeebies.

So the question is...

...Nina or Sarah Jane?

Children's television has always been a harbour for the weird. For example my generation got spaced out stuff like Jamie and the Magic Torch and Chorlton and the Wheelies.

One of the oddest shows on CBeebies at the moment is Numberjacks. It really is weird. The programme is a maths education show, but that doesn't really cover the weirdness.

How weird? Well the heroes are numbers which live in a space age bunker hidden within a sofa. They venture into the world to face spooky maths-based paranormal events.

The only thing I can compare it too is Sapphire and Steel from the eighties and that wasn't even a kids' show. Numberjacks just seems to be a kiddie version of that weird David McCallum/Joanna Lumley sci-fi.

Except much shitter.

I read on El Reg today that the BBC has actually received complaints about the Cbeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell.

Why?

Because Cerrie was born without the lower half of her right arm and some precious parents believed this upset their kids.

Which is stupid because kids are strange fickle things. My son is currently terrified, and I really do mean terrified, of the pop-up tractor in a book I bought him yesterday. I haven't written a complaint to the publisher.

I think the parents complaining about Cerrie Burnell really should be ashamed of themselves. They have an ideal opportunity of discussing the subject of disability with their children and instead sought to complain about the girl's appearance.

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After fixing last week's semi-final to ensure housewives' favourite Tom stayed in the competition it was obvious who was going to win the final.

There was no need for another two hours of nonsense last night. The die was already cast and it wouldn't have mattered how well any of the participants danced.

The popularity show masquerading as a dance competition Strictly Come Dancing fixed the voting system so there could be only one possible winner. Ladies of a certain age could celebrate, meanwhile the BBC loses more respect in yet another vote rigging disaster.

Update: Seems the BBC has had to fiddle the voting for the Strictly Christmas Special too.