Crosswords8 mins ago
Countdown.........ageist?
28 Answers
Just saw Carols last countdown, so sad made me cry.
Would any one else consider a boycott of the new one for being ageist?
Would any one else consider a boycott of the new one for being ageist?
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Given that the exit of Ms Vorderman from Countdown is being trated by the media as some kind of event on a par with the death of a prominent member of the Royal Family, I think it's time for a little perspective here.
Ms V is (was) extremely highly paid for what is in essence a supremely simple task involving the level of presentation and numerical skills that a year frull of Oxbridge graduates could perform for a fraction of the price ... and indeed that is exactly what is happening.
As advertising revenues shrink alarmingly, evey commercial broadvcaster has to look seriously at the outlay on presenters' salaries, as against the actual value for money that they represent.
In the case of Countdown, where it is patently obvious that the show is about the format, and less about the host, and not at all about Ms V herself, then it will continue and in a few months time,
Ms V will be less the 'Queen of Countdown' as the media portray her - an image she is delighted to endorse for an eight-figure salary - than simply another fairly average presenter who will have to compete in an increasingly competative workplace - pretty much like the rest of us.
The short answer to your question is -
No - I don;t watch the programme, so a boycott is not a feasible form of protest for me, but if i did, I would not dream of such a protest. It's only TV, and not especially entertaining TV for all that.
Ms V is (was) extremely highly paid for what is in essence a supremely simple task involving the level of presentation and numerical skills that a year frull of Oxbridge graduates could perform for a fraction of the price ... and indeed that is exactly what is happening.
As advertising revenues shrink alarmingly, evey commercial broadvcaster has to look seriously at the outlay on presenters' salaries, as against the actual value for money that they represent.
In the case of Countdown, where it is patently obvious that the show is about the format, and less about the host, and not at all about Ms V herself, then it will continue and in a few months time,
Ms V will be less the 'Queen of Countdown' as the media portray her - an image she is delighted to endorse for an eight-figure salary - than simply another fairly average presenter who will have to compete in an increasingly competative workplace - pretty much like the rest of us.
The short answer to your question is -
No - I don;t watch the programme, so a boycott is not a feasible form of protest for me, but if i did, I would not dream of such a protest. It's only TV, and not especially entertaining TV for all that.
-- answer removed --
Anna - the point I made - at some length - is that Carol's lack of a new contract was down to her refusal to take a pay cut in line with the straightened times of the broadcaster from whom she has made a seriously good living for a very long time,doing not very much at all.
It has nothing to do with her age - simply that she is too expensive as a presenter, and the job can be done equally as well by someone else - younger - older - that is not the issue in question, as long as they are less expensive.
As I pointed out - finding someone else with CV's presenting and numerical skills would not provve a major obstacle - as indeed has been the case.
It has nothing to do with her age - simply that she is too expensive as a presenter, and the job can be done equally as well by someone else - younger - older - that is not the issue in question, as long as they are less expensive.
As I pointed out - finding someone else with CV's presenting and numerical skills would not provve a major obstacle - as indeed has been the case.
DSJ, as you point out, I don;t watch the programme, but I have watched it, and since of it's type, one programme is eseentially the same as any other programme, my perception of it is valid, even though I don't tune in on a regular basis.
I don't possess any Westlife recorded material, but I have heard and seen them, abd boy do i have an opinion!
That's the way culture works - expertise is not a prerequisite of holding and expressing a view.
I don't possess any Westlife recorded material, but I have heard and seen them, abd boy do i have an opinion!
That's the way culture works - expertise is not a prerequisite of holding and expressing a view.
Absolutely Catron!
People are wailing and gnashing their teeth as though it is the tragic end of some kind of televisual dynasty.
Television presenting is a skill - but it's not on a par with brain surgery - other people can do it too.
This is simply market forces in peration - not some kind of Macheavelian plot to depreive the nation of a much-loved iconic figure.
As I said initially - a sense of perspective is required here.
People are wailing and gnashing their teeth as though it is the tragic end of some kind of televisual dynasty.
Television presenting is a skill - but it's not on a par with brain surgery - other people can do it too.
This is simply market forces in peration - not some kind of Macheavelian plot to depreive the nation of a much-loved iconic figure.
As I said initially - a sense of perspective is required here.
I am sure she is.
I have done trhe same job for nearly thirty-five years, for a sight less money than CV, but that is by the way - and when I go I will be sad about it.
But I weould not allow anyone to infer that the world is somehow a poorer place simply because I am not there any more. I fullly expect that in six weeks maximum, everyone will have forgotton who I am, and i would not expect it to be any other way.
Longevity in a career - even in telvision - does not make your loss so terribly tragic that the nation must mourn and wonder how on earth it can get out of bed tomorrow.
It's a lightweight quiz show.
That's it.
I have done trhe same job for nearly thirty-five years, for a sight less money than CV, but that is by the way - and when I go I will be sad about it.
But I weould not allow anyone to infer that the world is somehow a poorer place simply because I am not there any more. I fullly expect that in six weeks maximum, everyone will have forgotton who I am, and i would not expect it to be any other way.
Longevity in a career - even in telvision - does not make your loss so terribly tragic that the nation must mourn and wonder how on earth it can get out of bed tomorrow.
It's a lightweight quiz show.
That's it.
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