Northern Belle: 19/9, 3/10 & 17/10/20 + 16 & 17/12/20

I watched this and skipped the off train bits. Well done to @sgthompson for filming in the horrendous weather. I also thought that the Contribution from @J Shuttleworth was very good. There is a lot that myself as a purist would complain about but the majority of people watching aren't purists therefore they won't complain in the way that some on here are. Hopefully the effect is more bums on seats. One problem I did have was that they used some shots from the 19th September when the loco did the circuit the other way round which I found confusing. I would also liked to have heard shap and ais gill summits mentioned in the narration.

 

These programmes were commissioned by the broadcaster, in this case Channel 5, so are produced to provide the widest appeal to their mainstream target audience (and advertisers). If you want absolute continuity and commentary that doesn't spoil long tracking shots go to Youtube or buy a DVD.

When they approached us for this one, I did have some direct input and gave them some options, which they developed in the relatively short window they had for filming. Unfortunately, the weather on the dates chosen was dire, particularly for lineside or go-pros, but that is the way it was. NP did help, in this instance, as I put them in touch with Stephen T for additional footage.

Anyway, judging by the web responses and personal feedback, it has been well received - even if a few nit-pickers on NP found fault and will no doubt complain to the production company in the strongest possible terms.

JS

 

I would also suggest they are good for the steam railtour industry as a whole, which at the moment needs all the help it can get. If potential travellers can't afford, or there is not, say a Northern Belle from London on that route, it may attract them to try an RTC CME as an example.

 

Probably the most important aspect is that the Northern Belle, a luxury day out that few viewers will have heard of before, got a free hour long TV advert.
Careless editing can be forgiven.

 

In the context of a programme about railways for a general audience the "errors" are not that important. Unfortunately, similar "errors" are found in many other TV programmes in which they are. The programmes which particularly concern me include those about: medicine, politics, history and social science.

 

Perhaps, in those cases, you might be confusing factual errors with editorial content........

All errors may not be the same!

 

Watched the programme last and quite enjoyed it.
Not too keen on the ‘Countryfile’ bits, although I guess they were included to appeal to a wider audience.
Nice to see @sgthompson and @J Shuttleworth in the flesh.

 

On contemporary TV the fine line between factual errors and editorial content is at best fuzzy and too often deliberately obscured.

 

Are you likening @J Shuttleworth to Matt Baker??

 

I rather think my views on and from the countryside might be a little different to cotton-wool view from Countryfile, as expounded by Matt Baker and his chums!

JS

 

One of the good things about Countryfile is Ellie Harrison.

 

That's the BEST thing about Countryfile !!