I don’t watch a lot of TV – although I probably watch more than I think I do! I nearly always watch the national and local news, and I watch Masterchef in all its different editions, and I watch crime/police/detective drama series, plus some history series and sea/mountain rescue programmes. When I’m ironing I watch things which don’t really matter if I miss bits, those antique hunting shows, and home moving and house buying. Recently I’ve become somewhat addicted to a series about an auctioneer who has a business in Ryedale, Yorkshire. He is Angus Ashworth, and I confess, I’m somewhat captivated by him, and no doubt a character inspired by him will appear in one of my stories sooner or later.
One of my favourite series which I’ve watched since it was first broadcast, and has many changes in cast, is ‘Silent Witness’. A lot has changed in my life since 1996 when it was first broadcast and my youngest child was less than eighteen months old, my oldest just over three years. A lot has changed in the series of course, moving from Cambridge, to London, to Birmingham. From the beginning there has been a lead scientist with a small team, and occasional others, and after such a long run there have been many changes in the characters and the actors.
It was a very different type of programme when Amanda Burton as Sam Ryan first appeared in the pathology lab in the first episode, and I have no recollection of what it was about, how detailed it was in viewing the actual work of a forensic pathologist. There were several series following with Sam and other main characters, before William Gaminara appeared as Leo Dalton for many series. Emilia Fox arrived as his assistant, Nikki Alexander, and several series later she became the main character.
Now the series seems to have settled with – as ever, an excellent cast of actors, who, although quirky remain true to themselves however weird the plot they are asked to enact. And that is where it all goes pear-shaped. The stories are just ludicrous, ridiculous and even within their own world, not consistent. Last night, it was completely silly, incompatible with the characters’ personalities which have been fine-tuned over a number of series. The actors did their best, but even so, brows furrowed, sighs were sighed, and eye-brows expressed despair.
I am just an ordinary writer, who writes stories I publish myself, but bloody hell!!! I wouldn’t dare to publish such nonsense, I would be ashamed to put a story out there which was quite so ludicrous, inconsistent and pathetic. I would be embarrassed if actors were playing the parts of my characters and had to pursue such unbelievable and unreal story-lines. Please don’t insult me, executive-producer Timothy Prager and Suzi McKintosh! There’s so many other programmes and dramas to watch, your viewers aren’t going to remain faithful for much longer!! Plenty of other viewing!! Come on BBC,
Lois Elsden 