Posts by: IngaH

No need to shout. It's not good netiquette to use caps so profusely.

"so of course once they tell us that the chefs disliked Jenni (I saw no evidence of that personally) we should say "Ahh I see that's understandable then to just chop the whole show, thanks so much for the insider info".
I think the implication of that post was that "higher level" (or words to that effect) chefs didn't appear on GFL because they didn't like competing with Jeni for attention. The implication of that was that the chefs who did appear were "lower level". All I can say is that they looked jolly good to me, and interacting with Jeni (which they appeared to enjoy) made them look warm, witty and good sports.

As I log in this morning, it seems an entire thread about the disappearance of GFL has itself disappeared! I hope this is just an early morning (well, early for me, and pre my first caffeine shot too - perhaps I just can't see it!) aberration and not an officially executed disappearance. The thread had got a little lively. UK tv in general (I include the BBC) and UKTV Food in particular may find "liveliness" a bit too much too handle and take them off air.

Meanwhile, I second the sentiments of the above. Bring back Jeni!

There was no show without Jeni. We saw what happened when she took breaks - what resulted was lame, flat, tedious - no better than Market Kitchen! As for so-called higher up chefs refusing to work with her - well if their precious little egos couldn't take the robust company of a vivacious and witty presenter, they had no business taking up air time in the first place. That notion suggests that cookery programmes should be temples for the adoration of self-appointed gastronomic demi deities - and nothing is more boring than self indulgent self promotion by people without the ability to relate to other people. Jeni supplied that relationship with the viewer which made the foodie side of the programmes palatable.

It struck me this morning that I now watch cheddarvision more than I watch UKTV Food. How sad is it that the cheese comes over as more sympathetic than the flat and awkward participants in Market Kitchen! The truth of the matter is that GFL was pretty lame when Jeni wasn't there as well - its worn-out format dragged without Jeni to add the sparkle. Programmes work for me when there's a person on screen who engages my interest and my sympathy - someone to relate to, someone to relate to the other people on screen on my behalf. That's probably why I can watch endless repeats of Rick Stein. He's interesting and passionate about what he cares for. For the powers that be to ignore one of the basic facts of television - that presenters form that link between the programme and the viewer which makes the viewer care about the content being shown - is just baffling. Yes, Jeni needed strong characters to keep her in order, but that just added an extra frisson of drama that lifted GFL above the ruck and made it almost theatre!

Reading this thread, I realise I haven't watched UKTV Food for weeks now. I regularly tuned in for GFL, mainly because Jeni made the material so accessible and the time spent in her company so entertaining. I've dropped in on Market Kitchen now and again, but it has nothing to grasp my attention, so I move on. Gosh, but I miss Jeni.

I think the management started taking Jeni for granted. She is a great interviewer - guests like Simon Rimmer (and yes, I like him too - but as a guest, not the mainstay) shone because of the interaction with Jeni. Take out the vivacity she supplied, and you just have another cable tv programme. Remember how dull GFL was without her?

Isn't this stony silence from the management infuriating? It makes me feel as if they are totally indifferent to the audience. Jeni is the jewel in their crown - she puts the "live" into the channel. I shan't be tuning in regularly after Friday, that's for sure, and I have been for the pleasure of Jeni's company for the past four years.

So - GFL is being taken off the air because it is so successful other channels are making lame imitations of it? Well, thank goodness the BBC didn't make similar decisions about a gamut of programmes from Doctor Who the The Archers!

I don't watch food programmes on the whole (Two Fat Ladies and Rick Stein are honourable exceptions) but I do watch GFL, and I freely admit I watch it for gloriously ebullient, enthusiastic and unpredictable Jeni Barnett. Any day when she was replaced, I found better things to do with my time. Along the way I also picked up some interesting ideas and information about food - so as both entertainment and education, the show was a success in this house, but one entirely based on is presenter's wonderful personality.

Whatever piously deferential foodie show takes its place, I won't be watching. Instead I will be scouring the schedules in hope of meeting up with Jeni at some other time and place.

I so agree. Earth Story is wonderfully informative and educational. Aubrey Manning is an equally inspiring teacher. He patiently and humanely takes us with him as he listens to the experts, thinks and forms an understanding of the history of the earth and the awe-inspiring tale of the way its geology and life have interacted with one another to form the marvellous world on which we have the extraordinary good fortune to live. This series represents the height of BBC natural history and science documentary making and should be on DVD. I would buy it for myself instantly, and give it to all my friends.

Admirers of Professor Manning might like to know the BBC is repeating one of his radio series, this one about the origins of humanity on Radio 4 at 9pm on Thursdays. I'd buy a CD of this, as well!