happy to help artychoke, fab name by the way!

In some respects, I feel sorry for the Market Garden presenters etc. because having to follow an established programme which had set such a high bench mark must be impossible. Jenny Barnett had made that programme her own, the chefs were both educational and entertaining plus the other experts in their different fields. As a result of these talented people, I was inspired and entertained at the same time something which in fact is quite difficult. A good benchmark of how a programme has affected its' regular viewers is that you almost feel a sense of loss when it ended and not wishing in anyway to sound melodramatic but I still feel that loss.

Albert 2, a very good point. The feedback on this website has shown what a "tough act to follow" Jenny Barnett truly was.

Just a simple comment about this website: look at the outpouring of dissatisfaction with the current UKTVFood program line-up. It's overwhelming. And it's not just the dreadful Market Kitchen thing, it is the incredible over-exposure of just a few cooking shows, repeated over and over.

Anyone that just quickly scans this website can see the trouble UKTVFood really is in.

It is such a pity that there are those only too willing to make such sweeping statements when there are those of us who really do prefer MK, and I am one of them. I like the calm, relaxed atmosphere - I do agree that Tana and Tom are not the ideal presenters but I do like Matt and Matthew. I cannot stand the frenetic way JB works and I know I am not alone, it is so sad that personal choices get turned into heated discussions. It is a good thing that we don't all like the same things and we should be prepared to let each have their choice of viewing - perhaps we could have six months each?

Now that IS a good idea! I have never watched MK but did love GFL for all its little foibles!!!! but there does seem to be room and demand for both. Why on earth would this not work????

I suspect the reason we don't see MK and GFL running together is the cost.

For the record, I wasn't suggesting scrapping MK, just changing it.

There seems to exist a recent policy in TV generally that if a personality in a program becomes very popular and perhaps becomes 'bigger than the show', then they get axed. It 's happened with a lot of the soaps.

Having run for some years now, SKY TV does have the problem of what to show next, I guess constant repeats are inevitable with so many channels - it's quantity at the expense of quality.

I'm hoping Broad Band TV will bring some fresh programs, and faces, to our screens. I think SKY will see a lot of people turning in their subscriptions then, although of course SKY are trying to prepare for it by offering their free / cheap BB packages.

I don't have a problem with anyone who wants to watch MK, but for the money I'm paying for SKY, I expect something better than what has been produced so far.

gastrosurf

I agree - the issue is cost. However the issue is not Sky's. Channels pay Sky to be included on the broadcast platform. UKTV is a joint venture between BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC) and Flextech. That's why you see so many BBC-commisioned programmes (think UK Gold, except instead of comedy you get cookery)

TV over broadband may well generate something new but I think that it will be really small scale and done by amateurs. Nothing wrong in that, but from a quality perspective you'll need to have different expectations in terms of content and quality.

all IMHO

jan

Thanks for the info jan - but as I pay my money to SKY, I still hold them responsible for providing something of quality, plus they show repeats one after another, sometimes with the same repeat running on two channels at the same time.

I accept the quality of BB TV may take a while to pick up - but then if it's on a pay-per-view basis, we will be able to pick and choose. I don't mind watching someone cooking fish on the beach, or working in a domestic kitchen, etc, as long as I haven't seen it six times before.

All the TV companies seem to be falling back on repeats - the BBC show RSC over and over again.

I love Porridge - the TV show - but I've watched it so many times, I now know what the next sentence will be (that isn't meant to be a pun either).

I bet Jeni Barnett could put a good show on whatever the setting and camera work was like.

All the best.

When I first watched Jeni Barnett I thought all the things that BillB has mentioned, but somehow, she kind of grew on me!

Jeni Barnett has this uncanny knack of being larger than life and could be cantankerous and funny all at the same time. She could cut chefs down to size with one sentence, but then give them a cuddle and help them back up again with the next - metaphorically speaking of course. Undoubtedly some of the chefs found her frustrating, and I think quite a few were actually frightened of her, because you could never be sure what she would say next and she could ad-lib and work the cameras with the confidence of a real pro.

She could be rather manic at times and often grandiose in manner, but than at others she would be self-effacing and quite down to earth.

Jeni has the kind of personality and manner that many psychologists would describe as 'over-compensation' for something else, maybe because of her size, perhaps for other reasons, maybe only she knows what. I don't think she was/is 'full of her self', perhaps full of life, and sometimes way over the top, but to be as bold and challenging without alienating people, as Jeni often is, you have to be sensitive too, and she often showed that.

I remember the show that she did with Ainsley Harriot, and it was clear that the stage wasn't big enough for both of them: two larger than life people who are at the top of their profession, and in some ways so similar, but magnetically repellent to each other. Personally, I think they are both great at fronting shows and making TV what it should be: entertaining.

You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but I reckon Jeni pleased more than most.

I for one, hope we see her back soon.

Gastrosurf,
I would stick to 'Porridge' if I were you. Both Jeni Barnett and Ainsley Harriot ruined perfectly good cooking shows with their inflated egos and self importance.Loud and overbearing she was over-compensating for a complete lack talent, empathy and sensitivity. Keep her off the screen.

I really can not understand why Good Food Live was taken off, Market Kitchen is dull, Tana Ramsey in particular is painful to watch listen to. gfl was so entertaining and the different chefs a joy. The only week I have enjoyed on Market Kitchen was with the Hart brothers. A shame my enjoyment of the channel has descreased

Thank you for the welcome, jellysmum. Much appreciated. And Barshedale, I would have said what jellysmum said except that she beat me to it. Is this thread not called "Jenny Barnett"?
I hope I haven't offended any fans of JB, it's just that she has this awful negative effect on me and my family. We watch UKTV Food much more often now that there's no risk of encountering her - and she never grew on any of us.
I hope I can make some useful contributions on other threads in the future.

Happy to agree to disagree...

Opinions often become polarised around things with a strong flavour - Marmite for example.

People with "large personalities" sometimes produce strong reactions in others. I believe it was Carl Jung that suggested people often react strongly to traits they deny within themselves?

Good heavens: I hope I don't have anything in common with Tana Ramsay!!!

Loud? Yes, it kept things on track. Portly? Yes, she certainly enjoyed her nosh. But has lost 2 stone so far. Waddling? No.

I for one really appreciated the way she kept the clock moving, the pace fast. Her interjection of questions at the right time and the ability to seemlessly do the producers bidding in her ear was great.

Her ability to cut off chefs that rambled on and on pointlessly was invaluable.

But most of all, the humour is what I miss.

BillB.

Website Feedback?????

Funny gastro

I truly believe in the Jung theory. Everytime I hear someone complain about someone else, no matter what the context, it is one of the wrost traits that the complainer possesses also!

I think we just see things in people that we perhaps don;t like in ourselves.

I can absolutely understand people not liking JB, she has a very strong personailty. But for those that liked GFL, it was this strong personaility that attracted them.

Yes, gastro. Your dislike of Tana may say something about you. I too can't stand her timid and stilted presentation. She seems overly concerned about something and very uncomfortable. She loses control of her sessions far too often.

So that probably says something about me too. I hate public speaking and am rather shy. Maybe I see me in her.

Different horses for different courses.

Hello TVFoodie

Maybe, maybe... to be fair to Tana Ramsay (and as far as I know) she hasn't had much experience of TV presenting. Which perhaps says more about her performance than anything else. Her personality doesn't jar with me, it's more the fact that she has clearly got her position through being Gordon Ramsay's wife.

I suspect the same of TPB - for similar reasons that is.

What does jar with me is the fact that people like the above often say they want to "do something in their own right" and then resort to blatant nepotism and any other unfair advantage they can gain through networking.

I appreciate networking is often the name of the game and people get mentored. James Martin for example has had the benefit of help from AWT on the way up. But then AWT spotted the talent that JM had at an early age and gave him some support to achieve his potential. Not the same as someone famous who speaks to the right people to get his other half on the tele!

The bottom line for me in all this is that it means a lot of people with talent who work hard to know their trade and excel, end up as unrecognised and unknown talent.

Maybe I should read Carl Rogers again on the issue of acceptance?

I see Jeni Barnett as on a par with Ainsley Harriot, Jenny Bond and AWT, as a top line foodie show presenter. They all have their fans and those that feel they grate and are over-rated - such is life for most TV personalities.

Cannot agree with the "Jung Theory ". Not even my best friends ( and yes , I do have several .) would call me shy or timid . I've many times spoken in public , served on and chaired several committees , nothing high powered , usual stuff . But I could'nt bear JB , she ruined the programme for me , and I do like TR, and I do think she's pleasant to watch and to listen to.
I like Jenny Bond very much and consider her an excellent presenter . AWT , I can tolerate presenting , but hate to watch him cooking as he's so messy and makes such a disaster out of most things , now his method of cooking I can certainly equate to , being a messy cook myself , but then I only play at it . Ainsley , hum , makes me smile most of the time , but irritates at others , certainly I would have watched GFL had it been presented by him , AWT or Jenny Bond , but JB absolutely not ! Lost two stone , good for her , I admire her for that , cannot have been easy , perhaps the break from the show did her a favour.

I think AWT has improved slightly - when he was on RSC he made a habit of putting hot ingredients into a jug blender and then showering Ainsley with the contents when it blew out through the lid.

I always found the banter between James Martin and AWT amusing on that show.

There are so many foodie programs now, and so many different themes have been done, that I think finding factor X to turn a good show into a great show is getting increasingly difficult.

Personally, I don't think GFL would have been half the show it was without Jeni Barnett, because then it would be just another cooking show.

Each to their own - as they say!

My remark about Jung was made 'tongue in cheek'.

Confused are we not talking about the programmes on UKTV food? Jung...etc what!

It seems to me GFL is missed for it's content, presenters, presentation etc. MK doesn't work it's not personel just preference!! Come on

Not everyone sees Jeni Barnett as an asset - some people feel she made the show difficult to watch because she grated on them - which was the context within which I made the remark about Jung - tongue in cheek as it was.

I think the presenters on MK are bland and uninteresting in their style of presentation - obviously we all have our own opinions and preferences - one man's meat, etc.

You see this just goes to show that we all like different things, regardless of presenter (sorry but I really can't stand Jeni) I like to watch cookery programmes to see how the professionals do it, NOT to roll about the floor laughing - if I want a laugh I watch comedy, I don't see it as a chore either - my enjoyment is in watching it being done properly and learning. One of my favourite presenters is Rosemary Shrager, a large dominant lady who is more interested in showing the viewer what to do, rather than trying to be the "big I am", and she is not interested in the camera being on her all the time BUT in ensuring we see what has to be done and how to do it, she lets me learn and enjoy at the same time, without flaunting herself or rudely cutting other people off.

You can't please all of the people all of the time

Yes I agree - even if Jeni Barnett was rude to me, I think I would have to smile at her sheer 'cheek' and challenging ways.

Lets face it, some of the celeb chefs are pretty up themselves, but they wouldn't stay 'self-engaged' long with Jeni asking them the kind of questions that she comes out with, and of course that knowing glance that she would so often shoot at the camera when they weren't looking. However, all done in good fun, and she would almost always engage with the chefs and be supportive if they really needed it.

I think going for a meal with Jeni Barnett in a Michelin star restaurant would be a riot and you wouldn't stop laughing all evening.

Not everyone's cup of tea I accept, but I like the earthiness of such humour because I feel it debunks the snobbery that surrounds good food and some sectors of the catering industry. I get the same feeling with Keith Floyd, Brian Turner and the Hairy Bikers. All being larger than life characters that are so very 'down to earth' despite their fame and fortune, imo that is.

I think Jeni Barnett has a natural talent for creating an atmosphere of acceptance, fun and inclusivity, and that's what I look for in a good host.

gastroturf, I too like Keith Floyd, Brian Turner, Hairy Bikers and I also like James Martin, as well as (of course) Rosemary Shrager and I like Ken Hom and Ching He Huang so my tastes are varied but the more I think about it (while writing this message, lol) the more I think this may be to do with the fact that they show me how to do things instead of being constantly interrupted by totally unnecessary and over-the-top presenters such as Jeni and Ainsley - I used to like AH when he was just cooking and in fact I watch his Meals in Minutes now but when he starts presenting (as in RSC) he drives me insane and I can't wait to switch over.

I suppose what I am saying is that I don't think cooking shows actually need a presenter - for my taste that is - as my pleasure is just watching first class chefs at work (and me learning) and all the above have been successful in this environment with their own shows - even when they have an invited guest they are not so intent on ensuring the camera is on them - they seem to prefer you to see what they are cooking up!

I don't think we'll ever agree Lellysmum, we obviously have completely different ways of wanting to learn to cook, I have no choice to be a little humerous with my cooking/experiementing as I have no sense of smell (at all) so it becomes quite difficult in my kitchen so it has to be fun less I woulldn't even venture into anything more than packet food. This is why GFL is good for me - it taught me cooking doesn't have to be "by the book, precise measurements, complete concentration. JB and GFL are the only reason I started cooking in any proper sense, so you can see why I am so mortified it has been cancelled, Yes JB is over powering at times (sometimes due to the producer in her ear) but thats why she is so brilliant because she makes it fun. why can't UKTV FOOD understand that????