So QI, the quirky panel game hosted by Stephen Fry, is set to move from BBC2 to BBC1 is it? Can I ask who thought this was a good idea, because frankly, it isn’t, far from it.
Why does the BBC’s premier channel insist on cherry picking the best shows from it’s more specialist channels like some bully who gets the class swot to do his homework and then give it to the teacher as their own work? I admit that this has worked in some cases - The Apprentice is a case in point and has been even more successful following the move from BBC2. But I argue that The Apprentice as a format is right for BBC1, and should probably have been on that channel from the start. But QI just isn’t a BBC1 one show, and I don’t see how it can be.
Many of you will be familiar with the format - Stephen Fry presides over a panel who strive to give interesting answers to the often highly obscure questions posed by the erudite chairman, hence QI: “quite interesting”. It’s always witty and entertaining, and pulls in some of the highest ratings on BBC2, following a previous move from BBC4, its original home. According to the Guardian, a BBC spokesperson has said:
“It is only natural when a show becomes so popular to look at taking it to a wider audience but nothing is confirmed yet.”
Why is it natural? Is the entire population incapable of finding BBC2 when there’s something good on to watch? It isn’t Five, after all, It’s good to acknowledge the success of QI, but shouldn’t the programme makers at BBC1 get of their lazy backsides and develop something original of their own rather than waiting for good stuff to come along on BBC2?
QI just isn’t a BBC1 show in my humble. It’s a perfect match for BBC2’s slightly niche yet populist ethos. Also, if BBC1 half-inch it, BBC2 has to come up something new that is capable of getting ratings of pushing 5 million, or the all important audience share takes a further kicking. But that seems a minor consideration as long as BBC1 gets all the sweets.
BBC1 has more resources and more money at its disposal - I would suggest these are used to come up with some decent and original shows of its own and let BBC2 keep hold of some hits for a change.
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