Ben Clatworthy's Blog

or does it?!

10 year old Hollie Steel was chucked head first into the spotlight when see wowed the nation on Britain’s Got Talent singing, but it was after see broke down on stage that the media really got their teeth into her story. Then just days later Susan Boyle, an unemployed Scottish lady was reported to be severely suffering from the strains and stresses of fame. The programme reported that she was just tired, however questions were once again raised when Susan checked into the Priory, London. Do many people head to one of the best hospitals when they are just overtired?!

The magnitude of this years trauma seen on the programme aroused questions from all angles as to wether reality TV had overstepped the line and gone just too far?

The odd person may say yes, however the masses say no. Looking back at the audience viewing figures from that week it becomes apparent that the British public just love watching their nation perform! On the final week of the series this year, Britain’s got Talent claimed the top 6 spots in the audience viewing figures for every television channel broadcasting in the UK. The Final Results programme was watched by 18.29 million people. One has to go back to 2006 to find a programme matching that, which to no amazement is England vs Sweden’s world cup football match.

When looking at the programme ratings in detail from the past couple of years it becomes very apparent that the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent receive the biggest share of the years viewings. Both are broadcast early Saturday evening on ITV 1.

Any television company would therefore not take a second thought at axing these money spinning programmes. It is undoubted that the makers of Britain’s Got Talent love the coverage that their participants receive, but still toady many are questioning if more could be done to check their contestants are in a good enough mental health state before allowing them onto the stage and into the media spotlight.

You can hear Ben talking about this and more on Bristol Community 93.2 FM on Monday 15th June 2009 from 1700.

Ben Clatworthy, journalist/writer

So, why on earth am I writing one?

Mainly because people have told me I should as my past ones have occasionally been interesting. Those ones though were only for a few days at a time as I mundanely went skiing in Meribel or the week when I headed to 3800 meters ski race training last October.

The real reason I’m doing it though is the challenge of making an interesting and readable one.

If you are with me at the end of it all I’ll buy you a drink or two.

After all if I can’t find interesting things to write about and comment on then I should probably stop considering myself a journalist/writer. If it turns out a dire mess with nothing but rubbish I will pack it in I’m sure.

So, Hello, this is it. My new venture, my personal blog. The idea to give people something to read that covers everything and anything that will interest you, not just a select few people.

As the BBC’s James Cove told me as I set out on my ski race one last year, many blogs are only interesting to, the writer, their family and a few select friends. That said hopefully this one won’t fall into any of the those categories.

It’s been a busy few weeks, firstly reporting on BBC Points West in May about disabled education in Bristol and then last week a quick chat with BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Media Show’ which is broadcast every Wednesday. I’ll keep you posted as to whether I will be appearing on that in the coming weeks.

I’ve just been asked to do an interview for a new outdoor adventure website with this amazing disabled lady named Karen Darke, who became paralysed in a rock-climbing accident on Aberdeen sea cliffs. Since then Karen has built herself back to full strength (if not stronger) and since pursued alternative ways to access the wilderness canoeing, skiing, and hand-cycling.

Karen Darke

Karen has undertaken some truly amazing challenges in the past few years and has even written a book, done hundreds of speaking events and made several TV appearances. Most recently on BBC Scotland.

I shan’t tell you anymore about Karen until after the interview which I will be doing in a few weeks.

And finally, I am the studio guest for ‘The Harriet Robinson Show’ on Bristol Community, 93.2 FM this coming Monday (15 June 2009) at 17.00 PM. So without wanting to give anything away there will be another blog post on Monday with a few thoughts on what I am going to be talking about so do check back then to find out.

More at www.benclatworthy.com