#SaveBBCThree #SaveBBC3

I am writing this blog post on the rumours that the British Broadcasting Company are seriously considering the idea of axing the channel BBC Three (BBC3) from television that have led to #SaveBBCThree and #SaveBBC3 becoming tweeting trends as people. This tweeting surge has come mainly in the younger age bracket which the channel was actually aimed for them, however it also became the channel that new shows, personalities and careers.

The channel could soon be leaving our screens.

Since BBC Three was launched, it became a channel with personality. The show had it's own share of original content as intended. Over the years original content has included a range of genres from comedy to reality to factual, even political. Shows such as Little Britain, Gavin And Stacey and Torchwood started at BBC Three before moving to the original flagship channels at that time on analogue television whilst shows such as How Not To Live Your Life, Off The Hook, Ideal, White Van Man, Pramface, Bad Education, Two Pints Of Lager (continued on BBC Three until it's end in 2011 from the point the channel was launched), Russell Howard's Good News and Uncle have been shown on this channel. And those shows that have shown on it (other than Torchwood) are just the comedies. The channel also includes a range of factual and reality shows over the years such as Sun Sex And Suspicious Parents, The Hotel Of Mum And Dad, Young Dumb And Living Off Mum, Worlds Strictest Parents and the various documentaries which have included such things as Russell Brand on drug addiction, a look at countries in the EU regarding the economy and a documentary on payday loan companies such as Wonga (a rant best left for another post).

Cult shows such as Little Britain and comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams owe the beginning of their success to the channel.

Comedies such as Bad Education will become harder to come by without BBC Three

Reality shows such as Sun Sex and Suspicious parents has become popular with young adults but would a show with it's twist be commissioned  on another BBC channel.

It seems obvious to me that some shows, for instance in my case Snog, Marry, Avoid aren't loved by everyone. That said, they have a decent fan base and it isn't like every show on BBC One is to every viewers taste, for instance I cannot stand The One Show (or any show Matt Baker hosts, I don't know, but I can't stand his voice, but that's my opinion, many may think he's a great host). Some will also say some shows are "trashy" on BBC Three, but when channels aimed at similar audiences show shows such as The Only Way Is Essex and Made In Chelsea you could easily argue that BBC Three has an edge of class over it's competitors. 

The most important show I would argue on BBC Three however is actually Free Speech. Neither ITV 2 or E4 give their aimed viewers, the younger adults, a chance to have a voice. BBC Three has done incredibly well with this, especially as this is a generation that includes a majority who feel they have been screwed over by the Governments throughout their lives (again another rant blog for the future). Whilst I understand the fact that some of the guests are often disappointing, for instance I don't understand why the BBC have got snob Katie Hopkins on the show, but then again, this is the company that have paid the former editor of The Sun magazine (you can't call something with no news and serial defamation a Newspaper) Kelvin McKenzie several times on the flagship political show Question Time. Both are seen by many, in the latter case, rightly with no arguments, as villains, so it isn't an issue with the BBC getting substandard guests, as it has happened to both. Either way Free Speech has seen people get into politics and current issues, it has also given a voice where young people can get their opinion over as there is always a member of the Government and opposition there regardless of the other few. Whether the show has parliament watching and paying attention is unlikely at the moment, however come the next election it may mean more young voters and a different election and all of this thanks to a show on BBC Three. 

So I'm not saying close down BBC Four or another channel, in fact in the ideal world they would both be saved, however to find the next Jack Whitehall's, for young people to get a voice or show their talents and for some dangers to the current generation to be shown BBC Three is a vital channel to keep. Arguably the most important behind the flagship channel BBC One. The people of the generation BBC Three is aimed at aren't a bad generation but a generation who have had a lot of hope stolen, probably more than the other age groups in this country from cuts over the last few years, many face unemployment after education or the end of apprenticeships if they're not already unemployed despite putting in the effort. BBC Three is aimed at them and gives a voice. Maybe what the BBC should be doing is finding more of a way to give average viewers of BBC Three a chance to show their voice, maybe with a weekly phone in show for instance as well as the current Free Speech, but getting rid of the channel is not and will never be the answer.

There are other cuts that could be made. Graham Norton is on £4.5million a year. Jeremy Clarkson got a large wage last year (although his wage is actually £1million, selling his part of the company that owns Top Gear to the BBC saw him make a lot more than that). Although I like the latter, maybe the BBC should aim to do some wage cuts. The top office sees people paid hundreds of thousands and the people at the head of Radio One aren't fit to run a bath never mind their radio station after banning Robbie Williams and Green Day as well as considering Muse, the latter two on quality of music, despite both bands selling out stadiums and Muse getting a number one album with their last, Robbie Williams was banned for having an audience that was seen as too old. So after all of this, it is easy to conclude there are many other things that the BBC could easily cut. BBC Three is a channel that needs to stay, for the next generation to come to love as the original BBC Three generation become the adults, the people, the power of today.

If You Have The Time To Listen To Me Whine

Hey guys! Me again! First of all sorry for no James' Today on Saturday! I was pretty occupied, I mean Laura Robson took two hours to win! Then I had a couple of pints so yes. I have a few things today that I want to rant about and I am going to put them all in one post.

So the first thing I wish to rant about and it is a thing, is Katie Price. You do need the time to listen to me whine here really! Well today I read an article about Ms Price saying her husband will get "fuck all". Now I can understand trust must come a big deal when you are as utterly detestable as the thing that seems to be in a state of permanent jealousy of Kelly Brook, so much so you send a picture of her bare breast thinking the whole of Britain will be in shock and say "she's not all that". But no, this backfires as Katie is the only person who thinks plastic is a good look.

This is a thing that works for The Scum newspaper about issues that deeply effect us like "Where will we get our make up if Bangladesh gets flooded?" along with many a story about Peter Andre and how he's a horrible person. I'm afraid to the woman who claims she can count the amount of men she has slept with using her fingers (yes I know, she must be severely dyslexic), having so many husbands and relationships that end in tatters, I can spot one similarity...Katie Price is involved. I am fed up with having papers and news websites telling me what bullshit she's up to now. I don't care if she wants to be in Eurovision, she can't sing and we'll come last because Europe hates her. So why do people follow her, or want to be like her? Why have Sky been rumoured to commission a show looking for the next Katie Price? Is this country really this stupid? We want intelligent, funny, confident women, not women who have to try to look as much like Barbie as possible. Katie Price is just a signal for men to continue to be sexist, that's all she's good for, sorry to be blunt but it's the truth. It's just a shame The Scum newspaper would rather publicise this than tell us about these smart, funny and confident women we would rather hear about.

To be honest, the fact that Katie Price is so popular within society shows me society is dumbing down which leads me onto my next point. Text language needs to stop. I'm fine with the odd use of "lol" and "tbh" in a text conversation but today I found out thanks to +Danièlle Owen that "NVM" means Nevermind. Now what the hell is that for text language, stop using it and write the word. That word was the name of one of the greatest albums of it's time, by a band called Nirvana, I'm sure Kurt Cobain would have been thrilled to call his album "NVM"...and then there is "IMO" which means "In my opinion", why? This makes no sense whatsoever! Stop using slang and text speak and speak in normal English. It's what we all learnt in school. I mean we use this rubbish and then complain that foreign people don't know English, well right now some of us look to also be struggling with the mother tongue! I would prefer this generation not to be the generation of TOWIE, Geordie Shore, Justin Bieber and One Direction, not just because all of these are generally unintelligent television and music with little meaning, but because none of those things has an ounce of real personality within it. Now I can respect people listening to One Direction the odd time, it appears in the club as much as I personally loathe it, but I can only stand that if it's a light sprinkling on top of what I would call far better more intelligent bands. Bieber is also a far worse role model than One Direction, although both fan bases are some of the most scary things you will ever get to cross. Personally I would advise not liking either. But to my point, we need to have an intelligence around, personality, TOWIE and stuff like this just make people sit back and do nothing other than be stupid all day! It's a pathetic excuse for a television show. Mind you I could go on about how the BBC have dumbed down the shows I watched when I was a child, such as Blue Peter now, which went from a reasonably intelligent show to a show that's stupidity is beyond itself, on once a week, mainly so shows about red dogs etc can be shown.

Finally I watched the Rolling Stones tonight, to be blunt it was pretty diabolical considering their reputation, in fact it was an embarrassment to their reputation. Jagger looked like he was a walking skeleton. The dancing was abysmal, all I can say is you expect better, especially from a band that charge £190 for an arena gig. But then some fools must pay that much and then wonder why it was worth it. All I can say is thank goodness a band like the Ramones or the Beatles couldn't embarrass themselves in this way. If you want to see an older artist I would recommend Bruce Springsteen, his Glastonbury set looked incredible, plus everyone I know who has seen him has commented on how good he is and his music is most certainly on the same level (personally I would say far higher) than the Rolling Stones. This is not to say I hate the music the Stones produced, some was reasonably good, but honestly guys, you should have split up decades ago, fans who pay huge sums of money to see that rubbish are being victimised by your greed to make a few more quid. And regarding comments about not finding your careers mentally stimulating and making it sound like such a bad life, look at yourselves and your bank accounts and shut up. If you want to be mentally stimulated and a musician think more about the lyrics, there are many bands I like with lyrics people can relate too. Not just think "this is a good tune and I can know the chorus".

The concludes my rant, which could go on forever to be honest.

No offence was meant regarding the dyslexic comment. 

James' Today 28/06/2013 - Wiley's Rant

Hey Guys!

And another James' Today. Kinda already done my main blog post of the day so this is gonna be short I would expect.

On a similar theme I shall briefly discuss Wiley's discussion on twitter over Glastonbury. Not to much to say on it really, except for the fact that it is totally disrespectful to the fans. I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, that Glastonbury isn't about making a profit, not in the way that a bands gig is anyway. Wiley is going to perform for an hour and I bet he isn't getting the minimum wage for an hours set and lets be blunt he's not exactly talented, he just speaks into a microphone and moves some discs around, as far as I'm concerned he should leave the music scene. (You readers may now have learn't that I'm opinionated). There are talented rappers, Wiley is not one of them, end of. He's also proved himself to be a whinger. That's all he's good for. So if you're at Glastonbury give him a miss. And to Wiley, if you think the English treat you like a slave, find some talent OR find out how hard it is to live in Britain without being a popstar nowadays while that twit George Osbourne makes cut after cut, and if they're not giving you much, do you care to send me your pay cheque for the event, I mean it may be nothing to you, but some of us would appreciate it.

I realise this is short, but I'll finish this with a song by Glastonbury Headliners - The Arctic Monkeys

The Rolling Stones - Are They Stupid?

Yes, going for controversy in my title today clearly! And yes this will be a rant. This is all to do with the bands arguments to do with how much of their set will be showed at Glastonbury (a set I shall not be watching...). Initially the pensioners went and said they would only allow 4 songs to be shown by the BBC, the official broadcasters of a festival that has before claimed to be the biggest festival in the world. Now what the hell is going on here? Glastonbury surely has a contract and surely these pensioners are aware if this? Unless their drug use and age has made them beyond demented.

The other point is this band in my eyes are a bunch of con artists. Now I understand their success and longevity gains a lot of fans, I also understand that many of these fans are in an older generation than myself. However I also know bands that have had multiple hit albums and also have gigs in similar venues. But did anyone see the prices of the two gigs at the O2? For anyone who doesn't want to open the article there, here is a quote from the article of the ORIGINAL prices "Tickets - originally priced between £190 and £400 - sold out within seven minutes, however many were bought by resellers such as Via GoGo, Seatwave and Double8 Tickets to sell at an inflated price." Now I don't care what the Rolling Stones have to say for the price and they can sue me if they feel insulted by my comments because there are no legs to stand on but when the cheapest ticket is £190, you're not showing you care about the fans, it more or less feels like you're telling the average fans to "fuck off" and not to bother. Just regarding ticket prices, I have been to see the Arctic Monkeys at the same venue, tickets were priced at less than £40, as were Green Day at the LG Arena (the two massive bands I've seen at arenas). And with this economic climate I would love to know how Mick Jagger, already living the best lifestyle possible thanks to all this money can justify these ticket prices. Apparently I hear he can, by claiming ticket touts have made tickets "not so cheap". For £190 I can pretty much buy a ticket to Reading Festival, little bit better than seeing pensioners way past their best sing songs they wrote before Britain ever considered a female Prime Minister!

So they announce they're to play at Glastonbury and people are excited, to see them at the festival and as with all headliners previously in my memory on the box. But then they tell us they're only to play four songs. So clearly people like myself, oblivious to the days when they were the biggest rock band by a mile on this planet can't make our judgements on them live. Well Mick, that's not good enough, that's not giving yourself a legacy to my generation, we have the Foo Fighters, The Strokes, Blink-182, Arctic Monkeys, Mumford And Sons, Green Day, Eminem, Biffy Clyro, Arcade Fire, My Chemical Romance, Muse...even Rihanna to create legacy through their sets in the last few years (and upcoming summer) to influence us and create a festival legacy. Missing the Rolling Stones isn't like missing a World Cup in England, there are now many artists on a parity (and to the youth of today bigger) regarding the Rolling Stones and every year there will be the chance to see various bands who are on this level. I'm perfectly fine with missing a band that charge more than 4 times the amount that the Arctic Monkeys do! They should be boycotted until tickets are affordable. 

Now they've agreed to play an hour for the BBC, but have arguments regarding it being broadcast abroad, I urge the BBC to grow some guts, you have the rights to Glastonbury, as you do for Reading and various other events, show the full set. If it annoys them, let them sue. Glastonbury rights include the headliners however old and prehistoric they may be! And to the Rolling Stones, let people of my age see what you're about and play on TV, if it's that good, it'll go down in history, like Nirvana at Reading 1992. 

What do you think? Leave a comment or tweet me! If you're the Rolling Stones and feel insulted at what I regard the truth you can also leave me a tweet, or send me a fax, seeming that is probably new to you!

James' Today 25/06/2013

Hey again guys!

6 months till Christmas!!!!! Yes, today is the 25th June! But before that we have festival season! Yes, the festivals are all beginning! Last week it was the Isle of Wight, but really, that's a preshow to the curtain raiser...Glastonbury! Over 5 days people are gonna get amazing moments such as a set by the Arctic Monkeys, which having seen them in the O2 I can definitely say will be great! So if you're going to Glastonbury I wish you an epic and unforgettable time! Personally my festival seems to be Reading, one of the last festivals of the summer, where Green Day, Eminem and Biffy will headline. Some top shows, as there are at full festivals. This said, it'll be hard to beat my five top Reading moments, which today I'm going to tell you here with the beginning of festival season!

5. Muse, playing Origin Of Symmetry in full in 2011. This was a unique experience and was followed up by their greatest hits from other albums. A very good show by a great great band. Being right at the front for this was a great experience and made watching the awful Interpol almost worth it!

The BBC Highlights of the set (misses out a lot of Origins of Symmetry...I know that's the bit that made it a unique and special show...)

Song of the set - Feeling Good. 

4. Blink-182 - Reading 2010. Reading and Leeds this year seemed to be the festival of bands reuniting (another band in this trend is later in the top 5) and Blink-182 played their first shows in the UK since reforming at the Reading and Leeds festivals! Finishing the 2010 festival they played a montage of their greatest hits, with songs such as All The Small Things, What's My Name Again and Dammit being played.

Highlights of Blink-182 at Reading 2010.

Song of the Set: All The Small Things.

3. Green Day's Secret Set - Reading 2012. This would probably be higher if Green Day were a band I hadn't already seen and a band that I have since seen, in a gig where they played for considerably longer than the secret set. Playing through their greatest hits and songs they generally seemed to enjoy playing like the track "Murder City" they got the crowd mental and were broadcast on the main stage screens as well due to how busy the NME stage was. Luckily for me I was fairly close to the front.

Highlights of the Green Day Secret Set.

Song of the set: Stay the Night. 

2. The reunion of the Libertines, Reading 2010. Now this was special, this was emotional. Coming on stage to the tune "we'll meet again" the band played hits from the albums they released when they were together to an incredibly passionate crowd, well respecting this could be the only time that any of the crowd would see them.

The full Libertines set.

Song of the set. Don't look back into the Sun.

1. The Foo Fighters, Reading 2012. This was simply amazing, Dave Grohl made it not just an event but an occasion, bringing up the fact he was there with the legendary Kurt Cobain 20 years ago. Playing hits and getting his family on stage this was simply an unforgettable experience. The best headline set I have ever had the pleasure of seeing and beating this may be impossible!

Then full set of the Foo Fighters.

You can't pick a song of this set, but I shall throw out a song to finish this blog as I am being rushed out of the house...annoying yes...to a strawberry farm...lame. Here's Walk by the Foo Fighters.

Comment your favourite Festival moments!