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.
