Ross Kemp on crack

[HailHail]

when does the series start?

[Keepitgreen]

If only.

One interesting thing for me about this whole Ross Kemp series stuff: I always knew the Murdoch media empire existed and I knew it had immeasurable influence etc etc. However, this show has really pointed it out to me of late. I'll explain:

His show is on Sky One. Sky owned by Murdoch.

His wife is Rebekah Wade. Editor of the Sun. The Sun owned by Murdoch.

Jobs for the boys, natch.

Anyway, main point, Kemp's show is hailed as amazing by tons of tabloids and even broadsheets. Held up as an example of how broadcasting should be done; conversely as an example of why public service broadcasting is failing. An attack on the BBC essentially. All through the media outlets Murdoch owns and runs.

This may only indicate my general naivete but I thought I'd share.

[alexi]

Having seen some of his shows i am baffled about why he gets so much praise. He is no better than that walking penis Danny Dyer.

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by alexi

Having seen some of his shows i am baffled about why he gets so much praise. He is no better than that walking penis Danny Dyer.

I agree. I reckon KIG has a good point, and Kemp's good reviews probably come in the main from the Murdoch Press.

Besides, there's nothing Sky One can show which could prove that public broadcasting is failing. For proof that public broadcasting works simply have a listen to any BBC radio station then compare to an equivalent commercial station (timecheck, shoddy news, crap music picked by a computer, talentless presenter etc).

The licence fee is a bargain IMHO.

[alexi]

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby

I agree. I reckon KIG has a good point, and Kemp's good reviews probably come in the main from the Murdoch Press.

Besides, there's nothing Sky One can show which could prove that public broadcasting is failing. For proof that public broadcasting works simply have a listen to any BBC radio station then compare to an equivalent commercial station (timecheck, shoddy news, crap music picked by a computer, talentless presenter etc).

The licence fee is a bargain IMHO.

I dont watch much, if any TV these days but if i watch the news its the BBc news-SKY news is just awful. BBC over the years has produced far better TV shows-comedy especially. And the documentaries tend to be more hard hitting than MR Kemps efforts.

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by alexi

I dont watch much, if any TV these days but if i watch the news its the BBc news-SKY news is just awful. BBC over the years has produced far better TV shows-comedy especially. And the documentaries tend to be more hard hitting than MR Kemps efforts.

I'm still in a cream puff with Sky because they managed to make a boring movie about Georgie Best

[Stu]

I don't see exactly what Ross Kemp has to offer so I'm going to align myself with the nepotism theory.

He lacks personality and is very inanimate. What's the idea sending him out there with the troops too? Are they trying to say his tough-guy image on East Enders is genuine? He doesn't impress me as some kind of hard-man, especially when you've seen him in those old breakfast cereal TV ads!

He's a crap actor too.

[alexi]

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby

I'm still in a cream puff with Sky because they managed to make a boring movie about Georgie Best

how the feck did they manage that?? Id have thought that impossible.

[KABULHIBBY]

Originally Posted by Keepitgreen

If only.

One interesting thing for me about this whole Ross Kemp series stuff: I always knew the Murdoch media empire existed and I knew it had immeasurable influence etc etc. However, this show has really pointed it out to me of late. I'll explain:

His show is on Sky One. Sky owned by Murdoch.

His wife is Rebekah Wade. Editor of the Sun. The Sun owned by Murdoch.

Jobs for the boys, natch.

Anyway, main point, Kemp's show is hailed as amazing by tons of tabloids and even broadsheets. Held up as an example of how broadcasting should be done; conversely as an example of why public service broadcasting is failing. An attack on the BBC essentially. All through the media outlets Murdoch owns and runs.

This may only indicate my general naivete but I thought I'd share.

The fact that the Telegraph and the Independant have given the Afghan show very good reviews takes the "Murdoch" influence out of it, IMO.

The Afghan show is very well made and to give RK a bit of credit he has deliberately put himself in harms way to get his story across. It would have been very easy to use some official MOD footage and do a cushy voice over. He hasn't, for that there are a lot of grateful folk as he has managed, so far, to convey something about what happens at the sharp end of a tour.

The only complaint about it might be that there is a bit too much "me" time on screen for RK however it works OK due to his personal insight/feelings at that moment.

Certain parts of last nights show were close to bringing a tear to a glass eye, especially when they showed some of the guys reactions to footage that was made to remember a fallen mate. Add the footage of the action that cost a young private his life and the effort that his section/platoon commander went to to try and save it and there is at least a "warts and all" production out there that might just make Joe Public realise how much there is still a "war" on, even though the military are meant to be on a peace footing

[KABULHIBBY]

Originally Posted by Stu

I don't see exactly what Ross Kemp has to offer so I'm going to align myself with the nepotism theory.

He lacks personality and is very inanimate. What's the idea sending him out there with the troops too? Are they trying to say his tough-guy image on East Enders is genuine? He doesn't impress me as some kind of hard-man, especially when you've seen him in those old breakfast cereal TV ads!

He's a crap actor too.

Like it or not Stu he has the public persona of being the "hard man" and is probably the best suited to front this type of show.

I think he's done it quite well, doesn't mean I like the guys previous work, best laugh for me was the Range Officers comment after he'd completed his shoot "....SAS my arrse ". Whether or not it's a front he does tend to share a squaddies sense of humour at times and by all accounts the Anglians hold him in some regard, probably due to the fact that he didn't "luvvie" it up and shared the same discomforts as the guys on the ground.

[Zitelli`s Heid!]

Ross Kemp IS a crack. A big unkempt one. (did you spot that?) And his brother Phil Kemp is an alkie arsehole out of Eastenders.


Erm.......Alledgedly.

[Bannox]

I have been very impressed with the Afghanistan show.
as many of you know it is a subject i am very close to and indeed most of the vehicles you see on the show were driven by my guys, to a man they all said that what you see is how it was, Ross Kemp was there on his belt buckle at the sharp end and there has been no creative editing or staged fire fights.

i think it is only right that Joe public gets to see the reality (or a fraction of it) that troops have to endure in the Middle East and he and his crew have the balls to go out and do what a lot of enlisted men would rather not be doing.

[Smurf]

I've been very impressed with his programme on Afghanistan. If it's being praised IMO it's deserved. Good to see SKY making such a good documentary.

FWIW i also think Ross Kemp comes across very well.

[Forzahibs]

Originally Posted by Smurf

I've been very impressed with his programme on Afghanistan. If it's being praised IMO it's deserved. Good to see SKY making such a good documentary.

FWIW i also think Ross Kemp comes across very well.

I agree , i'm just downloading episode 3 . Why folk feel the need to slag guys like RK is beyond me If he were a good Hibby would it help

[Keepitgreen]

Originally Posted by KABULHIBBY

The fact that the Telegraph and the Independant have given the Afghan show very good reviews takes the "Murdoch" influence out of it, IMO.

The Afghan show is very well made and to give RK a bit of credit he has deliberately put himself in harms way to get his story across. It would have been very easy to use some official MOD footage and do a cushy voice over. He hasn't, for that there are a lot of grateful folk as he has managed, so far, to convey something about what happens at the sharp end of a tour.

The only complaint about it might be that there is a bit too much "me" time on screen for RK however it works OK due to his personal insight/feelings at that moment.

Certain parts of last nights show were close to bringing a tear to a glass eye, especially when they showed some of the guys reactions to footage that was made to remember a fallen mate. Add the footage of the action that cost a young private his life and the effort that his section/platoon commander went to to try and save it and there is at least a "warts and all" production out there that might just make Joe Public realise how much there is still a "war" on, even though the military are meant to be on a peace footing

Fair play KH, I wasn't actually knocking the show itself (I've Sky plussed it but not watched it yet) but more the media hype surrounding it, especially with the dude being connected to Murdoch as he is; quite how a bit-part soap actor has become a serious documentary maker etc. It was a bit of a moan about that really.

Think I'll stick it on the now.

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

My comments were based on RK's previous shows - I'll give his Afghhanistan shows a watch

[cavalier]

Originally Posted by Bannox

I have been very impressed with the Afghanistan show.
as many of you know it is a subject i am very close to and indeed most of the vehicles you see on the show were driven by my guys, to a man they all said that what you see is how it was, Ross Kemp was there on his belt buckle at the sharp end and there has been no creative editing or staged fire fights.

i think it is only right that Joe public gets to see the reality (or a fraction of it) that troops have to endure in the Middle East and he and his crew have the balls to go out and do what a lot of enlisted men would rather not be doing.

There was no Bingo though M?

[Bannox]

Originally Posted by cavalier

There was no Bingo though M?

Dont bet on it Paul

[Contemptible Hibee]

As KH said, this series has drawn praise from numerous non-News Corp titles. Also, Kemp and Rebekah Wade are actually separated so cries of cronyism are perhaps slightly wide of the mark.

As a civvy working with guys who will shortly be deploying on Operations, this show really brings home just what my colleagues could soon be encountering. Sobering stuff.