BBC Four Goes Slow

BBC Four Goes Slow
Genre Slow television
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 7
Production company(s) Gallery Film
Idéale Audience
BBC Scotland
The Garden
Release
Original network BBC Four
Original release 3 May 2015 (2015-05-03) – 24 December 2015 (2015-12-24)

BBC Four Goes Slow is a 2015 series of slow television programmes made for BBC Four, each without narration or underscore.[1] The channel's editor, Cassian Harrison, stated that the series is an "antidote ... to the conventional grammar of television in which everything gets faster and faster".[2] Similarities have been drawn between the series and the Norwegian trend of slow TV programmes.[3]

Programmes

National Gallery: A Film by Frederick Wiseman

Wiseman's film originally aired in December 2014.[4] It is a three-hour tour of London's National Gallery, with no voiceover, underscore or sound effects.[4]

Dawn Chorus: The Sounds of Spring

Dawn Chorus: The Sounds of Spring is an hour-long composite recording of birdsong at sunrise in Devon.[3] The programme was made from three consecutive days' recording in three different locations.[2] The programme has no voiceover or commentary,[5] save for a few captions of historical information.[2]

Handmade

Handmade is a three-episode part of the series,[5] and focuses on the production of three objects—Handmade: Glass documents the blowing and shaping of glass to create a jug, Handmade: Metal shows a bladesmith using a forge to make a knife, and Handmade: Wood sees a whittler create a wooden chair.[3][5]

All Aboard! The Canal Trip

All Aboard! The Canal Trip is a two-hour narrowboat journey along the Kennet and Avon Canal from Bath Top Lock (lock 13) to the Dundas Aqueduct.[1][6] The episode features visual information but no spoken commentary.[2][1]

All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride

All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride is a two-hour sleigh ride filmed in Karasjok, Norway.[7] It aired on 24 December 2015.

Reception

Michael Hogan, writing for The Daily Telegraph's website, gave the series a 2/5 rating, describing it as "hypnotic", implying it is boring.[3] A review for The Independent said that the programmes were "oddly absorbing" and "soothing".[8] Viewers took to social media to comment on the programme, with differing opinions; some described it as "the most boring TV show ever", and others "a proper [television] programme".[9]

Programme Broadcast date Viewers (audience share)
National Gallery: A Film by Frederick Wiseman 3 May 2015 252,000 (1.3%)[10]
Dawn Chorus: The Sounds of Spring 4 May 2015 423,000 (1.8%)[10]
Handmade: Glass 4 May 2015 423,000 (1.8%)[10]
Handmade: Metal 4 May 2015 339,000 (1.4%)[10]
All Aboard! The Canal Trip 5 May 2015 599,900 (2.8%)[11]
Handmade: Wood 6 May 2015 N/A
All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride 24 December 2015 N/A

References

  1. 1 2 3 Duell, Mark. "Not exactly fast-forward: BBC launches 'slow TV' season that includes two-hour film of a canal boat trip with no voiceover". The Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Plunkett, John. "Gently does it: from canal trips to birdsong, BBC4 to introduce 'slow TV'". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Hogan, Michael. "Slow TV, review: 'hypnotic'". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 Cumming, Laura. "National Gallery review – Frederick Wiseman focuses on the minutiae". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Farber, Alex. "BBC4 relaxes with slow season". Broadcast. Media Business Insight. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "All Aboard! The Canal Trip". BBC Four. BBC. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  7. ↑ Webb, Claire (23 December 2015). "Sledging through the Arctic Circle with Sami reindeer herders". Radio Times. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  8. ↑ Jones, Ellen E. "All Aboard! The Canal Trip, BBC4 – TV review: An oddly absorbing way to soothe overactive minds". The Independent. Independent Print. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  9. ↑ Battersby, Matilda. "All Aboard: The Canal Trip: BBC Four’s ‘most boring TV show ever’ is surprise ratings hit". The Independent. Independent Print. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Plunkett, John. "BBC4's slow TV: more than 400,000 take a leisurely look". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  11. ↑ Campelli, Matthew. "No Offence locks up 2.5m". Broadcast. Media Business Insight. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
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