I settled down to watch this much-publicised interview on BBC North since it is full of dark portents about how "Captain Marvel" wants back into management but only as manager or number 2 at a premiership club. Filled with trepidation I tuned in after Buffy the Vampire Slayer and imagine my surprise to find that they weren't showing it after all but had replaced it with a documentary about cask-conditioned real ale. Hmmmmm.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Answers

Alcoholic Permutations?

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Ditto Softie - no apologies fom the BBC either, who advertised the programme on Robbo on the BBC Newcastle News broadcasts this morning.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

...was the replacement programme called "Cheers" about the theme park / trendy foodies takeover of local pubs, the struggle to keep bitter alive, the loss of the working man's public bar etc. etc? Started off with shots of beer in huge tanks at a local brewery?

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

.... yeh, that's the one benton.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Thanks...did anyone watch Cheers, which was supposed to be seen only by BBC London viewers as part of their First Sight series of regional documentaries?

Thought it raised really important issues.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

I'm afraid that I turned off after 10 minutes (the length of time it took me to be sure that the brewery wasn't just Robbo's current hobby) but had found it engaging until then. Sadly, the Missus wanted to watch Stenders so I was outvoted by one Wife.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

you lost 2 votes to nowt then?

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

You referring to the wife and bairn Rog ... or just being smutty ??!

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Hmmm, so I've taped a documentary on real ale when I don't even drink the stuff - thanks Beeb!

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

'Imagine my surprise'...Softie, brought back memories of the VIZ letter page...AM

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

...it was about a lot more than real ale. Watch the tape!

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

It was quite a good documentary about the gradual erosion of an important part of the British way of life - the British pub. Many pubs have been turned over to wine bars and the ghastly- termed "gastro-pubs" - principally eateries populated by dreadful yuppies, virtually none of who drink beer - real or imaginery.

There were however, some encouraging stories about traditional London pubs who have persevered, and with the support of their local communities, have re-established their position as an integral part of the social life of those communities.

I'm not a great fan of Robbo anyway, and quite enjoyed the programme.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

I can't stand Robbo and was only watching to see what YBR was going to say about him in case it sounded like the news I'm dreading. The hard-sell on the programme was immense with adverts every hour and it was mentioned all week on the news and so I had begun to fear that some "big announcement" was in the offing. The clips they showed were full of him talking about "yewnighted" this and "yewnighted" that so I would have beaten him away from the steps of SJP with a big, sh*tey stick if he'd turned up just on principle.

I'll never forgive the poxy media for lamely listening to Viv Anderson's limp excuses after every Boro collapse whilst the one time Gullit sent Steve Clarke to talk to the media in his place they refused to talk to him: organ grinders and monkeys were mentioned.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

I know. Didn't get Robbo, but the closest thing - pure alcohol [allegidly]. I hope they reschedule it, if only for Reidy's ace comment "He cud tachel a treyn".

ml

-- Anonymous, October 12, 2001

Just checked the tape and found I've got the Robbo documentary! Interesting but nowt new. Still don't understand how nobody else got it!

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2001

I think that they must have broadcast the wrong documentary to cable and sattelite viewers but got it right on terrestrial.

We all know that computers are much safer than humans. Open the pod door please HAL...

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2001

"We all know that computers are much safer than humans....."

......yeh, that'll be why the US military allegedly bombed a school in Afghanistan today!

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2001