{"id":3312,"date":"2011-08-30T09:36:12","date_gmt":"2011-08-30T08:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ofah.net\/blog\/?p=3312"},"modified":"2016-01-25T08:51:24","modified_gmt":"2016-01-25T08:51:24","slug":"bbc-gets-complaints-from-fools-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ofah.net\/blog\/bbc-gets-complaints-from-fools-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC gets complaints from Fools Fans"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nWe all are fully aware of the cuts that Only Fools and Horses have suffered, whether on the recent BBC repeats or more annoyingly on the DVD releases.<\/p>\n

This week (5 Sep 2011)\u00a0we see the very latest release from the BBC – Every episode in a very smart 26 disc boxset celebrating the 30 years.<\/p>\n

Amazon has it here with free delivery\u00a0Only Fools and Horses – The Complete Collection [DVD]<\/a><\/p>\n

Features all the episodes and Christmas specials on 26 discs.<\/p>\n

\"DVD<\/a><\/p>\n

So will this set be different to all the others?<\/p>\n

Fools Fans Complain to BBC<\/h2>\n

Fools fan Pete Manning told me ”<\/p>\n

When the BBC showed OFAH on BBC, I complained about the amount of cuts made and how the episodes no longer made sense.\u00a0I have only just recieved the email below – which is the normal “standard” email apart from the fact that John’s family were involved “<\/div>\n
Below is his reply from the BBC regarding recent repeats:<\/strong><\/div>\n

Thank you for contacting us regarding the BBC One programme \u2018Only Fools and Horses\u2019 broadcast on 12 July 2011.<\/p>\n

I understand you\u2019re unhappy because you believe episodes in the series were edited so badly that the stories no longer made sense and that many cuts weren\u2019t necessary.<\/p>\n

We raised your concerns with those responsible for managing this content in our Comedy department. They passed the following reply:<\/p>\n

“The recent screenings of Only Fools and Horses have been a big success with the BBC’s Daytime audiences, which is no surprise considering it is such a well-loved show. Unfortunately the limited amount of time in the Daytime schedule meant that edits had to be made to fit the episodes into the available time-slot. This is also the reason why the episodes were run together in pairs – removing the opening titles from the second episode in the “double-bill” and combining the credits of the two episodes ended up saving valuable minutes that we then didn’t have to remove from the shows’ content.<\/p>\n

Very occasionally an edit was also made because some of the language was considered too strong for that time in the afternoon. The family of the show’s writer, John Sullivan, were heavily involved in the entire process, agreed with every edit made, and were, like us, happy with the state of the final episodes.”<\/p>\n

I appreciate that you may continue to feel it somewhat becomes in parts, nonsensical and I’d like to assure you that I’ve registered your complaint on our Audience Log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that\u2019s made available to all BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive board, channel controllers and other senior managers.<\/p>\n

The Audience Logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions on future BBC programmes and content.<\/p>\n

Once again, thank you for contacting us.<\/p>\n

Kind Regards<\/p>\n

Philip Young
\nBBC Complaints
\nwww.bbc.co.uk\/complaints<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

I then took the opportunity to build on this by sending another complaint regarding the DVD releases:<\/p>\n

Titled : Only Fools and Horses Cuts – please respect the comedy<\/h3>\n

From the outset – I understand that certain cuts have to be made when fitting in with TV schedules etc<\/p>\n

But I cant understand why we get so many cuts when purchasing the Only Fools and Horses DVDs for a good price
\nOnly Fools and Horses is a British institution<\/p>\n

It wins nearly every voting pole going including Best Sitcom ever<\/p>\n

I’m sure you’re proud of Only Fools and Horses and John Sullivan’s amazing work as much as I am, but how do you justify cutting so many scenes in the Only Fools and Horses DVDs?<\/p>\n

I know you speak of music royalties etc – but pay for them!<\/p>\n

That’s why we purchase the DVD in the first place – to see the original comedy, not parts cut out by a limited budget
\nAlso Only Fools and Horses is one of the only DVDs you can purchase that have no extra scenes or footage or clips or bonuses, or directors comments.<\/p>\n

For years I’ve heard fans complain, again and again about this issue<\/p>\n

I know they have written to you, emailed, you and I know you have given replies with the above comments.<\/p>\n