[woodcote]

The Beeb's attempts to remain balanced in its news coverage and programming is becoming a bit of an anachronism. Right-wing friends and colleagues have always accused it of being too left-wing and PC, while left-wing friends and colleagues moan about it being too right-wing and pro-establishment. Once upon a time, most people would see themselves in the middle ground of politics and accept and respect the balanced position of the BBC. However, on many issues, that middle ground just doesn't exist anymore - people are either 100% pro or anti, an advocate or a denier - so any attempt to be balanced just annoys everyone...

There's also the increasingly competitive nature of media, with the need for provocative headlines and content to attract viewers or readers - clickbait and dumbing-down. The BBC seem to becoming just as guilty of this as anyone. Sport coverage is another arena where this happens - forget the nuances and complexities of a sport, just drape it in a union jack and we can all get behind 'our' boys or girls. And they wonder why big sporting events have a disappointing 'legacy'...

Having said all that, I think the BBC provides some magnificent content. Some of the in-depth news coverage is really thought-provoking and allows me to start understanding complex situations and read between the lines. I find this mostly on the BBC website and on radio (5, 4 and World Service). There's loads of TV that I have no interest in - but I am delighted other people are entertained by it. I tend to watch BBC programmes via iPlayer and love some of the home-grown and imported dramas and comedies which tend to get watched in our house on Friday and Saturday evening, now we're happier staying in than going out on the town.  So far this year, I've particularly enjoyed the vampire mockumentary series "What We Do in the Shadows", the wonderful "Pose" and the scarily near-future drama "Years and Years".

The BBC might be an anachronism, but worth hanging on to, warts 'n' all.