Your views online
Hogmanay viewing
It is the dawn of a new decade, and the debut of two new televised Hogmanay shows. Our critic Alison Rowat took a look at Scotland’s television offerings, and readers had their say online:
“Ten minutes for the Edinburgh fireworks aside, it was Jools Holland’s Hootenanny for me, as always. At least everyone looks like they are having a good time on a Jools’ show. The toe-curling awfulness of BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay output never ceases to amaze me. The low point was in ‘Selling Scotland’ when Stuart Cosgrove portrayed Molly Weir’s ‘Flash’ advert character as symbolic of the oppressive nature of England over Scotland. Dreadful stuff.”
Derek Millar, heraldscotland.com
“Jackie Bird has been out of date since the start of the Millennium and was a good reason not to watch the BBC version. Susan Calman though would be a perfect cringeworthy replacement from that point of view, and will probably be just as bad at doing the news programmes. No idea who the other two are. Sean’s Hogmanay was grand.”
Peter Piper, heraldscotland.com
“Gone are the days of Scottish comic genius, no quick quips or funny retorts, just stage managed tripe and what would BBC do without the Backdrop of Princess St. I have produced more and better humour while rolling about in agony at the dentist.”
Robert Mccaw, Facebook
“I don’t think any TV programme can ever come close to the enjoyment of first footing your friends and neighbours after the bells in the good old days of local New Year parties.”
Patricia Calder, heraldscotland.com
“It was heaven to me – the old tired agenda should be dumped forever. Give Jackie the bird.”
Stewart Short, heraldscotland.com
“If that’s the best of Scottish humour then I’m moving to England. It was poor.”
Tommy Scott, heraldscotland.com
“Good old Sean, good wee show. Who said Calman had talent, plus Alba had a good going ceilidh in the heart of Gaeldom (Motherwell). The best bit of the BBC show was the Stonehaven fireballs.”
Johnnie Kilmarnock, heraldscotland.com
“Jim Smith was hilarious – got tickets for his show at the Comedy Festival in March. Thought Susan Calman did a good job but it did feel quite flat in places. Loved the Mark Ronson set with the fireworks but the sound quality was poor.
Not sure what STV were thinking.”
Lynn Stewart, Facebook
Labour must learn to adapt if it is to survive
Iain Macwhirter wrote in yesterday’s Herald that Labour must learn the ‘language of progressive nationalism’ if it is to survive. Our readers shared their thoughts:
“Perhaps, but perhaps the differences were more basic. Johnson exuded confidence and adaptability, he could change his policies from minute to minute to suit the situation. And he’d do it with a smile or a laugh.
“Corbyn, on the other hand, didn’t make up his mind at all and adopted a neutral stance and a neutral look. He was a grey man like John Major, compared to a flamboyant clown called Bozo acting the ringmaster. It’s the big tent, and Corbyn was left outside in the mud directing circus-goers to their car parking spaces.
Peter Piper, heraldscotland.com
“100% wrong. Corbyn’s reluctance to firmly rule out a pact with the SNP re indyref2 cost them a shed load of votes.
“The only voters a drift towards Nationalism will attract are nationalists, and they ain’t voting for anyone but the SNP till after independence.
We need leadership in the Labour Party, the one thing that Corbyn for all his good intentions, lacked.” Michael Mcgeachy, heraldscotland.com