Evening Standard shows how to report Ellen the hero

[tcm]

Lots of excellent coverage, including plenty of her emails, none of which sounded in the least bit whingey.

BUT whenever (in her real emails) she said (paraphrase) "I'm really really worried about the Doldrums/whatever and utterly completely exhausted, really ought to get some **** sleep" they cut it to "I'm worried about the Doldrums".

In a separate article, they commented of the difference between a hero and a celebrity. Not sure i totally agree with everything written but it got me thinking.

A celeb manages to win notoriety by dint of being on tv/media - and then by being on tv some more by "letting us into their life" and so forth.

By contrast with most well-known types, ellen simply did something heroic (i hate the feminine of hero, as most do) and you can take it or leave it. BUT, the unexpurgated emails delivered in the process of her adventure would be like mikeing up Neil armstrong as he launched, or had that dodgy landing on the moon, or before re-entry. Interesting, no question - but would have robbed him and us of something, those innermost feelings which are private. Same really if you could mike and record the feelings of a runner as they ran the race "the bastard is coming through on the inside i'll **** close them off or whackem haha - oh [censored] [censored] shiot they're xoming through of **** oh **** i'm knackered **** i'm knackered - ooh no - hoorah i've just scraped the gold"

I don't think that the 24/7 broadcasting of all her thoughts, everything, was necesary, nor do i believe that in her condition (or perhasp anycondition) that even she is the best reporter of her exploits - she is simply "first hand". How far would this go anyway? "i'm having cheese and onion soup tonight again, hope i don't burn it like last time" "i should realy change my underwear tonight but the spare stuff has melted in the engineroom" Nobody needs this, her endeavour didn't need it either. The team should have had an (modified) alistair campbell type who's vilification has been entirely led by media who really want a close-up of PM blubbing, druken kids in leicester square, and on and on.

But of course, for cognoscenti or enthuisiasts or o0thers, the full unexpurgated emaisl could be made available, in a book or whatever. But not front-up on that open website, imho

 

[Salty]

Agreed. As noted by others elsewhere, sure that Chichester, Rose, Blyth etc. all had their low-points which are better for not being recorded thereby somehow lessening the magic of their heroic deeds.

But its only going to get worse: I was reading somewhere that the Channel4 team responsible for Big Brother are negotiating with the Volvo Race for rights to a 'reality' type programme to be made from footage from the Volvo RTWR, on the basis that a group of blokes living in close proximity in desperate conditions for 9-months should make for some good footage of arguments/tempers flaring etc. God forbid that ever gets the green light....

 

[Thistle]

Remember that if they do that, they'll be at pains to select a crew on the basis of their incompatibility. Bunch of s**t stirrers!

 

[tcm]

well, except that it *might* be ok - there was the transat attempt with the other girl wasssername and that was revealing without being intrusive. when solo Ellen seems to get strength/solace by turning on the camera and pouring her heart out - but then gets on with it. In retrospect -she actually did the biz but to the casual vierer she seems masochisitic, a weepy, on the edge of being unable to cope, out of her depth, and unlikely to set foot on a boat ever again. Although the Dead Ringers stuff was funny, it's a shame they were given that stuff on such an easy plate, imho. Note the difference between the solo vendee stuff and the wider-ranging rtw (failed) crew attempt where she was often on camera whilst actually not in a flipin state - tower of strength when mast came down. Solo, she is a bit too brutal on herself camera and email-wise, imho.

 

[pugwash]

If you have to put this at someone's door, and don't see why it troubles you so much in the first place, blame not those who ask but those who agree. If you're going to do a reality TV show anywhere, a bunch of blokes in a testing outdoor situation would be a lot mroe watchable than people locked in a house. The most fascinating aspects of any expedition are the bad bits. Honour and glory gets the medals, telling it warts and all sells the books/tv. Nothing wrong with that as long as it's honest.

On other points, loved Robin K-J being introduced by a TV reporter as Ellen's Dad (he'd be proud, I'm sure) and amused by the reporter prnouncing Ushant as You-shan't.

 

[Shakey]

With regard to reality TV shows, there was one broadcast in Ireland set on a boat that went totally tits up. It was a Tall Ship, and I don't think the contestants were chosen for their sailing ability!

They all hated it, were seasick, cold, wet, miserable, didn't like the food, didn't like the accomodation (they were probably expecting a cruise ship below decks)

Then to make it really interesting, in the second week there was a storm and the ship was caught on a lee shore and ran aground on a reef.

Everyone had to swim for their lives, but they all got rescued and survived. The ship was wrecked, smashed to bits.

Wish they'd show it on UK TV!