NB: BBC Kidnapped by Bampots?

[Sgeir]

Missed the Panorama prog on Scottish sectarianism - but did sit through, with an increasingly uncomfortable feeling, the BBC's latest interpretations of RLS's Kidnapped. (Oddly enough, some of the early roots of sectarianism are connected with Jacobite/Hanoverian politics of the period and described in the book - see the onboard dialogue between Captain Hoseason, a Whig from Dysart in Fife, and Alan Breck, the Jacobite).

Perhaps those forumites who know about these things, can tell us whether the BBC has something in its Charter that allows it to bowdlerise a fine novel into a cheap-looking Hollywood-style pastiche. The real story is great - why turn it in to rubbish? Why change the settings and the background of the characters? Why is Queenferry set as a Highland port - although I believe it was actually filmed in South Island New Zealand?

Many years ago (the 70s?), the BBC made a fine version of RLS's much underrated Master of Ballantrae. It had decent standards, decent acting, actually set in right continent, and explained the social background to the events in the novel. As does the novel Kidnapped - not that any of it was recognisable in the toe-curling BBC version.

Why, oh why, oh why?

 

[claymore]

Hmm
I'd a day of thinking this will be just like the old days with a good Robert Louis tale on the box at tea time so it was dissappointing.
I'm hoping Gregor Fisher will inject something into it but it was a bit feeble.
Intersting that they got Ellen Macarthur to play young Balfour - she just can't get away frae the sea can she!

 

[Sgeir]

[ QUOTE ]
they got Ellen Macarthur to play young Balfour

[/ QUOTE ]Yes, the resembance was very striking. But, what with this young Balfour's sobbing and greeting all the time, I didn't want to draw attention to it in case I incurred the wrath of the Damesquad.

 

[Sgeir]

they got Ellen Macarthur to play young Balfour

 

[kilkerr1]

Glad I didn't see it, sounds pretty grim.

On a slightly tangential note, it's an age since I've heard the word 'bampot', and it brought a huge smile to my face! An ex-partner of mine was from across the border and used it lots, always made me chuckle. I also always wondered whether the word 'oakster' was used by other Scots ('armpit' apparently), or was he taking the Michael out of me..?

Pip pip. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Sgeir]

Oxter

.

 

[Shantyman]

To be reight its not BAMPOT. It just sounds like that when uttered by a member of the race who are reputedly more "careful" than a Yorkshireman.

Its BARM POT - one of our fine Yorkshire expressions which has been commandeered.

Al sithee (Cheerio)

Shantyman.

 

[Sgeir]

Yorkies talking proper?

In our endeavours to improve the English language (derived from Inglis. one of our better lowland Scots exports), we decided to drop the "r" as in bampot and bamstick , although we normally retain it as in barmy. However, you do occasionally hear the phrase "bammybassa" used by less genteel people in the Glesga area.

 

[Birdseye]

Re: Yorkies talking proper?

[ QUOTE ]
In our endeavours to improve the English language (derived from Inglis. one of our better lowland Scots exports), we decided to drop the "r" as in bampot and bamstick , although we normally retain it as in barmy. However, you do occasionally hear the phrase "bammybassa" used by less genteel people in the Glesga area.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not according to the principal etymologist of the Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.askoxford.com/worldofwords/history/?view=uk). Apparently, English was of Anglo Saxon origin and has absorbed very little from the Celts. So what we have to thank you for is not the language but much of the present government! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif You can certainly apply the "bammybassa" to them.

 

[Sgeir]

so what does the Oxford English Dictionary

have to do with this forum? Or the study of ants for that matter?

 

[PeteMcK]

Re: Yorkies talking proper?

Sleekitbastirts, more like.