Lords DEMAND the BBC face an investigation over inaudible mumbling on prime-time dramas
PEERS have said the BBC should face an investigation into mumbling on prime-time dramas due to concerns that some of the 25 million licence holders are struggling to hear.
Peers think the BBC should act on the audibility issues
Several BBC dramas have drawn complaints from the public, including Jamaica Inn, Happy Valley, Invisible Man, SS-GB and Taboo.
Lord Blunkett, who is blind, said the Government should use Ofcom to make sure mumbling does not get in the way of people’s ability to understand the shows.
However Lord Ashton of Hyde said it would not be right for the government to intervene and “One person’s mumbling is another person’s atmosphere”.
Lord Tasenby highlighted the issue
Atmosphere is fine if you can lip read
Lord Blunkett said: “Atmosphere is fine if you can lip read. When you can’t the mumbling becomes not just an irritant but an impossibility. I do hope that the Government will now lean on the new regulator Ofcom to bring a bit of common sense.”
Baroness Rawlings said “many young actors and people in general do not enunciate properly”.
Lord Ashton of Hyde defended the BBC
Lord Gordon of Strathblane said modern television sets were to blame because of their “thin” side they have a poor sound quality.
The House of Cards author, Lord Dobbs, also said the problem could be because of modern flat-screen televisions.
He also conceded: “We are all getting a little older and perhaps, deafer”.
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Lord Naseby said the issues started with the drama Jamaica Inn when there were hundreds of complaints written to the BBC about inaudibility.
In February, the BBC pledged to reexamine sound level on the Sunday night drama, SS-GB, after viewers claimed they had to resort to subtitles because of the mumbling.
Defending the BBC, Lord Ashton of Hyde, said: “At the end of the day, no broadcasters wants to make programmes that viewers can’t hear”.