1. British television and religion:
audience perspectives
Ruth Deller (@ruthdeller)

2. Where does discussion occur?
Entertainment forums (e.g. Digital Spy, Unreality TV)
General interest forums (e.g. The Student Room)
Focus groups: online and offline
YouTube: comments and response videos
Broadcaster/programme blogs and forums
Faith group forums/blogs/sites
Twitter
Individuals' blogs and comments

3. What do audiences like?
Learning something new
Just finished watching the documentary on sky plus. Found it well
balanced and interesting. I knew very little about his life. I think
that any documentary that can inform non-Muslims about both
the prophet and the Koran should be commended and
applauded. Ignorance is not bliss. (LV on The Life of Muhammad)
A sense of 'balance' or 'fairness'
I like the fact there are no agendas, proselytising, witch hunts,
setups, etc. Nice change for British TV documentaries (Woof on
Revelations).

4. What do audiences like?
Respect for beliefs/believers/cultures
So having the chance to sit and really watch a beautifully crafted
program about Buddhist culture and iconography today, was a
real joy. (AP on Seven Wonders of the Buddhist World)
A sense of ‘openness’ about programme’s position
With this guy we knew that he believed in God, the way that he
believed in God, the sort of church he belonged to… I felt like I
got to know him through the programme (Laura on Around the
World in 80 Faiths)

5. What do audiences dislike?
A lack of diversity
In my experience, the BBC could not care less about the feelings
of or requests from the Hindus. They simply ignore them... The
BBC also ignores the significant Buddhist population in Britain.
(Praya on BBC message boards thread ‘Does the BBC under-
represent UK Hindus and Sikhs?')
Perceived misrepresentation, exaggeration, ‘distortion’
When or when will there be a documentary showing the 99.9% of
muslims that are NOT extremists...Will the BBC or any other
media channel show this? i dont think so.... (alan on My Brother
The Islamist)

6. What do audiences dislike?
Perceived reinforcing of stereotypes
In this program, we ‘learned’ that all Jews are smugly ignorant,
elitist, isolationist, consumerist, money-obsessed, tasteless, smug
and entirely lacking in fellow-feeling… in which Devotion is
expressed as Bling. All this demonstrated by a number of ghastly
characters who entirely conform to the anti-Semetic cliches. (SS
on Strictly Kosher)
Programmes that are 'unfair' to their subjects
I feel, as i've felt with a number of BBC3/C4 programmes, that
there's an element of exploitation here, which is not fair to
someone who is only 13 and has quite obviously been totally
brainwashed (dom on Deborah 13: Servant of God)

7. What do audiences dislike?
‘Patronising’ programmes, interviewers or presenters
I've never seen a more patronising, belittling programme in my
life! (Leah on Jews)
Perceived 'bias'
You can't even expect it to be honest/impartial because any sort
of portrayal of Muhammad that isn't glowingly positive could, and
probably will, attract an aggressive backlash. (San on The Life of
Muhammad)

8. How do audiences perceive ‘others’?
As being treated differently to their own group
The BBC only falls over backwards to please Muslims and
sometimes Christians, the rest of are trampled over by them.
(PaganLove on A History of Christianity)
In ways that replicate/reinforce negative stereotypes
But so many of these evangelical creationists have the morals of a
second-hand car salesman in my experience... The typical
creationist tactic of fast talking, of railroading their converts into
accepting their belief and bombarding them with a ton of
garbage... it won't work on national TV with an audience of
sophisticates. (RH on Sunday Morning Live)

9. How do audiences perceive ‘others’?
With hints of racism, xenophobia & British superiority
who else thinks americans are a prime example that people
should be drowned at birth there is no god we dont have to
beleive in god abortions is ok and children with bibles piss of u
have a go at islamists use are the same fuck u yanks. (ab1 on
Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers)
As either ‘victims’ or ‘villains’
OMFG THESE PEOPLE ARE SO FUCKING STUPID AND FUCKING
IGNORANT Christians i hate to break it to you but the Burning
times is over move the fuck on…i hope every priest that stuck his
hands down little kids pants is will be roasting in hell. leave it to
the Church to fuck up a already messed up country (AlJoseph on
Dispatches: Saving Africa’s Witch Children)

10. What else happens in these discussions?
Audiences share their own experiences
As a 'Born Again and Spirit Filled Christian,' l still love 'Song's of Praise'
but happily for now (as long as God allows it!?) l am no longer part of
the 'established' church. I do attend a wonderful 'happy clappy
'Evangelical' church' but, l also enjoy being part of, albeit via the
medium of television the re-assurance of all of those old hymns that l
grew up with (I'm 60 by the way) (Kate on Songs of Praise)
Audiences debate beliefs and viewpoints
I agree with you. It's all hunky dory if you follow their strict rules
and regulations ( which differ greatly in the various Amish
communities). But if you question or step out of line, then it's
instant excommunication and complete shunning by your family
and community. (Terry on Amish: A Secret Life)

11. What else happens in these discussions?
Audiences & programme makers/participants interact
When you see such backlash that's when you know your words
were powerful. I got my message out to the world. And will carry
on. #4thought (Zahra Al-Alawi on 4Thought)
Audiences like to joke!
It was just two of us on a nice romantic date." Oh aye, apart from
the BBC film crew holding microphones and cameras. (Ryan on
Strictly Soulmates)

12. Conclusion
Some groups feel under-represented
Whilst others feel mis-represented
There is a perception of ‘unfairness’ and ‘bias’
They often perceive ‘others’ as different to themselves
They feel presenters/film-makers should be honest
They don’t like feeling patronised
But they do like learning something new
And feeling like a programme is intelligent and ‘fair’