Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo to those of a non-internet persuasion, host the hugely popular and repeatedly downloaded film review show on R5 live.
Their fans are many, their show is excellent and their reviews and interviews are superb. The notion that the BBC's mission statement is to educate, entertain and inform is found in abundance here. If there is a BBC spectrum with Top Gear at one end (for arguments sake the very, very bottom then Wittertainment is the other end (top top top)
Today in posting his BBC News film review round up for 2014, Mark Kermode commented that one of his reviews had "made a "kids author" decide I needed a good kicking".
Unpleasant, to have read and much worse to have been in receipt of.
So I'm going to post an email I wrote to the show in November. Carers rights day to be be precise. If your tastes run to the cynical then I advise you don't read any further, if in fact you made it this far.
If not then please see this as my offering some balance and grateful thanks because we tend not to do that enough in my opinion and I felt it warranted a rapid response.
Dear "I'm a man" and "well nobody's perfect",
Writing today to say thank you and to ask if you can say thank you on my behalf.
The value of film has been written about and "wittered" about and contemplated and theorised over, ever since the medium began and your show exists for this very good reason, as well as keeping two old grumps like yourselves off the streets.
Today is carers rights day and having been a carer for 21 years I wanted to express another life enhancing element of film which may not always have been considered.
The redemptive, recuperative and respite producing element of immersing yourself in a film.
When you live a tricky life, of high level pressure, the pure joy of taking time out from that, is beyond measure. Sometimes film addresses the lives of carers and those they love and when done well, it also offers support and recognition.
I've always found immersing myself in the lives of others to be beautiful and useful. Even a "bad film" offers time away from challenges.
So I wanted to say thank you to film makers and to your show for this. We live in cynical times where saying thank you is more often superseded by complaint, or met with censure but it's nicer to be nice I've found.
Wittertainment seemed like the very best place to send my thanks.
Hope that's ok,
Nik x
