Big Brother & National Trust

Uffington White Horse 29

Image by wysefool

Randall May 4, 2003 23:39:23

Article in the Observer today 4th May.
"Channel 4 executives stand accused of defiling the oldest hill-chalk carving in Britain. A gigantic eye, familiar to fans of the television game show Big Brother, has been daubed alongside the (Uffington) White Horse to promote the forthcoming series...Archaeologists have demanded an enquiry into how the National Trust granted permission for Channel 4 to disfigure the environs of the White Horse for such a tacky reason. Conservationists condemned the marketing ploy as 'sacrilege' after it emerged the Britain's biggest landowner accepted £2,000 to allow the logo to appear beside the graceful galloping outline."

Randall May 4, 2003 23:46:32

Replying to Randall

Full article

www.observer.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,949147,00.html

BoC May 5, 2003 00:35:37

Replying to Randall

Well who knows... Who is to say the horse wasn't, originally, a promotion for something and the Big Brother eye, if daubed in a more permanent way, coludn't end up mystifying and inspiring future generations.

pebblesfromheaven May 5, 2003 10:05:34

Replying to Randall

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3000243.stm

.o0O0o.

grufty jim May 5, 2003 16:19:42

Replying to Randall

I checked out the Big Brother forum on channel4.com to see what was being said about the vandalism at Uffington. Turns out the two threads that discuss it are full of people describing it as "pretty cool". Not only that, but it seems that the White Horse may be just one of five "Landmark Branding" stunts that they're doing for the new series. Loch Ness is another apparently.

Rumours are that Stonehenge is on the list.

laksmi May 5, 2003 22:53:12

Replying to Randall

I'm so sorry i didn't see this before.
begging your pardon.

Joanna May 6, 2003 12:59:24

Replying to Randall

How about everyone who lives even remotely near enough gets up there right now and washes it off?

ocifant May 6, 2003 14:13:47

Replying to Randall

Ok,

I've been sitting here seething all day - no response to my email to NT.

The following governemnt departments/quangoes/what have you seem to be relevant to this situation:

<http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/contactus/>
<http://www.countryside.gov.uk/reception/default.htm>
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/contacts/contact.asp>

I've written to most of them now - I'd really like to get questions asked in the House about this. I really feel that NT have gone way outside their remit, and I'd like to get the bastards.

Unfortunately, I'm not local to Uffington so my MP is unlikely to be interested. However, if <i>you</i> live locally, the following link may come in useful for protesting:

<http://www.faxyourmp.com/>

Nat May 6, 2003 14:22:35

Replying to Randall

Sorry late at reading this... what a fucking distasteful disgracefull thing to do... I am absolutely appaulled by this, whats next eh! Coronation St sponsored by Silbury Hill....

This is disgusting, did anyone get a response from the NT? Has it been washed away?

I don't know what else to say.

Tearfull I am...

Cursuswalker May 6, 2003 20:37:46

Replying to Randall

If they're doing all this stuff this so close to the braodcast, who's to say that Stonehenge or Avebury aren't being daubed right now...

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12921423&method=full&siteid=89488&headline=BIG%20BROTHER%20EYES%20NESSIE

notjamesbond May 6, 2003 21:25:46

Replying to Randall

I can't see anything wrong with this if it was just a temporary stunt which would not cause damage to the immediate vicinity. Howver the fact that a) channel 4 offered a paltry two grand for the priviledge and b) the national trust accepted it is a disgrace

broen May 7, 2003 00:02:14

Replying to Randall

Ffs - I go into the country to escape from such trollop, they could have at least put a TV program worth watching on there - I mean The "Batman" logo would have been far more tasteful - or what about coca-cola - shit I'd better watch what I'm saying after all - if a company like that can drain the water tables in India without so much of a cockadoodledandy- god knows what they'd do to our presious chalkland landscapes. Oh no what a terible thought - though it aint a thought is it - its one step away from reality. Great stuff - the futures so bright I gotta wear shades - I gotta wear shades - talking of which - maybe we should put some on that ever fearful big brother eye - though I reckon a patch would be much more appropiate - preferbly made from the exact turf and soil removed. Fucking idiots'll do owt for a couple of grand. Mind you thats the nature of such programs init - hardly surprising really - and what makes it all so sad....