Why I love the BBC's World News.

[gridlore]

Besides actually covering the news, I mean. That's rare enough in the States.

But no, it the fact that they treat their viewers as intelligent people who might be interested in learning something. Tonight was a great example. Today, Queen Elizabeth opened Parliament, a completely ceremonial moment that in the hands of a US news service would rate a 15 second film clip. The BBC gave us a complete walk through, with fun details like the Yeoman Warders searching the cellars (Guy Fawkes, hello!), a MP being held hostage at Buckingham Palace to insure the safe return of the monarch, the fact that no monarch has entered Commons since Charles I in 1642, the fun position of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and just seeing where all this stuff happens. Oh, and Her Majesty gets to wear this.

I'm the son of an Englishman, raised on British culture and a big history geek, and I didn't know this stuff!

They search the freaking cellars.. I love it!

Comments

[netquiddler.livejournal.com]

Darn it, I missed that?

[(Anonymous)]

I also love the ceremony of the MP being held hostage at the Palace. How does an MP get picked for that role? Is it an honor, is it something they give to the most junior MP or the most senior MP? A trdition like that speaks *volumes* about the past relationship Parliament had with the crown!