Don't get us wrong. We love the BBC’s coverage of the Olympics. The live, uninterrupted, red-button feed from the water polo? All over it. Michael Johnson’s calm understatement, Denise Lewis knocking a cushion over in excitement? Can’t get enough.
But there is one thing that we could do without. Shortly after Andy Murray had vanquished his Wimbledon demons, defeating Roger Federer on Centre Court, he leapt into the stands to embrace his friends and family. Just as he prepared for a teary hug with Mama Murray — “CUT!” — we were being shown Roger Federer shuffling off the court.
Or take the heptathlon. Before the decisive 800m race we were treated to an emotional montage of Jessica Ennis’s career to date. By the time we had cut back to the stadium we had completely missed her entrance. Apparently, the volume when she walked in was equivalent to a 747 buzzing your house. But we missed it. Even the BBC commentator told us we’d missed it. Oh, and as for an overjoyed Mo Farah thanking Allah down on his hands and knees — “CUT!”
Why do the producers assume that we would rather watch an emotional montage than the actual action? The highlights programmes are useless if you want to see how a race actually unfolded — it’s all slo-mo, fist-pumps and tear-jerking compilations of past glories.
The whole point of sport is that there should be enough drama in the event itself — you don’t need to oomph it up, just show us what’s happening.
As we say, a minor niggle. At least we are not watching on the much-derided US channel NBC, which cut away from the 100m final to show the beach volleyball.
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