Pondering on the SNP support for the STV appeal, I understand the 'good cause' is children who live in poverty in Scotland.

But surely it doesn't look good if a government has to rely on a TV station to fix a problem which should be in the hands of the state? If children turn up at school hungry - as we are told in the adverts - why are social services not involved? What is the Health Minister in Scotland doing about this?

It should not be up to Lorraine and Michelle to sort it out, no matter how well meaning. These sort of appeals should, IMO, be to buy extra things for poorer children - computers maybe, or fund recreation things. Not provide breakfasts.

Yes but it allows Stv to get a week of free programmes & is basically just an ad-funded event for the Hunter Foundation to raise its profile & get some publicity. Stv benefit twice as they don't have to pay the "so-called" talent as it's for "charity".
We can slag Stv but they sure know how to save the pennies!

Sorry being slightly off topic but will The Hour be returning to the 5pm slot??? Now that they are showing The Chase at this time for a few weeks has Michelle had her P45?? Lol!!
Surely it must be cheaper for STV to buy into the game show that produce a home made programme each day??

The Hour is back on Tuesday 20 Sept. at 8pm. Now once a week. Michelle will still present, with an as-yet unknown co-host.

THE Rik Waller.

and the viewers will be abandoning it in their droves!! lol

Would not call it a "week" lol more like 4 days! - yes they sure no how to save "pennies" with profits they make!

2 progs tonight!

yeah and the host is.....Lorraine Kelly

sunday - was "preview" programme tues/thur - was their take on "come dine with me" and possibly something else done badly and tonight 8pm and 9pm its the LIVE auction ... If I was doing any auction I would just stick to ebay!

You guys are too cynical. This is for charity. At least it's not just another cheap filler. It's a worthwhile cause.

I have to agree with you. I think if it was on BBC One Scotland, this discussion wouldn't be happening

I doubt there could have made any more better programmes,

I did enjoy the documentary there did

Ive got stv BUT THATS ALL IVE GOT no stvHD no itv+1 do have itv but again no itv+1 or HD I have sky which should enable me to watch these channels but there not there ive seen ads saying itv+1 is on channel 131 but it says channel unavailable Ive tried adding them but there not there to add could someone tell me how to get them please

Get a freesat box and put in an english postcode, we use SW11AA and you remove the disease that is STV.

Andrew the other alternative bag a PS3 and get ITV Player! and use that postcode!

If this is Sky you dont have STV HD is not available yet and if you stay in scotland no ones gets ITV1HD (as far as I am aware of.... someone prove me wrong on this part ).....I think you should have STV+1 by now.... - but then just really stick to ITV1 if you want -- I have freeview and I cant get rid of them so I mostly use ITVPlayer on my PS3 to avoid it all

The STV appeal is of course a worthy cause but since the channel has done all it can to alienate its viewers over the past 2 years, it surely cannot expect the same weary watchers to dig deep no matter how deserving the charity?

How many viewers are like my family and seldom have STV on, let alone watch it?

Now, back to original topic. Wednesday, 8pm Midsomer Murder.

Now - is it

1. a new episode with Neil Dudgeon?
2. if so, is it the first one he made which of course we have not been allowed to see or
3. are the low lives at STV simply rescreening another John Nettles one, which they use every day as the afternoon filler?

The answer is, of course, 3.

Why bother, STV? The rest of the country is starting a new run of MM with Neil in the lead role whilst we are still in Nettles country (although just to be contrary, they let us see his farewell episode last year.)

The reviewer in the Express describes the new episode but adds "viewers in STV are getting an old John Nettles repeat. No idea why".

WE could tell him - it's all about 'relevance'.

(and for those who say buy a freesat box, get Sky etc - not all of us WANT to spend more money to see programmes we previously loved and not all of us have the money. STV has simply dropped as much drama as they could - let's see this great independent Scottish broadcaster drop the forthcoming X Factor........they wouldn't DARE!)

Wow Bidie I am surprised at that - it seems to me they are dragging the old ones out more on STV - expect to see the latest series in 2013! - this is why I give up with this channel it "rejoins" ITV on programming but if its "new drama" you have to catch it on ITV1/ITVPlayer - STV in general are a piss take of a channel - possibly reason we are getting an old "midsomer" instead of new will be possibly next week its another round up of "scotland's greatest ned....."

I appreciate the advice re ITV player, Kezo, but I did not buy a 26" inch TV to sit in front of a computer screen for 2 hours watching a programme that STV used to show along with the rest of the country.

And yes, I know I could connect the PC to the TV and watch it that way, but it is all too technical and fiddly for me - I will just keep looking at the ITV2,3 &4 schedules and hope the new MM appear soon......

Meanwhile, STV has adverts in the Scottish press for the new Downton. Strange that they do not have the tag line

"costume drama does not do well in Scotland, Viewers prefer grittier drama".

To make matters worse, Kezo, the usually reliable Scotsman printed a little picture of Neil Dudgeon on their TV guide page for Wednesday.

Leading a girl on, I call it.

WE ARE getting brand NEW Midsumer murders... its just the 7 episode stv refused to broadcast last year

I wonder what the meaning of "costume" and "grittier" actually means to STV?? - "costume" is that victorian drama? "grittier" is that just "taggart" - guess their drama range needs a long stretch....

No tagline? - surprised they aint tagged downton abbey as "STV's Downton Abbey"
but hell they still say "critically acclaimed" - ah yes thats right STV you did not show it when first broadcast - you thought we would like a programme from 1997! and then the NEW taggart.....

seiko hate to say it your wrong there .... checked itv.com for the listings with STV/ITV1 on wednesday night

STV are showing this...Series 12, Episode 1: The Dogleg Murders CAST... With John Nettles, Jason Hughes, Maggie Ollerenshaw, Jamie Belman,

and ITV1 The Sleeper Under the hill Cast...With Neil Dudgeon, Jason Hughes, Fiona Dolman, Tamzin Malleson, and Lee Ross

completely different from what I gather and no way they are the same story thats for sure!

well checked ITV.com and scots are having john nettles and down south have neil dudgeon


cant blame the paper on that small error guess they thought STV were showing the same episode!

Sorry, Seiko, but no, we are NOT getting the ones we missed last year. We are now going to miss the next ones in the Dudgeon series........