out post sound blog

If anyone needed convincing that the BBC needs protecting they only needed to cast their eye over 'Wonders of the Solar System' that screened on BBC Two last night.

Presented by particle physicist and ex keyboard player from 90s posters D:Ream, Professor Brian Cox, the show was wonderfully constructed, expertly written, beautifully shot with a wonderful score and fantastic CGI.

Cox's presenting style is incredibly informative and personal. He puts emotion into subjects that, although incredibly complex, are fundamental to all of us.

This programme, one of a series of five, was a documentary for the intelligent. That is not to say it was elitist in the slightest, but thankfully it did not play to the lowest common denominator - something that docs have a tendency to do more and more.

All of us license fee payers should look at this documentary as a benchmark for the quality of programme making that the BBC is capable of with all of its huge resources. We should not underestimate its importance and we should not let it be used as a political pawn in the forthcoming electioneering.

Keep the BBC independent, keep the BBC well funded and we, the population of the UK, will reap the benefits - knowingly or not.

Watch the trailer for the series here