Talk:Ghostboat

Latest comment: 4 years ago by Ef80 in topic Dubious

Novel

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Has anyone read the novel? There seem to be enough differences between this production and the book to warrant an article on it. What does anybody think? Swanny18 (talk) 18:44, 2 July 2016 (UTC)Reply

Dubious

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I've never seen this production which supposedly received rave reviews. However, Stuart Heritage revisited it in 2020 for the Guardian and gave it a ferocious panning: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/apr/03/only-fools-and-naval-forces-why-david-jasons-ghostboat-is-best-forgotten The article is currently completely unreferenced and may all be nonsense for all I know. --Ef80 (talk) 17:50, 3 April 2020 (UTC)Reply

It also got a bad review from a Guardian reviewer when it aired: https://www.theguardian.com/observer/review/story/0,,1754541,00.html Another Guardian reviewer gave a more positive review, though I'm not sure if this reviewer was being sarcastic: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/apr/10/broadcasting.tvandradio At Rotten Tomatoes it currently has a rating of 61% based on 51 reviews - no consensus yet. Autarch (talk) 20:24, 3 April 2020 (UTC)Reply
I think you have to take that second review as fairly glowing - the lead sums it up as "David Jason's first thriller role is a winner." I think the reviewer is just giving the wacky plot some gentle ribbing, while the praise of the acting is straightforward and sincere. I actually haven't seen the show (I came here to decide if I want to!) and take that review to be mean it's silly fun. I've found the Mirror review, which is mildly negative but not scathing. I've found a grudgingly and mildly positive review from the Daily Record. The Times is negative. I'd say "mixed to negative"? In terms of viewing figures, I note that "The concluding half of ITV's Ghostboat, starring David Jason, saw the broadcaster sink competition from BBC One's Dalziel and Pascoe last night, as 7.1 million adults tuned in on average compared with the BBC's 5.7 million." So the ratings claim seems false. Will try to flesh this section out a bit after I've watched it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7D:CE3F:4A00:485C:C9D1:9667:A3B1 (talk) 11:51, 7 April 2020 (UTC)Reply
'Mixed but predominantly negative' would seem to be a fair summary. Stuart Heritage does seem to enjoy putting the boot in now and then, a bit like Jay Rayner's restaurant reviews. --Ef80 (talk) 18:05, 14 April 2020 (UTC)Reply