Comments on: Low ratings for BBC’s Undercover Soldier

By: Tony Wilde

Tony Wilde — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:25:34 +0000

No comments from Russell on this “Jurno” website or BBC to explane their action to destroy the creditability of the British FIGHTING Forces.Come on Russell Sign back on , Do 4 Years and write a book!!!!!!!

SGT A Wilde RE

By: The Under-Covered Soldier « Complex System Of Pipes

The Under-Covered Soldier « Complex System Of Pipes — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:02:24 +0000

[...] actually see Undercover Soldier. Very few people did, in fact, and no surprises there. No preview tapes had been sent to the press, and the programme was only added to the schedule at the…. By the time I heard about it, in a phone call from my channel-flicking girlfriend, it had [...]

By: Journalism.co.uk Editors’ Blog » Blog Archive » Undercover Soldier: why didn’t the Beeb open up the debate online?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:10:51 +0000

[...] reacted to the question I asked on Friday ‘why the low ratings?’ with a range of [...]

By: Andrea Smith

Andrea Smith — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:31:54 +0000

We are reknown for having the best army in the world – we didnt get that by training our lads and lasses to flower arrange. most of them are going to a front line war zone where they will literally be fighting for their lives. Of course you will get a bad apple in every barrel, there are bullies in EVERY walk of life and every workplace or school – thats just a fact of life. It is, however unfair to tar everyone with the same brush, as this programme seemed to do. The programme didnt focus on what a fantastic job our servicemen and women are doing under extreme circumstances. I would suggest next time the BBC have a bright idea about producing a documentary trying to discredit the Army, they look at the poor housing our servicemen and women are expected to live in, or the lack of basic body armour and boots given to troops on the front line or the basic pay received by young privates who risk literally life and limb every day. I sincerely hope Russell Sharp does the right thing and donates his fees to Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes campaign or towards the new military medical facility being built.

By: Dave Lee

Dave Lee — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:50:52 +0000

It’s a shame the heavy anti-BBC sentiments in this comments thread have meant that the very good points that have been made are buried underneath all the spite.

I’m a big fan of the BBC. I support the license fee. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it could even be higher and still great value for money.

However, this documentary was terrible. As others have said, there was no evidence of abuse presented in the program, other than hearsay from fellow soldiers. Indeed, those soldiers themselves didn’t even appear themselves. What’s to say Russell, under pressure, simply ’sexed-up’ his footage? Poor.

I’m convinced that the BBC only showed the program because they felt obliged to. Imagine if Russell had have been freelance. He’d never have sold the program to the Beeb on the basis of it being an exposé, would he?

A poor show from the BBC, sadly.

By: Gareth

Gareth — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:38:21 +0000

This was blatant treason. He broke the official secrets act, he lied to gain entry to the army, he gave terrorists the upper hand in attacking military establishments, he stabbed our troops right in the back, he offered NO hard evidence, he has denied soldiers access to good training staff, he has wasted tax payers money, he was wasted license payers money and he has damaged the army in ways his tiny little brain obviously couldn’t see coming.

Have you seen the amount of recruitment ads on t.v since the program aired? Costing the MOD a fortune to try and counter the effects of this ill judged piece of trash journalism.

He should be court marshalled for desertion and when he has done his time in colchester also be tried for treason in a civvie court.

What an absolute maggot of a man.

GWJ

By: lisa

lisa — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:48:43 +0000

hold on people lets not blame evrything on the BBC. it was only trying to show us what goes behind close doors. so maybe the way it did wasnt perfect. but thes things do happen in our country. we need to find a way in dealing with this without making our boys and girls suffer. yes we need to support our soldeirs and be behind them 100% but not if they have to suffer like that. i sure wouldnt advice my brothers sisters, children or anyone close to me to work under these idtiot who think they can bully anyone and everyone they like. i mean damn. there is law in this country is about time we enforce it, dont you think?

By: Lewis

Lewis — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:53:09 +0000

‘Undercover Soldier’ was a waste of the taxpayers money.

These infantryman need tough training for the frontline.

If a soldier looses concentration with his rifle on the ranges, he deserves to be woken up, or someone will get seriously wounded or killed.

Not only did Russells Sharps lie to the Army and his platoon mates, he also wasted the taxpayers money for the Army to train him.

By: Melanie Duffy

Melanie Duffy — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:39:18 +0000

The methods used in the British Army training have been in place for longer than this so called “reporter” has walked the earth and has made the Army and its soldiers one of the best in the world. They do not get trained to be whining wimps and the process helps to sort out the weak links in the ranks before they get a chance to endanger their fellow soldiers.
Maybe Mr. Sharp should have asked serving and ex soldiers about how they were treated during basic training, the stories would have made him cry.

By: brad

brad — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:34:17 +0000

got to say well done for putting up with army life for 6 months.
but if you are messing arround in the army or do things wrong then you desereve punishment we are turning into a petty nation