Walking Forum

Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Lake District => Topic started by: Fran on 15:09:33, 16/07/09

Title: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Fran on 15:09:33, 16/07/09
Does anyone else love the walks julia has done? I think she's great!

Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 15:15:04, 16/07/09
I like the shows. The photography is good. I find her a little bit irritating sometimes.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Fran on 15:17:04, 16/07/09
In what way? she makes it look easy sometimes which annoys me! x
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: radder on 15:18:26, 16/07/09
I know of one member that is totally in love with Julia  :-X
P***bagger  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 15:32:35, 16/07/09
I know of one member that is totally in love with Julia  :-X
P***bagger  ;D ;D
Damn. Should've kept my mouth shut.

I know it's not a comedy show but I find the fact that she laughs at things which are blatantly unfunny, and cracks jokes that aren't, mildy irritating. I like the interviews at the start with other interested guests, and once she gets walking and lets the route speak for itself I enjoy it. I love the flyover just before she starts the walk and what she has to say about it when she's walking.

I really don't like the fact that they don't show the walk down after the summit either, but I realise it takes them twice as long to get up the hills with the camera crews (probably almost as long as it'd take me) so the descents are probably always a mad rush before the light fades and/or the pubs shut.

I also, actually, don't like the way they revere Wainwright as if he was a dead pope or something. I'm not sure why - it just feels uncomfortable.

It also [censored] me off that she gets new gear for every series and probably gets to keep it when filming wraps.

Oh, and I can't find a couple of series one episodes anywhere. That's quite irritating.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: vghikers on 16:05:46, 16/07/09
Quote
Does anyone else love the walks julia has done?

Nothing wrong with the walks...

If I'm really into a subject and have a lot of experience of it, I find there's nothing worse than watching a TV programme about it aimed at Joe Public, but I gritted my teeth and started watching watching one of these.

First thing: she picks up a stone and adds it to a nearby cairn. I don't know which moron she got that idea from, but that really brassed me off for starters.

Second thing: she said something like '...no self-respecting fellwalker would be without a copy of Wainwright...'. At that point I switched it off.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Peakbagger on 16:20:13, 16/07/09
I know of one member that is totally in love with Julia  :-X
P***bagger  ;D ;D

She has a certain charm... :smitten:

I wouldn't say I'm obsessed but the BBC took out a restraining order on me. I'm no longer allowed within 1,000ft of any PC with access to iPlayer! :-[ ;D

Some of the above may be made up...
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 16:46:34, 16/07/09

First thing: she picks up a stone and adds it to a nearby cairn. I don't know which moron she got that idea from, but that really brassed me off for starters.

Second thing: she said something like '...no self-respecting fellwalker would be without a copy of Wainwright...'. At that point I switched it off.

The cairns thing annoyed me as well but, being a fan of AW, the respect shown was fine - after all it was WAINWRIGHT walks!

Her shouting loudly at Sprinkling Tarn (amonst other places) bugged the hell out of me and wanted to shove her under the water.

As genji pointed out the lack of provision for showing the return leg also irked. I did wonder if they got helicoptered off after each one but I spoke to someone who had known someone from the crew and he assured me that they always walked off. But presenting a walk as a one-way only is hardly a typical excursion for any of us mere mortals!

She does seem to genuinely enjoy being in the fells and for that I can only applaud her.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: morty on 17:14:21, 16/07/09
She has a certain charm... :smitten:

I wouldn't say I'm obsessed but the BBC took out a restraining order on me. I'm no longer allowed within 1,000ft of any PC with access to iPlayer! :-[ ;D

Some of the above may be made up...

I,m with you mate. My mrs calls it hikers porn :D :D :D O0
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 17:18:43, 16/07/09
She does seem to genuinely enjoy being in the fells and for that I can only applaud her.

Yeah she's enthusiastic and that's one of the show's strong points.

Second thing: she said something like '...no self-respecting fellwalker would be without a copy of Wainwright...'. At that point I switched it off.

Bad move. I remember that episode. She meant an inflatable effigy of Albert Wainwright. Got really interesting after you switched off.

Well done, Fran. +1 for the Why Julia Bradbury Sucks thread. :)
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: KIDSTYPIKE on 17:29:18, 16/07/09
Any programme that opens the views on and from the fells is good news to me. There are many people out there who would give their eyeteeth to be able to walk along them.
The choice of presenter is a matter of choice. Personally I think JB prensented what was a series dedicated to the walks of AW fairly well.
Yes, I was disappointed to hear her shouting at Sprinkling Tarn, yes, the silly habit of placing stones on summit cairns annoyed me but on the whole she was OK.
I do think that the programme should have pointed out the potential dangers for the unprepared, the series seemed to bring an increase in MRT callouts which nobody wants.
Dave
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Peakbagger on 17:32:09, 16/07/09
The cairns thing annoyed me as well

I think many people, myself included, were annoyed at that. I would be very surprised if the consternation wasn't fed back to Ms. Bradbury and hopefully she's mended her ways (was she still adding stones in the second series? I can't remember.).

Her shouting loudly at Sprinkling Tarn (amonst other places) bugged the hell out of me and wanted to shove her under the water.

Again, many were annoyed at that and I'm sure AW turned in his (metaphorical) grave at that point too! She's not alone though, I've seen a few people that make a hell of racket whilst on the hills. >:( As a side note; Julia wet...  ^-^

As genji pointed out the lack of provision for showing the return leg also irked. I did wonder if they got helicoptered off after each one but I spoke to someone who had known someone from the crew and he assured me that they always walked off. But presenting a walk as a one-way only is hardly a typical excursion for any of us mere mortals!

I would imagine the lack of a return leg was a decision made by the producers whose only interest is in making good TV. The programs tended to feature a single fell and thus the target for each walk was to reach the summit and was often portrayed as the highlight of the walk. When you think of it from the point of view of making good TV for the masses it does kind of make sense to make reaching the summit the conclusion of each episode.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 17:36:36, 16/07/09
I do think that the programme should have pointed out the potential dangers for the unprepared, the series seemed to bring an increase in MRT callouts which nobody wants.
Dave
There was an episode where she interviewed a MRT guy before going up but yes - safety wasn't overly stressed throughout the show as a whole.

As a side note; Julia wet...  ^-^

Calm down.

I would imagine the lack of a return leg was a decision made by the producers whose only interest is in making good TV. The programs tended to feature a single fell and thus the target for each walk was to reach the summit and was often portrayed as the highlight of the walk. When you think of it from the point of view of making good TV for the masses it does kind of make sense to make reaching the summit the conclusion of each episode.

I,m with you mate. My mrs calls it hikers porn :D :D :D O0

There's a link here that I can't quite make.

EDIT: Got it - it's the moment the credits roll.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Muz on 18:05:54, 16/07/09
If I ever met her on a scottish munro top, I'd chuck her off and then film her as she bashed her stupid johnny-come-lately head off the rocks all the way to the bottom  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 18:11:59, 16/07/09
Any programme that opens the views on and from the fells is good news to me.
Never going to argue with that Dave - the more programmes we get the better and I don't care who presents them. As long as it's not those two [censored] in the Country Walking sponsored DVD - can't remember their names - a father and son. Amiable enough but sooooo annoying.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 18:19:23, 16/07/09
Fred thingy from the weather map did some. We watched a couple on some satellite channel once. Eagle Crag was one of them. They weren't utterly atrocious but they illustrated the point of the TV Licence Fee.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Muz on 18:25:23, 16/07/09
Muriel Gray's munro show was actually quite a good programme - and she went up some challenging hills and was clearly bricking herself at some points - and in poor weather too - and even Skye in winter as I recall (although she obviously had a guide with her). Not sure if you got it down there on English BBC1 though. But it was a proper mountain walking programme.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 18:30:09, 16/07/09
Muriel Gray's munro show was actually quite a good programme - and she went up some challenging hills and was clearly bricking herself at some points - and in poor weather too - and even Skye in winter as I recall (although she obviously had a guide with her). Not sure if you got it down there on English BBC1 though. But it was a proper mountain walking programme.
I'm trying to think who Muriel Gray is... was she that slip of a slip on The Tube?
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Muz on 18:34:56, 16/07/09
That's her - sort of punky at the time. Dyed blonde hair and a weegie accent.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 18:39:07, 16/07/09
That's her - sort of punky at the time. Dyed blonde hair and a weegie accent.
How depressing. She's about the size of my thumbnail and she can walk Scottish mountains? I walked around Jura about twenty years ago. My legs still hurt.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 18:42:30, 16/07/09
Muriel Gray's munro show was actually quite a good programme - and she went up some challenging hills and was clearly bricking herself at some points - and in poor weather too - and even Skye in winter as I recall (although she obviously had a guide with her). Not sure if you got it down there on English BBC1 though. But it was a proper mountain walking programme.
Never in a month of Sundays! We miss a fair few programmes on the outdoors that only get shown up North and in Scotland.

That Fred Talbot one was a case in point. I'd never heard of it until seeing the DVD for sale. I actually quite liked it! His enthusiasm also seemed genuine, if a little exagerated.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Muz on 18:49:17, 16/07/09
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Munro-Show-I-II-by-Muriel-Gray-VHS-2-Hours_W0QQitemZ270425866388QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_DVD_Film_TV_Videos?hash=item3ef6a34094&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1687|293%3A1|294%3A50
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: vertigo girl on 19:03:24, 16/07/09
That's her - sort of punky at the time. Dyed blonde hair and a weegie accent.

Yes I remember this programme. There was a book published - Munro Bagging Without a Beard.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 19:08:42, 16/07/09
Yes I remember this programme. There was a book published - Munro Bagging Without a Beard.
There's a VHS called "The Munro Show! - so I suppose there's a chance it'll be on DVD at some point.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Fran on 19:14:37, 16/07/09
i didnt realise so many people felt so strongly about julia bradbury, and in a bad way!

im sure ive offended many fellow walkers before, such as wearing innapropriate walking gear etc on the fells, but as long as im doing no harm and enjoying myself i see no problem. Shes said some silly and patronising things yes, but no-body is perfect and she was only attempting to encourage more people to walk and admire AW. It isnt intentional, and apart from those 2 slip ups (shouting at sprinkling tarn and adding to the cairn) i think shes done a fairly good job, considering she was new to the world of walking.

Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Fran on 19:16:30, 16/07/09
and in the 2nd series of AW's walks, she doesnt add to any cairns, so she must have learnt her lesson
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 19:29:38, 16/07/09
She's great. I love her.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Fran on 19:35:37, 16/07/09
thats strange, i thought you found her irritating earlier?
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 20:13:28, 16/07/09
Oh, yeah. I didn't want thread to go off-topic.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Dazza on 20:41:08, 16/07/09
JB has a few irritating aspects sure. These were more prominent in the Railway walks series, which I didn't watch after a while as it got a bit too much. She didn't do the full coast to coast for the C2C series either, cheeky girl  ;).

Best aspects - some excellent photography, generally sensibly done and didn't skip on the this is actually quite hard aspects. Generally a good advert for walking.

Worst aspects - Apart from whats been said before. The slightly cod interviews which seemed to get worse over all the series. AW series 2 was a bit "hey look at me" as well which grated at times.

Odd apsects - The bloke they got to read the extracts from the books sounded like a real pervert.

Overall I liked the Wainright walks series, hated the railway but forgave her again with the Coast 2 Coast series (despite not walking it all). We could have worse adverts for walking thats for sure.

Oh and peak bagger if you like Julia you'll have loved her website about a year ago - JB in a lime green bikini no less on the front page!
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 20:43:53, 16/07/09


Odd apsects - The bloke they got to read the extracts from the books sounded like a real pervert.


Hoi that was me you cheeky sod!
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 20:44:55, 16/07/09



Oh and peak bagger if you like Julia you'll have loved her website about a year ago - JB in a lime green bikini no less on the front page!
Yes I saw..........er um............ heard about that! :-[
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: cragster on 20:53:46, 16/07/09
Yeh she's enthusiastic alright, give me a few £100k's a year for arsin about on the fells and I'd be enthusiastic too.

She is annoying though and has a face like a bag of old spanners. O0
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Chad on 21:00:16, 16/07/09
She's great. I love her.

Me to!   :smitten:
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 21:02:55, 16/07/09
Mmm... spanners
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Dazza on 21:28:11, 16/07/09
Hoi that was me you cheeky sod!

I happen to know the voice over artist was Nik Wood-Jones. As for his actual levels of pervertosity only his nearest and dearest can comment.

Nice try though. I was almost worried for a moment!  ;D

Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Peakbagger on 21:40:46, 16/07/09
I happen to know the voice over artist was Nik Wood-Jones.

Drifting off topic a little but have you seen that advert on the BBC, advertising the cricket I think, where the camera is mounted on the dolly of a crane? The guy doing the voice-over sounds a bit like Nik Wood-Jones and I was wondering if it is him or not.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Dazza on 21:46:17, 16/07/09
Drifting off topic a little but have you seen that advert on the BBC, advertising the cricket I think, where the camera is mounted on the dolly of a crane? The guy doing the voice-over sounds a bit like Nik Wood-Jones and I was wondering if it is him or not.

I don't know if it is him, but I know the ad and yes it does sound like him.


Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Ridge on 10:02:31, 17/07/09
Overall I liked the Wainright walks series, hated the railway but forgave her again with the Coast 2 Coast series (despite not walking it all). We could have worse adverts for walking thats for sure.
I'd agree with that.

I  think that it is like a children's programme at times, anyone remember Go With Noakes?
I realise that having a presenter who is not all knowing is a device so that they can ask questions on behalf of the viewer but it can annoy after a while.

But it could be a lot worse and any programme that shows hills I'll be viewing.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: KIDSTYPIKE on 10:29:46, 17/07/09
Drifting off topic a little but have you seen that advert on the BBC, advertising the cricket I think, where the camera is mounted on the dolly of a crane? The guy doing the voice-over sounds a bit like Nik Wood-Jones and I was wondering if it is him or not.

It is
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Peakbagger on 10:54:20, 17/07/09
Thanks for the confirmation Dave. O0 It's such a distinctive voice I'd have been surprised if it wasn't him but you never can tell.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: tonyk on 11:02:05, 17/07/09


I  think that it is like a children's programme at times, anyone remember Go With Noakes?


 John Noakes  walked the coast to coast in the seventies and a programme was made about his walk.Far better than the one done by Julia and his descent of the Wasdale screes with Jos Naylor was a real classic.He ended up on his [censored] at least half a dozen times but just got up and carried on.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 11:15:38, 17/07/09
I didn't see Julia's C2C. What's the thing about her not finishing it? Did she give up?
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 11:45:14, 17/07/09
I didn't see Julia's C2C. What's the thing about her not finishing it? Did she give up?
I believe there are questions relating to her doing the whole route or just selected stretches for the cameras?
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 11:56:15, 17/07/09
I believe there are questions relating to her doing the whole route or just selected stretches for the cameras?
Ah so she did finish it, just maybe didn't complete it? The magic of television!
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Ridge on 12:03:21, 17/07/09
I believe there are questions relating to her doing the whole route or just selected stretches for the cameras?

Filming is time consuming and expensive, why would they let her walk it all if they were not going to use the footage?

As for John Noakes I wasn't doubting his commitment it was just the way the programmes were presented as if it was all spontaneous.
'Oh Shep what is that strange noise. No, wait, come back Shep. It's a man playing the bagpipes, hello can you tell us about the bagpipes?'
That is fine for kids but not when JB almost does the same thing on an adult programme.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 12:07:35, 17/07/09
Ah so she did finish it, just maybe didn't complete it? The magic of television!
I don't know - I had heard she did the whole route - it's just on forums where I read that someone thought she didn't.

Not that it matters - it's just a TV programme!
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: cr355 on 09:21:34, 18/07/09
In what way? she makes it look easy sometimes which annoys me! x

not surprising with a full crew & support team behind you, she needed a guide to do sharp edge .. . . . 

what annoys me is that total irritating pretentious immitation of AW's voice.  >:(
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 09:38:37, 18/07/09
. . 

what annoys me is that total irritating pretentious immitation of AW's voice.  >:(
They didn't even get his accent right. If nothing else that should have been a primary factor.
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: genji on 09:41:12, 18/07/09
not surprising with a full crew & support team behind you, she needed a guide to do sharp edge .. . . . 

I liked that guy though - Dave was it? I thought he was an interesting character. Did he go up Catbells with her too, or somewhere else?
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: cr355 on 10:20:44, 18/07/09
I liked that guy though - Dave was it? I thought he was an interesting character. Do he go up Catbells with her too, or somewhere else?

he is a cool dude, the local 2 legged mountain goat
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 10:36:51, 18/07/09
I liked that guy though - Dave was it? I thought he was an interesting character. Do he go up Catbells with her too, or somewhere else?
David Powell-Thompson - and he's not young either, 60 I believe. Here's a page about him  http://www.stridingedge.com/news/jos_naylor_challenge/index.html
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: cr355 on 10:48:14, 18/07/09
another thing, why do the bbc always give these documentaries to tv presenters - they would have much more impact if say an unknown lakes enthusiast aka David P-T or the such like
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Addacomb on 10:52:41, 18/07/09
another thing, why do the bbc always give these documentaries to tv presenters - they would have much more impact if say an unknown lakes enthusiast aka David P-T or the such like
Preaching to the converted here but I'll tell you why - personalities sell it to the viewers (Joe Public that is - not us lot)
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: Fran on 10:56:07, 18/07/09
I think david goes up every fell with them, to make sure theyre not doing anything wrong, but he was shown on Blencathra and Helvellyn too :)
Title: Re: Julia Bradbury's Wainwright walks
Post by: walking-books on 11:36:36, 18/07/09
David Powell-Thompson - and he's not young either, 60 I believe. Here's a page about him  http://www.stridingedge.com/news/jos_naylor_challenge/index.html

Seems quite a guy to say the least!

Quote
To celebrate his 60th birthday in the first week of August he ran the 48 mile route from Pooley Bridge on Ullswater to Greendale Bridge in Wasdale in just over 16 hours. Along the way he crossed 30 summits and climbed 18,000 feet and came in without a blister. Quite an achievement.
 

 :o