NEWS
‘VERY POSITIVE’ RESPONSE TO BBC REFLECTIONS
More than a quarter of a million people watched the reflective services broadcast by BBC Scotland on Sunday mornings during the first four weeks of the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown.
Reflections at the Quay, broadcast from the BBC Scotland headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow, includes readings and reflections from Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic clergy, and a musical interlude. The BBC is committed to an initial 12-week run of the programme.
A BBC spokesperson said that, after the first four broadcasts, the response had been ‘very positive’. More than 240,000 people had watched at least a part of the programme and there had been more than 11,000 requests through the iPlayer on demand service.
He added: “We were acutely aware that many of our Licence Fee payers were unable to attend services in person, so we took the decision early on to provide a weekly TV service from Pacific Quay in addition to our ongoing religious programmes on Radio Scotland and Radio Nan Gaidheal.
“We’re delighted that we’ve been able to fill the void felt by many when church services ended, and we hope our audiences will continue to enjoy our weekly programmes.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Colin Sinclair, took part in the programme for Easter Sunday, along with the Most Rev Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.
Mr Sinclair said it had been ‘a great privilege’ to take part, although the recording in Glasgow was challenging as everyone involved had to maintain strict social distancing.
He said: “We and the crew all felt we were working to create something to give comfort and hope to people when they couldn’t get to their own church, or struggled to know how to access online services.
“We were both pleased with the completed programme and the viewing figures.
However, looking back, perhaps the most important aspect of the service was that in a city known for its sectarianism the Moderator of the General Assembly and a Roman Catholic Archbishop could work together in such a relaxed and friendly way.”
He added that he hoped the programme would continue, audiences permitting. “The BBC is driven in part by figures, and so far the programme has stayed ahead of the curve. There needs to be careful consideration as to timing, but I hope it may continue beyond the current situation.” Episodes of Reflections at the Quay are available to people in the UK through BBC iPlayer.