Springwatch Host Chris Packham Continues to Delight and Annoy Viewers with Musical References
BBC Springwatch viewers have been left with mixed feelings as presenter Chris Packham has continued to make references to song titles from iconic bands, this time focusing on Blur. According to an article by Devon Live, the show’s second week kicked off with Chris and co-host Michaela Strachan broadcasting live from the National Trust Longshaw Estate in the Peak District National Park.
The article reports that Chris announced the start of the show by saying, "It’s week two coming to you live from the National Trust Longshaw Estate up here in the Peak District National Park. Now, Girls and Boys, there’s no other way to spend a Monday night, you’ve got your Coffee and TV, and we’re going to dive into the Chemical World of insect vesicant and a practical demonstration of esophageal peristalsis." Devon Live notes that fans quickly recognised Chris was referencing song titles from Blur, much to their delight and dismay.
One disgruntled viewer took to social media to express their frustration, stating, "F*** sake, so it’s Blur this week, is it?" Another viewer observed, "Ahh, it’s Blur week. boys and girls, coffee and tv…." A third chimed in with, "I dread to think how many annoying song references Chris is gonna make this week." As Devon Live reports, this is not the first time Chris has made musical references on the show, having previously focused on Oasis song titles in the previous episode.
The article by Devon Live notes that Chris cleverly wove in Blur song titles throughout the episode, including referencing "Beetlebum" when discussing the defence mechanisms of violet oil beetles. Michaela shared an intriguing fact about the beetle’s defence mechanism, stating, "If they feel threatened, they do something remarkable… They ooze blood from their leg joints, the substance is called a cantharidin … which is capable of causing burns." As Chris mimicked the beetle’s action, he quipped, "It does come out of the knees, not the Beetlebum," alluding to the band’s hit single from 1997.
The show’s use of musical references has garnered mixed reactions from viewers, with one fan noting, "I see Oasis has come To The End and now it’s Blur – love it." Another quipped, "Springwatch this week will, sadly, go past in a Blur!" As Devon Live reports, Chris had already shown his enthusiasm for the upcoming Oasis tour by weaving in various song titles from the band into his presentation in the previous episode.
The article concludes that Devon Live can confirm that Springwatch will continue to air on BBC Two until Thursday, June 12, and is also available on iPlayer. With Chris Packham at the helm, viewers can expect more entertaining and educational content, whether they enjoy the musical references or not. As Devon Live previously reported, Chris has been open about his personal struggles and has credited his dogs with helping him through difficult times.
