Mick Quits Time Team #Tweetmageddon
Marion Ravenwood tells it like it is: straight, no chaser.
The news of Mick Aston’s voluntary retirement from Time Team hit Twitter this morning with all the fury of a woman scorned. As if the fact that the misogynist tone of the Daily Mail article (and typical run of badly-spelled comments) wasn’t bad enough, many of the bloodthirsty early morning tweeters seemed to agree, turning the car crash into a pile up of bandwagon-hopping twits.
We have to assume that much of what Mick said has been taken out of context to suit the Mail’s mission to stir the shit, especially seeing as it’s the cover story of the forthcoming issue of the respectable publication British Archaeology. The Editor (see HERE) must be writhing in his chair to see how his ‘scoop’ has been mashed, and the valid Countryfile comparisons dropped in favour of the witch-hunt against Mary Ann Ochota.
Mortimer Wheeler would be rolling in his grave, after having devoted much of his life to encouraging so many pretty women into archaeology. Much is being made now, towards the end of the day when cooler tempers prevail, about Mary Ann’s degree in Arch and Anth from Cambridge. She is primarily a Social Anthropologist, and a very successful one at that; but even so, how is she any less qualified to go on TV and talk about archaeology than, say, Tony Robinson? And why is no one yelling about Alex Langlands? He gets just as much air time as Mary Ann, and he is also much younger than Mick. And he’s been wearing that hat. What about him?
I am extremely pleased to have someone in TV archaeology to look at and listen to besides Neil Oliver and the ever-smiley Dr Alice Roberts. They are both credible presenters and nice people, but I am 
sick of the mafia-like corner they have on the market for these kinds of programmes. What’s next – a series called ‘Alice and Neil Get A Room,’ where they go around redecorating Iron Age roundhouses? Again – not the fault of the presenters, but more the visionless executives who don’t require fresh talent and ideas.
Mick Aston’s interview (which I await reading in full) puts me in mind of the 2006 World Cup final, when Zinedine Zidane head-butted Marco Materazzi. I don’t think Channel 4 insulted Mick’s sister, but the fiddling they did to Time Team has drained the life out of his life’s work; and thus, we are all witnesses to the unsporting end of the fabulous career of a cultural icon.
Let’s break down the problems: Channel 4 forced Time Team to relocate to Cardiff last year, as a condition of their contract. Then they split the viewing season, and now they are messing around with the time slot from week to week: this is well-known telly tactics for killing a show that you don’t want to commission anymore. Last week’s viewer numbers were less than 1m for the first time ever and now C4 is worried. Surely they must know the first rule of business strategy is not to mess with your cash cow?
The move to Wales meant that the heart of the crew, who had been together since the first series, had to be replaced with Cardiff-based staff. Seizing the opportunity to try something different (why not?), management decided to bring on board some younger presenters and archaeologists and give it a whirl.
Some
of it worked, some of it didn’t – but the absolutely unforgiveable oversight was the decision to let the focus stray from the trenches (we know who is responsible – and we could tell you, but then we’d have to kill you). It’s an archaeology show, full stop. The first three episodes of Series 19 look more like any old lame reality show where people sit around talking at each other, then have to do weird ‘challenges’ from time to time – in this case, poke around in the dirt for a little bit.
The management is well aware, with perfect hindsight, that it was a mess. The changes that didn’t work have been changed yet again, with the forthcoming filming season ready to rip. It will be all about the archaeology again, Stewart and Helen are back, and Alex and Cassie are staying. Mary Ann’s head was the unfortunate – and unfortunately pretty – one to get the chop.
It must be said here that Mick was the heart and soul of the original team; but just like France’s fans have embraced new star players, so too must we embrace the next generation of Time Team – which has always been the sum of its very interesting, unique and eccentric parts. Spare a thought for the remaining archaeologists, who still operate as the UKs biggest research unit, and take pride in trying to excavate and publish sound results in a very short time frame.
So why was everyone so angry this morning, and why was Mick’s retirement such big news? I think it’s because it hits an exposed nerve: archaeology is increasingly unimportant. We have moved backwards to the situation before Time Team and commercial archaeology brought contemporary relevance to the discipline, and we are seeing the effects of this in sharply declining jobs and resources. Mick’s leaving is the powerful expression of the end of an era, and there is nothing on the other side to feel hopeful about. I think that’s where we must put our collective energy, and be ready to support whatever may come along to fill the void.
Supermodels don’t get out of bed for less than £10,000. In archaeology, we have a different bottom line; and it seems like Mick would have carried on getting out of bed for just a little bit of respect.
[Soundtrack: Aretha Franklin, 'Respect']
“….And why is no one yelling about Alex Langlands? He gets just as much air time as Mary Ann, and he is also much younger than Mick. And he’s been wearing that hat. What about him?…”
Oh they have been. You only need to look at any of the Time Team forums.
That’ll be *Prof* Alice Roberts to the likes of you
I cant speak for others, but i watched time team for the information and banter between all those participating in the digs not to have someone who is classed as being pretty or handsome, that is not what archaeology is all about. So how much extra do they have to pay mary Ann. We know that Mick did what he did because he loved it and we loved him. I hope he can start a new show of his own in competition with time team.
Excellent article and your last point about archaeology becoming less and less important is spot on.
It is called “killing the program” stupid TV Exex’s do this sort of thing all the time. I watch the show here in the USA by some great friends record it on disc foe me and then mail it. Remember it is called “Time Team” not “Time Presenter” the TEAM is the thing. More than the producers Prof. Aston has everyone’s thanks, respect and perhaps most of all his “dig”ity. (pun intended)
I disagree that archaeology is becoming less important. I think there is even more interest than ever from the public. From the commercial sector, however, it interferes with business and I think that’s where the problem lies.
Archaeology has got in the way of money – the developers, local government and now, treasure hunters (aka looters). Public opinion counts for little.
All very sad. It takes balls to do what Mick did. I met Tony Robinson recently in Australia where he gave me a small insight into the hostility that Mick had faced from inside the profession for dealing with TV in the first place. Yet what he did was a triumph — he made Time Team compelling TV by by making sure that it was always based around a research agenda. Was very interested to see when I was in the States last year that the US version used the same approach — also with much success. Thanks Mick and all those who worked with him for showing that it is possible to make popular TV based on archaeology/history that is not trite.
I would disagree with the assertion that Archaology is less important. Its been a brilliant program throughout the series. For someone ,like me, who have no formal training or qualification in Archaology its been extremly enjoyable and informative.
I hope Mike re-considers his decision and continue to pass his knowledge and wit to us amateur viewers.
God such passion, i’m almost tempted to watch it again – not
Who is Mick’s sister and what has she got to do with him leaving Time Team?
so much passion over what many people would deride as a boring niche market tv show. it just goes to prove how good time team can be and should be. less emphasis on eye candy (male or female) and stop dumbing down the content. after all the viewing public have supported it for years in its original form
Mick held it together and he knew what he was talking about, now we have a young well educated lady who will use this as a vehicle for other jobs.
But the show has lost so much, it’s becoming a chat show boring.
get back to the winning ways, or sadly knock it on the head, suspect this has been done so when they end it people will say nothing
I watched yesterday’s last ep in this series with a heavy heart. When Mick sat down in that trench and chatted to Phil I felt so sad. That few seconds was the epitome of Time Team. Intelligent and banter at the same time with sound archaelology too.
The two new bods may well be very qualified, but they were used to go off and shift rocks or do dumb-ish chats away from the trenches. really patronising to the audience.
Mick you will be much missed
My wife and I have been watch for years now. We must have seen all ep’s 2 or 3 times. Please give us back “our Time Team”!! Don’t clutter the air with serie 19 type rubbish. Give use the well appreciated Time Team with Mike and the rest. I think that, if nothing changes, the serie is finished.
We hope Mike re-considers his decision. Good luck to the “old crew”
I am a big fan of Time Team and have been for years, I feel I know all the lads ( male and female) on the show personally, they provide an excellent show both informative and fun to watch, Mike with his rainbow coloured jumpers , hats and gloves, Phill with his shorts and sweatie hat , Tony running around with his XXL T-Shirts ( for such a petite man ) and of course Geo Fizzzzzzz,
what more can I say, I love them all. Please come back Mike, from Ann in Ireland , your number one fan on this side of the pond.
Why Why do channel 4 have to tinker with a very good programe. It is the usual dumbing down, The team were very profesional in the way they went about the digs. I hope they all leave and set up another company and produce their own very profesional shows. CP