British and Irish TV recommendation and discussion

[christine]

Wintertriangles - these are tv I've liked over the years, and I guess Honeykid, Tacitus, Daniel M, iRhys, Nausicaa and others will chip in with their favourites. I tend to have a chunk of the 90s missing - that's what having kids does for you , my tv diet consisted of He-Man and Thundercats ;)

No doubt I'll be missing loads, but these are the ones I thought of on the way home from work :)

Boys from the Blackstuff five part story of unemployed tarmac workers in Liverpool at the height of Thatcherism in the 1980s. Funny and heartbreaking

Call the Midwife talked about this series last week. Won't be to everyones taste but it's a fine portrayal of the 1950s in the East End of London when the NHS was all fresh and hopeful and doctors and midwives knew their patients.

Life on Mars and the follow up Ashes to Ashes great characters

The Trip Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon ostensibly as themselves take a road trip to review restaurants for a Sunday newspaper. Funny and strangely moving at times

The Singing Detective this was groundbreaking in its time. A six part drama with music, imaginative and mysterious!

What Remains gripping mystery with the excellent Davis Threlfall as the detective who wouldn't let things lie. A bit melodramatic at the end but forgivabley so as it was very atmospheric

Being Human I'm not much of a one for modern day vampire stuff, but as this was set in Bristol and filmed within a mile of so of our house I liked it. Quirky characters, but tailed off in later series.

This is England 86 and This is England 88 carries on after the film This is England. Great naturalist direction by Shane Meadows and acting from some of our best youngsters.

Southcliffe an intense four part drama set in the bleak marshes of Kent, about a lone shooter in a small town.

Moone Boy talked about this recently too and I know Hun doesn't like it but I think it's hilarious. It's set in Ireland in the late 80s, and is about a 12 year old boy who has a grown up imaginary friend (Chris O'Dowd) . The boy is full of ideas and gets into lots of scrapes and his 'friend' isn't much help! He also has a great eccentric family.

The IT Crowd both my sons are in IT geeky jobs, and this one just makes me laugh ;)

Broadchurch drama about the murder of a young boy and the police investigation in a small seaside town. A good whodunnit, which kept you guessing to the end

Utopia we've discussed this before, good programme

Father Ted now a classic

The Hour about a current affairs programme set in the early days of the BBC. Lots of great actors, and beautifully recreated sets and costumes

I always watch Storyville too. You couldn't call it a British programme, but it's a collation by the BBC of some great documentary programmes from all over. I've watched things on here over the years I'd never even been interested in, but somehow they always draw you in. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storyville_%28TV_series%29

Then there's all the nature programmes over the years too numerous to mention but justifiably famous world wide.

I'd just like as well to mention Radio 4 which is the BBC's wonderful talk station. There's so many great programmes on there. If you can listen to it online, then the things to look at include Desert Island Discs which has an archive that goes back decades. Famous people from all over the world and from many different backgrounds and professions talk about themselves and choose 8 pieces of music to take to a desert island.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs

Also In Our Time is an excellent programme that takes an idea every week and has a 45 minute in depth debate about the topic with several experts. Science. Philosophy, Religion, Culture, History. You'd never believe what you can learn from these!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl

[Skepsis93]

I barely watch any British TV for one reason or another but there's a very distinct brand of slightly surrealistic, misanthropic comedy I think we do extremely well, of which Blackadder (seasons 2-4) and Black Books are probably the best, or at least my favourite, examples. I just finished re-watching the latter about a week ago and it's as good as ever.

I'll certainly second the Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes recommendation as well, though it's been far too long since I've seen them.

[christine]

Good call Skepsis, they're both very good series .

I forgot to mention The Great British Bake Off and The Great British Sewing Bee. Both competitive programmes but in a gentle way. The production isn't slick, rushed and over commentated like some other cookery shows you see from other countries. The very lack of polish together with the down to earth competitors gives them a lovely warm feeling.
Last years Sewing Bee winner was an 81 year old lady whose dressmaking skills were awesome

[wintertriangles]

Seen Utopia, Father Ted, Black Books, Blackadder, and Faulty Towers. The rest I will get on asap. Thanks for the whole thread haha. Pretty excited for In Our Time actually.

[linespalsy]

The Singing Detective is great!

Have you seen Riley: Ace of Spies, christine? That's another classic (probably my second favorite tv of all time after The Singing Detective).

Didn't know about the This is England series. I'll have to check those out.

[christine]

Pretty excited for In Our Time actually.

Hope you like it :) I'm a bit of a radio 4 junkie meself . Does give you a head full of useless knowledge tho....but good for quizzes ;)

Have you seen Riley: Ace of Spies, christine? That's another classic (probably my second favorite tv of all time after The Singing Detective).

No not seen that one, will check it out - thanks :)

[honeykid]

An excellent start, Christine. :) I was thinking of putting a list together for WT, but this is a much better idea.

I've posted plenty of stuff over the years about the best British tv, as well as my favourites, so if you're interested enough I'm more than happy to go through everything. However, as you (or anyone else) is unlikely to be able to get/see it all, I'll just stick to the 'greatest hits'.

Drama:

Our Friends In The North. A 9 part drama spanning 30 years. Superbly written and starring Christopher Eccleston, Gina McKee, Mark Strong and Daniel Craig as the four friends.

I, Claudius: I think you have seen this, actually, but if you haven't, it's a must see.

Cracker: A much-flawed, self-destructive criminal psychologist, who happens to be the best. It's now a much trodden path, but the writing and acting elevate this far beyond all but the best this genre has to offer. For me, this is about as good as it gets in the criminal profiling/criminal psychology genre.

House Of Cards Trilogy: I'm sure you're aware of the Kevin Spacey version and I've no idea how they compare, but I can't recommend this enough. Political thriller par-excellence.

The War Game/Threads: Both showing the fears and horrors of a nuclear attack on Britain. The first was made in 1965 but was deemed too horrific to be broadcast, both by the BBC and the Government. It did win an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 1966, but was not shown on tv here until 1985.

Threads is, essentially, a British version of The Day After, except, y'know, British.

The Sweeney: The quintessential 70's British cop show and the spiritual father of Christine's recommendation, Life On Mars. Good writing and great chemistry between its two leads makes this a personal favourite and, IMO, the best cop show ever.

[honeykid]

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: I'm guessing you've seen the film, so you'll probably have a good idea whether you'd like this or not. Needless to say there's plenty more here than in the film. Also, if you do see and like this, there's a follow up called Smiley's People.

Miss Marple: There's only one Miss Marple, IMO, and it's Joan Hickson. Those are the ones I'm recommending here (1984-1992).

The Naked Civil Servant: John Hurt as Quentin Crisp.

Edge of Darkness: Again, as with TTSS, you may've seen the film version of this. I've not, but I'm guessing this is much better.

State of Play: I've not seen the film version of this, but this 6 episode series is very good indeed. Again, the cast is superb.

Bleak House (2005): A great, 15 part adaptation of the Dickens novel.

OK, so classic British tv drama which, whether I like it or not, it much respected.

Prime Suspect: Helen Mirren in, what was for the time, an extremely unusual role. Any programme which has been made since the late 80's which has a strong "no nonsense, hard headed woman in a man's world" owes, at the very least, a debt of gratitude to this. Again, this has won praise and awards everywhere.

Tutti Frutti: I've not seen this, I couldn't get into it when it was broadcast and haven't tried since, but it's a well respected drama and I know a good few people who'll tell you it's excellent.

Pride and Prejudice(1995): Probably the most famous adaptation of a Jane Austin novel over here and the one every adaptation since has wanted to be.

Inspector Morse: Kind of like Midsomer Murders... With real class.

Pennies from Heaven: Possibly the other great Denis Potter series, along with The Singing Detective.

Brideshead Revisited: Adapted from Evelyn Waugh's novel and responsible for more teddy bears appearing at Oxford University during the 80's than anyone would want to remember.

The Jewel in the Crown: The last days of the British Raj and based on Paul Scott's, Raj Quartet novels.

Made in Britain Tim Roth's first and breakout performance. Everyone knew he was class from the start.

I'll be back with comedy/cult/sci-fi and God knows what else at another time.

[the samoan lawyer]

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSI4M_HHg7eZaN6A8IcJtAr90KAn7Tpbq2MPUC_xSWQpc1of4TdcmpiqoD4FA (http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://collider.com/armando-iannucci-alan-partridge-movie/&sa=U&ei=LnYEU8TwG6bR7Aa1s4DwCg&ved=0CD4Q9QEwCA&sig2=g4rRgTWG-pYvQOCHmLEVow&usg=AFQjCNHHTABy5ZMelyaa_aSE0o2c9MpgqA)

I'll add I'm Alan Partridge. Im not sure how anyone not British or Irish would take to this but its certainly worth a go.

[jiraffejustin]

I'm American and I thought I'm Alan Partridge was pretty damn good.

[the samoan lawyer]

I'm American and I thought I'm Alan Partridge was pretty damn good.

Good to hear JJ but you know your still not forgiven. :bored:

[jiraffejustin]

Good to hear JJ but you know your still not forgiven. :bored:

There is only so much a man can do to gain forgiveness. :p

[Tacitus]

Partridge - Best Brit comedy since Porridge. ;)

Agree with a lot of what's been said and here are a few which are sitting on my shelf. If they've been already mentioned ... tough. :p

GBH - Better than Boys From The Blackstuff? I think so.

Edge of Darkness - I know it's hard to put that dreadful Mel Gibson remake from your mind but the original is a Cold War classic.

The Thick of It - Yes Minister on poppers.

Yes Minister - The Thick of It on tea.

[the samoan lawyer]

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQW-6wYuowYKLRiNr5mWj-_-Qx68-bfOBGkrrfp0wuMtxkZ1YCuyyMGJtk (http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://valdefierro.com/brittas01.html&sa=U&ei=r30EU5WhHeTW7Qa1yoCoAQ&ved=0CDgQ9QEwBQ&sig2=mBctpeK1u257FU1DqdD52A&usg=AFQjCNH_jpoxrGrrqhNyE1HuLBjsy51dNQ)

Did anyone like The Brittas Empire? I loved it as a kid.

also, had Red Dwarf been mentioned?

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSRwY6uCYxO3lfSGF128xezYdY74DaaSaADoZLenKlnBdgEUXuSQvRzgXQLbg (http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://www.geektown.co.uk/tag/red-dwarf/&sa=U&ei=AX4EU9TaEq2O7QanqYHgDw&ved=0CDIQ9QEwAg&sig2=gR0i6iFlkKRAEYfTBpf7VQ&usg=AFQjCNGYnGt1zbqC8bgtwNTJ-IxP-omdPg)

Awesome!

[Tacitus]

Yeah, the Brittas Empire had it's moments, but it's no Ever Decreasing Circles. :p

I'll mention Alan Clarke here, even though his TV work is pretty hard to come by.

Elephant - Still the most violent film/short I've seen. A young Danny Boyle (working for BBC NI at the time) produced it.

Contact - More Ulster strife, this time from the Army's side.

The Firm - Like any football hooligan film that came after, only not sh*te.

Made In Britain - Oi Oi

And a load more. I've got quite a few on home-taped VHS (with no VCR to play them on) and picked up an import of Elephant/The Firm a few years ago.

[the samoan lawyer]

Tac, Ive never heard of Elephant, must check it out, also, had no idea Danny Boyle worked for BBC NI?!

[christine]

I like Alan Partridge too. He's become part of the culture over here!

Great list Hun!
I can't imagine how I missed off The Sweeney. If my husband read these boards he'd be mad at me now! He'd probably insist onThe Professionals being on this list too - at the time 1977-1981 they were the envy of every lad with their buddy good looks, their car chases (particularly in the Capri) and their insouciant ways with women .


You're right to include Bleak House. We do tend to make brilliant period dramas , but then the source material is so rich. Dickens was the most brilliant storyteller of his day, specially across all classes as more and more people could read. This one was such a great atmospheric adaptation, chock full of great actors.
The melodrama may be too much for some people, but watch with an eye on Dickens social commentary and beady humour, they're very rewarding.

Other good adaptations are:

The Mystery of Edwin Drood an interesting BBC adaptation of the last unfinished Dickens novel with the last missing half well imagined.

Little Dorrit 2008 another excellent Dickens BBC production with the girl playing Amy Dorrit being very sympathetic to the role

I've never seen Lark Rise to Candleford but lots of people I know loved this costume drama full of eccentric characters, an adaptation of novels about the writers childhood.

The Darling Buds of May was a well loved series in the family slot on Sunday evening tv. Loved by lads at the time for the breakout appearance of the young and gorgeous Catherine Zeta Jones. Gentle humour.


I'll try and think of some more

[Tacitus]

I'll loan you the DVD if I can find it - still in a 'moving' box probably, was looking for it just now and can't place the thing. If that's gone missing I'll be annoyed as I don't think it was ever released on Region 2. I'll have another look once I get back later. :(

Yep, DB speaks fondly of his time here. ;)

[the samoan lawyer]

I'll loan you the DVD if I can find it - still in a 'moving' box probably, was looking for it just now and can't place the thing. If that's gone missing I'll be annoyed as I don't think it was ever released on Region 2. I'll have another look once I get back later. :(

Yep, DB speaks fondly of his time here. ;)

Cheers Tac

[genesis_pig]

Interesting stuff here.

I like Black Books, Luther, Fawlty Towers, Family Tree, Spaced, Doctor Who.

[christine]

Just like to give a mention to childrens tv dramas of the 1970s. This was a bit of a golden age when quality dramas were first produced for children. I'm not much up on kids tv these days but these were the days when kids tv wasn't sidelined off onto dedicated channels and available whenever you wanted to watch it night and day. I'm talking the ones where everyone talked about them at school and looked forward all week to seeing the next one.
I'd left school by the time some of these were broadcast but such was tv in those days with only three channels that a lot of people watched a few programmes.

There were quite a few dubbed European ones in those days too, but these are just the British ones. Prob forgotten some but these are the ones that stick in my mind, and also prob curiosity value only as many won't be available except maybe on youtube.

Catweazle (1970) about an eccentric magician who arrives from the medieval past to the present day. His delight and fright at modern inventions as well as his sly ways entertained all ages. His names for objects still make us smile. Telling Bone for telephone , Electrickery for electricity.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTJMVdvPF-0TSBiw0eMoNs3xxq8oTrDnaMoW0bJiP2Ed_BX3tfETA

Worzel Gummidge (1979) is a scarecrow that comes to life and causes havoc in the countryside. A lot of scrapes involve the object of his affections is Aunt Sally a fairground doll come to life. Two children often have to rescue them before anyone finds out
http://www.themakeupgallery.info/images/various/stat/worzel5.jpg

Children of the Stones (1977) This was a genuinely scarey series about standing stones in a tight knit village (think Wicker Man) . A boy and his scientist father come to investigate the power of the stones, and find the unexpected effect the stones have on the villagers.

http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/ChildrenOTS/ChildrenOTS%20Pictures/ChildrenOTS%20Cast.jpg

The Tomorrow People (1973) about a group of children with special powers. Was remade last year as an American series - no doubt with better fx ;)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j9_PFi7-Vq4/Uk6w3KMLKCI/AAAAAAAAihU/xtGm7I_KrQU/s400/tp4.jpg



Timeslip (1970) childrens sci-fi time travel drama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAaKHFcrFh4

Toms Midnight Garden (1974) When the clock strikes 13 the children from the past appear. Look at Tom's hair!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlsw2a-cE4o

Follyfoot (1971) Loved this. I wanted to be Dora!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PJdbcCjnus

[Tacitus]

Cheers Tac

Found it! ;D

[the samoan lawyer]

Found it! ;D

dvd?

[Tacitus]

Yep, PM'd. :)

[wintertriangles]

This is turning into a database :eek:

[Daniel M]

How come nobody has mentioned Only Fools and Horses?

The Royle Family is good sometimes too.

[Skepsis93]

How come nobody has mentioned Only Fools and Horses?

Because I'd rather stare at a wall that watch that.

[Daniel M]

Because I'd rather stare at a wall that watch that.

What the hell is wrong with you?

[Skepsis93]

What the hell is wrong with you?

Lots of things, but disliking that pile of arse isn't one of them. Just the theme song makes me want to jump off the nearest cliff.

[Daniel M]

Lots of things, but disliking that pile of arse isn't one of them. Just the theme song makes me want to jump off the nearest cliff.

:(

Only Fools and Horses is brilliant... how do you not find it funny? :( probably my second favourite comedy TV show behind Fawlty Towers.

[The Sci-Fi Slob]

My Top Ten Shows

1. Only Fools and Horses
2. Red Dwarf
3. I'm Alan Partridge
4. Black Adder Goes Forth
5. The Office
6. The Fast Show
7. The Royal Family
8. One Foot in the Grave
9. Bottom
10. Porridge

Also like: Keeping up Appearances, Dad's Army, Minder, Inspector Morse, Midsummer Murders, Doctor Who and Faulty Towers.

Because I'd rather stare at a wall that watch that.
Lots of things, but disliking that pile of arse isn't one of them. Just the theme song makes me want to jump off the nearest cliff.

http://thisishistorictimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/pyle.jpg

[Daniel M]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDXx1BckWJ0

[Skepsis93]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDXx1BckWJ0

I miss neg rep.

[Tacitus]

Only Fools & Horses belongs firmly in my childhood, and that's where it'll stay. Fondly.

I suppose it's so familiar thesedays, so much part of the lexicon of British TV, like Coronation St and Match of The Day, that people sometimes forget how well done most of it was.

It was no Drop The Dead Donkey or Rising Damp, obviously. :p

[Daniel M]

How can you not find that funny? :( :bawling:

[Skepsis93]

Cry me a river.

[Baron_Gorc]

Britcoms are very popular in my country, but interestingly, Only Fools and Horses and Dad´s Army were never aired here. I feel robbed. :(

Aside from all the classics like Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, Allo Allo etc., i really like Psychoville (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305562/) and The League of Gentlemen (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0184135/).

[ScarletLion]

Early Doors
Brasseye
The Day Today

[honeykid]

I like Alan Partridge too. He's become part of the culture over here!

Great list Hun!
I can't imagine how I missed off The Sweeney. If my husband read these boards he'd be mad at me now! He'd probably insist onThe Professionals being on this list too - at the time 1977-1981 they were the envy of every lad with their buddy good looks, their car chases (particularly in the Capri) and their insouciant ways with women .
I thought about including The Professionals (I'm watching it right now for the nth time), but wasn't sure how much of my love for it was nostalgia and genuine affection for the programme. I'd recommend it to anyone. Especially anyone sick of C21st niceties and "it's political correctness gone mad!" and the current climate of office politics. :D

You're also completely right about the men loving it. My best friend had just divorced and bought herself an old Capri. Her brother-in-law had a Jensen Interceptor... Which he hardly ever drove when she was around as he was always pestering her to drive her Capri. :D


How come nobody has mentioned Only Fools and Horses?

The Royle Family is good sometimes too.
I stayed away from comedy because it's so hard to recommend. With quality drama, even if someone doesn't like it, you can see why it's popular/respected/etc, but with comedy, for some reason, the more someone tells you how great something is that you don't find funny, the more annoying and, somehow, even offensive it is. My biggest problem is that I don't like a lot of the 'great' British comedy of the last 20-25 years.

So, by all means check out Red Dwarf, The League Of Gentlemen, Alan Partridge, Green Wing, Black Books, Father Ted, The IT Crowd, Spaced, Absoultely, Big Train, Rab C. Nesbit, Psychoville, Drop The Dead Donkey, The Office, Brass Eye, The Royle Family, The Likely Lads, Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads, The Fall And Rise of Reginald Perrin, Rising Damp, As Time Goes By, Waiting For God, Keeping Up Appearances, The Brittas Empire, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Peep Show, The Inbetweeners, Mrs. Browns Boys, Mr. Bean, Little Britain and Lord knows how many others I can't stand/don't like. There's more laughs and international awards there than you can shake a stick at, but what I can't find are laughs.

So, what the hell do I like? Well, here's a few.

The Young Ones: Anarchic, groundbreaking and, best of all, ridiculously funny.

Absolutely Fabulous: As with most things, it had its peak, then got a little too flabby and became a shadow of its former self, but on form, this is brilliant. If you do like it, they brought it back a couple of years ago with great success, IMO, considering how poorly I think of most of the one offs and specials.

Are You Being Served?: Classic British comedy played in the classic British style. Class divisions mixed with double entendre, innuendo and seaside sauciness. It's older than I am but I still laugh at every joke made about Mrs. Slocum's pussy.

Porridge: Set in a prison, Porridge is a masterclass of comedic writing and acting by Ronnie Barker and type of humour that you rarely see - it's not really nasty at any time. It's not at anyone's expense. It makes fun of authority, but they're not the bad guys and they're not all the same.

Yes, Minister: Like Porridge, I know Tacitus has already mentioned it, but if you're looking at British comedy then, like Porridge, it's a must see, IMO. Sharp, funny and still relevant and familiar. Frighteningly so in some cases. It didn't need updating, but they made The Thick Of It, which should be on the list above of 'great' comedy I don't like or laugh at. :D If you do like one of them, I'd have to recommend giving the other a go.

The Good Life: It's often towards the top of British comedy lists, but I'm not sure how well this travels. It's possibly my favourite British comedy because I love it, but it's certainly not the one I find the funniest. I adore the characters and they're relationship with each other. However, I'm slightly reticent about recommending it simply because, I feel, that it gets funnier the more you know it. You know the characters and you love them and seeing them act in certain ways and say certain things become funnier, IMO.

I was thinking of having a section for one-offs and/or short lived series. I still might, and I was going to put this last one there. However, in case I don't do that, you really should be aware of Garth Marenghi's Dark Place.

Garth Marenghi's Dark Place: There are only six episodes but I think this is one of the best comedy programmes of all time. Anywhere. I don't know how long they could've stretched this out for and kept the quality but this is also perfectly suited to my likes and guilty pleasures. Spoof, parody and caricature all rolled into one, with quality writing which keeps it from being a novelty 'one joke' series.

[The Sci-Fi Slob]

Ah.. The League of Gentlemen. I live in the town where it was filmed. The first person to google it and tell me where I live, wins a cookie. :)

[honeykid]

I would, but it's a local town for local people. ;)

A couple more I should've mentioned.

Outnumbered: The last series is currently going out (was on tonight which is what reminded me) of this wonderfully funny family comedy about two middle class parents and their three children. While there's some improv, it's the winning combination of script and performance from everyone, as well as some good supporting/reoccurring characters which make this so good. Just to try and quell any worries anyone may have when they see "children" included, the kids are uniformly great. I think the youngest child is my favourite character.

The New Statesman: Political comedy, far more heavy on the comedy than the politics, but a wonderful, only slightly exaggerated IMO, take on 80's greed, yuppies and Thatcher's Britain. Think Richard III meets Yes, Minister.

Derek: There's only one series of this, atm, I think another is made this year, but it's a wonderful, gentle and, damn it, a beautiful piece of work by Ricky Gervais. Yes, Ricky Gervais. Ricky plays Derek, a slow/retarded/simple/whatever man who works at an old people's home. The strange thing is, regardless of what you're currently thinking now you've read that, I'm sure it's nothing like the programme actually is. I think it's amazing.

Bottom: If you like/liked The Young Ones then Bottom may well be your thing, too. Live action cartoon violence about 2 roommates and friends and they're desperate attempts to get laid and/or drunk. Only one of which they do successfully. If you like this, try and find Filthy, Rich and Catflap which, from memory, was an earlier, more cynical version about showbiz.

Phoenix Nights: I'm not sure this travels well to the South of England, let alone outside these isles. However, I'm a southerner and I love it.

Time, Gentlemen Please: Al Murray's Pub Landlord character squeezed into a tv series.

The Thin Blue Line: This is a bit of a love it/hate it series. I love it, but I know plenty of people for whom it's far too twee and middle class. Which may seem an odd thing to say about a comedy set in a police station, but I can understand they're point completely.

[jiraffejustin]

This thread is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Very informative stuff, guys. My watchlist is already massive, so this is like pouring buckets of water into the ocean.

[wintertriangles]

Derek is indeed great.

[christine]

I love the anarchic comedy in The Young Ones and Bottom too. They still make me laugh thinking about them. I like the Royle Family as well - reminds me of bits of my family....

Took me a while to get into The Office, but got there in the end. I liked Extras http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445114/

Tacitus mentioned Coronation Street. Honestly I loved that programme for years and years, sometimes it was the funniest thing on TV , specially when Stan and Hilda were still on, and Elsie Tanner got a cob on about something and tore the back out of someone. Many, many great characters in the programme over the years, it's a shadow of itself now I think. Too much trying to keep up with Eastenders.

Honourable mention to the late Brookside, brilliant at the beginning, daft by the end

[Skepsis93]

Has anyone mentioned Green Wing yet?

[honeykid]

Yes, I put in on my long list of 'great' comedies I don't like. :p

WT, I'm so pleased to see that you've both seen and approve of Derek.

[christine]

There was quite a few good secret agent series back in the 60s I used to watch with me dad.

Dangerman starring Patrick McGoohan involved an secret agent shenanigans during the Cold War when the Cold War was still on

The Prisoner justly cult tv, with McGoohan again

The Avengers another cult tv, a lot of trippy episodes. John Steed always looking pleased with himself and who wouldn't be with assistants as shapely as that. Well regarded by us girls at the time for having women who could fight rather than run away and fall over their high heels.

The Champions we loved this to bits as kids. The source of much reenactment with me playing Sharron - sophisticated and elegant just like me ;) , and my middle brother being Craig the handsome one, and my little brother beaten into playing Richard the er, not so handsome one . The storyline was great in The Champions, they had special powers given to them when their plane crashed . They fight for world justice for an organisation called Nemesis
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/The_Champions.JPG

Callan this was very good. Edward Woodward as a world weary agent for British Intelligence, played out in a murky world of espionage

we used to like another one called Department S but I have a feeling it might be terribly dated

oh I just remembered Randall and Hopkirk Deceased a perfect piece of tv with the two private eyes working together to solve cases axcept one of them is a ghost

sorry but these are probably just for reminiscing, but it's nice to put them out there :)

[Tacitus]

I was trying to think of something local to me considering so many people here consider themselves British (in the words of Francis Urquhart, I could not possibly comment - see, you even get a House of Games reference!) but it's thin on the ground.

The only things I can wholeheartedly recommend are Graham Reid's Billy plays, which were aired in the early 80s. You're a better MoFo than I if you can track them down as Ken Branagh has been trying to get a DVD release for years. YouTube, though...

Classic TV plays though, and I'd call them 'of their time' rather than dated. Of course, I'd also call my old mucker and ex-Surrey cricketer David Ward 'unconventionally attractive'. :p

I agree with HK in that it's so hard to recommend comedy shows. You can talk all you like about script, shooting and performance but if it didn't make you laugh than it's as useless as a no-armed one-armed bandit.

[ScarletLion]

Ah.. The League of Gentlemen. I live in the town where it was filmed. The first person to google it and tell me where I live, wins a cookie. :)

Derbyshire?

[honeykid]

Documentaries

The Ascent Of Man: Jacob Bronowski presents this 13 episode story of the history of human civilization. The infomation is more than enough, however, when combined with Bronowski's delivery it becomes almost hypnotic. 41 years old and I don't think this has been bettered.

Civilisation: Because I'm lazy I'm going to say this is an earlier version of the previous recommendation. Made in 1969 it concentrates mainly on European medieval history.

The World at War: OK, so everyone knows about this, but I thought I'd add it anyway because to leave it off would be criminal. I'm sure there's a newer version with Kenneth Branagh, but obviously it's the Laurence Olivier narrated version that has to be seen.

People's Century: This 26 part documentary seems to be lesser spoken about, so I'd recommend it for that reason if no other. It's the story of the C20th, less about the famous/important people of the time and it takes a more social angle.

The Nazis: A Warning from History: Frankly, this is brilliant and unmissable. Everyone should see this and I'd have it shown in schools. Six parts, all brilliant.

Life on Earth: The daddy of them all. I think this is the complete nature documentary. Those that've come since have been better filmed and shown in more detail, but it's this one that strikes a chord with me. I'd recommend the David Attenborough narration, but that's probably because I've never heard anyone do it and, frankly, I can't imagine it being anyone else. The man's a National Treasure.

I don't know how or where you may be able find them, but there are documentary series over here which are worth looking our for. I think Christine mentioned Storyville, which is great, and I'd add World In Action, Panorama, The South Bank Show and Arena. The last two are usually cultural programmes and the documentaries are more often about the arts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_In_Action
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panorama_%28TV_series%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_%28TV_series%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_South_Bank_Show

[honeykid]

This is a kind of one-offs, comedies which aren't sitcoms and things I wasn't quite sure where to put.

Spitting Image: Classic puppetry 80's satirical sketch show from back when politics mattered. Some of the puppets are still iconic in the UK (the Thatcher one can be seen on and as everything from slippers to teapots) and a look at the talent, both on the writing side and the vocal talent reads like a who's who of British tv of the 80's and 90's.

The Railway Children: The 7 episode series which is, apparently, more faithful to the novel than the film version was made a couple of years later, in which Jenny Agutter also starred. Maybe I should've had a children's/family section?

The Snowman: Since 1982 this has been essential Christmas viewing. Personally, I don't like it, but I don't like animation and have no heart.:D

Culloden: I think this was revolutionary at the time. The Battle of Culloden, shot and presented like modern TV war journalism.

Talking Heads: Alan Bennett scripted dramatic monologues. This is classic British tv and is often held up as an example of just what good TV can be and, also, as how little (just writing and performance) is needed to make great TV.

Morecambe and Wise: A comedy double act who no one outside of Britain, Canada and Australia seems to've heard of. An institution over here and their Christmas specials are still shown every year at some point over Christmas. I personally love them and there are classic sketches and routines which will have me laughing as soon as they start.

Have I Got News for You (HIGNFY): Rather than have stand up comedy on tv over here, someone seems to've decided to have comedy panel show (Quizcoms) as a way of presenting stand up routines. QI, Mock The Week (before Frankie left), They Think It's All Over (which original captains), 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Nevermind The Buzzcocks (hosted by Mark Lamarr) are all TV goliaths over here, but it's HIGNFY which kicked it all off. However, I'd recommend any and all of those I also mentioned.

Nuts In May/Abigail's Party: Both Mike Leigh plays for the BBC. Nuts In May features a couple desperately trying to enjoy the perfect camping holiday, whilst being constantly annoyed and interrupted by people being, well, people.

Abigail's Party is a touchstone of 70's tv and British culture of the time. Both a comedy of manners and a satire of the 70's British middle-classes.

[jiraffejustin]

Morecambe and Wise: A comedy double act who no one outside of Britain, Canada and Australia seems to've heard of. An institution over here and their Christmas specials are still shown every year at some point over Christmas. I personally love them and there are classic sketches and routines which will have me laughing as soon as they start.


I've seen Eric and Ernie, but I have never seen any of their actual stuff.

[honeykid]

Oh, really? I liked Eric And Ernie. There's a few of those dramas about British comedy heroes and heroines. There's one about Kenneth Williams, starring Michael Sheen, called Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! which was very good. Hattie, about Hattie Jaques was also good.

The others were The Curse of Steptoe, Hancock And Joan, Hughie Green, Most Sincerely, Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me and Best Possible Taste, about the late, great Kenny Everett. Actually, The Kenny Everett Video Show, The Kenny Everett Video Cassette and The Kenny Everett Television Show should've all been included on the comedy section I did. Kenny was truly great.

This is the classic M&W sketch, IMO. It's the whole thing, but if you jump to 5m you'll get to the meat of the sketch and why it's so loved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7GeKLE0x3s

Here's the other sketch which I'd expect someone to put up against it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUs254IIOOM

As it's a movie site, I'll put this classic up, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mDTn-QvO9I

[jiraffejustin]

I am going to check out some more Morecambe and Wise, I loved all of those sketches. How many different tv shows did they have?

[honeykid]

The BBC show went from 1968-1977 and the ITV show from 1978-1982, so there's a lot of stuff. How much is out there, I'm not sure, but I'd guess that youtube is your friend there. Try and find the Christmas specials, as they were what about half the country was watching on Christmas Day.

I only found this last year, but I love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIhsQLddllc

Sod it. I'm just going to add a few.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEjdJszBbY8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO9noBmj5rk

And then there were Ernie's plays

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtHNrRk3lQM

And that Mastermind sketch reminded me of my favourite Mastermind sketch. I should've remembered The Two Ronnies, too. :facepalm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0C59pI_ypQ

[honeykid]

Some classic Two Ronnies sketches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBdLhCbgJy8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaGpaj2nHIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSRlEcGDAbc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6iiujLSXLc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c4uMaJKt_g
And then there were the songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn_xGt-a25g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx5Qoin-Jzo

[christine]

Great work Hun! The Two Ronnies fork handles sketch Is so funny no matter how many times you see it. Pure class! We all loved them.

So glad you mentioned Morecambe and Wise, I thought of them but didn't know how much their humour would travel. They are my all time favourites, and were of my parents too. The laughing we used to do over those two blokes was endless. I always watch repeats whenever they're on and I really don't think that humour will ever fade. So many favourite bits, but I loved it when they had Andre "Preview" as a guest, and Eric played the piano. Loved the funny little sketches when they went to bed too. I could go on about them for ages. If you ever feel miserable watch some of their stuff :)

[christine]

Oh, really? I liked Eric And Ernie. There's a few of those dramas about British comedy heroes and heroines. There's one about Kenneth Williams, starring Michael Sheen, called Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! which was very good. Hattie, about Hattie Jaques was also good.

The others were The Curse of Steptoe, Hancock And Joan, Hughie Green, Most Sincerely, Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me and Best Possible Taste, about the late, great Kenny Everett. Actually, The Kenny Everett Video Show, The Kenny Everett Video Cassette and The Kenny Everett Television Show should've all been included on the comedy section I did. Kenny was truly great.

Kenny Everett was brilliantly anarchic for those times, we loved his tv shows.
Those dramas Hun mentioned are well worth seeing specially if you appreciate the work of the actor featured

[honeykid]

For the uninitiated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTclmt7_jjg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym7IEBntjuY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYpRkARK8Io
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMHDBL7CNA4

[christine]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myptvBfaplsThis is one of my all time favourite Eric and Ern jokes. My dad did it all the time :D

[christine]

Morecambe and Wise came from the old music hall background like Les Dawson. I really liked him. Everyone in the old days had aunties like Cissie and Ada. When you were a kid part of the fun was trying to suss out what they were talking about when they silently mouthed the saucy parts of the conversation ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVLtJxBqtSA

What about the Irish comedian Dave Allen? Pretty sure we talked about him a while back. Great comedian, very irreverent humour about religion, he is an influential comedian for the following generation of stand ups

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj6XAvuRn4Q

[honeykid]

Both superb and much loved by myself, both as a child and today.

[jiraffejustin]

Chris Morris' Jam ran for 6 episodes. It was a post-modern dark comedy sketch show, where things got really, really dark. It also got very weird. It's unlike any program I've seen before or since.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7l9-xoCclE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jux-Zi-IucU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrANdklh5vw

[MovieMad16]

Hustle - A BBC Drama focused around con artists. One of the most underrated British dramas of the last decade.

[honeykid]

The first couple of seasons was OK. For anyone who doesn't know, Leverage is the US version of Hustle.

[wintertriangles]

I just blew through the This is England film and first series in a night. I think I'll stick around this thread for the foreseeable future.

[christine]

I just blew through the This is England film and first series in a night. I think I'll stick around this thread for the foreseeable future.

Glad to hear you liked them. Have you seen the other Shane Meadows films?

[wintertriangles]

I haven't, no. Heard about Dead Man's Shoes several times though.

[christine]

You should def give them a go. Shane is best mates with Paddy Considine, so their films together are always great. Doing them in date order would be interesting as he often uses the same actors and you see them start off as kids, like Andrew Shim who's Milky in This is England started as a kid in Room for Romeo Brass, as is Vicky McClure, Andrew was also in Dead Mans Shoes.
The only film that doesn't feel true to Shane Meadows naturalistic way of filming is Once Upon a Time in the Midlands. He got a bigger budget for that one from somewhere so had bigger stars, but to my mind it wasn't that great.
Hope you like them :)

[honeykid]

I haven't, no. Heard about Dead Man's Shoes several times though.
I had Dead Man's Shoes on my millennium list. You really should watch it asap.

[hownos]

I am watching Season 8 of Shetland. I'd forgotten how good this series was even with Perez gone.