Recommended Television Programmes

[Conchis]

I’m sure I’m not the only one who saw the title and immediately assumed it was going to be a ‘rock doc’ abou Gentle Giant’s 1973 album.

[alywin]

A programme I found fascinating, funny, and just beautiful was the Natural World programme "The Octopus in My House" shown on BBC2 last week. The presenter seems more than a little bit "gee whizz!" on first acquaintance, but this appears to be a genuine part of his personality (rather than a patronising attempt to keep my attention) - and the amount of information I didn't previously know packed into an hour made it one of the best documentaries I've seen. Highly recommended - and available for another three weeks:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...us-in-my-house

Yes, it really was quite fascinating, although I too felt rather uncomfortable with certain aspects of it.

[LMcD]

I've just watched again, for the first time in quite a while, the first-ever episode of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. Imitated but never bettered? It made me laugh most of the time, and I shall now programme my TV to record the remainder of the series. The 'Pablo Picasso On A Bike' sketch proves that in some ways - particularly the reporting of news - TV hasn't moved on at all.
(A cartoon figure sounding remarkably like the PM appears at 18'20").

[jayne lee wilson]

If you didn't see it first time round, don't miss this -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n93c4

..Synth Britannia back on BBC4, one of the best pop-music or any-music documentaries I've ever seen. Going into some depth for the background of the synth-music rise in the 70s/80s (Cabaret Voltaire, Kraftwerk and more), with the length to do that justice and time for a lot of insightful interviews and some wonderful songs! Superb, and great fun if, like me, the 80s were your main pop decade.

[johncorrigan]

I've just watched again, for the first time in quite a while, the first-ever episode of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. Imitated but never bettered? It made me laugh most of the time, and I shall now programme my TV to record the remainder of the series. The 'Pablo Picasso On A Bike' sketch proves that in some ways - particularly the reporting of news - TV hasn't moved on at all.
(A cartoon figure sounding remarkably like the PM appears at 18'20").

Concur completely, L - hadn't seen this in years. When Toulouse went past I laughed out loud, not for the first time during the programme.

[gurnemanz]

I've just watched again, for the first time in quite a while, the first-ever episode of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. Imitated but never bettered? It made me laugh most of the time, and I shall now programme my TV to record the remainder of the series. The 'Pablo Picasso On A Bike' sketch proves that in some ways - particularly the reporting of news - TV hasn't moved on at all.
(A cartoon figure sounding remarkably like the PM appears at 18'20").

I was a student in Durham at the time and can remember we couldn't watch at least one early series because it was on a regional opt-out.

[LMcD]

Concur completely, L - hadn't seen this in years. When Toulouse went past I laughed out loud, not for the first time during the programme.

The TV guide in my newspaper says '(1/13)' but I can't find any more episodes in the next 7 days on my electronic programme guide.

[Richard Barrett]

Going into some depth for the background of the synth-music rise in the 70s/80s (Cabaret Voltaire, Kraftwerk and more)

... although I dare say not a word about any of the people who actually invented electronic music...

[Bryn]

... although I dare say not a word about any of the people who actually invented electronic music...

What? Pink Floyd, you mean?

[Richard Barrett]

I've just watched again, for the first time in quite a while, the first-ever episode of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. Imitated but never bettered?

At the time (although I was too young to be allowed to watch the first series) I found it the best thing I'd ever seen on TV. Now it seems to me like a bunch of ex-public-school boys getting very full of themselves and shows its age in almost as cringemaking a way as the Carry On films. Each moment in cultural history gets its own comedy, I think, and there's nothing wrong with that.

[Richard Barrett]

What? Pink Floyd, you mean?

Don't you go bringing my Uncle Syd into this.

[LMcD]

'State Of The Union' - wonderfully articulate 2-hander, full of delightfully wry humour, about a couple undergoing marriage counselling, written by Nick Hornby and directed by Stephen Frears. (Warning: Episode 2 contains Br*x*t - related material).
BBC 2, Sunday nights at 10.00. The whole series is available on iPlayer.

[LMcD]

Did anybody happen to see 'Only Connect' tonight? One of the contestants was an absolute dead ringer for the BBC's financial affairs reporter Simon Gompertz - indeed, I still can't quite convince myself it wasn't him.

[Stanfordian]

W Channel, documentary series, 'Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over'

Last night's episode.

Jaw dropping!

[oddoneout]

New series of Britain at Low Tide started on Saturday. Fairly low key presenting wise, and use of drone photography adds to the enjoyment. This first episode had another of those 'well I never' moments for me, this time the WW1 RORO rail ferry at Richborough Port.

https://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/2019/09/britain-at-low-tide-series-3-2019/

Tried to find direct C4 link but time and patience ran out, this one was available and gives the necessary.