Recommended Television Programmes

[cloughie]

My great aunt lived in East Dereham and when I visited her I would often be found in the garden, past which trains to and from King's Lynn ran.

Enjoyed a ride on the North Norfolk line from Holt to Sheringham last July whilst enjoying a week in Holt last summer.

[oddoneout]

Simon Reeve's programmes are always worth viewing, but are usually of places at a distance from the UK. His Mediterranean series is being repeated and includes matters rather closer to 'home' such as the environmental and human impacts of supermarket fruit and veg production in Spain.

[johncorrigan]

The dash to the finish in Ushuaia, Argentina this evening for the BBC's second series of 'Race Across the World'. As with series 1 I've been addicted to this, but as the teams head to the finish line and money is running low, I fear that:
a. some might not make it (especially the wonderful Mother and Son)
b. The one pair that I don't want to win will pick up the £20000

[gurnemanz]

Fascinating programme last night about Matisse's early life, presented by his great-granddaughter, Sophie, with interesting location filming. Most of it was new to me, including the bizarre financial scandal involving his parent's-in-law.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000hqt7/becoming-matisse

[ardcarp]

I couldn't help wondering if some of the stuff she was handling (eg Matisse's own paintbox) was worth a bomb?

I mention this because, when on a choir tour some 20 years ago, we were allowed access to a private house in Poant Aven where Gauguin had once lodged as a penniless painter. On the walls of the grenier were daubs of paint which he'd apparently been testing out for his Christ Jaune. The owner of the house (a private individual with a love of music) had been offered a five-figure sum for his attic wall!

[cloughie]

Anybody watching Van der Valk? Why no ‘Eye Level’ ? Nostalgia may not be what it was but this guy’s no Barry Foster!

[DracoM]

Watched a brilliant King Lear.

[Bryn]

Watched a brilliant King Lear.

I missed the start time, so intend to grab from the iPlayer.

[johncorrigan]

Anybody watching Van der Valk? Why no ‘Eye Level’ ? Nostalgia may not be what it was but this guy’s no Barry Foster!

I enjoyed it, cloughie, although he wasn't the Van der Valk that I recalled. He looked a bit like a cross between Alex in 'Clockwork Orange' and Billy Idol. I've watched the old one on 'Talking Pictures' a couple of times, but found it a bit duff, to be honest. Thought there were some quite enjoyable sidekicks in this update.

And after a couple of months on the road, 'Race Across the World' came down to a matter of seconds for the twenty thousand.

[cloughie]

I enjoyed it, cloughie, although he wasn't the Van der Valk that I recalled. He looked a bit like a cross between Alex in 'Clockwork Orange' and Billy Idol. I've watched the old one on 'Talking Pictures' a couple of times, but found it a bit duff, to be honest. Thought there were some quite enjoyable sidekicks in this update.

And after a couple of months on the road, 'Race Across the World' came down to a matter of seconds for the twenty thousand.

I’ll probably get used to the new one, jc, but I always have doubts about reviving old series, the often don’t work for me - Maigret comes to mind, and the new Porridge! Then for me Bond will always be Mr Connery, but I supposed hey still had to make money from the franchise as he aged!

[LezLee]

It ‘s not really a revival, just 3 2hr episodes. Didn’t watch it myself as I never really liked it much. Can imagine Marc Warren being a good choice though.

[antongould]

I’ll probably get used to the new one, jc, but I always have doubts about reviving old series, the often don’t work for me - Maigret comes to mind, and the new Porridge! Then for me Bond will always be Mr Connery, but I supposed hey still had to make money from the franchise as he aged!

...... and there’s never been a player to match Fred Spiksley eh cloughers ..... ?????

[cloughie]

...... and there’s never been a player to match Fred Spiksley eh cloughers ..... ?????

Could do with him now!

[LMcD]

I’ll probably get used to the new one, jc, but I always have doubts about reviving old series, the often don’t work for me - Maigret comes to mind, and the new Porridge! Then for me Bond will always be Mr Connery, but I supposed hey still had to make money from the franchise as he aged!

Most 'reboots' don't work in my experience either, e.g. the 'new' Forsyth Saga, the Australian TV version of 'Picnic At Hanging Rock' or post-Hitchcock 'takes' on The Thirty Nine Steps, but I shall make an exception if Dr Frasier Crane pops up again, in Chicago this time.

[Nick Armstrong]

Anybody watching Van der Valk? Why no ‘Eye Level’ ? Nostalgia may not be what it was but this guy’s no Barry Foster!

Well to be fair, the original theme is heard on the piano above the conventional new theme music (which I think follows the harmonic pattern of the original).

Like johncorrigan, I’ve seen a few of the old Van der Valk episodes on Talking Pictures TV and the title sequence is generally the best bit - duff is the word, and Barry Foster’s acting was often terrible I thought.

Ample room for a new alternative and Marc Warren is no duffer.... but having only seen the first 30 minutes so far, the script is disappointingly uninspired with cliché piled on cliché...

(Ditto after an hour)