Recommended Television Programmes

[Conchis]

I watched an episode of Fleabag (my first) in a hotel room on Monday evening. I thought it was well-acted, but not funny. A lot of current comedy series seem to rely very heavily on the perceived charm of their stars.

[LMcD]

I've had a 'Fleabag' week - after being overwhelmed by the opening episode of Season 2, Mrs C and I have gobbled up season 1, between which we got episode 2 of series 2. Probably a mistake as we were getting things out of order a bit, but I couldn't help it. As I said earlier, it has a sense about it which reminds me of some of the great Bunuel films of the 70s. 'Fleabag' herself is such a terrific character, and as you said, ferney, the whole thing can turn on a sixpence as happened in the final episode of series 1 - took me completely by surprise the change in tone. Olivia Coleman's character is more than bitchy, I reckon...she's evil! Brilliant TV!

'Fleabag' has not caught on chez nous, but it appears to confirm Olivia Colman's astonishing versatility - she was VERY nasty in the recent BBC 1 adaptation of 'Les Miserables'.

[DracoM]

The end of 'Trapped' was such a wind and re-wind MESS. Fantastic disappointment.
Amazed at Bradley - usually so good an editor / advisor.

[jayne lee wilson]

'Fleabag' has not caught on chez nous, but it appears to confirm Olivia Colman's astonishing versatility - she was VERY nasty in the recent BBC 1 adaptation of 'Les Miserables'.

The problem with stars and exposure is.... I feel I've long-since reached peak-Olivia-Colman, usually feel oh-god-not-her-again and either switch off or don't bother in the first place.... such is TV/Cinema life...

I wish they'd give Deadpool a chat show (Uncensored!), be a great improvement over the unwatchable Alan Partridge.... oh god, talk about car crash TV... what was Coogan thinking of...? I mean sending up The One Show...?
(Still credit to the brilliant Susannah Fielding, as Jenny of the barely suppressed, slightly embarrassed yet-about-to-be-unleashed sexuality, all legs and tight skirts....Maybe one day This Time will be in the so bad its good museum... then again, perhaps if Jenny could shoot Alan live on set in the last episode...?)

Get back to those continental restaurants Steve...if they serve no other function, they at least give me a good appetite....

[LMcD]

'The Left Overs' ('Armchair Theatre/Talking Pictures TV) Wonderful Donald Churchill screenplay beautifully acted by Anton Rodgers and Ann Bell (with a special mention for the telephone!)
N.B. This is the first episode of series 14 - so we're going further back in time, having been shown episodes from series 15. ALSO, as from next Sunday 'Armchair Theatre' will star at 2100.

[Conchis]

Over the weekend, I watched the three current episodes of Alan Patridge: This Time.

My initial impression was: 'this is well-observed, but it's not funny.' Partridge is now a surprisingly relatable character, as he struggles with current studio practices, is outsmarted by his slick and ambitious co-host and finds himself unequal to the polliticking of his rivals. Yet I kept watching and by the end of episode 3, I was hooked(again) and especially fascinated by his ongoing professional relationship with the co-host.

Steve Coogan is a comedic genius. Probably the only comedic genius alive today.

[gradus]

Anyone watching Baptiste? Gripping but violent and not ideal pre-bedtime viewing.

[gradus]

'The Left Overs' ('Armchair Theatre/Talking Pictures TV) Wonderful Donald Churchill screenplay beautifully acted by Anton Rodgers and Ann Bell (with a special mention for the telephone!)
N.B. This is the first episode of series 14 - so we're going further back in time, having been shown episodes from series 15. ALSO, as from next Sunday 'Armchair Theatre' will star at 2100.

I liked this very much, two excellent performances.

[Nick Armstrong]

Anyone watching Baptiste? Gripping but violent and not ideal pre-bedtime viewing.

Yes - the two principals (and the rest of the cast) are excellent.

Been having a Line of Duty splurge lately too - in advance of the forthcoming 5th season, the first 4 have all been on BBC4. Even though I saw them all, I have a goldfish memory for plots so enjoyed the reruns hugely... but I did recall the climax to season 3. Nonetheless, I was gripped - especially by the last 2 episodes of season 3 (including the 90 minute finale - an utterly justified extended episode): surely some of the most compelling and gut-wrenching TV ever, achieved largely through the tension and twists and turns of the lengthy 'witness interviews' (interspersed with brief and shocking violent events). Rarely have I wanted to throttle a villain more..... Brilliant stuff

[Conchis]

Yes - the two principals (and the rest of the cast) are excellent.

Been having a Line of Duty splurge lately too - in advance of the forthcoming 5th season, the first 4 have all been on BBC4. Even though I saw them all, I have a goldfish memory for plots so enjoyed the reruns hugely... but I did recall the climax to season 3. Nonetheless, I was gripped - especially by the last 2 episodes of season 3 (including the 90 minute finale - an utterly justified extended episode): surely some of the most compelling and gut-wrenching TV ever, achieved largely through the tension and twists and turns of the lengthy 'witness interviews' (interspersed with brief and shocking violent events). Rarely have I wanted to throttle a villain more..... Brilliant stuff

You were obviously on 'Team Denton', then (as was I!).

[richardfinegold]

My wife and I are getting towards the end of Victoria for season III. I find myself annoyed that they are devoting a large amount of time and energy for portraying totally fictitious characers, such as Sophie the Duchess of Something or Other that has an affair with one of the Royal Household Footman, and the tale of Skerrit her hair dresser and her romance with the pastry chef, and skips large chunks of actual History. Otherwise, we are absorbed

[Nick Armstrong]

Yet I kept watching and by the end of episode 3, I was hooked(again) and especially fascinated by his ongoing professional relationship with the co-host.

Steve Coogan is a comedic genius. Probably the only comedic genius alive today.

Yes, being a "Partridge" devotee, I was disappointed by the first of the series. But I just chuckled my way through the third episode - I think it's found its form. The film about 'meat' was hilarious....

There are still 6 days left to listen to this excellent 3-hour Radio 4extra programme about Coogan, with some interesting interviews highlighting the hard work and perfectionism that enables the 'comedic genius': https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06gx1tz

[Serial_Apologist]

Tonight's documentary on BBC2 at 9 - The Choir: Our School by the Tower: this was a programme about the secondary school adjacent to Grenfell Tower, which was forced to move away until conditions were deemed safe enough for them to return, and the musical co-composed as a commemoration of the tragedy by the children and their inspiration choir master Gareth Malone - mostly it was the teenage children who did the composing - the music, lyrics and theatrical and dance routines, more than ably encouraged by Malone. Maybe I have a little bit of personal investment in this, having known the area from childhood as a rundown district that nevertheless maintained something of a community spirit, which it is no exaggeration to say has shown the best of itself in the wake of Grenfell, when the authorities were found disgracefully lacking and the "ordinary people" stepped in, following decades of multiculturalisation. There was the young blond schoolgirl - 15, 16? - descended from 5 generations of local inhabitants, making the point that young people of today have no say in their lives; the bespectacled girl of sweet voice with little confidence whose mother appeared to be Italian; the young black lad expected to take on the main male singing role, who had clearly been shunted from foster care to foster care; and the Muslim girl insisting to her worried headmaster that the full emotional impact of the theme had to be conveyed, regardless of its effect on the mainly parental audience. Extraordinary, life-affirming, truly exemplary.

[Richard Tarleton]

Something a bit happier from Northern Ireland - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bqrzv1 - the first of four short programmes on BBC2 following the Mourne Mountains and surrounding area through the four seasons, including my former patch,the view I woke up to every morning and the walks in the mountains I knew so well.

[oddoneout]

Tonight's documentary on BBC2 at 9 - The Choir: Our School by the Tower: this was a programme about the secondary school adjacent to Grenfell Tower, which was forced to move away until conditions were deemed safe enough for them to return, and the musical co-composed as a commemoration of the tragedy by the children and their inspiration choir master Gareth Malone - mostly it was the teenage children who did the composing - the music, lyrics and theatrical and dance routines, more than ably encouraged by Malone. Maybe I have a little bit of personal investment in this, having known the area from childhood as a rundown district that nevertheless maintained something of a community spirit, which it is no exaggeration to say has shown the best of itself in the wake of Grenfell, when the authorities were found disgracefully lacking and the "ordinary people" stepped in, following decades of multiculturalisation. There was the young blond schoolgirl - 15, 16? - descended from 5 generations of local inhabitants, making the point that young people of today have no say in their lives; the bespectacled girl of sweet voice with little confidence whose mother appeared to be Italian; the young black lad expected to take on the main male singing role, who had clearly been shunted from foster care to foster care; and the Muslim girl insisting to her worried headmaster that the full emotional impact of the theme had to be conveyed, regardless of its effect on the mainly parental audience. Extraordinary, life-affirming, truly exemplary.

Seconded in spades. I was going to post to urge others to watch this, it covers so many important and topical issues in a straightforward unfussy manner, and the final few minutes, although very emotional are ultimately incredibly positive.
I do wish the philistines in Westminster could be forced to watch it to see how essential music and the performing arts in general are in helping people get through difficult times and celebrate the good ones.
It is a tribute to the (often sadly lacking) skill of the documentary producers that this episode can stand alone, although the first episode did a good job of making a background for this one One thing that will stick with me for some time(partly because I came across similar cases during my time as a school governor) is that the lad in foster care had been removed from a long-term placement where he was happy and placed in temporary care which involved a 4 hour daily commute to get to school. His current placement(as at the time of the documentary) appeared to be working and he still had contact with the long-term foster carer, who came to see the show. That he hasn't gone completely off the rails is down to him, not the system, although the importance of school as a fixed point in his ever changing life - 11 placements in 11 years... - is evident.
The workshop with cast members from 'Hamilton' was a joy to watch and will stay with the youngsters long after they have left school - and I suspect the cast members also got a great deal out of it.