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Original poster

Is British TV really bad?

92 replies

WhereisallthequalityTV · 17/12/2020 20:20

We live abroad and every Christmas we subscribe to FilmOn to watch some British TV and make us feel less homesick! (However bad it is, it’s always better than TV where we live!)

This year, though, it seems especially bad.

Is it me, or is it just the same handful of people presenting every show? People that the BBC inexplicably thinks the average British viewer will find interesting and charismatic. Eg Gregg Wallace.

Just seen a trailer for a couple of travel type shows with Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe and that French bloke from First Dates or whatever it was called. Who really wants to see these people doing these things? Two are panel show comedians, one is... I don’t even know, a sommelier? They don’t have anything especially interesting to say about anything.

It’s just an example but every show that comes on makes me think What a pile of utter shite.

Is there anything good on?

OP posts:
TimBoothseyes · 06/01/2022 16:56

If you want hard hitting T.V then watch "Anne" on ITV hub. British drama at it's best.

Chemenger · 06/01/2022 16:44

Clarkson’s Farm was great TV, with a genuine message about the state of food production in the U.K. Taskmaster is hilarious. Ghosts is both funny and occasionally moving. Only Connect (now more watched than Eastenders, apparently) is a great quiz. I think drama has been hard hit by the pandemic, no Christmas Agatha Christie for example.

Loonmanding · 06/01/2022 16:41

@Mayorquimby2

Toast of tinseltown is a welcome return
I love toast!
Soffit · 06/01/2022 16:34

The same zelebs are doing the same bunch of reality TV shows in various combinations. It is very frustrating although understandable, given covid bubbles etc. I am actually more frustrated about the fact that I have not weaned myself off the BBC and stopped paying the huge license fee. I make myself watch their content just to justify it. I enjoy the cooking shows like Masterchef although I am certain that they are shown elsewhere for free. I rarely watch them live anyway

2Gen · 06/01/2022 16:29

@BillieLurk

I am disappointed that there doesn’t seem to be a new ghost story this year though (aside from Ghosts I mean Grin). Something really quiet and understated and with a tiny cast which would be easy to do under social distancing - along the lines of The Dead Room with Simon Callow a couple of years back. I’ve only had a quick glance through the Radio Times but didn’t see anything.
I really like that sort of thing too and would recommend watching episodes of an early 70s BBC2 programme called "The Dead of Night" on You Tube, especially the episode called "The Exorcism". Enjoy!
MorningStarling · 06/01/2022 16:06

I don't really watch TV anymore because of the quality. Live news/sport broadcasts and films, that's about it.

I said on another thread a few weeks ago, who the hell is Romesh Ranganathan anyway? I bought the Christmas Radio times and it seemed like he was in literally every other programme. I guess he's the current flavour of the month who has the right appeal/price point for broadcasters, kind of a modern Paul "If your call is about work, I'll do it" Ross.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 06/01/2022 15:37

You're not wrong.

Gregg Wallace, can't stand....even when he first was on TV, now he's utterly over exposed... He doesn't have anything interesting to say about anything....... "I know loads about food as I eat out '' ... Yeeeesss that's most of us...

And all the. "Aw I've just got the latest young wife /GF from twitter.... '... Nope still doesn't make you interesting... Just a bit ick..

And oh wow.... I'm in a factory... And oh my how big is that machine and how quickly does it make sanitary towels / can openers/ penguin enclosures...

Zzzzzzzz....

Fred is alright... But why would anyone want to listen for more than a brief time, rather than anyone in local pub... Except on stuff he's expert on

Gino is an ex burglar....who can cook a bit and gurn at the camera....

Oh yes and most of the One show presenters.... Yawn...

Netflix /All4 is our escape...

I'm nice irl really 😂

errnerrcallnernnernnern · 06/01/2022 15:34

@nosswith

There is some good tv, but much has ended up on Sky or Netflix. Covid has restricted some, but also there has been the tendency (the BBC are the worst at this) to flog something too far. Look at how many series of Not Going Out that there have been, for example. Probably Strictly and the Apprentice have had their day too.

We also have the national disgrace that is Mrs Browns Boys.

It hasn’t ‘ended up’ on Sky and Netflix, they’re just investing billions in content.

They’re not taking anything anything away from the public service broadcasters.

Mayorquimby2 · 06/01/2022 15:31

Toast of tinseltown is a welcome return

Gardeningtipsneeded · 06/01/2022 15:30

@BillieLurk I am sure you did eventually catch it but the ghost story was The Mezzotint on BBC2. Very creepy!

CaliforniaDrumming · 06/01/2022 15:29

As a non-British person, I think it's fantastic! I think I may be watching different things though.

GetRealYouFool · 06/01/2022 15:20

No it isn't. And you know it

fedupneighbour · 28/12/2021 14:15

Some things are ok. ITV has some good dramas and there I enjoy true crime documentaries regarding forensics etc. I agree with overexposure of certain presenters eg Bradley walsh and the ex arsenal woman. I would very much like to see more 'friendly' presenting with disabled people for example. Personally I think there's too much sport on in particular eg horseracing, football, darts, etc. There is something on every day and much of it is very male dominated eg formula one, and very capitalist these days (premier League).
I liked The Bay, on ITV, and also some other stuff.
I particularly can't stand stuff promoting the following drivel: alcohol, affairs, drugs, lying and cheating. I don't enjoy watching it and when it is pure fiction there is a strong argument that it is badly guiding British values.

LadyCatStark · 18/12/2020 16:16

Loved Gordon, Fred and Gino’s new show. We watched the Grand Tour one last night though and thought it had had it’s day!

june2007 · 17/12/2020 23:30

Freed Gino and Gordon are very funny. Seeing them in a sauna Fred and Gino, go starkers and Gordon so British in his boxers.

Honeybobbin · 17/12/2020 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

adawong · 17/12/2020 21:39

The current flavour of the month
Seems to be Alex Scott at the moment.

BringBiscuits · 17/12/2020 21:33

Task master is quite entertaining I think.

FuzzyPuffling · 17/12/2020 21:30

IsAnybodyListening indeed there is.

And Celebrity Sewing Bee. Two episodes!!

tobee · 17/12/2020 21:19

They've had the same people presenting everything for decades though. The current flavour of the month.

Not wanting to be horrible about Jill Dando, coz it was down to the bbc employing her, but at one time she did Crimewatch, the news and Holiday. Which was a bit jarring.

IsAnybodyListening · 17/12/2020 21:08

Bold Fail! Grin

IsAnybodyListening · 17/12/2020 21:07

Don't mean to derail the thread. But is there really a 'Ghosts' Christmas Special!

YESSSSSSSS [GRIN]

Pieceofpurplesky · 17/12/2020 21:04

Romesh in the Highlands was brilliant!
Ghosts is also fantastic and I wish it was an hour long one.
Don't forget Worzel Gummage, Call the Midwife and a new Doctor Who with daleks

Amanduh · 17/12/2020 20:57

Our tv is bloody brilliant. Best in the world I’d say.
However this year there hasn’t been much - small thing called a global pandemic seems to have affected it funnily enough 😂

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