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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:
june2007 · 17/12/2020 20:54

Another gohsts fan. Also I liked 2What we do in the shadows."

Jemenfouscompletement · 17/12/2020 20:51

I live abroad but waxy less and less UK tv. In fact HIGNFY and Graham Norton. I'm sure there are better things but I've just lost touch after 20 years and I like documentaries. Everything on UK tv seems really dumbed down now. So I just watch French TV on catch up

Dishwashersaurous · 17/12/2020 20:50

COVID has meant it’s been impossible to make live drama much this year

Wrenna · 17/12/2020 20:50

Compared to American TV it’s fantastic!

mynameiscalypso · 17/12/2020 20:49

@LuckyAmy1986

I like watching Romesh and especially his travel shows, he goes to places where they don’t usually go and I find it really interesting. Can’t comment on the rest.
I agree with this - I've really enjoyed all of his travel programmes (and he's done quite a few different series now).
BillieLurk · 17/12/2020 20:47

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.

LuckyAmy1986 · 17/12/2020 20:42

I like watching Romesh and especially his travel shows, he goes to places where they don’t usually go and I find it really interesting. Can’t comment on the rest.

HighSpecWhistle · 17/12/2020 20:40

Much better than American TV.

If you don't like it, don't watch it.

LadyCatStark · 17/12/2020 20:39

Try being a massive Game of Thrones AND Harry Potter fan... you’ll spend every single drama wondering which one (or both) you know at least one actor from! 😂

parlourpalm · 17/12/2020 20:37

And boring Phil and Holly

nosswith · 17/12/2020 20:36

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.

FuzzyPuffling · 17/12/2020 20:34

Ha ha BillieLurk. Excellent cross post!

FuzzyPuffling · 17/12/2020 20:34

I give you "Ghosts". Brilliant.

BillieLurk · 17/12/2020 20:32

There’s not much on but that’s because of Covid. The main thing I’m looking forward to is the Ghosts Christmas special (Shame it’s only half an hour long).

gwenneh · 17/12/2020 20:28

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.

We also live abroad and DH has observed the same thing, there's just not a lot on this year.

june2007 · 17/12/2020 20:27

Well as people have said it,s been difficult to film, go on location ect this year so some things not made others having new rules. I enjoy Task master at the moment.

Butteredtoast55 · 17/12/2020 20:24

There has been less original and new TV made this year because of Covid, especially when it comes to travel. It's true that the same presenters and actors become ubiquitous but it's unusual that there isn't something worth watching as far as I'm concerned.

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