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Original poster

BBC Drama

135 replies

Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 20:02

I used to watch most bbc dramas for years and years.
Since BBC have geared everything to I Player first and foremost, rather than for specific BBC one or BBC two.
Apparently there isn't separate controllers anymore. They don't care about where the dramas land like they used to.

Anyway. I'm really disappointed with the lack of really really good dramas in the last couple of years or so.
Budget cuts also maybe.
But wow I used to say nothing beats a great BBC gritty drama. Now I wouldn't even be able to find one 😕
Romance, crime, thriller. Was my thing.
I pay my licence also and have no intention to stop. I'm just very sad at the lack of top quality Dramas. Also I've noticed when there eventually is one starting it's generally mixed or rubbish reviews. !!
I'm shocked at the amount of rubbish/ not good enough stuff that is given the green light !!

OP posts:
Pat888 · 28/09/2024 06:30

I find if I watch a good thriller series eg on Netflix I binge watch it over a couple of nights cos I want to know what happens then I’m back to square one and end up on BBC with something that isn’t going to keep me awake at night like antiques road show or similar.

I don’t watch real life crime and that seems to be the main thing on sky at the moment.

anyway I do watch BBC. Or other terrestrials.

AmeliaEarache · 28/09/2024 01:14

Luckily, it’s September which means All Creatures Great And Small on Channel 5.

Some of the really good stuff is in Apple or Disney : Slow Horses, Shardlake

dottiedodah · 28/09/2024 01:02

I agree! I think the golden age of tv was the 60s and 70s for Saturday and Sunday. I loved the brothers ,the good life etc.showing my age watched as a teenager with nan.i have given up tbh . We have got netflix recently. Can recommend. Been ill over the last year and loads to watch on there.about the same as a tv licence or free with our broadband. Watched baby reindeer outstanding. Virgin river world class.now the crown. I think this is the way of the new world now

5foot5 · 28/09/2024 00:03

Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 20:13

Ludwig I've just had on for the last 30 mins but it's a no from me.
Comedy Drama fine, but it seems more style over substance yet taking itself too seriously?
I feel I'm watching the actors play a part.
Drama by numbers.

But I just want some serious character Drama.
As I say nothing used to beat BBC drama.

Edited

I quite enjoyed Ludwig. But it is not big heavyweight drama is it?

We are also a bit fed up with police procedurals now so don't bother with a lot of the new stuff that sounds like that.

I have been watching old episodes of Spooks. Now that was edge of the seat drama

Whenwillitgetwarm · 27/09/2024 22:39

Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 22:33

Weird when you the tories would be the kind of people to watch BBC dramas..

Show quote history

Real traditional Tories watch the BBC. That fake Reform bunch of cranks that just left would sell their grannies to Murdoch for a fiver.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 22:35

And what's happened to Channel 4 drama.
Very rare indeed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 22:33

MaybeImbad · 27/09/2024 22:30

Sadly the Tories focused on diminishing the BBC during their time in Government, cuts to the world service were a huge loss to the UK’s soft power and it’s also affected investment here. It doesn’t help that the Tory papers Mail and Telegraph take every opportunity to criticise the BBC…and then when BBC output changes, it’s the BBc criticised again…

I expect the left to criticise it too - that’s what happens when you have an impartial broadcaster. You please no one all of the time.

I think we’ll miss it when it’s gone.

Edited

Weird when you the tories would be the kind of people to watch BBC dramas..

OP posts:
user7654263 · 27/09/2024 22:32

Night sleeper was awful. Dreadful acting. Sherwood series 1 was good, series two was rubbish and we abandoned it.

blue lights was excellent

MaybeImbad · 27/09/2024 22:30

Sadly the Tories focused on diminishing the BBC during their time in Government, cuts to the world service were a huge loss to the UK’s soft power and it’s also affected investment here. It doesn’t help that the Tory papers Mail and Telegraph take every opportunity to criticise the BBC…and then when BBC output changes, it’s the BBc criticised again…

I expect the left to criticise it too - that’s what happens when you have an impartial broadcaster. You please no one all of the time.

I think we’ll miss it when it’s gone.

Whenwillitgetwarm · 27/09/2024 22:25

Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 21:37

I thought nightsleeper was too OTT . Couldn't get into it at all. Reviews spot on.

Was that the one that sounded like a shit version of Speed?

I find most BBC non period dramas to be a strange combo of over the top whilst underwhelming. It’s like they set out to have a Hollywood plot, but get the same group of Felix’s, Toby’s and Saskia’s (who all met at Cambridge uni Footlights group) to write the script, production, editing and musical score.

They all feel samey and have a kind of ‘Casualty’ feel, so it must be a small group doing them all? They feel like styrofoam Hollywood knockoffs. Lots of shouting and disappointing endings.

Pebbles16 · 27/09/2024 22:25

Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 21:08

Haha I'm after new BBC drama, not repeats! I've done the whole repeats thing.

Sherwood?

LightSpeeds · 27/09/2024 22:15

It's the same with Radio 4. It used to have brilliant drama and comedy. It's mostly what educated me.

Now it's just a non-stop miseryfest of awful news, and repeats repeats repeats (of not very good programmes).

KnottedTwine · 27/09/2024 22:15

craigth162 · 27/09/2024 21:55

Annika was one of my favourites. Also blue lights.

we loved blue lights too. Annika was ok but mostly for spotting familiar places in Glasgow.

Nelliemellie · 27/09/2024 22:13

I purposely avoid bbc dramas as they are hard work to watch, I give up as there is no natural flow or good story, just being politically correct and filling in quotas, so as not to leave people out. I just want to see a thrilling drama with good acting.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 22:11

siucra · 27/09/2024 22:04

Try Sambre - it's on the Iplayer. Truly excellent French drama, based on real events, about a rapist in a small community. Brilliantly acted and written.

Okay thanks.

OP posts:
foreverbasil · 27/09/2024 22:08

siucra · 27/09/2024 22:04

Try Sambre - it's on the Iplayer. Truly excellent French drama, based on real events, about a rapist in a small community. Brilliantly acted and written.

I will do...I do think the BBC have bought in some excellent dramas over the years The Bridge, State of Happiness etc. I just wish they would produce something a bit more imaginative of their own. There are too many crime dramas as OP says.

Drivingoverlemons · 27/09/2024 22:05

Well cuts to the BBC drama budget probably mean they do buy things in more often than creating them these days but there are still some huge BBC programmes like Dr Who. They also sell their own content abroad.

siucra · 27/09/2024 22:04

Try Sambre - it's on the Iplayer. Truly excellent French drama, based on real events, about a rapist in a small community. Brilliantly acted and written.

foreverbasil · 27/09/2024 22:00

Agree that The Newsreader was good but I think that was bought in. I also enjoyed The Responder.
We haven't tried Sherwood yet so perhaps that's a possibility

PuppyMonkey · 27/09/2024 22:00

Cracker was an ITV series, not BBC.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 21:59

RedRobyn2021 · 27/09/2024 21:58

I think ITV have done some good dramas lately

Not regularly though and always crime drama.
And 90% about the crime and police station.

OP posts:
RedRobyn2021 · 27/09/2024 21:58

I think ITV have done some good dramas lately

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 21:57

foreverbasil · 27/09/2024 21:51

See, this is what I mean. I thought it was miserable and cliche-ridden as well as being shockingly badly scripted and acted.
I'm glad you enjoyed it though, we're all different

Show quote history

I watched it out of boredom, but yeh far from a classic.

Average.
I preferred the other one with Jenna Coleman about the baby.

OP posts:
craigth162 · 27/09/2024 21:55

Annika was one of my favourites. Also blue lights.

Original poster
Aquarius1234 · 27/09/2024 21:55

LlynTegid · 27/09/2024 21:42

Remember for 14 years there was an attempt to limit the BBC and threaten decriminalisation or the end of the licence fee. I also think that the creative freedom that allowed many of the writers who started in the 1960s and 70s to get a break is not there any more.

I also think that some of those dramas get made by other tv or subscription providers.

Wow yeah I feel we maybe won't get the stuff of the past. Like Cracker or Clocking Off. Just randomly naming two.
Classic Sally Wainwright stuff.
Romantic comedy drama that was unmissable.
The BBC Sunday night drama like Line Of Duty when it was at its peak.
The writers that are just very talented but aren't around much now.

OP posts:
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