TV programmes that are good for doing jobs / don't need your full attention

[Birdsongsinging]

I like to have something on to watch while I am doing jobs around the house that you don't need you to be watching all the time. So, things like Come Dine with Me and Saturday Kitchen (although I do miss a lot at times).

Things like Escape to the Country or Location Location are no good as you need to keep looking at what is happening!

Anything good that you can recommend I watch? I have tried podcasts but not found anything good to listen to so far!

Thanks for your help!

Would I lie to You? It's old, but on Amazon I think.

Oh I have heard of that and fancied it - not sure if I have Amazon but will have a look!

I put QVC on in the background. Always someone talking but you don't need to concentrate. They do show nice stuff too!

I like QVC for this sort of thing. I also watch YouTube stuff - decluttering and organising videos, tarot readings (!) ... I quite like a true crime podcast, or the Sherlock & Co podcast on BBC Sounds.

Homes Under the Hammer, I only need to glance at it occasionally.

I listen to audio dramas they are quite good on bbc sounds. The newer ones a liiiiiiiitle bit 'woke' for my taste but nevertheless perfect for cleaning the loo to 😂

if you like horror/supernatural there's a great one on audible free it's called marigold. No gore or jump scares or anything like that.

Interior Design Masters on the BBC - just concentrate long enough for the before and after montages (about 20 seconds each) towards the end.

Thanks everyone - I will give these a try - currently listening to Would I lie to you - Series 1 Episode 1 so a lot of these to try.

I have tried Audiobooks but the proper Audible ones are quite expensive and I find it hard to not get distracted. Will take a look at YouTube as well - I had wondered about that.

Have you heard of a thing called, erm … a radio? 😄

You could have that on all day and give it as much or as little attention as you want. And it’s much more satisfying because the full content is produced for your ears, so it’s not like not-really-watching TV.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds

Money for Nothing

I’ve always considered Friends to be this sort of programme. Nobody ever watches it properly, it’s just background noise.

Haha! I'm not that keen on listening to music and then don't really know any good shows. My partner constantly listens to 5 Live which drives me mad so I tend to switch off the radio at every opportunity! Maybe I should give it more of a try!

I did think about Friends recently and wondered about it. Now you say that I am also thinking How I met your Mother was like that too.

@BurnTheDress thanks for adding that link - I just had a look and some of those look good.

Radio 4 is great.

I have a couple of favourite movies that I put on when busy. It's like having old friends there chatting in the background.

Honestly, without wanting to be impertinent at all, I’m incredibly curious about how radio isn’t part of your life. I was probably listening to BBC radio before I was born, and grew up with regular family listening. All through boarding school and university radio was a constant, familiar presence. I happily watched only a few hours of TV a year for decades - and the first time I acquired a TV licence this century was during lockdown.

Tell you what - try The Archers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpgr/episodes/player

for a few days, and then come and join us on MN ‘The Archers’ thread.

LBC. All day. I happily listen to James O'Brien, Shelagh Fogerty and maybe even Tom Swarbrick. (I do work - this is on days off!)

Here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5591016-archers-thread-204-is-vince-mince-discuss-the-archers-here?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Emmerdale, Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder are what I call ironing programs

@spreadandsprinkles I am thinking ironing you can watch at the same time whereas cleaning the kitchen, washing the floors, tidying etc might be harder? But maybe they are easy enough to watch despite that. Will take a look at everything people have suggested!

Thankyou @BurnTheDress . I guess i have a (maybe wrong) view of the Archers as being for older people due to it having been around all my life. I am 61 now though (and I heard on the Radio (Forth One) this morning) that middle age is from age 40 - 65 so not in that older years bracket yet!

Maybe it has changed though and is full of intrigue and I would love it! I will give it a try! Thank you.

I am currently listening to Miranda on a YouTube podcast that is hosted by Elizabeth Day.

Anything like this that you've seen a million times works for me.

Also musicals. The Sound of Music was a good one the other day!

There are hundreds of free audiobooks on the Libby App. I get free access via my local library.