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!

Ah, I was going to suggest 5Live because that's my go-to. Never mind. Podcasts though, endless choice. Audiobooks? Our library has some on Borrowbox but rarely anything new or current and you often have to wait months but if you browse you might find something.

And yes, I'm 59 and definitely not ready for The Archers.

But to be honest, I rarely have TV or radio on in the house, I prefer silence, most of my listening is in the car. Possibly from growing up in a house where the radio was on ALL THE TIME and it drove me a bit up the wall.

Agree with Homes Under the Hammer

For tv, I find ITV3 hits the spot.

But yes, Radio 4 or the Sounds app in general is the best.

Some shows I listen to that I think fit your criteria?

Ramblings with Clare Balding https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006xrr2?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile Literally, Clare goes for a walk. With people. It works!

The Patch https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m000191p?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile Take a random postcode, what’s going on there?

Cafe Hope https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001xwqx?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile Small things people are doing to change their community.

Pick of the week https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qpdd?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile Different guest every week chooses the best of BBC radio (not just Radio 4) from the past week.

From our own correspondent https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qjlq?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile Small stories that don’t hit the headlines from the correspondents.

Don’t log off https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b01jxzy9?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile Alan Deon put a request on Facebook ‘talk to me’, and people did, from all over the world.

Wireless nights https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b01sg4kg?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile Jarvis Cocker. Marvellous. Talking to people who work at night or have stories about what happened to them in the night.

These are all things you can dip in and out of without losing the thread of what’s going on.

If BBC tv, website and radio all finished but BBC Sounds was still working, I’d happily pay my licence fee just for that. It’s brilliant.

The thing with Radio 4 is that you can just leave it on pretty much all the time. Some of the programmes won't necessarily float your boat but others will draw you in. It's the serendipity that's so delightful. One minute you could be listening to a drama, the next it could be Gardener's Question Time, and half an hour later it could be a documentary about the lives of women in the Tibetan steppes or whatever.

Just know that if you hear the Shipping Forecast (something that in itself borders on surreal poetry) after the sun's gone down, it's time to turn the radio off and go to bed.

I've been watching the re-runs of Neighbours right from the very start!! Lovely nostalgic viewing that doesn't need your full attention!

Thank you so much @QuietChristmas2026 for putting all this together! I will have a look / listen to them and see what hits the mark!

@BurnTheDress Hasn’t The Archers been going since Moses was in nappies?
How would ever know what was going on after a few listens?
I’ve always been tempted but then thought it would probably be impossible.

Where’s your backbone, @MurphysColeslaw?

There are honestly so many more than that, that was just a flavour of what’s there.

Frasier is good for this. And yes QVC also excellent.

If you can find it, listen to Cabin Pressure (a Radio 4 comedy by John Finnemore). It’s honestly the funniest thing ever.

I also enjoy listening to: Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth, I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue…

I agree with QVC on the TV and also Radio 4. I sometimes listen to LBC but very often find myself getting cross at some of the idiot callers 🤣.

In terms of podcasts I think it takes trying a few to see what you like. BBC Sounds has some fantastic ones. I'm currently listening to one called Witch all about the history of witchcraft and it's perfect for this time of year. The episodes are only 30 minutes long.

I also like True Crime podcasts such as True Crime Creepers as I can really get into the story. Episodes are usually around an hour long so if I need to do a good cleaning or gardening session I'll always have that playing and the time flies by.

@BurnTheDress Is that you throwing down the gauntlet madam, because I love nothing better than a challenge! 😁

Report back!

Then dedicate your life to the MN Archers thread linked above. (Very welcoming, broad church, conversation often veers far from Ambridge.) We care about the show a lot and always want the script writers to Do Better.