Aibu to ask British television station execs and programme makers (less the programme makers) why U.K. Tv isn't better supported and celebrated?

[Graphista]

On several threads at the moment discussing particular shows I'm currently watching, plus the tv licence.

I think British tv is among the best in the world. We have amazing scriptwriters, actors, presenters, directors, technicians... Yet there's a lack of production.

Aside from the soaps (which I stopped watching years ago as I just don't think the quality is as good as it used to be) it's a struggle to find something really good to watch most nights that's BRITISH.

I'm 46 and I remember being so glad when vcr's came in because there were frequent clashes in the schedule with shows I and my family wanted to watch.

Now it's so rare for there to be a really good British made drama or documentary shown that as a viewer I kind of feel like I'm devouring it like a starved person eating any food available.

currently my watching "schedule" is like this:

Sunday - unforgotten (final episode tonight, don't know what it's being replaced with. Only 6 episodes per season) John bishop in conversation with...

Monday - uni challenge and who do you think you are?

Tuesday - I tried age before beauty - but it's basically a very poor version of 'cutting it' why couldn't the writer do something new?

Wednesday - this week there's a Lenny Henry special but normally there's nothing British worth watching

Thursday - keeping faith (penultimate episode, only 8 episodes)

Friday - again nothing - was watching last leg but that's off now for 6 weeks.

Saturday - hasn't been anything worth watching on a Saturday for months!

The alternatives? I'm guessing they're cheap to make - benefit bashing 'reality' shows, poorly made documentaries, list shows (umpteen repeats), "lifestyle" shows, news, sports even lots of docs on the weather recently (presumably as a result of the heatwave but seriously there were like 6 hours one week!!)

What is going on?

I'm guessing dramas, comedies, GOOD documentaries and quiz shows just aren't getting the funding? Why? Because from chatting on here AND in real life it's not because that's what viewers want to watch. I suspect there's high viewing figures (comparatively speaking) as a lot of us are in the habit of having the tv on as background, plus certain types of shows are so bland they're fairly inoffensive and therefore 'safe' to have on around kids/elderly parents and grandparents.

I'm sure I remember 9pm on a weeknight you could sit in front of the telly and be pretty much guaranteed AT LEAST one decent drama on, usually 2 or 3.

Personally I've also stopped watching things like this morning, Wright stuff, loose women, one show as they are SO dumbed down as to be insulting!

And as someone on benefits the benefit recipient bashing shows are utterly disgusting and just shouldn't be getting made imo and I question the integrity and agenda of the makers and those funding those shows.

Anyone else want more GOOD British drama, documentaries, quiz shows, entertainment and information shows made? Or am I just an old gimmer who "doesn't get it"?

I don't think I am.

I enjoy American, Canadian, Australian and occasionally subtitled dramas (my eyesight isn't great even with glasses and subtitles give me a headache so can't watch more than an hour per day of these). Also documentaries and comedies from other countries - if they can do it what's stopping us? Why are we lagging behind, mainly in terms of volume? Generally our quality is good (although there are some duds).

I'm particularly interested in hearing from industry insiders because I find it hard to believe it's as simple as a lack of funding (although I'm sure that's a big issue too).

I guess the competition is pretty stiff right now from Netflix and Amazon Prime. The money is unfortunately in popular shows that are often low quality and I personally don’t watch most of them. I wish we had a lot more interesting and intellectual TV but the market is not there.

I'm not convinced the market isn't there. As I said both on mn and in real life I hear people fed up with the crap cheap programmes.

As for competition - that should make them step up! Not fold! I mainly watch Netflix and use another app which allows me to watch certain pay to view channels (there's a subscription but not as expensive as getting the suppliers fully - Virgin and sky) and mostly end up watching American dramas.

The lack of decent programme I would argue is partially driving viewers elsewhere!

The most popular British-made things seem to be reality shows like Love Island or Strictly. That's where the money seems to go, and they make money selling the format abroad.

I'm like you and prefer a good drama but I now find them mainly on Netflix, or some of the European dramas shown on the BBC. I like Poldark but I think part of the reason that's been good is that the BBC put a lot of money into it because it sells well in America.

That's just it though - well made drama WILL sell - to other English language broadcasters, Netflix etc so why aren't they being made?

I don't understand the appeal of programmes like strictly and DEFINITELY not love island. Boring, predictable, repetitive...

I tried strictly years ago (I did dance as a youngster) but after a few shows... They're all very similar.

I watched big brother very early seasons where it was more like a social experiment but it passed its best years ago. Ditto X factor etc

And I find it hard to believe those of us who don't like those programmes are in a tiny minority.

Even Netflix I find it hard to find shows I like, I end up watching favourites repeatedly or films (some I know some new to me).

There’s more competition for good drama than ever before. Look at the American networks being practically shut out during the emmys, by Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Hulu etc.

In the past I watched a lot of more British drama simply because there wasn’t an alternative. There was a time when the BBC would green light anything Kay Mellor wrote, even though it was often rubbish. Now I can watch TV whenever I like, I can be a lot more selective and there are a lot of good drama out there The Handmaids Tale, West World, Billions etc.

The landscape has changed and a lot more British talent is being exported, the number of British actors on big American shows is getting silly now, not just established names but people you’ve never heard of. Sherlock, Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror, Downton Abbey are hugely popular overseas.

I live in the Netherlands and I was very shocked by the number of shows I thought of as quintessentially British, being hugely popular here. The Dutch Public Broadcaster made British detective dramas a central part of its programming until The BBC wised up to it and created their own channel.

The appetite for British talent overseas has never been greater and in my opinion the greater demand has been good for everyone. It has attracted money and collaborative opportunities that just weren’t available before.

AgentJohnson - this is exactly my point - there's a serious "brain drain" issue with British talent heading off to work in America and elsewhere.

2 shows I'm currently watching not British but with British actors in main roles:

Harrow starring ioan gruffudd - last seen in the wonderful Liar.

Murdoch mysteries - with Thomas Craig in a main role and frequently British guest stars.

On the age before beauty thread someone said they'd not seen Sarah Parish in anything for ages. She is doing British work but also italian and American.

Why isn't there enough work for them in the uk?

And like I said earlier - if they're selling well overseas surely that's MORE reason to make more, not less. The demand is there outside U.K. Too.

You missed Peaky Blinders!

Don't forget the good stuff isn't usually shown ovwr Summer and there looks like some good shows are going to be starting in September according to the trailers.

It's something I've noticed just as much in Autumn/winter as Spring/summer.

There's good shows at the beginning of the season then it dwindles.

I've not seen peaky blinders yet - on my Netflix list (see, even they buy the good drama, there's not a lack of customers!)

There's a lot of good documentary shows, particularly the medical/emergency ones, seems a popular genre right now.

24 Hours in A&E (5), Ambulance (bbc), 999 What's Your Emergency (can't remember, 4 maybe), GPs: Behind Closed Doors (5) are all good watching.

Sorry I disagree. I don't think they're well made at all. They're poorly edited and take advantage of people at their most vulnerable times.

There's a lot of good documentary shows, particularly the medical/emergency ones, seems a popular genre right now.

they are not documentaries, they are staged like the only way is essex or the chelsea shit.

A documentary is factual and honest- not edited and biased.

Drama such as Poldark actually have a huge joint budget from American Public Television (a close cousin to the BBC) as all those productions are called “Masterpiece Theatre” on PBS and have massive American audiences. Then I’m sure they are sold all around the world or to Amazon/Netflix.

there are far too many reality shows.

Back in the 90s there were some great family dramas like Close Relations and Pure Wickedness.

I also remember a tough watch called Trip Trap about domestic abuse.

i also think historical dramas have been done to death.

I agree Helena - presumably as cheap to make. I wonder if the emergency services ones are cheap because the civil servants aren't allowed to take payment for being on them? Also because they are the type of people to do it for altruistic reasons/unlikely to ask for much money?

I liked Victoria, but the side show of the love match with the kitchen maid and chef was unrealistic and unnecessary.

I hate anything with a recognisable face which pops up in every show going.

Dumb chefs and Groceriers who pop into the kitchen to tell a family they can buy ketchup 30p cheaper at ASDA and thats a "WHOPPING £15 annual saving", or a Chef who can make a meal in 15 minutes when they have a team of staff to buy and prepare the ingredients.

Do you have sky or are we talking freeview only here?

We've always found excellent British Dramas/Comedies on Sky channels (Sky One, Sky Living, Sky Arts etc)

FWIW we actually only have NowTV, we can't afford Sky but we get the main channels!

I don't have sky or virgin or now tv.

I don't see why free channels (who still make a lot of money from advertisers) shouldn't make/screen good quality programming - it certainly happened before sky etc came along.