Is British TV really bad?

[WhereisallthequalityTV]

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?

Freed Gino and Gordon are very funny. Seeing them in a sauna Fred and Gino, go starkers and Gordon so British in his boxers.

Loved Gordon, Fred and Gino’s new show. We watched the Grand Tour one last night though and thought it had had it’s day!

Some things are ok. ITV has some good dramas and there I enjoy true crime documentaries regarding forensics etc. I agree with overexposure of certain presenters eg Bradley walsh and the ex arsenal woman. I would very much like to see more 'friendly' presenting with disabled people for example. Personally I think there's too much sport on in particular eg horseracing, football, darts, etc. There is something on every day and much of it is very male dominated eg formula one, and very capitalist these days (premier League).
I liked The Bay, on ITV, and also some other stuff.
I particularly can't stand stuff promoting the following drivel: alcohol, affairs, drugs, lying and cheating. I don't enjoy watching it and when it is pure fiction there is a strong argument that it is badly guiding British values.

No it isn't. And you know it

whatwentwrongwith.com/2021/02/08/what-went-wrong-with-the-bowdlerisation-of-british-television/amp/

As a non-British person, I think it's fantastic! I think I may be watching different things though.

@BillieLurk I am sure you did eventually catch it but the ghost story was The Mezzotint on BBC2. Very creepy!

Toast of tinseltown is a welcome return

@nosswith

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.

It hasn’t ‘ended up’ on Sky and Netflix, they’re just investing billions in content.

They’re not taking anything anything away from the public service broadcasters.

You're not wrong.

Gregg Wallace, can't stand....even when he first was on TV, now he's utterly over exposed... He doesn't have anything interesting to say about anything....... "I know loads about food as I eat out '' ... Yeeeesss that's most of us...

And all the. "Aw I've just got the latest young wife /GF from twitter.... '... Nope still doesn't make you interesting... Just a bit ick..

And oh wow.... I'm in a factory... And oh my how big is that machine and how quickly does it make sanitary towels / can openers/ penguin enclosures...

Zzzzzzzz....

Fred is alright... But why would anyone want to listen for more than a brief time, rather than anyone in local pub... Except on stuff he's expert on

Gino is an ex burglar....who can cook a bit and gurn at the camera....

Oh yes and most of the One show presenters.... Yawn...

Netflix /All4 is our escape...

I'm nice irl really 😂

I don't really watch TV anymore because of the quality. Live news/sport broadcasts and films, that's about it.

I said on another thread a few weeks ago, who the hell is Romesh Ranganathan anyway? I bought the Christmas Radio times and it seemed like he was in literally every other programme. I guess he's the current flavour of the month who has the right appeal/price point for broadcasters, kind of a modern Paul "If your call is about work, I'll do it" Ross.

@BillieLurk

I am disappointed that there doesn’t seem to be a new ghost story this year though (aside from Ghosts I mean ). 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.

I really like that sort of thing too and would recommend watching episodes of an early 70s BBC2 programme called "The Dead of Night" on You Tube, especially the episode called "The Exorcism". Enjoy!

The same zelebs are doing the same bunch of reality TV shows in various combinations. It is very frustrating although understandable, given covid bubbles etc. I am actually more frustrated about the fact that I have not weaned myself off the BBC and stopped paying the huge license fee. I make myself watch their content just to justify it. I enjoy the cooking shows like Masterchef although I am certain that they are shown elsewhere for free. I rarely watch them live anyway

@Mayorquimby2

Toast of tinseltown is a welcome return

I love toast!

Clarkson’s Farm was great TV, with a genuine message about the state of food production in the U.K. Taskmaster is hilarious. Ghosts is both funny and occasionally moving. Only Connect (now more watched than Eastenders, apparently) is a great quiz. I think drama has been hard hit by the pandemic, no Christmas Agatha Christie for example.

If you want hard hitting T.V then watch "Anne" on ITV hub. British drama at it's best.

Did you know the UK doesn't just have BBC TV? BBC is only the tip of the iceberg. Independent companies in UK also produce and broadcast dramas, films, documentaries , current events etc. It's not all crap.

I'd recommend any of Joanna Lumleys travel programs.
Comedy; Victoria Wood.
Drama; anything with parts played by Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook,
Sean Bean, Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson. ( all our best actors)
Food; anything with Mary Berry.
Wildlife; anything from David Attenborough
All the films of Jane Austen books.

I thin TV is far better than film right now, and has less Botoxed women. Shows I have enjoyed
(1) A Very British Scandal
(2) Clarkson's Farm ( tho normally abhor JC)
(3) The Crown
(4) Happy Valley
(5) Unforgotten
(6) Broadchurch
(7) The Landscapers
(8) Line of Duty
(9) Derry Girls
(10) Killing Eve
(11) Good Omens
(12) Gentleman Jack

I could go on....

I don't know, I think while there is a lot of self-congratulatory and cliquey stuff (like Sara Pascoe, Romesh Ranganathan etc), British telly is overall excellent.

I love the Sewing Bee (yes, I know Sara Pascoe is lined up as presenter!) and the Bake Off, as well as Strictly and the Pottery Throwdown.

I agree Joanna Lumley is a good travel presenter.
David Attenborough is as good as it gets.
David Olusoga is an excellent presenter and A House Through Time is terrific.
We have likeable types like Monty Don (who has a new 'ambling round gardens' series starting this week) and Nadiya Hussain. I don't love cooking shows but I watch hers as she's just fantastic. Same for Nigella Lawson.
Lucy Worsley and Bettany Hughes are top-notch on history/society shows. I also loved A Stitch in Time, although sadly I don't know if it's coming back.
Imagine with Alan Yentob is reliably good, as is anythign in the Storyville strand.

Dramas, I admit, I don't tend to like so much; a lot are a bit stodgy (the period ones) or the thriller ones start quite well and then end up with an 'is that it?' feeling (The Girl Before, the one with Julie Hesmondhalgh, in Wales, about a murder...)
But McMafia was good and that's coming back soon. Also, although I don't really watch these, I think things like All Creatures... and Call the Midwife do what they do very well.

Every time I've been subjected to TV elsewhere in the world, I have come back SO grateful for British telly!

I forgot about A Very British Scandal, Happy Valley, Line of Duty, Gentleman Jack and Killing Eve! (although I think KE has sadly gone off the boil in the last two seasons).

That reminds me –Fleabag, and I May Destroy You.

I have realised I don't watch many cookery, travel or comedy shows.

Oh also, recommend Wolf Hall, Season 3 of which is coming this year. And all the many Shakespearean dramas. The Hollow Crown etc.

@Soffit

The same zelebs are doing the same bunch of reality TV shows in various combinations. It is very frustrating although understandable, given covid bubbles etc. I am actually more frustrated about the fact that I have not weaned myself off the BBC and stopped paying the huge license fee. I make myself watch their content just to justify it. I enjoy the cooking shows like Masterchef although I am certain that they are shown elsewhere for free. I rarely watch them live anyway

Zeleb

Great word, did you invent it?

Live abroad and think the Christmas scheduling was woeful, even the repeats were poorly chosen. When will the BBC cull Mrs Brown’s Bilge? However some good tv now like Anne, the Sheridan Smith drama, 24 hours in police custody.

Why terrestrial Uk channels refuse to allow us to buy a licence for each channel is beyond me, forces us to resort to dubious methods in order to view decent tv.

YABU to think it’s only a recent thing. I can’t think of any good British tv shows.