Page 10 | To wish we had more TV like this?

SaintlyLady · 2025-12-17T08:19:23+00:00

Last night I watched The Two Ronnies Xmas Special from 1982 and Sorry! from 1988. i literally laughed out loud at some of the sketches in the Two Ronnies - and Sorry! is an excellent example of my VERY favourite TV genre - Home Counties set, middle class, middle aged, middle England, ‘ ’middle of the road’ sitcoms 🙌 AIBU to want these programmes back on linear BBC1 and ITV?

everdine · 17/12/2025 21:31

All this talk about The Good Life is making me want to watch it again too! It’s been a few years since I last saw it.

Dappy777 · 17/12/2025 21:31

I have been watching a lot of repeats on YouTube lately. Right now, I’m watching the TV series Colditz, from 1972. One of the things that strikes me is how beautifully the characters speak. Also, their calm, refined manners. Bernard Hepton plays the German commandant and he is superb beyond description. He is the incarnation of the Northern European gentleman, an ideal we’ve sadly lost.

This year, I also re-watched Brideshead Revisited (the Jeremy Irons TV series) and the superlative I Claudius. Again, same thing struck me - the beautiful, intelligent way people used to speak. But, like I said, it isn’t just the eloquence. It’s the sense of calm and refinement - of manners. You notice it even in kid’s TV. Watch Blue Peter from the 1970s and 1980s. I suppose some smug little leftie is going to tell me it was “hideously middle class”. But what have we replaced it with? A nasty, aggressive, crude, ugly, cruel, vulgar way of interacting. Look at the difference between modern children’s TV and the stuff Oliver Postgate made, or even Postman Pat. The world has grown so much louder and nastier and meaner.

I think another reason I like these old TV shows is that it’s a way of holding on to an identity that is being taken away from me.

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:34

everdine · 17/12/2025 21:31

All this talk about The Good Life is making me want to watch it again too! It’s been a few years since I last saw it.

Me too - it was on bbc four recently

I definitely want to watch the Margo plays Maria in sound of music!

everdine · 17/12/2025 21:34

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:23

Oh yes - I’ve just roared

it was delivered an inch short 😂😂

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🤣🤣

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:36

Dappy777 · 17/12/2025 21:31

I have been watching a lot of repeats on YouTube lately. Right now, I’m watching the TV series Colditz, from 1972. One of the things that strikes me is how beautifully the characters speak. Also, their calm, refined manners. Bernard Hepton plays the German commandant and he is superb beyond description. He is the incarnation of the Northern European gentleman, an ideal we’ve sadly lost.

This year, I also re-watched Brideshead Revisited (the Jeremy Irons TV series) and the superlative I Claudius. Again, same thing struck me - the beautiful, intelligent way people used to speak. But, like I said, it isn’t just the eloquence. It’s the sense of calm and refinement - of manners. You notice it even in kid’s TV. Watch Blue Peter from the 1970s and 1980s. I suppose some smug little leftie is going to tell me it was “hideously middle class”. But what have we replaced it with? A nasty, aggressive, crude, ugly, cruel, vulgar way of interacting. Look at the difference between modern children’s TV and the stuff Oliver Postgate made, or even Postman Pat. The world has grown so much louder and nastier and meaner.

I think another reason I like these old TV shows is that it’s a way of holding on to an identity that is being taken away from me.

I agree - I can’t watch IT Takes Two as they talk to fast and it’s all too frantic

also everyone is so sicophantic - spelling!!

I Claudius on my list

I love watching morse as it reflects a time when thinks were slower - now in destine programmes every time something happened they get out the phone and phone someone - it’s bizarre

everdine · 17/12/2025 21:39

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:34

Me too - it was on bbc four recently

I definitely want to watch the Margo plays Maria in sound of music!

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Funny episode but Margo became self aware that Jerry wasn’t going to just walk into another situation (as she called it!) He had lost his job just before the performance.

jan2310 · 17/12/2025 21:40

I absolutely loved Ever Decreasing Circles. My favourite line ever from a sitcom was ‘I have had carnal knowledge of a woman in Bruges’. I remember crying with laughter all those years ago watching that episode. I’ve enjoyed remembering it tonight when reading this thread.

KettleOn919 · 17/12/2025 21:41

Does anyone remember The Upchat Line, with John Alderton?

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:44

jan2310 · 17/12/2025 21:40

I absolutely loved Ever Decreasing Circles. My favourite line ever from a sitcom was ‘I have had carnal knowledge of a woman in Bruges’. I remember crying with laughter all those years ago watching that episode. I’ve enjoyed remembering it tonight when reading this thread.

Was it Mrs Crawley from downton in EDC?

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:45

KettleOn919 · 17/12/2025 21:41

Does anyone remember The Upchat Line, with John Alderton?

Edited

No!

Yourinmyspot · 17/12/2025 21:53

I remember laughing so much at Red Dwarf and Bottom I made myself wheezy!

I have very fond memories of watching The Two Ronnies, Allo Allo and Keeping up appearances with my Granny and Grandpa.

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:54

Yourinmyspot · 17/12/2025 21:53

I remember laughing so much at Red Dwarf and Bottom I made myself wheezy!

I have very fond memories of watching The Two Ronnies, Allo Allo and Keeping up appearances with my Granny and Grandpa.

Yes!

I tried to watch red dwarf recently and it was too slow!

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:55

I want to be as succinct as I can be jear ray

Christmas is cancelled!

jan2310 · 17/12/2025 21:56

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:44

Was it Mrs Crawley from downton in EDC?

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Yes it was. She played Ann, the long suffering wife of Martin, the richard Briers character. The sexual tension between her and the neighbour Paul was brilliantly acted.

Original poster

SaintlyLady · 17/12/2025 21:57

Dappy777 · 17/12/2025 21:31

I have been watching a lot of repeats on YouTube lately. Right now, I’m watching the TV series Colditz, from 1972. One of the things that strikes me is how beautifully the characters speak. Also, their calm, refined manners. Bernard Hepton plays the German commandant and he is superb beyond description. He is the incarnation of the Northern European gentleman, an ideal we’ve sadly lost.

This year, I also re-watched Brideshead Revisited (the Jeremy Irons TV series) and the superlative I Claudius. Again, same thing struck me - the beautiful, intelligent way people used to speak. But, like I said, it isn’t just the eloquence. It’s the sense of calm and refinement - of manners. You notice it even in kid’s TV. Watch Blue Peter from the 1970s and 1980s. I suppose some smug little leftie is going to tell me it was “hideously middle class”. But what have we replaced it with? A nasty, aggressive, crude, ugly, cruel, vulgar way of interacting. Look at the difference between modern children’s TV and the stuff Oliver Postgate made, or even Postman Pat. The world has grown so much louder and nastier and meaner.

I think another reason I like these old TV shows is that it’s a way of holding on to an identity that is being taken away from me.

i watched Sorry! the Ronnie Corbett sitcom and was ASTOUNDED at how ‘RP’ and plummy the accents of Timothy’s parents’ characters are in it - played by the late Barbara Lott and the late William Moore.

They sound so posh they could both be reading the Pathe News!!!

OP posts:

everdine · 17/12/2025 21:57

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:55

I want to be as succinct as I can be jear ray

Christmas is cancelled!

You keep making me laugh!

Original poster

SaintlyLady · 17/12/2025 21:59

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 21:54

Yes!

I tried to watch red dwarf recently and it was too slow!

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I didn’t watch Red Dwarf and bottom as not a fan of ‘alternative’ and/or 90s!

OP posts:

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 17/12/2025 22:03

How about

teptoe
The Beverly Hilbillies
The Wheek Tapoers and Shunters Club
It aint half hot Mum
Terry and June
The Dave Alken Show
The Larry Sanders Show
The Thick of it
Sarah Millican

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 22:04

everdine · 17/12/2025 21:57

You keep making me laugh!

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Good! 😂😂

we need it at the moment

everdine · 17/12/2025 22:13

Dappy777 · 17/12/2025 21:31

I have been watching a lot of repeats on YouTube lately. Right now, I’m watching the TV series Colditz, from 1972. One of the things that strikes me is how beautifully the characters speak. Also, their calm, refined manners. Bernard Hepton plays the German commandant and he is superb beyond description. He is the incarnation of the Northern European gentleman, an ideal we’ve sadly lost.

This year, I also re-watched Brideshead Revisited (the Jeremy Irons TV series) and the superlative I Claudius. Again, same thing struck me - the beautiful, intelligent way people used to speak. But, like I said, it isn’t just the eloquence. It’s the sense of calm and refinement - of manners. You notice it even in kid’s TV. Watch Blue Peter from the 1970s and 1980s. I suppose some smug little leftie is going to tell me it was “hideously middle class”. But what have we replaced it with? A nasty, aggressive, crude, ugly, cruel, vulgar way of interacting. Look at the difference between modern children’s TV and the stuff Oliver Postgate made, or even Postman Pat. The world has grown so much louder and nastier and meaner.

I think another reason I like these old TV shows is that it’s a way of holding on to an identity that is being taken away from me.

Brideshead Revisited was brilliant! Anthony Andrews was incredible as Sebastian (with his teddy bear Aloysius!). It had an amazing cast with the likes of Jeremy Irons, Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud and Claire Bloom!

KettleOn919 · 17/12/2025 22:13

Doctor in the House was another 70s one.

Pianoaholic · 17/12/2025 22:16

jan2310 · 17/12/2025 21:40

I absolutely loved Ever Decreasing Circles. My favourite line ever from a sitcom was ‘I have had carnal knowledge of a woman in Bruges’. I remember crying with laughter all those years ago watching that episode. I’ve enjoyed remembering it tonight when reading this thread.

I loved Martin saying of Paul " someone asked him if he played the piano..'I tinkle,' he said. 5 minutes later, bloody Rachmaninov!"
(See my user name as to why that always sticks in my head!)

I think there are lots of reasons I love these old sitcoms, nostalgia for sitting round the telly with your family is one.
Also, the characters were so well drawn and some of the dialogue and acting could be worthy of a stage play. (Especially true of Ever Decreasing Circles).

restingbitchface30 · 17/12/2025 22:26

Only shows from back in the day I will actively watch are keeping up appearances and vicar of dibley. They’re my go to, nostalgic shows. But they are outdated and don’t really represent the uk now. Actually I’m still partial to the brian Conley show. That was brilliant!

LaDamaDeElche · 17/12/2025 22:29

I remember when I was a little kid watching Last of the summer wine with my great grandparents and loving it!! Terry and June too 😂

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 22:40

everdine · 17/12/2025 21:57

You keep making me laugh!

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I just watched the Christmas tree snippet on you tube

she takes the cigarette out of the delivery man’s mouth 😂

when she asks him what he’s got to say for himself he replies “I like this wallpaper” 😂😂