NOW CLOSED What are you watching at the moment? Tell TalkTalk and win a £200 Love2Shop voucher

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

TalkTalk want to hear your recommendations for TV programmes and boxsets that you or your children have been gripped by recently. They've just launched YouView which should make it easier to catch the best bits of recent telly as well as old classics. Here's what they say about it:

"YouView is a groundbreaking new TV service now available to all TalkTalk customers. We have joined forces with the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to create a new way of watching TV. YouView allows access to the best On Demand content, an ability to record and rewind live TV and search through thousands of hours of great TV with ease. This month's TV gift from TalkTalk includes some old favourites like Grey's Anatomy, The Tudors, and Friends, as well as Peppa Pig, Bob the Builder and Pingu for the DCs."

What's the best TV series you've ever watched?

Is there anything on at the moment/has there been anything recently that you're particularly glued to?

Are there any programmes you're using this half term to keep your DCs entertained?

Please share any recommendations you have for can't miss shows. Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
MNHQ

[Ragwort]

Recently I have enjoyed Homeland, Downton Abbey, Silent Witness and Lewis. I also watch Mr Selfridge & the Paradise, but don't think they are that brilliant.

DS watches the Simpsons.

DH watches sport and errr.............. sport, occasional documentaries.

Where are all the good one off dramas (anyone remember Play for Today ), I don't particularly want to watch series of programmes as they get in the way of real life.

I would genuinely love to know how people fit in watching TV, by the time we've eaten, cleared up and got DS to bed its almost 9pm, then there are usually emails/phone calls etc to catch up on, mumsnetting of course so where is the time to watch tv or am I living my life wrongly ?

[bossyboop]

The only thing I watch in real time when it's aired is Tipping Point, questions I actually know the answers to which impresses DD5, pause and rewind is amazing for this as DD makes lots of noise as kids do and I can rewind if I didn't hear a question or pause when making the tea. (As a SAHM this daily installment reassures me my braincells haven't entirely been absorbed by episodes of spongebob and laundry duties). Dinner Date has become another favourite and Mrs Browns Boys and nothing like Watchdog for a bit of scandal!

Most of our viewing is recorded and watched later, personal favourites include: Jonathan Ross, Dexter, Person of Interest, Waterloo Road and...not sure what else as DH is in charge of the planner, if I get the remote I like flicking through the shopping channels or music channels but there are too many adverts. I can always rely on an episode of TOWIE or Geordie Shore to remind myself i'm normal. Secretly enjoy watching icarly with DD.

[Tieni]

DH & I enjoy/have enjoyed in the past:
Borgen
Wallander (Swedish version with subtitles)
Sherlock
QI
Father Ted
Lewis
Great British Bake Off (just me)
BBC2/BBC4 style science/history documentaries
Outnumbered
Scrubs
Dr Who (just DH)
Teachers

DS loves:
Octonauts
Alphablocks
Thomas and Friends
Tree Fu Tom
Baby Jake
Show Me Show Me

Practically all of this is via our PVR; like many others we rarely watch live TV.

We don't have a favourite TV show of all time but find it very easy to watch Father Ted when it's repeated.

[EauRouge]

At the moment, DH and I are really into The Following. We also love Dexter, Sherlock and Whitechapel. DH has been trying to persuade me for ages to apply to go on Pointless with him but I'm too shy to go on TV. We don't get a lot of time to watch together, usually just one programme in the evening if the DDs get to bed at a reasonable time.

The DDs (4yo and almost 2yo) watch Cbeebies but none of the other channels. The new one, Sarah & Duck, is a HUGE hit, especially with the youngest. There aren't many things that they both like watching but this is their new favourite.

[WyrdMother]

The whole family adore The Big Bang Theory, I've just brought the first five seasons on DVD and I'm on my second watch, it's that very rare thing, a show I can watch over and over again and still find funny, wonderful acting and sharp scripts with lots of in jokes.

I feel the same way about Dinnerladies, it's something that plays in the background while I'm doing a big cook.

Not so much for half term but we brought our DD (only child) the complete Mr Ben which did sterling service when she was ill the week before half term, she really enjoyed it and it was lovely to watch it again. She also enjoys Bagpuss and Ivor the Engine which goes to show that TV does not have to be slick, violent, anti-parent or up to date to entertain.

I also enjoy Criminal Minds, NCIS, Castle and The Mentalist (the crimes get a bit same old same old but I'm fond of the characters).

My all time favorite show is Firefly, probably because it was wickedly cancelled after 13 episodes, it was and still is wonderful, funny, smart, wicked and featuring Adam Baldwin with a goatee (yum), but you could easily suck me in with any other Wheedon effort and any incantation of Star Trek and/or Stargate (but extra especially Star Trek DS9 "In the Pale Moonlight" never fails to rock my geeky socks).

[WyrdMother]

SHERLOCK! I forgot Sherlock. Every episode makes me hug myself with glee.

[PostmanPatsBlackandWhiteCat]

Ncis
CSI
The mentalist
CSI New York
CSI: Miami
Star trek the next generation
The Children like
alphablocks
Octonaughts
Mike The Knight
Peppa Pig
Deadly 60

[PostmanPatsBlackandWhiteCat]

I forgot Dr Who

[jennywren123]

My DCs are obsessed by -

Downton Abbey
Dr Who
Outnumbered
Wild at Heart
Rosemary and Thyme

They've been searching for all the episodes, via Netflix, Lovefilm instant, YouTube and on Freeview channels.

[NorbertDentressangle]

What's the best TV series you've ever watched?
Six Feet Under or Twin Peaks are probably my all time favourites although I don't watch that much TV these days so there might be some good current series.

Is there anything on at the moment/has there been anything recently that you're particularly glued to?
I quite like Junior Doctors, Call the Midwife and Great British Bake Off but I wouldn't say I was particularly "glued" to anything

Are there any programmes you're using this half term to keep your DCs entertained?
DD would watch endless Miranda , Outnumbered etc plus any old crap like Don't tell The Bride, anything vaguely medical eg. Benidorm ER etc
DS likes Super Human Challenge, Sparticle Mystery, Top Gear, You've Been Framed.

The DC tend to find what they want to watch on You View, record whole series etc

[ArbitraryUsername]

The best TV I've ever watched:

Hmm, I love buffy the vampire slayer (have the box set and everything). I introduced both H and Ds1 too it and they both loved it too. Also liked angel, firefly and dollhouse.

Also love the wire. Everyone should watch the wire.

At the moment (literally) I'm watching the new beauty and the beast on watch hd, but it really isn't very good.

Series we're actually watching (and like, or are waiting for the return of):

The walking dead
Hawaii 5-0
NCIS: LA
Alphas
Grimm
New Girl

Not using TV to entertain the kids, but DS2 adores octonauts and mike the knight.

[ArbitraryUsername]

Oh yeah, we also love absolute crap shown on the history channel. You know: swamp people / storage wars / american pickers / American restoration type nonsense.

[sharond101]

Committed Casualty follower and been watching Call The Midwife, Mr Selfridge and Hairy Bikers Everyday gourmet. I am partial also to the odd Come Dine With Me.

DH likes Africa and Silent Witness.

DS is too young to tell us what he likes!

My favourites of all time are Downton Abbey, Brothers and Sisters and Mistresses.

[rotavirusrita]

My favourite all time series is probably true blood.

Recently ive been enjoying spiral on bbc4 ripper street and death in paradies. Dh likes qi and father ted on on demand.

Currently children like the blandings and dr who plus a programme on cbbc about natural disasters. Youngest child would happily watch octonauts all day every day

[GetKnitted]

Would have said big bang theory... but was it me or did it turn alarmingly/surprisingly sexist in series 6. i.e. boys geeks are allowed to remain geeky and be cool, girl geeks must wax :P

So 24... oh except for the gratuitous torture...

need to revew my watching I think... I'm looking forward to the new phillipa gregory tv series/show on the cousins war!

[firstbabyhelp]

Recently have loved utopia, house of cards, californication, girls and downton abbey. All time favourite series is greys anatomy. Also love modern family, sex and the city and gossip girl. And years ago, loved queer as folk.

[goodtoesnaughtytoes]

I love love love The Good Wife! I can watch several episodes back to back . My 4 year old loves Dora the Explorer and I like it because its quite educational.

[northender]

I love, love, love The Good Wife. It has great characters in general but strong female ones in particular. My guilty pleasure is Revenge though I rely on MN to attempt to understand wtf is going on .

[zipzap]

Forgot to say that the dc (especially dc1) are also getting into all the crappy stuff on the disney channels once they grow out of Disney Junior. Things like ANT farm, Jessie, Good Luck Charlie and a whole host of other things (including the movie specials) that for the most part are mental chewing gum and complete dross and yet I still find myself watching them.

[EllenParsons]

Currently watching True Blood in our household.

My favourite on tv recently was homeland.

My other favourites were things like 24, desperate housewives, greys anatomy, six feet under... Also love damages which is where my username is from

[bigflipflop]

I generally try to avoid series as i can't cope with the pressure ;-) even though i have to say we do have "space" telly and i am getting better at taping stuff (showing my age) However did thoroughly enjoy the beautifully written and acted This is England. We're currently enjoying Black Mirror, the format very much reminds me of Tales of the Unexpected.

[Trills]

In what way is this groundbreaking?

Lots of TV or broadband providers already have services very much like this.

[WowOoo]

Things I've recently enjoyed:

Homeland, Sherlock, any BBC nature documentary: Living PLanet, Natural World etc.

Also Borgen, The Killing, Wallander Swedish versions. A long time ago I loved Prime Suspect. It was groundbreaking.
Enjoyed many HBO programmes including Six Feet Under and Dexter.

I will get around to watching The West Wing - it's always strongly recommended on Mumsnet.

Now enjoying: Spiral series 3 and Africa.

The children mostly watch DVDs or programmes I've recorded. Ds1 loves a Dick and Dom programme. He has no idea what it's called but it's full of exciting experiments apparently.

[dilanddan]

The other half and I have been putting little one to bed and hour earlier, so that we can have a sneaky snuggle up on the sofa and watch Prison Break. Since we signed up and found it on Love Film, we've been totally transfixed!! Our little one is teething at the mo, so isn't sleeping very well, so we're still waiting to watch the very last episode!!!!

Our little girl LOVES LOVES LOVES Little Charley Bear and is allowed to watch 2 episodes before her nap in the day and 3 before bed... She laughs her head off and tries to sing along (She's almost 8mths so can only manage singing "eerrrr, bbbaaaaa, eerrrrrrr"!! But we know what she means!! He's such a lovable little Character, the stories are engaging and some teach good lessons and James Corden really suits the part of the narrator!! We've had to find and watch the episodes on youtube now that CBeeBies is no longer playing it :( But it's worth all the scrolling through to find new episodes, just to see the smiles and laughs from our daughter!

[midnightinmoscow]

Without doubt the best series I have ever watched has to be The Soprano's - utterly gripping.

At the moment we are watching People like us (BBC3), the documentary about Aylsbury young offenders unit, and the usual stuff come dine with me etc.

DS loves wonder pets and scobby do!