British Telly

[solkan_uk]

We've got 2 channels of BBC, ITV (which tends to be more regional), Channel4 & fairly recently we got Channel5.

I've never had sky or cable (I don't currently have a TV at all), so can't help out beyond the standard channels.

 

[Morrus]

OK, I've got to ask this. I'm sure it's a ridiculously dumb question.

What "base/core" TV companies are there in Britain other than BBC?

In America, we've had ABC, NBC, and CBS forever. FOX is relatively new as a base TV company (15 years?). There are, of course, many, many more now with cable/satellite companies.

But for British TV, all I have ever heard of is the BBC. Surely, even before cable/satellite, you Brits had more than one channel to watch, yes?

Quasqueton

5 basic channels, two of which are BBC.

And twenty gazillion cable/satellite channels, of course. But that's not what you were asking about.

 

[sniffles]

There's this garden show with a dude running around parking these tiny little lawns and gardens behind flats in London mostly that's BBC (and that I don't know the name of). I don't know why I find it fascinating, because I'm really not fond of plants except in the abstract. I think most of the Woodward (I can't remember if it's Peter or Edward, the son with the strangely shaped head) shows are British too, right? Those are the ones where a forty something actor tries to proclaim that he knows how to fight effectively in the past, gathers up some questionable looking stuntmen, and beat each other around in fascimile? He also does Egypt stuff. Mostly I just stare at his skull and wonder why it looks like that. His father looks pretty normal, and he was on the Equalizer - a show I liked.

I adore Peter Woodward! (that's the son)
I think he actually has some historical fight training and does fight choreography occasionally.

Lately I've been watching DVDs of A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Hugh Laurie is a great comedian. People who enjoy House should see more of his comedy work.

 

[Tonguez]

We're really luck in New Zealand we get to see the best and worst from the UK, America, Australia, Canada and our own productions with no remakes (we even get to see three different versions of Play School!).

Of course Coro Street's an institution and Ultimate Force is one of my favourite shows. Other than that I don't watch much besides childrens television anymore - oh the joys of parenthood

 

[Brown Jenkin]

The one good thing I can say about American TV over British TV is that at least we don't import the Australian Soaps. At least here we only had to suffer through Kylie Minogue as a second rate singer that only got ocaisional notice. Sorry to all you Aussies.

 

[RichCsigs]

I just finished watching all six episodes of Viva Blackpool! (it may have just been called Blackpool in England, I'm not sure) and I absolutely loved it! I'm interested to see how they can work a sequel out of this (my guess is not everyone would come back) since the ending really seemed to wrap everything up. And the song choices were just perfect.

 

[Viking Bastard]

Lately I've been watching DVDs of A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Hugh Laurie is a great comedian. People who enjoy House should see more of his comedy work.

I loved how when Denis Leary came on The Daily Show, the only thing he did was praise Hugh Laurie and pimp his older UK stuff (like Blackadder) instead of promoting his own TV show.

 

[Agamon]

I'm watching Parkinson's interview with Madonna right now and enjoying it. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't watch a Madonna interview otherwise. And two of my all-time favorite comedies are Monty Python and Red Dwarf. Hooray for Brit telly!

 

[delericho]

Five... still have just the one channel (that I know of)

Yeah, although Five are gearing up to launch two new digital channels soon. And that's all I know about that - I didn't bother to remember anything else from the story because they both sounded absolutely awful.

Of course, the "absolutely awful" comment could be applied equally to any of our channels - the only home-grown shows I've bothered watching this year have been Doctor Who and the new Sharpe (and, I suppose I should confess, X-Factor: Battle of the Stars. I had a really bad week.).

 

[sniffles]

Of course, the "absolutely awful" comment could be applied equally to any of our channels - the only home-grown shows I've bothered watching this year have been Doctor Who and the new Sharpe (and, I suppose I should confess, X-Factor: Battle of the Stars. I had a really bad week.).

There's a new Sharpe? Who's in it?

Anyone watch the Casanova series? I'm a Doctor Who fan and wouldn't mind seeing David Tennant in a different part.

And that reminds me - I've got to check out my discs of Little Britain.