I think I’m living my life in English TV shows and books

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I enjoy how British tv shows have actors/actresses who look like real people. I'm a huge Olivia Coleman fan. I think she's superb. I wish the U.S. was more accepting of people who don't all look like Barbie.

When the US remade "Broadchurch" the producers let David Tennant reprise his role but said Olivia Colman was too unattractive for US audiences. The show was renamed "Gracepoint," and Anna Gunn took the Olivia Colman role. Gracepoint as a flop. If you haven't seen Broadchurch, it's fabulous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brenda Blethyn is absolutely fantastic in Secrets & Lies, it’s on MAX.

She is marvelous on "Vera."

She also blamed a widow who turned to growing pot in a little Cornish village after her DH died. A few re-iterations later, Doc Martin was created. It is sweet.

If you haven't read Richard Osman's "Thursday Murder Club" books you are in for a treat. Four septuagenarians at a retirement community solve crimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I enjoy how British tv shows have actors/actresses who look like real people. I'm a huge Olivia Coleman fan. I think she's superb. I wish the U.S. was more accepting of people who don't all look like Barbie.

When the US remade "Broadchurch" the producers let David Tennant reprise his role but said Olivia Colman was too unattractive for US audiences. The show was renamed "Gracepoint," and Anna Gunn took the Olivia Colman role. Gracepoint as a flop. If you haven't seen Broadchurch, it's fabulous.

WHAT? That is infuriating. Olivia Colman is one of the best actresses working. As for her appearance - which is completely fine and should NOT have been a deciding factor in hiring her or not - she looked very pretty in her role in Fleabag. She did such a great job with that character, played it to perfection.

[Anonymous]

I have met my people on this thread. Thank you all for your comments and suggestions many of which I was unfamiliar. Also early forties lawyer. Do not discriminate based on career or age. Will discriminate based on television and book choices. Am feeling warm and fuzzy just from reading all posts. Will be bookmarking thread for future reference. Currently on season 7 of Foyle’s War (tbh I preferred seasons 1-5), but genuinely believe I am in love with DCS Foyle. Dying for Hotel Portofino’s next season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I briefly lived in the UK, I really loved the high quality documentaries about nature or history. “Coast” is one of my favorites.

What are your favorite UK documentaries ?

Anything with Tony Robinson - history, walks, digs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tend to think in BBC, but (usually) catch myself before saying things, init, pedo, tosser, c#nt, uni, bloke, or fit. I have to remind myself to add "the" before hospital or university. Also, we don't have maths.

My children have pointed out that I am doing BBC speak, when I say Hi-yeah instead of Hi! 😅

And I hang up the phone with byyyye, bye, buh bye, bye...

Cheerio

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did PBS buy eternal rights to Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By?

People in Britain haven't watched these for decades

Are there other series you would recommend, then? As opposed to criticizing just because some viewers here enjoy these older shows and PBS was smart enough to nab rights to show them here?

I watch a lot of British detective shows.

Watching the old shows is like only watching reruns of M*A*S*H or Andy Griffith or Mr Ed.

Recent British reality shows I enjoy include Portrait Artist of the Year on Prime and DNA Journey on Youtube. I listen to different BBC podcasts and often tune in to live broadcasts of BBC4 radio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am British but don’t watch any of these show, maybe I should or maybe they will ramp up my homesickness which was turbocharged by the pandemic. Most of my friends at home are watching Succession. I keep meaning to get a VPN so I can get BBC iplayer here. Will check out Britbox, thanks for the recommendation.

There's the part when using a vpn where you have to affirm you possess a valid uk tv license and input your grandma's postal code.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I briefly lived in the UK, I really loved the high quality documentaries about nature or history. “Coast” is one of my favorites.

What are your favorite UK documentaries ?

Anything with Tony Robinson - history, walks, digs.

DP. Yes to all the Robinson-hosted documentaries -- Time Team has just done a dig at Sutton Hoo, this year--a huge deal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYtVvEG8414
There likely will be multiple specials made about the Sutton Hoo dig.

If you like Robinson docs, have you found the History Hit YouTube Channel? Dan Snow is the main face of it but they have many different historians doing both short-and long-form documentaries. All good.

Lucy Worsley, who might have been mentioned here many pages ago?, has two new series coming to PBS here. One is on Conan Doyle and Holmes, due here later this year; the other is a new season (or series, as the British would say) of "Lucy Worsley Investigates."

For those who enjoy hearing about the history of London, if you are on (or get on) Instagram, there are some great, professional tour guides there who post about it: Jack Chesher (livinglondonhistory), bowlofchalk, lookuplondon, and Alice Loxton, I think she's historyalice on IG.

On YouTube there's our new favorite, Robslondon--excellent dives into history and uses a lot of images and sources we haven't seen before. YouTube is also home to JoolzGuides, not to everyone's taste but we love him; a lot of pop culture/pop music focus. There's a woman on YouTube whom I think goes by The Museum Guide, and she focuses on a lot of quirky, offbeat stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have met my people on this thread. Thank you all for your comments and suggestions many of which I was unfamiliar. Also early forties lawyer. Do not discriminate based on career or age. Will discriminate based on television and book choices. Am feeling warm and fuzzy just from reading all posts. Will be bookmarking thread for future reference. Currently on season 7 of Foyle’s War (tbh I preferred seasons 1-5), but genuinely believe I am in love with DCS Foyle. Dying for Hotel Portofino’s next season.

I have serious beef with Christopher Foyle. And that Sam. They have stolen my husband from me and I can't get him back. He rewatches Foyle's War endlessly and I expect that one day I'll find he's simply disappeared; I'll turn on the TV, and he'll be there inside it, in an episode with them. But he'd look handsome in those period suits!

[Anonymous]

Recommend historian Lucy Worsley series

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its ok its just another form of escapism.

+1, and this area is lucky to have WETA-UK; in most places there is no dedicated UK orientated channel free over-the-air.

We don't have HD (Verizon FIOS) and one day WETA-UK just disappeared - they moved it to HD only. A sad day in our house!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have met my people on this thread. Thank you all for your comments and suggestions many of which I was unfamiliar. Also early forties lawyer. Do not discriminate based on career or age. Will discriminate based on television and book choices. Am feeling warm and fuzzy just from reading all posts. Will be bookmarking thread for future reference. Currently on season 7 of Foyle’s War (tbh I preferred seasons 1-5), but genuinely believe I am in love with DCS Foyle. Dying for Hotel Portofino’s next season.

I have serious beef with Christopher Foyle. And that Sam. They have stolen my husband from me and I can't get him back. He rewatches Foyle's War endlessly and I expect that one day I'll find he's simply disappeared; I'll turn on the TV, and he'll be there inside it, in an episode with them. But he'd look handsome in those period suits!

Foyle's War was an addiction for me and DH!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am completely immersed in BBC shows like As Time Goes By and in books like Maisie Dobbs. I think I have a problem! I prefer those to my real life. Like I just love being in their world. What is wrong with me? —Mid-40s DC lawyer.

I thought I wrote this post. 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recommend historian Lucy Worsley series

I love her. She has a passion for history and it shows.