Fans of British television shows...

I did a search for a topic like this one... and I couldn't find one :whistle:... so for any of you fans of british shows like... 'A Touch of Frost', 'As Time Goes By' ( which is having a reunion soon -- on PBS... sometime this August -- the 13th if I remember correctly... woot!! :clap: ), 'Rumple of the Bailey'... etc...

I'm a fan of 'A Touch of Frost', 'As Time Goes By', 'Rumpole of the Bailey', 'Inspector Morse' and more myself. A whole mix of different shows :D.

What are your faves and why?

What draws you into them?

"Doctor Who" (classic and modern), "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" "The Office," and "Extras" are my personal favorites, and I'm about to start watching the "Who" spin-off "Torchwood," so perhaps that'll make the list as well.

My favorites are Doctor Who (David Tennant is my doctor, too bad he's leaving :( ), Merlin and Skins. I alos like the Doctor Who spin offs like Torchwood and even Sarah Jane adventures (even if it's for kids ^^)

as a Brit I advise people to try Jeeves and Wooster

as a Brit I advise people to try Jeeves and Wooster
I've watched that show before :). It was pretty dang funny. I haven't been able to find any new episodes on dvd though dang it :sigh:...

I like Spaced, Spooks, Coupling, The Inbetweeners, Gavin & Stacey, Psychoville, and the miniseries Jekyll.

Spaced is awesome! (it's in my signature :) )
If you like Spaced, you'll like Black Books

And Psychoville- if you like that, try the League of Gentlemen

And Psychoville- if you like that, try the League of Gentlemen
I tried League of Gentlemen. I didn't finish the first episode on Netflix because of the laugh track.

I did have trouble with that to begin with, but bear with it- it's worth it!

as a Brit I advise people to try Jeeves and Wooster

Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. It doesn't get any better than that. They also did A Little Bit of Fry and Laurie. Stephen Fry does a show called QI. Wonderful.

Whose Line (def the Brit version). I love Tony Slattery from Whose Line who is on "Kingdom" with Stephen Fry. James and Oliver appeared in one episode. Boy was I surprised at that. I haven't checked for new episodes, because the last one was kind of a cliff-hanger. The first season is out on DVD, but it's a bit pricey.

Fawlty Towers with John Cleese is classic. Black Adder with Rowan Atkinson. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Perrin with Leonard Rossiter (also in Rising Damp).

Then the mini-series. Barchester Chronicles (Alan Rickman), The Six Wives of Henry VIII (Keith Michel), I Claudius (Derek Jacobi) and so many, many more ... Upstairs, Downstairs, The Forsyte Sage ... somebody stop me.

Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. It doesn't get any better than that. They also did A Little Bit of Fry and Laurie. Stephen Fry does a show called QI. Wonderful.

Whose Line (def the Brit version). I love Tony Slattery from Whose Line who is on "Kingdom" with Stephen Fry. James and Oliver appeared in one episode. Boy was I surprised at that. I haven't checked for new episodes, because the last one was kind of a cliff-hanger. The first season is out on DVD, but it's a bit pricey.

Fawlty Towers with John Cleese is classic. Black Adder with Rowan Atkinson. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Perrin with Leonard Rossiter (also in Rising Damp).

Then the mini-series. Barchester Chronicles (Alan Rickman), The Six Wives of Henry VIII (Keith Michel), I Claudius (Derek Jacobi) and so many, many more ... Upstairs, Downstairs, The Forsyte Sage ... somebody stop me.
I saw an episode of A Little Bit of Fry and Laurie awhile back and I laughed my butt off. It was really random and really funny :rotfl:. I loved it... and I wish that I could find more episodes of it on dvd since it's so good.

A Bit of Fry and Laurie is awesome

Check out Hugh Laurie's song "Mystery" which was featured on the show. It's hilarious

Fry & Laurie is indeed amazing! Anything Stephen Fry does is genius, I'm seriously in love with that man. My favourite English show is Black Books, Dylan Moran is amazing. The IT Crowd is another favourite. There are so many great series really.. The Young Ones, Blackadder (especially the 4th series), Absolutely Fabulous, Coupling, .. The list goes on and on.

Vicar of Dibley and Only Fools and Horses

I would defiantly recommend watching these... Very, very funny

Fry & Laurie is indeed amazing! Anything Stephen Fry does is genius, I'm seriously in love with that man. My favourite English show is Black Books, Dylan Moran is amazing. The IT Crowd is another favourite. There are so many great series really.. The Young Ones, Blackadder (especially the 4th series), Absolutely Fabulous, Coupling, .. The list goes on and on.

Oh, I forgot Ab/Fab. Love those two.

I feel the same way about Stephen Fry. Sometimes I follow him on Twitter. I wish I could have heard his version of the Potter audio books.

Stephen Fry is a genuine legend!

And on that note, I recommend above all other TV shows the genius that is QI

I completely forgot about Top Gear, though the series that just ended was not very good at all.

Besides animated shows, almost all of my favourite TV shows come from Britain. Coupling, Top Gear (even though I know nothing about cars), Black Books, The Vicar of Dibley, Absolutely Fabulous, Blackadder, Skins and my personal guilty favourite, anything with Gordon Ramsay in it :D

I adore Blackadder!! :love: And 'Allo 'Allo! They're in my top 3 most favourite TV shows of all times.

Doctor Who and A Bit of Fry and Laurie are my favorites :love: I, uh...i discovered Fry and Laurie on my dad's ipod while i was at work. No one could figure out what i was giggling about. :blush::blush:

Vicar of Dibley and Only Fools and Horses

I would defiantly recommend watching these... Very, very funny
Gawd I love that show :lol:. The characters all make me laugh. I just saw one of the old Christmas specials recently and it had me in stitches... even though whoever put the sound in with the episode didn't match the voices to the mouth movements worth a horse's rear end :rotfl:. So I ended up having to turn on Closed Captioning just to keep up with the dialogue :p.

I adore the Vicar of Dibley. Well, I think I adore anything with Dawn French in it

I watched a series once, it had Dawn French and Catherine Tate in it (and also the dude that plays Filch in HP). Wild West I think it was called. It was great

Anyone here fans of A Touch of Frost and Inspector Morse? My mom and I are big fans of both shows and loved to watch them every so often on dvd.

Argh! Why did BBC America not pick up the last season (or future seasons) of MI-5 / Spooks? I am/was a fan of that show!

FawkesFan- I love Frost, not the biggest fan of Morse though

Have you tried Lewis, the Morse spinoff?

FawkesFan- I love Frost, not the biggest fan of Morse though

Have you tried Lewis, the Morse spinoff?
Awesome... good to see another Frost fan here :D. Who's your favorite character on it, besides Frost :p? I like Mullet somewhat :whistle: :lol:...

Ah... I loved the last ep of that show the best... it was so touching to see Lewis react in the way that he did after finding out that his mentor Morse had passed away... it was so sad :sad:...

Yep I have and it's just funny to see how many of Morse's ideosycracies have snuck into Lewis's character :lol:. Especially his love of opera :).

Well I love Kevin Whately anyway- he's in one of my all time favourite British shows- Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Timothy Spall (peter pettigrew) is in that too

Well I love Kevin Whately anyway- he's in one of my all time favourite British shows- Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Timothy Spall (peter pettigrew) is in that too
Cool :). Both my mom and I are fans of his too. He's a good actor. Awesome, I'll have to check that show out sometime.

Now, this might be a controversial thing to say, but if you ever watched the American Life on Mars, try the British one. It's a million times better. It makes more sense for starters.

Besides, our one has John Simm...

I love A Touch of Frost and I love Lewis better than Morse.
I enjoy most of those British Detective series.
Midsummer Murders, The Last Detective and Foyle's War are some of my favourites.
Has anyone seen Silent Witness or Wire in the Blood? They are very good as well.
I agree, that the British Life on Mars was better than the American version.
I love Dr Who, as well.
What about period dramas? I also love Heartbeat which was set in the 60s, and there was one I can't remember the name of, that was set in the 50s and was about a doctor and his family in a small village.
Edit - I just remembered it's called Born and Bred.
I also love Wild at Heart which is about a vet and his family in Africa.

I don't like Midsomer Murders.

To me, every storyline is: someone moves to the village. murders happen. they find the killer. New people move into village. and the whole thing happens again.
Sorry- I just don't think it's plausable.

Wire in the Blood on the other hand, is fascinating. Robson Green gives the profiler's character something that I can't quite put my finger on...

I love A Touch of Frost and I love Lewis better than Morse.
I enjoy most of those British Detective series.
Midsummer Murders, The Last Detective and Foyle's War are some of my favourites.
Has anyone seen Silent Witness or Wire in the Blood? They are very good as well.
I agree, that the British Life on Mars was better than the American version.
I love Dr Who, as well.
What about period dramas? I also love Heartbeat which was set in the 60s, and there was one I can't remember the name of, that was set in the 50s and was about a doctor and his family in a small village.
I also love Wild at Heart which is about a vet and his family in Africa.
Awesome another Frost fan -- who's your favorite character?

I like Midsummer Murders ok along with Foyle's War. I've seen some of Wire in the Blood. It's an interesting show... it reminds me of Law and Order and some of those other crime shows out there. And it has some pretty good writing as well.

I don't like Midsomer Murders.

To me, every storyline is: someone moves to the village. murders happen. they find the killer. New people move into village. and the whole thing happens again.
Sorry- I just don't think it's plausable.

Wire in the Blood on the other hand, is fascinating. Robson Green gives the profiler's character something that I can't quite put my finger on...
Ah. I can see what you mean by that Schlualybub. It's not the most believable murder mystery show. It's mainly just an escape for me every now and then.

Awesome another Frost fan -- who's your favorite character?

I like Midsummer Murders ok along with Foyle's War. I've seen some of Wire in the Blood. It's an interesting show... it reminds me of Law and Order and some of those other crime shows out there. And it has some pretty good writing as well.


Ah. I can see what you mean by that Schlualybub. It's not the most believable murder mystery show. It's mainly just an escape for me every now and then.

Frost is my favourite character, and I also like George. Mullet is good too, or should I call him Hornrimmed Harry?
A funny thing, though, I borrowed one of the books the series is based on, out of the Library, recently, and Frost does not come across as the likeable and sympathetic character he is on TV. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't like book Frost as well as TV Frost.
I also agree about Midsummer Murders, but it is escapist fun and the scenery around those villages is gorgeous.

I like American crime shows, too. My favourites are Cold Case and Law & Order SVU. Criminal Minds is the one that reminds me mostly of Wire in the Blood. Both are about profiling serial killers.

Frost is my favourite character, and I also like George. Mullet is good too, or should I call him Hornrimmed Harry?
A funny thing, though, I borrowed one of the books the series is based on, out of the Library, recently, and Frost does not come across as the likeable and sympathetic character he is on TV. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't like book Frost as well as TV Frost.
I also agree about Midsummer Murders, but it is escapist fun and the scenery around those villages is gorgeous.

I like American crime shows, too. My favourites are Cold Case and Law & Order SVU. Criminal Minds is the one that reminds me mostly of Wire in the Blood. Both are about profiling serial killers.
I love George too :D. He makes me laugh my butt off :lol:. Awesome, and I remember watching a documentary about the show and David Jason said that he made Frost a funnier and more likable character than he is in the books themselves.

Yep. And some escapism doesn't hurt :p.

Awesome, I love Cold Case myself too. Don't you just love how they use period film for each of the case's flashbacks? I think that it's pretty neat and ingenious. I've never seen another show like it.

Quote

Awesome, I love Cold Case myself too. Don't you just love how they use period film for each of the case's flashbacks? I think that it's pretty neat and ingenious. I've never seen another show like it.

The details in the flashbacks are awesome! The costumes, furniture, cars etc. And the music. I love that! Especially, at the end when the suspect is caught and they play a song from the time of the crime that fits the situation, perfectly. Oh and when someone sees the victim, that is so touching. I admit to having tears in my eyes sometimes at that.
It is a brilliant show. I admit, to prefering the older crimes, like from the 80s and earlier. The contrast between now and then is more pronounced with them.

Coupling

I was taught by the woman who played Jeffrey's mother in Coupling, what a claim to fame that is! She also starred in the wonderfully named Fondue, Sex and Dinsoaurs, although I haven't actually seen that one!

QI is good, as are most stuff on Dave. I really like the IT Crowd as well, tried watching Garth Meranghi and Dean Learner too, and while they have some funny bits, they're mostly just weird!

Oh and Faulty Towers! How could I forget. Hilarious stuff :D

I also loved The Bill back way before it became a soap opera. Back in the days of Kerry, Smithy, Julian and whatever Dan Mcpherson's character's name was. Around the time Kerry died, that was it for me :(

My fav shows are Only Fools & Horses, My Family (:D), Dr Who, Gimme Gimme Gimme, & Some Mother's Do Ave Em (i love frank spencer <3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9USvi173GE

Quote

Awesome, I love Cold Case myself too. Don't you just love how they use period film for each of the case's flashbacks? I think that it's pretty neat and ingenious. I've never seen another show like it.

The details in the flashbacks are awesome! The costumes, furniture, cars etc. And the music. I love that! Especially, at the end when the suspect is caught and they play a song from the time of the crime that fits the situation, perfectly. Oh and when someone sees the victim, that is so touching. I admit to having tears in my eyes sometimes at that.
It is a brilliant show. I admit, to prefering the older crimes, like from the 80s and earlier. The contrast between now and then is more pronounced with them.
Yea they are. The clothing people and all that do an excellent job on the show itself. They keep everything period from the music, all the way down to the clothes and stuff.

Same here for me. They do a really believable job in terms of that.

I do too -- especially to see the film from before then... definitely true there. So, so much difference. Even though it is funny to see ones where the crimes take place when I was a kid (80's -- 90's) -- I remember so much music wise and all that -- so it's rather scary :p :whistle:.

Yea they are. The clothing people and all that do an excellent job on the show itself. They keep everything period from the music, all the way down to the clothes and stuff.

Same here for me. They do a really believable job in terms of that.

I do too -- especially to see the film from before then... definitely true there. So, so much difference. Even though it is funny to see ones where the crimes take place when I was a kid (80's -- 90's) -- I remember so much music wise and all that -- so it's rather scary :p :whistle:.

For me, it's the 60s and 70s that I remember, as a kid!

For me, it's the 60s and 70s that I remember, as a kid!
Wow... a friend of mine said the same thing for her. Those had to be interesting decades to have been a kid in. The 80's and 90's were pretty good for the most part -- if you ignore the spandex, the shoulder pads and all that :lol:...

So is anyone planning on watching the As time goes by? reunion show coming up on the 13th of this month? :)

I am... just for the heck of it. I wonder if it'll show what the characters have been up to -- like in a mini episode kind of way... or if it'll be set up more like the M*A*S*H 30th reunion was... in a rememberance sort of way...

Only fools and horses.
Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps.
Primeval.

Wow... a friend of mine said the same thing for her. Those had to be interesting decades to have been a kid in. The 80's and 90's were pretty good for the most part -- if you ignore the spandex, the shoulder pads and all that :lol:...

So is anyone planning on watching the As time goes by? reunion show coming up on the 13th of this month? :)

I am... just for the heck of it. I wonder if it'll show what the characters have been up to -- like in a mini episode kind of way... or if it'll be set up more like the M*A*S*H 30th reunion was... in a rememberance sort of way...

It was an interesting time to grow up in. Fantastic music! And the clothes!
I tell my kids how there were no Computers or Mobile phones or Microwaves or CDs and DVDs when I was young and they are so sorry for me.

My mother loves As Time Goes By, so I hope we get that program, soon.

I'm starting to get into Mock the Week :)

I'm starting to get into Mock the Week :)

Mock the Week is awesome

Everything on Dave is generally good, especially this month ... Stand Up month!
Just watching Michael McIntyre on Live at the Apollo now!

I love Hyacinth and her antics on "Keeping Up Appearances."

I also love BBC America: Dr. Who, Torchwood, Graham Norton, Top Gear (especially their "challenges"), Being Human.

Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes (my other favorite series). There used to be a series on called "To the Manor Born." It was hilarious. Of course, all of the Monty Pythons.

Has anyone else seen the British Cold Case type show called, I think, Wake the Dead?

It hasn't been on TV, here in Australia, for a while but I did really like it.

Has anyone else seen the British Cold Case type show called, I think, Wake the Dead?

It hasn't been on TV, here in Australia, for a while but I did really like it.
Nope I haven't. Is it out on dvd in any way?

And I didn't get a chance to see the As Time Goes By special... :sigh: I missed it -- and there was nothing but stuff that I didn't want to see on... just some guys fixing up a old house... and some other show...

Has anyone else seen the British Cold Case type show called, I think, Wake the Dead?

It hasn't been on TV, here in Australia, for a while but I did really like it.

Channel 9 had the network rights to Waking the Dead in Australia but as they did with Sopranos and The West Wing they moved it around and inexplicably dropped it for short periods until people lost interest.

Of all the networks 9 shouldn't be allowed anywhere near quality series.

Channel 9 had the network rights to Waking the Dead in Australia but as they did with Sopranos and The West Wing they moved it around and inexplicably dropped it for short periods until people lost interest.

Of all the networks 9 shouldn't be allowed anywhere near quality series.

Yes, I used to watch it every week when it first came on. They started with the first series and I looked forward to seeing all of the episodes, then they skipped a few years, then it was gone.
I hope it comes out on DVD. I havn't seen it as a boxed set, yet.

I love Hyacinth and her antics on "Keeping Up Appearances."

I also love BBC America: Dr. Who, Torchwood, Graham Norton, Top Gear (especially their "challenges"), Being Human.

Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes (my other favorite series). There used to be a series on called "To the Manor Born." It was hilarious. Of course, all of the Monty Pythons.
Me too :lol: -- she's so rediculous at times :p.

I've seen parts of that series (Sherlock Holmes). It's pretty well done -- and he did an incredible job as Sherlock :).

BtW Since this is a Potter thread I recently wrote a next gen story which included a Columbian Mammoth kept at Hogwarts since the the Department of Mysteries time experiment went wrong (Charlie Weasley was in charge of the cover up) and another where in Muggle studies, we learn that the Dr. Who episodes "Blink" and "Silence in the Libary" are actually public service anouncements for Muggles about Luna's newly discovered creatures and what to do should you encounter them.

As for my shows, Being Human, Dr Who, Torchwood, and the first two seasons of Primeval (The third was dumbed down), Last Resturaunt Standing.

All the Best,

Lunatic

BtW Since this is a Potter thread I recently wrote a next gen story which included a Columbian Mammoth kept at Hogwarts since the the Department of Mysteries time experiment went wrong (Charlie Weasley was in charge of the cover up) and another where in Muggle studies, we learn that the Dr. Who episodes "Blink" and "Silence in the Libary" are actually public service anouncements for Muggles about Luna's newly discovered creatures and what to do should you encounter them.

As for my shows, Being Human, Dr Who, Torchwood, and the first two seasons of Primeval (The third was dumbed down), Last Resturaunt Standing.

All the Best,

Lunatic
:lol: Yep this is a Potter forum. But this thread isn't related to HP, not every part of the forums themselves has to do with it :).

Interesting idea for a story though, Lunatic.

As for the shows, I haven't watched any of those... I'll have to catch them sometime :).

HUGE Ricky Gervais fan. i really like the British version of The Office, and Extras is awesome too. (Daniel Radcliffe was on Extras once! :love:) anyone else share my love?

I LOVE The Office,Extras,Life on Mars, and Fawlty Towers

It's a bit adult, and I'm not sure how well it'd play to a non-UK audience, but I really like Shameless

HUGE Ricky Gervais fan. i really like the British version of The Office, and Extras is awesome too. (Daniel Radcliffe was on Extras once! :love:) anyone else share my love?

Not me. One look at that smirk and I feel like glassing him. Extras was saved by the supporting cast.

I LOVE SKINS! It's my favourite show(with Degrassi). I just love the charaters. They're so... lovable.But I have to watch it online though, because the channel in Canada that airs Skins, I don't have it. but it's fine. I'm happy my mom finds me mature enough to watch it.
I also watch EastEnders sometimes. I do get lost occasionaly because I dn't watch episode my episode. But I really do like it.

Apparently Gavin & Stacey is returning this fall and I am looking forward to it. The Inbetweeners has been picked up for another season. It's going to be great. :)

I LOVE The Office,Extras,Life on Mars, and Fawlty Towers

i've heard of Fawlty Towers, and according to a friend "it's an amazing show that had a very limited run on TV". true or not?

Two six-episode series were made. Not due to a lack of ratings but because John Cleese and Connie Booth preferred to end the show on their terms rather than let it run intermably with a resultant drop in quality. Plus it took six weeks to write each episode.

SKIIIIINS! You gotta love Skins :D heard they're making a US version of it.

I never really watched Skins, but I'm hoping to watch it the next time they do a full repeat on E4 or whatever

SKIIIIINS! You gotta love Skins :D heard they're making a US version of it.

You don't have to love Skins. I enjoyed it the first time around, but on second viewing I just wanted to slap the self-indulgent spoilt brats.

Two new British crime shows have started here in the last couple of weeks, Law and Order UK and George Gently.
The latter is set in the sixties so it has a little in common with Heartbeat, as it's also set in a town in the North of England.
I have been enjoying them both.
Does anyone else enjoy the forensic show Silent Witness? It's very good.
You can, probably, tell that I love Crime shows.

Two new British crime shows have started here in the last couple of weeks, Law and Order UK and George Gently.
The latter is set in the sixties so it has a little in common with Heartbeat, as it's also set in a town in the North of England.
I have been enjoying them both.
Does anyone else enjoy the forensic show Silent Witness? It's very good.
You can, probably, tell that I love Crime shows.
Wow that's cool. A British Law and Order... I hope it comes out here in the US in terms of the episodes. I'd be curious to see the differences between the shows and all that.

i've seen the British Law and Order, it's pretty good.

I never watched the British Law and Order- wasn't it Freema who plays Martha in Doctor Who?

And I saw the first episode of Inspector George Gently- I thought it was good but I felt it a bit long

I never watched the British Law and Order- wasn't it Freema who plays Martha in Doctor Who?

And I saw the first episode of Inspector George Gently- I thought it was good but I felt it a bit long

Yes Freema from Dr Who plays one of the prosecuters.
The show is very similar to the US version, starting with the discovery of the crime, then we see the two male detectives who have a female senior officer. It moves from scene to scene with the same sound, like the two beats, and there is a caption saying where they are.
There is the same emphasis on the law with getting search warrents and checking forensics, and there is almost always that pre-trial scene with the Defense and Prosecution, in the judge's room arguing points of law.
Then it goes to the trial scenes which are more different because of the legal clothing worn and the fact that the Defendent seems to be up high, not at the front near their Lawyer like is the US version.

As for George Gently, it is long. We are lucky it is on a TV station with no commercials, and even then it goes for an hour and a half.

Some of my faves are:
Wire in the Blood {with Robson Green}
Prime Suspect
Top Gear {Hamster, Captain Slow, & Jezzer}
The 'F' Word {love Gordon Ramsey}
Gavin and Stacey
Being Human
Life on Mars
Dr. Who
Don't Tell the Bride
Torchwood
AbFab
My Hero {Go Thermoman!}
Father Ted
Fawlty Towers {A satisfied customer. We should have him stuffed.}
Coupling
Mr. Bean
The Black Adder
Monty Python

I never watched the British Law and Order- wasn't it Freema who plays Martha in Doctor Who?

I watched the first episode of L&O:UK and was quite underwhelmed but didn't have high expectations to start with. Might sound silly but I think my main problem is that the cops in L&O US are well... they're bad-*** :lol: but the UK ones aren't intimidating at all IMO and it comes across like The Bill but without all the personal drama.

Having said that, I love every other UK show I've seen.

aishah
SKIIIIINS! You gotta love Skins heard they're making a US version of it.
Eugh :grumble: I wish the US would stop ruining great British shows by remaking them. Skins is (IMO) a great series and doesn't NEED to be remade, least of all by US producers. It wouldn't work the same way and would just turn into another M-rated romcom but with more sex and drugs :rolleyes:

Although I never watched Skins, I agree that remaking series to fit in with the country doesn't quite work- I mean it works both ways, but honestly, leave them as they are.
My main objection to this was the American remake of Life on Mars- when I heard about the end of that I thought it was utterly awful, compared to the British one...

Although I never watched Skins, I agree that remaking series to fit in with the country doesn't quite work- I mean it works both ways, but honestly, leave them as they are.
My main objection to this was the American remake of Life on Mars- when I heard about the end of that I thought it was utterly awful, compared to the British one...

Yes the American Life on Mars scared me a bit too.

The American office IMO is much better. I don't really like Ricky Gervais.

I'm not the world's biggest Ricky Gervais fan in the world either, but I do like Extras...

I'm not the world's biggest Ricky Gervais fan in the world either, but I do like Extras...

I love Spaced - your Signature is great!

Spaced is pretty awesome- I've never seen a programme with so many references to different things- my DVDs even have an "homage-o-meter" that tells you where all of the references are from!

Spaced is pretty awesome- I've never seen a programme with so many references to different things- my DVDs even have an "homage-o-meter" that tells you where all of the references are from!

Yeah I bought the special edition Star wars cover box set too! Even though I already had the series on video and DVD.
I love how it says in the front cover about true geeks and how real Spaced fans would but the new box set because thats what we do!

Haha yeah

Although to be honest, I went through a bit of a Simon Pegg phase a few months ago, saw Spaced in WH Smiths for £9, so decided to buy it- I had never seen it before then

Although to be honest, I went through a bit of a Simon Pegg phase a few months ago, saw Spaced in WH Smiths for £9, so decided to buy it- I had never seen it before then

He's a good ambassador for quality comedy! If you have seen it already you should check out Asylum - if you can find it. That was Pegg and Wright's first collaboration. Jessica Stevenson and Julian Barratt, from the boosh, were in it too.

I've seen clips of it, on the extras on the Spaced DVD. It was intriguing to say the least

I've seen clips of it, on the extras on the Spaced DVD. It was intriguing to say the least

I checked earlier - its not on DVD .... yet.
I have only two episodes I taped from years ago - but I did watch it at the time. It was darker, messier but really funny.

I'm currently watching Father Ted, which although it's good I can't help but think it gets a bit old very quickly- it's god some good bits in it though

I'm currently watching Father Ted, which although it's good I can't help but think it gets a bit old very quickly- it's god some good bits in it though

I adore Father Ted. Where are you up to?

It isn't as nearly as clever as Black Books but there are definitely some classic moments in there.

I picked up series three in a charity shop for 50p, and I've just watched the football episode, the one where Father Ted finds out that his forfeit for cheating on the football match is to "Kick Bishop Brennan up the...".

Ahh, Black Books. Utterly Awesome! My favourite episode is "The Entertainer", where Manny realises that he can play the piano. Loads of people I've spoken to though, their favourite episode is "Elephants and Hens" where they write the kids book

Ahh, Black Books. Utterly Awesome! My favourite episode is "The Entertainer", where Manny realises that he can play the piano. Loads of people I've spoken to though, their favourite episode is "Elephants and Hens" where they write the kids book

I find it difficult to choose a favourite episode but I think that Season Two was the strongest overall.

I agree with that. Series one was them just getting a feel for it, and series three, although good, had some pretty strange storylines, even for them. I mean- the explorer and the cat? What was all that about.

Although "I told you- no legal fijjy-wijjiness" is a pretty amazing line

Have you looked up Spaced yet- I really think that you'd enjoy it

I'm currently watching Father Ted, which although it's good I can't help but think it gets a bit old very quickly- it's god some good bits in it though

I prefer the IT crowd, I think Graham Linehan does a better job with it - less repetitive and better comedians.

The Mighty Boosh - just needed to mention it. Best British comedy show EVER!!!

But I do like Black books - a very wise friend introduced me to it.

Not so fond of spaced and I love father Ted.

The Mighty Boosh - just needed to mention it. Best British comedy show EVER!!!

Don't leave out snuffbox - falls under the Boosh protective wing!

I'm currently watching Father Ted, which although it's good I can't help but think it gets a bit old very quickly- it's god some good bits in it though
I tried watching that show, Father Ted... and I didn't like it. It bored me to death really quickly :whistle:. No offense meant to any fans of it.

No, none taken! I'm not the world's biggest fan, but we all like slightly different things, don't we?
I'm currently watching the League of Gentlemen- like someone else mentioned before, it has a really awful laughter track on the first series (I can't remember if it's on the second and third- it's not on the christmas one though) but if you can train yourself to ignore it, and get past the general weirdness of it, it's really good. I've watched it since the first broadcast of the first episode- although the first time I saw that I wasn't sure how to take it...

No, none taken! I'm not the world's biggest fan, but we all like slightly different things, don't we?
I'm currently watching the League of Gentlemen- like someone else mentioned before, it has a really awful laughter track on the first series (I can't remember if it's on the second and third- it's not on the christmas one though) but if you can train yourself to ignore it, and get past the general weirdness of it, it's really good. I've watched it since the first broadcast of the first episode- although the first time I saw that I wasn't sure how to take it...
Yep :).

Ah that's cool. I've have had to ignore more than my share of annoying laugh tracks... gawd, M*A*S*H and The Golden Girls were known for those. And thank god to FOX (which actually did something good for once)... to having a 'no laugh track' option on the M*A*S*H dvd's. It helped to make the show that much more enjoyable.

I'd really like to smack the person (or persons) who invented that infernal device :whistle:...

Oh I agree. I mean I don't mind if they do recordings in front of studio audiences, that's different because the actors can then milk the situation.
A good example is Red Dwarf. Series 1-6 were filmed mainly in front of studio audiences, and it shows in the actors' work. But in series 7 they got rid of the studio audience, so the actors had to put their trust in the scripts a lot more, and it showed, for example the laughter from the audiences shown the completed episodes had to be fitted into the actors' lines instead of the actors fitting their lines around the audience's laughter, which I think is a much more organic way to do it...

Oh I agree. I mean I don't mind if they do recordings in front of studio audiences, that's different because the actors can then milk the situation.
A good example is Red Dwarf. Series 1-6 were filmed mainly in front of studio audiences, and it shows in the actors' work. But in series 7 they got rid of the studio audience, so the actors had to put their trust in the scripts a lot more, and it showed, for example the laughter from the audiences shown the completed episodes had to be fitted into the actors' lines instead of the actors fitting their lines around the audience's laughter, which I think is a much more organic way to do it...
I know -- it just sounds so fake. But if it's flimed in front of a studio audience -- then I have no issue there. Milking a situation = one really good scene.

I really love live shows better. Like you said, it's more organic.

Me too. And I think that's why the bloke in charge of Red Dwarf reverted back to the studio audience in series 8 of Red Dwarf- it just makes for a much more enjoyable experience for the audience, and I assume the actors too

Me too. And I think that's why the bloke in charge of Red Dwarf reverted back to the studio audience in series 8 of Red Dwarf- it just makes for a much more enjoyable experience for the audience, and I assume the actors too
Well that was good of him to do. Since shows seem to do better that way. It just seems so false when they don't perform in front of a live studio audience. It kind of sucks the fun out of stuff there :whistle:.

Yeah- again I agree. It's a shame he had to revert back to recording without an audience for the special they just released- but it was a dead complicated one, and one shot a lot on location (yeah, check me out with my filming lingo lol)

Anyway- back to topic

I'm watching the Fast Show Live, and I'd actually forgotten how much I enjoy this show. I need to get the real series now.

Yeah- again I agree. It's a shame he had to revert back to recording without an audience for the special they just released- but it was a dead complicated one, and one shot a lot on location (yeah, check me out with my filming lingo lol)

Anyway- back to topic

I'm watching the Fast Show Live, and I'd actually forgotten how much I enjoy this show. I need to get the real series now.
Wow that had to be a bummer. And I got the lingo... it must have been a pain for them to be able to shoot on location.

Ah, what's that show (Fast Show Live) may I ask? :hmm:

The Fast show was a British sketch show popular in the 90s. The Fast Show live is a recording of their tour that they did

I've been watching the X-Factor lately and found that the singers in Britain are more charming with more personality and can sing better than those on American Idol, IMO. :lol: And Simon seems to like it more there.

The Fast show was a British sketch show popular in the 90s. The Fast Show live is a recording of their tour that they did
Ah I see. Thanks for clearing that up for me, Schlubalybub :).

No probs :)

I'm currently watching dinnerladies, with Victoria Wood in it. It's really funny, especially as I haven't watched them for about four years

I just re-watched the entire Blackpool series with David Morrissey and David Tennant.
Has anyone else seen it? - it is very unique and so funny.

Ask PBG about it- she loves it

No probs :)

I'm currently watching dinnerladies, with Victoria Wood in it. It's really funny, especially as I haven't watched them for about four years
Awesome, what's it about?

I just re-watched the entire Blackpool series with David Morrissey and David Tennant.
Has anyone else seen it? - it is very unique and so funny.

I've seen most of it. It's definitely unique :lol:

Awesome, what's it about?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/dinnerladies/

I'm currently watching dinnerladies, with Victoria Wood in it. It's really funny, especially as I haven't watched them for about four years

I am not a big Victoria Wood fan, but I do prefer Acorn Antiques to Dinner ladies. I think Julie Walters is great in this.

:lol: Yep this is a Potter forum. But this thread isn't related to HP, not every part of the forums themselves has to do with it :).

Interesting idea for a story though, Lunatic.

As for the shows, I haven't watched any of those... I'll have to catch them sometime :).

Here's the link to the Dr. Who related HP story. (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5369583/1/Starting_Summer)

Here's the link to the Dr. Who related HP story. (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5369583/1/Starting_Summer)
Interesting fan fic :).

@ Schlubalybub: Thanks for the link. Looks like it's an interesting show. Is it out on dvd at all?

Yes- I bought it the other day. If you do decide to buy it though, be careful. I don't know about anybody else's copy, but my series two, discs one and two have the wrong content on it- disc 2 is really disc one, and disc one is really disc 2

I just re-watched the entire Blackpool series with David Morrissey and David Tennant.
Has anyone else seen it? - it is very unique and so funny.
Bubble is right, I do love it. :love: That series was so cheesy and funny and sexy and lovely... You make me want to go watch it again. Thank you very much for bringing it up! :p Ooh, forgot to mention, shocker killer... didn't expect it to be him. I will say no more.

I just started watching Life On Mars today... I. LOVE. IT. John Simm is so awesome.

Why is it that the Brits own television? I have not watched one decent American TV show. Not one.

Bubble is right, I do love it. That series was so cheesy and funny and sexy and lovely... You make me want to go watch it again. Thank you very much for bringing it up! Ooh, forgot to mention, shocker killer... didn't expect it to be him. I will say no more.

Yes it was a quite surprising ending! did you see the one off squeal Viva Blackpool? Not the best, however David Morrissey was again, excellent in it.

Life on Mars is wonderful. I didn't watch it when it was on - but when I bought the box set, I began to watch 4-5 episodes a night, and then went out and bought the second box set straight away. John Simms and Philip Glenister are really great together. The whole program is genius.
I am unable to watch Ashes to Ashes, it is lacking in so many ways, but most of all it does not have the charisma of the mother series.

Yes- I bought it the other day. If you do decide to buy it though, be careful. I don't know about anybody else's copy, but my series two, discs one and two have the wrong content on it- disc 2 is really disc one, and disc one is really disc 2
Awesome. Woah that's weird :lol:... talk about having things mixed up there :p.

And I have some good news... I finally was able to see the 'As Time Goes By' reunion on PBS!! :clap: It was SO worth the wait... everyone did an awesome job in terms of getting back into character. It was a class act all the way... and really funny :rotfl:.

I can't remember the sisters names, but the one who has brown hair... is pregnant..., Lionel's dad line dances (you don't actually don't see anything, but it's still funny), and his girlfriend rides a motorcycle and is friends with some Hell's Angels...and I have to watch it again to catch the rest of the plot. All I can say is that it's really, really good :lol:. I haven't laughed that much in awhile :).

I put what I remember from the special in spoiler tags for those who haven't seen it yet :).

Yes it was a quite surprising ending! did you see the one off squeal Viva Blackpool? Not the best, however David Morrissey was again, excellent in it.

Life on Mars is wonderful. I didn't watch it when it was on - but when I bought the box set, I began to watch 4-5 episodes a night, and then went out and bought the second box set straight away. John Simms and Philip Glenister are really great together. The whole program is genius.
I am unable to watch Ashes to Ashes, it is lacking in so many ways, but most of all it does not have the charisma of the mother series.
No, I haven't. I had heard that they had done a sequel, but had also heard that it was terrible, so I wasn't planning on watching it.

Ashes to Ashes is a spin off of Life on Mars? :hmm: I've heard of the show before, haven't watched it, but didn't know that it was a spin off. Probably should have guessed it, though, due to the fact that they're both songs from David Bowie. :p

I never really got into Ashes to Ashes, but I'll have to give it a try- I didn't actually become a fan of Life on Mars until after the second series came out on DVD, so I might still get into it.

I never really got into Ashes to Ashes, but I'll have to give it a try- I didn't actually become a fan of Life on Mars until after the second series came out on DVD, so I might still get into it.

Just to be warned Keeley Hawes is no John Simm. And IMO the seventies was a much cooler setting than the eighties.
I also prefer the harder, chauvinistic Gene Hunt.

Ashes fails from the get-go by having the same bunch of cops working together in a different city eight years after the original. If you are going to use a big device like time travel the more reality based details need to be credible.

That makes sense, although I didn't realise that it was a different city. Perhaps they should have kept it in Manchester?

I just watched some of Russell Brands Ponderland. I forgot how funny it was.
I wish he was still on the radio.....Hopefully he will be back to do a third series of PL on channel four.

I really liked Ponderland, but I like Russell Brand anyway. He does occasionally go a bit too weird for my liking, but not on Ponderland, that I found kinda interesting in a strange sort of way

I really liked Ponderland, but I like Russell Brand anyway. He does occasionally go a bit too weird for my liking, but not on Ponderland, that I found kinda interesting in a strange sort of way

I thought the second series was much weirder - but also much funnier. Its not out on DVD yet (as far as I know) - I hope it will come out by Christmas.

If it's not out now, I can't see it coming out for christmas to be honest, although that's just my opinion.

I'm currently re-watching all of Red Dwarf, although I think I've already mentioned that

Ashes fails from the get-go by having the same bunch of cops working together in a different city eight years after the original. If you are going to use a big device like time travel the more reality based details need to be credible.

Umm they didn't use time travel (not in the UK version anyway) .... Sam did consider that option but it wasn't what happened. Given what did happen Sam was halucinating whilst in a coma the premis worked well as Bolly was pointing out the lack of 'reality' from the moment she ended up in 'the 80's'

I don't think Wab meant specifically travelling through time, more like finding yourself in a different era to your own.

My point was more that give the actual premise the change of city was not a problem, infact it made total sense imo - any jarring feelings it might have created allow the viewer to better understand how Alex was feeling, :)

I understand that, but I also understand wab's comment- the whole team, minus Sam, end up working together in another city- that doesn't tend to happen in the world of UK police...as is my understanding anyway

I'm currently re-watching all of Red Dwarf, although I think I've already mentioned that

How far are you?
I tried that before Christmas last year and got as far as the middle of the sixth series - Then I got the West Wing box set for Christmas and that was the end of the that. Must go back and start again.
I preferred Clare Grogan as Kochanski. I was upset when Chloë Annett replaced her.

I don't really watch them in order, I've seen them so many times that I can pick it up anywhere. Currently watching series 8, episode "Cassandra"

Do you have each series separately with the extras, or the two boxsets of 4 series each?

Do you have each series separately with the extras, or the two boxsets of 4 series each?


We bought each box set seperately so all the extras are there. We just bought each one as it came out about 3 years ago ....or was it longer :hmm: I can't remember. We got a model Star bug with the 5th series I think.
Originally I just watched the odd episode here and there and some extras. I haven't made it through all the extras yet and the eight series isn't even opened.

What did you think of "Back to Earth"?

Hmm. It was a bit odd, I was glad to see it back, and I tried my hardest not to be disappointed with it, and I wasn't really, only a little bit with the creator and stuff. I liked it when Lister met Craig Charles though

Hmm. It was a bit odd, I was glad to see it back, and I tried my hardest not to be disappointed with it, and I wasn't really, only a little bit with the creator and stuff. I liked it when Lister met Craig Charles though

Yeah, I liked this also - my boyfriend was disgusted. (he is the bigger fan)
I wasn't that disappointed (except with Katerina Bartikovsky showing up - I was glad she disappeared quickly enough). I was happy to see it again also.
I think I might start watching again this weekend.

Currently watching series 8, episode "Cassandra"

They are in Prison here, aren't they?

I didn't like her either. And yes, they are in prison during the whole of series 8 (bar some bits in Back in the Red and Pete-oh and they're on probation in Only the Good...). I've been trying to work out my favourite episodes and series but I can't work out the series

Favourite episode from each series (Bar Back to Earth- cos that's not a full series)

Series 1- Confidence and Paranoia
Series 2- Better than Life (I live just down the road from where the beach scenes were filmed as a random fact :) )
Series 3- Polymorph
Series 4- Dimension Jump
Series 5- Demons and Angels
Series 6- Emohawk- Polymorph II
Series 7- Epideme
Series 8- Krytie TV

I've been trying to work out my favourite episodes and series but I can't work out the series

These are mind from what I can remember.....I think Series three is my favorite
I really need to start watching this again.

Series 1- Balance of Power
Series 2- Thanks for the Memory or Parallel Universe
Series 3- Timeslides
Series 4- Meltdown
Series 5- Back to Reality
Series 6- Emohawk- Polymorph II
Series 7- Tikka to Ride
Series 8- Krytie TV

Series 2- Better than Life (I live just down the road from where the beach scenes were filmed as a random fact )

Thats really cool

Oh damn- I forgot about Tikka to Ride- I think that's actually my favourite. Those scenes of Kennedy getting shot were really well done I thought- and I think the explanation that he killed himself is just as plausible as other conspiracy theories, more plausible than some :)

And that episode was a reminder that Idlewild is a much better name for an airport than JFK.

Without a doubt. Although Lister explaining to Kennedy that they named the airport after him is pretty sweet.

I bought the box set of Jeeves and Wooster and started watching last night.

I have read some of the P. G. Wodehouse books and vaguely remembered the TV series from when I was younger, but I never anticipated how great the TV series is.

I am a big fan of Fry and Laurie, so I don't know why it took so long for me to get around to watching this series, it embodies everything which is great about their partnership.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes very clever humor.

I LOVE Jeeves and Wooster. Fry and Laurie are prefect for the roles in my opinion

Some of my favorite shows happen to be from the UK...

Doctor Who (since forever)
Torchwood (great stories and writing)
Robin Hood (Even my wife likes this one)
Red Dwarf (OMG I miss this show)
Monty Python (still watch the reruns)
Are you being served (downright hillarious)
Primeval (missed most of the first season)
Premier League Soccer (Go Chelsea & Tottenham!)

Just sharing... sorry to be chiming in late...

I LOVE Jeeves and Wooster. Fry and Laurie are prefect for the roles in my opinion
Me too... it's been awhile since I've seen an episode of it. But those two are just perfect in the roles, like you said :).

Good at the whole dry humor thing.

Fry and Laurie are amazing together whatever they do.

Hugh Laurie's songs "Mystery" and "America" (look for them on youtub) are brilliant

Fry and Laurie are amazing together whatever they do.

Hugh Laurie's songs "Mystery" and "America" (look for them on youtub) are brilliant
Agreed :agree: :tu:. I really got a kick out of seeing Fry on Bones. He was just awesome there :D. I really wish that Hugh could get him to guest star on House sometime. Now that would be something I'd love to see :lol:. Him as some sort of patient.

Cool, I'll have to check them out sometime :).

Agreed . I really got a kick out of seeing Fry on Bones. He was just awesome there . I really wish that Hugh could get him to guest star on House sometime. Now that would be something I'd love to see . Him as some sort of patient.

That would be great - or if Laurie was a contestant on QI. It would be funny to see their true dynamic. I think Laurie wouldn't allow Stephen to correct him.
The banter between the two would be so wonderful to see! :D

That would be great - or if Laurie was a contestant on QI. It would be funny to see their true dynamic. I think Laurie wouldn't allow Stephen to correct him.
The banter between the two would be so wonderful to see! :D
Yep it would be. And what is QI -- if you don't mind me asking? :)

Probably :lol:. House would just go nuts :p. Heck yea it would be, those two have VERY good timing together.

QI is a panel show- check out qi.com - it stands for Quite Interesting

Hugh Laurie actually was on the very first episode of QI

Yep it would be. And what is QI -- if you don't mind me asking?

Of course not! :D

QI (quite interesting) is a panel show with four contestants (who are celebrities (writers/comedians etc)) hosted by Stephen Fry. Alan Davis is always a contestant.

The questions are impossible to answer, they are based on what you think you know and you get penalized for incorrect answers. i.e. who invented the telephone- it wasn't A.G.Bell by the way - he worked in the patent office and basically took the patent submitted by someone else - tried it himself and got the Kudos.

The scores are all over the place people mostly end up with minus points. The whole point of the show is you get to learn very interesting facts, taught by Fry, while the other contestants are very funny.

Here is a link to their site:

http://www.qi.com/tv/

Hugh Laurie actually was on the very first episode of QI

I didn't know this! must check it out. Did you see it - was it good?

I've seen it a few times, he gets very indignant at one point, it's so funny

Of course not! :D

QI (quite interesting) is a panel show with four contestants (who are celebrities (writers/comedians etc)) hosted by Stephen Fry. Alan Davis is always a contestant.

The questions are impossible to answer, they are based on what you think you know and you get penalized for incorrect answers. i.e. who invented the telephone- it wasn't A.G.Bell by the way - he worked in the patent office and basically took the patent submitted by someone else - tried it himself and got the Kudos.

The scores are all over the place people mostly end up with minus points. The whole point of the show is you get to learn very interesting facts, taught by Fry, while the other contestants are very funny.

Here is a link to their site:

http://www.qi.com/tv/



I didn't know this! must check it out. Did you see it - was it good?
Oooh, sounds like an interesting game show. Kind of like Hollywood Squares in a way in terms of the celebrity thing... I take it :hmm:...

Is it out on dvd in any way?

It is- series A, B and C, and they have a DVD game called Strictly Come Duncing

also on the QI website there is a petition- I think it might be on the forum- to get QI shown in America

It is- series A, B and C, and they have a DVD game called Strictly Come Duncing

also on the QI website there is a petition- I think it might be on the forum- to get QI shown in America
Awesome. I'll have to see if I can find it over at my local video store :).

That's kind of cool -- maybe PBS may be open to showing it or something... since they do show a lot of British programming.

I'm not sure if the DVDs have been released in America- they might only be PAL

I'm not sure if the DVDs have been released in America- they might only be PAL
Oh dang... and what's PAL?

I have no idea what that means :p...

I'm so behind on dvd lingo these days...

Not sure- I think it's the European DVD thingy

Yeah that was informative

Not sure- I think it's the European DVD thingy

Yeah that was informative
Ah I see... it sounds like it is.

*goes to look it up*

Thanks for clearing that up, Schlubalybub :).

I found a couple of things about it on Wiki:

PAL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL)

Pal_region (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL_region)

The latter has to do with video game regions.

Awesome. I'll have to see if I can find it over at my local video store .

There is a lot of QI on you-tube. You could check it out there. :)

Hugh Laurie actually was on the very first episode of QI

I watched some of this on u tube - it was very funny. Currently I just watch the re-runs on Dave. I have strictly come Duncing (its impossible) and I have the B episode. Must pick up the rest.
Did you get the annuals or the books? The QI book is fantastic.

There is a lot of QI on you-tube. You could check it out there. :)



I watched some of this on u tube - it was very funny. Currently I just watch the re-runs on Dave. I have strictly come Duncing (its impossible) and I have the B episode. Must pick up the rest.
Did you get the annuals or the books? The QI book is fantastic.
Awesome. I'll have to do that sometime. It's nice to see that some shows are on there every now and again. Heck even Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction was, before dear FOX yanked it off :sigh:.

It's good to find decent stuff on there.

Any other good British shows that you'd recommend?

Any other good British shows that you'd recommend?

Hmmm. This is all I can think of at the moment.

Comedy:
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Fawlty Towers
the Mighty Boosh
Snuffbox
Spaced
Look around you
Blackadder
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Porridge

Drama:
Jonathon creek
The Singing Detective
Pennies From Heaven
Brideshead Revisited
All Creatures Great and Small
Kingdom

Sci Fi:
Dr who
Torchwood
Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy
Red Dwarf

Panel:
QI
Never mind the buzzcocks
Shooting stars

I have both QI annuals, the book of general ignorance, the book of animal ignorance and the book of advanced banter!


And yay! Spaced is in my signature
AND Today is their 10th anniversary of the first episode being broadcast

Have to add:

Life on Mars
Hustle
The Goodies
Jekyll
The liver birds
The good life
The young ones
Gavin & Stacey
Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends
The League of Gentlemen
Ripping Yarns
Poldark
and the kids show "press gang".

Was Press Gang the one with Julia Sawahala (I can't remember how to spell her name- Saffy from Ab Fab)? Because I loved that as a kid. I thought it was brilliant!

The Young Ones was SO good. I've still not decided which of the four is my fave. Or if my favourite is Alexei Sayle, cos he was pretty brilliant too

The shows I love,

Monty Python
Coupling
The Office
Doctor Who
Torchwood
Graham Norton

oh I forgot that cute children's show, Charlie and Lola ( is that actually shown in the UK or it is just here?)

Was Press Gang the one with Julia Sawahala (I can't remember how to spell her name- Saffy from Ab Fab)? Because I loved that as a kid. I thought it was brilliant!

Yep - Julia Sawalha and Dexter Flecher. I bought the box set at Christmas. It was not as good as I remembered - but it definitely original. It was created and written by Steven Moffat, who has just taken over Dr Who. :cool:

The Young Ones was SO good. I've still not decided which of the four is my fave. Or if my favourite is Alexei Sayle, cos he was pretty brilliant too

Alexei Sayle was great as their landlord. :lol:

Didn't Julia Sawahla's character die in a fire? or did I dream that?

I think it was left ambiguous. I haven't watched that far. But I remember not really liking the last series much as they were all grown up.

I don't realy remember it all that much, cos I was really little when it was on

I don't realy remember it all that much, cos I was really little when it was on

I know what you mean, I'm a few years older than you and I barely remember it - I was about 10 when it started. Its always on those 100 greatest Kids TV show programs. I bought it mainly because I found out Steven Moffat wrote it - and I love his writing on Doctor Who.

Oh I am addicted to those countdowns...
The first time I saw the kids tv show countdown I was watching it with my mum and she said I used to watch it, and I remember little bits of it, but not much

I re-watched Phoenix Nights last night- the first series. I enjoyed it as much as the first time I saw it

I re-watched Phoenix Nights last night- the first series. I enjoyed it as much as the first time I saw it

I love Phoenix nights :)
Did you ever see "That Peter Kay Thing"? It was prior to PN, but it was where Brian Potter was first introduced. I would recommend it if you haven't seen it yet. :tu:

I didn't care too much for Max & Paddy's Road to Nowhere, it was funny just not as good as his earlier stuff.

I just bought That Peter Kay Thing- I haven't watched them all yet cos the DVD doesn't work properly in my PlayStation

Breaking News for Red Dwarf fans, courtesy of Robert Llewellyn's Twitter page

Series 10 of Red Dwarf announcement just been made at DJ 09. To clarify the scripts have been commissioned, wont be filming til 2010

Breaking News for Red Dwarf fans, courtesy of Robert Llewellyn's Twitter page

Quote:
Series 10 of Red Dwarf announcement just been made at DJ 09. To clarify the scripts have been commissioned, wont be filming til 2010


:clap: I can't wait - must finish watching my box sets in preparation.

I just bought That Peter Kay Thing- I haven't watched them all yet cos the DVD doesn't work properly in my PlayStation

My favorite is the ABBA concert episode. :lol:

Did anybody see the British ITV adaptation of Wuthering Heights? I've never seen any other adaptation, so i can't compare it, but I thought it was brilliant. And I love the book, I thought it was very loyal to it.

Did anybody see the British ITV adaptation of Wuthering Heights? I've never seen any other adaptation, so i can't compare it, but I thought it was brilliant. And I love the book, I thought it was very loyal to it.

I missed it. :blush:

I liked the BBC's adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles two years ago. Difficult book, as people tend not to like Tess as a heroine :p and both of Tess's men are so ghastly, but I thought Gemma Arterton nailed the part. :cool: And it was beautifully done -- the cinematography captured the twin sides of Hardy's vision, both the luscious English countryside and the bleak, fatalistic story.

Absolutely adore the 2006 Jane Eyre and the 1995 Pride and Prejudice. Can't be beat!

Currently watching the new Emma. It's OK. I love Michael Gambon as Emma's neurotic but kindly dad. And the excellent Tamsin Grieg as Miss Bates ... not played so much for laughs as Sophie Thompson's performance in the 1996 film. The chemistry between Emma and Mr Knightley is, like, 'just marry him already, would you?' :lol: Emma is so dense. :yuhup: Jonny Lee Miller is too young though. What it is about casting Mr Knightley as not much older than Emma? Even the gorgeous Jeremy Northam was too young ... although I have no other complaints on that score. :drool:

Changing the subject ... I was absolutely riveted by crime drama Criminal Justice last week on BBC1. Maxine Peak gave an amazing performance ... she should get an award for it. The young girl who played her daughter was also heart-rending. I was on the edge of my seat during the courtroom scenes (which I thought were very realistic: I've served on a jury before.)

Breaking News for Red Dwarf fans, courtesy of Robert Llewellyn's Twitter page


Series 10 of Red Dwarf announcement just been made at DJ 09. To clarify the scripts have been commissioned, wont be filming til 2010
Brilliant - absolutely brilliant.

I missed it. :blush:

I liked the BBC's adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles two years ago. Difficult book, as people tend not to like Tess as a heroine :p and both of Tess's men are so ghastly, but I thought Gemma Arterton nailed the part. :cool: And it was beautifully done -- the cinematography captured the twin sides of Hardy's vision, both the luscious English countryside and the bleak, fatalistic story.

Currently watching the new Emma. It's OK. I love Michael Gambon as Emma's neurotic but kindly dad. And the excellent Tamsin Grieg as Miss Bates ... not played so much for laughs as Sophie Thompson's performance in the 1996 film. The chemistry between Emma and Mr Knightley is, like, 'just marry him already, would you?' :lol: Emma is so dense. :yuhup: Jonny Lee Miller is too young though. What it is about casting Mr Knightley as not much older than Emma? Even the gorgeous Jeremy Northam was too young ... although I have no other complaints on that score. :drool:

I loved that adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbevilles, I thought it was so beautifully filmed and she seemed so innocent. Costume Drama's either really bore me or I get addicted to, I actually found the recnt Emma adaptation pretty boring, maybe I just didn't give it enough time..

I loved Tess of the D'Urbevilles too! And Lost in Austen, I thought it was a funny take on Pride and Prejudice.

And Lost in Austen, I thought it was a funny take on Pride and Prejudice.

I was not a big fan of this. I thought I could enjoy it as a parody, however the personality changes upset me too much.

I didn't like Wickham being good after all and Miss Darcy instigating the whole elopement. (it doesn't explain why Wickham eloped with Lydia in the book).

Or Bingley's sudden personality change. He didn't go to pieces in the book when he was separated from Jane, there is no way he would elope with Lydia.

And Jane was not as nice as she should have been. No matter what happens Jane always turns the other cheek.

I just found this thread today :lol:.

Some of my favorite British tv shows are:

A Touch of Frost

Wire in the Blood

Inspector Morse

Inspector Lewis

Prime Suspect

The Vicar of Dibley

Amazing I'm here on CoS for so long and also only found this thread now.
I'm a huge fan of British series, specially the ones on murder and mystery. I didn't start watching them on TV, since many shows don't come here, so I started by buying some VHS (long time ago :lol: ) on Amazon. I started buying because I already used to read lots of British books on the theme and ended looking for TV adaptations. Now we have many on TV, but still not all, so I have a large collection of DVDs :)

My favorites are:
Inspector Morse - since the series ended we have a channel that broadcast one episode a week on looping mode from the first to the last and I still like to watch many of them.
Wire in the Blood (read all Val McDermid books and watched all the seasons and was very upset with the news that they will stop making it)
Touching Evil (Since I became a fan of Robson Green I looked for other series with him and loved this one)
Cracker (Had to buy the collection after I saw first season and I simply love Robbie Coltrane on it)
Prime Suspect (not much to say, since the series is brilliant and Helen Mirrer is simply awesome as Jane)
A Touch of Frost (had to buy it on Amazon, since the series never came to Brazil)
Lewis (it was so great that they decided to make a sequel of Morse with Lewis, love it and despite the fact that I love Inspector Lewis, my favorite character is Hathaway)
Silent Witness (not sure if I saw all of the seasons, because we had a gap here, but I like it a lot so I will probably get the collection as well).
Miss Marple (I like the ones with Geraldine McEwan more than the new one with Julia McKenzie)
Brother Cadfael (Also bought it on Amazon, read some of the books and it took me a while to find the TV adaptation. Derek Jacobi plays Cadfael who is a Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey during the 12th century that helps solve murders)
New tricks (love the fact that is a crime investigation series with a comedy trace on it. You got to love those old guys :) )
Blue Murder (the British version is really great, got the DVDs on my last trip)

Amazing I'm here on CoS for so long and also only found this thread now.
I'm a huge fan of British series, specially the ones on murder and mystery. I didn't start watching them on TV, since many shows don't come here, so I started by buying some VHS (long time ago :lol: ) on Amazon. I started buying because I already used to read lots of British books on the theme and ended looking for TV adaptations. Now we have many on TV, but still not all, so I have a large collection of DVDs :)

My favorites are:
Inspector Morse - since the series ended we have a channel that broadcast one episode a week on looping mode from the first to the last and I still like to watch many of them.
Wire in the Blood (read all Val McDermid books and watched all the seasons and was very upset with the news that they will stop making it)
Cracker (Had to buy the collection after I saw first season and I simply love Robbie Coltrane on it)
Prime Suspect (not much to say, since the series is brilliant and Helen Mirrer is simply awesome as Jane)
A Touch of Frost (had to buy it on Amazon, since the series never came to Brazil)
Lewis (it was so great that they decided to make a sequel of Morse with Lewis, love it and despite the fact that I love Inspector Lewis, my favorite character is Hathaway)
Miss Marple (I like the ones with Geraldine McEwan more than the new one with Julia McKenzie)
Brother Cadfael (Also bought it on Amazon, read some of the books and it took me a while to find the TV adaptation. Derek Jacobi plays Cadfael who is a Welsh Benedictine monk living at Shrewsbury Abbey during the 12th century that helps solve murders)
All of those shows I heart :D. Cadfael is definitely different, but is good... as for Ms. Marple, I don't mind it... but my mom is more of a fan of that show.

As for A Touch of Frost -- that's my all time favorite British mystery show :clap:.

All of those shows I heart :D. Cadfael is definitely different, but is good... as for Ms. Marple, I don't mind it... but my mom is more of a fan of that show.

As for A Touch of Frost -- that's my all time favorite British mystery show :clap:.

Great that you loved them too. I wish I could see British shows more often, but I can't complain too much because at least I can buy them :D Regarding Ms. Marple, as I said I'm more fan of Geraldine McEwan in it than the series. And as for A Touch of Frost, I really loved what I saw so far, because I only have the first two seasons (that I've managed to buy in UK), but I'm saving to buy more on Amazon.

Spooks returned last Wednesday, Top Gear returns this Sunday, and Gavin & Stacey returns on November 26!

Great that you loved them too. I wish I could see British shows more often, but I can't complain too much because at least I can buy them :D Regarding Ms. Marple, as I said I'm more fan of Geraldine McEwan in it than the series. And as for A Touch of Frost, I really loved what I saw so far, because I only have the first two seasons (that I've managed to buy in UK), but I'm saving to buy more on Amazon.
Me too... I wish that PBS would show more of them. Like A Touch of Frost. But I'm glad that they air what they air. It's better than nothing :).

Cool... they're up to season 13 now. I've rented them from my local library, since they cost too much to buy.

Me too... I wish that PBS would show more of them. Like A Touch of Frost. But I'm glad that they air what they air. It's better than nothing :).


It's great that you have PBS, I wish we had it here too. But as you said I'm glad that at least some shows brought to us by HBO and a channel called Film & Arts. This last one is the one that presents Morse, Lewis, New Tricks, Doc Martin, Prime Suspect and a lot of British movies.

Cool... they're up to season 13 now. I've rented them from my local library, since they cost too much to buy.
Wow, already season13!?! Good that you've rented. They are expensive and I was in shock with the price of the DVD collections on UK, that's why I could not buy more. Here in Brazil a DVD set of a series complete season costs about US$50 (but we have only US series available here). On Amazon, I buy them from US$30 to US$50, depending on the series, but on UK they were around 70 to 90 pounds (if I'm not wrong it's around US$115 to US$150)!!!

My boyfriend recently bought me the complete Vicar of Dibley boxset :D

It's great that you have PBS, I wish we had it here too. But as you said I'm glad that at least some shows brought to us by HBO and a channel called Film & Arts. This last one is the one that presents Morse, Lewis, New Tricks, Doc Martin, Prime Suspect and a lot of British movies.


Wow, already season13!?! Good that you've rented. They are expensive and I was in shock with the price of the DVD collections on UK, that's why I could not buy more. Here in Brazil a DVD set of a series complete season costs about US$50 (but we have only US series available here). On Amazon, I buy them from US$30 to US$50, depending on the series, but on UK they were around 70 to 90 pounds (if I'm not wrong it's around US$115 to US$150)!!!Awesome. We here in the US don't get HBO in terms of some of its shows... yes there are people who get the channel... but it's on Premium cable :rolleyes:. A scam if I ever heard it :p.

Back on topic... yep... in fact, as far as I can remember they're up to season 14, so I still have a little bit of catching up to do :lol:. Heck yea, since dvd's can cost a lot.

That's pretty much how much they cost here in the US (and wow that's just rediculous price wise over in the UK). Heck I just got the third season of the X-Files for about $13 or so at my local Wal-Mart... everywhere else was selling it for about $30... which I wouldn't pay for any series. That's just too much money. The highest I'd go for a series would be around $20. No higher. I don't care how much I like the series either. It's just not worth it.

The most expensive series that I've ever seen was Star Trek... $99 or so, iirc. Followed by the Twilight Zone at $60 a season... :no: That's just overpricing imo. Plain and simple.


My boyfriend recently bought me the complete Vicar of Dibley boxset :DAwesome, that's a really nice of him to do that for you :).

I'm a fan of a very old British TV show, it's called Mind Your Language. It was shown in the late 1970's. (I'm not THAT old! There were some re-runs on TV, I checked it out on YouTube, and was HOOKED!) It's about this English teacher who tries to impart the knowledge of the English language to a class of foreigners. It's very politcally incorrect, but it's seriously funny. But I don't know what happened to the YouTube vids, they're all gone.

youtube probably deleted them due to copyright laws

I'm a fan of a very old British TV show, it's called Mind Your Language. It was shown in the late 1970's. (I'm not THAT old! There were some re-runs on TV, I checked it out on YouTube, and was HOOKED!) It's about this English teacher who tries to impart the knowledge of the English language to a class of foreigners. It's very politcally incorrect, but it's seriously funny. But I don't know what happened to the YouTube vids, they're all gone.

I remember watching that show on TV (Yes, I am that old) and I loved it too.
It is available on DVD, now.

New Gavin and Stacey tonight on BBC 1, followed by new G series of QI. :clap:

A night for TV methinks. :D

Hell yes...then Russell Howard at 11pm on BBC3

Hell yes...then Russell Howard at 11pm on BBC3

Couldn't stay up - will watch repeat tomorrow night.

The new Gavin and Stacey was great. I was a little worried because I think comedy shows begin to lose it with their third show. One of the reasons I'm glad Spaced didn't go on for another series. I think the show's have a tendency to get a little stale at this point - But Gavin and Stacey remained fresh and very funny, maybe because the Smithy/Nessa plot is so strong.

I agree with that for newer comedy shows, but things like Red Dwarf I actually like up to series 6 or 7 (perhaps even 8 at a push)

But I agree with you about Spaced

I agree with that for newer comedy shows, but things like Red Dwarf I actually like up to series 6 or 7 (perhaps even 8 at a push)

Yeah - I get your point with Red Dwarf - it held out longer. I liked the third series of Black Books as well (and I wish arrested developement and pushing daisies could have gone on forever).

I had in my head The league gentlemen, Teachers and The Mighty Boosh (though I liked the last series, I think its getting a little stale). I think Spaced and The green wing would have been ruined with another series.

The third series of IT Crowd was also very good, but I think this was beacuse it was revitalized by the introduction of Matt Berry.

I had in my head The league gentlemen, Teachers and The Mighty Boosh (though I liked the last series, I think its getting a little stale). I think Spaced and The green wing would have been ruined with another series.


I agree with you on Teachers. The first two seasons were wonderful, especially after they stopped focusing primarily on Simon, and while the major cast change between season two and three worked in some ways, I don't think that the show needed a fourth season at all. Brian and Kurt were what made the third season work as well as it did, IMO.

Couldn't stay up - will watch repeat tomorrow night.

The new Gavin and Stacey was great. I was a little worried because I think comedy shows begin to lose it with their third show. One of the reasons I'm glad Spaced didn't go on for another series. I think the show's have a tendency to get a little stale at this point - But Gavin and Stacey remained fresh and very funny, maybe because the Smithy/Nessa plot is so strong.

Sketch comedy shows really start to lag after two or three seasons, as they become stale, particularly if they retain a small roster of performers/writers.

A good example is John Cleese who wanted to leave Monty Python's Flying Circus after series two (feeling that they'd run out of ideas) and did leave after three as he believed that many of his sketches in three were rewrites from the first two.

The fourth series only lasted six episodes.

I agree with you on Teachers. The first two seasons were wonderful, especially after they stopped focusing primarily on Simon,

I disliked the focus on Simon too. Brian and Kurt where much funnier - I was glad when Simon left and then when he returned he was pushed into the background. The last series was ridiculous, I lost interest from the first scene when the girls described what had happened to Brian, Kurt and Matt.

The last series was ridiculous, I lost interest from the first scene when the girls described what had happened to Brian, Kurt and Matt.

Me, too. I tried to watch the fourth season a couple of times but lost interest very quickly. I consider the second season to be the strongest.

Brian and Kurt were a great double act but my favourite character would have to have been Susan.

I actually really liked the third series of League of Gents- it was the film that was weirdest though

I actually really liked the third series of League of Gents- it was the film that was weirdest though

I did like the way the episodes were connected via the plastic bag and I loved the two women in the charity shop with their lovely Keith.
I thought the maxi power sketch was very well done (but very disturbing).

My biggest problem with it was there was quite a few sketches which didn’t work, IMO the sadistic doctor making his patients play games and the B&B owner who had a wife who was a swinger where not up to standard.

I also didn’t like the Pauline, Ross and Mickey conclusion; I think they pushed it to far.