Gransnet forums

Chat

Surprising TV progs enjoyed by very elderly

(43 Posts)
Primrose53 Thu 20-Jun-24 22:58:55

My husband had to visit a lady well in her 90s today. She was telling him about a very elderly man who often visits her and she wishes he wouldn’t as she wants to watch the motorbike racing. 🤣

A very elderly lady who lived near us in the late70s was absolutely hooked on watching wrestling and if anybody knocked on her door she wouldn’t answer.

Primrose53 Thu 20-Jun-24 22:59:36

When the wrestling was on!

Farmor15 Thu 20-Jun-24 23:38:31

My friend's elderly mother used to enjoy "Pimp my ride" smile

V3ra Thu 20-Jun-24 23:48:40

I can remember watching the wrestling with my Grandma 😁

Salti Thu 20-Jun-24 23:51:22

When an in-law, in her late eighties, was not feeling very well, I volunteered to get her some DVDs to watch and asked what she would like, fully expecting her to ask for some old soppy classics. I knew her taste in books was Catherine Cookson style. No, she wanted Steven Seagal or Bruce Willis films.

annodomini Thu 20-Jun-24 23:54:10

What is so extraordinary about older people enjoying the same things that they might have watched when they were younger? At 83,I still enjoy watching international Rugby matches. The family know that there's no point in their dropping in when Rugby's on TV. A lady I know, of 97, loves watching every minute of tennis championships - as do I. In just a few weeks I will be glued to hour upon hour of the Olympics.

V3ra Fri 21-Jun-24 00:26:16

Well my Grandma was born in 1900, and a very strait-laced lady.
I can remember thinking it was a bit odd seeing her glued to the likes of a semi-naked Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, but good fun all the same šŸ˜‚

travelsafar Fri 21-Jun-24 06:43:31

My mum was hooked on watching snooker.

Curtaintwitcher Fri 21-Jun-24 06:47:49

We may be old ladies but we can still appreciate young male energy. I have no interest in football but I enjoy watching the local youths playing!

RosiesMaw Fri 21-Jun-24 06:49:00

travelsafar

My mum was hooked on watching snooker.

We used to watch Pot Black even before we had colour. hmm

M0nica Fri 21-Jun-24 07:18:47

Why should older people's taste in tv watching be any different from the rest of the population? TV companies do not broadcast programmes that no one wants to watch.

kittylester Fri 21-Jun-24 07:24:16

I agree with Anno and Monica.

Grannynannywanny Fri 21-Jun-24 07:36:13

I remember in the 1950s my Gran was a fan of the champion wrestler Mick McManus. He was portrayed as a ā€œbaddieā€ and as a child I remember feeling a little afraid of him when he appeared on tv.

nanna8 Fri 21-Jun-24 07:43:46

Talk about ageism! Words fail me ..

Gingster Fri 21-Jun-24 07:49:04

My Nan loved the wrestling too. She’d shout out ā€˜that dirty devil’. 🤣🤣

Elegran Fri 21-Jun-24 08:19:27

RosiesMaw

travelsafar

My mum was hooked on watching snooker.

We used to watch Pot Black even before we had colour. hmm

"And for those of you watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green". - Ted Lowe, BBC commentator.

V3ra Fri 21-Jun-24 09:07:43

images.app.goo.gl/2TQR68zAu3CKeUMb7

I don't think Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks were prime examples of young male energy 🫤

flappergirl Fri 21-Jun-24 09:27:57

The elderly gentleman in question was obviously a fan of motorbikes and motorbike racing. Both have been around for decades and his interest would have started in his youth no doubt. I don't see that it's any more remarkable than a man of 90 getting excited about a football match.

As for wrestling, it was always considered more popular with women than men, or at least equally so. This was certainly the case back in the 50's and 60's and when working class women would settle down to watch it on Saturday afternoons and god help anyone who interrupted. In fact it was the subject of many a spoof comedy sketch.

I do agree with V3ra though, if the appeal was young male sexual energy then Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks certainly wouldn't do it for me!

Taichinan Fri 21-Jun-24 09:34:50

Goodness - a bit of an ageist thread! But I remember my very aged grandmother (she must have been in her mid-70s at the time) loved the wrestling. I'm a spritely young 82 and love 24Hours in A&E šŸ˜‰

GrannyGravy13 Fri 21-Jun-24 09:38:37

My dear late Mum loved Celebrity Juice…

Jaxjacky Fri 21-Jun-24 09:53:51

As a young teenager my Dad, who was in the Lions Club, used to take me to the wrestling, I helped sell raffle tickets for the Lions. I got to meet a lot of the wrestlers, with Dad of course!

NotSpaghetti Fri 21-Jun-24 10:07:06

Jaxjacky I also went to charity wrestling (and boxing) with my dad to help with the raffle. Actually I never liked either (though liked the "event") - still don't.

westendgirl Fri 21-Jun-24 10:16:38

A very ageist thread. Why shouldn't older people watch things they enjoy ?
What do you think they should watch ? I am 86 and watch a varied amount of programmes including sport, arts, drama,films. I watch what I enjoy, which could be different from what you enjoy.

Jaxjacky Fri 21-Jun-24 10:18:03

Well I’m blowed NotSpaghetti I just felt very grown up being out late.

NotSpaghetti Fri 21-Jun-24 10:19:46

Yes. Me too. That was the "fun" bit.
My parents did a lot of voluntary work.