Weeping and wailing - and wiping.

Yes, Rosina I think this every time another actress /actor uses her/his hands, fingers etc and yell 'get a tissue' at the tv set.
It seems to be a relatively new thing, at least have not noticed it in the past.

Buying drinks, one sip then leaving, same with food

I think it's to ramp up the dramatic effect of the tears.?

Another annoyance is the women who wave their hands about in a fanning motion to convey that they are about to cry, this is actresses and women whonare just being filmed for some reason, like Escape To The Country.

Who views a house and cries because they like the kitchen....I mean WHO? ?

Oh yes Meno..... all that wasted food.You know in a UK drama, that if somebody ( a detective usually) sits down for a meal, they will only ever eat one mouthful of it.
Unless it's Montelbano, then he will lovingly eat three courses before he gets up from the table. ?

Even when they're acting no self respecting Italian would leave food uneaten

Escape to the Country - who needs so much room? I saw one woman in ecstasy over 6 bedrooms all with en suites. I was yelling at the screen "Who's going to clean all those loos?" I know she wanted to run it as a B&B but it was quite remote and not much scope for employing help.

I hate when someone is cooking, they hold out the stirring spoon for someone to taste........then the spoon goes straight back into the saucepan, YUCK!!

DH and I have a competition on wet, cold Saturday mornings. We make a pot of coffee and watch Saturday Kitchen and take bets on whether or not the female celebrity will actually EAT the miniscule forkful of food she waves about in front of her face.

It goes, 'Yes, look, it's going in her mouth....I win!'

Then the camera pans away.

GAH!

....aaaahhh but does she swallow merlot

I like them kind of games.

Yes Escape to the country makes me laugh too Deeda when there Is a fairly elderly couple and they say "that 10 acre garden isn't big enough" or "only 5 bedrooms?" The kitchen is never big enough "for entertaining" and don't get me started on the "Is that the road I can hear in the distance" Grrrrr

I like the 'master suite' at the top of the house. Only three flights of stairs to negotiate, lugging a hoover but 'Look at that view?'

Sadly there is no garage but enough land to build at least twenty.

And don't get me started on the acreage for the alpacas!

I like the couple who love all of the perfect and amazing houses then at the end decide not to move after all

Juliet Stevenson in Truely,Madly,Deeply, was the first I can recall sobbing without a handkerchief to hand , brilliant acting expressing raw grief.

Oh yes I cant watch Julie Stevenson in that without joining in but with a tissue to hand.
The food thing really annoys me my domestic science teach years and years ago taught us to taste with a clean spoon and then put that in the washing up - no double dipping for us!
Much as I like Mary Berry she does far too much slurping these days and then makes it worse with over emphasis Deeelicious!

merlot I have a guest suite at the top of my house (ooh get 'er!). The only time it is hoovered is the day before visitors are due to arrive!

Escape to the Country is my little vice. I record it, then watch late afternoon with a cuppa, or two. DH pretends not to watch, but seems to know what's what. He doesn't believe the folk want to move, just have a few days break. True?

I don't watch food or property porn but I did watch an old DVD the other day. Zorba the Greek. Now I can't stop trying to dance to the tune.

I couldn't agree more. I guess it adds to the dramatic effect if a tissue has to be handed to the 'helpless female'. They must think that we, the audience are pretty stupid to fall for that one again and again.
As for Escape to the Country, if we all had a fiver for every time they complain that the house is too small, kitchen the wrong shape, no garage, not enough land etc, we'd all be able to afford a mansion in the country ourselves.
It's all so ridiculously over-ambitious isn't it? Many have around half a million pounds to spend! Not Mr & Mrs Average.

Another fan of Escape to the Country here. About to retire people buying somewhere in the middle of nowhere, I start asking them; where is the nearest shop/hospital/GP? What happens when you have a hip replaced and can't drive for months? Not my concern of course, but still. My absolute favourite though is any political discussion like QT or Andrew Marr, I can't help shouting 'answer the bloody question!', good job we live in a detached house with all this TV interaction going on!

Bring back the hanky say I. I know tissues are easy, disposable and hygienic but my beloved grandma taught me always to keep a clean hanky within reach. They don't rip, fall to bits or spoil your washing if you leave one in your pocket. When my sister and I cleared mum's house last year I found a beautiful embroidered bag filled with little lace edged hankies made for mum by my grandma.

I saw a film one time where an older man told a younger one that a gentleman always carries a clean, pressed handkerchief. He never really needs to use it but you keep it in case you have opportunity to give it to a woman who is crying. Hmmm, a bit patronising or just romantic? Useful I suppose for a woman without a tissue.

I love having a lovely clean, pressed hanky in my handbag, and yes, I often give them away to someone who needs to blow or wipe. I should be on the telly

What about the escapees who think "the Christmas Tree will look lovely there in the hallway" what about the other 50 weeks of the year?????

I agree, re. Escape to the Country. We moved to a small town recently as our village didn't have any facilities. [bus once a week, three bus rides to hospital, etc...] I have had labyrinthitis which recurs after which i completely lost confidence in driving for months, DH has cancer, which although under control, will kill him sooner rather than later; we had 2 acres and a 5 bed house.
Why move??? Ha! Old age! Now this house can be converted to downstairs only, i can walk to the shops/doctor/bus/church with my [not needed yet] Zimmer frame. A house for my dotage.
People are incredulous. I don't think they are realistic - I am. In spades
Don't like the nose wiping with the back of the hand... the ACRES of sheet whey they wake up the next morning... Where do they get those from?

I have a small packet of Kleenex (or similar) in every bag I own and every pocket of every coat. Over cautious or what?

Yes, how irritating is Escape to the Country and other programmes of a similar ilk...when the presenter or the punter says when looking at a garden or similar space...."Oh great for barbecues and a glass of wine"...how many people actually do it! The other irritating thing is "I must have an ensuite"...why!

We have barbecues and a glass of wine (but then, we're not exactly in the country).
"I must have an ensuite"...why! because it's not too far to go in the middle of the night on wobbly legs

I sometimes have a Kleenex in the pocket of trousers I have put to the wash