Not much on TV these days

I love the Archers!

IPlayer and itv hub are good backups

Ever since I was a young child I've watched quite a lot of TV and I don't think it's done me much harm.

However, the programmes have been so dire over the last few weeks that most evenings I haven't even bothered to turn the TV on. Crazy isn't it, dozens and dozens of channels but nothing to watch. Now that the pay-for channels are around, there are also hardly any good films to watch.

Sorry my last post went prematurely as I was editing it. I wanted to say they manipulate the characters’ acts to a ridiculous extent to bring in another ridiculous story. For example Gary put lives at risk bringing Pat Phelan back to the street from Wales just so they could have Pat escape and have the ridiculous hostage situation at Michelle and Rob’s wedding. Michelle got shot and was fully recovered in a couple of days. There are so many examples of this plot driven, unrealistic nonsense I could go on at great length. I’m done with them all I’m afraid.

Eloethan I’m sad that The Archers has gone the way of the tv soaps. I listened throughout childhood and early days of marriage, usually to the Omnibus edition and have fond memories of it. I think Coronation Street and Eastenders are plot driven now and they manipulate the characters’ lives and personalities to drive the plot.
To a ridiculous e It used to be the characters that drove them along. The likes of Hilda and Stan Ogden could entertain with their conversations and the wonderful two handers episodes are a thing of the past. I’m thinking of Pat Wickes and Peggy in particular. We the viewers are treated like goldfish and brief scene after brief scene is all they give us - nothing to hold our attention.

Can't remember the last time I switched tv on; must be months ago. I'd rather listen to the radio on i player or read a book; anything except soap operas and endless men running across a bit of grass chasing a ball.

Jane43 "We need more series like Last Tango In Halifax, Happy Valley, Line Of Duty, War And Peace." I'll second that - great TV, brilliant acting, especially Line of Duty.

I have recently given up on Coronation Street. It's just too silly for words. I think there is room for a quality soap with realistic plotlines.

I gave up on The Archers just at the beginning of the Rob and (can't remember her name) storyline, which did appear to be quite gripping. But I recorded one Sunday edition of the whole week's episodes and listened to it in the evening. It was then - giving it my undivided attention rather than half listening as I made the lunch - that I came to the conclusion it was boring.

Phoenix, I love Gogglebox. I watch the repeats all the time and also repeats of The Royle Family and Gavin and Stacey.

Bluebell, Corrie was wonderful back in the day but now - as you say silly. Characters I don’t care a fig about, rushed and unrealistic storylines. I think it is past its sell by date.

Eastenders is just awful now. It seems to be The Danny Dyer Show. Emmerdale is awful too, all the changing partners is sickening, as soon as a couple break up they are with somebody else, sometimes before they break up. I last enjoyed watching Emmerdale when it was the Ashley dementia storyline, superb story and a wonderful actor.

We need more series like Last Tango In Halifax, Happy Valley, Line Of Duty, War And Peace.

No it’s dire nothing st all on fed up to the back teeth with sport just about watching Corrie but it’s getting sillier by the minute even Holbys daft most of the time
I don’t have Netflix or any other flix so nothing for me Thursdays are the worst night possible

Not soap watchers here, although will admit to an Archers addiction .

We do have Amazon prime, but perhaps don't use it as much (for TV) as we should.

Mr P tends to go to bed around 9pm, so that he gets enough sleep for when his alarm goes off at 4.30am

I do enjoy some of the Live at the Apollo comedy shows, also 24 hours in A&E, Gogglebox and 24 Hours in Police Custody. Other programs not currently on include Dog Rescuers, and For the love of dogs, with Paul O'Grady in Battersea Dogs Home.

Also enjoyed The Durrells, perfect Sunday evening TV!

We have a collection of box sets of old TV programmes and I'm currently watching reruns of MASH on TV. We did watch some of Game of Thrones - well acted but it's just too vicious.

All I can say is, I'm certainly getting my monies worth out of Amazon prime

I have recently signed up for Netflix and have not been disappointed.

I recently watched on BBC IPlayer ‘Keeping Faith’ it was so popular that they are going repeat it on BBC4 so watch out for it.

On Amazon Prime I have watched 3 series of the Diana Gabaldon books Outlander. In fact I think I will watch all 3series again before series 4 is aired. The books are fab too, if you enjoy time slip stories from 1800s or is it 1700s to the C20.

Pittcity, I watched 'House of games' for the first time yesterday and now I think it might be my guilty secret too. Mind you, I have a long-standing relationship with 'Pointless'.

Sticking with Corrie for a little bit longer, but agree that there is not a lot on. I like a good drama, and since The Split finished there have not been any that I fancied, so Netflix for me most evenings

My guilty secret is Richard Osman's House of Games....half an hour of silly quiz games with celebrities that I have heard of (mostly).

I agree with Gillybob about 'Walter Present' on Channel 4. They are very good .

I think summer tele is always a tad short on good programme's and it picks up again Septemberish.

Thank goodness for Netflix , Poldark and Versailles at the moment.

There really is very little on, I'm glad I read. I don't watch any soaps so my life isn't governed by keeping up with them, our only "must see" is The Bridge on Fridays, although it's lost a bit of it's edge for me.

However, my son set us up with Netflix so have been watching the second series of "The Crown" excellent! Only two more instalments to go we are up the early 1960s, Margaret has just married |Armstrong-Jones and President Kennedy was assassinated in the episode we watched last night .Next series Olivia Colman will take over the role as the Queen, she's a good actress but Claire Foy will take some beating.

I've also heard a few journalists praise a Netflix series called "Fauda" an Israeli/Palestinian combined effort I gather, a rare thing! but the narrative unfolds from both points of view. Sadly we had trouble getting the sub titles up for this but will keep trying, because it sounds good.

Me too Jane10 I'm not selective in my viewing. Books are my first love though.

I tend to look for history and documentaries on Player. I have found quite a few that I had previously not known.

I recorded loads while we were away recently. As I'm going to be banged up over the summer recovering from another knee replacement op I'm really going to need to be entertained!
I enjoy soaps, dramas and documentaries. I like art ones with Andrew Graham Dickson or travel or history ones. Och. I'll watch anything (except sport)!

I’ve still got several full series recorded from what I thought was a pretty good Winter and Spring on TV. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to watch all we wanted then and still don’t.

I’ve stuck with Corrie. I very nearly gave up on it a few months ago when there were far too many unbelievable storylines to keep up with, but I think it’s back on track now.

As they say “tell me about it”.
However Kirsty Wark presented an excellent programme on Muriel Spark last night on BBC 4.

Netflix all the way...

If I can't find a film to watch, there's always a documentary.

Recent finds include:
The Lighthouse of the Orcas (El faro de las orcas) "a beautiful Argentinean film based on a real person – Roberto Bubas, a park ranger in Patagonia, Argentina. The story takes place on the absolutely gorgeous windswept coastline of Patagonia. Sea lions fill the beaches, making tempting meals for the huge orcas that come hunt in the area..." (he's an orca whisperer ).

Sea Nomads - a documentary of "two brothers who embark on a 13-month surfing and camping road trip from L.A. to Buenos Aires, encountering a diverse array of people and cultures."

I'm now watching The Staircase, a true courtroom drama/documentary about novelist Michael Peterson, whose wife was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. He said it was a fall, the prosecution said it was murder. It follows the case over a period of 15 years.