British TV show rec request

[liresius]

I'm calling out to all my friends who watch Brit TV. Can you rec me any shows you are currently enjoying or have recently enjoyed? I've watched a few over the course of time - like
Fawlty Towers, Hitchhiker's Guide, Red Dwarf, Gormenghast, Brideshead Revisited, QaF, Spooks, Coupling, The Office, Pride and Prejudice (and a couple of other historical dramas), LoM, Jekyll, The State Within, Torchwood and Dr. Who, and probably a lot of others I can't remember at the moment.

I'm up to date on Whitechapel, Merlin and I'm getting a hold of The Vicar of Dibley too. What's your take on the latter? I think that is one my Mum was watching but we don't always share the same taste so wondering if it's worth a shot ...

Is there anything else that's been taking your attention? *cookies* if you can let me have any suggestions

Comments

[smuffster.livejournal.com]

Vicar of Dibley is something I'll watch, but not religiously, just if it's on and I've nothing better to do.

Um, I like Hustle quite a lot, but mostly cause Marc Warren is in it *g* Have you seen State of Play? That is awesome. The Lakes with a very young John Simm.

My favourite older show is Man About the House. Ohm and I love 'Allo, 'Allo.

What else. As Time Goes By. Men Behaving Badly. All the various Rik Mayall/Ade Edmondson shows. All the Comic Strip Presents... Clocking Off.

Oh, did you see the telemovie that Chris Eccleston did with Russell Davies? Um, thinks, The Second Coming. It was fantastic.

North and South. The Forsyte Saga. Robin of Sherwood.

God, a million more *g* Sorry :)

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Oh yippee! A veritable treasure trove to explore. Thank you! Haven't seen any of them except maybe some eps of Man About the House, maybe, a long while ago. I know Mum watched The Forsyte Saga many years ago but I think I was too young to appreciate it at the time. I'll definitely check it out now.

Thank you again! ♥s 'n' hugs

[smuffster.livejournal.com]

That would be the 1967 mini-series? Granada produced a new version in 2002 with Damian Lewis, Gina McKee and Ioan Gruffudd. Really fabulous.

If you want any more recs let me know. I'm a huge fan of Brit tv. Growing up in a British household that was pretty much all we watched as kids.

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Oh, I did see something about a new one on wiki afer your first reply. I'll make sure I get that one.

Thank you for the general offer of more recs too! I have HEAPS to go on now. I'll definitely pick your brain for more, when I get through all the recs here *g*

Mum always preferred Brit stuff so I had a lot of exposure while I was growing up too, but you just don't see or hear about as Brit stuff here in Jpn as American and I'm way behind. Thank the goddesses for the internetz.

[smuffster.livejournal.com]

Oh, and did you know the Red Dwarf tele movie is due out in April?

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Ee! I'll keep my eyes peeled. Thanks!

[lysambre.livejournal.com]

Recently there was Survivors, not the reality show, but a show about a virus hitting the whole planet and killing most people.

I've only begun to watch it now (it was on tv in december), and from what I understand it's only 6 episodes long (an hour and a half each, more like a movie in six parts ;) )), but I've hear good about it and the first episode managed to hold my attention.

Can't help much more, the only other show I've been sometimes watching when at friends is Little Britain, and is a very particular sense of humour, so not everyone likes it.

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I was trying to think of Survivors. I had seen references to it a bit back. Definitely the kind of show that's up my alley. Was there a really old version too? I think I saw that one many years ago.

I've seen some Little Britain. I liked it, but I don't really feel the need to watch everything they put out. If I had to choose, I'm into more 'serious' than comedy, although I like both. But thanks for both recs! I had forgotten them!

[zooz.livejournal.com]

Father Ted. I really like the Vicar of Dibley, but Father Ted is so much more.

Also the IT crowd, Keeping up appearances and BLACK BOOKS....Black Books is a MUST.

Ehmm....oh and the fast show.

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank you! I'll check those out. Zinfic below recs the IT Crowd as well. And Black Boots sounds intriguing! ♥

[zinfic.livejournal.com]

Well, I like Hustle enough to have written SGA-AU of it... Also - the IT crowd! I've only seen one ep so far, but I've worked tech support so I know enough of the trade to get the in-jokes and I think I'm a little bit in love with this show :D

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's two votes for Hustle and the IT crowd. They both sound good. I've got heaps to explore now. Much appreciated ♥

[mcalex22.livejournal.com]

It depends what you like; ie are you a crime buff like myself? Or do you like the more suspenseful ones like Jekyll? Honestly, anything with Moffat is great! :D

For comedies, I love The Brittas Empire, Keeping Up Appearances and of course, the famous Blackadder (I'm excluding the ones you've already mentioned above).

For mystery/crimes, I confess to being the only I know who like Taggart. I am also big on Silent Witness and Wire in the Blood.

There is North Square, which starred both the guys from Whitechapel ages ago. I don't know if it's anywhere on the net but I saw it on TV ages ago. It's about life in a solicitors firm.

[liresius.livejournal.com]

I have pretty wide ranging tastes in genres. It really just depends on the characters and if it's done well.

I'm definitely going to check these out if I can find them. Thank you so much! ♥

[from-the-corner.livejournal.com]

I'm watching "Ultraviolet" right now. It's pretty old (1998), one season only and about vampires. In a British "I'm really serious about it" kind of way, if you know what I mean.

I also love "Midsomer Murders", because for me it's British crime show at it's best. Although I wonder how come there's anyone left alive there, since there are few dead bodies in every episode ;)

[liresius.livejournal.com]

These both sound great! I like vampires ... well, you know what I mean, if they are done seriously *g*

Thank you! ♥

[from-the-corner.livejournal.com]

I completely forgot about "Being human"...
One more "supernatural" show - a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost are housemates :) But again, it's not a comedy.

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'll have to watch THAT one! *writes it on list*

*hugs*

[gweneiriol.livejournal.com]

Merlin is something I'd highly recommend! Well, unless you don't like it when they mess w/the source material, then it probably isn't the show for you. Otherwise, it's a blast!

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Oh Merlin! I forgot to put that on the list. I've watched all of S1. Thanks, though! ♥

[gweneiriol.livejournal.com]

welcome! :D

[pushkin666.livejournal.com]

If you like cop shows then I'd recommend The Sweeney (you'll see their homage to it in LOM). I'd also recommend The Professionals, slightly dated now but still the two lead characters are so very slashable.

This Life, which is about trainee lawyers and barristers living together (one of them is gay), and trust me it's spot on.

Poirot, Morse, Frost - all detective shows and all excellent.

I'd agree on the The Comic Strip present, Blackadder and Ultraviolet. All fantastic although The Comic Strip is quite topical and can therefore be dated. Still great to watch though.

Jeeves and Wooster with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke. Brett to me is the best Holmes ever.

Last of the Summer Wine for gentle humour although I'd go with the older stuff (this show has gone on for years!).

For sci-fi well you've already got Dr Who and Torchwood. If you're going to watch Dr Who again go for some of the earlier stuff, not just from Chris Eccleston onwards. Also Blakes 7. Quite camp if you watch it now but it was meant to be Robin Hood in space. The main characters are all psychotic in some way and there are bdsm elements there in the clothing etc. It's also great fun.

I shall continue thinking but hope some of those help.

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! Great list! You know I had all of The Sweeney on my HD a year or so ago, but had to delete it before I watched all of them.

I really like the sound of The Life. I have some older Who stuff on dvd - I'm more in the mood for SF shows a bit slicker, I s'pose.

Heard Blakes 7 mentioned a lot. I'll have to see if I can hunt it out. Thanks so much for these recs.

♥

[pushkin666.livejournal.com]

Anytime :D

I must confess This Life was and still is one of my favourite shows although it finished some time ago. It was required viewing by most lawyers/barristers I knew at the time.

[aqualegia.livejournal.com]

You've already had a lot of my favourites recommended... so I'll just add a few more:

Man in a Suitcase
Miss Marple (Joan Hickson is the best)
Bergerac
Dad's Army (comedy series)
Jonathan Creek
Queer as Folk (the original version - not the American remake.)
Danger UXB (Drama about bomb disposal squad)

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Ooh, some of these I have no idea about! The first three and Jonathon Creek, I've never seen. *puts them on the list*

QaF, I have seen - the Br. version and I have also seen Danger UXB! I LOVED that show, It had Anthony Andrews, from Brideshead, in it. Wow, UXB was so long ago LOL! I saw it in about 1984-5.

Thank you so much for these! *hugs*

[aqualegia.livejournal.com]

I've thought of a few others :)

Cadfael (Medeavel who-dunnit! (I love the books of which they are adaptations, too)).
Dempsey and Makepiece
Minder

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks! I don't know the first two. I did watch quite a bit of Minder in the 80's - Terry and Arthur, right? Weren't they a pair! *g*

[sa3466996.livejournal.com]

I loved some of the older stuff produced by Hat Trick productions - things like Drop the Dead Donkey, KYTV, Chelmsford 123.

Waking the dead is quite good. The whole series of Prime Suspects was utterly brilliant. Bread was another good sit-com.

I'll also echo the other scribblers' suggestions too - especially The Second coming, Wire in the Blood, Blackadder, Father Ted etc, and I didn't know the Red Dwarf telemovie was going to be out so soon *ggg*

[liresius.livejournal.com]

Thanks for these recs. Bread sounds vaguely familiar too.

I'll definitely check out the Hat Trick productions!