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Week 4 [24.10 - 30.10.2016] British TV shows

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I don’t watch TV much. But I have to say I’ve been watching some British television shows through the Internet lately. More accurately quiz shows starring mostly UK-based comedians. They are great especially when you have some free time and want to watch something that isn’t too engaging.
                There are obviously many good British TV shows. Some are getting quite big audiences also in Poland, but generally they tend to be overlooked in favor of their high budget, technically superior US rivals. I will present you some TV shows that you may like.

Doctor Who
Source https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NKcXCjF0-kc/maxresdefault.jpg
I think I need to start with this one. It’s absolutely huge, easily one of the most famous British TV shows right now. It’s a science-fiction programme about adventures of the Doctor, a time-travelling humanoid alien that gets around in Tardis, a time machine that looks like a Police phone box. It originally started in 1963 and lasted 26 seasons. Its current iteration is a reboot with 9 series already finished and series 10 scheduled for April 2017.  I know some people who watch it religiously and I feel there is a great chance that some of you may as well. I’ve seen a few episodes and quite liked them, but I don’t have enough spare time to get into it properly. Maybe in the future.

Sherlock
Source https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480x270/p01grjmd.jpg
The next one also grabbed attention of many. It is loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories really high production value and famous cast that bring many people before their screens. It depicts the adventures of Sherlock Holmes (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr John Watson (portrayed by Martin Freeman) in 21st century London. Ten episodes have been produced and next ones are scheduled to release somewhere in 2017.

Nature documentaries by David Attenborough
Source https://cdn1.tnwcdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/05/mezzanine_164.png
These are probably the best nature documentaries out there. Sir Attenbourough is a 90-year-old naturalist and broadcaster who is creating TV programmes for over 60 years now. Seeing him whispering about habits of different animals is quite enjoyable and educational.

Comedy quiz shows

Source http://ic.c4assets.com/brands/8-out-of-10-cats/series-18/episode-8/ea7e0bbc-fb20-4a98-8e44-ffa976c20cc7.jpg?interpolation=progressive-bicubic&output-quality=90
In the UK there are many great quiz shows with comedians. Some of the shows are quite competitive, but mostly they are just an excuse to joke about anything and everything. I like the most the ones that the comedian Jimmy Carr hosts like: a topical panel quiz 8 out of 10 cats (and its many spin-offs) or The Big Fat Quiz (three teams are asked questions about a certain period of time).


                What do you think about British TV shows? Have you seen any I mentioned? Do you know more that are worth watching? Do you watch more American or British TV shows?
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Comments

Unknown said…
Unfortunately I don't watch any british shows and almost no tv at all so it's very hard for me to comment on that topic. Not counting childhood (cartoons and very old shows like mcgyver) I only watched 3 or 4 tv series. I mostly watch feature-length movies otherwise prefer video games and books.
24 October 2016 at 16:49
Sylwia Pechcin said…
I must admit that I do not watch many tv series, but Sherlock is the one I loved! It's very clever, unexpectable and sometimes funny. Often you have to think a lot to figure out what has just happened or what may happen soon. I really like it, and I can't wait to see the new season!
24 October 2016 at 18:12
Łukasz Domeradzki said…
Like above, I generally stay away from TV nowadays, I completely stopped watching anything, and I'm working on my movie backlog only when I'm ill or not in the mood of doing anything productive (which is very rare case). Therefore, I also don't have any significant opinion about these, neither US ones, as I'm completely not interested in them. I know several people that do watch them though, especially Doctor Who, but I never asked them about that.
24 October 2016 at 23:01
Unknown said…
I don't watch a lot of British shows I only watched all seasons of Top Gear and I like that and wait for continuation. I never understood British humour maybe only Mr. Beans. It is fascinating that they have amazing budget for TV series. When I look at Polish films budget, it is unbelievable. I know that new Sherlock Homes is very good and I recommend it for all. I haven't seen the others.
25 October 2016 at 13:42
Unknown said…
I'm not very familiar with British shows, I believe the only ones I've seen are Black Adder and Top Gear. You can add Monty Pythons Flying Circus to the list, although I've mostly watched the movies, not the shows themselves. There are many people who claim that Sherlock is good, so I was thinking to check it out as well.
26 October 2016 at 12:38
Unknown said…
British shows ? Not that much. I haven't seen Sherlock yet, but it is on my 'to watch' list. I love Tv Series, but it is mostly American ones. Game of Thrones, Narcos, The Walking Dead, Supernatural, Arrow, Flash, Lucifer, The Vikings, Mr.Robot...there is a lot more. I just enjoy it. Most of them have a very interesting plot, are also funny and have amazing turns of events. I just become addicted to it when I like it.
26 October 2016 at 13:01
Michał Sikorski said…
I never was interested in british tv. Not a fan of Sherlock nor british humour. I'm more into US shows. I tried watching Peaky Blinders but I couldn't get past the heavy british accent.
26 October 2016 at 15:01
Maciej Spychała said…
I also remember watching MacGyver as a kid. By the way its reboot premiered in September. Tomorrow comes out the 6th episode.
27 October 2016 at 18:50
Maciej Spychała said…
The quiz shows and nature documentaries I mentioned are really good especially when you're drunk or hungover. So next time you're ill, maybe try them :)
27 October 2016 at 18:54
Maciej Spychała said…
I actually never understood Top Gear. I mean, I get when people who are interested in cars watch it. But other than that, I don't really understand why it's so popular.

When it comes to the budget it is obviously because of much higher viewing figures. Many British shows sell really well in the States (as for example Doctor Who and Sherlock do), which is really hard for Polish films and virtually impossible for Polish TV shows.
27 October 2016 at 19:00
Maciej Spychała said…
You should definitely check Sherlock out. It's undeniably a well written show, so you might like it.

I love Monthy Python, but I focused my post more on currently produced shows. I wholeheartedly recommend most sketches, shows, films by the Pythons to everyone though. Absolutely brilliant comedy.
27 October 2016 at 19:07
Maciej Spychała said…
Well yeah, generally when it comes to british tv, you'll encounter many types of accents, which might be hard to understand at the beginning (Geordie, Welsh, Scouse etc.) and you probably do need to get past it in order to enjoy the shows. I kinda like it though.
27 October 2016 at 19:13
Maciej Spychała said…
You probably will enjoy Sherlock if you like interesting plots. I'm not really able to recommend much more, because I don't watch many shows with a sort of continuous plot. I heard good thing about many British crime/detective shows lately like Broadchurch (which got Americanized into Gracepoint) and Foyle's War.
27 October 2016 at 19:29
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
27 October 2016 at 19:51
Maciej Spychała said…
You have to wait till the beginning of the next year, but I'm sure it will be worth it.
27 October 2016 at 19:51
Unknown said…
I LOVE David Attenbourough's programs. They are interesting, his stories are definitely not boring. There is something, what makes his nature programs better than the others I saw. I really enjoyed time spent watching his programs.
I saw first episode of Sherlock, at Long Night of Museums, with my friends, and I enjoyed it. I've got a plan to watch rest of it :)
I really liked British show "Little Britain". It has specific humor, as for me not always funny, but still I enjoy watching Matt Lucas and David Walliams :) Now, I'm planning to watch their show "Come Fly with Me". Can't wait!
27 October 2016 at 19:52
Ihor Ahnianikov said…
Thanks for this article, I realized that I've watched a lot of British shows, for example Black Mirror, The IT crowd, Sherlock. Although I prefer US shows, there're British shows that you just can't miss, including old and classic ones like Monty Python.
27 October 2016 at 20:01
Unknown said…
To be honest I don’t prefer watching British TV. Maybe because stereotypes of british sense of humor… I haven’t watched any of mentioned by you series.

When it comes to American series, i like them much more - The Walking Dead or Games of Thrones - that’s my favorites.
28 October 2016 at 11:37
Dajana Kubica said…
Serials is my second hobby, right after the video games. I watched the above mentioned titles, but I think it's worth to add The Office (UK). However, I prefer an American TV series, perhaps because British humor, sometimes is incomprehensible to me. I could mention hundreds of titles from America but, unfortunately, not the British. But Americans often take ideas and do remakes, For example The Office, where the first season is exactly the same. After seeing these two versions, however, the US is closer to me, and for the world is better known.
28 October 2016 at 15:28
Maciej Spychała said…
I actually forgot to mention The Office, which is obviously a brilliant comedy. And I like the British version much more than the American, but to each their own.
28 October 2016 at 16:03
Maciej Spychała said…
I don't quite get what are the stereotypes about British humour. For me it's generally better than American. I don't really like any boundaries in comedy, which is an approach much more frequently used by British comedians. Though I'm not saying that I don't like American comedy.
28 October 2016 at 16:24
Maciej Spychała said…
The IT crowd is pretty fun. I haven't seen much of it, but I like Richard Ayoade, who stars in it. I probably should get around to watching it more.
28 October 2016 at 16:26
Maciej Spychała said…
David Attenbourough spent half a century making his shows what they are, so they are quite expectedly great :)

I know who both Matt Lucas and David Walliams are, but I don't remember seeing much of their work. Maybe I'll watch "Little Britain" soon.
28 October 2016 at 16:35
Unknown said…
What I like in David Attenbourough is that he is wise and, despite the fact that he is old, he is still develops. I saw an episode, about turtles, where he admits, that he actually participate in making their situation worse by eating their eggs, when he was young. But then he said that now he knows that this is bad, and back then nobody thought about population of turtles. But now people care, including him.
29 October 2016 at 10:05
Jagoda Bielawska said…
I watched Sherlock and I really enjoy it, I can't wait for next episodes! I still can not find the time to watch Doctor Who, but I heard it's worth. And of course, I love nature documentaries by David Attenborough
29 October 2016 at 13:40
Piotr Basiński said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
29 October 2016 at 20:37
Piotr Basiński said…
I like British tv series, they are well made and and high budgets. Also special sense of humor is forte.
29 October 2016 at 20:39
Dominik Ciborowski said…
Yeah it is awesome :)
I have watched only the fist season but as you said it is very clever, unexpectable and funny.
30 October 2016 at 00:28
Dominik Ciborowski said…
I don't really watch TV in home, I tend not to do so because I hate the adverts and how they try to treat the consumer.
Sometimes I watch some TV shows online but they need to have great reviews firstly. I have watched first season of Sherlock and it was awesome but it is the only thing from British TV shows. :)
30 October 2016 at 00:35
Unknown said…
From the shows that you have mentioned I've watched David Attenborough wildlife shows and Sherlock series. I have to admit that I love them. Attenborugh has incredible voice (like Krystyna Czubówna) which makes watching his shows twice as attractive as they would be without it. I like Sherlock for putting the series in 21st century.
30 October 2016 at 08:56
Unknown said…
To be honest I don't like watching TV. Sometimes I do it to chill out with my girlfriend.
Then, similar to Agnieszka, I prefer watching American TV series. My favourite one (if I could say so ) is Suits. I just like American manners, language and specific splendor.

I know Sherlock - it's fine, but I'm not as crazy about it as some of my friends.
30 October 2016 at 10:41
Unknown said…
I don't watch British TV programs. From all of the above, for me the most interesting seems to be sherlock and doctor who. I don't watch TV but I think these two series are available somewhere on the web.
30 October 2016 at 11:15
Unknown said…

I think that British TV shows are very well made. They have a bit different style than American TV shows. I feel like British shows are more intellectual.

I really enjoyed watching Sherlock Holmes. I really like how the main character was acting.

My favorite one is “An idiot abroad”. It’s documentary about a closed minded guy who travels the world and doesn't really enjoy it and producers try to open his mind. When he visited the Great Chinese wall he was not really impressed and said “Well… It’s not a Great wall, it’s an alright wall”

I enjoy more British TV shows. Nothing can’t be more pleasant for ears than a British accent :)
30 October 2016 at 14:27
Krzysztof Skorupka said…
Generally, I don't watch television at all. From time to time I watch some TV show on the Internet. In such situations it is my concious choice, not like when switching between tv channels and staring at screen. I have too little free time to waste it that way.
I've seen some of David Attenborough documentaries and they are indeed both very interesting and well prepared. I've also watched "Sherlock" tv series and I really like it, I look forward to new episodes.
30 October 2016 at 17:24
kondrat said…
Yeah, same thing here. I hate wasting time watching TV. If I want to watch TV shows, then Netflix, or other VoD services are my choice.
30 October 2016 at 18:47
Unknown said…
I've seen "Sherlock" from the TV shows you have mentioned and I loved it. It is funny and the characters are brilliant. I also watched "The Office" and "IT Crowd" and it is definitely worth watching :)
To be honest I watch more American television, however I don't think it's better than the British one. And I love British sense of humor!

30 October 2016 at 20:29
Unknown said…
The only british show I watched was "Misfits". It was about teenagers, that unwillingly acquired superpowers. It was super fun to watch. Unfortunately I haven't seen any of the show you presented, but the fact that sir Attenbourough is 90 makes me want to check his documentaries out.

I find watching British shows are the best way to pick up their accent. Definitely would recommend to do so if someone wants to sound like them.
30 October 2016 at 20:39
Maciej Główka said…
Personally i have seen only Nature documentaries by David Attenborough, especially Planet Earth and I love it. I really like the way sir David speaks about nature, music and shoots are also incredible. I am really looking forward for Planet Earth 2, it looks epic, here is link to trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8aFcHFu8QM
I watch many different TV shows: Narcos, The Young Pope, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Westworld. I think i might start Sherlock, when I will have a little more free time.
30 October 2016 at 20:40
KamilG said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
30 October 2016 at 22:39
KamilG said…
I don't often watch British TV, generally even TV. Someday I tried to watch some british program but I didn't understand some sentences or british humour. It simply isn't for me.
I prefer to watch american series like "Lie to me", "The suits","Westworld", "Narcos" etc, every series which have an interesting plot. Also I like to watch documentaries about nature, not necessarily from British Tv
30 October 2016 at 22:44
Unknown said…
During the day I don'tt have time to watch TV, but only in the evening I watch my favorite Polish programs, so I don't say about tej programs in the UK. The only British program that watch to Top Gear, is fantastic!
30 October 2016 at 22:49
Wojtek Kania said…
Personally I haven't watched a lot of british tv shows or serieses. I often watch Sherlock and I think it’s one of the best series that I ever watched. Also I like „skills”, recommendable british series. American and british tv shows and series are really similar. Of course american’s more but british is also very good.
30 October 2016 at 23:27
Adam Nowak said…
I don't watch TV shows or serials. For me, it is a waste of my precious time. I would prefer to play some video games or read a book rather than brainlessly watching TV. I know that there are some good and making you thinking TV shows, but still, i would prefer some good movie than TV show.
30 October 2016 at 23:33
Jakub Mańkowski said…
Have you ever seen "Keeping Up Appearances"? or "IT crowd"? I think those two TV shows are great and show British sens of humor in the greatest way. I recommend it to all of you! - " Have you tried to turn it off and on again ?? " :)))
30 October 2016 at 23:33
Jakub Mańkowski said…
Have you ever seen "Keeping Up Appearances"? or "IT crowd"? I think those two TV shows are great and show British sens of humor in the greatest way. I recommend it to all of you! - " Have you tried to turn it off and on again ?? " :)))
30 October 2016 at 23:35
Maciej Spychała said…
I remember him saying in an interview once that the only creature he doesn't care about much is a rat. Because one came up under him when he was sitting on a loo :D
30 October 2016 at 23:44
Maciej Spychała said…
Well yeah, I also don't really watch those shows on TV :D I use VoD services or even just youtube for that.
30 October 2016 at 23:46
Maciej Spychała said…
I agree on that British shows tend to be more intellectual. Just as (in my opinion) British humour does.

I should watch "An idiot abroad". Sounds really interesting and I haven't heard of it before.
30 October 2016 at 23:50
Unknown said…
What a great casual topic. I look forward to the release Sherlock's new series, but, unfortunately, I don't have enough time for Doctor Who, alas. But it would be interesting to get acquainted with the show, which exists for so many years and gathers near the screens so many generations.

I even haven't heard about the Nature documentaries, but I would be happy to watch it. The British way of telling the stories is unlikely to leave me indifferent.

Among my favorite British shows are IT Crowd and Broadchurch, I also plan to watch Peaky Blinders one day, I've heard a lot of good reviews about it.

I love that incomparable British humor, the romance of old England (even if is filmed in the US), but sometimes the US series attract me more. Especially when I am watching movies without translation. I learned American English.

And lately I prefer the series from Iceland and Norway. Their sluggish manner of narration and beautiful picture can make me perfectly calm before bedtime.

30 October 2016 at 23:51
Maciej Spychała said…
I also watch those shows mainly on the Internet. At this point I find the idea of waiting for the exact hour for a show to start completely bizarre. Well, it's different for any live shows obviously.
30 October 2016 at 23:53
Maciej Spychała said…
Yay, high five! The Office is brilliant, I can't believe I forgot about it when I made this post.
30 October 2016 at 23:53
Maciej Spychała said…
I haven't seen much of Broadchurch, but I also heard many good things about it. You should totally go for Attenborough's nature documentaries, I remember that biology lessons in school always failed to grip my attention, but those programmes absolutely did.
30 October 2016 at 23:57
Maciej Spychała said…
I haven't seen any of them yet. Thanks for the suggestion, I will add them to my list.
30 October 2016 at 23:58
Maciej Spychała said…
A completely fine approach, although you don't have to brainlessly watch TV. As I mentioned in the post I like to watch some TV shows and I don't consider any of that brainless watching :)
31 October 2016 at 00:00
Maciej Spychała said…
Planet Earth is absolutely immense and I have seen the trailer for the second one already, but thanks for linking it for everyone to see :)
31 October 2016 at 00:01
Krzysztof Maciaszek said…
I don’t really watch many British TV series, but I love Sir Attenbourough’s documentaries. I’m not sure what makes his programs SO GOOD, whether is it his soothing voice or his incredible knowledge and passion. Only other British TV-series that I’ve watched are “Misfits” and 2 seasons of “Skins”.
6 November 2016 at 19:57
Unknown said…
Latterly I have watched few TV series and i wasn't sure if they are British or Americans so to be prepared for your topic i checked it and i'm really surprised none of that is British. The only one that spring to my mind is the TV series called Skins which I used to watch when I was fourteen years old. That was a hundred percent British style. Whole story was about rebellious youth living crazy life in Bristol. I still wonder if life of teenagers from UK is such different from our's Polish life or that just a movie story which i shouldnt take so serious.
10 November 2016 at 13:37
Unknown said…
I regret, but I don't have a lot of time to watch as much tv shows as I would like to.
One of tv series that I watch and enjoy very much is Mr Robot. I think that many of you knows it very well as it's popular through the IT enviroment. Unfourtunately I don't know other shows worth recommending, because like I said - they are a huge time wasters.
12 November 2016 at 14:10
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
12 November 2017 at 21:49
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
12 November 2017 at 21:50
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