Is there anything even half-decent on the TV this Christmas?

"their" should be "there"

but appart from that I would give the telly a miss.

Cheers

Don

Ta!

Dad's Army is on right now.

I believe it's the 'Po-Face' one...

....we are indeed all doomed in that case....G

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (BBC 4).

Looking forwards to :-

NAIM forums 100 best pendant moments.

Did anyone else catch the Joyce Hatto and hubby William Barrington-Coupe 'Great Piano Swindle' drama last evening? It was superbly acted and well written by Victoria Wood. Some of you may have read about it or previously seen a documentary on TV. A fascinating true story. Some of the classical music cognoscenti were well and truly 'had over'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Barrington-Coupe

But looking ahead, TV content is pretty dire, and there ain't much I'll be watching over the Christmas and new year period.

John.

Watched it and enjoyed it although it did underplay his obvious criminal intent given his 'previous'.  I remember reading about it at the time too. G

Dear John,

In those days I still subscribed to the Gramophone, not for the reviews - which used to irritate me intensely - but for the release list. In those days an issue might be released for as little as a month if only one pressing run went on, and so sometimes you had to be quick. As CD took over the situation changed and by about 2009, I cancelled my subscription, but the story was covered in real time as the scandal unfolded.

I have nothing against Hatto, but for someone to pass off one artist's work [in this case many recordings] as that of another is something I find totally disgusting. It is no better than obtaining a copuright recording without paying for it. It is theft. As for the Seasonal TV, I have no idea ...

ATB from George

You might try 'Restless', BBC1, Thursday and Friday evening. The book is wonderful.

The TV adaptation of another of William Boyd's books, 'Any Human Heart', screened last year, was not bad so I am hoping this one does not disappoint.

Kevin

Howard, I never realized that you might be so into jewelry?

I find TV these days to be total crap. We have 5 sets spread around the house and tbh if someone was to nick the lot whilst we were out i dont think i would lose more than 10 seconds sleep.

If their is rubbish on tv(which is most nites) i prefer to stick some music on and read a book/magazine.

Mista h

Watched the first ep last night and I thought it was superb. Great cast (esp Rufus Sewell, Hayley Attwell and Charlotte Rampling) and great acting, well-written and well-directed.

Looking forward to Part 2 tonight.

Yes,

watching it now - gripping

Cheers

Don

It was great.

The minute it came on I realised I had read the book as a holiday diversion about 4 years ago.....only seen part 1 so far.....G

Well said Mr h.  I keep trying to persuade my wife not to have a television at all.  If somebody offered me £145.50 not to watch television for a year, I would accept.

don rainy downtown York

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/e...j/Room_on_the_Broom/

Best thing I saw this holiday.

steve

Another vote for 'Restless'. One of the few gems of drama on TV over the festering period.

I'm going to try the new film version of 'Wuthering Heights' later this evening.

'Moon'; a film directed by David Bowie's son Duncan/Zowie (tomorrow evening) is supposed to be good. The documentary about Neil Armstrong being transmitted before the film should be interesting too.

John.

One of the best books ever written, IMHO

Cheers

Don

This was splendid, and the only thing that attracted me in the whole schedule apart from the Royal Institute Lectures - available for another five days ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/e...Stories_Flight_Club/

ATB from George

Thanks for the link George, a thoroughly enjoyable programme.

I didn't see this programme - I find James May a bit dreary to be honest.

But we had drinks last night with most of our neighbours and the young lad accross the avenue (I think he must be in his early twenties by now) said the young lad in the helicopter who was manipulating the glider controls, is one of his closest school chums.

He specifically mentioned they were flying the glider from Lundy, 20 miles or so towards the mainland, rather than from England to France (French kill-joys deamed the model to be a "drone" or something)

Now, if there was no young lad and no helicopter and the rest is bullshit, please ignore, I swallowed this info hook, line and sinker.

Cheers

Don

Dear Don,

Chinese whispers!

Mostly right.

They flew the machine to Lundy.

James May is not the star, the exploit is, and those taking part, and some fascinating history as well. Most unexpected. A refreshing programme that you might yet still enjoy by using the link.

Dreary it certainly was not!

ATB from George