Televisual delights coming your way
Sorry I’ve been quiet this week – I’m still up to my ears in freelance in my spare time. The work on Sarah’s wedding cardigan is going well, however. I’m that short of time, I’ve been working on it in the car as Mr Robot drives us to and from work.
One thing I did find time to enjoy was Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams, a documentary on eighteenth-century automata on BBC4, because I can knit along to the telly. I had no idea the automata were so complex, nor that so many of them had survived. It’s fascinating, and the swan automaton is absolutely amazing. If you’re into steampunk at all, these incredible contraptions will give you plenty to think about. It's available on iPlayer for a few more days.
I’ve also been enjoying Radio 4’s British New Wave season. I was quite surprised to discover how much I enjoyed listening to Georgy Girl. I expected it to be depressing, but there was humour in with the more serious side of the story. Next week from Monday to Thursday, Radio 4 Extra is going to have a different spy story in the 8:30-9pm slot, so there's more radio goodness to look forward to, starting with The Living Daylights (Ian Fleming, of course) on Monday.
BBC 4’s probably my most-watched channel nowadays. They’ve got a three-episode documentary on music in cinema coming up as part of the Sound of Cinema season. The first episode, The Big Score, is being broadcast on Thursday the 12th of September, and will be all about the rise of the orchestral film score, so should have lots of 1930s delights. I’m hoping for a good dollop of Fred and Ginger. Part two (not sure yet when that’s being broadcast) covers the introduction of pop and jazz to film soundtracks, and part is about three avante-garde soundtracks, including the theremin in Hitchcock’s Spellbound. Films broadcast as part of the Sound of Cinema season will include The Ipcress File (12 September) and King Kong (15 September).
Also on BBC 4, Susan Crawford is going to be talking about knitted swimsuits (modelled by Fleur de Guerre) in Fabric of Britain: Knitting’s Golden Age on BBC 4 on the 19th of September, so I shall definitely Tivo that.
Have you any telly to recommend? Anything good coming up?
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I’ve also been enjoying Radio 4’s British New Wave season. I was quite surprised to discover how much I enjoyed listening to Georgy Girl. I expected it to be depressing, but there was humour in with the more serious side of the story. Next week from Monday to Thursday, Radio 4 Extra is going to have a different spy story in the 8:30-9pm slot, so there's more radio goodness to look forward to, starting with The Living Daylights (Ian Fleming, of course) on Monday.
BBC 4’s probably my most-watched channel nowadays. They’ve got a three-episode documentary on music in cinema coming up as part of the Sound of Cinema season. The first episode, The Big Score, is being broadcast on Thursday the 12th of September, and will be all about the rise of the orchestral film score, so should have lots of 1930s delights. I’m hoping for a good dollop of Fred and Ginger. Part two (not sure yet when that’s being broadcast) covers the introduction of pop and jazz to film soundtracks, and part is about three avante-garde soundtracks, including the theremin in Hitchcock’s Spellbound. Films broadcast as part of the Sound of Cinema season will include The Ipcress File (12 September) and King Kong (15 September).
Also on BBC 4, Susan Crawford is going to be talking about knitted swimsuits (modelled by Fleur de Guerre) in Fabric of Britain: Knitting’s Golden Age on BBC 4 on the 19th of September, so I shall definitely Tivo that.
Have you any telly to recommend? Anything good coming up?
I too am really looking forward to the BBCs The Sound of the Cinema season. The adverts for the Fabric of Britain programmes all look very interesting. I agree with you completely about BBC4. It's a rare week when there isn't an interesting documentary or two to watch on it. I don't have Sky or TiVo but working shifts thank goodness for iPlayer. I will definitely have to check out Mechanical Marvels before its time is up.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that due to cutbacks BBC4 isn't commissioning any new dramas but on other channels I will be checking out Peaky Blinders staring on BBC2 on September 12th. It's set in the Birmingham underworld during 1919 and apparently is the British answer to Boardwalk Empire.
Oooh, I'd forgotten about Peaky Blinders. I shall definitely set the Tivo for that. I'm still annoyed that I can't get Sky Atlantic via Virgin (but not annoyed enough to stick an ugly dish on my house).
DeleteOooh! I love BBC4 too :) It always has the BEST programes.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! BBC2 appears to have dumbed down dreadfully in recent years.
DeleteBBC4 is the best; they did a programme about caravanning a while ago and its one of my favourites - ever.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to watch the Fabric of Britain programme too, there should be more knitting on tv!
I have no idea what else is being covered, I only heard about it because Susan mentioned doing a piece on knitted swimsuits on Twitter.
DeleteI love BBC4! It's about the only channel I can bear to watch on the whole.
ReplyDeleteCaught a trailer about the textiles thing last night and will be watching that. Possibly take a squizz at the Peaky Blinders with my husband, and we will be watching The Wiper's Times tomorrow.
Did you know that Ruth Goodman and Peter Ginn....although not the lovely Alex...are back soon with a new programme? Tudor Abbey Farm apparently.
OOH, I had not heard of a new --- Farm! No Alex? *Sadface* Perhaps being forced to wear the same tank top for a whole year was the last straw for the poor chap. Or if it's Tudor, perhaps he didn't fancy spending a year without bathing, can't blame him for that...
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