Recommend a British TV drama

[Paul]

We're all HBO obsessives these days (and rightly so), but let's try and get some recommendations on the go for British stuff. I'll kick off with one that I'm not even certain fits into the category of drama. However, it probably doesn't fit anywhere else either, so fuck it - The Singing Detective.

 

When I first saw it, it was just about the weirdest and yet most compelling thing I'd ever seen. Characters switch between reality and fantasy, as well as past and present. They also break into song at bizarre moments and Joanne Whalley provided many an evening of "tight undies" viewing. In many ways, it was such bizarre telly that I can't see its like ever getting commissioned again in this country. However, Dennis Potter could largely get away with whatever he wanted, such was his stature. Great stuff.

[Dr Arthur De Sabre]

Our friends in he north was fucking excellent, available now on your nearest uk tv torrent site. It was a completely engrossing series delaing with the miners strikes, police corruption, the gradual decline of society, and alzheimers amongst others. Fucking Top banana TV

[Antynwa]

Life on Mars, but then you've probably already seen that.

[hamstrung]

Good work on the singing detective. Going on my wish list.

[Catch22]

The Singing Detective was brilliant. Great shout.

 

Around the same time "Edge of Darkness" was a fantastic thriller.

Plus Joanne Whalley was in that too!

[Travis Bickle]

Boys From the Blackstuff.

[Guest ian garro]

Our friends in he north was fucking excellent, available now on your nearest uk tv torrent site. It was a completely engrossing series delaing with the miners strikes, police corruption, the gradual decline of society, and alzheimers amongst others. Fucking Top banana TV

 

One of the best British drama series ever, in my opinion.

 

Also, State of Play.

 

Both well written, brilliantly acted.

[stringvest]

GBH. Had lots of everything, seriously.

[torahboy]

Loads of good stuff from the 60s and 70s - The Big Flame, After A Lifetime, War Game, Cathy Come Home, Vote For Nigel Barton, Brimstone And Treacle, Blue Remembered Hills, United Kingdom, Days Of Hope (this was the 80s, I think) and then later stuff like Bleasedale's The Muscle Market and The Black Stuff. The BBC put out loads of diverse and brilliant material and a trawl through their archive would probably blow my mind. Writers like Loach, Potter, Jim Allen and Peter McDougal (Just Another Saturday and A Boy's Game) were just unmissable. Even the tedious Mike Leigh was just beginning to bore people in those golden days. Stuff Like Elephants and Edge Of Darkness were also classic dramas that should still be shown. Also Absence Of War, David Hare's take on Kinnock's pathetic campaign to become PM.

[paddyberger15]

If Auf Wiedersehn Pet counts then the first two series are up there with the best telly ever made.

[RobbieOR]

If Auf Wiedersehn Pet counts then the first two series are up there with the best telly ever made.

 

Surely it does. I know I may be young but I loved that programme. Also the first couple of series of 'Hustle'. That was some serious telly right there.

[greenoak]

Cracker box set.

 

Written by Jimmy McGovern.

 

As well as Coltrane, the show starred Christopher Eccleston as Detective Chief Inspector David Bilborough, Geraldine Somerville as love interest Detective Sergeant Jane "Panhandle" Penhaligon, Lorcan Cranitch as loose cannon DS Jimmy Beck, Barbara Flynn as Fitz's long-suffering wife Judith.

 

Brilliant TV

[Section_31]

Cracker is a great shout, McGovern is the best writer in British drama, IMO. The early seasons of Spooks were also excellent.

[stringvest]

Oh, and Tutti Frutti.

[aws]

I've always rated Pennies From Heaven as the best of the Dennis Potter TV dramas - just pipping Singing Detective and Blue Remembered Hills.

[Stu Monty]

This Life.

 

If you missed it because you're too young or it passed you by for some reason then you need to investigate it. Rather good stuff.

[Mendoza]

GBH. Had lots of everything, seriously.

 

Great acting, cast, story and music, yes.

[Mendoza]

Of recent efforts Red Riding was excellent.

[Stu Monty]

Of recent efforts Red Riding was excellent.

 

I've been hitting the West Wing pretty hard recently so all I can think of when I see your posts is that you are a supreme court nominee that looks like this:

 

[BENIRL]

Hamish Macbeth.

[Faustus]

Boys From the Blackstuff.

 

Best British drama of all time, in my opinion.

[philyhamann]

spooks is good up until it goes all 24.

[Section_31]

I've been hitting the West Wing pretty hard recently so all I can think of when I see your posts is that you are a supreme court nominee that looks like this:

 

 

Pfffft.

 

[acks]

Life On Mars anyone!

[Stouffer]

I'm enjoying humans at the minute.