A new series of The Great British Sewing Bee has started. I thought they'd had a year off but it has actually been away from our screens for two years and I know so many people who enjoy it so it's definitely a good show to revive. The comedian Joe Lycett has taken over from Claudia Winkelman as host and he's doing a great job. There's some very talented contestants again this series, it's hard to pick out who the winner is going to be.
One of my favourite programmes is Gogglebox. I was quite late coming to this, the first series was aired back in 2013 but I've only been watching for a couple of years. If you're not sure what this show is about, it's basically different families and groups of friends from different locations in the UK watching a selection of television programmes and reacting to them. I love it.
I'd heard about Making a Murderer but didn't really know what it was all about so when I got my Netflix trial, I decided to give it a go. I really enjoy true crime documentaries, especially those which show the legal proceedings as Making a Murderer does. Oh my goodness, it had me hooked. Steven Avery served 18 years of a 20 year sentence for sexual assault and attempted murder before being exonerated and released. Two years later he was arrested and convicted, along with his teenage nephew, for an unrelated murder, a crime which they both maintain they did not commit. The first season chronicles the period between 1985 and 2007, the original arrest and conviction, Avery's exoneration and release, the 2005 arrests, and the ensuing trial and convictions in 2007. After watching that I couldn't wait to start season two, which follows the appeals process as Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey try to overturn their convictions. I had all twenty episodes of Making a Murderer finished in no time at all, it was compelling viewing.
Eleanor's home from university for the weekend. It's quite rare that she comes home in between holiday periods so we've been making the most of it and spending some lovely time together. We decided to watch a film last night and opted for Four Weddings and a Funeral. We've all seen it many times before but it's one of those films you can watch over and over again, though it is looking quite dated now having been made twenty five years ago.
Have you been watching any of these? What else have you been watching this month?
I love Sewing Bee. We don't watch much TV. the TV rarely goes on until after 6pm. If I'm not working evenings we like the Uni Challenge, Only Connect, Mastermind etc and the easy going detective shows like Vera, Poirot, Brokenwood Mysteries, Death in Paradise, Grantchester ( although that does seem to be losing it's easy watching of late ) etc. Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteI'm the same, it's only in the evening when I watch TV, I love the peace and quiet during the day when I'm home alone. I tape Mastermind and we all watch it together when Eleanor comes home from university, then we all challenge each other to a bit of a competition. I don't watch any of those detective shows.
DeleteI love the new Sewing bee, and Joe is really good, I was not sure he was right for the show, but he is. I too love Googlebox, coming from a huge family, as a child we would all sit around the TV, and comments would come from everyone, so it reminds me of my childhood. I am hoping to see Mary queen of Scots, hubby has agreed to watch it, he's in a good mood after Wales unexpectly won the rugby.
ReplyDeleteI was the same, I was sorry to see Claudia go and didn't think Joe would be able to fill her shoes but I really like him. I really look forward to Gogglebox, some of the families make me laugh with their comments, though there's a few I would axe! I don't often go to the cinema but I'd definitely go to see Mary Queen of Scots, that sounds right up my street. I hope you enjoy it.
DeleteRight there with you on the film, Love Actually is also on my list. Love the sewing bee but can not get to grips with Gogglebox.
ReplyDeletei missed out on Making a Murderer, it sounds gripping so I may well have a look for it later.
There's a few films like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually which you can watch over and over, Notting Hill and Pretty Woman are two which spring to mind. Definitely have a look for Making a Murderer, I was sorry when it came to the end, it was fascinating.
DeleteI don’t subscribe to Netflix yet but Making of a Murderer is a ‘must watch’ when I do sort it out. I’ve heard lots of good things about it. I too am hooked on real crime documentaries.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be quite a bit of true crime on Netflix so I've got plenty to go at yet. Making a Murderer is really good.
DeleteI don't know that I've watched anything specific this month... my evenings are passing in a haze. I suppose we watched The Ted Bundy Tapes which was... horrible. Just horrible but compulsive. I need to get back into the Gilmore Girls again. Or something else soft and fluffy.
ReplyDeleteI thought the The Ted Bundy Tapes were chilling but the documentary was mediocre. I think everything about these horrific crimes have been told already. I've never watched the Gilmore Girls but I believe it's on Netflix so I shall have to give it a go.
DeleteI got "3 Days of the Condor" out of library and we enjoyed that ollllllld film. I'd seen it, he had not. It's an "everybody is after me and I don't know why or who to trust" thriller. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd that's it, other than the occasional "Hallmark Ch." offerings. New Hall mark Mysteries beginning, so we are watching them, on Sun. nights.
I have gotten to the point (with all the well known Fake News) of not trusting any documentary. Too many, have been made, pushing one view point or another. I'd have to do my own research, on any topic, I wanted to know more about.
But then, I've been this way, for a long time. Doing my own research, I mean. Loved "Braveheart" and allllll, about William Wallace. But Mel Gibson's film, was offff, on dates and details. I did my own digging, and found out more facts. And I still love William Wallace!!!!
I've never heard of Three Days of the Condor but I enjoy films of that type, they make you think. I love watching documentaries but I often do further research myself as they usually leave me wanting to know more.
DeleteNot a lot of TV been watched here but I do enjoy Call the Midwife on a Sunday evening.
ReplyDeleteI love Call the Midwife though I must admit that I usually record it and watch it later as Mick doesn't watch it.
DeleteI love watching The Great British Sewing Bee and I also think Joe Lycett is going an excellent job. I think he's perfect in the role.
ReplyDeleteI was really pleased when I found out that The Great British Sewing Bee was returning, I'm really enjoying it.
DeleteI really don't watch much TV but I'm not a TV snob, there's just not an awful lot that captures my interest right now. I did see an Alys Fowler programme early this morning that I enjoyed, however and I'm looking forward to the new series of Derry Girls. X
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Derry Girls but I do enjoy watching Alys Fowler. It's a while since I've seen her on TV but I don't usually watch during the day so that's probably why.
DeleteI tend to catch the news as and when. It's lovely having Eleanor home, I cherish all the time I spend with her now she lives away from home.
ReplyDeleteI'm on catchup again & not sure where this year is going!!
ReplyDeleteWe do watch TV, but not really any movies. Don't have netflix, but do have an Australian series of Gogglebox, we've seen "very" rarely. I'm so glad The Bee is coming back & hope we get it here soon. Very much my type of shows. Hope you enjoyed the weekend with Eleanor. Take care.
I know so many people who enjoy The Sewing Bee so I'm not sure why they took it off our screens for a couple of years. I'm so glad it's back. We spent some lovely time with Eleanor at the weekend.
DeleteAh the Sewing Bee is back hooray! Love it. Funnily enough I watched some of Making a Murderer in Australia, not something I'd usually watch but the lawyer was fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThe whole legal proceedings in Making a Murderer were fascinating. I love to see the process of appeals and such and how they obtain new evidence. I thought it was a brilliant programme.
DeleteThe Sewing Bee, sounds like something I would enjoy. Must check it out. Haven't watched 4 weddings and a funeral in quite some time. Hope you enjoy your time with your daughter. I always enjoy when my daughter comes home.
ReplyDeleteSandy's Space
The Sewing Bee has been a very popular programme over here, I'm sure you'd enjoy it. I love it when either of the kids come home, we had a lovely weekend together.
DeleteWe have been watching hockey! and we watch jeopardy and we watch a channel that gives us rock concerts :)
ReplyDeleteSport is often on our TV as Mick watches quite a lot of it, but I don't watch any sport myself at all. I often hear Americans mention jeopardy but it's a show which hasn't made it across the pond.
DeleteI enjoy the Sewing Bee too, must be the craftiness in us all. Holby, Casualty, Vera, quite like Money for Nothing watching them transform unwanted items, although wacky at times, most of the time I could take it or leave it. Hope you had a wonderful weekend with Eleanor xcx
ReplyDeleteI think the Sewing Bee appeals to those of us who do craft in some form or another. I don't watch any of the other programmes you mention. We had a lovely weekend, it was an unexpected bonus as I wasn't expecting her home till Easter.
DeleteI love Four Weddings and a Funeral, it is a classic. So glad you had some time with your wonderful daughter.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a great film. It was wonderful having Eleanor home, I love spending time with her.
DeleteI've been watching the Sewing Bee too and love it, I also enjoy watching The Voice, I'm so sad that Grandchester is finished. xx
ReplyDeleteI've never watched The Voice, though I did catch a few programmes of the junior version and I enjoyed that. There's some very talented youngsters out there.
DeleteI think I've mentioned before that I don't watch a lot of TV, what I do watch i get on catch-up mostly, although I we do love Goggle Box. Friday's is Mastermind, goggle Box and sometimes Doc Martin.
ReplyDeleteI've never watched Doc Martin but I did see his house, apparently, when we visited Port Isaac. I rarely watch a programme live, I look through the listings at the beginning of the week and tape anything I want to watch. Gogglebox is a must though, I think it's hilarious.
DeleteI love the Sewing Bee even though I can't sew. Aside from the creativity, I love its warmth and kindness. I think it's made by the same production company as the Great British Bake Off and when the BBC lost that to Channel 4 I think a bit of petulance meant that we lost the Sewing Bee too. I can't remember if it was the BBC saying, "Well if you won't let us have the Bake Off we don't want the Sewing Bee either," or the makers saying, "Well if you won't pay our huge price for the Bake Off then we won't make the Sewing Bee for you," but it was one or the other. I am glad they've got over themselves! I'm a relatively latecomer to Gogglebox too, I want to be like Mary and Marina when I grow up! x
ReplyDeleteI'm the same, I can't sew either but I love to see what other people do. I wondered why a much loved programme had been taken off air, I'm really pleased it's back. Mary and Marina are great, aren't they? There are a couple of families I'd axe from Gogglebox but I like most of them.
DeleteI can answer this one - it went off the air after the BBC "fell out" with Love Productions over Bake Off.
DeleteI was hoping Channel 4 would snap it up, but instead we had to do without for a couple of years until some arty-farty-politically-correct-numpty-commissioning-editor at the BBC came to their senses.
TV politics then. It's so annoying when they throw their rattle out of the pram.
DeleteI adore Sewing Bee, and although I had no idea who he was, like Joe much more than CW. Have never "got" what her appeal is, am sure she's a lovely girl and a good Mum but I don't understand her as a 'celeb'.
ReplyDeleteEven though I can sew up a good quilt {grin} I cannot sew clothes. I am in absolute awe of the people who put themselves up for this show just so I can be so thoroughly entertained. Have not watched last night's episode yet, I was too tired and wrung out. Maybe later today?
I loved 4WF - sheesh, is it really that old?
I must admit that I though Claudia did a great job as host but I think Joe's perfect for the role. I did have my doubts when I saw that Claudia had been replaced. I haven't watched last night's episode yet either, I rarely watch anything live. Yes, Four Weddings and a Funeral is that old, doesn't bear thinking about how time is passing by.
DeleteHow can Four Weddings be 25 years old already? It's a good one to watch over and over.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch much TV, we tend to stick to boxsets (the physical DVD kind as we can't get unlimited internet due to having to get it via satellite - the joy of living in the sticks) as Andy can't stand adverts and we're not organised enough to sit down and watch anything on a regular basis. I really like Eat Well for Less but rarely remember it's on.
x
I've seen Four Weddings and a Funeral numerous times and I never tire of it. I really hate adverts too so I rarely watch anything live, especially when it's on ITV, I tape what I want to watch so that I can just fast forward through the adverts.
DeleteI've seen Four weddings and a funeral but none of the others. They sure sound varied and interesting.xxx
ReplyDeleteThinking about it, they are all quite different from each other. They do say that variety is the spice of life.
DeleteHow lovely that you got to spend some time with Eleanor.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
It was lovely to have her home for the weekend, an unexpected treat.
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