British Television shows

Since coming to Oz I have watched more British television programs than I ever did in Canada.

That is mainly due to Australia’s national broadcaster – ABC. They air a variety of programs from the UK. Over the past year I have watched the following British programs:

Robin Hood | Life on Mars | Doctor Who | The Bill

Hyperdrive | Spaced | The Ghost Squad | Doc Martin

Of the above I have come to enjoy Spaced, Life on Mars and Doc Martin.

I will briefly describe the shows:

Spaced [1999 – 2001]

Spaced starred Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) and Jessica Stevenson (now Hynes). It consisted of 2 series which aired 7 episodes per series.

It was a half-hour comedy that featured 2 young people Tim and Daisy, for convenience and money issues they lived together in a flat. 4 reoccurring characters were Tim’s best friend Mike and Daiy’s best friend Twist. The 2 other characters were people who lived in the same building as Tim and Daisy – Marsha the owner and landlord of the building. And Brian, a resident downstairs who was a brooding painter.

The show featured many pop-culture references to movies (Star Wars, The Matrix), Television (X-Files), video games and comic books. As well as use of recreational drugs and electronica music.

I found it funny and very amusing.

Life on Mars [2006 – 2007]

Features a character named Sam Tyler (John Simm) who awakens in 1973 after being hit by a car in 2006 and is in a coma. In 2006 Sam is Detective Chief Inspector in Greater Manchester police. In 1973 he is Detective Inspector working for the Manchester and Salford police department. During his time there he tries to figure a way back to 2006 while working in 1973 dealing with culture clashes and the difference between detective/police work in 1973 and 2006.

It’s a very interesting show, its part cop drama and part mystery as Sam communicates and hears about his condition in 2006 through a television, radio and telephone.

Doc Martin [2004 – 200?]

Is about a successful London surgeon, Doctor Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) who quits being a surgeon and moves to the small sea-side town of Port Wen to become the town’s local doctor.

He’s not a very talkative individual and is very brash, straight-forward and to the point. Unlike the locals, who like to have a cup of tea, a biscuit, a chat and call him Doc Martin instead of Doctor Ellingham.

Over the course of the first season we are introduced to the town’s inhabitants who interact with the doctor – the pretty school teacher – Louisa, the Father and Son plumbers – Bert and Al, his sectary, the Policeman – Mark, his Aunty Joan and host of other minor character that make the town so lively.

The show has aired 3 series and a special. Currently a 4th series has been commissioned but not filmed yet.

Each episode has Doc Martin solving a problem or getting involved in the local’s problems. At times it is a very funny show, due to straight laced character of Doc Martin.

In Canada some of the shows (The Bill, Life on Mars) have aired on Showcase and possibly during my absence maybe some of the other shows have aired on Showcase or BBC Canada. If possibly I highly recommend watching the above 3 shows, it's great entertainment.