Compulsive Viewing

The Department Store

Only on the BBC could you find such a gem as the programme on TV tonight. You could never have searched for this programme or even expected to find such comedy as was presented in this documentary about a Department store in Huddersfield (for my non British readers this is a town in the North of England, West Yorkshire). What added some unwitting comedy to this programme was the presence to one corner of the screen of a “signer” for the, rather oddly I thought, high number of deaf viewers that the BBC were clearly expecting to tune in. Her antics were only surpassed by some of the real life characters who appeared in the programmes and populated the town where Peter's (the Department Store) was situated. Its main customers, not one of whom was under the age of 60 were and it seems were and are Peter's staunchest supporters.

But for me, the star of the show had to be the lady who frantically waved her arms about and made appropriate, if not a bit contorted, faces to convey the various moods of high drama or sadness that accompanied her translation. These having be delivered in sound bites made off camera by the wonderfully droll Richard Macer, the narrator and cameramen all in one! One classic moment saw him in reflection as the lift doors opened to allow some elderly shoppers in to take the short upward journey to the restaurant. Another priceless moment came when another older lady told her husband to “just wait a minute, I'm having my photo taken” while she stood staring at the TV camera being held by Richard Macer. Amusingly he had clearly decided NOT to comment, instead happy to leave the poor woman waiting for the flash that never cam. Finally after what seemed a lifetime she said “OK, have you got it now” and wandered off to her bemused husband with a smile and a rather regal little wave.

Only on British TV and wonderful too... lets have more of this please!

"Strictly Come Dancing" still grabs our attention every weekend and also every night as Claudia Winkleman interviews the dancers and digs up all sorts of bit and pieces about the event... this is the first time that it's been hard to pick a winner!! I am sorry to say that this has become compulsive viewing but who cares.

X Factor, I am not so keen now that the insults have stopped but again I have to admit to keep watching. Sorry to see the lovely Spanish girl, Ruth Lorenzo, leave the show and I do wish she had sung in Spanish now and again.