Bill Young | Tellyspotting

Posted January 16, 2022 - No Comment

First glimpse of Anthony Horowitz’s ‘Magpie Murders’ headed to PBS Masterpiece

2022 has already shown to be the icing on the proverbial British drama cake that began with the return of All Creatures Great and Small a few short weeks ago. Later in the year, it’s the return of Sanditon, another new series of Call the Midwife and several new series coming our way. One such series headed our way in 2022 that we have talked about extensively is the television adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s Magpie Murders.

Posted January 13, 2022 - No Comment

Gary Waldhorn — a.k.a. Dibley’s Councillor David Horton, dies at 78.

Gary Waldhorn, the actor best known for his role of Councillor David Horton in the Dawn French comedy, Vicar of Dibley, has died at the age of 78. Waldhorn’s son Josh confirmed to BBC News that his father died on Monday, saying in a statement: “Classically trained, it was the theatre where he truly flourished and he leaves a legacy […]

Posted January 10, 2022 - No Comment

As S2 begins, ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ renewed for 2 more series!

As we put a cap on the series 2 premiere last night of All Creatures Great and Small, the news that UK broadcaster, Channel 5, has renewed the adventures of James Herriot in Darrowby for not one, but TWO more series has been confirmed. Series 3 will see the return of Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, […]

Posted January 9, 2022 - No Comment

Talking ‘Vienna Blood’ S2 with series director, Robert Dornhelm

Series 2 of the Austrian-set crime thriller, Vienna Blood, premieres tonight on PBS. As with series 1, the new installments will, once again, pair a world-weary Austrian police detective and with a young doctor of psychology as they team up to solve crimes in 1900s Vienna. Starring Matthew Beard (The Imitation Game), and Juergen Maurer (Tatort), […]

Posted January 2, 2022 - No Comment

‘The Electrical Life of Louis Wain’ brings together stars of ‘Sherlock’ and ‘The Crown’

For me, there are times when a simple leap of faith to see a movie in which you are unfamiliar with the subject matter is based solely the fact that it’s British. That, and casting. For me, such is the case of the recently released, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. Being unfamiliar with Wain […]

Posted December 31, 2021 - No Comment

“The same procedure every year” — ‘Dinner for One’ continues its annual NYE tradition in Germany

It seems that watching television on New Year’s Eve in Germany is right up there with the tradition of watching the Queen’s Christmas Day message in the UK. Dinner for One is a particularly crucial part of Germany’s festive programming, where it has been broadcast on Das Erste, a public television channel, since 1972. Around half the population still tunes in on New Year’s Eve to watch it with some Germans even recreating the meal served in the skit.

Posted December 30, 2021 - No Comment

Selfridges sells for a cool £4 billion — If I would have only known!

For a mere £4 billion ($5.4 billion), had I known, I could have put a famed British luxury department store under the Christmas tree of someone special this year. Oh, if I would have only known…or, more realistically, had £4 billion to spare, I could have put in a bid. Guessing I’d have to lose the red […]

Posted December 27, 2021 - No Comment

‘Vienna Blood’ returns as S2 begins January 9 on PBS

Series 2 of the Austrian-set crime thriller, Vienna Blood, is headed to PBS beginning January 9. As with series 1, the new installments will, once again, pair a world-weary Austrian police detective and with a young doctor of psychology as they team up to solve crimes in 1900s Vienna. Starring Matthew Beard (The Imitation Game), and […]

Posted December 25, 2021 - No Comment

Her Majesty The Queen’s Christmas Message — 2021

Following the tradition that began in 1932 by her father, King George V, Her Majesty The Queen broadcast her inaugural Christmas message live on the radio from her study at Sandringham, Norfolk in 1952. The Queen began: “Each Christmas, at this time, my beloved father broadcast a message to his people in all parts of […]

Posted December 24, 2021 - No Comment

John Cleese’s classic rendition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Much like watching It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, Tuna Christmas or, as evidenced by a recent admission, Die Hard, one of my annual Christmas traditions is to listen to John Cleese’s adaptation of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas from podcast No. 28. Never mind that there have been endless readings over the years by the likes […]