Odds & Sods | Tellyspotting

October 1, 2020
Making Nigel Tufnel proud, Tellyspotting turns 11!

It was 11 years ago on October 1, 2009 that I had this crazy idea to create a blog that would be devoted to British television, UK pop culture and, essentially, anything and everything British. Having had the great good fortune and amazing opportunity over my career in television to be associated with some of the most talented people on both sides of the camera that create some of your favorite British comedies, mysteries and dramas, it seemed like a logical next step to be able to share with everyone what I’m privileged to be a part of every day. SO, on Thursday, October 1, 2009, Tellyspotting was born. Eleven years and 3,727 posts later, here we are, still having as much fun talking about British television as we did that fateful day 11 years ago.
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September 15, 2020
Sanditon Sisterhood turns it up to 11 with epic Brean Beach sand art effort!

While Sanditon might not have a life after series 1 just yet, ‘when’ it does, we can all collectively take a step back and thank the Sanditon Sisterhood, whose efforts on behalf of the series based on the unfinished Jane Austen novel of the same name continue be a clinic on creativity.
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September 5, 2020
Pre-heat the oven — ‘Great British Bake Off’ is back under the tent this Fall on Channel 4!

Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and, replacing Sandi Toksvig, the newest member of the GBBO crew Matt Lucas (Little Britain, Doctor Who) will be back in action within the next few weeks when The Great British Bake Off 2020 returns to Channel 4 this Fall. The brilliant first-look teaser trailer shows that while the competition is a serious […]
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August 25, 2020
‘Roald & Beatrix, The Tail Of The Curious Mouse’, a much-needed Christmas gift to say goodbye to 2020

This Christmas, Roald & Beatrix, The Tail of the Curious Mouse, a blend of live action camera work, stop-frame animation and puppetry will bring to life the vivid imaginations and magical worlds of these two inspiring and renowned children’s authors. Inspired by the true story of when a six-year-old Roald Dahl met his idol Beatrix Potter, the one-off […]
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August 20, 2020
Liverpool’s Cavern Club finds itself in the middle of the most important fight of its’ life — survival!

The iconic Liverpool club known for ‘launching’ the Beatles and employing the late entertainer Cilla Black as a cloakroom attendant is in a fight for its very survival as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic. The Cavern actually opened as a jazz venue in 1957 before becoming the center of the rock and roll […]
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August 10, 2020
Remembering the greatness of Mollie Sugden and ‘we are unanimous in that’!

For almost thirty years, Mollie Sugden brought smiles and outright laughter to not only the North Texas area, but to the world, as Mrs. Slocombe on Are You Being Served. One can’t help but smile when the theme to AYBS plays and you sit there wondering just what color her hair will be in this episode.
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August 9, 2020
Social distancing — The Torbay way! 2 metres = 1 Basil Fawlty!

If our new normal of social distancing still has you confused as to what actually constitutes a ‘safe social distance’, consider this from one, John Cleese, with the ultimate in visual explanations for those thick of mind, courtesy of the Torbay Council. Going forward if I see you too close to one another I shall […]
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August 4, 2020
There may be no garden gnome or herds of wildebeests, but at least Fawlty Towers Lego set has a rat, a moosehead and a tree branch!

While it’s not near a good as the possibility of discovering a missing 13th episode of the greatest comedy of all time, Fawlty Towers, Lego Ideas member Lachie has designed a new set of bricks that British comedy fans will definitely recognize. Lachie recently explained his simple reasoning for creating the set to the British Comedy Guide: “I […]
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August 2, 2020
Princess Anne celebrates her 70th in a world of social distancing, virtual events and sketchy broadband.

Last Wednesday’s broadcast on ITV of Anne: The Princess Royal at 70 is a stark reminder of the world that we all currently live in, even the Royals. Like most people around the world, the princess believes that virtual events don’t compare to the real thing. When discussing her extensive charity work and, obviously, missing the ability to […]
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July 15, 2020
One is amused over RAF gunner/Jamaican bobsleigh squad member’s lockdown regimen

The Queen was most amused after hearing about an RAF gunner’s unusual lockdown exercise regimen during her second official virtual royal engagement via Zoom. Corporal Shanwayne Stephens, of the Queen’s Colour Squadron and member of the Jamaican bobsleigh team, was one of three military personnel who spoke to the monarch last week.
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