Downton Abbey - ITV1

I'm well aware that the volume of advertising allowed on ITV has increased but that misses the point I was making: if you watch something on ITV, you know there will be commercials.

And just as DA was trailed relentlessly in the weeks prior to its debut, so it was used to relentlessly trail DCI Banks, that premiered on Monday night. And, as far as ITV is concerned, that exercise worked - both shows won their slot.

If you prefer not to watch ITV, fair enough - but don't anticipate ITV to start selling less advertising airtime any time soon ...
 
First time I ever watched a period drama- and I loved it.

Must say I prefer the servants more than the masters, but Maggie Smith is great.
 
Sorry you've missed the growing number of breaks, trailers and sponsorship credits in ITV's schedule - but they are very much part of what the channel is now. As you may or may not be aware, ITV has struggled in the market place and, like the BBC, now faces the prospect of Sky as the dominant market force in British television. So while the volume and length of breaks in DA irked me too, I understand why they're there.

The pub and letters pages of some publications in the seventies may have given you the impression that the public doesn't like commercial break and prefers BBC drama - but the viewing figures do not back that up. Indeed, ITV spent a good 15 years riding roughshod over the BBC's drama output - and The Darling BuRAB Of May is the highest rated period drama of the last 20 years. ITV does less period drama simply because it is expensive: the last returning series of that ilk it did were Bramwell (1995-1998) and The Grand (1997-1998), much of which had no exterior footage at all (thereby bringing down costs). ITV will never be the champion of period drama - it can't afford it (and couldn't have afforded DA without NBC's cash input).

I've never heard of the Daily Heil being seen as a 'newspaper aimed at women'. I find that hard to believe given that they spend a huge amount of time lambasting women for 'letting their figures slip' and printing as many embarrassing photos of them as possible. :rolleyes: (Just ask Natalie Cassidy). A newspaper aimed at self-hating women, maybe ...

And sure, everyone makes mistakes - but most people have the humility to apologise for them. Even politicians have worked that out. But the Mail has never once apologised for its support for Hitler and instead throws its toys out of the pram whenever that episode in its history is mentioned. I'd have more respect for them if they just said sorry - but that will never happen.
 
Don't believe everything you read. Remember 90% of everything is nonsense.



It was and is against the Iraq war, which is more relevant to nowadays, I think.

Re ad breaks. I don't usually mind them as I use the time productively (washing up, making tea, loo break etc), but I did notice them particularly in DA, & thought they were well OTT & very irritating. I don't watch much TV, so I don't know if this is a general trend?
 
Her ladyship's outfit at the flower show looked like it had last seen use in the Ascot scene in My Fair Lady
 
Yes I agree.

I'm quite enjoying it but it is like a modern take on how things would have been - with modern sensibilities.

They would have been much tougher in those days and there would have been none of the fraternising between upstairs and downstairs that goes on there. It's all a bit soft and fluffy.
 
Its unlikely as the IRA wasnt established until 1919! He might be an Ulster Volunteer, an organisation established in 1912 or an Irish Volunteer, formed in 1913, whose declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland
 
I didn't understand (until it was explained to me) the fact that the Duke was a fortune-hunter. Thicko that I am, I thought he was the heir!
 
Back
Top