Thursday, 16 July 2026

What I've Been Watching...

If you like sport, then the last few weeks have provided some good TV. Tennis, Football, Grand Prix...and more.(sad that England lost last night) If you are like me, and don't really like watching sport on TV at all, the programme listings have been a little dull. 
However, I did manage to catch some of the Penelope Keith programmes, following her recent death. How I loved her wardrobe - both as Margot Leadbetter and Audrey Forbes-Hamilton! She was so tall and statuesque and could really pull off those fabulous silk kaftans, satin evening gowns and glorious millinery. At a diminutive 4'11" with a small budget, I was more at home in the old jumpers and dungarees favoured by Felicity Kendall. PK was a brilliant actor and I can watch re runs of The Good Life any time. 

At last Quizzy Mondays have returned. This week we had to deliver something to a friend, and we were delayed, so it was just after 8pm when we arrived "I thought you two would be the sort of people at home watching Only Connect right now" she said. Our friends know us too well! We watched it later, when we got home. Good to see Clive, Amol and VC-M quizzing away as before. 

We have been watching the 2010 reboot of Hawaii Five-O on Netflix. Quite enjoying it, altho it can get a bit violent.  But we are particularly grateful to Liz for alerting us to a policeman called Panda

NO not Peppa Pig's Policeman Panda, voiced by VCM's husband David Mitchell, but a French crime drama on Channel 4's Walter Presents

Panda [aka Victor Pandaloni] is an ex-cop, turned relaxed vegan pacifist, who is reluctantly dragged back to the force. But he insists on working on his own terms. So no early morning callouts, cycling rather than using a car, no weapons or violence.
It's so clever and so witty. Providing you can cope with subtitles , it is easy viewing for a warm summer evening. Set in the Camargue [yes there is a pony, sunshine, sandy beaches etc] It has all the usual tropes...

-longsuffering boss [permanently tired due to young family]
-attractive but highly-strung female partner, who is his polar opposite
-younger idiot cop who worships Panda 
-teenage son whom 
Panda 'accidentally' adopted

C'est Trรจs Drรดle


22 comments:

  1. I’m not really a sport fan either but was disappointed when England lost to Argentina.
    I will look out for Panda, we like softy police TV and it might help us with our French!

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  2. We don't watch live TV really as our TV doesn't work properly. I've been enjoying Death Valley (or Death in the Valley) with Timothy Spall which is very fun!

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    Replies
    1. It got better as it progressed I think. TS is lovely

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  3. Thank you for mentioning that Only Connect is back on. I hadn't noticed it was back.
    I really enjoyed watching the Penelope Keith programmes and laughed out loud a few times. They not only had brilliant scripts but also such amazing timing from the actors, something that is often missing in more modern comedies and that really can't be taught. You've either got it or you haven't!

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  4. I watched Hay Fever this week with Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington. She was such a star in everything she did, such a lovely person.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, and he was a brilliant foil. Both missed

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  5. I have been taping some french programmes Murders in Avignon, for example. The scenery is just delightful and the murders are solved by a long winded investigation. Quiet old fashioned TV but enjoyable all the same. I think they are on Talking Pictures, channel 82.

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  6. I love the sound of Panda. I wonder if it would bring back any of my extremely rusty French.

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    1. Probably! .my french is pretty rusty too

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  7. Loved Only Connect-thanks for introducing me to it. Catriona

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  8. I’m only about 5 ft . I also would love to waft around in a kaftan, but no, it would look a little silly……๐Ÿ˜€
    Alison in Devon x

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    Replies
    1. Less wafting, more floor-polishing

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    2. I waft in my kaftan, but only around the house! (And I haven't looked in the mirror when I'm wearing it!) I'm 5'2".

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    3. ๐Ÿคฃ ๐Ÿคฃ ๐Ÿคฃ

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  9. Replies
    1. ๐ŸผI hope you enjoy it!๐Ÿผ

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    2. Watched 1 episode today on your recommendation. Loved it!

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