Britain from Above - the nice thread...

[Arch]

I was planning to come and post about this series, and then saw Linford had got there first, but that's all got a bit ranty.

I just wanted to say what a fabulous programme! I'd imagine anyone who likes poring over maps would love it. I missed the first one, but caught the repeat on Saturday - bloody brillant, looking at all the networks - roads, rail, planes, electricity. I was amazed at the guy who has to sit there in that huge power control room with Eastenders on the telly, so as to be ready to bring all the extra power online just at the moment when all the kettles go on when it ends... Amazing the things we take for granted.

Lucky Andrew Marr, getting to go up in all those little planes. Lovely DH Rapide he was in over Oxford last night.

 

[User482]

I missed all but the last ten minutes of last night's programme. A shame, as it looked great.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

What is rather more interesting for me is that it shows rather nicely how much our society relies on so many methods of surveillance, monitoring or tracking in practically every domain of life.

 

[Milo]

Yes all in all a good job by the bbc.

 

[Arch]

I missed all but the last ten minutes of last night's programme. A shame, as it looked great.

Might be able to watch it again on iplayer? (or it's probably repeated next saturday afternoon, if this week is anything to go by).

Funny, because it was about the last 10 minutes of last night I missed (well, I was on the phone). So between us we managed to see it!

I suppose you're right FM, but somehow it was nice to see that that electricity chap still had to actually have the telly on, to know the exact moment to bring in all that extra power... That seems delightfully... archaic, in a way.

 

[Milo]

Apparently we are one of only countries in the world that have that problem.
Im not sure on that one.

 

[Chuffy]

Missed it last night (damn you Hellboy on C5!) but will try to catch it on iPlayer. Repeated on Saturdays you say? Excellent.

 

[User482]

Yes, I'll try iplayer for last night's one, but unfortunately last week's show won't be on there any more. Hopefully it'll be repeated.

There was a great piece at the end about the efforts that go into maintaining the national parks, particulalrly the Norfolk Broads. Well worth watching on iplayer if you missed it.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

I was wondering if those aerial photographs from the German bombers are online anywhere. I grew up in south west Norfolk (a few miles from Wymondham) and it'd be fascinating to see what the area looked like back then.

 

[marinyork]

Episodes 3 and 4 are on in the early hours on the 23rd 1:35am. Digiguide seems to have picked up some other related? programme on BBC FOUR Sunday 24th.

 

[Over The Hill]

Good programme but Andrew Marr certainly has a face for Radio

 

[barq]

It was a good BBC programme that really did inform and entertain. My only slight criticisms were that it was quite London centric and I had the odd moment of feeling a bit patronised by Andrew Marr (who I'm generally quite a fan of). I mean, I do know there is this thing called elastictrickery that comes into all our homes.

On Flying_Monkey's point... I suppose I knew all this information did exist, but it is odd seeing it all up there on the screen. I wonder how many other countries collect enough data that the equivalent programme would be possible?

 

[surfgurl]

Thinking about the increase in elastictrickery ouput needed after TV programmes, isn't this a predominately British thing because most other countries have a multitude of channels whereas we have the terrestrial ones with the majority of viewers? Hence other countries don't get television events with millions watching a particular show at a particular time.
I'm looking forward to next weeks programme at Glastonbury Festival. That looks amazing from the nearby roads let alone from the air.
Coincidentally I was getting my press pass at Glastonbury at the same time as two girls from the Britain From Above programme were getting theirs. The conversation went something like:
"Can we get Andrew Marr's press pass."
Woman on desk. "No. He has to get it himself and show photo id."
"But it's Andrew Marr"
"Well Andrew Marr will have to get it himself and show his photo id." :-)

 

[LLB]

What is rather more interesting for me is that it shows rather nicely how much our Labour Government relies on so many methods of surveillance, monitoring or tracking in practically every domain of life.

For once I totally agree with you FM

 

[Arch]

Good programme but Andrew Marr certainly has a face for Radio

Oh right, so it matters does it?

(speaking as someone who probably also has a face for radio...)