5 Television shows that make me smile during lockdown

We are living through a surreal period where we are spending more time indoors than ever before. Whilst younger members of the family are using video games to distract themselves, I am relying on the good old telly. I felt it would be lovely to share with  you 5 television programmes that are making me smile during lockdown. I have spoken to my brother and we are looking into a new television finding out the answers to questions like what is hdr tv to inform our purchase.

Larry Grayson: Shut that door

This is a documentary about a comedian and presenter. He reached fame many years after working in clubs around the country. He never took wealth and fame for granted. It seems that he loved what he did and that was enough for him in good and bad times. It was a delight to remember watching him present the Generation Game when I was a child. I am always fascinated by family histories and Larry has a really poignant one. There are few documentaries that cover historical changes whilst also making you laugh out loud. You can still catch this delight on the ITV Hub.

The Trouble with Maggie Cole

During lockdown it can be challenging to find things the whole family enjoy. We bond over this series set in picturesque Devon. A well-respected member of the local community is the main character. Things go wrong for her and others when a radio journalist gets her tipsy leading to her revealing secrets about other villagers. The series follows her as she attempts to apologise and make amends with varying degrees of success. There are many famous actors in this series but despite that you see past that to the characters who you will probably recognise from your own communities.

Coronation Street

There is something about soap operas that we can rely on. After a heartbreaking relationship breakdown, I remember thinking life could be OK again once I got back to watching soaps. Even though production on soaps is now stopped, we have some episodes to enjoy. Coronation Street will always be my favourite as it is Northern and something I watched with my parents as a child. The writing is generally superb with that wonderful mix of poignancy and humour. I also love how they cover important issues that raise awareness such as the current coercive control storyline.

This Morning

Like the soaps, we can rely on This Morning to provide stimulation when our mornings might be boring as we all get used to social distancing. Like the best blogs, This Morning covers topics that most of us enjoy such as travel, food and fashion. The presenters have good senses of humour which is great at a time when we could all do with a giggle. I do question whether this show should be filmed from the studio as I think it potentially sets a poor example about not working from home. Even when I am making huge attempts to structure my days with creative activities, I do like to include This Morning too.

The Last Kingdom

Recently reunited with my 19 year old son, we are indulging in sessions binge-watching great shows on Netflix. We were a bit lost after seeing all the Sherlock episodes. However, we are now loving The Last Kingdom as we both love history. During their invasion of England, the Danes capture Uhtred, a young successor of Saxon earldom, and raise him as their own. Years later, Uhtred’s loyalties are put to the test by the Danes. We find ourselves really wanting to best for Uhtred even when his behaviours are less than perfect. I should warn you there are a a lot of gory scenes in this so avoid watching it with your little ones.

What television shows are keeping you happy during lockdown?