What TV shows did Brits watch during Lockdown?
Now that we should stay home because of COVID-19, have your viewing habits changed?
What kind of shows or movies do you watch these days?
Why do you choose these?
The following are some of the most popular shows that British people have been watching. What kind of show is it? Why do you think it’s been popular?
Over 2 million viewers weekly
Our Yorkshire Farm
Documentary series about a couple living on a remote farm with their 9 children.
The couple manage a flock of 1,000 sheep, 40 cows, six dogs and four ponies, and they also run a B&B.
Reasons:
People enjoy seeing kids in the countryside without iphones or laptops
other shows had to stop filming due to the Coronavirus. The family just filmed video on iphones
some popular scenes include kids helping a sheep give birth and putting an iphone on a 4 year old boys head and watching him run around the countryside
A BBC editor said:
“viewers enjoy watching people do things well.”
“At this particular time in history, people have a lot of negativity in their lives. [Viewers want to] spend an hour with a family pulling together, being positive about overcoming adversity”
Viewers increased by over 200%
Dad’s Army
Classic Sitcom about the home guard during World War 2
Useless old men created their local home guard to protect the UK from the Nazis
Ran from 1968-1977
Reasons:
(Older) people want to enjoy the nostalgia
comedy is uncomplicated
it has no connection to the problems and stress of modern day
Released in 2011. It spent over a month in the top 10 on netflix and itunes when the pandemic started
Contagion
Film about a pandemic. It accurately predicted many events of the current crisis (virus started in Hong Kong, it jumped to humans from animals, crazy bloggers spread fake cures)
A psychologist explained the reasons:
It has a happy ending. Some people die but not everyone
exposure therapy - people mentally prepare their mind for what might happen
it’s easier to relate to the characters than people we briefly see on the news
Tiger King
Documentary Series about big cat owners in the US
The owners are (almost) always unique characters and kind of crazy
Reasons:
Most people had no idea about how easy it is to make a private zoo in the US
We learn surprising new information about characters in each episode (“He makes music videos”“He has 2 husbands!” “He tried to be a politician” “Maybe she killed her husband to get the money” “He made a cult”
It’s a total escape from the worries of coronavirus
Everyone wears amazing fashion!
Interesting note:
Joe Exotic, from prison, asked Trump for a pardon. When reporters asked Trump about it, what do you think he said?
“I know nothing about it... Are you on his side? Are you recommending a pardon? I’ll look into it”
most popular streamed show in the UK during lockdown
TV drama - Modern version of a classic book series
Reasons:
we admire Sherlock’s intelligence but like him because he’s socially inept
each crime is exciting and mysterious. The mystery can be solved in 1 episode
Binge watching is on the rise
When watching a TV show with your partner, would you ever:
continue watching the show when your partner is busy?
re-watch the show with your partner and pretend you haven’t seen it?
argue with your partner because they watched it without you?
In the UK, a survey shows 39%, 33% and 28% of people have done these things.
British people over 55 consider 3 episodes of a show a “binge.”
How many do you usually watch? What is “binge-watching” for you?
In the UK people under 25 watch 4 episodes of a show on average. They consider 5 a binge.