vivdunstan

I've been working through some of the old TV programmes on Britbox. Many still to watch, time and energy permitting. One I'm currently watching is Bergerac, a UK crime drama which ran from 1981-1991 and was a fixture on BBC TV throughout the 1980s. Set on Jersey, and starring John Nettles who would later go on to star in Midsomer Murders on ITV.

I initially started to watch Bergerac on Britbox from the beginning. Back in the 80s I started watching from series 3, so hadn't seen the very start. It has some charms, but I was really struggling with the acting by the initial love interest. So my strategy now is to cherry pick episodes throughout the whole run. Last night I was watching the first of the Philippa Vale ones, featuring recurring guest star Liza Goddard as a jewel thief. I will definitely watch all of those. Next I've got the first episode in series 4, which sees the introduction of Louise Jameson's long-running character Susan. And we'll see where I go beyond that. Though this web page will be a big help.

I have always loved the accordion-based theme music of Bergerac, written by George Fenton. More recently I did my own accordion arrangement of it, and enjoy playing it immensely. The TV version of the theme was tweaked over the years, but here is a nice early version. Note that isn't the full opening titles. But it's the best version I've found online of the original theme tune audio.

The latest book finished was The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. This is a whodunnit, based on a group of retirees in a retirement home investigating crime. It has a feel of cosy murder fiction, but is more pacy than normal, told in 115 short chapters, from multiple points of view, with constant changes in perspective. At the start I found this rapid writing style quite a shock to my system, but I quickly adapted, and found it a real page turner, with a plot full of twists and turns, good characterisation - often highly emotive where needed - and comedy throughout. The ingenuity of the elderly detectives is remarkable and hilarious. I will definitely be reading the sequel book. Thoroughly recommended. Rating 5/5.