I remember, but didn't regularly watch those series, TH. The exception is
Minder. I was sharing a flat with someone at the time and although we used to be out and about independently most of the week, we made a point of staying in on Monday nights to watch it. Protagonist Arthur Daley even inspired a pop song, if you remember. ( Actually, if you do remember, you may well have spent the time since trying to forget this piece of ephemeral '80s pop):-
Of course the BBC's reputation for good quality drama series was cemented by
The Forstye Saga, which, back in the days when there were only three tv channels available, broke all kinds of records:-
Quote:
It was when the series was later repeated on Sunday evenings on BBC1, starting on 8 September 1968, that the programme's success was secured with 18 million tuning in for the final episode in 1969. It is often quoted that both publicans and clergymen in the United Kingdom complained that the Sunday night repeats were driving away customers and worshippers, respectively, and there are tales of Sunday Evensong services being moved to prevent a clash with the broadcast. A retrospective on the series by PBS Masterpiece Theatre notes that:
"Viewers remember the way the nation shut down each Sunday night for the event. Pubs closed early and the streets were deserted. The Church even rescheduled its evening worship services so that the immense audience could be ready for the start of the show at 7:25pm."
Following its success in Britain, the series was shown in the United States on public television and broadcast all over the world, and became the first BBC television programme to be sold to the Soviet Union. The worldwide audience was estimated as something in the region of 160 million. The series won a Royal Television Society Silver Medal and a BAFTA for Best Drama Series or Serial. Following its transmission in 1967 by RTÉ, the Republic of Ireland's national broadcast service, the BBC production won a Jacob's Award at the annual presentation ceremony in Dublin.
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In this scene, old guy Soames has been sent by his daughter Fleur to visit his estranged wife Irene to discuss Fleur's marriage to Jon. Unfortunately for all concerned, Jon is Irene's illegitimate son and Fleur's half-brother (I think). For a fuller explanation, just check out John Galsworthy's original nine-volume saga.
Notice the stiff upper lips all round, and the black and white production: if you're watching The Forsyte Saga in colour, you've been duped by some remake whose quality I can't vouch for.
"Mother, let's go to Italy!" What young man has not said this when his love-life takes a turn for the worse??