[hamigo]

1/25. New series.

Tomorrow 6.30pm - 7pm BBC2.

Michael Portillo learns more about the country's railways, beginning with the Great Eastern Line, which runs along the edge of England and into central London.

On his travels, he discovers the grave-robbing history of Great Yarmouth and tries his hand at working a Victorian swing bridge in Reedham.

He also takes to the air to reveal how a rail guidebook helped aviators during the Second World War.

I'm looking forward to seeing this.

[doodle_bug]

Great, love it, gets me through the dark days of January.

[Sad_BB_Addict]

Great British Railway Journeys series 3, BBC2&HD 6.30pm Mon-Fri

This week:
Mon: Great Yarmouth to Beccles
Tue: Darsham to Felixstowe
Wed: Sudbury to Southend
Thu: Epping to Hackney
Fri: Fenchurch to Embankment

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0196y72
Definitely a candidate for series record.

[Andy_G]

Great series, and Michael Portillo is brilliant at presenting it, which surprises me because I wasn't keen on him at all when he was in politics.
I normally watch this when I'm having my dinner, it's very relaxing after a hard day in the office.

[Mr Sirs]

Yep - looking forward to it. Usually record it and watch it later in the evening.

[treetree]

another one here also looking forward to the new series

[mossy2103]

Looking forward to this, but as there has been little in the way of promotion, when I first saw it listed in the EPG (on the BBC HD channel) I assumed that it was another repeat.


The BBC really needs to learn how to promote its gems.

And the HD camerawork is wonderful.

[Elanor]

Ooh, excellent, that's good news!

[mossy2103]

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Great series, and Michael Portillo is brilliant at presenting it, which surprises me because I wasn't keen on him at all when he was in politics

Me too, I could not stand him, nor his politics when he was an MP, but since his election defeat he has successfully reinvented himself to become a good presenter (I also love his contributions on This Week), and really seems to be interested in the subject matter.

[tedjrr]

Its difficult to se how the word 'great ' can be used in the show's title, when the subject matter is National Express East Angia (NXEA). Fortunately they lost the franchise, and the truth is that they badly needed shooting. Try and imagine how it could be that there could be a worse TOC than this! GB Rail were pretty good, but NXEA have been a blight on the community.

Darsham Station would be vastly improved if the pub there were allowed to be licenced again.

I defy someone to make a program me about 'great' road and and to find anything positive at all about the A12. Actually John Peel put the A12 into room 101, I can't remember if this was just the road or the whole of Essex. Oh dear, local train services and lousy roads make me seem like angry old man.....

[The Mc]

After Portillo's Tory government decimated the railways in the 1980s and 1990s I'm surprised there are still any railways left for them to make a program about......

[mossy2103]

Originally Posted by tedjrr

Its difficult to se how the word 'great ' can be used in the show's title, when the subject matter is National Express East Angia (NXEA).

Because he attempts to follow the "great" journeys as detailed by George Bradshaw in the book Bradshaw's Guide.

[mossy2103]

Originally Posted by The Mc

After Portillo's Tory government decimated the railways in the 1980s and 1990s I'm surprised there are still any railways left for them to make a program about......

In one of the recent episodes, he did mention his role as Minister for Transport in relation to one particular journey. As I recall he was less than sanguine about how his role changed that journey.

[Shrike]

Then again he was quite proud of his role in saving the Settle-Carlise route.
No government has aquited itself well with regard to the railways since before Beeching.

[mossy2103]

True.

[Grouty]

I'll be watching this also, i love the music throughout.

[Bulletguy1]

Originally Posted by mossy2103

Me too, I could not stand him, nor his politics when he was an MP, but since his election defeat he has successfully reinvented himself to become a good presenter (I also love his contributions on This Week), and really seems to be interested in the subject matter.

Entirely agree. He presents these series of Railway Journeys excellently and makes it interesting. He also appeared on an episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are', the programme which traces family history and he proved to be a fascinating subject.

During the Spanish Civil War, Portillo's Father and brother both held different political views and his Father backed the losing side (prompting him to flee Spain for the UK). In the programme Michael Portillo returned to meet his extended family, including the Uncle who fought against his own brother!

[Liparus]

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Great series, and Michael Portillo is brilliant at presenting it, which surprises me because I wasn't keen on him at all when he was in politics.
I normally watch this when I'm having my dinner, it's very relaxing after a hard day in the office.

I'll be watching it after I've had my tea I'm from the North and most around here call the last main meal of the day tea. Strange I know.

Anyway on topic. I think this is a brilliant series, who cares if the 'great' in the title is a little outdated, there is nothing to stop the content of the show and the places visited from being great.

It really can't be last January when the last series was aired. If so time really does fly as you get older.

I see this series lasts for five weeks, which begs the question: when will Micheal run out of train journeys to discover?

[Bulletguy1]

Originally Posted by Liparus

It really can't be last January when the last series was aired. If so time really does fly as you get older.

I see this series lasts for five weeks, which begs the question: when will Micheal run out of train journeys to discover?

Afraid it is!

I recorded that series on my HD and kept them intending to copy to disc some time but haven't got around to it yet. Now it looks like I will have another 25 episodes to copy! But i'm not complaining.

Like you, I also wonder when Michael will run out of journeys to do and come to the end of the line.....probably when he runs out of track!

[Vientre]

Great news, love this series

[mossy2103]

Originally Posted by Liparus

I see this series lasts for five weeks, which begs the question: when will Micheal run out of train journeys to discover?

As I recall, he or the producers were asked a similar question last year, there was some talk of extending beyond Great Britain into Europe and other places, but this was before the extent of the budget cuts and Delivering Quality First became apparent.

I just hope that the BBC recognise what a brilliant concept they have, and do extend the scope of the series (as well as keeping Portillo on board).

[tinkie]

Thanks OP you have made my hubby happy as he didn't spot this in our TV guide

[mossy2103]

Originally Posted by tinkie

Thanks OP you have made my hubby happy as he didn't spot this in our TV guide

It's more proof that the BBC need to promote this gem more than they do. Make the most of your assets and play to your strengths is what I say.

[tinkie]

Originally Posted by mossy2103

It's more proof that the BBC need to promote this gem more than they do. Make the most of your assets and play to your strengths is what I say.

You are absolutely right, I also sent my Sister-in-law a text and she also hadn't noticed it was on.

[DUNDEEBOY]

Originally Posted by Sad_BB_Addict

Great British Railway Journeys series 3, BBC2&HD 6.30pm Mon-Fri

This week:
Mon: Great Yarmouth to Beccles
Tue: Darsham to Felixstowe
Wed: Sudbury to Southend
Thu: Epping to Hackney
Fri: Fenchurch to Embankment

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0196y72
Definitely a candidate for series record.

Absolutely series record set