BBC4 - The True TV Classics Channel

I’ve always loved BBC4 and this year the channel really has excelled itself. This week they air their own version of the sci-fi classic A for Andromeda.

Then from Saturday they host a 1973 week which includes classic shows like Blue Peter and Doctor Who and a programme called The Year on TV.

1973 week on BBC4

Indeed, BBC Four has always been able to do "quirky" very well, usually with the themed evening (BBC Three take note!)

My one concern however is that BBC Four is a much underinvested (both in terms of money and usage) service. I was delighted at the news of a possible extentions of their hours but that now appears to be a jackonory affair.

Hopefully someone, somewhere will give it it's much deserve prominance.

I think BBC4 has raised it's game quite a bit since the launch of More4.

The promised Monday Events on More4 have been a big disapointment really - but BBC4 seem to have claimed the night as their own with a number of theme nights over recent weeks!


I don't think extending hours though would help the channel - it's the sort of channel where quality is more important than quantity!

BBC Choice did some pretty good theme nights, prior to the launch of BBC Three. They were usually anchored by, the much missed, Christopher Price, either from an OB or the Liquid News studio cleverly camouflaged.

Don't think BBC Three ever really bothered - probably because by the 2000s people were slagging off theme-nights as tired, whereas in fact it was just badly executed theme nights that were bad...

The thing is in the nineties "Theme Nights" used to begin around 7pm and continue through till the early hours of the morning. Often now they are little more than three programmes running a couple of hours from 9pm.