Repeats - why I want more!

Strange I find myself wanting more repeats, but as we're heading into the summer season of TV, I actually do.

By repeats I don't mean random episodes of Only Fools and Horses, twenty year old US dramas, another Bond movie or more episodes of Friends - I mean another chance to see the big dramas of recent years.


Tonight C4 begin a re-run of the second series of Shameless. I've watched it once, and will certainly be watching again.

Earlier this year ITV1 especially had some fantastic one-off dramas - and have done so for the past few years. But they only air once, as do most drama series on ITV1 and BBC1.

Some series to get a second screening on digital channels such as BBC3 / ITV3 etc., but even that's rare.

Apart from Morse, Frost and Midsomer Murders, ITV1 hardly ever repeat their drama offerings (though will screen the same 2nd rate Hollywood movie twice a year, every year!). The only series in recent times repeated has been a late night re-run of Footballers Wives and afternoon editions of Heartbeat.


So instead of I Shagged a Celebrity "Love" Island, as a viewer wouldn't you rather have a second chance to see quality television, rather than a second-rate summer filler.

What about showing shows from the 50's to the 90's onto the schedule. We could have repeats of little know comedy and dramas from that time to fill in replacements

I suppose the UKTV channels are where you will find repeats of old shows, but there are some I would like to see again in terrestrial. A few years ago BBC2 repeated tinker tailor soldier spy over christmas which I enjoyed very much. I would most like to see a very british coup and ken burns series on the american west, which I missed twice and regretted it ever since.

To be honest I'm not talking about old shows - in fact that's probably one of the last things I want.

I'm on about recent programmes which are either still running or recently concluded - so for example repeating the last series of a programme over the summer in advance of the new series in the autumn, or following the last ever episode of a series to repeat it from the beginning.


It's the one-off drama premieres I want to see more of again. Brilliant dramas such as The Second Coming deserve a, well second coming - and I'd prefer these to be reshown on ITV1 than any random Hollywood "Blockbuster".


And although I'm thinking more about the terrestrial channels, it be nice for ITV3 to live up more to it's promise and drop it's reliance on US imports during the day and shows like Morse and Frost at night.

I agree. ITV do do those one off and 2 part dramas really well but they only tend to air them the once. I'd love to see some again. I know I've missed tons. They did reshow the Booze cruise a While back but that's the first time I've known them reshow a one off drama. What about BBC1 reshowing Messiah or the Stretford Wives or ITV reshowing at Home With the Braithwaites. I know loads of people who'd love to see the Braithwaites again.

Because for some reason repeats are frowned upon even more than crappy programmes.

I can just imagine the reaction, people would be counting repeats in the Radio Times and saying can they have a rebate from their TV licence because 17% of programmes were repeats this week

I'd also like to see a few repeats, a good one tonight is that BBC1 are actually repeating an episode of One Foot in the Grave, the first time in years!

Cat wants Girl Friday repeated, he is so exhausted by the lack of it he can't even reply himself and asked me to on his behalf.

I was a massive fan of One Foot in the Grave, but the trouble is when the BBC repeat them, they don't usually repeat a series - it's just a couple of episodes to fill the schedule.


Another reason to repeat is for episodes quite badly scheduled. One series I recall is Revolver, a comedy sketch show featuring lots of old stars which aired about 11pm sometime last year.

It was quite funny - and I think had enough old timers to attract an older audience, and would probably do quite well in the 9-10pm slot - so next time, instead of OFAH repeat #35625, I'd rather the BBC tried something like this.

UKTV is pathetic. They drown out the Sky Epg with all their channels, plus numberous +1's and they are riddled with repeats. They are the worst TV network ever.

All channels should have a repeats limits.

Tonight's One Foot in the Grave was to One Foot in the Grave what the Del falling through a bar one is to Only Fools and Horses

"4291"
"Where the bloody hell have you come from, bugger off"

Yeah, was that a cheap ratings grab or what?! I like OFITG - wish we could see more. Especially Series 1.

That's true, you hardly ever see series 1 do you?