The Riff Raff Element + Civvies

The Riff Raff Element was an early 90's comedy-drama serial with a solid cast.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riff_Raff_Element
Unfortunately, the video tape of Ep 2.5 is messed up from start to finish. Watchable, but annoying.

Civvies was a Lynda La Plante thing.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182008/

Sugartown + The Hour

Sugartown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugartown_%28TV_series%29

The Hour
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hour_%28drama_series%29

Winners & Losers

Winners & Losers, the popular Australian drama about "the lives of four women living in Melbourne after they win a large amount of money in the Oz Lotto" wrapped up it's first series either today or yesterday depending on what part of the world you're in. It will be returning next year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winners_%26_Losers
Packed To The Rafters, on hiatus since mid-March, now returns and will end its 4th series in early December.

Making Waves + North & South

2 drama serials from 2004. One was award-winning, one was not.

Making Waves
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Making_Waves_%28TV_series%29

North & South
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_and_South_%28TV_serial%29

The Pillars Of The Earth

The Pillars of the Earth is a Canadian-produced mini-series based on the Ken Follett novel.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillars_of_the_Earth_%28TV_miniseries%29

Between The Lines + Virtual Murder

Between The Lines was a 90's cop drama starring Neil Pearson (Chelmsford 123, Drop The Dead Donkey, Trevor's World Of Sport, See You Friday, All The Small Things, The State Within, The Booze Cruise, recent appearances in George Gently, Marple, Midsomer Muders), Tom Georgeson (Boys From The Blackstuff, Juliet Bravo, The Last Place On Earth, G.B.H., Justice, Crimson Petal and The White), Siobhan Redmond (Alfresco, Bulman, The Smoking Room, Taggart), Tony Doyle (Aphrodite Inheritance, Ballykissangel, Band Of Gold....his daughter Susannah starred with Pearson in Dead Donkey).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Between_The_Lines_%28TV_series%29

Virtual Murder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Murder

Marcus Lush - New Zealand

Last December I posted a 12-episode program called Off The Rails: A Love Story in which Marcus Lush takes viewers on a journey throughout New Zealand by rail as he explains how the lines enabled the country to grow and prosper.
If you've always wanted to experience the beauty of New Zealand but the trip there isn't in your future, these two discs are the next best thing.
Here are 3 more programs with Marcus Lush, one about New Zealand's North Island, one the South Island and one about Antarctica....a bit south of the south island.
Also included is a 43-minute program about the south island and a 1985 4-episode program by Peter Hayden and his journey across the south island, coast-to-coast,  at 45° S latitude. (The last 10 minutes of episode 3 is missing due to a disc problem.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Lush

Room At The Bottom

Room At The Bottom was an 80's sitcom starring James Bolam and Keith Barron. Also in most, but not all, episodes was Richard Wilson, Deborah Grant, Oliver Cotton and Erica Hoffman. George Baker was in several episodes and Michael Jayston, Stephanie Cole and Roger Lloyd Pack guest star....among others.
http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/room/index.html
Some of these files have a peculiar audio noise in the background here and there but it doesn't effect the dialogue at all. Seems to effect the laugh track or low background noise and sounds like R2D2 under water.

Some other programs these actors are known for:

James Bolam - The Likely Lads, When The Boat Comes In, Only When I Laugh, The Beiderbecke Trilogy, Father Matthew's Daughter, Andy Capp, Second Thoughts, Close And True, Born And Bred, New Tricks.

Keith Barron - Telford's Change, Leaving, Duty Free, Haggard, The Good Guys, Take Me, Dead Man Weds, The Chase, Where The Heart Is.

Richard Wilson - Crown Court, A Sharp Intake Of Breath, Only When I Laugh, Tutti Frutti, High And Dry, Hot Metal, Selling Hitler, Cluedo, Under The Hammer, Duck Patrol, Born And Bred, Merlin, One Foot In The Grave.

Deboarah Grant - Bouquet Of Barbed Wire, Another Bouquet, Bread, Bergerac, Peak Practice, Not Going Out.

Oliver Cotton - (sometimes confused with Paul Chapman) Sensitive Skin, The Camomile Lawn.

Erica Hoffman - Brush Strokes, Chelmsford 123, House of Cards trilogy.

George Baker - The Fenn Street Gang, Bowler, I Claudius, No Job For A Lady, Inspector Wexford.  

Spirited - Disc 1

Spirited - Disc 1
Spirited is an Australian drama program currently in its second series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirited_%28TV_series%29

Smörgåsbord Disc 30

Colin, who's locked in the jaws of winter in southern New Zealand, provided this collection of 6 films, 5 of which are adaptations of books by the late New Zealand author Ronald Hugh Morrieson.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Hugh_Morrieson

Some of these films are quite rare, as are some of his books, so to provide those of us outside of New Zealand with the chance to have all 5 films on 1 disc was very generous of Colin.

One Of Those Blighters is a 50-minute film about the life and times of Morrieson himself, filmed about 10 years after his death at the age of 50.

The Scarecrow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scarecrow_%281982_film%29

Came A Hot Friday
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Came_a_Hot_Friday

Pallet On The Floor

Predicament

The Makutu Of Mrs. Jones is not a Morrieson story. It's a short film from 1983 based on a story by Witi Ihimaera.

Smörgåsbord - Disc 29

Smörgåsbord Disc 29

This one is all Down Under with 3 films from Australia and 2 from New Zealand.

Eruption
"Eruption is a New Zealand-made drama that follows several Auckland families in the days before a volcanic eruption in their city. The Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, John Hamilton, said, while Eruption is a drama, the science that drives it is real and the wider messages about preparedness for disasters are relevant to all the country. The show’s producers, Gibson Group, worked with the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, GNS Science, the University of Auckland and civil defence organisations in Auckland in developing the script. For Auckland, the warning signs of volcanic unrest shown in Eruption are realistic – the volcanic field is closely monitored, and scientists and civil defence officials would be able to provide early warning if magma began moving towards the surface, again. Likewise, the other areas of New Zealand living with volcanoes – Taranaki, the central North Island and Bay of Plenty – are closely monitored and the precautions people need to take are similar."

Loot
"Jon Peregrine (Jason Donovan) is a forensic accountant, who takes his job seriously. So when his brother-in-law commits suicide as the result of an involvement in a share rort, Peregrine is determined to unocver and expose the criminals. When Peregrine's ex-wife Cynthia (Anita Hegh) hires him to find a missing mafia boss, he realises that the financial scandal goes much deeper than a share rort and involves the laundering of drug money from Thailand. Peregrine will not rest until he figures out what has happened - and dealt with those responsible. Loot is a fast-paced financial thriller, with a little humour, a little romance and loads of action. There are creditable performances from Donovan and Hegh, and support from other familiar faces including Barry Otto and Mark Mitchell."

Scorched
"Sydney 2012. There has been no rainfall for over 200 days. The city has nearly run out of water and is fast becoming reliant on its desalination plant. During a severe heatwave the city is ringed by bushfires which simultaneously break their containment lines leaving Sydney under siege and without sufficient water to defend itself."

Tangiwai
"It's 1953. Bob Blair and 19-year-old Nerissa Love are deeply in love. Their love story alone is the stuff of movies but what makes Bob and Nerissa's story one of legends is that catastrophic events will cause their private love story to play out its final scene on an unlikely public stage. While Bob goes off to play cricket for his country in South Africa, Nerissa makes a fateful decision to travel to Auckland to be with her friend for Christmas. While Bob smashes wickets in Johannesburg, the train Nerissa is on heads straight for a bridge that spans the Whangaehu River - a place better known as Tangiwai - "River of Tears". When news of the train crash and Nerissa's death - along with 150 other Christmas travellers - reaches the cricket team in South Africa, Bob is devastated. But what follows is an act of courage and defiance that stands as one of our most dramatic moments in sporting history. Bob Blair's actions on the cricket field - batting through tears to try and save his battered team - reflect the heroism being played out back home as the nation faces its worst ever disaster. Tangiwai explores a great tragedy through the eyes of two young people who embody all the hope of the post-war generation, a generation who were desperate to forge a new, independent path for themselves."

The Postcard Bandit
"The story of notorious Australian bank robber Brendan Abbott, who according to the myth, sent postcards to authorities hot on his trail while on the run across the country."

Smörgåsbord - Disc 28

The Lost Prince

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Prince

Riot at the Rite
from IMDB: "In the spring of 1913, Parisian businessman Gabriel Astruc opens a new theater on the Champs Elysées. The first performance is the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring', danced by the Ballet Russes. The rehearsal process is extremely fraught: the orchestra dislike Stravinsky's harsh, atonal music; the dancers dislike the 'ugly' choreography of Vaslav Nijinsky. The volatile, bisexual Nijinsky is in a strained relationship with the much older Sergei Diaghilev, the Ballet Russes' charismatic but manipulative impresario. Public expectation is extremely high after Nijinsky's success in 'L'apres-midi d'un faune'. Finally, 'The Rite of Spring' premieres to a gossip-loving, febrile, fashion-conscious Parisian audience sharply divided as to its merits."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473080/

Freefall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freefall_%28TV_programme%29

Accidental Farmer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidental_Farmer

Toast
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toast_%28film%29

Prince John: The Windsors' Tragic Secret
documentary to go with The Lost Prince
"Had he lived beyond the tender age of 13, the sixth and youngest child of King George V and Queen Mary would have been the present Queen’s uncle. As hitherto understood on the basis of scraps of information about what used to be a very private family, John’s was a short life characterised by neglect and being ruthlessly locked away from public view on account of his severe epilepsy and a learning difficulty that may have been related to autism. His elder brother Edward once described him as "more of an animal than anything else". However, as befits a programme made by Blakeway Productions, whose reputation for factual programming is top-notch, this film depicts a story that was indeed tragic – but more complex than we might otherwise have believed. It uses the testimony of individuals with personal knowledge of the fate of the young prince – including nonagenarian Elsie Hollingsworth, whose father was John’s coachman – plus letters and photographs never seen before on television. This might not add up to a mass of new material, and it certainly shows a family teetering near the border of dysfunctionality, but it enables us to glimpse more sympathetically the struggle which the ultra-correct George and his emotionally repressed wife actually faced."

Love Your Garden + A Man And His Garden

Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh
http://www.itv.com/loveyourgarden/experts/alan-titchmarsh/
http://thehorticulturalchannel.info/2011/05/love-your-garden-with-alan-titchmarsh/

Geoff Hamilton: A Man And His Garden
Five-part BBC series celebrating the life and work of Geoff Hamilton, Britain's favourite gardener, who died from a heart attack on 4 August, 1996. Narrated by Richard Briers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Hamilton

Beechgrove Garden - Series 4 Disc 1

Beechgrove Garden is a long running gardening program from BBC Scotland that is both informative and helpful. The Garden itself is located just west of Aberdeen in what could be considered somewhat harsh territory so it's great for those that garden in challenging areas.
http://www.beechgrove.co.uk/

Bordertown + The Dirtwater Dynasty

2 Australian drama series.

Bordertown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bordertown_%28TV_miniseries%29
From Amazon: "To the outside, Baringa appears bleak and remote: a converted army barracks in a dusty, isolated region of Australia, miles from the sea. It is hardly the place you would pick to start a new life, but for its inhabitants, it's where their dreams begin (and sometimes crumble). Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Robin Hood) guest stars in this touching series set within a fictional migrant camp in post-war Australia. Bordertown is a moving (and often comic) look at the lives, hopes and memories of one transient group of dreamers. The rough Australian landscape and lack of luxuries cannot deter the temporary inhabitants of Baringa. They flock there from Italy, the Netherlands, England and beyond to gain a foothold on a new existence. Among their number are craftsmen, tormented lovers, rigid military types and drifters with a criminal past. Their languages and goals may differ, but this diverse population is united in their hopes of a fresh start, a break that will finally change their luck. In the engrossing tales of love, death, money and life among these starry-eyed immigrants, you too will experience the magic and mystery of Bordertown."

The Dirtwater Dynasty
The story of trials and tribulations of three generations of one family from around 1900 - 1980's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dirtwater_Dynasty

Bramwell

Bramwell was a late 90's drama serial about a female doctor in 1890's London with Jemma Redgrave in the lead role of Eleanor Bramwell. This was also aired in the US on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bramwell
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111899/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/bramwell/index.html
All episodes run about 50 minutes with the exception of Series 4 which are 100 minute eps.

Neighbours 2011 - Disc 6

Neighbours 2011 - Disc 6

Brookside - Disc 23

Brookside - Disc 23



Paul O'Grady Live

People seem to enjoy the Graham Norton Show, so here's his ITV counterpart: Paul O'Grady Live. Outside the UK Paul O'Grady is probably best known for his role as the smarmy bingo hall manager Ray in the popular sitcom Eyes Down. Of course O'Grady was perfect for that role because he didn't have to act.
In the UK O'Grady has been a fixture on the entertainment scene for a long time as a comic, documentary presenter, game show host, radio personality and talk show host. Prior to "Live" he hosted The Paul O'Grady Show which ran for over 900 episodes. The show episodes are 46 to 47 minutes long and Series 3 is set to begin airing next month. Below is the wiki list of guests for the first 2 series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_O%27Grady_Live

Seesaw + Takin' Over The Asylum

2 1990's dramas from Scottish TV
Seesaw starred David Suchet (Poirot) and Geraldine James (The Jewel In The Crown, Blott On The Landscape, Band Of Gold, The Sins, Jane Hall, Time Of Your Life, The Last Enemy, Little Britain).
"The Price family are privileged by most people's standards. Then, one terrible Sunday, their sullen seventeen-year-old daughter, Hannah, does not come home. Two days later, a ransom note demanding half a million pounds comes through their fax machine."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145633/

Takin' Over The Asylum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takin%27_Over_the_Asylum

Jekyll

Jekyll, a modern psycho-thriller take on....well, what do you think? Starring James Nesbitt, Gina Bellman, Myra Syal, Denis Lawson, Michelle Ryan. Written by Steven Moffat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jekyll_%28TV_series%29

Shortland Street - Disc 12

Shortland Street - Disc 12

Middlemarch

Middlemarch, the award-winning 1994 dramatisation of the famous 1874 novel by English writer George Eliot (aka Mary Anne Evans).  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlemarch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlemarch_%281994_TV_serial%29
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108858/
The audio is in stereo, somewhat unusual for that time, but serves the excellent musical score very well.

Forgotten + Midnight Man + Neverwhere

3 shows to thrill you.

Forgotten
"Ben Turner (Paul McGann) is a happily married man in his late thirties who owns a used book shop and helps his wife run an inn in a small town in England. When a young local girl is found murdered in the woods, Ben has more than the safety of his own daughter to worry about. For his real name is Peter Baxter, and in his late teens he was convicted of child murder and spent years in prison. Now a woman (Amanda Burton) moves into the inn and starts asking pointed questions. This is only the beginning of a brilliant three-part thriller which twists and turns to a shattering and unforgettable conclusion."

Midnight Man
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Man_%28TV_serial%29

Neverwhere
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverwhere
some popular faces in this such as Hywel Bennett, Treavor Peacock, Peter Capaldi, Clive Russell...

The Cowra Breakout + Return To Eden

A couple of Australian things from the 80's.

The Cowra Breakout is a 1984 film that runs about 4½ hours and is about the Japanese POW camp event that took place in New South Wales in August 1944.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowra_breakout
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0135848/

Return To Eden was a 3-part mini-series that a few years later was worked into a 22-episode series that is usually considered to be the Australian "Dallas" or "Dynasty". Here's the scoop on the original 3-parter:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_to_Eden 

Sorrell And Son

Sorrell And Son was originally a popular 1927 silent film that was remade as a talkie in 1933. This version was produced for Yorkshire TV and was also shown in the US on PBS Masterpiece Theatre. Someone contributed this review to IMDB:
"Stephen Sorrell, a decorated war hero, raises his son Kit alone after Kit's mother deserts husband and child in the boy's infancy. Sorrell loses a promising job offer and is forced to take work as a menial. Both his dignity and his health are damaged as he suffers under the exhausting labor and harsh treatment he receives as a hotel porter. But Sorrell thrives in the knowledge that his son will benefit from his labors. Sorrell has allowed the boy to believe his mother dead, but when the mother shows up, wanting to re-enter the young man's life, Sorrell must make hard decisions."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0324912/

Sara Dane

Sara Dane was a 1982 Australian historical mini-series aired by Network 10.
"Based on the bestselling novel by Catherine Gaskin, this mini-series tells the story of a convict girl's life and loves in Australia in 1792. Sara Dane is transported to the English colony of New South Wales. An officer from the ship, Andrew Maclay is in love with her and she marries him. Slowly Sara is able to put her convict life behind and continue with her life with Andrew - until tragedy strikes and she falls from the grace of the social standing. Not wanting to be put back and considered as lower-class, Sara battles on determined."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129713/

Shades Of Darkness + The Stone Tape + The Woman In Black

Ah...the perfect disc to keep you company on long stormy nights. 8 classic suspenseful thrillers. Bwaa-aa-aa-aaa!

Shades Of Darkness was an anthology series of 7 stories in 1983 and then came back for a couple more in '86. The original 7 were also aired on PBS Mystery in the US around the same time. Unfortunately, not all of them have ever found their way to commercial release, but what can you do? No stupid CGI here. Just good storytelling and imagination. These were made before movies became video games on a big screen.
The Lady's Maid's Bell, Afterward and Bewitched are all Edith Wharton stories. Ken Taylor wrote the screenplay for the first. Alfred Shaughnessy (Upstairs Downstairs) the second and the screenplay for Bewitched was written by Alan Plater. Heavyweights one and all. Dame Eileen Atkins and Alfred Burke star in Bewitched. James Bolam and Francesca Annis in The Maze (a Ken Taylor story). The Intercessor is a May Sinclair story first published in 1931. Alan Plater did the screenplay and it stars John Duttine (To Serve Them All My Days, Ain't Misbehavin', Wuthering Heights, The Mallens, Day Of The Triffids, Out Of The Blue, Heartbeat, Jane Hall, The Jury). The Demon Lover is an Elizabeth Bowen story from 1945. Hugh Grant and Miranda Richardson both had early-career roles in this and other familiar faces such as Robert Hardy and Angela Thorne appear as well. You can read more about each episode here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1729107/

The Stone Tape by Nigel Kneale (Quatermass). All you need to know here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stone_Tape

The Woman In Black is a Nigel Kneale adaptation of the Susan Hill novel. A spine-chilling ghost story!
Here's the lowdown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman_in_Black_%281989_film%29

The Woman In White

Two adaptations of the 1860 Wilkie Collins mystery-thriller novel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman_in_White_%28novel%29

The first was a 5-part mini-series from BBC that also crossed the Atlantic to PBS Mystery Theatre.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133324/

The second was a nearly 2-hour version produced by BBC and WGBH-Boston for PBS Masterpiece Theatre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman_in_White_%281997_TV_series%29

Spooner's Patch

Spooner's Patch was a sitcom back about 30 years ago that took place in and around a small suburban police station. The program was written by comedy veterans Ray Galton and Johnny Speight. A pilot was filmed in 1978 with the late Ian Bannen in the starring "Spooner" role. He was joined by Norman Rossington, Peter Cleall, Dermot Kelly and John Lyons who remained when the show went into production. Sally Geeson (Bless This House) was also in the pilot but unfortunately was not included after that. Irene Handl was a guest star in the pilot. When the show went into production Ian Bannen was replaced by Ronald Fraser for the first 6 episodes and then Donald Churchill became the third "Spooner" and was joined by veteran actress Patricia Hayes whose work with Galton went as far back as Hancock's Half Hour.
http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/spooner/index.html

Big Girl's Blouse + D Generation + Marx and Venus

Here's some Australian rarities.

Big Girl's Blouse was a comedy sketch show by Jane Turner, Gina Riley and Magda Szubanski of Kath & Kim fame. 8 episodes were made and broadcast by the Seven Network between the Autumn of 1994 and Autumn of 1995.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Girl%27s_Blouse

The D Generation was a comedy sketch show featuring a large group of actors (including Magda Szubanski and Jane Turner) that produced 20 shows between 1986 and 1989. Featured here is a compilation of clips made into 4 episodes that were rebroadcast at some point as "The Least Worst Of D Generation".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D_generation

Marx and Venus was a sitcom in 2007 that takes place in Perth and consists of 23 5-minute episodes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx_and_Venus

Little bit of space left so here's a couple episodes of Hey Dad...! which was a very popular Australian sitcom that ran for nearly 300 episodes from 1987 to 1994. This was big in other countries, particularly Germany where a lot of the episodes are available on DVD, but they remain elusive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Dad...!

The Life And Times Of Henry Pratt + Selling Hitler

2 comedy-drama mini-series from about 20 years ago.

The Life and Times of Henry Pratt is written by David Nobbs (The Two Ronnies, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, A Bit of a Do, Fairly Secret Army, Rich Tea & Sympathy, Love on a Branch Line, Reggie Perrin).
"Growing up in the North of England in the 1930's and 1940's, Henry Pratt spends his life searching for a means of survival and learning how to deal with his eccentric relationships along the way."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103473/

Selling Hitler is a TV adaptation of the 1986 book of the same name about the Hitler Diaries hoax. A lot of familiar faces in this including Jonathan Pryce, Alexei Sayle, Richard Wilson, Alison Steadman, Roger Lloyd Pack, Tom Baker, Alan Bennett, Julie T. Wallace and even Barry "Dame Edna" Humphries as Rupert Murdoch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selling_Hitler

EastEnders 2011 - Disc 7

Home & Away 2011 - Disc 6

Doctors - Series 13 Disc 4

The Chinese Detective

The Chinese Detective was (big surprise) a crime drama back 30 years ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chinese_Detective