It doesn't matter if you come from Harwich in England or Harwich in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, there are some things you just have to have; food, shelter, and maybe a bit of greenery about the place, whether a garden to potter about in or just an overgrown fern hanging in the kitchen. That's why, while some viewers may find British comedy a tad too dry, or British soaps a wee bit too grim, there's no culture barrier when it comes to the basics of domestic life and everyone can enjoy, and benefit from, some of the fine home and garden programming, and related web sites, brought to us by the BBC.
Between BBC America and the nations' public television stations (as well as the various Canadian broadcasting channels) we here in North America can cook along with Delia Smith, polish up our green thumb with Alan Titchmarsh and let Carol Smillie, "Handy Andy" and a cast of colorful friends, neighbors and interior decorators help us liven up our own rooms. And with the increasing popularity of the World Wide Web, even those without access to the programs can enjoy them via the Web.
Let's start off inside the house. On Sunday the 18th, BBC America will be presenting wall to wall Changing Rooms (BBC America CR Spotlight ,BBC America CR Program Page) , a marathon of the show that dares two sets of neighbors to redecorate a single room in each others homes. The couples are aided and abetted by the ever lovely presenter (who got her start in the telly business as the British Vanna White!) Carol Smillie and an assortment of talented, and colorful, interior designers, plus the ever helpful "Handy" Andy Kane. Anyone whose house has even just one room that seems to defy decorating needs to watch these engaging and informative shows. My favorite designer, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, can turn even the dreariest room into a sumptuous retreat. Part of the fun of Changing Rooms is the reaction, at shows end, of each couple as they see their counterparts handiwork. The range of emotions runs from tears of joy to looks of abject horror. Even if you have better things to do on a Sunday afternoon than watch TV the BBC America Wall to Wall Changing Room's is definite VCR Alert territory.
In addition to the above mentioned sites for Changing Rooms info on the web, the BBC offers a full fledged site dedicated to their home-themed programming called, not surprisingly BBC Good Homes. BBC Good Homes presents information from a wide range of terrific home programs and more. featues include Handy Andy's DIY quiz and highlights of
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