It seems as though we've been waiting ages for the best of British Television to be released on Region 1 DVD but slowly the discs are seeing the light of day. Today I'll review a pair of recent releases of note but first 'll share my DVD wish lists of the series I'm most looking forward to seeing released on DVD the series actually achieve release they'll be removed from the list and replaced by other worthy programs, after all you simply cannot have to much great British Telly!
Brit-Coms: Thank heavens for A7E's landmark release of Mont Python's Flying Circus. It's success has lead to the release, by various companies, the likes of The Leaugue of Gentlemen, Dad's Army and Dark Ages. One series that woul have been high on my Brit-com wish list was removed immedialty with the imminent release of Absolutly Fabulous. However many of the greatest Britcoms still seem far from seei the light of day.
1. Fawlty Towers
2. Are You Being Served
3. Blackadder (all of them)
4. Keeping Up Appearances
5. Hancock's Half Hour
6. Men Behaving Badly
7. Father Ted
8. Drop the Dead Donkey
9. The Goode Life
10. Morcambe and Wise
11. Chef!
12. Only Fools and Horses
Mysteries and Crime Dramas: Inspector Morse is on his way and Poirot, The Prisoner Sherlock Homes and The Avengers are thankfully avable but there remains a rich vein of British sleuthing just aching for release.
1. The Sweeney
2. Miss Marple
3. Edge of Darkness
4. Charlie Muffin
5. Smiley's People
6. The New Avengers/New Saint
7. Department S
8. Between the Lines
9. Lord Peter
10. The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
11. Taggart
12. Bergerac
13. Prime Suspect
Drama: The Pallisers and I Clauduis lead the pack of already released dramas but oh so may remain to be released digitally.
1. Upstairs Downstairs
2. Flambards
3. Danger UXB
4. Nicholas Nickleby
5. Poldark
6. Brookside (Best of)
7. Coronation Street (Best of)
8. Casualty
9. Mapp and Lucia
10. Brideshead Revisited
11. The Shakespeare Plays
12. Butterflies
SciFi and Fantasy: Space 1999 and Thunderbirds are coming soon, quickly freeing up two top slots on the wish list.
1. Doctor Who
2. Blake's Seven
3. Star Cops
4. Red Dwarf
5. The Tomorrow People
6. The Tripods
7. Quatermass
8. Timeslip
9. The Survivors
10. The Only Game
11. Ghosts
12. Moondial
I won't even bother making a wish list for such series as Blue Peter, Press Gang, Have I Got News For You, Never Mind thr Buzzcocks, Not the Nine O'clock News, Tiswas, Changing Rooms and Ground Force, so unlikely do I think their release realistically is.
Now to the reviews…
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Once, any mention of Sherlock Holmes would instantly conjure, the mind's eye, an image of Basil Rathbone's depiction of the legendary sleuth in the well loved series of films from the 30's and 40's. Likewise any mention of Dr. Watson invariably reminded people of Nigel Bruce's charming, if inaccurate, portrayal of Holmes trusty sidekick. This all changed in the 80's when Grenada Television began it's own series of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries starring Jeremy Brett and David Burke (later replaced by Edward
