Source : Hamilton Spectator

With Hollywood deep in the writers' strike and reruns, U.K. programs offer fresh faces, fresh ideas

The Brits are back and taking over a flat-screen TV near you.

First it was the British music invasion, and we know how that worked out. North American artists were relegated to the basement of the charts for years. It was like they evaporated into thin air, only to emerge years later as an oldies act at Casino Rama.

Now, it's Brit TV programs trying to lasso North American audiences and triumph again. You can't change channels these days without bumping into a British accent.

And this isn't your parents' British TV. The current crop of programs is light years removed from '60s series such as On the Buses and Benny Hill. There's not a Carry On member in sight.

A new wave of unique, eccentric and colourful programs has made it across the pond. Networks and satellite providers have peppered their schedules with U.K. shows: Top Gear; Selling Houses Abroad; Gil Mayo Mysteries; Location, Location, Location; MI5; City Gardener; How to Be a Property Developer; Escape to the Country ... the list goes on.

The current writers' strike in the U.S. is good news for the Brit shows, because they offer fresh relief from the depths of rerun valley. Even if the strike ends soon, it will take weeks to ramp up production of new programs. So don't hold your breath waiting for your old U.S. favourites.

Lori Rosenberg, director of programming for ExpressVu, said that in order to continue to provide "compelling programming" on all their networks, Canadian broadcasters are looking at some of the jewels of their specialty services to broadcast on their over-the-air networks.

"With the current writers' strike, viewers are expected to sample more Canadian-produced and international content, in the absence of current U.S. prime-time fare. As a result, viewers will likely sample specialty channels they normally wouldn't have."

Rosenberg said Eastenders, Absolutely Fabulous and The Catherine Tate Show are among the most popular shows on BBC Canada. Top HD Channels, conventional and specialty: CTV HD, Global HD, CBC HD, TSN HD, HD, Discovery HD.

Bell Canada is thrilled as well with growing interest in high-definition offerings, as it has just rolled out its next generation 6141 (HD) satellite receiver. It provides access to more than 60 HD channels.

Bell says demand for HD continues to rise across North America, and experts predict HDTVs will account for up to 80 per cent of all new TVs sold in 2008.

That new flat-screen TV you got for Christmas is just waiting to strut its stuff. Some of the best shows are on digital, high-definition channels. Maybe it's time you tried them. You may never go back.

GIL MAYO MYSTERIES: Enjoy this short-lived U.K. series while you can. It only lasted about one season. The style: Tongue-in-cheek snappy dialogue and, oh yes, a murder mystery. But some undercurrents surrounding the Mayo character help give the program some gravity, which offers an appealing dynamic amid the witty banter. The format: Sorry, no car-chase scenes or shoot-'em-ups. Just quiet witticisms, where the raising of an eyebrow can speak volumes. The stars: No stars familiar to North American audiences. Regulars include Jessica Oyelowo (Alex Jones); Loo Brealey (Harriet "Anorak" Tate); Huw Rhys (Martin Kite) and Alistair McGowan (Gil Mayo), who often looks as if he would be just as comfortable playing the villain Highlights: "I've got a hunch," said one detective. "It doesn't show," Mayo responded. Told that a sister at the church was already spoken for "by the man upstairs," DC Martin Kite replied incredulously: "She's going out with a roofer?" Watch it: Fridays, 9 p.m., BBC Canada. See clips at www.bbc.co.uk/drama/mayo/

TOP GEAR: Can a global audience of 350 million people in 100 countries be wrong? The most-watched TV show on BBC Two, this auto extravaganza has been entertaining audiences for more than 10 years, flying in the face of energy conservation ("The planet can take care of itself ...") and political correctness.

The style: Brash and bold. Inventive, outrageous and crackling with energy.

Whatever you do, don't dismiss it as a mere car show. Top Gear leaves North American auto programs at the side of the road waiting for a push, looking like they were videotaped by a tipsy uncle at a family reunion.

By contrast, Top Gear offers high-end, film-quality segments showcasing the most gorgeous cars in the world in magnificent settings (Iceland, France, Italy). Sensible, tame cars also have their day. But let's face it -- you can see those in the parking lot any day of the week.

The format: Often, the hosts are given a challenge. For example, to ferret out a "luxury" car that has seen better days for under $4,000, and among other tests, drive it over a bumpy test track with a bowl of ice water in their lap. Another feature: The Cool Wall, which informally ranks cars as the name suggests. Also, "star in a reasonably priced car" -- various personalities take a timed spin around the track after coaching from an anonymous, masked professional driver known only as Stig.

The stars: Jeremy (Motormouth) Clarkson, Richard (The Hamster) Hammond, and James (Captain Slow) May. By turns, they are like opinionated 12-year-olds let loose with grown-up autos. But under the bluster, they deliver solid information.

Highlights: Driving through a mock village populated by British Army snipers to test the speed and manoeuvrability of a BMW. Clarkson -- driving -- challenging a marathon runner to a race through London in rush hour. (The runner won.) All three tried to pave part of a road, using the actual equipment, to understand why it takes road crews so long. In another memorable clip, Clarkson was invited to officially open a new community swimming facility. As usual, Clarkson made quite a splash, driving a Rolls-Royce straight into the pool.

Watch it: Sundays, 4 and 7 p.m., BBC Canada. See Classic Clips at www.bbc.co.uk/topgear.

RELOCATION, RELOCATION: A comfortable way to tour homes in the U.K., learn about the trials and tribulations of buying and selling property.

The style: Warm and friendly, bright and breezy

The format: In this series, dynamic duo Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer try to help residents who want to cash in on their homes in London and use the cash to buy two homes -- often a crash pad in the city, and a family home in the country. The program is a followup to their first series, Location, Location.

The stars: Kirstie and Phil are famous faces in the U.K., and offer honest assessments of their "brief" from the client, which can mean grief because of unrealistic expectations. Kirstie and Phil co-present Location, Location, Location; Relocation, Relocation; Location Revisited and The Property Chain.

Highlights: Kirstie tells Phil they have a hopeless case on their hands with little chance for success. But Phil browbeats his network of real estate agents, Kirstie browbeats the clients to find out what they really want and more often than not, they succeed in finding the right home at the right price.

Watch it: Fridays at 4 and 11 p.m. on HGTV. See HGTV.ca for full listings.

Also worth a look:

*Selling Houses: Andrew Winter minces no words when he explains to homeowners why their dismal homes haven't sold. He confronts their real estate agents and helps prepare the home. In another series, Selling Houses Abroad, Winter exposes the pitfalls of buying homes in Europe without understanding local markets, laws, rights and responsibilities. Fridays, 10 p.m., HGTV

*Escape to the Country: It all sounds so appealing -- leaving the hustle and bustle of the city rat race and moving to the beautiful countryside. This pleasant show has no conflicts, no arguments and quietly goes about its business while giving viewers a sneak peek inside a wide variety of homes across the U.K.

© Hamilton Spectator