Wine craving gives binge watching a new meaning

Does it happen to everyone or is it just us? Do other couples find themselves becoming more suggestible as they get older, mainly while watching films and TV programmes? So far, this has been food and drink-related at Penman Towers but who knows where it will end. I don’t remember being quite so easily swayed when I was younger, thank heavens, but now just about anything can get me craving something featured on screen.

I don’t mean the more obvious triggers, such as the Great British Bake Off, which we expect to lead to cravings and for which we can take precautions. Most of us seasoned viewers will have sweet treats to match that week’s theme laid out for the duration. Similarly with cookery programmes, we can record them to

watch at a suitable time, for example not when we’re hungry.

This new suggestibility can catch us unaware though. It doesn’t even have to be a long, beautiful shot of people eating a succulent meal in an exotic location. The context of the food or drink reference is almost irrelevant.

The other night, we caught a snippet of a Kevin Bridges stand-up routine where he was doing a very funny skit on the family waiting for a Chinese takeaway delivery.

As soon as it had finished, Mr P said: “That’s really got me wanting a Chinese takeaway.”

Bearing in mind it was late at night and we’d already eaten a large meal, I found myself saying: “Thank God, me too. Let’s get one tomorrow.”

I’m not proud of it, but that’s how we roll at Penman Towers these days.

All those years of cursing TV adverts suggesting unhealthy food aimed at children and now I find myself being seduced by the food in the actual programmes.

Even Keeping Faith (Yes, sticking with it even though I haven’t a clue what’s going on) has set me off. Watching the characters knocking back white wine like there’s no tomorrow, I’ve found myself thinking “Oooh, a nice cold sauvignon would go down a treat” even though I don’t really like white wine. Is this what they call binge watching?

A nice cold sauvignon would go down a treat