Never mind Netflix: this is what we really want to watch
Hit sitcoms such as ‘Dad’s Army’ have seen a sudden surge in viewers. Michael Hogan investigates
‘Don’t panic!” Not just the refrain of Clive Dunn’s Lance Corporal Jones but a motto that would serve us well during the current crisis. Indeed, many of us are turning to reassuring sitcoms such as Dad’s Army in these difficult times.
According to Now TV, its box sets with the biggest surge in viewing by far are the Seventies Home Guard classic (up a huge 211 per cent since the lockdown began) and Eighties favourite Only Fools & Horses (an increase of 87 per cent in 10 days).
The message is clear. Social media might be loudly extolling the virtues of niche Netflix imports such as Ozark and Unorthodox, but in the real world it’s a different story. Aside from the surprise streaming phenomenon that is Netflix’s Tiger King, sofa-bound viewers are taking refuge in very British nostalgia.
“When you can’t always see your friends and family, an iconic character like Captain Mainwaring is the next best thing to a familiar face and a little home comfort,” says Marina Storti, the managing director of Now TV.
Britbox, the home-grown streaming service where the most-viewed content is Downton Abbey, Midsomer Murders, The Vicar of Dibley and Only Fools & Horses (that again) is seeing a similar trend, with traffic doubling.
“In these unusual times, many of us are turning to TV box sets to escape. We’ve seen a marked increase in our subscribers turning to comforting choices that transport us to simpler days,” says Reemah Sakaan, the Britbox boss.
We’re also watching more terrestrial TV than in years, which in itself reflects a need to return to the good old days. “Live” broadcast TV viewing – in the old-fashioned way, rather than recorded or on-demand – has risen by 17 per cent. The average amount watched by households has jumped from 21 to 26 hours per week (that’s three hours and 46 minutes a day) – levels usually only seen at Christmas.
Much of this, of course, is being driven by an appetite for news. The BBC’S Six O’clock News has been attracting nine million viewers, double the usual audience and the highest figure in more than a decade. Boris Johnson’s live “stay at home” message was watched by 28 million people, and 24 million watched the Queen’s morale-boosting address.
Although we are gripped by the unfolding crisis and awaiting the latest information, it’s often unsettling to hear. Hence we are then turning to cosier programming – undemanding drama or broad comedy.
Wholesome subjects such as antiques and food are proving popular. Antiques Roadshow recorded an audience of 7.6 million last Sunday, its biggest for six years, while The Repair Shop has proved an immediate hit since its promotion from the daytime schedule, pulling in six million viewers with its heartwarming restoration stories.
All 4, Channel 4’s on-demand service, had its biggest week, while over on ITV, Ant and Dec’s first Saturday Night Takeaway without a studio audience attracted 11 million viewers – another record.
Anecdotal evidence reinforces this trend. Readers tell me they are enjoying Porridge and Ballykissangel on iplayer, along with New Tricks, Sharpe and Dalziel and Pascoe on the Drama channel.
The irony is that before the coronavirus turned our worlds upside down, a regular grumble for many was that repeats made up too much of the television schedules. Now, with production on many programmes shut down for the foreseeable future, they are providing a vital public service.