Thanks for the heads-up, remember people saying they'd seen filming last year but of course the series hasn't been shown yet and I wondered when they were getting round to it. As weeks went on after the usual Jan/Feb airing I'd rather forgotten all about it!A new series of Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys starts Monday 26th April 19:30 BBC2
According to my source, the first few episodes of the fifteen episode Series 12 all air next week at 6.30 p.m. as 'World Snooker' is being screened at 7.00 p.m./7.30 p.m.
Episode 1 is Oxford to Abingdon.
Episode 2 is Stoke Mandeville to Beaconsfield.
Episode 3 is West Ruislip to Windsor.
Episode 4 is Guildford to Aldershot.
Episode 5 is Farnborough to Winchester.
I remember that when the external shots for the Settle-Carlisle episode of his first series were being filmed about fifteen years ago, I was the driver of the 12 49 Leeds-Carlisle train (158 905) which was being pursued by the filming helicopter. On arrival at Appleby, several elderly passengers, who were alighting there to re-join their coach tour, came up to me and complained loudly that the helicopter had come far too close to the train (in their opinion) while crossing Ribblehead Viaduct and that they were going to complain to "the railway" because they had been frightened that it was going to cause an accident. In order to placate them to the best of my ability, I had to politely explain to them that (a) the helicopter was not owned or operated by "the railway" and (b) that I was not employed by the Civil Aviation Authority!A new series of Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys starts Monday 26th April19:30BBC2
Indeed. Next Monday's episode, for example, visits Somerville College, Oxford (to tell the story of Nobel prize-winner Dorothy Hodgkin), then the City centre, before visiting Garsington Manor, then Culham near Abingdon (history of the MG sports car). Probably less than five minutes of railway-related footage in most half hour episodes.These strike me as decidedly short journeys; but then -- as I perceive things -- Portillo's programmes are really, less about railways as such; than about using rail journeys as a "peg on which to hang" his looking at characteristic features and activities...
Indeed. Next Monday's episode, for example, visits Somerville College, Oxford (to tell the story of Nobel prize-winner Dorothy Hodgkin), then the City centre, before visiting Garsington Manor, then Culham near Abingdon (history of the MG sports car). Probably less than five minutes of railway-related footage in most half hour episodes.
There are plenty of programmes covering "exotic" railways anyway. The Portillo ones are really about social history, hence he's able to return to the same lines but cover different periods of time - now the 1930s.These strike me as decidedly short journeys; but then -- as I perceive things -- Portillo's programmes are really, less about railways as such; than about using rail journeys as a "peg on which to hang" his looking at characteristic features and activities -- and conversations with exponents of same, and often his having a go at doing same -- of places to which he travels by train: building in where possible, relevances to his celebrated 1870-odd Bradshaw. I admit to not being a fan; but, fair enough, the programmes are not aimed specifically at railway enthusiasts, but intended to draw in as big an audience as possible -- attempting thus, "something for everyone".
Likewise tonight, he doesn't actually start, or talk about Ruislip at all; the journey starts in Hatch End which is in Harrow; before somehow ending up on the GWML on a train to Slough.The "Oxford to Abingdon" title -- there's no way Portillo or anyone, could actually get by rail literally to Abingdon nowadays, anyway !
I still find Michael Portillo a much better presenter than the chap on the Rail Architecture programme.
He’s referring to a 1936 Bradshaw nowadays of course….These strike me as decidedly short journeys; but then -- as I perceive things -- Portillo's programmes are really, less about railways as such; than about using rail journeys as a "peg on which to hang" his looking at characteristic features and activities -- and conversations with exponents of same, and often his having a go at doing same -- of places to which he travels by train: building in where possible, relevances to his celebrated 1870-odd Bradshaw. I admit to not being a fan; but, fair enough, the programmes are not aimed specifically at railway enthusiasts, but intended to draw in as big an audience as possible -- attempting thus, "something for everyone".
Especially as he's covered just about all of the UK track in previous series anywayHe’s referring to a 1936 Bradshaw nowadays of course….
I think people have been making the point that it’s not really a railway specific programme ever since the first series.