Current TV obsessions

Doing Grange Hill from the beginning and up to Season 4, which is closing in on my earliest memories of it. Brilliant show, notionally for children but very much family viewing that confronts some challenging issues very deftly. Quite a few episodes already have made me laugh out loud or be close to tears - and it's the lightness of touch that lies behind that I think. These days telly can be too overwrought in an attempt to get you to emote, but telly of that vintage knew that less could often be more. 

I've never watched Grange Hill (my Mum wouldn't let us...), but I agree that TV today tries too hard to get us to feel things. It's one reason I prefer classic Doctor Who to modern day.

I agree. You didn't miss anything with Grange Hill. Tom Baker era Dr Who for me, and nothing else!

I used to enjoy "Grange Hill" when I was younger.  But one episode series 7, episode 6 from 1984 was disturbing as a pupil drowned in a swimming pool.  I found that really upsetting.

Oddly enough, Grange Hill has some parallels with Who. In terms of how it feels to watch it. Cosy in with a 25 min ep at tea time, find it unsettling yet reassuring in equal measure, and everyone has their favourite era but most stay invested in much of the rest of the run too. And it's in similarly constructed 'seasons' lasting about three months if watched weekly (as Who was around the same time, what with the twice-weekly experiment of the Davison era etc). And... you get to play 'spot the classic Doctor Who guest actor' every three eps or so. 

Oddly enough, Grange Hill has some parallels with Who. In terms of how it feels to watch it. Cosy in with a 25 min ep at tea time, find it unsettling yet reassuring in equal measure, and everyone has their favourite era but most stay invested in much of the rest of the run too. And it's in similarly constructed 'seasons' lasting about three months if watched weekly (as Who was around the same time, what with the twice-weekly experiment of the Davison era etc). And... you get to play 'spot the classic Doctor Who guest actor' every three eps or so. 

I used to enjoy "Grange Hill" when I was younger.  But one episode series 7, episode 6 from 1984 was disturbing as a pupil drowned in a swimming pool.  I found that really upsetting.