The rise of gentle television

Gentle humour

One of the surprises in this last decade has to be Gone Fishing. The origins of Gone Fishing are deeply personal and rooted in real-life experiences. Both Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer underwent life-changing heart surgeries—Bob had emergency triple heart bypass surgery in 2015, while Paul had heart problems which required stents. During Bob’s recovery, Paul spoke to Bob’s wife and learned that Bob was struggling to resume normal activities. Paul invited Bob to go fishing, hoping it would help his recovery. Bob found the experience therapeutic, describing it as a moment of peace and escape from worries.

As they continued fishing together, the pair realised their outings were not only helping them physically and mentally but also providing moments of laughter and reflection. Paul saw the potential for a television programme that would go beyond “two old blokes going fishing”—combining humour, friendship, and the beauty of the English countryside. The BBC agreed to a trial, and the show was a success.

It opens up conversations about health, especially among men, in a light-hearted but meaningful way.

Paul has said the programme’s success is because it “came 100% out of real life.” The show features them sharing anecdotes, reflecting on their health, and enjoying fishing adventures around the UK and Ireland. It’s praised for its authenticity, warmth, and the way it encourages conversations about health and companionship.

I watch Dig It – Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley’s podcast on You Tube and was interested to see Sean Bean on it talking about the podcast Get Birding which he now hosts. This began, though not with Sean hosting, in lockdown apparently though I hadn’t been aware of it until Jo and Zoe’s podcast. The show is part of a wider multiplatform brand, including a YouTube channel, live events, and a members’ club. It aims to champion diversity in wildlife and make birding accessible to all. It has been praised for its listenability, warmth, and ability to demystify birdwatching. I’ve read that Sean is being praised for his genial hosting style and the show’s blend of expert advice, celebrity stories, and accessible tips. It seems that it has won multiple awards, including British Podcast Awards for Climate & Sustainability, and is supported by organisations like the RSPB, National Trust, and Natural History Museum. Perhaps having Sean Bean as the host will mean it has a greater reach.

In circle this month we mentioned Small Prophets and how refreshing it is. It too is gentle, with a whimsical tone, reminiscent of Detectorists. It balances melancholy and humour, weaving grief and longing with the supernatural elements and it never overwhelms me. For those of you that haven’t come across this gem, it is set in suburban Manchester and the central character, Michael, is a lonely man whose girlfriend vanished seven years ago. Michael’s life is in a rut—working at a DIY superstore, visiting his father in a care home, and returning to his house which seems stuck in time - the Christmas Eve that his girlfriend went missing. One day, his father shares an alchemical recipe for creating homunculi—tiny magical beings that can answer questions and predict the future. Michael uses their prophecies to search for answers about his girlfriend’s disappearance.

It blends the magical and the mundane.

Has a focus on friendships, hope, and gentle humour.

This must be an antidote to the constant stimulation and anxiety in the world. Anything that is unchallenging and shows kindness within relationships, reflection and humour – well, that’s about all I have in me now.

Does anyone remember Jam and Jerusalem - this was similarly gentle. Can anyone think of any other programmes which are similarly gentle and non-taxing?