The latest cultural experiment involving the twins at home is progressing nicely and producing intriguing results. Having introduced them to old episodes of classic BBC school drama Grange Hill on YouTube, starting from the series first broadcast around 1985, they are the same age watching it as I was when it was by far my favourite show. Key finding: It is now by far their favourite show.
You could nearly fear they are gripped by an addiction to it as they have ploughed through Ziggy Greaves’ full secondary school education in less than a month. Key learnings: 1 - this is a troubling sign the apples haven’t fallen far from the tree, not a super omen for their career prospects. 2 - modern kids' TV clearly needs a Jim Gavin-style task force.
And maybe an old root and branch review. I have, of course, started them on the glory years. Zammo and the drugs, Mr Bronson versus the truant Danny Kendall.
The bully Imelda Davis versus everyone, all that stuff. Whoever uploaded it even obliged by keeping the picture quality disastrous. Though it hasn’t been possible to fully replicate the original viewing experience that required an odd trip to the roof to shift the aerial and lift the snow on screen.
To digress for a moment, I think we all took for granted the magnificence of the BBC in its pomp. These are serious productions. With a cast of hundreds.
Top-notch child actors. Stellar thesps as the teachers. Endless sets and locations.
No expense spared on collapsing roofs, ambulan.