The UK on TV: The South West
Do you dream of taking a grand tour of the United Kingdom? I know I’ve had my itinerary set for some years now! Alas I haven’t been able to scrape together the cash necessary to take this trip of a lifetime. So for the time being I’ve had to make do with virtual travel via the telly.
With the help my computer and a few streaming services, I’ve visited all corners of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Then recently I occurred to me; why not bring you all along with me as I traverse this island which enchants us so? This new series of posts is my attempt to act as a less of a tour guide and more of an advisor who will steer you towards shows that highlight the natural beauty, history, landmarks and cultural diversity of all the regions of the UK.
We begin with the South West of England which is the largest in area of the nine official regions of England. It is predominantly rural, spotted with small towns and villages. There are seven counties – Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Cornwall and Bristol (which is also the largest city). Other notable cities are Bath, Exeter, Gloucester, Plymouth, Salisbury and Weymouth.
The South West is home to two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, and several World Heritage Sites including Stonehenge, the Jurassic Coast and the city of Bath. The famed Glastonbury Music Festival takes place annually in local farmer’s field in Somerset.
Notable natives from this region are architect Christopher Wren and authors including Thomas Hardy and Agatha Christie. Archibald Leach (aka Cary Grant) was born in the West Country. Present day performers from the area include Stephen Merchant, Bill Bailey, Miranda Hart, and Kristin Scott Thomas. John Cleese is from the region as well and his classic sitcom Fawlty Towers was set in in the South West resort town of Torquay. However it was filmed in London and on location in the South East of England.
Now that you’ve got your bearings, let’s take a look at the landscapes and characters of the South West.
Agatha Raisin (Sky 1)
