Walking Britain's Lost Railways - Channel 5 series

[DelW]

With no explanation or apology from the continuity announcer, tonight's episode, shown in my listings mag as being about lines in north west Wales, has been replaced by a programme about hotels ☹
Would be nice if C5 at least said if and when it will be shown!

 

[geoffk]

Series 1 was repeated on Channel 5 and eventually 5SELECT, in case that helps you know where to monitor.

Yes watched it now thanks. Tonight's episode has been replaced by World's Most Luxurious Hotels, no apology given.

 

[MotorcycleAlan]

Tonight's episode has been replaced by World's Most Luxurious Hotels, no apology given.

Would be nice if C5 at least said if and when it will be shown!

According to the on screen guide, it is not on next week either, although tonight's was supposed to be episode 3 of 6. I will try an instagram message to the main man Rob, and see if anything is forthcoming.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

With no explanation or apology from the continuity announcer, tonight's episode, shown in my listings mag as being about lines in north west Wales, has been replaced by a programme about hotels ☹
Would be nice if C5 at least said if and when it will be shown!

Channel 5 are notorious for changing their schedules at the last minute without and warning, acknowledgement or apology.

On the plus side, it saved me an hour as I was able to watch Endeavour on the regular channel and not the plus one for a change...

 

[danorak]

It is infuriating that Channel 5 do this so often. They initially only showed the first three of a four part series on the World's Busiest Railway Stations and the final episode only emerged over Christmas on 5Select.

 

[geoffk]

My reply from Channel 5 just now - "Thank you for your recent email regarding Walking Britain's Lost Railways.

The remaining episodes in Series 2 are currently unplaced in our schedules. Being such a popular programme, we are hoping for a better slot for the series later in the year. In line with other commercial broadcasters, our schedules are only confirmed up to two weeks in advance. We recommend that you keep a close eye on the listings or the TV Guide on our website." My bold

 

[edwin_m]

So we can't watch it because it's too popular?

I wonder where that leaves the phone lottery they tediously advertise during the ad breaks. I imagine there's only one prize per series and the aim is that the number of premium rate calls pays for the prize at whatever discounted rate they got it for. So if half the series is cancelled, do they end up with only half as many callers but still have to award the prize?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Looking at how much the call charges are for those competitions, I suspect they'd pay for themselves with just one broadcast... the venues are probably providing the offer free under some kind of advertising deal anyway, maybe taking a 50/50 slice of the phone revenues or something.

 

[John Webb]

My reply from Channel 5 just now - "Thank you for your recent email regarding Walking Britain's Lost Railways.

The remaining episodes in Series 2 are currently unplaced in our schedules. Being such a popular programme, we are hoping for a better slot for the series later in the year. In line with other commercial broadcasters, our schedules are only confirmed up to two weeks in advance. We recommend that you keep a close eye on the listings or the TV Guide on our website." My bold

Thanks for that. I too was rather irked at its disappearance. If it is so popular why not continue with the series and repeat it at a more popular time. Or is this a reversal of Edwin-m's and Peter Mugridge's comments and in fact it isn't popular enough to get enough applicants for the competition and that's why they've pulled it for the time being? Or am I becoming too cynical in my old age?

 

[Belperpete]

Thanks for that. I too was rather irked at its disappearance. If it is so popular why not continue with the series and repeat it at a more popular time. Or is this a reversal of Edwin-m's and Peter Mugridge's comments and in fact it isn't popular enough to get enough applicants for the competition and that's why they've pulled it for the time being? Or am I becoming too cynical in my old age?

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. If it were so popular in its original slot, they would surely have kept going with it.

 

[edwin_m]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. If it were so popular in its original slot, they would surely have kept going with it.

I'm not an expert but I think nearly a million viewers was quoted above, which seems a pretty good figure for something that's not the sort of thing aimed at a mass audience (soap, "reality"/"talent" show etc).

Thanks for that. I too was rather irked at its disappearance. If it is so popular why not continue with the series and repeat it at a more popular time. Or is this a reversal of Edwin-m's and Peter Mugridge's comments and in fact it isn't popular enough to get enough applicants for the competition and that's why they've pulled it for the time being? Or am I becoming too cynical in my old age?

As I posted above, I think they are still obliged to give away the prize but if they don't show all the episodes fewer people will call in so don't get as much income . Maybe it will re-appear fairly soon but with a different day/time in the hope of getting a different set of viewers who may also call in? Incidentally I wouldn't describe it as a competition. as it doesn't even have the trivial question that qualifies many such offerings to be anything other than a lottery.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

There was a letter from a chap in London in the 14-20 March 2020 issue of the "Radio Times" querying (inter alia) the decision to drop "Walking Britain's Lost Railways" after two of its six episodes. A spokesman from Channel 5 responded as follows...

"Walking Britain's Lost Railways is an important show for us and we want viewers to watch and enjoy it. Unfortunately, where we had it scheduled, it underperformed, so we are looking for an alternative home for it where we hope it will attract a bigger audience. Please be assured it will definitely return."

"Underperformed" no doubt being media speak for "not enough people were watching the adverts."

 

[Hophead]

That alternative home appears to be Fridays at 20:00 (this week: episode 3 of 6 - North Wales). With filming being slightly difficult now, they probably had little option other than to resurrect the rest of this series during this period. With everybody stuck at home anyway, Channel 5 might get a few more takers (and the adverts a few more eyeballs).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Looks like "Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson" (Series 2 Episode 2?) has been put back by one hour from 8.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. on Friday to accommodate this change, and "Gregg Wallace's Fun Weekend" (Series 1 Episode 1) which was at 9.00 p.m. has now been postponed.

 

[geoffk]

So two railway programmes together on Friday nights. I've been watching Tony Robinson and he will provide a contrast with Rob Bell.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Re-run of "Walking Britain's Lost Railways" (Series 1 Episode 1 = Elgin -> Portsoy) on 5SELECT (Freeview Channel 54) at 9.00 p.m. tonight (Wednesday).

 

[Iskra]

It's back on Friday evening according to an advert I saw today while watching channel 5, it said 'new series.' So I assume they were saving it for a rainy day.

 

[Cowley]

It's back on Friday evening according to an advert I saw today while watching channel 5, it said 'new series.' So I assume they were saving it for a rainy day.

I think that rainy day has arrived!
I haven’t watched any of these yet but my friend is really into it so I’ve promised him that I’ll give it a try.

 

[midland1]

On Channel 5 Web site it on on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday as well.

 

[Iskra]

There is another railway programme on directly after it too tonight.

 

[theblackwatch]

I watched the two 'back to back' programmes on Friday and, although the subject and style was different, I enjoyed both of them. The TV guide I have for this week doesn't show Walking's Britains Railways as being on, although I wonder if it may change again.

 

[MotorcycleAlan]

It is on again on Friday according to the on screen guide. As trailed at the end of the previous episode, Rob visits Scotland. I notice "walking" is dropped from the programme title now. Probably because Rob prefers zip wire runs and climbing. Oh to be young.

 

[edwin_m]

I notice "walking" is dropped from the programme title now. Probably because Rob prefers zip wire runs and climbing. Oh to be young.

Geographically speaking the last one was a series of teleports rather than an actual walk.

 

[midland1]

Channel 5 web site shows tonight at 8 on my5 Scotland, Wednesday at 9 Sheffield and Friday at 8 Deeside

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The TV guide I have for this week doesn't show Walking's Britains Railways as being on, although I wonder if it may change again.

TV guides are prepare at least two weeks in advance so it may not have had time to show up yet given that it was only re-instated 1½ weeks ago.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Channel 5 web site shows tonight at 8 on my5 Scotland, Wednesday at 9 Sheffield and Friday at 8 Deeside

That sounds like a repeat of series 1 rather than new episodes.

 

[midland1]

Yes you were right, when I started to watch the a Scotland one I knew I had seen it before.

 

[Belperpete]

There is another new, promising series starting on the Yesterday channel at 2000 on Tue 28th:
The Architecture The Railways Built
Tim Dunn explores the disused tube station Down Street in Mayfair, that played a crucial tactical role during the Second World War, and tours Rotterdam's new central station with the man who designed it.

 

[Iskra]

I found last nights episode quite interesting, particularly the battery-powered EMU called Sputnik and the Royal history of the Deeside branch. It looked a very scenic line, I’m surprised it wasn’t preserved. I could well visit it for a hike in the future.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I expect the "Walking" part of the title was dropped as Rob Bell walking 20yds for the benefit of the camera does not constitute walking an old railway. A more accurate title would be "Things That Are Near Old Railways. Tonight's about the M&GN has had very little about railways. I've seen airfields,boats and roller coasters and only a brief visit to Melton Constable and one other station.
I know these shows have to have mass appeal but the railway content is so light I'm surprised it doesn't blow away!