BBC - Turn Back Time - The High Street

[AdrianLvsRocky]

Hi all,

Did anyone see tonight's Turn Back Time programme on BBC1?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v7p71

I think you can watch some previous episodes through the above link.

The basic premise of the series is that current shopkeepers (butchers, bakers, grocers etc.) "turn back time" and set up store in a number of different eras to see how their business skills etc. would fare.

Tonight's episode was going back to WW2 but there have been episodes set in the 30s, Edwardian times etc.

Very interesting!

[LittleMissPussyCat]

I only saw half of last nights, so must iplayer it later. Interesting series, I must admit to being a bit of a sucker for this type of programme.

[Shangas]

NOTICE TO ALL: Series currently available on YouTube.

[LittleMissPussyCat]

Already, thats good

[Kitty_Sheridan]

Thought last night (ww2) was pure silliness...and lots of half truths and myths in there. Shame really, entertaining but historically inaccurate.
K

[W-D Forties]

I think the main point of the series though is to revive interest in the traditional High Street, and to document it's heyday and sad demise (which, judging by the trailer, is next week during the 60's). Whilst I know it hasn't been 100% accurate on any period, it's interesting, populist history and if it makes the point with Joe Public that independent shops are worth supporting (as is getting to know your neigbours), then it's been worth it.

[dhermann1]

I'd love to see it, but the good old BBC won't let anyone outside the UK see anything. Irks the hell out of me.

[Kitty_Sheridan]

I'm not sure that I'd agree, I already find public perception of WW2 an altered reality..

[Edward]

Yeah, well. with Churchill being so consistently voted 'history's greatest Briton', the popularity of myths like 'we would have been speaking German but for...' and on and on... The biggest problem seems to be that to challenge the myths is to basically open yourself to accusations of being pro-Nazi. Did anyone see the Yesterday channel's documentary last week about the British crime wave of the WW2 years, and how it was covered up to avoid damaging popular 'morale'? Fascinating stuff.

[AdrianLvsRocky]

It's hard to give an opinion on history isn't it? No-one can know what something was really like unless they've been through it. And even then, experiences/memories etc. differ from person to person.

People, of course, tend to remember the good times and put bad experiences to the back of their mind. My beloved Grandad died a few years back but he was a Rear Gunner and Wireless Operator on a Lancaster Bomber during WW2. His was a memorable war experience as his crew flew 13 missions which was way above the average Lanc missions of about 3. We have his log book with all the details.

Anyway, my point is - my Grandad raved about his time in the RAF. He had his pick of the ladies, went to big social events in London and got to fly around in a plane for goodness sake! If you asked him for his memories of WW2, it's these things he'd talk about primarily but, if pushed, he'd tell you about the frost bite he got from leaning on the side of the plane door to save a falling bag or the hundreds of people he must have killed on the bombing raids and the buildings he destroyed.

I think it's human nature to choose to remember the good things and to get nostalgic about them so they almost become truths or the "reality". Is there really any history that's totally authentic or accurate?