Vibe is one of the channels that you get with your basic Sky package. Many men will put it with the Living Channel in the “avoid at all costs” pile.
It is unashamedly aimed at female viewers which can mean that even women sometimes disregard it. Nevertheless, there are some treats to be had.
Having said that, The Shell Seekers, shown the past two Sundays as part of the Rosamunde Pilcher series, wasn’t really one to stay home for, but it was perfectly pleasant viewing.
Vanessa Redgrave took the main role of Penelope, an incredibly elderly lady who had just suffered a mild heart attack, thus causing her family to get very excited about her belongings, particularly her father’s paintings.
The poor old dear was 68 and still insisting on living alone rather than getting herself to a rest home. She was even still driving!
Redgrave is a fine actress and her presence, plus the fact that the director sourced some of the prettiest cottages and beaches in Cornwall, meant that watching the drama was a bit like watching a particularly good episode of Escape to the Country.
Set in 1982, Penelope’s tremendously foul older daughter strode prissily about the place wearing those blouses with ruffled collars Princess Di specialised in.
Her slightly less foul younger daughter was lounging about in white bikinis in Ibiza before her decision to come back to a Big Job in London caused her boyfriend to petulantly slam his speedboat into a rock, thereby leaving put-upon Penelope with his orphaned daughter to care for.
There was also a foul son but there was a backstory, too, showing us how Penelope was taken in by an absolute cad during the war.
Ah, genes! Cad husband equals ghastly kids! Back then, Penelope sounded exactly like the young driver in Foyle’s War, all breathless “Sirs!” and chatting about Daddy, now a very collectable artist.
I found myself watching the whole silly thing without pausing to wonder why.
But Redgrave is worth watching, even when pretending that 68 is old, and apart from the blouses, the whole pretty thing was simply a feast for the eyes.
ONE TO WATCH
Native Affairs (Maori Television, 8.30pm) has a new host in Mihingarangi Forbes. With serious news analysis programmes currently turning into bad stand-up comedy routines, this could actually be an attempt at something serious. Please
Ad Feedback
–
