Ray Mears Northern Wilderness - TV Programmes

Iggyman · 27-10-2009, 12:23

Did anyone see this on BBC2 on Sunday?

A truly excellent programme that was both fascinating and sensitively handled (no overly intrusive music and mad camera angles!).

Still available on iPlayer:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...gotten_Forest/

Highly recommended.

Omah · 27-10-2009, 12:56

Yeah, not one of his best (formulaic and predictable) but he IS the guv'ner and always worth watching .....

(-30C in the wilderness ain't nothing bit a cold snap as long as you remember to take your wood-burning stove with you ....

)

Iggyman · 27-10-2009, 12:59

I found it far more enjoyable than most of the series he's done over the past few years.

Rossall · 27-10-2009, 15:04

I was expecting it to show him trying to survive a Friday night in Barnsley.

Iggyman · 27-10-2009, 15:08

I have to say that I also loved the calm, relaxing atmosphere of the programme. So good to see something like this when TV is usually assaulting our senses with noise, fast cuts and mad camera work.

Crazyeyeskiller · 27-10-2009, 16:13

Agree - love it

Elanor · 04-11-2009, 12:27

I'm loving this series! It's different to his other series, in that he's telling the story of certain people and events, so it's less about him, but I think it's fascinating, and the photography is stunning.

I went to one of Ray's lectures on Saturday, about this series. He was SO interesting to listen to, extrememly knowledgeable. He basically covered what this new series is covering, but hearing it direct was great. He did a Q&A as well.

Iggyman · 04-11-2009, 12:58

I'm really enjoying the new series but I have to say that the first episode was far better than the second.

Omah · 04-11-2009, 14:30

The real star of the seies so far has been the birchbark canoe :

http://www.birchbarkcanoe.net/

brody · 08-11-2009, 20:46

loving this

first one ive caught so far, didnt even know ray had a new series. definitely hooked for the rest now.

VincentH · 08-11-2009, 22:29

Easily his best series since 'Bushcraft' where he made the birchbark canoe. Didn't enjoy the last one about Australia, but the scenery and stories, combined with his endless knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject makes it highly watchable.

It hasn't been as widely advertised to my mind, but then I'm sure I read that he's defected to ITV, so perhaps the beeb decided not to make such a big fuss about the series. Shame if so.

Iggyman · 08-11-2009, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentH

It hasn't been as widely advertised to my mind, but then I'm sure I read that he's defected to ITV, so perhaps the beeb decided not to make such a big fuss about the series. Shame if so.

Really? Any ideas why?

swingaleg · 08-11-2009, 22:38

I was a bit late to Ray but I've caught all his old series on the Docu channels and watched the last 2 or 3 'live'

Always good telly............

I thought the best of his series was the one where he went round Britain looking at neolithic habitats and the food and skills of the time ..........with that nutty Professor of Stone Age Snacks or whatever he was.........what a great team !

Ray can be a patronising to the 'natives' or the 'First Nation People' as he quaintly insists on calling them

Like tonight that wonderful old dear with her magnificent skill of putting leaves on the floor.........marvellous !........if only we could do that today !

And I'm sure I'm not the only watching his painful week long making of the water pot thinking 'as soon as he puts it on the fire it's gonna burn' !.................

Omah · 08-11-2009, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by swingaleg

Ray can be a patronising to the 'natives' or the 'First Nation People' as he quaintly insists on calling them

Yeah, I think he's become jaded with age - he's seen it all, done it all, knows it all .....

Quote:

Originally Posted by swingaleg

And I'm sure I'm not the only watching his painful week long making of the water pot thinking 'as soon as he puts it on the fire it's gonna burn' !.................

Hehehe ..... you weren't the only one .....

I'm not sure about the hot rocks in the pot, though - wouldn't the "firey" taste of the water ruin the Espresso Doppio Con Panna .....

frasera · 09-11-2009, 05:59

normally i like his shows, i've seen pretty much all of them, but this ones rocky. the second episode was better than the first, but the first was dreadfully boring.

Iggyman · 09-11-2009, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by frasera

normally i like his shows, i've seen pretty much all of them, but this ones rocky. the second episode was better than the first, but the first was dreadfully boring.

I thought that the first one was excellent.

Still, each to his/her own and all that.

BTW, regarding Ray defecting to ITV - it seems that wildlife series 'Survival' is to be resurrected with Ray as the host:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/20...-ray-mears-itv

bigbruvvaluvvau · 09-11-2009, 17:58

this is more of a history show than a survival show, which is a bit of a let down.. and Ray has gotten a bit portly.. but I will still watch nonetheless

quisling · 10-11-2009, 00:25

The genuine article.
Straightforward and genuine, no big dramas, lots if information and a calmness that allows the atmosphere of the place to shone through the screen and right into your living room.

Ray Mears is a true hero and a national institution in my view.

redvers36 · 10-11-2009, 23:19

Hi

I have found Ray's new series to be both educational and entertaining. The hour the programme runs for just shoots by which is always a sign of a quality programme.

If the BBC have lost him it about sums them up I think as in a way he represents one part of what public service broadcasting should be...

quisling · 11-11-2009, 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by redvers36

If the BBC have lost him it about sums them up I think as in a way he represents one part of what public service broadcasting should be...

I'm really of surprised he's off to ITV, but I suppose we don't know what (if anything) the BBC had offered him after this series.
I'm also surprised that ITV feel they've got a the budget to do a decent wildlife show,
I hope it doesn't end up as a disappointment for Ray and the viewers, though after The South Bank Show goes, Survival will be the only programme I watch on ITV.

justintime · 11-11-2009, 21:20

Never seen a Ray programme before, but the historical aspect attracted me and didn't disappoint. His genuine interest in the subject really added to the show.

quisling · 12-11-2009, 00:07

The Beeb have swapped him for Melvyn Bragg!
http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle6912079.ece

ITV didn't have the money to make anymore South Bank Shows (apparently) but they can do a series of Survival.

Weird!

brody · 13-11-2009, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by quisling

The Beeb have swapped him for Melvyn Bragg!
http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle6912079.ece

ITV didn't have the money to make anymore South Bank Shows (apparently) but they can do a series of Survival.

Weird!

heheh, they should have kept both, just have the south bank show on the bbc instead of the alan yentob arts show, and then they could have kept ray as well

TheG-Man · 13-11-2009, 13:42

Who would win in a survival situation Ray Mears, Bear Grylls, Survivorman or Bushtuckerman?????

This is a great series, so much better than his wild food series.

quisling · 13-11-2009, 16:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheG-Man

Who would win in a survival situation Ray Mears, Bear Grylls, Survivorman or Bushtuckerman?????

This is a great series, so much better than his wild food series.

I suppose it depends a bit on where they had to do it and whether there was a hotel nearby for Bear The Pretender.

I liked the wild food series, especially the crazy old professor he was paired up with for the series.

27-10-2009, 12:23	#1
Iggyman Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 976	Ray Mears Northern Wilderness Did anyone see this on BBC2 on Sunday? A truly excellent programme that was both fascinating and sensitively handled (no overly intrusive music and mad camera angles!). Still available on iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...gotten_Forest/ Highly recommended.

27-10-2009, 12:56	#2
Omah Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 19,412	Yeah, not one of his best (formulaic and predictable) but he IS the guv'ner and always worth watching ..... (-30C in the wilderness ain't nothing bit a cold snap as long as you remember to take your wood-burning stove with you .... )

27-10-2009, 12:59	#3
Iggyman Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 976	I found it far more enjoyable than most of the series he's done over the past few years.

27-10-2009, 15:04	#4
Rossall Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NW England Posts: 3,857	I was expecting it to show him trying to survive a Friday night in Barnsley.

27-10-2009, 15:08	#5
Iggyman Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 976	I have to say that I also loved the calm, relaxing atmosphere of the programme. So good to see something like this when TV is usually assaulting our senses with noise, fast cuts and mad camera work.

27-10-2009, 16:13	#6
Crazyeyeskiller Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,570	Agree - love it

04-11-2009, 12:27	#7
Elanor Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 4,366	I'm loving this series! It's different to his other series, in that he's telling the story of certain people and events, so it's less about him, but I think it's fascinating, and the photography is stunning. I went to one of Ray's lectures on Saturday, about this series. He was SO interesting to listen to, extrememly knowledgeable. He basically covered what this new series is covering, but hearing it direct was great. He did a Q&A as well.

04-11-2009, 12:58	#8
Iggyman Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 976	I'm really enjoying the new series but I have to say that the first episode was far better than the second.

04-11-2009, 14:30	#9
Omah Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 19,412	The real star of the seies so far has been the birchbark canoe : http://www.birchbarkcanoe.net/

08-11-2009, 20:46	#10
brody Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 35	loving this first one ive caught so far, didnt even know ray had a new series. definitely hooked for the rest now.

08-11-2009, 22:29	#11
VincentH Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 71	Easily his best series since 'Bushcraft' where he made the birchbark canoe. Didn't enjoy the last one about Australia, but the scenery and stories, combined with his endless knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject makes it highly watchable. It hasn't been as widely advertised to my mind, but then I'm sure I read that he's defected to ITV, so perhaps the beeb decided not to make such a big fuss about the series. Shame if so.

08-11-2009, 22:38	#13
swingaleg Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: London Services: Telewest Digital Malarky Posts: 44,721	I was a bit late to Ray but I've caught all his old series on the Docu channels and watched the last 2 or 3 'live' Always good telly............ I thought the best of his series was the one where he went round Britain looking at neolithic habitats and the food and skills of the time ..........with that nutty Professor of Stone Age Snacks or whatever he was.........what a great team ! Ray can be a patronising to the 'natives' or the 'First Nation People' as he quaintly insists on calling them Like tonight that wonderful old dear with her magnificent skill of putting leaves on the floor.........marvellous !........if only we could do that today ! And I'm sure I'm not the only watching his painful week long making of the water pot thinking 'as soon as he puts it on the fire it's gonna burn' !.................

09-11-2009, 05:59	#15
frasera Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,652	normally i like his shows, i've seen pretty much all of them, but this ones rocky. the second episode was better than the first, but the first was dreadfully boring.

09-11-2009, 17:58	#17
bigbruvvaluvvau Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,275	this is more of a history show than a survival show, which is a bit of a let down.. and Ray has gotten a bit portly.. but I will still watch nonetheless

10-11-2009, 00:25	#18
quisling Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,181	The genuine article. Straightforward and genuine, no big dramas, lots if information and a calmness that allows the atmosphere of the place to shone through the screen and right into your living room. Ray Mears is a true hero and a national institution in my view.

10-11-2009, 23:19	#19
redvers36 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14	Hi I have found Ray's new series to be both educational and entertaining. The hour the programme runs for just shoots by which is always a sign of a quality programme. If the BBC have lost him it about sums them up I think as in a way he represents one part of what public service broadcasting should be...

11-11-2009, 21:20	#21
justintime Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 220	Never seen a Ray programme before, but the historical aspect attracted me and didn't disappoint. His genuine interest in the subject really added to the show.

12-11-2009, 00:07	#22
quisling Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,181	The Beeb have swapped him for Melvyn Bragg! http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle6912079.ece ITV didn't have the money to make anymore South Bank Shows (apparently) but they can do a series of Survival. Weird!

13-11-2009, 13:42	#24
TheG-Man Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minehead, Somerset Services: Virgin broadband, Sky+, PS3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Samsung Tocco Posts: 108	Who would win in a survival situation Ray Mears, Bear Grylls, Survivorman or Bushtuckerman????? This is a great series, so much better than his wild food series.