Feel-Good TV Shows for Winter Warming in Lockdown and Beyond

Switch on // Switch off this winter

Some of us at Arc have been spending a bit more time watching TV shows as the nights have drawn in, and recently I noticed that I (and perhaps others) should probably sprinkle in a bit more positivity, especially if you’re usually a fan of true crime, hardcore drama, horror or…. The News! EEk! So I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite shows – no Covid, no relationships troubles, no (really) bad people, no huge and scary drama (and no Christmas if you’re not a fan!), just basically what I class as pretty much nice or positive and feel-good TV Shows for winter!

All shows were available at the time of research (mid-end October), some services require sign up or paid subscriptions, many offer a free month so why not line it up with mid-December to mid-January?

Some of them you could call “mindful mindlessness”, escapism, or just watching something enjoyable, here are best that I’ve watched in the 3 categories of:

• Creativity and Upcycling – pure creating or changing for the better.
• Nature, Community, Learning and Health – learn about something that interests you, see a positive change or simply sit back and relax as you fly across the lake district!
• Competitions – creativity shouldn’t be about pitting people against each other… but it’s a great way to see people’s creativity and discover new arts!

Look out for our posts about this on social media to let us know your favourite shows in these categories, and we’ll add them to this list for others and post it again in time for Christmas! 

Photograph: Bob Ross Inc.

Creativity and Upcycling

• Escape to the Chateau (All 4)
• Grayson’s Art Club (All 4)
• Bob Ross (Prime)
• Money for Nothing (BBC iPlayer)
• Last Night of the Proms on BBC (BBC iPlayer)
• On Camera: Photographers at the BBC (BBC iPlayer)
• George Clark’s Amazing Spaces (All 4)
• Impossible Builds (All 4)
• Grand Designs (All 4)
• Kirstie’s Celebrity Craft Masters (All 4)
• Amazing Interiors (Netflix)
• Tiny House Nation (Netflix)
• Chef’s Table  (Netflix)
• Cooked (Netflix)
• Extreme Cake Makers (Netflix) Extreme Chocolate Makers (All 4)
• Master Craft (Prime)
• Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration (YouTube)

Photograph: Visit Cumbria

Nature, Community, Learning and Health

• Gardeners World on BBC 2 (BBC iPlayer)
• The Romantics and Us with Simon Schama (BBC iPlayer)
• Art of Scandinavia (BBC iPlayer)
• George Clark’s National Trust Unlocked (All 4)
• Restaurants on the Edge (Netflix)
• Abstract: The Art of Design (Netflix)
• Britain By Balloon (Demand 5)
• Hidden Britain by Drone (All 4)

Photograph: Netflix

Competitions

• Portrait Artist of the Year (Now Tv, Sky Arts)
• Landscape Artist of the Year (Now Tv, Sky Arts Live)
• Keith Lemon’s Fantastical Factory of Curious Craft (All 4)
• The Great British Bake Off (BBC iPlayer)
• The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC iPlayer)
• The Great Pottery Throwdown (All 4) and back for a new series Live in Jan!
• Next in Fashion (Netflix)
• Blown Away (Glass) (Netflix)
• The Big Flower Fight (Netflix)
• America’s Got Talent (Netflix)
• The Rap Game UK (BBC iPlayer)
• Floor is Lava! (Netflix) (heheee :D)

Fancy creating your own art?! Check out our virtual pottery and drawing classes now booking here, and our online free #ArtAtHome activity website below!

Keeping Us Together – www.keepingustogether.org.uk

Full of accessible, step-by-step creative activities by Arc’s associate artists and volunteers, each one was designed with minimal tools and materials in mind. From abstract art and sculpture to pottery and embroidery, there is something for all ages and abilities. Sign up to the mailing list and receive an email every time a new activity is launched (weekly to monthly), alongside inspiration to fire your creativity and tips to support your wellbeing. Happy creating!

Lucie Fitzpatrick
Marketing officer, Arc
21/11/20

 

Featured Image Photograph: Portrait Artist of the Year, Chris Lobina/Sky Arts
All shows available at time of writing.