Somerset: Wonder Of The West Country review - Austen, ponies and Alan ... trends now
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Somerset: Wonder Of The West Country
When you've had enough of politics, and protest marches, and touched-up royal photographs, sometimes you just want to sit down in front of some comforting, undemanding television.
And it doesn't come much more comforting and undemanding than Somerset: Wonder Of The West Country (Channel 5).
Not only could we gaze at some of Britain's most beautiful scenery, but Alan Titchmarsh was doing the voiceover. It couldn't have been any more relaxing if Channel 5 had plumped up our sofa cushions and delivered a mug of Ovaltine to every viewer.
'Visitors are flocking to the picturesque towns and cities,' said Alan. 'The most famous of these is Bath.'
Ah, now, let me stop you there, Alan. If this were a completely different sort of programme, a pedant with a very rural accent would be on hand to explain that Bath is not really part of Somerset. It left to join Avon in 1974, and there are people in the rest of the county who have never really forgiven it.
There is nothing more comforting that gazing at some of Britain's most beautiful scenery with Alan Titchmarsh does the voiceover
Alan takes viewers to Regency Bath, introducing them to the quant joys of the Jane Austen festival
The programme also takes viewers on a tour of ancient Bath with a glimpse at the Roman spa in the centre of the city
It is now part of what is known as ceremonial Somerset, which I suppose
