What are the most left-wing BBC programs of the past 10 years or so?

[tribalfusion]

Hi all,

I've been doing a deep dive into the BBC's catalog since roughly 2010 and wondering what might qualify as the most left-wing programs made during that period or which might be coming out in the future.

For example, in terms of documentaries, I'm not sure that I've seen much that could be described as left-wing or even 'critical' and perhaps the various projects of Adam Curtis and Mary Beard seem to be the outer limits of what is permissible these days (not that I view Curtis for example as necessarily being left-wing; he describes himself as libertarian or progressive depending on the context).

Am I missing anything? Are there people perhaps like John Berger or John Pilger flying under the radar?

Also, please feel free to recommend any dramas or comedy you feel might qualify.

Thank you!

[shoulders]

Carnage by Simon Amstell

[kitsofan34]

Left wing BBC programme is an oxymoron.

[superthunderstingcar]

The last two series of Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle were broadcast on the BBC within the last 10 years (if we set the cutoff at "roughly 2010" instead of 10 years then the entire series could count), as well as his Content Provider and Snowflake/Tornado specials.

[Midas]

Jonathan Pie LIVE

[Ignatius_S]

This is going to go well.

[Wacky Homemade Badges]

One Michael Foot In The Grave
The Khrushchev starring Jane McDonald
Gavin and Trotsky

[tribalfusion]

Left wing BBC programme is an oxymoron.

Perhaps but tell me what you think comes closest.

[tribalfusion]

The last two series of Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle were broadcast on the BBC within the last 10 years (if we set the cutoff at "roughly 2010" instead of 10 years then the entire series could count), as well as his Content Provider and Snowflake/Tornado specials.

Fair enough. I figured Lee would come up and possibly Boyle too for that matter.

[Wacky Homemade Badges]

Ballykissengels

[superthunderstingcar]

Green Planet, Wild Isles, and other David Attenborough documentaries of recent years have a pro-environmental, anti-climate change message that it seems these days only a National Treasure can get the Beeb to broadcast.

For instance, the subtitle of the first part of Wild Isles is "Our Precious Isles" which has more than a hint of the Land-of-Hope-and-Glory, Britain-is-Best about it. But what it is doing is, it lures in flag-waving fuckwits with Attenborough delivering lines like "the biodiversity of the British Isles is unique," and "85% of all the world's chalk rivers are found in England," before he turns around and slaps them in the face with some climate change facts - how many species lost in the last 60 years, percentages of deforestation, overfishing statistics, all that sort of thing.

[Pink Gregory]

Carnage by Simon Amstell

I don't remember it very well but I'm not sure it made much of veganism as a left ideology.  It was undoubtably political, but I'd have to watch it again to say 'left-wing'.

You could say it was anti-conservative inasmuch as eating animals is 'traditional' but I don't remember much about e.g. the collective vs the individual or collective ownership etc.

Granted it was surprising (and invigorating) to see such a polemic on the BBC.

[Wacky Homemade Badges]

The FlowerPolPot Men

[Mr Banlon]

Frankie Boyle's New World Order

[Brundle-Fly]

That Russell.T.Davis dystopian drama, Years and Years (2019) seemed fairly critical of right wing populist politics.  In fact, hasn't Doctor Who over the past decade exemplified a left wing viewpoint?

[shoulders]

I don't watch that show but someone did say that recent series have veered towards a sensibles/proper channels centrist/centre right message.

[tribalfusion]

Green Planet, Wild Isles, and other David Attenborough documentaries of recent years have a pro-environmental, anti-climate change message that it seems these days only a National Treasure can get the Beeb to broadcast.

For instance, the subtitle of the first part of Wild Isles is "Our Precious Isles" which has more than a hint of the Land-of-Hope-and-Glory, Britain-is-Best about it. But what it is doing is, it lures in flag-waving fuckwits with Attenborough delivering lines like "the biodiversity of the British Isles is unique," and "85% of all the world's chalk rivers are found in England," before he turns around and slaps them in the face with some climate change facts - how many species lost in the last 60 years, percentages of deforestation, overfishing statistics, all that sort of thing.

Yes, I can see what you're getting at with these, particularly in a climate with the absence of left of center content more generally.

[Wacky Homemade Badges]

Saturday Kosygin

[tribalfusion]

Frankie Boyle's New World Order

Definitely some unusual comments by mainstream standards here and there, though perhaps it's best described as a mixed bag (especially when David Baddiel was on).

I referenced Boyle in the thread earlier, and I can see why you would mention it here.

[Norton Canes]

I don't watch that show but someone did say that recent series have veered towards a sensibles/proper channels centrist/centre right message

Think that's more down to (recent showrunner) Chris Chibnall's utter cluelessness rather than any concerted effort to go right of centre.

[tribalfusion]

That Russell.T.Davis dystopian drama, Years and Years (2019) seemed fairly critical of right wing populist politics.  In fact, hasn't Doctor Who over the past decade exemplified a left wing viewpoint?

As far as drama on television goes, is there anyone more reliably left of center in the UK than say Jimmy McGovern or Shane Meadows?

If Loach and Leigh were still working in television, they'd be obvious choices, but the only other people who have somewhat followed in their footsteps a bit in the UK I can seem to recall are Clio Barnard, Andrea Arnold and Lynne Ramsay.

[tribalfusion]

I am noticing that no one is referencing any documentaries (apart from the David Attenborough documentaries); is there nothing at all over the past 10 plus years that might qualify for discussion?

[Funcrusher]

Nothing on BBC tv comes to mind. Although I've not heard them, I'd imagine that the various shows Alexei Sayle has done for Radio 4 would be solidly left wing.

[Midas]

They repeated Bagpuss a couple of years ago

[Midas]

There may have been some nattering about socialism in the accompanying documentary about Oliver Postgate, though it was a repeat from 2009

[tribalfusion]

Nothing on BBC tv comes to mind. Although I've not heard them, I'd imagine that the various shows Alexei Sayle has done for Radio 4 would be solidly left wing.

Yes, that was a good impulse as Alexei is a good egg, though I was focusing on TV in this instance. It's been a while since he has written anything for TV.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

I don't watch that show but someone did say that recent series have veered towards a sensibles/proper channels centrist/centre right message.

RTD didn't write the recent series' of Doctor Who, they were written by a bland, incompetent hack by the name of Chris Chibnall.

RTD has now returned to the fold, hence why you'll soon be made aware of tedious culture war bullshit articles about Doctor Who going all 'woke'.

To his eternal credit, RTD doesn't give a fuck about the bigoted arseholes who will write those articles. He delights in pissing them off.

[Ron Superior]

Not seen much of any of these but, going by who the shows are by and the main themes of the shows, do Ladhood, Alma's Not Normal or Man Like Mobeen qualify?

[shoulders]

There was a documentary about Welsh miners I saw about 4 years ago which was refreshingly unburdened on taking the side of their community and celebrating their traditions up to and including union culture. Almost had to pinch myself at times.

Can't recall what its name was now though. There was an accompanying website article so maybe it can be tracked down.

[Huxleys Babkins]

According to Twitter, Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday is woke communist propaganda. Hope that helps.