As attentive and observant television viewers, it can’t have escaped your collective notice that the UKTV network has been undergoing a few changes over the last few months. It started with UKTV G2 becoming Dave, and now they’re all doing it! UKTV People recently regenerated into Blighty, UKTV History becomes Yesterday next week, and even Dave’s +1 channel is getting a rebrand: it is now Dave Ja Vu. Oh my sides. If you’re anything like me, you may have got a bit confuzzled, but fear not, TV Scoop is here. Pop over the cut for a handy guide…
UKTV Gold = G.O.L.D. (Go On Laugh Daily)
This is the cosy, old-school comedy channel. Last night I watched Major Star from Blackadder Goes Forth, and avoided a fair few Only Fools And Horses episodes (I’ve nothing against the show, there’s some classic episodes. There are also some woeful episodes). They’ve also got the likes of The Vicar Of Dibley and Fawlty Towers, and recently conducted a poll to find the best decade for comedy.
UKTV People = Blighty
One of the most recent rebrands, Blighty has been launched with a high-profile PR campaign. The channel aims to celebrate all things British and boasts shows such as Who Do You Think You Are? and Wainwright Walks, along with new programmes like My Brilliant Britain.
UKTV G2 = Dave / Dave Ja Vu
Good old Dave, ‘the home of witty banter’. Where would I be without your endless repeats of Mock The Week and Never Mind The Buzzcocks? Watching endless repeats of Friends and Scrubs, that’s where. Dave also has some great original commissions, including Argumental and Batteries Not Included.
UKTV History = Yesterday (from March 2nd)
Nazis, Victorians and Romans, that’s what we like, right? Actually, it is, and UKTV History, soon to be Yesterday, provides us with our daily fix in bucketloads.
Watch (new channel)
This channel doesn’t have quite the strong identity that Dave and Alibi do at the moment, but Watch certainly has some great shows – Doctor Who, Torchwood, Love Soup and Cranford have all made it their post-BBC home. It is also the channel where we can now find Richard and Judy.
UKTV Drama = Alibi
Not my favourite channel, it has to be said, but then I’m not a CSI kinda gal, and that’s the sort of thing Alibi specialises in. Relatively new, classy dramas such as Spooks, New Tricks and Silent Witness nestle neatly alongside older detective and crime series including Hamish Macbeth and that daytime favourite, Murder, She Wrote.
UKTV Documentary = Eden
Yesterday has Nazis and Romans, Eden has monkeys and sharks. Along with a whole host of David Attenborough classics, you can find repeats of Tribe and Ray Mears shows on this channel.
