James May's Big Ideas

You know those really good programmes that you only find out about when they have finished, and it is too late to use the online catchup services? (which vary from 7 days to a month or more, depending on the broadcaster, and which may be the subject of a future blog entry)

Well, there's another one currently 'happening', where I'm using the word 'happening' in that 'super special event' mode that comes from the 1960s. What's even more amazing, it is the second such series, so if you missed the first one, then you have twice as much catching up to do!

The series is, of course (which is the obligatory 'put down' that just has to be used in this type of sentence), 'James May's Big Ideas', where the third member of the Top Gear presenter team goes out and gets hands-on with technology. This all-too-short series of one-hour programmes is thoroughly recommended to anyone interested in hi-tech.

The first programme in this vein that caught my attention was 'James May's 20th Century', which was shown as several two half-hour programmes back-to-back on BBC2, and which was immediately followed by a repeat of the whole series. TV scheduling as an art-form is completely beyond me, I'm afraid...

But back to the plot of 'Big Ideas', although there isn't much plot to it! Basically James just shows you all manner of obscure and unusual hi-tech machines and gadgets but whenever possible, gets involved in driving, piloting, controlling, flying, or some other action verb associated with the machine, gadget, etc. Power geekery on steroids, if you will.

And I will! Sunday nights are now marked big and bold in my calendar.