Popular Freeview (and Sky) channel “Rewind TV” is going all-in on proper British telly this summer with a nostalgic trio of shows that haven’t graced our screens in quite some time.
If you’re tired of algorithm-driven streaming content and fancy a taste of television from simpler times, they’ve got something rather special lined up.
A Proper British Summer Lineup
After their brief dalliance with American programming earlier this year (remember The Monkees and SOAP?), Rewind TV is doubling down on its return to British classics.
This follows their May schedule shake-up that brought us gems like David Jason’s forgotten sitcom Lucky Feller, the wonderfully bizarre The Strange World of Gurney Slade, classic school comedy Please Sir! and the Victorian medical drama Bramwell.
Their new summer schedule features three more distinct flavours of vintage telly that showcase very different aspects of our broadcasting heritage.
“These series are a celebration of clever writing, impeccable timing, and the comedic brilliance of some of Britain’s most well-known talents,” said Oscar Beuselinck, Rewind TV’s co-founder. “We’re thrilled to reintroduce these classics to both long-time fans and a new generation of viewers.”
David Jason Before Del Boy in “A Sharp Intake of Breath”
Starting June 24 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Rewind brings us a true hidden gem from David Jason’s pre-Del Boy career.
A Sharp Intake of Breath follows the everyday frustrations of Peter Barnes (Jason) as he battles against the absurdities of bureaucracy and red tape.
If you’ve ever lost your mind dealing with unhelpful officials, impossible forms, or the general nonsense of daily life, you’ll find this strangely relatable even decades later.
The show’s title comes from that moment when someone in authority sucks in their breath before explaining why they can’t possibly help you – a sound that still triggers anxiety in most Brits to this day!
“Jokers Wild” – When Comedians Were Let Loose
From July 2, you can catch Jokers Wild at 10:30am and 7:30pm – a panel show that makes today’s carefully scripted comedy competitions look positively tame by comparison.
Hosted by the late, great Barry Cryer, this 1970s format threw together some of Britain’s finest comic talents – including Les Dawson, Arthur Askey, John Cleese and Frankie Howerd – and let them battle it out with stand-up routines and impromptu gags.
What’s remarkable watching it now is the sheer spontaneity of it all. There’s none of the safety-net editing or carefully prepared material we see today – just pure comedic talent on full display, often walking a fine line between brilliant and outrageous.
“Old Country” – Rural Britain Through Hargreaves’ Eyes
Rounding out the summer offerings from July 20 at 4:30pm is Old Country, Jack Hargreaves’ loving portrait of rural British life that first aired in the early 1980s.
This is slow television in the best possible way. Hargreaves, with his trademark pipe and gentle demeanour, takes viewers through countryside traditions and crafts that were vanishing even back then – from hedge laying to blacksmithing and local customs.
In our current age of constant digital distraction and fast-paced everything, there’s something almost therapeutic about Hargreaves’ unhurried exploration of rural life.
It’s a reminder of a Britain that mostly exists in memory now, preserved through these thoughtful documentaries.
Where to Find Rewind TV
You can currently catch Rewind TV on:
- Freeview: Channel 92
- Freely: Channel 150
- Sky: Channel 182
Still no sign of them on streaming platforms like Sky Stream, NOW, or Freesat – which seems like a missed opportunity given the current appetite for nostalgic content.
While other retro channels like Talking Pictures TV have embraced streaming with their own apps, Rewind TV seems committed to the traditional scheduled broadcasting model.
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