Hidden Treasures of the National Trust

I happened on this by accident but it pulled me in and transfixed me. The programme tells beautiful human stories from the past in a loving and respectful way. Many people have said that the National Trust and the BBC have tarnished their reputations in recent years. This programme is a great riposte to those criticisms.

So much attention to detail is paid throughout the series and it showcases what both institutions do so well... informing, educating, entertaining in an inimitable and charming way. There is a lovely British eccentricity about this show too and it provides glimpses into the lives of the dedicated characters who help us to learn from the past to avoid the mistakes and make a better future.

A fairly innocuous programme, fair amount of people fretting over non-dramas for the sake of effect as we know the NT isn't go to ever allow any genuine disasters to be broadcast (despite there being plenty). The usual talking head segments of supposed experts either stating the obvious or getting their facts plain wrong. Very much aimed at the lower-middle class which is probably about right as a target, but gets a bit exhausting from the twee-ness that is required to succeed with them. Some nicely shot footage which redeems the more vacuous elements of people speaking and overcome the absolute identical royalty-free stock muzack the BBC has been using on every single programme about the decorative arts since 2010.