Welcome to the latest issue of the Acorn TV Dispatch!

She’s back! On November 19, Emmy-nominated Ashley Jensen returns for the second season of Agatha Raisin. The series is based on the stories by M.C. Beaton, and this month’s newsletter features a Q&A with the author. The Heart Guy is back as well. To get you ready for it, we’ve put together some Knight family “moments” from the past.

This month we’ve also got “Britcoms” that will make you smile, documentaries that will make you smart, and an Acorn TV quiz to help you make up your mind about what else to watch. Perfect fall viewing as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop.

Have a good Thanksgiving – and keep on streaming!

In this issue:

An Inside Look at the New Agatha Raisin with M.C. Beaton
British Comedies to Change the Pace
Quiz: Which Acorn TV Original Should You Stream Next?
Reasons to Be Thankful: The Heart Guy Returns
Acorn TV Watchlist: Documentary Detour
Updates from the Acorn TV fan community
Answer to this month’s Ask Acorn TV question

An Inside Look at the New Agatha Raisin

Talking with the woman who knows “Aggie” best

This critically acclaimed Acorn TV Original started in the mind of M.C. Beaton, author of the Agatha Raisin books. Last month we had a chance to talk with her about the series. Beaton tells us what she thinks about Ashley Jensen, who her other favorite character in the series is, and why she thinks her stories are such fan favorites. She also talks about a possible love interest for Agatha in the all-new season, premiering Nov. 19 only on Acorn TV.

Agatha Raisin is one of the most popular shows on Acorn TV. Why do you think that is?

I’m delighted to hear that it’s so popular with American audiences. I think the series is such a hit because it contains “an escape.” Nobody gets tortured or mutilated or that kind of thing. The series is an escape from all of that – the shows really are family viewing. They’re something to enjoy at home on a dark, rainy evening.

Is Carsley based on an actual place? Is it hard for an incomer – a “newbie” – to move to this kind of village?

Carsley is based on a mixture of villages in the Cotswolds, not one in particular. I came to live in this part of England in 1990, but things have changed a lot since then. It’s now no longer so difficult for outsiders to be accepted here as it once was.

In the original book series, Agatha is an outsider, from the city of Birmingham. But in the television series she’s clearly from Scotland. Being Scottish myself, I was pleased at that, but I had nothing to do with it. That was just a happy coincidence!

So does Agatha really want to “blend in” (as she says) or does she want to stand out? She’s supposed to be taking early retirement – but is she the retiring type?

Agatha comes to Carsley and thinks she wants to blend in. But as we quickly find out, that’s not her style. Agatha has learned how to thrust her way up the career ladder. Although she’s pushy, I think you quickly develop an affection for her. And that’s the brilliant thing about Ashley Jensen – she captures the character of Agatha Raisin so well. Ashley has an incredible versatility as an actor.

Do you have another favorite character?

Yes, I do. My other favorite character in the series is one of the policemen – Bill Wong. He’s the first friend that Agatha makes when she moves to the village. I like Bill because he’s just so innocent.

What has been your involvement in Season 2?

I’ve been on the set during filming and have been there for the read-throughs. But it wasn’t easy for me. You see, I’m a bit of a controller, I’m afraid. But I know I’m not a screenwriter. So I eventually found out that I had to let it all go. We’ve got a wonderful executive producer for the series, which makes all the difference in the world. She’s great, and the shows are in good hands with her.

What else can we look forward to in the new shows?

We can look forward to a 90-minute episode! This really gives the characters “time to breathe.” It gives the humor a chance to develop, too. You would think that shorter would be funnier. But somehow this works better.

Is there any romance ahead for Agatha?

There is! Of course, whether it all works out or not is another question. You’ll just have to watch Season 2 for yourself and find out.

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Where in the world are… the Cotswolds?

Agatha Raisin is set in the Cotswolds. This is a region in western England, near the Welsh border. Filled with “chocolate box” villages, the Cotswolds spread across parts of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and a number of other counties. Says M.C. Beaton, “In the Cotswolds, some of the old values still exist: kindness, honesty, gallantry, and decency.” Beaton lives in the Cotswolds village of Blockley.

Is M.C. Beaton making a private joke?

In our interview, the author says one of her favorite characters in Agatha Raisin is Bill…the police officer. In British slang, the police are known as “the Bill” or “the Old Bill.” Is this just a coincidence? Or is Beaton being funny? Another nickname for British cops is “Bobbies.” But in this land of so much slang, the police are also “Bill.”

When will the new season of Agatha Raisin premiere?

Get ready for more mischief, mystery, and murder! The popular Acorn TV Original will return for its second season with three TV movies — Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham will make its world premiere on November 19, exclusively on Acorn TV, followed by Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam on Christmas Eve, and Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate in January 2019.

Click here to watch the Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham trailer

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Ready for a Change of Pace?

British comedies to put a smile on your face

With the Halloween drama behind us, this might be time for a little comedy to help brighten the mood. Acorn TV offers a unique selection of British sitcoms – situation comedies – that just might do the trick. So why are the Brits so good at making us smile? What makes comedies from the UK so good? Why do the British spend so much time and effort trying to make people laugh? Why do they so often see the funny side of things?

Perhaps it started as a reaction to the weather. Or to the food. Or to hard times. Or all three at once. There may not be much to laugh about when you’re sitting down to boiled beef and carrots, it’s raining outside, and a Viking longboat has just appeared on the horizon. Or maybe in such circumstances there’s nothing better to do than laugh.

A touch of class

Alternatively, British humor may have begun as a reaction against the class system. Could comedy have been a (safe) way to lampoon the stuffiness of society and the powerful and privileged? The French rose up in revolution against these kinds of things. The British settled for poking fun at them and sharing a joke.

Classic Britcoms such as Goodnight Sweetheart are gentle but poignant, with a strong strain of nostalgia through them. Another classic, Men Behaving Badly, is just that – all about boorish roommates who can’t seem to get beyond adolescence but somehow remain endearing all the same.

Real characters

Whatever the reason, British comedy has given us unique and enduring characters. And it does so in short order – it has to! Unlike American sitcoms, which might run for years (and what can seem like forever in syndication if they are successful), British comedy series are usually short. When the original project is done, the actors, writers, and producers tend to move on to the next one.

The characters that these series leave us with are different, quirky, slightly off-center. They’re a bit downtrodden, perhaps, and whether blue collar or not, are often on the outside looking in. Think about some of the protagonists in Acorn TV’s contemporary Britcoms, such as blood-phobic surgeon Doc Martin or head chef Roland White in Whites. Or senior citizen Count Arthur Strong or Detectorists Andy and Lance.

A safe distance

Do we like these individuals? Would we be comfortable spending an evening with one of them? How would it be if they lived next door? Truth be told, perhaps we’d rather watch them from a distance and on the television screen. It might just be safer that way.

Click here to explore comedies available on Acorn TV

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Take the Quiz to Find Your Binge!

Which Acorn TV Original should you stream next?

Acorn TV Originals are some of our most popular series and feature an array of stories and stars. Find out which show is the perfect fit for you!

TAKE THE QUIZ →

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Reasons to be Thankful

Reasons to Be Thankful

Aussie favorite The Heart Guy is back!

SPOILER WARNING! We’ve tried not to reveal key parts of the plot but may hint at certain events in the series.

On November 22, Americans across the country will gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. The Knight family also gets back together this month, with the third season of The Heart Guy now streaming on Acorn TV. Hopefully, your reunion will be a peaceful and happy one. But that’s not always the case when Rodger, Charlie, Matt, Meryl, and the rest of the clan gather at the old homestead in Whyhope. Check out these moments of Knight family drama.

A Prodigal Returns in Season 1, Episode 1

Knocked off his pedestal and onto the Impaired Registrants Program, Hugh Knight returns to his childhood home of Whyhope, where he unwittingly crashes the 40th anniversary party of his parents, and awkwardly reunites with his ex-girlfriend and his brother, who are now married.

The Walkout in Season 1, Episode 9

After discovering deep secrets that throw family dynamics into question, Ajax storms off and flees the family homestead. Hugh, Meryl, and Jim are left to deal with the badly timed revelation to Ajax, along with their own respective drama.

Uninvited guests with unwelcome news in Season 2, Episode 9

As the Knight family prepares for two major medical operations, an unexpected visitor joins them for dinner – a woman Hugh never expected to see again and that the family didn’t know existed.

Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law in Season 1, Episode 4

Exasperated by Meryl’s constant reference to the lack of Knight grandchildren, Charlie finally reaches her limit and gets back at her mother-in-law by letting a goat loose in the kitchen.

Sibling rivalry in Season 2, Episode 1

Jealousy boils over as Matt and Hugh come to blows over their shared affections for the same woman.

Click here to watch the all-new season of The Heart Guy

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Acorn TV Watchlist: Documentary Detour

Take a “Docu” Detour of Britain and Beyond

Acorn TV documentaries can take you to locations that you never dreamed of. Here are some shows linked to very specific places all around Britain and beyond – from the Cotswolds with Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages to Oxford with the Hairy Bikers and the Islands of Australia with Martin Clunes. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Belfast with the Art Detectives

At any one time, over 80% of Britain’s publicly owned art collection is locked away in storage. Among this secret treasure trove are some of the finest works of art the public owns. Dr. Bendor Grosvenor and Jacky Klein seek out the work of some of the biggest names in art, lying hidden in local museums and country houses all across Britain. In this episode, Bendor and Jacky visit Belfast to investigate what have long been disregarded as low-value copies of works by Flemish artist Peter Breughel the Younger at the Ulster Museum. They also visit the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, where a controversial painting once slashed with a knife is now kept in a room away from public view.

WATCH NOW →

West Highlands with Coastal Railways

Presenter Julie Walters (Harry Potter films) beguiles with “charm, warmth, and wit” (Express, UK) in this travelogue of coastal railway journeys around Britain. Often named the world’s most scenic railway, Scotland’s West Highland Railway traverses lands of beauty and lore. Julie rides the iconic Jacobite steam train across the stunning Glenfinnan viaduct and alights at the home of WWII’s Special Operations Executive. Then she journeys to the Isle of Skye to hear a traditional storyteller, before meeting the famously cute Highland cattle.

WATCH NOW →

Oxford with The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs that Built Britain

In this “fine slice of working-class history” (Express, UK), the “Hairy Bikers” — professional cooks and travel buddies Si King and Dave Myers — journey all over Britain visiting the pubs, inns, and taverns that have been the site of some of history’s most famous (and notorious) events. Join them as they take an educational excursion to Oxford, where they discover pubs with links to Britain’s literary greats, including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. They also drop in on the favorite inn of Colin Dexter, the creator of Inspector Morse.

WATCH NOW →

The Cotswolds with Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages

In this fascinating series, renowned actress Dame Penelope Keith travels through Britain’s charming villages to uncover what makes these places so unique and special. Despite touring the Cotswolds as a budding young Stratford actress in 1963, Penelope has never quite been sure about what defines this famous region. Starting in the celebrated ‘chocolate box’ village of Bibury, she sets off to reveal an unspoiled world of wealth – ancient and modern – created originally by sheep, wool, and weaving. Penelope’s friend Jilly Cooper – a Cotswold villager since 1982 – is on hand to explain the celebrity obsession with this region and reveal some of the latest names to be seen here.

WATCH NOW →

Sydney and beyond with Martin Clunes’s Islands of Australia

In this gorgeously shot documentary, Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) is on a quest to discover the islands of Australia. There are over 8,000 to choose from, and Martin visits 16 that offer a cross-section of island life. Along the way, he learns about the diversity, history, and challenges of island life Down Under. Martin begins his journey in Sydney’s iconic harbor, then travels to Lord Howe Island, where he learns about the Kentia palm, the world’s most popular indoor plant. When visiting Norfolk Island, Martin learns the brutal truth about the most notorious prison island in the British Empire.

WATCH NOW →

Essex with Shoreline Detectives

Discover the history hidden along Britain’s 11,000 miles of coastline with this fun and fascinating docuseries. Paleontologist Tori Herridge and historian Alex Langlands join coastal archaeologists to uncover amazing stories of shipwrecks, abandoned villages, and forgotten harbors that only appear for a few hours each day when the tide goes out. Along the Essex estuary, they pay their respects to Thames sailing barges sunk in the mud, examine the earthwork remains of a fort from Henry VIII’s time, and find a WWI German U-boat stranded in a tiny creek.

WATCH NOW →

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Ask Acorn TV

Answers to common questions from Acorn TV fans

What are Staff Picks, and how are they chosen?

One of the ways we celebrate all of the world-class series on Acorn TV is through a weekly Staff Pick selection. Staff Picks are all about great characters and storylines, and have each been hand-selected by a member of the Acorn TV team. We dig deep into the troves of our library to find hidden gems you’re sure to love as much as we do. Explore the full collection of Staff Picks here, or visit the Acorn TV homepage to discover the latest Staff Pick selection.

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