This Week Back Then

GENERIC - A NOSTALGIC documentary series that recreates classic news bulletins, letting UK viewers step back into the week’s headlines as they were first broadcast. Each episode offers a quick overview at a glance, delivering programme highlights that blend entertainment with a fresh look at British TV history and fits into Great! Action programming for UK television and British TV fans.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW GENERIC is a fresh series on the GREAT! network that transports UK viewers back to the golden age of British news bulletins. Each episode recreates the look, feel and rhythm of a 1960s‑70s television news hour, complete with period‑accurate studios, vintage graphics and the unmistakable cadence of classic newscasters. Designed as a nostalgic documentary‑drama hybrid, the programme offers a weekly glimpse into how stories were reported, how audiences engaged with the news, and why those moments still matter today. This comprehensive guide provides full details for anyone curious about this unique blend of entertainment and history. WHAT TO EXPECT Every episode of GENERIC is structured like a traditional news broadcast, but the content is a curated mix of real archival footage and dramatised re‑enactments of headline events from the same week in the past. Viewers will see the same headlines that dominated the national conversation – from political upheavals to cultural milestones – presented with the solemnity and gravitas of historic newscasting. Interwoven commentary from contemporary journalists and historians adds depth, turning each episode into an in‑depth review of the week’s original stories while preserving the charm of vintage British TV. KEY FEATURES The series boasts a stellar cast of veteran actors who master the diction and poise of classic newsreaders, supported by a production team that painstakingly reconstructs period studios, lighting and camera techniques. Authentic period props, original news reels and meticulously recreated on‑screen graphics give the series a documentary‑level authenticity, while the narrative arc of each episode provides the drama of a well‑crafted entertainment programme. High‑definition restoration of archival material ensures that the visual quality meets modern standards without losing the retro aesthetic, making GENERIC a standout in the current UK television landscape. WHY WATCH For discerning UK viewers who value quality programming, GENERIC offers a rare combination of nostalgia, education and pure entertainment. It allows audiences to relive the communal experience of watching the evening news, to understand how media shaped public opinion, and to appreciate the evolution of broadcasting standards. The series serves as both a tribute to the pioneers of British news and a reminder of the timeless power of storytelling, making it an essential addition to any television guide for fans of documentary, drama and British TV heritage. Great! Action CONTEXT GENERIC sits comfortably alongside Great! Action’s acclaimed historical series such as “The Century of the Self” and “Our World at War”, offering a complementary perspective that focuses on the medium of news itself rather than solely on events. While Great! Action programming often delivers comprehensive documentaries, GENERIC adds a fresh twist by presenting those stories through the lens of a period news bulletin, enriching the viewing experience for anyone interested in the evolution of British broadcasting. This alignment with Great! Action standards underscores the series’ credibility and its appeal to a broad UK audience seeking both depth and entertainment.