This post is a collaboration with TV Licensing (a trademark of the BBC), but all thoughts and experiences are my own.
Some of our best family memories have been made just by sitting down together, sharing a show, and letting the rest of the world wait for a while. TV has given us time to reconnect without even realising it. As part of the BBC TV Licensing ‘Rest & Connect’ campaign, I’m sharing just a few of the ways TV has helped bring us all closer, including a couple of very fancy cats.
- Saturday Nights: Everyone on the Sofa
Saturday night has always meant one thing in our house, snacks, and everyone trying to grab the best spot on the sofa. Someone’s always nicked the good blanket before you even sit down, and there’s never a debate on what to watch because Saturday night TV is elite. From The Hit List, to Limitless, Blankety Blank, I’m a Celeb, or even films on tv. It doesn’t matter if it is a brand-new film or one we have seen a million times, it’s just about relaxing after a long week and spending time together.
- Nature Nights with David Attenborough (The Cats Approve Too)
When we got a new TV recently, the first thing we put on was Planet Earth. If anything was going to show off how good the new screen was, it was David Attenborough. The cinematography on those shows is just next level. It genuinely felt like you could reach out and touch the mountains and oceans. Even the cats were completely glued to the screen. They sat watching the birds and the fish with full focus, and honestly, it made the whole thing even more brilliant. Nature nights have become a bit of a new family tradition now, with the cats right there next to us!
- EastEnders Evenings: Marking the End of the Day
Growing up, the EastEnders theme tune was basically the official signal that the day was winding down. You could have had the busiest day ever, but once that music started, everyone seemed to settle. It was like a family ritual without anyone even planning it. We’d sit down, catch up on the drama (both in the square and in real life), and just slow down a bit. It is funny how something so simple can become such a comforting part of the day.
- Call the Midwife: The Family’s Sacred Silence
Whenever Call the Midwife is on, we all get a text to shut up, stop messaging, and do not disturb. Even on Christmas Day, it might be loud, chaotic, and filled with wrapping paper everywhere, but when Call the Midwife comes on, it is complete silence. We all know when our parents are watching the latest season. The house goes quiet and usually, my mum ends up getting the tissues out.
- BBC Dramas that WOW
You are sleeping on BBC Dramas. There are some incredibly gripping shows on there. Nothing gets the whole family invested like a good BBC drama. Not that there are any bad ones. We’d all be avoiding spoilers from online and agreeing not to watch episodes ahead of each other.
Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of live TV. It covers you for:
- All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Dave and international channels – but you don’t need a licence if you only watch non-BBC channels on-demand
- Pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media, and BT – but these are platforms that could have both live and on-demand services
- Live TV on streaming services, like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video
- Everything on BBC iPlayer.
This includes recording and downloading. On any device.
TV has always been more than something special in our home. It has helped shape our routines, given us ways to spend proper time together, and made even the quiet moments feel memorable. Whether it is the excitement of a Saturday night film or the pure calm of truly immersing yourself in a show, TV has a way of pulling everyone together without even trying!
Heavensa also known as Heaven’s A Dreamy Life is the digital home of Gee, a UK-based content creator and entrepreneur.