I spent nearly a week in hospital with an infection, just got home. My bed had a TV unit and there was almost nothing to watch on it except endless Catherine Cookson films, and some of them were really quite good. I think the community here would be interested in them. They’re all about the lives of the very poor working class in the north east of England, mostly set in the mid 1800s to early 1900s.

They cover topics such as trying to stay out of the workhouse, being taken advantage of by the rich/landlords, working class people vs the landed gentry and general class conflict, mistreatment of the mentally ill/special needs, women living under patriarchy, racial intolerance, and similar topics.