Having to wait to watch your favourite TV programme? What madness | Kelly Brown

Waiting a whole week to watch the next episode of your favourite TV programme? What horrifying madness is this?
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Well, that was the reaction of my 11-year-old boy, who has turned back the clock and discovered what television watching was like before the world of instant TV took over.

Back in my day as a child (oh goodness, that makes me sound positively ancient!) programmes were on at a certain time.

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If you wanted to watch them, then you parked your bum on the sofa at that appointed hour... or you missed them!

"The Mandalorian" streams exclusively on Disney+.  (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) 775433508"The Mandalorian" streams exclusively on Disney+.  (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) 775433508
"The Mandalorian" streams exclusively on Disney+. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) 775433508

There was, of course, the option to attempt to record said programme with the fancy timer on your VHS but, if something went wrong, then it was tough.

Thankfully technology has moved on and the ability to instantly record your favourite programmes or series, or either download or stream as you want to watch them, has created a whole new world of instant TV.

You can even pause it while you nip to the loo or make a cup of tea. Genius!

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But, for those who have grown up never having to say they have ‘taped’ something, the idea of having to wait is a bizarre and alien concept that my son has this week discovered to his utter bemusement.

This is because we, finally, got around to watching The Mandalorian on Disney+ and I inadvertently introduced him to the idea of binge-watching a series - something I have definitely been guilty of after polishing off The Crown with indecent haste.

And this story, fresh out of the Star Wars franchise, certainly got his attention as we watched the first series over a couple of days and merrily moved onto the second series, until we hit a brick wall ... no more episodes!

They are released weekly so he has to wait a lifetime (aka seven painful days!) until the next instalment.

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“But why mum? That makes no sense” the poor child has been saying to me in an exasperated voice.

Well, at least he will learn the virtue of having patience, as well as what times were like “in the olden days”.

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