Behaving Ourselves - Mitchell On Manners

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

A Bit of History

20160104

David Mitchell sets out on a vigorous but impeccably polite investigation into the confusing world of manners. Are they really in decline, as many would have us believe? Or are we just throwing off the shackles of the Victorian obsession with etiquette?

In the first of four episodes, David eats his lunchtime sandwiches with children in a primary school, and later goes to a street market to see manners - good and bad - in action. And he explores where our manners come from with Professors Steven Pinker from Harvard University and Stephen Mennell from University College, Dublin, and with the author Henry Hitchings.

Producer: Chris Ledgard.

David Mitchell sets out on a polite but firm inquiry into the confusing world of manners.

David Mitchell investigates the confusing world of manners.

Looking at Your Phone

20160106

David Mitchell says sorry when other people bump into him. He doesn't like inconveniencing anyone. And he hates rows. So, in part three of his inquiry into the state of modern manners, he goes to an assertiveness class to explore his own behaviour. Is it wrong? And he talks to Professor Sherry Turkle about the dying art of conversation.
Producer: Chris Ledgard.

David Mitchell's enquiries take him to an assertiveness class. Should he always say sorry?

David Mitchell investigates the confusing world of manners.

Manners in Public Places

20160105

David Mitchell continues his inquiry into modern behaviour, exploring what we mean by 'civility' and good manners in public places. He meets the vicar of the churches of Blyth, Scrooby and Ranskill, the Reverend Kate Bottley (aka the 'Gogglebox vicar'), and Tony Blair's former head of policy, Geoff Mulgan. Why are people still pinching vicars' bottoms, and what can the state do to improve standards of public behaviour? And, David asks, how is the digital age changing our sense of public space?
Producer: Chris Ledgard.

David Mitchell continues his look at our behaviour. What do we mean by 'civility'?

David Mitchell investigates the confusing world of manners.

The Golf Club

20160107

David Mitchell ends his look at the state of modern manners in the bar at Chipping Sodbury golf club. The older members reflect ruefully on the demise of the jacket and tie. It is, they argue, all about standards - and they're falling. So has everything really gone wrong with our manners? David returns to Henry Hitchings, Kate Bottley, Steven Pinker and some of his other series' guests and gets an altogether more optimistic view.
Producer: Chris Ledgard.

David Mitchell ends his look at modern manners in a golf club bar. Has it all gone wrong?

David Mitchell investigates the confusing world of manners.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
A Bit of History	20160104	David Mitchell sets out on a vigorous but impeccably polite investigation into the confusing world of manners. Are they really in decline, as many would have us believe? Or are we just throwing off the shackles of the Victorian obsession with etiquette? In the first of four episodes, David eats his lunchtime sandwiches with children in a primary school, and later goes to a street market to see manners - good and bad - in action. And he explores where our manners come from with Professors Steven Pinker from Harvard University and Stephen Mennell from University College, Dublin, and with the author Henry Hitchings. Producer: Chris Ledgard. David Mitchell sets out on a polite but firm inquiry into the confusing world of manners. David Mitchell investigates the confusing world of manners.
Looking at Your Phone	20160106	David Mitchell says sorry when other people bump into him. He doesn't like inconveniencing anyone. And he hates rows. So, in part three of his inquiry into the state of modern manners, he goes to an assertiveness class to explore his own behaviour. Is it wrong? And he talks to Professor Sherry Turkle about the dying art of conversation. Producer: Chris Ledgard. David Mitchell's enquiries take him to an assertiveness class. Should he always say sorry? David Mitchell investigates the confusing world of manners.
Manners in Public Places	20160105	David Mitchell continues his inquiry into modern behaviour, exploring what we mean by 'civility' and good manners in public places. He meets the vicar of the churches of Blyth, Scrooby and Ranskill, the Reverend Kate Bottley (aka the 'Gogglebox vicar'), and Tony Blair's former head of policy, Geoff Mulgan. Why are people still pinching vicars' bottoms, and what can the state do to improve standards of public behaviour? And, David asks, how is the digital age changing our sense of public space? Producer: Chris Ledgard. David Mitchell continues his look at our behaviour. What do we mean by 'civility'? David Mitchell investigates the confusing world of manners.
The Golf Club	20160107	David Mitchell ends his look at the state of modern manners in the bar at Chipping Sodbury golf club. The older members reflect ruefully on the demise of the jacket and tie. It is, they argue, all about standards - and they're falling. So has everything really gone wrong with our manners? David returns to Henry Hitchings, Kate Bottley, Steven Pinker and some of his other series' guests and gets an altogether more optimistic view. Producer: Chris Ledgard. David Mitchell ends his look at modern manners in a golf club bar. Has it all gone wrong? David Mitchell investigates the confusing world of manners.