Dad and daughter run TV channel showing classic films and get millions of viewers

A dad and daughter run their own TV channel showing classic films from an office in their garden - and get six million viewers a week.

Noel Cronin, 74, and Sarah Cronin-Stanley, operate the biggest home-run independent television station in the UK - only airing vintage programs and movies.

Talking Pictures TV launched in 2015 and now gets millions of young and old viewers for its nostalgic content - including romance, horror and comedy.

Based from their home in Hertfordshire the channel airs some of the "rarest and greatest gems" from British film history - 24/7.

The father and daughter duo say they hope to maintain the history of British cinema and classic TV.

Its celebrity's fans include the late Queen Elizabeth who used to watch Laurel and Hardy on the channel - and saw Noel later awarded a British Empire Medal.

Archivist Noel has worked in the film industry since 1962 as a producer and editor.

His daughter says she was inspired by her father and developed a passion for film early in her youth.

Sarah said: "It's all about saving film history, celluloid and TV history. Young people are also fans of the vintage and that is encouraging."

One of their most popular shows is The Footage Detectives, where broadcaster Mike Read joins Noel on the quest to track down old films, footage and programs.

During Covid times the channel had almost six million viewers a week - and Sarah says the numbers haven't dropped since then.

The channel is free to watch and does not run on subscription because they want to be "accessible to everybody" and is funded through advertising.

It was launched in 2015 on Sky but later also became available on Freeview, Freesat, and Virgin Media.

They also launched a free online catch-up service last year, have 95% of their content subtitled and were the first independent channel to have a red button feature on free view.

Talking Pictures TV has a predominate viewing audience of over 65 - but also has developed a significant youth following too.

Noel admits he likes to "structure the channel in the old fashion television way" and is not a fan of the modern instant gratification of streaming services today.

He said: "I would play one episode on a Wednesday, and then the following on the next Wednesday.

"Everything is immediate now, but we play the old fashioned way; I would be very unhappy to play things in stripes, day after day

"We are against this trend in current television - I'm horrified when I hear someone watches a whole series in just one day!

"I like chocolate but I don't eat the whole box in one sitting!"

Leading up to their ninth anniversary, both Sarah and Noel said community and their relationship with their viewing audience lay at the heart of the channel.

He said: "It is all about the rapport with our audience - we share the same thoughts and ideas by and large - a love of a time era that people enjoyed, which is perhaps a happier time in their life or time they got married and so on."