Extraordinary Portraits.

Yes, I enjoyed the previous series and am loving this one. The only criticism I have is that there's a bit too much emphasis on the back stories (hankies at the ready) and not enough footage of the work as it progresses. Jack Dixon's painting was magnificent and I'd love to have seen him build it up from a blank canvas. Maybe a spin-off series, solely dedicated to how artists work, might be made in future. I'm not holding my breath.

Yes I agree. More art, less chat.

Thank goodness Bill has cut his hair.. I used to find it so distracting.. but I love the artists and the sitter's responses..

I’m enjoying it too and half an hour is just right.

Yes. I love this series. I don’t usually like programmes that are a bit over sentimental but I think I cried a lot watching the first series. I get more understanding of what goes into painting portraits than I do watching Portrait Artist of the Year. I’ve found every portrait in the series amazing.

Yes,I think the fact that it is only half hour probably draws viewers in as not everyone is interested in the making of art. I am really interested as I paint myself as a long term hobby. For example I know that a friend of mine refuses to be encouraged to watch Portrait Artist of the Year etc but think Extraordinary Portraits will interest her. Like the idea of viewing the progress of the work in a separate programme.

Saw yesterday's and it is a great concept, but at the reveal I wish they would focus more on the painting rather than on the faces of the sitter and family. I really wanted to get an idea of what this excellent painter had achieved, but every time I started to look in detail it vanished and I was treated to someone wiping their eyes!

Luckygirl3

Saw yesterday's and it is a great concept, but at the reveal I wish they would focus more on the painting rather than on the faces of the sitter and family. I really wanted to get an idea of what this excellent painter had achieved, but every time I started to look in detail it vanished and I was treated to someone wiping their eyes!

I watch it on Iplayer on my laptop so that I can freeze frame and have a really good look.. It's irritating that there is so much focus on Bill Bailey and so little on the finished product..

I love this and the previous series.
I didn't even notice that Bill had had his hair cut!

I enjoy this programme and the portraits are stunning.
Yes, I'd like to see more of the painting technique as Luckygirl3 says. I don't want to see the artist's studio or the relatives.

Does anyone know where this is filmed - the grand house?

I love programme like this, and Bill is very good. I agree though, less chat, more art.