Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Sky reveals TV replaces the weather as the nation's number one topic of small talk

17/02/2021

The average Brit spends a staggering 15 days a year making small-talk, with unexpected endings' topping the list of the most talked about TV moments.

It has long been known that Brits love to chat, but new research reveals that the UK's long-standing obsession with talking about the weather has now officially been usurped, with 72 percent agreeing they now talk more about the telly than the weather.

So it's no surprise that 36 percent of us say that TV and film is at the top of the list of things that have helped keep the nation's spirits up over the past year, with 44 percent saying that TV and film have been so important because it allows an escape from the stresses of the day.*

New research commissioned by Sky reveals that over the last 12 months, whilst keeping their minds off the serious topics of COVID-19 or Brexit, 44 percent of Brits admit they like to discuss TV and movies they have recently seen, whilst the lives of their children (35 percent) and pets (29 percent) emerged as other things Brits love to natter to colleagues, friends, family, and strangers about.

Chit chat is more important than ever, with 89 percent saying small talk is important in making people feel connected and part of the community and the new research reveals the UK usually spends an hour a day on average shooting the breeze with everyone from shopkeepers (59 percent) to colleagues (40 percent) and delivery drivers (40 percent).

In the last year, Brits have most enjoyed talking about the telly, with 41 percent saying chatting about the lives and storylines of their favourite characters has helped them through a tough time. 31 percent said they have enjoyed gossiping about the latest boxsets and series. In fact, on average Brits spend 2.5 hours a month discussing TV plot twists and 3 hours a month chatting about unexpected endings. The research also revealed 3 hours a month will be spent ranting about TV baddies while a further 3 hours will be spent discussing moments which made viewers laugh or cry. 55 percent of Brits even admit they watch TV shows simply to avoid FOMO on everyone else's conversation.

Over a third of people said that they were looking forward to discovering new TV shows and films in 2021 and Sky will be bolstering its catalogue of choice with its biggest ever line-up of TV and films this year. More than 125 original series, films and specials will air in 2021 - a 50% increase from last year - with a big boost in original films and documentaries.

Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK and Ireland, commented: As a nation Brits have earned a reputation for our chit chat being focused on the weather, but our research reveals that the last year has seen TV taking over the top spot in the nation's small talk. Clearly during such a tough period, unmissable TV and films have played a big part in bringing friends, family and colleagues together. And now, during a time where we're still spending a lot of time at home, we are pleased to be bringing more top Sky quality TV and film content to the UK such as To Olivia, The Nevers, Landscapers and ZeroZeroZero that are sure to provide some much-needed escapism. No need to ever talk about the rain again!

A staggering 79 percent have watched more TV in the last year, and 30 percent of those say its because theres been better content to watch. 2021 sees Sky bringing a raft of unmissable TV and film content to the UK's screens including new original films A Boy Called Christmas, the live action adaptation of Matt Haig's best-selling novel and Save The Cinema, a British film based on true events, starring Samantha Morton and Tom Felton. As well as brand new Sky Original prison break drama, Intergalactic, a documentary covering the highs and lows of one of boxing's most fondly remembered rivalries in Bruno v Tyson, and the return of much-loved smash-hit Sky comedy, Brassic - now in its third season which is great for the 28 per cent of people who were most looking forward to a new season of their favourite show this year.

The types of TV moments the nation like to talk about varies across the nation with Mancunians favouring unexpected endings (58 percent) and Glasgow can't enough of cliffhangers (57 percent). Brits are also getting excited as a nation about what types of TV they will be able to talk about this year with Brummies desperate to talk about drama based on real life such as Landscapers (38 percent), which explores the lives of convicted killers Susan and Christopher Edwards, whereas Nottingham residents are keen to get into documentaries such as Bruno vs Tyson (36 percent), which covers the highs and lows of one of boxing's most fondly remembered rivalries.

However, there are some topics that are off limits when it comes to passing the time of day with strangers, discussing your sex life emerged as top, with 61 percent). How much you earn (52 percent), religion (46 percent), a messy break-up or relationship problems (44 percent) and politics (36 percent) also emerged as topics to avoid. 25 percent of Brits described their small talk skills as excellent with just four percent of the 1,500 respondents polled saying they avoid it at all costs. And according to the survey, almost eight in ten Brits agree that women are better at small talk than men.

With incredible new original TV series, the best in gripping homegrown and international drama and brilliant films coming directly to your living room, start your year of unmissable TV with Sky.

For further information, please contact:

Sky at Fever

sky@feverpr.com

*additional statistics from Opinion Matters survey for Sky of 2,000 UK adults

About Sky

Sky is Europe's leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of the Comcast group. Across six countries, we connect our 24
LINK: https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-reveals-tv-replaces-the-wea...
See more stories from sky

More from BskyB

04/07/2025

Official trailer revealed for new season of BAFTA-winning Sky Original comedy Mr Bigstuff, coming 24 July

Friday 4 July 2025 Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/Od5WpvWmDr8 Further...

03/07/2025

Sky Arts Unveils New Mozart Season, Celebrating the Legacy of Classicals Greatest Maestro

Thursday 3 July 2025 David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hi...

03/07/2025

Sky announces 2025 Sky WNT Fund Recipients

The Sky WNT Fund supports Womens National Team players with a 30,000 bursaryThursday 3 July 2025 Sky Ireland has announced the four recipients of the 2025 Sky...

27/06/2025

RTL Group to acquire Sky Deutschland

Friday 27 June 2025 Combination of RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to create a unique proposition in entertainment, sports ...

18/06/2025

Sky Original documentary Death of a Showjumper to air on Sky and streaming service NOW on 16 July

Wednesday 18 June 2025 Today, Sky announced the brand-new Sky Original document...

18/06/2025

The Trip returns: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon embark on The Trip to the Northern Lights

The fifth instalment of the multi-award-winning Sky Original comedy from acclaim...

18/06/2025

Sky Original documentary Death of a Showjumper to air on Sky and streaming service NOW this July

Wednesday 18 June 2025 Today, Sky announced the brand-new Sky Original document...

17/06/2025

Sky exclusive film Hill coming to Sky and streaming service NOW from 2 July

Tuesday 17 June 2025 One name. Two world champions. In 1996, Damon Hill claimed the Formula 1 World Championship and cemented his place in motorsport history, ...

16/06/2025

Sky, Channel 4 and ITV announce joint intent to launch groundbreaking premium video advertising marketplace

Monday 16 June 2025 For the first time, small to medium sized businesses will b...

16/06/2025

WWF and Sky Kids launch Wear it Wild with Ready Eddie Go!

Monday 16 June 2025 Families and children are invited to dress up, have fun and raise money to protect nature WWF UK and Sky Kids are teaming up to launch Wea...

12/06/2025

Dan Biggar, Ronan OGara, Sam Warburton and Warren Gatland star in Sky Sports line-up for The British & Irish Lions Tour

Thursday 12 June 2025 Sky Sports has revealed its on-screen line-up for the Qat...

11/06/2025

Eva Langret joins the judging panel for Landscape Artist of the Year as production begins on its 11th series

Wednesday 11 June 2025 Production begins on the 11th series of flagship Sky Art...

10/06/2025

Official trailer now available for 7/7: Homegrown Terror, airing 29 June on Sky Documentaries and NOW

Tuesday 10 June 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To...

10/06/2025

Sky Kids brings beloved book character to life with new Sky Original series My Friend Maisy

Tuesday 10 June 2025 Sky Kids has commissioned My Friend Maisy, a brand-new 2D ...

03/06/2025

Introducing Sky Glass Air, the newest addition to Skys TV range from just 6/month

On sale from 10th JuneTuesday 3 June 2025 Sky has unveiled Sky Glass Air, a sty...

03/06/2025

Sky releases official trailer for season three of the Sky Exclusive series The Gilded Age, debuting 23 June

Tuesday 3 June 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To ...

21/05/2025

VOICE-NO! Brits call time on long voice notes

Wednesday 21 May 2025 Brits call for voice notes to be capped at two minutes after research reveals the nation is suffering from VNF - Voice Note Fatigue Voice...

20/05/2025

Sky releases official teaser for Sky Exclusive drama series IT: Welcome to Derry, coming this Autumn

Tuesday 20 May 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To ...

16/05/2025

Sky releases Official Trailer and Key Art for Sky Exclusive film Mountainhead, written and directed by Jesse Armstrong

Friday 16 May 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To d...

15/05/2025

Official teaser trailer released of Sky exclusive drama Task coming to Sky and streaming service NOW this September

Thursday 15 May 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To...

14/05/2025

Sky Original film Tinsel Town reveals first look

Wednesday 14 May 2025 Image Credit @Sky UK. Photographer: Matt Squire. High-Res image available to download HERE THE FILM STARS KIEFER SUTHERLAND & REBEL WIL...

09/05/2025

Sky Original documentary The Girl Who Caught a Killer to air on Sky and streaming service NOW on 25 May

Friday 9 May 2025 Download images HERE Episodes are available on Sky Media Vil...

07/05/2025

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom to join Sky Original film slate in 2026

Wednesday 7 May 2025 Shaun the Sheep fans are in for a baaaarilliant treat in 2...

29/04/2025

Sky Sports to broadcast Barclays Womens Championship title decider between Birmingham City versus London City Lionesses

Tuesday 29 April 2025 The Women's Professional Leagues can confirm that thi...

28/04/2025

New research from Sky Sports looks at the role of Womens sport fandom in the future of sports

Monday 28 April 2025 New research from Sky Sports, released today, shows that w...

28/04/2025

Official trailer released for Sky Documentaries three-part series, Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park, airing 11 May

Monday 28 April 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To...

28/04/2025

Victory lap for A League of Their Own

After 20 Legendary Seasons Sky is Hanging Up The Boots of its BAFTA-winning Sports Show. Production of farewell series tees off this summerMonday 28 April 2025 ...

25/04/2025

High Kicks and High Stakes: Sky Arts announces new series, The Battle of the Irish Dancers

Friday 25 April 2025 Hot on the heels of the Irish Dancing World Championships ...

22/04/2025

Sky Releases Official Teaser for Exclusive Film Mountainhead, Written and Directed by Jesse Armstrong

Tuesday 22 April 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. T...

16/04/2025

Sky Exclusive series And Just Like That set to return to Sky and streaming service NOW on 30 May

Wednesday 16 April 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies....

16/04/2025

Official trailer released ahead of the return of highly anticipated mystery-of-the-week Sky Exclusive drama, Poker Face on 8 May

Wednesday 16 April 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies....

14/04/2025

Masters Sunday becomes most-watched day in Sky Sports history

Monday 14 April 2025 On an unmissable day of world-class sporting drama, Sky Sports created its own history by breaking viewership records on Sunday 13 April, ...

10/04/2025

Live from London, its Saturday Night!

Lorne Michaels to Executive Produce Saturday Night Live UK, coming to the UK for the first time in deal with SkyThursday 10 April 2025 Sky is bringing NBC'...

09/04/2025

Study unearths nations most embarrassing Phone Faux Pas

Wednesday 9 April 2025 Top 15 phone faux pas and etiquette fails revealed - with Instagram mishaps and accidental texts topping the list ALL Brits who use a ...

07/04/2025

Sky to introduce Brummies from other Mummies at The Brum Hole portal

Monday 7 April 2025 To mark the launch of Joe Lycett's United States of Birmingham, the public are invited to put themselves forward to meet a Brummie from...

04/04/2025

Mountainhead, a Sky Exclusive film written and directed by Jesse Armstrong, to land on Sky and streaming service NOW on 1 June

The film Stars Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, And Ramy You...

03/04/2025

Sky to be headline sponsor of Isle of Wight Festival 2025

Thursday 3 April 2025 Sky and Isle of Wight Festival have inked a multi-year deal which marks Sky's first ever major festival partnership Sky Arts, Sky S...

03/04/2025

Sky announces fourth year of WNT Fund with 30,000 bursary for player development

Thursday 3 April 2025 Sky Ireland has announced the fourth year of the Sky WNT bursary fund, which will increase this year from 25,000 to 30,000, reaffirming...

31/03/2025

Sport draws nearly a billion hours of viewing, while nearly half of under 35s tune into podosphere for news

Sky's latest Attention Index unveils how viewers are transforming the UK'...

31/03/2025

Dana Strong: The media landscape may have changed, but its not dampened Brits love for good telly

Monday 31 March 2025 The UK is a nation of TV lovers. TV brings us closer to ou...

28/03/2025

Sky announces its first ever series of Digital Shorts coming to Sky TVs YouTube channel next month

Friday 28 March 2025 Sky today announces that four new series of Sky Original d...

26/03/2025

Trailer drops for the second season of The Walking Dead: Dead City, returning exclusively to Sky and NOW this summer

Wednesday 26 March 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies....

25/03/2025

Sky Documentaries builds on reputation for critically acclaimed true crimewith four powerful new titles

Tuesday 25 March 2025 Amsterdam Narcos Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park W...

24/03/2025

Alright bab! Screeners available for Joe Lycetts United States of Birmingham, launching April on Sky Max and NOW

Monday 24 March 2025 Screeners are now available for the brand-new four-part Sk...