If you're too young to remember 2009 TH-cam, I need you to understand that this video has aged ASTOUNDINGLY well. It's high energy and fast paced, with no dead space; it's clearly made by people who understand filmmaking, with high quality sound recording, clear lighting and color grading, and fairly elaborate camera work; there are no offensive jokes or dated memes. Even old Vlogbrothers videos (some of the only other old TH-camrs who have stayed on the platform without dramatically reinventing themselves) are mostly terrible by comparison -- never mind what someone like Niga Higa or Fred was doing. I'm not sure if enough people appreciate how creative, forward-thinking, and hard-working that Jay was and is to have made work of this quality so consistently for so long.
Crazy to think this video is a year older than Toy Story 3 and One Direction (RIP Liam), was one month before the 2010s and 10 years and 3 months before the Covid lockdown.
What I find the most impressive is that he applied all the tricks and standards of a current good video but 13 years ago, all at once and before everybody else. No wonder it's hard to believe this video is from 2009.
I honestly just randomly watched 3 other videos of him and i randomly scrolled down to the date and i was surprised it was 12 years ago, the quality is amazing
Just chiming in to say that your series has lasted longer than Game of Thrones and is more consistently entertaining, and I think you should be proud of that fact.
this video is absolutely wild, and shows just how ahead of his time Jay actually was/is. 2009 had almost no content on YT of this quality, like functionally zero. it would in fact be literally 5 or more years before this style of mini-documentary would start taking off in popularity. It also pays attention to things like sound quality (a better microphone than most YT channels today, at the time this must have been almost unique), tons of smash cutting which was only around this time beginning to see use, and humor that stands up to the test of time today. fucking mindblowing that while most of the YT video catalogue at this time was still home videos and funny animal/prank videos Jay was producing extremely watchable mini-docs/video essay style content with tricks that wouldn't become commonplace for almost a decade after. Most videos on YT weren't even 720p during this era, but this one is. The standard at the time was still 480 and some channels were still uploading in 240. edit: his use of a lav mic was also pretty uncommon in this era- But you can definitely see the hallmarks of what kind of shots he likes lol. Jay goddamn loves the 'walking towards the camera from down the road' shots.
i was literally thinking about it in one shot, how the mic sounds completely normal. not only do a lot of youtubers NOW not know how to properly set up a mic, let alone make it sound good when outside, but god knows how many did back in 2009... i guess jay?
2:57 can we just appreciate how smooth a transition that was? This entire video was so ahead of its time when it comes to standards on TH-cam. The only thing that gives away that it's old is that he is wearing an older style pair of pants. That's it really.
I am very impressed by the transition and can only imagine what it took to achieve that. Regarding why point out the pants (and not, say, the older cars)... I'm no fashionista, but from 11 years in the future something seems just a tiny bit off about his pants, not enough to mark them as clearly old-fashioned, but enough that I can't help but notice. Also, Americans think saying "pants" to Brits makes them giggle.
Coldclough Episode length. I'd personally love it because it would be genuinely interesting but so far there haven't been enough videos to make a series.
@@JayForeman It's okay. Your line "which is now a nothing" is something I often use when describing plans put forth by the bosses that fizzle out because they're bad plans.
***** Actually, you Games Master, master, I can't remember how we found out we're both Northwood native, but we ended up chatting about Regal. My Name used to be BamBoy... Should be in the old DMs from years back lol
really wish the BBC would pick this guy up for a miniseries. imagine just a huge slew o these to fill gaps in programming, or as a standalone. would be masterful.
You should get in contact with the BBC and make a full-blown series of Unfinished London. Or maybe widen the scope and make it Unfinished Britain. I bet the ABC or SBS would be happy to broadcast it down here in Australia.
America! Fuck yeah!! ‘Comin again to save the motherfucking day, yeah! America! Fuck yeah!! Freedom is the only way, yeah! Terorists your game is through, ‘cause now you ‘gotta answer to... America! Fuck yeah!! So lick my ass and suck on my balls! America! Fuck yeah!! ‘Watcha ‘gonna do when we come for you now! It’s the dream we all share. It’s the hope for tommorow. (Fuck yeah!) 😂 I love that song.
i wouldn't bother with the BBC, go to net streaming services like Netflix with more access and with a better subscription service. I see some TH-camrs are already on Amazon Prime.
I've watched this video countless times and I'm still blown away by the absolute quality of every part. At posting, this video is 13 years old and I would still believe that this was uploaded last week.
Unfortunately in his videos this year he looks older than he does here, it made me sad looking back here and seeing that in 13 years, nearly my entire life, Jay has visibly aged 😢😢
I've watched this series several times over the years, and each time I'm more impressed by the quality and professionalism of the writing, presentation, direction, and editing. So far beyond the vast majority of TH-cam content.
All jokes aside, this is a great series that I would love to see more on TH-cam. Deep research, unique style of presentation and a great sense of humour... I'm lovin' this
More amazing is how he began doing this -- before youtubers were really a thing -- and before youtubers realized that in-depth humourous videos are a goldmine!
I love how 13 years later his style is still just as fresh and irreverent. As polished as the videos are now, I'm amazed how well done they were to begin with.
Mate, this video is simply AWESOME!! I love the quirky and semi-guerrilla presentation style and the research you've clearly put into this particular video, this was fascinating and a really clear look at what could have been. I've subscribed...
This is good content! 7 years old, but very good content even for todays standards! Back then most videos didn't have this much production value did they? I love it
I just discovered this channel and I'm genuinely blown away. As an Italian who was ready to move to London before a certain referendum, and who is going to resume visiting and exploring the city as many times as possible as soon as it's feasible, I find all these little gems of trivia truly a joy to learn about - and I'm taking notes to go and see them firsthand. I may just go ahead and cancel Netflix as I binge-watch everything you've posted. Thank you! (The look on guy's face at 8:05 had me laughing hard!)
@jay foreman This is a production worthy of BBC grade TV. It's value as a well researched and an educational program suggests you could follow a career path that may be prosperous.
It never occurred to me that houses used to be built with front gardens that the house occupier could showcase for passers-by to see only for them to be later turned into driveways. Nowadays, it's standard to have a house built with a driveway that is also home to a little garden that house occupiers pay little to no attention to. It's sad when you think about it 😞☹️😥
Music names: 1:12 - Puffin Billy 1:59 - Change My Clothes (Laurel & Hardy) 3:05 - Waltzing Trumpets (Harry Mortimer) 4:00 - Southern Front Porch Whistler (The Neverhood OST) 4:27 - Henry Kissinger (Monty Python) 5:51 - 21st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson) 6:42 - New World Sympathy, 2nd Movement (Dvorak) 7:39 - Wear Your Love Like Heaven (Donovan) 8:25 - Us and Them (Pink Floyd) updated as of January 2024; thanks to the guys in the replies!
@@huwfylt Thanks so much !!!! Though. i found it, not so much time after i wrote that comment, thanks to The Simpsons: indeed, this song is in the episode where Homer smokes marijuana and it is played for long enough to be shazammed :D
You can literally tell this was filmed so many years ago by the fact that his jeans are actually letting some air in, instead of this almost leggings everyone seems to be wearing today in London.
Yeah this transfomation happened all around the world. I'm from South Asia and I remember when I was in high school 8-10 years ago the type of jeans back then almost used to work like brooms cleaning the streets as everyone walked by wearing them. And now pants look like leggings.
its amazing how the tightness of jeans is a style that keeps going back and forth over the decades. Sort of tight in early 1960s, then became huge bell bottoms in the 1970s and disco era, then became super tight in the 1980s, then got big and loose again by the late 1990s and early 2000s, and now they are tight again. But there are small differences each time so each incarnation is different than the previous times. The tight jeans right now are a bit saggy in the seat area, but in the 1980s they were very tight there too. It was hard to put much in your pockets in the 1980s. (I was born in 1967 so I've seen all this come and go over and over)
I lived in London from 2009-2015, and only just discovered your channel and content. I've learnt so much that corresponds with my experience walking through London over all those years. Thank you for your effort, it's much appreciated!
Well, they don't make cars that can't be scratched other than specialist 4x4s, so you're kind of fucked in that sense. I was the same as ou before I got a car, but you'll soon change your tune once you have a motor you've worked hard to buy, only to come back to it one day and find its side mirrors smashed off
I agree. I got myself a CAT phone and I wouldn't dream of going back to fragile glass slabs people carry around content with the screen they broke 5 days after the purchased it. How is the BV6000? Also interested in rugged phones :) As for the cars fragility, I'm guessing wildly here, but the solid steel cars of the old days, while rugged, do pretty bad in crash tests. Perhaps the "mallability" of modern cars is desired. Or perhaps they just need to be light (or cheap). Either way, I'm sticking to my BMX whenever possible.
My city (Skopje) suffered a devastating earthquake back in 1963 and after that the 60's "architects" from around the world build a lot of soviet/yugoslav style buildings around my city. Some of them even had big and ridiculous plans that were thankfully canceled.
Or the architects who designed the modern homes here in Homestead (a city south of Miami). They are literally all the damn same, and they're ripping up farms and pastures to build them. :/
I'm from the future, and TH-cam has decided to recommend me a jewel from 2009. I love it. ❤️ I immigrated from the Philippines to New York City, and I've been studying the subway here, it's very fascinating. This video is just what I needed to watch.
I just now finally noticed the lorry wipe at 3 minutes. Good show Paul Kendler, or whoever done that. edit: I have now noticed some six more things. More updates as they happen
Neat, I went back an looked at it. I have done a bit of video editing in my time, that lorry could not have come a more opportune time. Thanks for pointing it out.
He’s literally exactly the same in this video as he is today ffs, humour, appearance, voice and content. This was released 12 years ago and is better than most TH-cam videos released today
5:51 but denser housing and high rise buildings.... mean you don't have to build so much outside of the city limits..... as it is a better use of space..... perhaps...... if instead of terrifyingly samey 30s suburban semis we had the kinds of buildings in place that would encourage denser development in the suburbs.... we wouldn't have so much of a housing crisis
What i meant was that densification in the suburbs would be a better way to meet housing needs than other solutions like greenbelt-hopping or doing nothing
@@catherine4065 That is a good point. Many parts of the UK have dense populations and precious little spare land for new housing, so using the vertical dimension is logical. It should be possible to do this without building the concrete monstrosities of the 60's.
@@adamlea6339 not really over all these years that kind of high density housing hasnt changed all that much in form, it's just that they are usually clad in a bit more glass and metal to make them more shiny and nice. But yeah that kind of housing can be found all over the world in dense urban areas
@@hadhamalnam The problem was in the 60s a lot of developers cut corners with public money, using shoddy materials, plus manufacturers often didn't appreciate what they were being asked to produce, including architects who chronically underestimated issues such as personal safety, disability and convenience, and genuinely because of the social upheaval these projects tended to cause, people didn't know how to live in them and yes kept asking why they couldn't get new versions of the old housing stock. There is often nothing much the matter with 60s flats as designed, they are often roomier than modern day buildings for example, their exteriors are a bit unfashionable but because of the quality issue and the overdesigned council estate issue they have developed a stigma, they are 'undesirable'. In reality, denser living when it is the accepted norm certainly makes the cost of living cheaper overall.
Me: sees Video from Jay uploaded 12… ago Still me: started watching Jays the video after sending kids away, giving wife money for shopping, making popcorn and setting up tv and audio in special mode for Jays videos. Me realising I saw it: oh, it’s 12 years ago, not minutes, and I saw it about 500 times. Me after watching the video: still worth it.
Honestly this is so high quality. So glad I found your channel. The amount of effort that must go in to get every shot, I love your videos because every second is jam packed with something. Can't be believe this is over 11 years old.
Seriously blew my mind when I looked at the upload date, I know that there were some higher quality productions on TH-cam in the early days but god damn. The attention to detail and editing is so great.
This serie is so great. Original, super interesting, you got the bit of fun you need to have a smile on your face while being educated! Yeah to that! And thanks for the great work, guys! Can't wait to watch the next episode!
I live in the states and am 31 but starting about 10 years ago, because of discovering dubstep that morphed into many other interests, I slowly began to become obsessed with London and British culture. I hope I can go someday but until then I'm glad there are videos like these and am greatful I came across it
30 years ago a Hungarian friend in London had a car number plate which included 'SAR'. Pronounced in Hungarian that means 'sh*t': and that pretty much summed up the car :)
Gotta admit Jay, seeing you responding a comment here 5 hours ago, on a video posted more than 10 years ago, and seeing all over youtube that whenever someone post something related to you, you go watch it and leave a comment warms up my heart You're really someone special and much much much dedicated to your job, and I really want to see and help you reaching even more distant places At least youve already reached someone from Brazil! Sorry if I messed something in the middle of this text, and continue com o excelente trabalho, Jay!
The one that started it all, so old Gordon Brown was still Prime Minister. Also the fact that nearly eleven years later it's being continued to the present day but only 10 episode currently have been made is delightfully British and makes me super happy.
I just watched the latest video in the series, and then I'm thrown back to 2009. Excellent, consistent quality all the way! I used to live way up on the Northern Line many years ago, and it would take forever to get there... Thanks for the memories :)
OMG ? You guys outdid yourself back in 2009. Even before the era of portable camera stabilizer, the production is sooo good. Even the panning shot is awesome. i cant believe this was made in 2009.
Civil engineering projects are really interesting, and I love your style of story telling for them. I've never even been across the pond and I love your videos on London. Thank you, for sharing!
Seems like you still read the comments Jay, so I just wanted to say that your videos are magnificent and in my many years on TH-cam I haven't seen another channel that consistently produces content that is simultaneously so interesting, funny and to the point.
Watching the video 14 (Almost 15) years after in 2024! At first, I didnt realize that and was wondering why you looked so young! I'm a big fan of your work! keep 'em comin', Jay!
Can we just appreciate how this video came out in 2009 featuring a sample from 21st Century Schizoid Man, and survived all these years without being nuked form orbit by The Fripp
This video was truly ahead of its time for 2009 TH-cam. It had all the bells, whistles, and things you would see in mid to late 2010’s TH-cam videos, and was amazingly high quality for its upload date.
I got *on by waiting for a clear moment, then running very fast. I got *off by being escorted by the police. (Someone saw me and phoned the police.) Don't do it, kids!
I cannot believe they let you keep that moment in.. This is REALLY good TV! But that ... I blenched with fear! Awesome work..LOTS of work in this. Dude, you rock.
If you're too young to remember 2009 TH-cam, I need you to understand that this video has aged ASTOUNDINGLY well. It's high energy and fast paced, with no dead space; it's clearly made by people who understand filmmaking, with high quality sound recording, clear lighting and color grading, and fairly elaborate camera work; there are no offensive jokes or dated memes. Even old Vlogbrothers videos (some of the only other old TH-camrs who have stayed on the platform without dramatically reinventing themselves) are mostly terrible by comparison -- never mind what someone like Niga Higa or Fred was doing. I'm not sure if enough people appreciate how creative, forward-thinking, and hard-working that Jay was and is to have made work of this quality so consistently for so long.
Damn, he liked your comment. Good on you.
"there are no offensive jokes" lame
More forward thinking than london
Crazy to think this video is a year older than Toy Story 3 and One Direction (RIP Liam), was one month before the 2010s and 10 years and 3 months before the Covid lockdown.
Plus I was 14 years old when this video first was published and I’m 29 now.. also to add to the end of the video Crossrail eventually came in 2022.
It’s really hard to believe that this video is over 10 years old.
I really think this should be a TV series here in the UK.
Real Aiglon I was more talking about the quality, and yes I did know there are videos over a decade old
The unfinished year : 2020
It should be a TV series world wide!
If it were a tv show, it would be far less accessible and almost certainly have far lower viewership
@@psinno it still hasn’t finished but we got a new president byway
You couldn't tell that this is almost ten years old
His Jeans are the giveaway.
I remember when baggy jeans was the style, and anyone wearing skinny jeans was “gay”
the only thing i found surprising was Windows XP
except for those bloody jeans
@@eveningstar7048 exactly mate
@@mattg5878 wearing skinny jeans is still gay
can't believe Unfinished London started over 12 years ago, and still going strong, with a strong average of just under 1 episode a year
started 12 years ago and its still unfinished some people are so lazy
They do appear to involve a ton of research
And Jay still checking comments.
its easy to make a good start middle part and a finale to a season of series if its just one episode per season
Unfinished London will never be finished
I love that Jay just casually trespasses on the M1's central reservation for this video. Powerful chaotic energy.
And then publishes it on youtube for all to see. Truly, the law cannot touch this man.
I was very scared by this.
Who said you are not allowed to go there, also could be a greenscreen
@@n1thmusic229 Its illegal for pedestrians to be on the motorway under Rule 271 and 275 of the highway code, although granted it could be greenscreen.
@@Dunc4n125 Must be a really big green screen to be able to run along it. High tech stuff for a youtube video!
dude this channel is so underrated
Thanks! Tell all your friends about it. :)
What friends, I have no friends
@@JayForeman sure
@@JayForeman I would do, but I think I need to go on a SkillShare course, to learn how to tell all my friends about your channel.
@@JayForeman CGP Grey endorsed you on twitter
TH-cam: want to see about the unfinished Northern line
Me, an american 10 years in the future: *yes*
clicks repeatedly: Y E S
ʸᵉˢ
Senity yes
Y -e- *S*
It’s weird how over a decade Jay looks EXACTLY the same
What I find the most impressive is that he applied all the tricks and standards of a current good video but 13 years ago, all at once and before everybody else.
No wonder it's hard to believe this video is from 2009.
The thing that ages the video the most is the gas price and the WinXP computer.
@@dustojnikhummer Yeah, but apart from that it’s really hard to believe it.
I honestly just randomly watched 3 other videos of him and i randomly scrolled down to the date and i was surprised it was 12 years ago, the quality is amazing
I was not born when this video was released.
@@harrisbennett8958 thats scary
Jay's Grandmother: "No!"
Well that's settled now isn't it?
Screw the prime minister, Grandmom's the real boss around here.
JOSEPH WODARCZYK Jay's grandma for prime minister
RIP Grandma
@Ulysses D. If TFL can bother to build tunnels with how sting they are and spend money on a project to Hertfordshire
Have you seen what happened to the CRL(MLE)
Just chiming in to say that your series has lasted longer than Game of Thrones and is more consistently entertaining, and I think you should be proud of that fact.
tbh i can say the same about some of the stuff in my fridge
@@RoamingAdhocrat okay but is that fridge stuff of yours entertaining
@@screamsinrussian5773 i mean, it could be, ive seen very entertaining things in fridges
@@somguyalex5409 Well don't just leave it at that.
@@VIpown3d i will just leave it at that
The fact that he mentioned Crossrail 10 years ago puts into perspective how long its taken them to open a railway line
We'll they've been incompetent a long time. It's the only long term plan they've committed to.
RIP HS2 then? 😟
Apparently, Boris took the first dig of the shovel to start the Crossrail works back in 2009...
They have been talking about building Crossrail for 50 years. The safeguarding cost about £1 million per year. At least it's getting done now.
Crossrail is 2/3rds open.
this video is absolutely wild, and shows just how ahead of his time Jay actually was/is. 2009 had almost no content on YT of this quality, like functionally zero. it would in fact be literally 5 or more years before this style of mini-documentary would start taking off in popularity. It also pays attention to things like sound quality (a better microphone than most YT channels today, at the time this must have been almost unique), tons of smash cutting which was only around this time beginning to see use, and humor that stands up to the test of time today.
fucking mindblowing that while most of the YT video catalogue at this time was still home videos and funny animal/prank videos Jay was producing extremely watchable mini-docs/video essay style content with tricks that wouldn't become commonplace for almost a decade after.
Most videos on YT weren't even 720p during this era, but this one is. The standard at the time was still 480 and some channels were still uploading in 240.
edit: his use of a lav mic was also pretty uncommon in this era- But you can definitely see the hallmarks of what kind of shots he likes lol. Jay goddamn loves the 'walking towards the camera from down the road' shots.
So true
i was literally thinking about it in one shot, how the mic sounds completely normal. not only do a lot of youtubers NOW not know how to properly set up a mic, let alone make it sound good when outside, but god knows how many did back in 2009... i guess jay?
You can't say that many TH-cam videos are still good in 2019 that were uploaded in 2009 this a one
Splash the Doggo right, go look at some of Tom Scotts oldest ones, same with Geoff Marshals all have old videos that hold up still
Truuuu
I thought it said 1 year not 10 years
Why did you suddenly turn into an Italian at the end
@@Buttermilk0 idk I'm dyslexic.
2:57 can we just appreciate how smooth a transition that was?
This entire video was so ahead of its time when it comes to standards on TH-cam. The only thing that gives away that it's old is that he is wearing an older style pair of pants. That's it really.
Why does everyone look at and comment on the man’s trousers? The content is so fascinating and fast-paced, that I hadn’t time to assess his wardrobe.
BBC did a whole miniseries thriller a couple of years ago called The Capture, whose premise was pretty much exactly this kind of transition.
I am very impressed by the transition and can only imagine what it took to achieve that. Regarding why point out the pants (and not, say, the older cars)... I'm no fashionista, but from 11 years in the future something seems just a tiny bit off about his pants, not enough to mark them as clearly old-fashioned, but enough that I can't help but notice. Also, Americans think saying "pants" to Brits makes them giggle.
Teerousers, thanks very much...
and the 4:3 monitors
Why is this not on TV? It legitimately would be a great programme
Coldclough Episode length. I'd personally love it because it would be genuinely interesting but so far there haven't been enough videos to make a series.
here here
Hear hear...................sorry, I should leave the grammar police lol
rrrerrr errrrrrrrrrrr
tv is dead.
´Tis the new media!
At 3:45 there was a perfect opportunity to say, "Bushey Heath, which is now, a healthy bush."
Damnit! Wish I’d thought of that 13 years ago. :(
@@JayForeman It's okay. Your line "which is now a nothing" is something I often use when describing plans put forth by the bosses that fizzle out because they're bad plans.
You totally should bring this series back, it's amazing, especially after those images at the end!
Northwood lad.
Igneous_is_my_Alias
How did you know that??? :D
***** Saw you on inbetweeners, you're part of the northwood lot ;)
Igneous_is_my_Alias
aaah lol
***** Actually, you Games Master, master, I can't remember how we found out we're both Northwood native, but we ended up chatting about Regal. My Name used to be BamBoy... Should be in the old DMs from years back lol
I love this series. It's too bad it's....unfinished.
Lmao
LOL
:)
LMFAO
Lo
really wish the BBC would pick this guy up for a miniseries. imagine just a huge slew o these to fill gaps in programming, or as a standalone. would be masterful.
Especially with a big budget
They have I think he’s a continuity announcer on the bbc. I could be mistaken but it sounds like him
Tucker Cobble uuuh he’s actually done a few stuff for the bbc
I’m surprised you don’t know, it just takes a sec to search it
@@pirate6616 but that wasn't good. I think youtuber are better when do their own stuff.
Today, it has been 13 years since this video was uploaded, but I still find the video excellent.
Omg I didn’t realise till all the comments, he’s so funny lmao
You should get in contact with the BBC and make a full-blown series of Unfinished London. Or maybe widen the scope and make it Unfinished Britain. I bet the ABC or SBS would be happy to broadcast it down here in Australia.
Why the BBC? And YOU have an ABC TOO! Hey! That’s are name! You stole it! That’s an American Broadcasting Company! American! AMERICAN!!!
America! Fuck yeah!! ‘Comin again to save the motherfucking day, yeah! America! Fuck yeah!! Freedom is the only way, yeah!
Terorists your game is through, ‘cause now you ‘gotta answer to...
America! Fuck yeah!!
So lick my ass and suck on my balls! America! Fuck yeah!! ‘Watcha ‘gonna do when we come for you now!
It’s the dream we all share. It’s the hope for tommorow. (Fuck yeah!) 😂 I love that song.
i wouldn't bother with the BBC, go to net streaming services like Netflix with more access and with a better subscription service. I see some TH-camrs are already on Amazon Prime.
@@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770 ?
@@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770 please stop (also ABC is actually Australian Broadcasting Company)
The man hasn’t aged in the last ten years
Jude Gradwell he looks like a young Roy Keane.
No, he definitely does look younger here.
@Roger Roger also he looks a lot more tired nowadays
He does look different and older now…
He has; it just doesn't seem like it because he looked like he was fifteen in 2009.
The bit with the grandma is superb
Laughed myself silly when he kicked the house!
Sudev Sen historicity dog CockFoster Akskoskskzjsklaklskklskzkmamkz rough guguguguguugugugugug identify key cant chai zarn
@@greenfirestudios3349 what did you just fucking say about my parents
OH ITS ON NOW YA CHEEKY BASTARD
I've watched this video countless times and I'm still blown away by the absolute quality of every part. At posting, this video is 13 years old and I would still believe that this was uploaded last week.
jay's entire vibe is summed up in the 3 second clip of him running down the central reservation of the M1 shouting about tubes and the war
It’s official.
This man does not age.
Yes
I mean, he's clearly younger in this video, or maybe it's just because he's without his beard, idk
What date was the vid put up? Utube seem to have taken off the uploading date of vids. Annoying!
Unfortunately in his videos this year he looks older than he does here, it made me sad looking back here and seeing that in 13 years, nearly my entire life, Jay has visibly aged 😢😢
he's 38, that's insane
I've watched this series several times over the years, and each time I'm more impressed by the quality and professionalism of the writing, presentation, direction, and editing. So far beyond the vast majority of TH-cam content.
I love how you couldn't possibly tell how old a Jay Foreman video is without being told. Timelessness is one of the truest marks of quality.
2:56 That lorry was perfectly timed.
I'm pretty sure it was added in post.
Skye 69 likes
yep (I'm the 100th like)
@@NearCry91 I don't think it was possible back then
All jokes aside, this is a great series that I would love to see more on TH-cam. Deep research, unique style of presentation and a great sense of humour... I'm lovin' this
You’re in luck! There’s a new episode of Unfinished London coming in April stay tuned!
@@JayForeman yay
More amazing is how he began doing this -- before youtubers were really a thing -- and before youtubers realized that in-depth humourous videos are a goldmine!
@@JayForeman there use to be an train line there
Trespassing on the M1 central reservation, lol.
Yes, what a hoot. I'm sure everybody loved the 30mph speed restriction that they put up when people are seen walking on the motorway.
Well it was 2009 so I'm sure they've gotten over it by now. ;)
I guess you could call him a ////jay////walker
What Timing?
@@towardsnewaltitudes8237 about 2:00 or just before.
I love how 13 years later his style is still just as fresh and irreverent. As polished as the videos are now, I'm amazed how well done they were to begin with.
That moment you realize Tom Scott worked on this video.
I know right? This whole video just feels like a time capsule.
I wouldn't really be surprised
I only found Jay Foreman because of Tom Scott.
nitehawk86 same
They both went to York University
"And this nature reserve I'm currently trespassing on" - oh I do love the UK
I was a bit confused by that line, then I remembered I live in Sweden. (Where we have Freedom to roam, which incidentally Scotland also has)
@@vincentmuyo England has something similar, like a lesser version of scotland
We have a (sort of) right to roam now, but that doesn't stop jobsworths chasing you off it.
@@vincentmuyo england has a similar system
@@vincentmuyo you don't have private property in your country?
Mate, this video is simply AWESOME!! I love the quirky and semi-guerrilla presentation style and the research you've clearly put into this particular video, this was fascinating and a really clear look at what could have been. I've subscribed...
yes, what was the last time you saw a jaunty, "fresh" style with actual researched content?
It's really interesting to see the Crossrail featured in the list of planning imperfections now, in 2022, when the Elizabeth line is opening.
This series reminds me of a BBC series that we would have watched at school.
I actually didn't notice this was from 2009, it looks like a modern video, great quality from 10 years ago wow
The use of the word modern is um... very unsettling.
Only when I saw his clothes I was like:
Wait a minute!
@@paddyokearney Like you, I would consider 10 years ago modern.... I don't think that much has changed since 2011!!
@@elementarydrw our jeans are skinnier and the haircuts are shorter thats it i think
@@aidy6000 There's been change but no where near the level of change that happened between 2001-11
This is good content! 7 years old, but very good content even for todays standards!
Back then most videos didn't have this much production value did they?
I love it
This is a good comment! 7 years old, but a very good comment even for today's standards!
This is what TH-cam has been made for.
The SENATE In the name of the galactic senate of the republic you’re under arrest chancellor
Micah Lall-Trail the senate will decide your fate
Micah Lall-Trail NOT YET
The SENATE I agree
@@_blank-_ At least TH-cam comments for the most part are more free than Reddit. Especially the troons over at AHS.
The only thing giving away the age of the video may be Jay's pants
He didn't seem that out of breath, even running along that central reservation.
Okay, that was funny.
Nice 69 likes
His 4:3 monitor too
Don’t you mean his *TRRRRRRROUSERS* ?
Fun fact: According to the credits, Tom Scott created the Titles Animation.
He did!
@@JayForeman nice
Im New Jay Forman
Ha Ha Ha
@@blagoevski336 Lukashenko
I just discovered this channel and I'm genuinely blown away. As an Italian who was ready to move to London before a certain referendum, and who is going to resume visiting and exploring the city as many times as possible as soon as it's feasible, I find all these little gems of trivia truly a joy to learn about - and I'm taking notes to go and see them firsthand. I may just go ahead and cancel Netflix as I binge-watch everything you've posted. Thank you! (The look on guy's face at 8:05 had me laughing hard!)
@jay foreman This is a production worthy of BBC grade TV. It's value as a well researched and an educational program suggests you could follow a career path that may be prosperous.
This is my favorite episode I've watched so far.
I'm shocked it's from 2009 since it's so informative, focused, on topic, and entertaining.
Watching this in 2019 and just now realising there are some BIG names attached to this series!
I didn't even realise that this video was uploaded 14 years ago. Your style hadn't changed much and I love it!
It never occurred to me that houses used to be built with front gardens that the house occupier could showcase for passers-by to see only for them to be later turned into driveways. Nowadays, it's standard to have a house built with a driveway that is also home to a little garden that house occupiers pay little to no attention to. It's sad when you think about it 😞☹️😥
Music names:
1:12 - Puffin Billy
1:59 - Change My Clothes (Laurel & Hardy)
3:05 - Waltzing Trumpets (Harry Mortimer)
4:00 - Southern Front Porch Whistler (The Neverhood OST)
4:27 - Henry Kissinger (Monty Python)
5:51 - 21st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson)
6:42 - New World Sympathy, 2nd Movement (Dvorak)
7:39 - Wear Your Love Like Heaven (Donovan)
8:25 - Us and Them (Pink Floyd)
updated as of January 2024; thanks to the guys in the replies!
What is the one at 7:39?
@@Mattiaeragiapreso that's wear your love like heaven by Donovan
@@huwfylt Thanks so much !!!! Though. i found it, not so much time after i wrote that comment, thanks to The Simpsons: indeed, this song is in the episode where Homer smokes marijuana and it is played for long enough to be shazammed :D
You thought you could escape jojo fans by coming to a geography channel? No. We are everywhere, and king crimson is quite the reference.
@@beanthegreen2501 I just like the band. I've never watched jojo.
You can literally tell this was filmed so many years ago by the fact that his jeans are actually letting some air in, instead of this almost leggings everyone seems to be wearing today in London.
Just not a fashion victim.
Yeah this transfomation happened all around the world. I'm from South Asia and I remember when I was in high school 8-10 years ago the type of jeans back then almost used to work like brooms cleaning the streets as everyone walked by wearing them. And now pants look like leggings.
Frederik Wit And that they don't look like you've had to wear them while walking through a hedge backwards
And the front of the Broadwalk has changed.
its amazing how the tightness of jeans is a style that keeps going back and forth over the decades. Sort of tight in early 1960s, then became huge bell bottoms in the 1970s and disco era, then became super tight in the 1980s, then got big and loose again by the late 1990s and early 2000s, and now they are tight again. But there are small differences each time so each incarnation is different than the previous times. The tight jeans right now are a bit saggy in the seat area, but in the 1980s they were very tight there too. It was hard to put much in your pockets in the 1980s. (I was born in 1967 so I've seen all this come and go over and over)
I lived in London from 2009-2015, and only just discovered your channel and content. I've learnt so much that corresponds with my experience walking through London over all those years. Thank you for your effort, it's much appreciated!
As a person living in Sweden, I dont know why I'm watching this video...
But I watched it to the end! Good video!
Du var väl nyfiken.
8:02 - "Scuse me mate, can you get off my fucking car"
That's Paul's dad. He also makes an appearance in episode 2 as the fictional interviewee.
Well, they don't make cars that can't be scratched other than specialist 4x4s, so you're kind of fucked in that sense.
I was the same as ou before I got a car, but you'll soon change your tune once you have a motor you've worked hard to buy, only to come back to it one day and find its side mirrors smashed off
I agree. I got myself a CAT phone and I wouldn't dream of going back to fragile glass slabs people carry around content with the screen they broke 5 days after the purchased it. How is the BV6000? Also interested in rugged phones :)
As for the cars fragility, I'm guessing wildly here, but the solid steel cars of the old days, while rugged, do pretty bad in crash tests. Perhaps the "mallability" of modern cars is desired. Or perhaps they just need to be light (or cheap). Either way, I'm sticking to my BMX whenever possible.
Christopher Robin The malleability of modern cars, the crumple zones, distribute the g forces so the occupants don't die in a 40mph crash
Because if it were built like a tank, it would get the fuel economy of a tank. Durr.
"Imagine if Suburbia, as in a third of all the homes in London, had been built by the 'architects' of the sixties?"
Welcome to Tel Aviv.
Better than the architects of the 70s who designed all of suburbia in San Antonio it seems, that or it's just all stretched out because cars.
@@elh93 or the ones of the 90s and 2000's who designed the neighborhood across from mine. Literally all the houses are the exact same
My city (Skopje) suffered a devastating earthquake back in 1963 and after that the 60's "architects" from around the world build a lot of soviet/yugoslav style buildings around my city. Some of them even had big and ridiculous plans that were thankfully canceled.
*21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson ensues*
Or the architects who designed the modern homes here in Homestead (a city south of Miami). They are literally all the damn same, and they're ripping up farms and pastures to build them. :/
Even though there is a big gaps between each video, it’s totally worth it! You really make timeless classics :) ❤
I'm from the future, and TH-cam has decided to recommend me a jewel from 2009. I love it. ❤️
I immigrated from the Philippines to New York City, and I've been studying the subway here, it's very fascinating. This video is just what I needed to watch.
I just now finally noticed the lorry wipe at 3 minutes. Good show Paul Kendler, or whoever done that.
edit: I have now noticed some six more things. More updates as they happen
Neat, I went back an looked at it. I have done a bit of video editing in my time, that lorry could not have come a more opportune time. Thanks for pointing it out.
That is one of the smoothest camera/editing feats I’ve ever seen coming from small TH-cam teams, great job Jay!
Very interesting. I like the running down the middle of the M1 bit, not sure the old bill would've approved though lol
He’s literally exactly the same in this video as he is today ffs, humour, appearance, voice and content. This was released 12 years ago and is better than most TH-cam videos released today
I'm loving how your series "Unfinished London" remains unfinished. But seriously, get another episode done, fella!
5:51 but denser housing and high rise buildings.... mean you don't have to build so much outside of the city limits..... as it is a better use of space..... perhaps...... if instead of terrifyingly samey 30s suburban semis we had the kinds of buildings in place that would encourage denser development in the suburbs.... we wouldn't have so much of a housing crisis
What i meant was that densification in the suburbs would be a better way to meet housing needs than other solutions like greenbelt-hopping or doing nothing
@@catherine4065 That is a good point. Many parts of the UK have dense populations and precious little spare land for new housing, so using the vertical dimension is logical. It should be possible to do this without building the concrete monstrosities of the 60's.
@@catherine4065 yeah but houses are so much better though, especially for families
@@adamlea6339 not really over all these years that kind of high density housing hasnt changed all that much in form, it's just that they are usually clad in a bit more glass and metal to make them more shiny and nice. But yeah that kind of housing can be found all over the world in dense urban areas
@@hadhamalnam The problem was in the 60s a lot of developers cut corners with public money, using shoddy materials, plus manufacturers often didn't appreciate what they were being asked to produce, including architects who chronically underestimated issues such as personal safety, disability and convenience, and genuinely because of the social upheaval these projects tended to cause, people didn't know how to live in them and yes kept asking why they couldn't get new versions of the old housing stock. There is often nothing much the matter with 60s flats as designed, they are often roomier than modern day buildings for example, their exteriors are a bit unfashionable but because of the quality issue and the overdesigned council estate issue they have developed a stigma, they are 'undesirable'. In reality, denser living when it is the accepted norm certainly makes the cost of living cheaper overall.
Jay Forman has managed to perfectly create the kind of show a substitute teacher would put on for primary school students
Me: sees Video from Jay uploaded 12… ago
Still me: started watching Jays the video after sending kids away, giving wife money for shopping, making popcorn and setting up tv and audio in special mode for Jays videos.
Me realising I saw it: oh, it’s 12 years ago, not minutes, and I saw it about 500 times.
Me after watching the video: still worth it.
Aw, thanks! :)
5:51
Since that's my alarm I jumped in my chair a bit. Great taste in music though
what song is it?
JazzaOfficial 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson
>21st Century Schizoid Man as alarm
Why haven't I thought of such a patrician start to my morning?
Never choose a song you really like as your alarm. You won't be able to listen to it and enjoy it again.
I recognised it too, thanks
Honestly this is so high quality. So glad I found your channel.
The amount of effort that must go in to get every shot, I love your videos because every second is jam packed with something.
Can't be believe this is over 11 years old.
LOL the guy opening his door and just standing there, like “Oy, wot yeh doin’ thar?”
This video is 15 years old in a week & it could be uploaded today and nobody would bat an eye.. Jay might be the best creator on this platform
Seriously blew my mind when I looked at the upload date, I know that there were some higher quality productions on TH-cam in the early days but god damn. The attention to detail and editing is so great.
This serie is so great. Original, super interesting, you got the bit of fun you need to have a smile on your face while being educated! Yeah to that! And thanks for the great work, guys! Can't wait to watch the next episode!
Very good video and audio quality for a 2009 video! Like from me!
You do realise how many likes you have on this comment
@@lbsiuk more than 6
I live in the states and am 31 but starting about 10 years ago, because of discovering dubstep that morphed into many other interests, I slowly began to become obsessed with London and British culture. I hope I can go someday but until then I'm glad there are videos like these and am greatful I came across it
It is AMAZING that you've had such a consistent and perfect formula and style for so long
I was three when this was released. Jay’s content was so innovative back then, so that it stays relevant now.
3:40. Am unreasonably happy that the car's reg includes "CAR" :')
When I saw it I thought it was "ROSA CAR" lol
30 years ago a Hungarian friend in London had a car number plate which included 'SAR'. Pronounced in Hungarian that means 'sh*t': and that pretty much summed up the car :)
Gotta admit Jay, seeing you responding a comment here 5 hours ago, on a video posted more than 10 years ago, and seeing all over youtube that whenever someone post something related to you, you go watch it and leave a comment warms up my heart
You're really someone special and much much much dedicated to your job, and I really want to see and help you reaching even more distant places
At least youve already reached someone from Brazil! Sorry if I messed something in the middle of this text, and continue com o excelente trabalho, Jay!
Muito obrigado! :)
It's incredible how consistent jays style has been for such a long time. I was in year 3 when this video was posted and I'm turning 20 in a month
“Do you want your house knocked down?”
“Nooo”
The one that started it all, so old Gordon Brown was still Prime Minister. Also the fact that nearly eleven years later it's being continued to the present day but only 10 episode currently have been made is delightfully British and makes me super happy.
I just watched the latest video in the series, and then I'm thrown back to 2009. Excellent, consistent quality all the way!
I used to live way up on the Northern Line many years ago, and it would take forever to get there... Thanks for the memories :)
OMG ? You guys outdid yourself back in 2009. Even before the era of portable camera stabilizer, the production is sooo good. Even the panning shot is awesome. i cant believe this was made in 2009.
Lived in Mill Hill for the past 22 years, and its insane how different it looks even from this video 10 years on!
This video holds up so well, I didn’t even realise it was 12 years old until I saw young Jay.
Civil engineering projects are really interesting, and I love your style of story telling for them. I've never even been across the pond and I love your videos on London. Thank you, for sharing!
Tracing train lines on GM is so fun
Zack Boone I do it with rivers...
Zack Boone - Also good for looking at disused and abandoned airfields.
This man had editing of this caliber 13 years ago and still has only 1M followers? Criminally underrated.
Seems like you still read the comments Jay, so I just wanted to say that your videos are magnificent and in my many years on TH-cam I haven't seen another channel that consistently produces content that is simultaneously so interesting, funny and to the point.
Watching the video 14 (Almost 15) years after in 2024! At first, I didnt realize that and was wondering why you looked so young! I'm a big fan of your work! keep 'em comin', Jay!
Even 10 years ago this channel still had great quality. I'm impressed
Can we just appreciate how this video came out in 2009 featuring a sample from 21st Century Schizoid Man, and survived all these years without being nuked form orbit by The Fripp
Yes, and not only that: at 8:24 I believe the beginning of Us and Them starts playing in the background!
This has brilliant production values.
This video was truly ahead of its time for 2009 TH-cam. It had all the bells, whistles, and things you would see in mid to late 2010’s TH-cam videos, and was amazingly high quality for its upload date.
How the hell did he get to the middle of the M1?!
Tiago Farias I remember seeing it in the comments a while ago waited for a gap then got escorted off with the police
so he just ran across?
Tiago Farias yup
the real question is how he got that camera angle of him running through the middle of the M1
Bryson Logie Are you familiar with the concept of bridges?
I think I can speak for all of the internet when I say this, the people of the world need more videos of Jay explaining things!
Happy Birthday Unfinished London!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Your videos have made me appreciate the city a lot more. Thank you
When you realize that this video made 10 years ago is better than most TH-cam videos nowadays
This is from 2009 wtf?! TH-cam has changed so much but Jay was always a forerunner
He already had _it_ back in 2009. Just a great infotainer
I'm currently on my nth rewatch of Unfinished London and I still love it in 2024.
Thank you Jay Foreman.
Wait, how did you get off the central reservation on the M1?!
I got *on by waiting for a clear moment, then running very fast. I got *off by being escorted by the police. (Someone saw me and phoned the police.) Don't do it, kids!
I wish you'd made an episode on just that!! haha
So, the police had reservations about you doing it, then? :-)
I cannot believe they let you keep that moment in.. This is REALLY good TV! But that ... I blenched with fear! Awesome work..LOTS of work in this. Dude, you rock.
Why (or how) could they stop him including it?