BBC Sports Personality 2016
This years list of candidates for the prize of BBC Sports Personality has been revealed. I will go in to it in more detail closer to the event but I can say that the majority of the 16 strong field are gold medallists from both this years Olympics and Paralympics. However as it is all awards there debate about who is not on the list, Chris Froome who won his thrid Tour de France, Alistair Cook the Circket who made a number of Test scoring records this year and no member of the England Rugby Union Grand Slam . As for who will win? Again I will leave that closer to the event to talk about but given it is a phone in vote surprises can happen. Jensen Button announcing his retirement last week brings to mind one such example, at the start of 2009 Button at one point found himself without a team however a last minute buy out of his previous helped to give a drive for the season and from then on he went on to win the F1 Drivers World Championship. Most times this would give Button the SPOTY prize but thanks to bloc voting from Manchester United fans Ryan Gggs won for a average season in which they only The Premier League title.
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Monday, 28 November 2016
Things you can find on Youtube: Part 3
A March 1992 edition of Points of View presented by Anne Robinson. A large number being about the treatment of Salman Rushdie during an interview. The interview and programme where this happened? Not Jeremy Paxman or Kristy Wark on Newsnight but Gloria Hunnerford on a stand in stint on Wogan. The clip shows Hunnerford accusing the author of mistreating Islam through the publication of The Satanic Verses. With viewers complaining that Hunnerford being no better than Iranian Government.
A March 1992 edition of Points of View presented by Anne Robinson. A large number being about the treatment of Salman Rushdie during an interview. The interview and programme where this happened? Not Jeremy Paxman or Kristy Wark on Newsnight but Gloria Hunnerford on a stand in stint on Wogan. The clip shows Hunnerford accusing the author of mistreating Islam through the publication of The Satanic Verses. With viewers complaining that Hunnerford being no better than Iranian Government.
Sunday, 27 November 2016
Jamie Oliver why do people hate him?
The office I used to work was run like a personal fiefdom by the management. However there came an attempt by higher management to bring in a much uniformed system with local offices no longer doing their own thing now having to work in unison with each other. To get everyone in the office to understand what was happening a video was shown called Accepting Change, an edited highlights package of Jamie Oliver's school food programme. Did people accept change? In short NO!!! Now ever since Mr Oliver appeared on the scene I can not stand him for many reasons these include.
His self-righteous zealot like social crusades. It is is one thing to try promote healthy eating but it is an other to ram it down people's throats.
The whole Mockney geezer routine.. Enough to set your teeth on edge./
His adverts for a supermarket chain which are usually sound tracked to a one album wonder.
The office I used to work was run like a personal fiefdom by the management. However there came an attempt by higher management to bring in a much uniformed system with local offices no longer doing their own thing now having to work in unison with each other. To get everyone in the office to understand what was happening a video was shown called Accepting Change, an edited highlights package of Jamie Oliver's school food programme. Did people accept change? In short NO!!! Now ever since Mr Oliver appeared on the scene I can not stand him for many reasons these include.
His self-righteous zealot like social crusades. It is is one thing to try promote healthy eating but it is an other to ram it down people's throats.
The whole Mockney geezer routine.. Enough to set your teeth on edge./
His adverts for a supermarket chain which are usually sound tracked to a one album wonder.
Saturday, 26 November 2016
TV review: Walliams and Friend
9:30 pm. Friday BBC!
David Wallims will always be know for his partnership with Matt Lucas, their most famous creation being Little Britain. For his new programme Walliams has decided to have a different partner each week for his new programme, hence the friend in the title. The first to take on this title was Jack Whitehall. Like Little Britain it takes a look at the many strands of British society plus there is also a rather risque take on Sherlock. the show is bit of a hit and miss affair. The 2 best sketches bookend the show The first being a mickey take on dating shows like Take Me Out with Walliams as the host and Whitehall as the constant who after giving a series of very tame answers goes for full blown smut. The another will be of particular delight to those who abhor Jeremy Kyle, Waillims plays the contesrvial host while Whitehall plays an upper middle class son who complains to his parents after they go on a skiing holiday, this leads to an number of revelations. Overall it could have been worse yet it could have better, plus you are left wondering what it would be like with Lucas appearing.
9:30 pm. Friday BBC!
David Wallims will always be know for his partnership with Matt Lucas, their most famous creation being Little Britain. For his new programme Walliams has decided to have a different partner each week for his new programme, hence the friend in the title. The first to take on this title was Jack Whitehall. Like Little Britain it takes a look at the many strands of British society plus there is also a rather risque take on Sherlock. the show is bit of a hit and miss affair. The 2 best sketches bookend the show The first being a mickey take on dating shows like Take Me Out with Walliams as the host and Whitehall as the constant who after giving a series of very tame answers goes for full blown smut. The another will be of particular delight to those who abhor Jeremy Kyle, Waillims plays the contesrvial host while Whitehall plays an upper middle class son who complains to his parents after they go on a skiing holiday, this leads to an number of revelations. Overall it could have been worse yet it could have better, plus you are left wondering what it would be like with Lucas appearing.
Friday, 25 November 2016
Calling Dr Kermode
There is an ongoing campaign to get Mark Kermode to be installed as the host of the BBC Film programme. Ever since Jonathan Ross left the programme and was replaced by the pairing of Claudia Winkleman and Danny Leigh. Audiences complain that there is too extraneous chat that gets in the way of the point of the programme which is to talk about films. This has increased since Zoe Ball took over. Kermode has for a long time declared that he has no interest in taking over. One wonder was to pair him with another for Siskel and Ebert style format would interest him?
There is an ongoing campaign to get Mark Kermode to be installed as the host of the BBC Film programme. Ever since Jonathan Ross left the programme and was replaced by the pairing of Claudia Winkleman and Danny Leigh. Audiences complain that there is too extraneous chat that gets in the way of the point of the programme which is to talk about films. This has increased since Zoe Ball took over. Kermode has for a long time declared that he has no interest in taking over. One wonder was to pair him with another for Siskel and Ebert style format would interest him?
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Top 5 most righteous kills on Game of Thrones
Every now and again a baddie gets what is coming to them. Obviously given the tiltle of the list there will be
SPOILERS
1. Ramsay Bolton
This violence for pleasure psycho got his just desserts after the Battle of the Bastards. First Jon Snow unleashed a series of blows to his face. And for the coup de grace he is then fed to his own starving dogs by one time bride Sansa.
2. Joffrey
Most people would have put the moment when the spooled, product of incest was poisoned on his wedding day at the top of this list. Why not? Given the poor hell his uncle Tyrion goes through as he is accused of being behind his death, then for reasons for being more cathartic Ramsay's is top of this list.
3. Walder Frey
The head of the Frey clan was always a loathsome character when he first appeared. But he garnered new levels of hatred for his part in the Red Wedding. When he lusts over the serving game he does not that payback is coming for him when it turns the serving girl is Arya Strark in disguise and reveals she had been serving his sons cooked in a pie before slashing his thoart.
4. Meryn Trant
The Kingsguard thug met his end when he decided to indulge in his paedophile tastes in a brothel. Again it is Arya using her disguise skills to gain payback for her dancing master.
5. Roose Bolton
What happens when you raise your son to be a psychopathic, backstabbing loon? Yes that's he kills you. Karma provides Roose Bolton one final lesson in response for his part in the Red Wedding.
Every now and again a baddie gets what is coming to them. Obviously given the tiltle of the list there will be
SPOILERS
1. Ramsay Bolton
This violence for pleasure psycho got his just desserts after the Battle of the Bastards. First Jon Snow unleashed a series of blows to his face. And for the coup de grace he is then fed to his own starving dogs by one time bride Sansa.
2. Joffrey
Most people would have put the moment when the spooled, product of incest was poisoned on his wedding day at the top of this list. Why not? Given the poor hell his uncle Tyrion goes through as he is accused of being behind his death, then for reasons for being more cathartic Ramsay's is top of this list.
3. Walder Frey
The head of the Frey clan was always a loathsome character when he first appeared. But he garnered new levels of hatred for his part in the Red Wedding. When he lusts over the serving game he does not that payback is coming for him when it turns the serving girl is Arya Strark in disguise and reveals she had been serving his sons cooked in a pie before slashing his thoart.
4. Meryn Trant
The Kingsguard thug met his end when he decided to indulge in his paedophile tastes in a brothel. Again it is Arya using her disguise skills to gain payback for her dancing master.
5. Roose Bolton
What happens when you raise your son to be a psychopathic, backstabbing loon? Yes that's he kills you. Karma provides Roose Bolton one final lesson in response for his part in the Red Wedding.
Wednesday, 23 November 2016
National Lottery exiled
A piece of news emerged in the last few days that a decade ago would have caused much fury in the press but has caused barely a ripple now. Camelot the organisation that runs the UK National Lottery has agreed a new with the BBC to cover the Saturday night draw, but here comes the part that will raise an eyebrow. The draw will no longer go out on it's traditional Saturday night slot on BBC1 but on the online I-player service. The story is apparently Camelot could not find any one to bid for the draw so they had to go to the BBC as they had first refusal as current rights holder so they paid a bare minimum price and to go the I-player route. To say this marks a bit of a change is the understatement of the year. When it was lunched in 1994 the National Lottery became an obsession with the country with winners of jackpots becoming subject of much media scrutiny. The TV programmes that were broadcast were ratings winners, originally they highlighted were the money was going such as restoring museums, park maintenance etc. But then the National Lottery name became a name to hang an number of game shows on to, the 2 best known examples being Winning Lines originally hosted by Simon Mayo and then later by Phillip Scholfield and Jet Set with Eammon Holmes. But ratings have declined and programmes have dropped out on the BBC1 top 30. Why has this situation came about? Well the market became so overloaded with so much completion with some endorsed by Camelot themselves that the general public has probably lost interest in watching it live and are just catching it up via other mean hence the BBC's I-player decision. This just goes to show if you overload the public with something they give up on it.
A piece of news emerged in the last few days that a decade ago would have caused much fury in the press but has caused barely a ripple now. Camelot the organisation that runs the UK National Lottery has agreed a new with the BBC to cover the Saturday night draw, but here comes the part that will raise an eyebrow. The draw will no longer go out on it's traditional Saturday night slot on BBC1 but on the online I-player service. The story is apparently Camelot could not find any one to bid for the draw so they had to go to the BBC as they had first refusal as current rights holder so they paid a bare minimum price and to go the I-player route. To say this marks a bit of a change is the understatement of the year. When it was lunched in 1994 the National Lottery became an obsession with the country with winners of jackpots becoming subject of much media scrutiny. The TV programmes that were broadcast were ratings winners, originally they highlighted were the money was going such as restoring museums, park maintenance etc. But then the National Lottery name became a name to hang an number of game shows on to, the 2 best known examples being Winning Lines originally hosted by Simon Mayo and then later by Phillip Scholfield and Jet Set with Eammon Holmes. But ratings have declined and programmes have dropped out on the BBC1 top 30. Why has this situation came about? Well the market became so overloaded with so much completion with some endorsed by Camelot themselves that the general public has probably lost interest in watching it live and are just catching it up via other mean hence the BBC's I-player decision. This just goes to show if you overload the public with something they give up on it.
Sunday, 20 November 2016
People I avoid on TV
A list of people I avoid watching on TV
Frankie Boyle
Not many people can make you feel sorry for Katie (Jordan) Price, he did so with remarkable ease.
Leigh Francis
Or to be more precise Keith Lemon. Why people find his frankly creepy and juvenile act funny is beyond me.
Michael McIntyre
His over hyper active act is enough to to make you wish you were at the dentist having root canal
A list of people I avoid watching on TV
Frankie Boyle
Not many people can make you feel sorry for Katie (Jordan) Price, he did so with remarkable ease.
Leigh Francis
Or to be more precise Keith Lemon. Why people find his frankly creepy and juvenile act funny is beyond me.
Michael McIntyre
His over hyper active act is enough to to make you wish you were at the dentist having root canal
Friday, 18 November 2016
Game, Set and Match. BBC
It has been announced that the BBC has agreed a deal with the All England Club to extend exclusive coverage of the Wimbledon Championships until 2024. It is a rare bright spot for the BBC's sport department in the face of an ever decline portfolio. It is now nearly 10 years since Grandstand came to an end because of a lack of sports even though the London Olympics were on the horizon. The All England Club is one of the few sporting bodies that values the BBC name in covering it's event, the organisers of both the Grand National and Royal Ascot horse racing meetings were not reportedly not happy when as part of a blanket deal involving the whole sport they found that they would be covered by Channel 4. How ever they have cases of events leaving the BBC only. As I have written about before (The Perils of Going Commercial) The Boat Race switched to ITV only to be dropped when the station decided to plough most of it's money in gaining Football rights and the event went back to the BBC who paid less money than ITV did when they brought the rights.
It has been announced that the BBC has agreed a deal with the All England Club to extend exclusive coverage of the Wimbledon Championships until 2024. It is a rare bright spot for the BBC's sport department in the face of an ever decline portfolio. It is now nearly 10 years since Grandstand came to an end because of a lack of sports even though the London Olympics were on the horizon. The All England Club is one of the few sporting bodies that values the BBC name in covering it's event, the organisers of both the Grand National and Royal Ascot horse racing meetings were not reportedly not happy when as part of a blanket deal involving the whole sport they found that they would be covered by Channel 4. How ever they have cases of events leaving the BBC only. As I have written about before (The Perils of Going Commercial) The Boat Race switched to ITV only to be dropped when the station decided to plough most of it's money in gaining Football rights and the event went back to the BBC who paid less money than ITV did when they brought the rights.
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Best of: Bergerac
John Nettles is Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac in the the show that boosted tourism in Jersey to it's highest levels, Here are the 10 best episodes
1. A Man of Sorrows
An episode that actually takes place mostly in London and one of two episodes in series 7 to explore the greed is good mentality of the 1980's. Jim finds corruption in the highest of places. George Baker plays a menacing crook, in complete contrast to his most famous role as Policeman Reg Wexford which he had just started to play.
2. See You in Moscow
The Cold War comes to Jersey as a civil servant is persuaded by her KGB lover to go there to defect. Features an atmospheric conclusion at the German Underground Hospital. Watch out for a pre Buffy the Vampire slayer Anthony Head as the civil servants assistant.
3. Diplomatic Incident
What should have been the true end of the show, you will note no episodes from series 9 make the list. Jim finds himself called back to Jersey to protect a Swedish diplomat (played by Julian Glover) before vital talks. As is the case nothing goes to plan.
4. S.PA.R.T.A
The best episode for Lisa Goddard's Philipa Vale. The Ice Maiden finds herself on the wrong side of a group of ultra right wing thugs, but does not know why and so turns to Jim for help, The episode ends in an all action conclusion.
5, Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie
A journalist with a grudge against Charlie Hungerford returns to Jersey to thwart his political ambitions. But ends up dead when he comes across an another story involving a group of soldiers of fortune.
6. The Last Interview
A TV reporter (Barry Foster) moves to Jersey to get away from his past but finds it coming back in the form of an interview he did with a Mafia Don turned Supergrass. The Debut episode of Louise Jameson as Susan.
7. Burnt
The second series 7 critique of 80's greed is good. Jim finds himself assigned to a task force tracking the dealings of an insider trader trying to get away with his ill gotten gains. The tile comes to have more than one meaning.
8. Holiday Snaps
A Jersey woman is brutally murdered on a campsite in France and her Husband comes under suspicion. The episode prefigures the more psychological focused likes of Prime Suspect, Cracker, Luther etc.
9. Late for a Funeral
When the body of a scuba diver is found next to the wreck of a Luftwaffe plane, various parties come looking for the Nazi loot it may have been carrying.
10. The Other Woman
Susan finds herself as a suspect when the body of a writer turns up dead. Evidence then turns up to suggest that the murdered man and Susan had been having an affair.
John Nettles is Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac in the the show that boosted tourism in Jersey to it's highest levels, Here are the 10 best episodes
1. A Man of Sorrows
An episode that actually takes place mostly in London and one of two episodes in series 7 to explore the greed is good mentality of the 1980's. Jim finds corruption in the highest of places. George Baker plays a menacing crook, in complete contrast to his most famous role as Policeman Reg Wexford which he had just started to play.
2. See You in Moscow
The Cold War comes to Jersey as a civil servant is persuaded by her KGB lover to go there to defect. Features an atmospheric conclusion at the German Underground Hospital. Watch out for a pre Buffy the Vampire slayer Anthony Head as the civil servants assistant.
3. Diplomatic Incident
What should have been the true end of the show, you will note no episodes from series 9 make the list. Jim finds himself called back to Jersey to protect a Swedish diplomat (played by Julian Glover) before vital talks. As is the case nothing goes to plan.
4. S.PA.R.T.A
The best episode for Lisa Goddard's Philipa Vale. The Ice Maiden finds herself on the wrong side of a group of ultra right wing thugs, but does not know why and so turns to Jim for help, The episode ends in an all action conclusion.
5, Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie
A journalist with a grudge against Charlie Hungerford returns to Jersey to thwart his political ambitions. But ends up dead when he comes across an another story involving a group of soldiers of fortune.
6. The Last Interview
A TV reporter (Barry Foster) moves to Jersey to get away from his past but finds it coming back in the form of an interview he did with a Mafia Don turned Supergrass. The Debut episode of Louise Jameson as Susan.
7. Burnt
The second series 7 critique of 80's greed is good. Jim finds himself assigned to a task force tracking the dealings of an insider trader trying to get away with his ill gotten gains. The tile comes to have more than one meaning.
8. Holiday Snaps
A Jersey woman is brutally murdered on a campsite in France and her Husband comes under suspicion. The episode prefigures the more psychological focused likes of Prime Suspect, Cracker, Luther etc.
9. Late for a Funeral
When the body of a scuba diver is found next to the wreck of a Luftwaffe plane, various parties come looking for the Nazi loot it may have been carrying.
10. The Other Woman
Susan finds herself as a suspect when the body of a writer turns up dead. Evidence then turns up to suggest that the murdered man and Susan had been having an affair.
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Rules for watching Tipping Point
1. Laugh at the player who passes to a rival only for them to make a huge gain of money
2. Shake your hand as a leader in the second round puts themselves at risk by either passing or getting questions wrong
3. Look on in disbelief as a player foregoes the prize money they have accrued to have 3 further tries only to lose out
4. Laugh as the really annoying player is knocked out with a measly sum.
1. Laugh at the player who passes to a rival only for them to make a huge gain of money
2. Shake your hand as a leader in the second round puts themselves at risk by either passing or getting questions wrong
3. Look on in disbelief as a player foregoes the prize money they have accrued to have 3 further tries only to lose out
4. Laugh as the really annoying player is knocked out with a measly sum.
Monday, 14 November 2016
Attenbourgh conquers Cowell
In the latest BARB ratings that have come out today and David Attenbourgh's new documentary Planet Earth II was seen by over 12 million viewers and thereby making it the most watched TV programme of the week. The most striking thing is that Planet Earth II was up against the results show of The X Factor in it's time slot. To add to Simon Cowell's woes it was beaten by Countryfile, a programme that was once considered niche lunchtime viewing. It is interesting to think that if you told someone that a baking contest would become a national talking point, Countryfile would become a primetime mainstay and that an Attenbourgh documentary would beat The X Factor. And people once said television was dumbing down.
In the latest BARB ratings that have come out today and David Attenbourgh's new documentary Planet Earth II was seen by over 12 million viewers and thereby making it the most watched TV programme of the week. The most striking thing is that Planet Earth II was up against the results show of The X Factor in it's time slot. To add to Simon Cowell's woes it was beaten by Countryfile, a programme that was once considered niche lunchtime viewing. It is interesting to think that if you told someone that a baking contest would become a national talking point, Countryfile would become a primetime mainstay and that an Attenbourgh documentary would beat The X Factor. And people once said television was dumbing down.
Sunday, 13 November 2016
Alan Partridge vs Noel Edmonds
In his autobiography Norwich's famous son takes issue with the host of Noel's House Party accusing him of trying to pile his wife with drink. This has led to a hostile rivalary between the 2 (though to be fair to Edmonds it could be doubted if he knows about it) through the years. Though the one thing both men is that they do not take criticism very lightly as though they talked to the camera on both of their shows in the mid 1990's accusing newspaper critics of being snobs, never the twain?
P.S. Yes I know Alan Partridge is really Steve Coogan but I thought I do this for fun
In his autobiography Norwich's famous son takes issue with the host of Noel's House Party accusing him of trying to pile his wife with drink. This has led to a hostile rivalary between the 2 (though to be fair to Edmonds it could be doubted if he knows about it) through the years. Though the one thing both men is that they do not take criticism very lightly as though they talked to the camera on both of their shows in the mid 1990's accusing newspaper critics of being snobs, never the twain?
P.S. Yes I know Alan Partridge is really Steve Coogan but I thought I do this for fun
Friday, 11 November 2016
Book Review: Night School by Lee Child
Night School is the latest entry in the Jack Reacher series that takes a look back at Reacher's days as a US Army MP. The novel takes place during 1996 and sees Reacher being assigned to an inter-agency operation under the cover of going to a night school (hence the title) which is focused on a group of Hamburg based Middle Eastern Men among whose number is a undercover CIA agent. The reason for the concern is that the group will be involved in the payment of 100 million dollars to an American citizen. As is to be expected it is Reacher is the one who takes the lead on the operation as he uses his deductive skills to identify the mysterious American and what it is that is worth them getting a very large sum of money. An another fixture of the Reacher novels is when our hero is outnumbered by a large number of bad guys and we get his thought process as he figures how to be the last one standing. Reacher also has a fling with a US government official just to offset the bone breaking violence. Child gives us a flavour of Hamburg in the years of after German reunification and a sub plot involving neo-nazis. On the back of the book an number of bestselling authors give their tribute to Reacher, perhaps the most relevant to this book is Frederick Forsyth as it contains international intrigue that would not be out of placed in one of his novels. Night School keeps up the hit rate of the Jack Reacher series and is essential reading for all Reacher fans.
Night School is the latest entry in the Jack Reacher series that takes a look back at Reacher's days as a US Army MP. The novel takes place during 1996 and sees Reacher being assigned to an inter-agency operation under the cover of going to a night school (hence the title) which is focused on a group of Hamburg based Middle Eastern Men among whose number is a undercover CIA agent. The reason for the concern is that the group will be involved in the payment of 100 million dollars to an American citizen. As is to be expected it is Reacher is the one who takes the lead on the operation as he uses his deductive skills to identify the mysterious American and what it is that is worth them getting a very large sum of money. An another fixture of the Reacher novels is when our hero is outnumbered by a large number of bad guys and we get his thought process as he figures how to be the last one standing. Reacher also has a fling with a US government official just to offset the bone breaking violence. Child gives us a flavour of Hamburg in the years of after German reunification and a sub plot involving neo-nazis. On the back of the book an number of bestselling authors give their tribute to Reacher, perhaps the most relevant to this book is Frederick Forsyth as it contains international intrigue that would not be out of placed in one of his novels. Night School keeps up the hit rate of the Jack Reacher series and is essential reading for all Reacher fans.
Thursday, 10 November 2016
You in the Jungle, Should I know you?
As I have written before I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here starts at the weekend. I go through the list goining in and seeing if they merit the Celebrity.
Lisa Snowden
Perhaps best known for going out George Clooney. Star factor 5/10
Sam Quek
Member of Team GB's Olympic Ladies Hockey Gold medal winning team, a high achievement, Star factor 8/10
Joel Dormett
WHO!!!!!! Star factor 0/10
Jordan Banjo
WHO AGAIN!!!!!! Star factor 0/10
Carol Voderman
TV Legend Star Factor 10/10
Adam Thomas
WHO!!! 3.0 Star factor 0/10
Ola Jordan
Ex Strictly Dancer. Star factor 6/10
Wayne Bridge
Footballer with infamous personal life. Star factor 6/10
Scarlett Moffatt
And now a lady who elicits the response WHO!!! Star factor 0/10
Larry Lamb
Actor who appeared in Eastenders and 2 Superman.films. Star factor 9/10
As I have written before I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here starts at the weekend. I go through the list goining in and seeing if they merit the Celebrity.
Lisa Snowden
Perhaps best known for going out George Clooney. Star factor 5/10
Sam Quek
Member of Team GB's Olympic Ladies Hockey Gold medal winning team, a high achievement, Star factor 8/10
Joel Dormett
WHO!!!!!! Star factor 0/10
Jordan Banjo
WHO AGAIN!!!!!! Star factor 0/10
Carol Voderman
TV Legend Star Factor 10/10
Adam Thomas
WHO!!! 3.0 Star factor 0/10
Ola Jordan
Ex Strictly Dancer. Star factor 6/10
Wayne Bridge
Footballer with infamous personal life. Star factor 6/10
Scarlett Moffatt
And now a lady who elicits the response WHO!!! Star factor 0/10
Larry Lamb
Actor who appeared in Eastenders and 2 Superman.films. Star factor 9/10
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
DVD Review: The Last Kingdom - Series one (2015)
TV Drama
Starring Alexander Dreymon, Ian Hart, Emily Cox
On the first disc of the 3 disc collection of the first series is a promo for Downton Abbey, the only thing that connects the 2 shows is that they are both made the same production company Carnival Films. The Last Kingdom is a full blooded adaptation of a series of novels by Bernard Cornwell who is best known as the author of the Sharpe novels which of course were also made into a TV show starring Sean Bean. This show is set in England 872 AD as the Saxon and the Danes fight each other for control. The main focus is Utherd (Alexander Dreymon) a Saxon by birth but raised as a Dane after his Father is killed in battle. We follow Utherd in his quest to regain his birthright and that just happens to take in the rise of Alfred (David Dawson) the Great. This is not a programme for the faint hearted because it does not shy away from showing either sex and violence in full detail. Some may complain that this is just Game of Thrones without the Dragons but they should remember that George R R Martin uses historical events as the basis for his tome.. The stand out character is Father Beocca as played by Ian Hart, a Man of God with a tongue that is as cutting as any sword as shown in the final episode with his words to a Dane warlord before and during battle. The Last Kingdom is a heady brew of combat, intrigue and romance that will keep fans satisfied until the next series which is due next year.
TV Drama
Starring Alexander Dreymon, Ian Hart, Emily Cox
On the first disc of the 3 disc collection of the first series is a promo for Downton Abbey, the only thing that connects the 2 shows is that they are both made the same production company Carnival Films. The Last Kingdom is a full blooded adaptation of a series of novels by Bernard Cornwell who is best known as the author of the Sharpe novels which of course were also made into a TV show starring Sean Bean. This show is set in England 872 AD as the Saxon and the Danes fight each other for control. The main focus is Utherd (Alexander Dreymon) a Saxon by birth but raised as a Dane after his Father is killed in battle. We follow Utherd in his quest to regain his birthright and that just happens to take in the rise of Alfred (David Dawson) the Great. This is not a programme for the faint hearted because it does not shy away from showing either sex and violence in full detail. Some may complain that this is just Game of Thrones without the Dragons but they should remember that George R R Martin uses historical events as the basis for his tome.. The stand out character is Father Beocca as played by Ian Hart, a Man of God with a tongue that is as cutting as any sword as shown in the final episode with his words to a Dane warlord before and during battle. The Last Kingdom is a heady brew of combat, intrigue and romance that will keep fans satisfied until the next series which is due next year.
Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Ant and Dec: masters of the unoriginal
The annual fest of watching people you will have heard of, may have heard of or have no idea who they are eating animal parts in a jungle island starts on Sunday. Yes I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here is back and is presided over as ever by Ant & Dec. It is curious to think how they career path has taken them. On the back of the popularity of their roles in Byker Gove they lunched a pop career under their character names of PJ & Duncan gaining some modest hits with Let's Get Ready to Rhumble and a cover of The Monkee's Stepping Stone, the pair even managed to receive a Brit nomination for Best Newcomer but were beaten by Oasis to the disquiet of their fans. On TV however the pair bounced around the stations doing different projects with varying degrees of until 1998 they with Cat Deeley would present 2 programmes back to back on Saturday mornings, SM:TV and CD:UK. Both programmes were massive successes but the fact is that pair of them drew heavily on previous programmes, SM:TV owed it's anarchic nature to Tiswas while CD:UK borrowed heavily from early 1980's Top of the Pop and you can see this every week on BBC4. After 3 years the pair left for other and left the Saturday morning kids show to die for good. The pair next popped on Pop Idol where Simon Cowell first displayed his nasty man act though he was not the first as Tony Hatch was even more brutal on 1970's talent show, the 3 obviously liked worked together as they would work on Britain's Got Talent. The pair then launched Saturday Night Takeaway a show which played heavily on the Noel Edmonds Trinity of Late, Late Breakfast Show, Saturday Roadshow and House Party and has been running for years. I'm a Celeb was launched quietly in the summer of 2002 and became a instant hit, however you can see elements of Survivor the US hit that flopped badly when ITV tried to launch on British shores. But the pair have had flops, there was Slap Bang which was an early evening version of SM:TV, the forgotten pair of Pokerface and Push the Button. Then came their third outing with Cowell, Red or Black? which saw players trying to pick out challenges in an manner reminiscent of charity game show You Bet, only the Red or Black? players were playing for one million pounds for themselves but the show flopped badly. The next time you see anything that celebrates the Geordie pair ponder on the originality of their ideas
The annual fest of watching people you will have heard of, may have heard of or have no idea who they are eating animal parts in a jungle island starts on Sunday. Yes I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here is back and is presided over as ever by Ant & Dec. It is curious to think how they career path has taken them. On the back of the popularity of their roles in Byker Gove they lunched a pop career under their character names of PJ & Duncan gaining some modest hits with Let's Get Ready to Rhumble and a cover of The Monkee's Stepping Stone, the pair even managed to receive a Brit nomination for Best Newcomer but were beaten by Oasis to the disquiet of their fans. On TV however the pair bounced around the stations doing different projects with varying degrees of until 1998 they with Cat Deeley would present 2 programmes back to back on Saturday mornings, SM:TV and CD:UK. Both programmes were massive successes but the fact is that pair of them drew heavily on previous programmes, SM:TV owed it's anarchic nature to Tiswas while CD:UK borrowed heavily from early 1980's Top of the Pop and you can see this every week on BBC4. After 3 years the pair left for other and left the Saturday morning kids show to die for good. The pair next popped on Pop Idol where Simon Cowell first displayed his nasty man act though he was not the first as Tony Hatch was even more brutal on 1970's talent show, the 3 obviously liked worked together as they would work on Britain's Got Talent. The pair then launched Saturday Night Takeaway a show which played heavily on the Noel Edmonds Trinity of Late, Late Breakfast Show, Saturday Roadshow and House Party and has been running for years. I'm a Celeb was launched quietly in the summer of 2002 and became a instant hit, however you can see elements of Survivor the US hit that flopped badly when ITV tried to launch on British shores. But the pair have had flops, there was Slap Bang which was an early evening version of SM:TV, the forgotten pair of Pokerface and Push the Button. Then came their third outing with Cowell, Red or Black? which saw players trying to pick out challenges in an manner reminiscent of charity game show You Bet, only the Red or Black? players were playing for one million pounds for themselves but the show flopped badly. The next time you see anything that celebrates the Geordie pair ponder on the originality of their ideas
Monday, 7 November 2016
BBC2 stagnation?
This week's BBC2 top 30 features just 13 programmes. 5 years ago in the corresponding week it was 17. It is now clear that the strip and standard format of scheduling has been applied to BBC2. The main problem is that the channel that could offer a wide variety of programming from current affairs, culture programming, history documentaries etc has now been turned into a de facto lifestyle channel as evidenced by the likes of Great British Menu, Antiques Road Trip et al taking pride and place thus robbing the channel of it's distinctive edge and that is a great loss to the viewer.
This week's BBC2 top 30 features just 13 programmes. 5 years ago in the corresponding week it was 17. It is now clear that the strip and standard format of scheduling has been applied to BBC2. The main problem is that the channel that could offer a wide variety of programming from current affairs, culture programming, history documentaries etc has now been turned into a de facto lifestyle channel as evidenced by the likes of Great British Menu, Antiques Road Trip et al taking pride and place thus robbing the channel of it's distinctive edge and that is a great loss to the viewer.
Sunday, 6 November 2016
Paxman on Donald vs Hilary
Jeremy Paxman developed a reputation for no nonsense interviewing during his 20+ years on Newsnight, racking up a series of interviews that took no pity on it's subject with the most famous being Michael Howard in his then role as Home Sectary. Since his retirement from Newsnight has made an number of programmes with the most recent being on the upcoming US Presidential Election. However to get the full blown Paxman you have to look to look at 2 guest appearances, one on Channel 4 satire show The Last Leg and the another on famed Irish chat show The Late Late Show. The Last Leg takes in news of one Clinton's aides Husband had been caught texting an under age girl photos of his private part but both have Paxman declaring both candidates as the worst ever. In Paxman words "Trump is a monster" and "Clinton cannot articulate her vision". On the basis of this can we expect more unrestrained Paxman soon?
Jeremy Paxman developed a reputation for no nonsense interviewing during his 20+ years on Newsnight, racking up a series of interviews that took no pity on it's subject with the most famous being Michael Howard in his then role as Home Sectary. Since his retirement from Newsnight has made an number of programmes with the most recent being on the upcoming US Presidential Election. However to get the full blown Paxman you have to look to look at 2 guest appearances, one on Channel 4 satire show The Last Leg and the another on famed Irish chat show The Late Late Show. The Last Leg takes in news of one Clinton's aides Husband had been caught texting an under age girl photos of his private part but both have Paxman declaring both candidates as the worst ever. In Paxman words "Trump is a monster" and "Clinton cannot articulate her vision". On the basis of this can we expect more unrestrained Paxman soon?
Saturday, 5 November 2016
Awards furore
At last nights MOBO awards there was a bit of mix up concerning who won the prize of Best Song. WSTRN were announced as winners and gave an acceptance speech before it was announced MC Abra Cadabra was the actual winner. This is not the first time that an awards event got mired in contervestry. Here are a couple of other examples.
1999 Brit awards
When the award for Best British Newcomer was announced to say that when Belle & Sebastian emerged as winners caused a bit of a shock is to put it mildly. Pete Waterman producer of hot favourites Steps demanded a recount, it turned out that the B&S used a clever internet campaign among it's large student to drum up support for the public vote.
2005 British Comedy awards
Ant and Dec won the People's Choice Award. But the Geordie pair found themselves having to give back the award. So what happened well it turns out the fault lies with the man who presented the award, Williams said he would appear at the awards as long he would give an award to his Geordie mates. However it turned out that the actual winner of the public vote was Tate. An investigation by a law firm could not find any evidence that suggested that the mix up was a result to guarantee Williams involvement.
At last nights MOBO awards there was a bit of mix up concerning who won the prize of Best Song. WSTRN were announced as winners and gave an acceptance speech before it was announced MC Abra Cadabra was the actual winner. This is not the first time that an awards event got mired in contervestry. Here are a couple of other examples.
1999 Brit awards
When the award for Best British Newcomer was announced to say that when Belle & Sebastian emerged as winners caused a bit of a shock is to put it mildly. Pete Waterman producer of hot favourites Steps demanded a recount, it turned out that the B&S used a clever internet campaign among it's large student to drum up support for the public vote.
2005 British Comedy awards
Ant and Dec won the People's Choice Award. But the Geordie pair found themselves having to give back the award. So what happened well it turns out the fault lies with the man who presented the award, Williams said he would appear at the awards as long he would give an award to his Geordie mates. However it turned out that the actual winner of the public vote was Tate. An investigation by a law firm could not find any evidence that suggested that the mix up was a result to guarantee Williams involvement.
Friday, 4 November 2016
Terry Christensen: EU Warrior
On this morning's The Wright Stuff hosted Richard Madely one of the topics discussed was of course the decision by the High Court that Parliament should vote on whether Article 50 should be triggered to exit the European Union. One of the panelists on the show was Terry Christensen who admitted to being a remain voter. First he had a verbal set too with fellow panelist Lowri Turner (a leave voter) over a newspaper article by left wing journalist Polly Toynbee in which she urged MPs to ignore their constituents and vote against the motion and then he told a succession of angry leave voting phone callers that this was what they had voted for, in the form of a soverigen Parliament. And to think that this is the man who in the 1990's presented The Word called by some one of the programmes in the history of UK TV, having stunts involving bodily fluids, inviting Oliver Reed onto the show knowing full well he would get drunk and the female lead singer of a band revealing her private parts during a performance. As said bit of a turn around for Terry.
On this morning's The Wright Stuff hosted Richard Madely one of the topics discussed was of course the decision by the High Court that Parliament should vote on whether Article 50 should be triggered to exit the European Union. One of the panelists on the show was Terry Christensen who admitted to being a remain voter. First he had a verbal set too with fellow panelist Lowri Turner (a leave voter) over a newspaper article by left wing journalist Polly Toynbee in which she urged MPs to ignore their constituents and vote against the motion and then he told a succession of angry leave voting phone callers that this was what they had voted for, in the form of a soverigen Parliament. And to think that this is the man who in the 1990's presented The Word called by some one of the programmes in the history of UK TV, having stunts involving bodily fluids, inviting Oliver Reed onto the show knowing full well he would get drunk and the female lead singer of a band revealing her private parts during a performance. As said bit of a turn around for Terry.
Thursday, 3 November 2016
US TV hits that never took off in the UK
There has been a history of American TV hits (Dallas. CSI, 24, NCIS etc) replicating their success on British shores but there are some examples those only gaining a small and modest cult following in this country. Here are some examples.
Criminal Minds
This rather formulaic crime show which follows a FBI unit tracking serial killers has been a long running ratings hit in the US but when Channel 5 showed the first season but nobody watched. The show goes out barely noticed on Sky Living.
Grey's Anatomy
In the US this is a show occupies a lot of news print. However when C5 tried to pair this with House they found that the fans of Hugh Laurie's cynical character switched over rather than stick with the much more soapy drama that followed. The show suffered the same fate as Criminal Minds
The Practice
A long running legal drama that in it's run twice won the Best Drama Series Emmy. However numerous UK stations ran the show without much success.
There has been a history of American TV hits (Dallas. CSI, 24, NCIS etc) replicating their success on British shores but there are some examples those only gaining a small and modest cult following in this country. Here are some examples.
Criminal Minds
This rather formulaic crime show which follows a FBI unit tracking serial killers has been a long running ratings hit in the US but when Channel 5 showed the first season but nobody watched. The show goes out barely noticed on Sky Living.
Grey's Anatomy
In the US this is a show occupies a lot of news print. However when C5 tried to pair this with House they found that the fans of Hugh Laurie's cynical character switched over rather than stick with the much more soapy drama that followed. The show suffered the same fate as Criminal Minds
The Practice
A long running legal drama that in it's run twice won the Best Drama Series Emmy. However numerous UK stations ran the show without much success.
Wednesday, 2 November 2016
DVD commentaries to listen to: part 1
John Cleese on Fawlty Towers - Multi episodes
Cleese is a mine of information when he watches his and then wife's Connie Booth classic sit-com. The name of Stubbs the good builder in The Builders episode comes from Una Stubbs Father who himself was a builder and gave them information for the episode. Prunella Scales was somewhat apperhesive when ever she had a scene where Sybil ever hit some one and some what pulled her punches. Clesse is full of praise for the various guest stars the show had, one example being Bernard Cribbens in The Hotel Inspector as Cleese salutes his comic timing. A commentary on the one of the great sit-com that is worthy of the programme it accompanies.
John Cleese on Fawlty Towers - Multi episodes
Cleese is a mine of information when he watches his and then wife's Connie Booth classic sit-com. The name of Stubbs the good builder in The Builders episode comes from Una Stubbs Father who himself was a builder and gave them information for the episode. Prunella Scales was somewhat apperhesive when ever she had a scene where Sybil ever hit some one and some what pulled her punches. Clesse is full of praise for the various guest stars the show had, one example being Bernard Cribbens in The Hotel Inspector as Cleese salutes his comic timing. A commentary on the one of the great sit-com that is worthy of the programme it accompanies.
Tuesday, 1 November 2016
Colour clash
A bit of trouble has erupted over next week's World Cup qualifier between England and Scotland. FIFA has told the SFA that the Scottish team to play in the change strip of Pink. The reason for this is that the regular Scotland kit is mainly Dark Blue with White sleeves. FIFA have decided just on the basis of the sleeves alone there would be too much of a clash with the regular England kit of all White hence the change. Expect some gnashing of teeth in the Scottish press.
A bit of trouble has erupted over next week's World Cup qualifier between England and Scotland. FIFA has told the SFA that the Scottish team to play in the change strip of Pink. The reason for this is that the regular Scotland kit is mainly Dark Blue with White sleeves. FIFA have decided just on the basis of the sleeves alone there would be too much of a clash with the regular England kit of all White hence the change. Expect some gnashing of teeth in the Scottish press.
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