Gamesmaster, 25 years on
This year it has been 25 years since Gamesmaster made it's debut on Channel 4, the show still to this day remains the the high mark of how gaming is covered on television. The show was a mix of challenges, reviews and tips. The challenges would see the challenger trying to match a target such completing a level of a game by a time limit, they would be one in which would seen a celebrity take part and on some occasions they compete against someone else in a beat them up or sports game. The review section saw members of the gaming press pass verdict on the latest titles. Then there was the tips section in which gamers would ask advice from the eponymous Gamesmaster, Patrick Moore took on the role with a sense of bemusement. With the exception of one series the show was presented by Dominik Diamond with a mischievous sense of humour. Gamesmaster ran from 1992 to 1998 but the name lives on by being the name of one the UK's biggest selling gaming magazines. Nothing before and after has matched Gamesmaster for it's coverage of gaming on TV.
You can watch episodes on Youtube
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Monday, 9 January 2017
Sherlock and the case of the unsubtle references
For anyone has not seen the episode The Lying Detective please do not read any further because there are SPOILERS
In The Lying Detective Sherlock goes up against Culverton Smith who to the public is a cherry Northern celebrity. He is popular with children, raises vast sums of money for charity and is connected to the highest levels of the establishment. However there is a darker side to him such as intimidating anyone who dares to question in public and visits the morgue in the hospital he had raised money for on a regular basis. The obvious inspiration for Culverton Smith is Jimmy Savile. This is not the first time that Sherlock has featured a villain who has a real life inspiration, His Last Vow features a media Mogul who has a lot of influence on those who sit in positions of power. One real life media mogul comes to mind instantly. Both episodes were written by Steven Moffat and one wonders if there was any personal axe to grind.
For anyone has not seen the episode The Lying Detective please do not read any further because there are SPOILERS
In The Lying Detective Sherlock goes up against Culverton Smith who to the public is a cherry Northern celebrity. He is popular with children, raises vast sums of money for charity and is connected to the highest levels of the establishment. However there is a darker side to him such as intimidating anyone who dares to question in public and visits the morgue in the hospital he had raised money for on a regular basis. The obvious inspiration for Culverton Smith is Jimmy Savile. This is not the first time that Sherlock has featured a villain who has a real life inspiration, His Last Vow features a media Mogul who has a lot of influence on those who sit in positions of power. One real life media mogul comes to mind instantly. Both episodes were written by Steven Moffat and one wonders if there was any personal axe to grind.
Saturday, 7 January 2017
TV Review: Taboo
Starring Tom Hardy, Oona Chaplin, Jonathan Pryce
Drama, 9:15pm, Saturday, BBC1
Taking the prize of the most unusual programme ever to be put on a BBC1 Saturday night schedule is Taboo. Unlike other costume dramas for example Poldark it goes for a much a grounded approach. The only thing it has in common with Poldark is that both feature characters coming back from the dead and causing much commotion. Taboo is a much more darker brew, featuring the use of words that you would not normally find in a programme of this type, Tom Hardy's character going through what could only be called a mental breakdown in a mortuary and being shot in a sepia tone. Tom Hardy brings his intense A-game, Jonathan Pryce does his snake oil salesman act very well and the actors who make his band of conspirators are all despicable to the core. Taboo may not be for everyone taste but the next 7 episodes should be worth it for those who stick with it.
Starring Tom Hardy, Oona Chaplin, Jonathan Pryce
Drama, 9:15pm, Saturday, BBC1
Taking the prize of the most unusual programme ever to be put on a BBC1 Saturday night schedule is Taboo. Unlike other costume dramas for example Poldark it goes for a much a grounded approach. The only thing it has in common with Poldark is that both feature characters coming back from the dead and causing much commotion. Taboo is a much more darker brew, featuring the use of words that you would not normally find in a programme of this type, Tom Hardy's character going through what could only be called a mental breakdown in a mortuary and being shot in a sepia tone. Tom Hardy brings his intense A-game, Jonathan Pryce does his snake oil salesman act very well and the actors who make his band of conspirators are all despicable to the core. Taboo may not be for everyone taste but the next 7 episodes should be worth it for those who stick with it.
Jaime Oliver and Brexit
News has broke that Jamie Oliver is to close an number of his restaurants. Among the reasons was rising costs caused by the frothcoming Brexit. Will this spur Oliver into action where he confront the exponents of Brxut including Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Iain Duncan Smith for pursing their political dogma over the nation's taste buds?
News has broke that Jamie Oliver is to close an number of his restaurants. Among the reasons was rising costs caused by the frothcoming Brexit. Will this spur Oliver into action where he confront the exponents of Brxut including Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Iain Duncan Smith for pursing their political dogma over the nation's taste buds?
Friday, 6 January 2017
A brief history of sport on Channel 4
From Saturday the BDO World Darts Championship will run for 9 days, however it will for the first time will not be going out on it's traditional home of the BBC but instead it will be going out on Channel 4. The BBC cut its ties with the BDO to save costs and cover the 2 day Champions League of Darts run by the rival body the PDC and Channel 4 replacing the Beeb for the BDO event.
Channel 4 covering Darts is a long way from the sports it covered when it started in 1982. For about a decade and a half brought to the British viewer sports not usually seen by the British viewer. American Football, Aussie Rules Football, Baseball. Basketball, Gaelic Football, Sumo Wrestling and that curiosity from India Kabaddi. There was also coverage of events like the Tour De France. And in the days when Channel 4 had close ties with ITV, they jointly covered the 1988 Summer Olympics.
In 1992 saw Channel 4 take it's first steps in the sporting mainstream. It started coverage of Italy's serue A Football League. This was prompted in part by the presence of English players David Plattt, Paul Ince and the most famous of them all, Paul Gascoigne. For the next 10 years during the course of the League season, a live match would be shown on a Sunday afternoon. Though by the end Channel 4 showed matches infrequent before dropping it.
In 1998 Channel 4 did the unthinkable and snatched the rights to England's Test Cricket team home matches from the BBC. Despite the fury of Countdown fans angry that they favourite show being deplaced in the schedules, C4 gained praise and awards for it's coverage. However in a running theme Sky came brought the rights.
The sport that Channel 4 had the longest association with was Horse Racing. The peak came when from 2012 to 2016 it held a monopoly of Free to Air coverage that included big events including the Grand National. However with declining ratings for the big meetings the deal ended with ITV raking over.
Perhaps the most infamous chapter in Channel 4's sport coverage was when it brought the rights to cover the World Athletics Championships. For the 2011 event Gadget Show presenter Ortis Delay was chosen to anchor the coverage. But making a large number of gaffes he was replace midway through and the IAAF sold the rights back to the BBC.
Channel 4 has most recently started to cover the Formula 1 World Championship after the BBC (as with the BDO World Darts Championship) cut short it's contract to save costs. However in 2019 (yet again) Sky will have exclusive rights.
How long Channel 4 and the BDO will be together remains to be seen. However one thing that you can count is that Channel 4 will always make a surprise with what sports it covers.
From Saturday the BDO World Darts Championship will run for 9 days, however it will for the first time will not be going out on it's traditional home of the BBC but instead it will be going out on Channel 4. The BBC cut its ties with the BDO to save costs and cover the 2 day Champions League of Darts run by the rival body the PDC and Channel 4 replacing the Beeb for the BDO event.
Channel 4 covering Darts is a long way from the sports it covered when it started in 1982. For about a decade and a half brought to the British viewer sports not usually seen by the British viewer. American Football, Aussie Rules Football, Baseball. Basketball, Gaelic Football, Sumo Wrestling and that curiosity from India Kabaddi. There was also coverage of events like the Tour De France. And in the days when Channel 4 had close ties with ITV, they jointly covered the 1988 Summer Olympics.
In 1992 saw Channel 4 take it's first steps in the sporting mainstream. It started coverage of Italy's serue A Football League. This was prompted in part by the presence of English players David Plattt, Paul Ince and the most famous of them all, Paul Gascoigne. For the next 10 years during the course of the League season, a live match would be shown on a Sunday afternoon. Though by the end Channel 4 showed matches infrequent before dropping it.
In 1998 Channel 4 did the unthinkable and snatched the rights to England's Test Cricket team home matches from the BBC. Despite the fury of Countdown fans angry that they favourite show being deplaced in the schedules, C4 gained praise and awards for it's coverage. However in a running theme Sky came brought the rights.
The sport that Channel 4 had the longest association with was Horse Racing. The peak came when from 2012 to 2016 it held a monopoly of Free to Air coverage that included big events including the Grand National. However with declining ratings for the big meetings the deal ended with ITV raking over.
Perhaps the most infamous chapter in Channel 4's sport coverage was when it brought the rights to cover the World Athletics Championships. For the 2011 event Gadget Show presenter Ortis Delay was chosen to anchor the coverage. But making a large number of gaffes he was replace midway through and the IAAF sold the rights back to the BBC.
Channel 4 has most recently started to cover the Formula 1 World Championship after the BBC (as with the BDO World Darts Championship) cut short it's contract to save costs. However in 2019 (yet again) Sky will have exclusive rights.
How long Channel 4 and the BDO will be together remains to be seen. However one thing that you can count is that Channel 4 will always make a surprise with what sports it covers.
Thursday, 5 January 2017
Yorkshire book seller update
Steve Bloom who gained attention after calling a book shop visitor a 'pain in the arse' if they refused to pay a 50p entrance fee has now apologised for the comments he made The head of the local parish council has suggested Mr Bloom should go on a charm offencive in to ease the upset and difficulties he has caused in the local community.
Steve Bloom who gained attention after calling a book shop visitor a 'pain in the arse' if they refused to pay a 50p entrance fee has now apologised for the comments he made The head of the local parish council has suggested Mr Bloom should go on a charm offencive in to ease the upset and difficulties he has caused in the local community.
Basil Fawlty now owns a book shop in Yorkshire
Steve Bloom the owner of a book shop called Bloomingdales in the Yorkshire town of Hawes has found himself in the national press for his treatment of a Customer. Mr Bloom has a policy of that if anyone enters the shop they have to pay 50p though it is refunded if an item is bought. When one such person refused to pay up Mr Bloom called them a pain in the arse. Mr Bloom has been the subject of complaints to the local parish council about his behaviour, Mr Bloom justifies the entrance fee as a way of sorting out serious prospective buyer. Though there have many complaints about Mr Bloom at least one review on the Internet said the entrance was worth it.
Steve Bloom the owner of a book shop called Bloomingdales in the Yorkshire town of Hawes has found himself in the national press for his treatment of a Customer. Mr Bloom has a policy of that if anyone enters the shop they have to pay 50p though it is refunded if an item is bought. When one such person refused to pay up Mr Bloom called them a pain in the arse. Mr Bloom has been the subject of complaints to the local parish council about his behaviour, Mr Bloom justifies the entrance fee as a way of sorting out serious prospective buyer. Though there have many complaints about Mr Bloom at least one review on the Internet said the entrance was worth it.
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