It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
The Great British Bake Off starts tonight on BBC1 at 8pm and that means tomorrow morning we’re going to get a *rating* for The Great British Bake Off.
It’s not up against Celebrity Squares this time round so I’ve got an inkling it will do quite well.
Meanwhile Anne Hegerty has been officially unveiled as one of the Australian Chasers, in TV’s worst kept secret since Jenny Ryan was revealed as a new UK Chaser.
Full review after I’ve actually played it, it’s currently £1.49 on iOS, it’ll be out on Android imminently and I will update when I’ve got a link. Features in-app purchase opportunities.
Edit: I was going to write a full review, but in truth the app isn’t very good and I can’t be bothered. Here’s a mini one I wrote in the comments listing what I think is wrong with it. Can Endemol Games not just outsource to Barnstorm or something?
Mmm, I mean it doesn’t matter what I say or think because I suspect it will fly off the shelves regardless, but in truth I’d be inclined to save your money – lazy character creation, repeating questions already, fairly crucially the actual Two Tribes element is effectively meaningless (you answer a question and then so what? This needed to collect stats from players to see how ‘normal’ you are at the very least considering it affects the quiz not a jot). And then there are small things – the timer showing a .0, that a tie means you’re automatically in the losing tribe, the semi-final doesn’t try to match the show.
If you liked South Park Richard Osman from the Pointless app and want to pay £1.49 for the privilege then by all means don’t let me stop you.
Weekdays, 5pm,
ITV1
We’ve always known that physics is cool and great for games but it’s only really since Tipping Point that television makers have tried to tap into this burgeoning branch of science.
The latest show to try not to fail in the The Chase summer slot is Freeze Out hosted by Mark Durden-Smith and involves players answering questions and playing variations of shuffleboard on a gigantic circular ice table which has different graphics projected on it each round to create targets.
This is a fun idea but just a few alarm bells are ringing, namely because of this from the press release:
Freeze Out is essentially a brand new sport – combining accessible questions with a table game of skill, precision and power.
Hosted by the ever-affable Mark Durden-Smith, and officiated by former Premiership referee Uriah Rennie.
Nothing says they understand the lightness of a touch a 5pm quiz requires than suggesting ‘hey – we’re not just a quiz, we’re a sport!’ and having a premiership referee on hand to officiate, something not seen since Paul “Durks” Durkin on Simply the Best.
Also it’s not helped by Hello Campers basically tanking at 4pm, although having Tipping Point repeats as a lead in might be too much physics for the average viewer. We’ll see.
The closing date for contestants was just three weeks ago, so this is a super fast turnaround or they’re hoping to make more very quickly if it takes off.
Bother’s Bar notes the passing of television legend Cilla Black at 72. Most people will remember her for marshalling Blind Date, here at the Bar I don’t think I’ve ever held my breath watching a show as much as I did watching the brilliant Moment of Truth, of which there’s sadly little on Youtube:
Next Saturday more Americans will be staying up for 24 hours and playing game shows for charity as part of the Trivia Championships on North America, it begins 5pm UK time and there are some interesting shows on offer. You will be able to watch online and donate to kids’ charities here.
In other news it is Saturday night! And it being Saturday night means that you’ll probably be able to watch Race to Escape when you get up tomorrow. I will be!
Thursday, 8:30pm
ITV1
I mean I’m not really expecting much discussion of this to be honest, and you do rather get the impression it’s been designed to a) fail and b) get people talking about (the current state of) ITV.
But saying this shepherding is a proper skill so there’s no real reason why you couldn’t make a celebrity reality thing out of sheepdog trials (Which have and indeed still do have an audience) and if it goes badly it might end up being quite funny which I expect will be the appeal. Whatsmore it’s only half an hour a week so it’s not an ordeal. It sounds like a straightforward knockout competition with two celebs battling it out each week, tonight Brendan Cole and Amanda Lamb.
Other celebs are Lesley Joseph, Lee Pearson, Wendi Peters, Richard Rawson (i.e. Fazer from N-Dubz), Kelle Bryan (from Eternal) and of course Tony Blackburn. Gabby Logan hosts.