Stool Pigeon August 2021 – The Results

Eyes down, look in:

• S2 of smash hit Lightning will drop the physical challenge round. I know, I’m devastated too.

When they did the 1995 Krypton Factor revamp, producers wanted to get rid of the assault course. Gordon Burns apparently told them that this was a stupid idea, the assault course WAS The Krypton Factor and of course he was right, and he won the argument (although they moved it to the beginning of the show). Now I’m not saying Lightning is the new The Krypton Factor – one lasted almost two decades, the other one is lucky to last two series, but I feel this story tells us something, although I’m not sure I quite know what to be honest.

• 1% Club was an absolute mess of a production – from leaving people standing outside in direct sunlight for an hour and a half to refusing to let people go to the bathroom after eight hours. There were so so many issues.

Not gonna lie, we love a production car crash.

• Supermarket Sweep Series 3 is going to return, but the market is getting another slight makeover.

I’m not sure about the veracity of this, but my local Co-op is currently shut for a makeover. Coincidence? You decide.

• I’m a Celeb Aftersun (or whatever it’s called) is coming back as an ITV Hub exclusive. It is going to be hosted by Martin and Roman Kemp.
• [Redacted Fortune Favours the Brave stuff at producer’s request, but it doesn’t sound all that promising.]

• Rumours that there’s going to be some sort of Chaser exchange trip, with three Australian Chasers coming to the UK to film some UK shows, three American Chasers going to Australia, and three British Chasers going to the US.

I reckon the rumours have been made up by the writer. I can see the UK and Australian Chasers doing an exchange with each other, the idea that an American audience would give a toss about a couple of limeys doesn’t really seem feasible – The Beast is an anomaly in that he’s massive and can convincingly(ish) pull off the wrestler attitude in a way I can’t quite see with Jenny Ryan, as much as I love her work.

• People of the Internet are continuing to do detective work on future Taskmaster casts based on their social media profiles, with the latest theories including Rhys James, Harriet Kemsley, and Chris Addison.

Wooh.

• Winning Combination series 2 has had a slight format change. Instead of buzz in and answer a question correctly, then pick 2 from a grid of 6, it’s now pick 2 from a board of 9 (revealed one at a time).
• I’ve been told there’s a new Egghead (I don’t think that’s news. Jeremy Vine hinted at that in a Radio Times piece recently). I’m sorry I don’t know who it is. But someone at the Bar is bound to know.
• Richard Osman’s House of Games returns in September with another 106 shows. (20 Weeks on BBC2, 6 episodes for BBC1, including XMAS special) Champions of Champions specials returning featuring Daily Winners as well as weekly winners. Upcoming new Guests for regular House of Games feature Sarah Millican, Nabil Abdul Rashid, Philippa Perry, Luke Kempner, Sean Fletcher, Kimberley Wyatt, Louise Minchin, Chris Washington, Sanjeev Kohli, Tiff Stevenson, Jo Brand, Roger Black, Fern Brady, Martin Lewis, Kemah Bob, Gareth Thomas, Olga Koch, Toby Tarrant, Matthew Pinsent, Suzi Perry, Thaniya Moore, Ingrid Oliver, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, Lucy Beaumont, Mike Wozniak and Dennis Taylor. House of Games Night guests: 1 group featuring Steph McGovern, Ed Balls, Ben Miller and Janette Manrara. Other group features Dara O’Briain with 3 other unknown guests.

That seems factual enough.

• I have nothing except have you noticed how on All4 you can’t watch any series of The Jump, however you can for some reason watch the only series of its unwatched E4 spin-off series The Jump: On The Piste.

A casualty of its own success.