Sea change in the talent show format
Sweet dreams for viewers as hit series ditch toxic nastiness
series with rarely a cross word said and quiet-spoken Harry Redknapp crowned king of the jungle.
Saturday evening viewing starts with The Voice and the BBC disaster The Greatest Dancer, where the judges seem more interested in showing off their own footwork than they are in the performers.
Then it’s time for Ireland’s Got Talent, which was the homegrown hit of 2018 and is set to retain that title in 2019. The Sea Of Change choir moved judges and viewers to tears with their take on the Greatest Showman anthem This Is Me.
Denise Van Outen hit the Golden Buzzer revealing her best pal had been battling breast cancer and applauding their courage.
Oddball acts and a wellbalanced panel of judges means IGT has breathed new life into an The Sea Of Change choir old format. There’s more celebrity antics on Sunday with RTE’S Dancing With The Stars going head to head with Dancing On Ice, which is also shown on Virgin Media One.
Both have loyal fans but I’d rather watch the latter – and not just because Gemma Collins is TV gold. DWTS has a new presenter this year with Jennifer Zamparelli replacing Amanda Byram.
And yes the show’s production is top notch as is the quality of dancing.
But maybe that’s where it’s going wrong. It’s too perfect, too predictable. There’s no joker in the pack, no Dancing Dessie or Marty Morrissey or Bernard O’shea.
Give me the GC wobbling around the rink or Brian Mcfadden flinging his partner in the air and skating off before helping her with an awkward landing every time.