Showcasing another selection of slip-ups
Take a look at ITV’s Saturday night schedule – go on. For two hours between 8pm and 10pm, the evening’s primetime, it features probably the day’s cheapest programmes to produce. Nothing wrong with a bit of thrift, of course, and it just goes to show that you don’t have to spend a fortune to make good, old-fashioned entertainment. So keep your CGI special effects and big-budget talent shows – give the new run ofYou Saw Them Here First and
All New It’ll Be Alright on the Night (Saturday, ITV, 9pm)
a watch instead. The latter has become a veritable institution over the years. Those with long memories will remember that it was originally presented by Denis Norden, a legend in comedy circles thanks to his writing partnership with Frank Muir. When their partnership broke up as Muir moved into management at the BBC, Nordern continued writing. Then, in 1977, he began presenting It’ll Be Alright on the Night, a show inspired by the American series Bloopers, which featured clips of actors and TV presenters making mistakes while recording films, programmes and news reports. It was an instant success. Of course there were only three channels back then, but it’s still a ratings-winner for ITV. Norden is now 94 and retired from the programme in 2006. Many believed it would then be axed, but two years later, Griff Rhys Jones took over and has introduced one-off editions sporadically ever since. He’s managed to slot in the recording of this episode before returning to the West End for the first time in five years; it was recently announced that he would star in a new production of Moliere’s The Miser at the Garrick Theatre next March. “I do sometimes hanker after a more regimented life,” admits the performer, whose career has been somewhat eclectic.“I've been involved in entertainment of one kind or another for many years now. Sometimes I feel I out to go and get a proper job, but it's a bit late for that.” Instead, he will spend an hour tonight introducing clips of Elton John, David Beckham and Ricky Gervais, fumbled takes from the sets of Coronation Street, EastEnders and Mr Selfridge, and of Jeremy Kyle having a painful encounter with a rogue camera. But best of all are a collection of mistakes from The One Show, which prove just how perilous live TV can be.