Beeb takes easy way out

PROGRAMME titles tend to go in phases. Currently we’re going through a “How To…” phase. For example, we’ve had ITV’s How To Spend It Well, we’ve had Channel 4’s How To Lose Weight Well, and of course we’ve had Channel 5’s ever popular How To Create

Yet Another Format For Jane Flipping McDonald.

Clearly keen to be in tune with this trend is a new health show on BBC1 tonight called EASY WAYS TO LIVE WELL hosted by Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall and (on precisely the same money, I trust) Steph

McGovern. “But hold on,” I hear you cry. “That isn’t a ‘How To…’ title.”

Well, no, you’re right, it isn’t. But it is really. It’s just a “How To…” title in disguise.The BBC hates to be seen to be following other channels’ lead.

“EasyWays” is actually rather misleading, because some of these turn out to be anything but. In order, for example, to find out how healthy her gut is, bacteria-wise, Steph has to put herself through a spectacularly degrading process.

And as for Hugh, he’s told that one of the most efficient ways to reduce his stress levels is to take a freezing cold shower for at least three minutes every morning.

He does insist afterwards: “I feel alive!” So, OK, I guess that’s encouraging. Hearing him gasp: “I don’t feel alive,” may have left the show’s producers in something of a pickle.

Straight afterwards, SPY IN THE WILD returns for a second series.This, you may recall, is the wildlife show in which real-life packs of animals are filmed without their permission, tiny cameras having been cunningly concealed inside automated lookalikes who’ve infiltrated their community.

In each instance, of course, it’s far from certain that the real-life creatures will be fooled into believing the interloper is one of them.That’s half the fun, or in some cases as much as three-quarters.

And I must say that one of tonight’s, a fake baby gorilla, looks less than wholly convincing, at least to me.

For one thing, his hair is all wrong. It’s too curly.Also, the hidden camera means one of his eyes is a different colour from the other.

Will the senior silverback, boss of this bunch, really be taken in by this new arrival? Or will he question why it looks part gorilla, part poodle and part David Bowie?

Elsewhere, talking of fake animals, THE GREAT POTTERY THROW DOWN finds the contestants creating model ones. “We want to see the characteristics of the animals captured in clay,” insist the judges.

They’re then taken outside and fired.The clay animals, I mean.