I did this show to see if I can still communicate with human beings
Paul O’Grady hosts new show Saturday Night Line Up, where celebs discover what members of the public really think of them
Paul O’Grady is shaking up our Saturday nights with a new game show that puts celebrity egos to the test. The host will help celebrities discover what the public really think of them as four stars guests find out where they rank alongside the others in questions posed to a panel of 1000 people.
In a nod to his former character Lily Savage, known for her acid tongue and feisty put-downs, Paul took swipes at several TV stars along the way.
We quizzed Paul, 66, about the series…
Filming a chat show can be like pulling teeth with ‘Yes, no, don’t know’ answers
What tempted you back to Saturday night TV?
Well, it was a real change because everything I do is on location and I’m often with animals and not humans, so I wanted to see if I can still communicate with human beings. I wanted to see if I’ve still got any social skills left.
Can you explain the format of the show?
A question will be asked and then the four guests have to decide among themselves who they think is the most likely, and rank themselves in positions one to four. They all tell a little anecdote relating to the question and then they line up in the order they think the public have put them in.
We believe you also have celebs quizzing the celebrity guests?
Each week there is a question from another celebrity, so the first week, Sharon Osbourne dials in with a question, one week it’s Cliff Richard, another week it’s Nigel Havers. Then at the end there’s a quickfire round where they only have 10 seconds to get in the right order as the questions appear on the screen behind them – it’s pandemonium.
Do the guests all start off being very modest about where they place themselves in the line-up?
A little bit. At the beginning, it’s all a bit polite and then it just gets a bit raucous. I really enjoyed it. It was like talking to friends for an hour or two and then you’d go home. It was such a fun show to make. Sometimes, when you’re filming a chat show, it can be like pulling teeth – you sometimes just get, ‘Yes, no, don’t know’ answers – but on this show, there was none of that. Everyone was so rela xed.
Has anyone taken huge offence at the result of the public poll to a question?
No, thank goodness. And when they’re picked in the bottom spot, I feel terrible for them. I say, ‘Listen, take no notice – it’s only a game’.
Who is easiest to work with, animals or celebrities?
I think animals because I get on so well with them but they can disgrace you and decide to mount you on camera or wee on you. Thankfully, none of the celebrities does that.