Busy man Alan’s still playing his TV cards right with return of new series
Georgia Humphreys catches up with Alan Carr as his Epic Gameshow returns to TV
TV has undoubtedly helped the nation get through the last 12 months – especially game shows which all the family can watch together.
And what’s not to love about classic formats, say, Play Your Cards Right, or Bullseye, being re-imagined, and given “a bit of steroids, pumped up ready for Saturday night”, as loveable host Alan Carr puts it?
After the understandably huge success of Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow in the first lockdown last spring, the brand new second series has been lengthened (we’re getting 10 episodes, and a Christmas special).
WHAT’S DIFFERENT THIS TIME?
We’ve added Name That Tune. I remember that from the distant ages, with Lionel Blair and Maggie Moone, and I was like, ‘That’s a bit of an odd choice’. But then, if you watch the American one, it’s full-on funky band, live singers singing the songs, and it’s so exciting and fun.
You know when you listen to the opening few bars and you’ve got to guess what the song is? Oh my God, it messes with your head. But I can’t wait to do that. They test all the gameplay on me. I’m like a gameshow guinea pig.
THERE’S NO AUDIENCE
I know! Now it’s just two cameramen and a cleaner, so I hope they cheer quite loudly. But then, I’ve seen some shows and they pipe in the canned laughter and you’re like, ‘Who’s laughing at that? There’s no one in the audience!’ So, I feel we’ve got to strike a balance really.
WHAT HAS MADE IT SO POPULAR?
I feel the pandemic helps. People were stuck in; they couldn’t leave the house. But then also, I think it’s tapped into nostalgia. Nostalgia is so powerful, and it was such an odd year, 2020. After the madness of [Netflix documentary series] Tiger King, I think people wanted something that was a bit safe. Especially when you’re missing your family, you haven’t seen your mum and dad; memories of sitting in the lounge on a Saturday night probably tugged a few heartstrings.
DO YOU WATCH GAME SHOWS?
Would you say Naked Attraction, is that a game show? Sex is the prize… That’s not a bad prize. I wouldn’t say no!
I love a bit of Tipping Point; I sit there and sometimes the dog starts watching it. It’s just like the going in and out and the coins falling, it can be quite trance-like.
I like The Chase. Did you hear those rumours, people thought The Governess [Anne Hegerty] was my mum? We did a jokey thing and I pretended she was my mum – and then people thought she actually was my mum…
WHAT ELSE HAS HELPED YOU IN LOCKDOWN?
I’ve regressed to being 13-year-old Alan. So, I’ve done a lot of bird watching, and then jigsaws, which I’m getting through like one a week. I mean, it’s so boring. This lockdown has definitely been a bit harsher, especially January, February.
I’m normally a very upbeat, optimistic person, but even I was going, ‘When is this ever going to end?’ There’s whisperings that you might be able to go on holiday – then it’s a £5000 fine if you go abroad.
● Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow returns to STV tomorrow, 8.35pm