Cold comfort for viewers
I’ VE lost count of how many times ITV have done one of their Real Full Monty things, persuading a gaggle of famous faces to perform a comedy striptease for a good cause. So I’ve checked, and it appears to have been five.
Clearly, I lose count remarkably easily then. I should probably get something done about that.
Anyway, my point is it feels like more – and I don’t mean that in a mean- spirited way, because obviously it’s a marvellous thing these people are doing. I just mean every TV format needs refreshing once in a while.
Which must be what ITV were thinking as well, hence their tweak to this programme’s format.
The result, going out tonight and tomorrow at 9pm, is THE REAL FULL MONTY: ON ICE. But I’d imagine it could just as easily have been The Real Full Monty Underwater, The Real Full Monty On Mars or The Real Full Monty In Tesco Car Park. Maybe they’re saving those for another year. I do hope so.
Its underlying purpose is the same, of course – to remind us we should check ourselves regularly for possible signs of cancer – but this time the performers will need additional pluck as they totter out onto an ice rink, which is something of course only mad people do.
The 12 taking part include Jenni Murray, Gareth Thomas, Linda Lusardi and Bob Champion.
As is customary, they’ll be coached out of their nervousness and choreographed into shape by Ashley Banjo. And he’ll do a fine job. He always does. I have to confess, however, that I may not sit through the whole thing.
Not because there’s anything wrong with it, but because – please don’t laugh – I have a peculiar aversion to anything on TV that involves ice, snow or general coldness.
Dancing On Ice, the Winter Olympics, Scandi dramas, you name it.
Be honest with me, is it weird that even just watching this kind of TV gives me the shivers?
Yes, I was afraid you’d say that. Elsewhere, THE JOY OF PAINTING: WINTER SPECIALS
( BBC4, 7.30pm) is a new set of vintage episodes ( from the early Nineties) featuring the late US artist Bob Ross.
As before, each nightly- ish half- hour instalment consists simply of Bob at his easel, painting a picture and talking us through how he’s doing it.
It’s snail’s- pace slow, it’s ridiculously dated, and Bob is so softly spoken you could almost nod off.
In other words, it’s wonderful. As, in its own bizarre way, is BRITAIN’S STRONGEST MAN 2020, on Channel 5 ( 7pm).
Not to be confused with Britain’s Strangest Man, a show about a chap who feels physically cold just from seeing some snow on his telly.