I love Bargain Hunt, it’s a powerhouse of positivity
The broadcaster, writer and former politician, 76, reveals why Frasier is his favourite TV show and why three of the UK’s dames owe their honours to him
Hi, Gyles! What have you been enjoying on TV recently?
Bargain Hunt. My wife Michèle and i catch up with it on BBC iPlayer in the evening instead of the news, which we find too depressing. Bargain Hunt, in contrast, is a powerhouse of positivity. i love the presenters, the format and the contestants always seem to be delightful people of all ages from all over the UK. And they all share what my wife and i share – a love of antiques and collectables.
What’s your all-time favourite TV programme?
Frasier. i enjoy the relationship between Frasier and his brother niles [david Hyde Pierce] and the fact they are Anglophiles. the show is witty, acerbic and the brothers’ snobbery is just so amusing. For me, the highlight of last year was meeting its star, Kelsey Grammer. He was a guest on this Morning and he persuaded me to watch the new Frasier which brings the story up to date. it’s huge fun.
How did you break into TV?
i started at the top. in 1969, i hosted my own itv chat show called Child of the sixties. i’ve been working my way down ever since. But people remember me most from tv-am, the UK’s first breakfast tv station. i was there for seven years – wearing my colourful jumpers. i loved it because it was a mixture of the serious and light-hearted. this Morning, on which i also appear, is similar. As my wife says, “there’s been no career progress for you, Gyles.”
When did you start appearing on Countdown?
in the early 80s i was asked to present a pilot for a children’s version of Countdown. it didn’t come to anything but they said, “While you’re here, why don’t you join us on dictionary Corner?” since then i’ve appeared hundreds of times and made many good friends.
How many times have you appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox?
every year since it started. i first did it with sheila Hancock. the next year, i did it with Maureen lipman. then with Joanna lumley. You’ll notice that all these ladies subsequently became dames, probably because the late Queen elizabeth ii thought these poor women deserved a reward after putting up with me and my ridiculous jumpers. A new edition of Breaking The Code: Westminster Diaries by Gyles Brandreth is out now in paperback