UK TV review issue 38 by Lorraine Fencer

The tinsels' down, the turkey's but a distant memory, there's only Peanut Cracknell left in the tin of Roses, and my hangover's almost gone. Back to normal service.

"Blind Date Live!" (ITV, Sat 7.30) Why? I can just see the board meeting now... "Well, we spent far too much money on the celeb Christmas special, so we've got to get back on budget now. We can either make every date for the rest of the series to Bognor Regis, or we can con money out of the general public by making them think they're having an effect on the outcome of the show." Hmmmm, difficult choce that! What a load of rubbish! I'm sure it was fixed, it always is. And this was worse than normal.

As for Cilla's little "Surprise Surprise", well, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that this wasn't the entire reason behind the live show. Let's hope it's the final nail in the coffin, eh? Face it, this show gave us Amanda Holden.

"Eastenders - Dot's Story" (BBC1, Thu 7.30) Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Just to prove I'm not entirely an hard-hearted old cynic. I loved this, I was nearly in tears. The build-up was fantastic, not a hint as to what the "big, dark secret" might have been right up until the very end. Me, the cat & the budgie were taking bets as to what the secret would be. Cat won. Grrrrrrr. It kind of explains Dot's going mad after Ethel's death. Would you want to get on the wrong side of her now? Scary lady.

"Shooting Stars" (BBC2, Mon 9.30) Something else that should have been pensioned off a while ago. I hate to say it, but it's past its best now. Nothing has ever been able to beet Ulrika de-icing a car windscreen using her bottom. Or so I'm told. But Curtis Stigers in a perspex box was one of my teenage fantasies, so they get a minor reprieve.

"The Kumars at Number 42" (BBC2, Mon 10.00) OK, I raved about the last series. But that's what it should have been. The Last Series. Learn from the lessons of Dennis Pennis, Mrs Merton etc. Spoof interviews will only last as long as people don't know what's going on. It's too popular now, & too well known. Half the fun was the confused looks of the guests, but now they're just expecting it. And anything that has four fifths of Westlife
gets an automatic F for Fail in my book.

And now, a new feature for the new year. Quiz answer of the week. For all those moments when watching 15 to 1, Weakest Link, HIGNFY and the like, and you don't know the answer. Just substitute with my answer of the week. It might be right, it might be funny. It might just annoy your family. Quiz answer of this week... Grapefruit Segments.

Lorraine

Previous reviews

Lorraines predictions for 2003

UK TV awards 2002 the Lorr's Lorraine's lyrical tribute to xmas TV

Issue 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20

New Year Retro Review Christmas Retro Review

Celebrity Bashings