TV blog Feed

Must-see telly moments – on BBC iPlayer

2016-03-29T15:00:00+00:00

See the most scene-stealing instances from the latest TV shows - complete with more drama (and laughter) than a family Easter. Remember, there may be spoilers…

Fear? Regret? Relief? Ivy is still a mystery…

Watch the explosive drama finale - Thirteen, BBC Three

The moment the nation held its breath with Olivia Colman

Watch now on BBC iPlayer – The Night Manager, BBC One

When presenting dream team Matt and Alex totally lost the plot

Watch them corpsing while live on air – The Sport Relief Games Show, BBC One

Paloma Faith throws everything – including her shoe – at the coaches’ performance

Watch the coaches’ performance on BBC iPlayer – The Voice UK, BBC One

And finally, this masterclass in giving evils…

This external content is available at its source: https://twitter.com/BBCTwo/status/713114194715873280

Watch the moment on BBC iPlayer – Line of Duty, BBC Two

And if you want to see what Pub Landlord comedian Al Murray picked out on BBC iPlayer this week you can watch Frank Skinner On Demand With...

Must-see moments of the week – on BBC iPlayer

2016-03-21T15:53:00+00:00

This week there’s been a hit series finale, an evening of star-studded entertainment and some very pampered pets. But which moments grabbed us the most?

And if you want to see what Frank Skinner and Charlie Sloth (BBC Radio 1) picked out on BBC iPlayer this week you can watch Frank Skinner On Demand With...

Matt Edmondson: 'I'd marry Lord Sugar for the money'

2015-10-07T13:15:27+00:00

As 18 brand new candidates iron their sharpest suits and prepare their most cliched lines, The Apprentice superfan and BBC Radio 1 DJ, Matt Edmondson shares everything he loves about the nail-biting show.

What do you think would happen if you asked Lord Sugar to play Plank All Over Me with you on Radio 1?

I think I would be quickly and rapidly removed from his presence! In the unlikely event that he was up for it, I would relish the opportunity. Could he last the full three minutes? I’m not sure - although I don’t think I’d want to be the person to tell him that he hadn’t made it in to the hall of fame.

Which past Apprentice contestant would you hire as a motivational speaker and why?

Raef Bjayou, the posh, floppy-haired chap from series four. I’ve met him a few times and he is the most charming man imaginable. I’m pretty sure that he would be excellent at motivational speeches, in a sort of Hugh Grant, foppish way. He did once famously say: “The spoken word is my tool”.

Unsurprisingly, public speaking is one of Raef's current pastimes

What tips would you give to new advisor, Claude Littner?

Just to be himself, and by that I mean be a ruthlessly hard man to please. He’s always been my favourite contributor to the interview stages, as he takes no nonsense and can spot a liar a mile away. He has an excellent eye for detail, and I think that will come in handy when separating fact from fiction in the boardroom.

If you could set the candidates any challenge, what would it be and why?

I’d quite like a challenge where they have to put on an entertainment night at a holiday park or something similar, just to see if they have any hidden talents!

Name one person – in any walk of life – that you’d love to say: ‘You’re fired!’ to. Why?

I’d love to be able to say it to the lady at the cupcake stand near Radio 1, as I am forever tempted to swing by and pick up another delicious treat. If she wasn’t there, the temptation would be removed!

Snog, marry or avoid: Karren, Alan and Claude?

Snog Karren, marry Alan for the money and avoid Claude. Surely it’s the logical choice?

Karren, Alan and Claude are looking for 'a complete all-rounder'

What’s your favourite-ever contestant catchphrase from past series?

I like Ricky Martin’s “I am the reflection of perfection”, simply because it’s a great rhyme. I can see it being printed on a T-shirt. Also, Susan Ma seriously asking: “Are the French very fond of their children?” still amuses me.

Which candidate from past series would you most like to challenge to a rap battle and why?

It’s got to be Michael Sophocles, if only because he’d be delighted to be back under the spotlight! I think his rap game would be as good as his The Apprentice game.

Which new series candidate has already caught your attention and why?

I’m slightly obsessed with Joseph this year. I watched his audition tape and he is certainly a character. I can’t wait to see more of him as the series progresses!

Why do you love the show so much?

I love getting to know all of the candidates, and I love seeing their huge egos clash on the most basic of tasks. I get really in to it.

Matt Edmondson hosts The Apprentice: Meet the Candidates, available to watch on BBC iPlayer until 8am on Thursday, 5 November.

The Apprentice, series 11 starts on Wednesday, 14 October at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Romesh Ranganathan proves even TV comedians get embarrassed by their mums

2015-10-01T16:31:37+00:00

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan very reluctantly agreed when his mum asked him to explore his Sri Lankan roots for new BBC Three show Asian Provocateur. So, much to Romesh's regret, we gave him and mum Shanthi a call to see what makes their relationship so special…

When is the last time you went on holiday together?

Romesh: Last time I went on holiday with my mum was when we went to Canada to see some family.

Shanthi: When we arrived at the airport, my relations came to pick us up, and the first thing they said was: ‘Romesh looks exactly like his father’, which brought me to tears. But just spending time with Romesh in Canada was such a wonderful experience. And the way he looked after me when I was there was fantastic.

Romesh: I’m a really good son.

Shanthi: He’s a really good boy. He has got so much love in him, but he doesn’t know how to express it. But when I went to Canada and when we went to Sri Lanka, I was thinking what a lovely boy he is.

Romesh: You can’t put any of this in by the way. I’m going to look like a right idiot.

Shanthi: No I’m telling the truth! It’s how I felt as a mother.

Romesh: Yeah but it makes me look like a…

Shanthi: No it doesn’t make you look like a mummy’s boy. It’s an inspiration for everybody because your mother is important to you.

Romesh: Yeah I’m a great guy.

Shanthi: Maybe. I’m very comfortable talking to Romesh about anything. Since my husband passed away we’ll have long chats, and he’s such a wonderful, kind person and I can ask him anything. I don’t feel sad, because when I think about Romesh he’s there for me. All the time. It’s such a nice feeling.

Shanthi hadn't seen how 'gracelessly' Romesh handled his fishing challenge

What’s your funniest memory of each other?

Romesh: When we were coming back from Canada, mum’s got a Sri Lankan passport, and the guy at customs looked at it and said: ‘You don’t have permission to return to the UK’. So I told him: ‘Well she does, she lives there’. And he said: ‘Not according to this passport. She’s not allowed to go back to the UK.’ And mum just started freaking out!

It was not funny at the time, but it was hilarious afterwards because then he just turned the page and went: ‘Oh wait, yes you do’.

Shanthi: Yeah it was shocking!

Romesh: It’s like, read the whole document! And mum was just freaking out. She’s like (adopts his mum’s Sri Lankan accent): ‘I’m going to kick him in his face! Read the whole bloody passport!’

Shanthi: Yes that worried me so much, I’m frightened to go to Canada again because of that experience. But the thing is in that moment we couldn’t say anything, because he could say: ‘No, you have to be investigated’ or something. So I kept my mouth shut.

Romesh: Yeah but then afterwards… (in mum’s accent): ‘I hope that man loses his job!’

Shanthi: I didn’t say that!

How did it feel to be part of a show together?

Shanthi: To work together with Romesh I found it very comfortable. He’d tell me: ‘This is what we are going to do mum.’ So I just carried on. I didn’t feel nervous or anything at all.

Romesh: The thing is that the whole point of the show is that we’re just like…

Shanthi: Shouting at each other.

Romesh: No not shouting at each other, I mean that just happened to happen, but basically it’s not a lot like doing a TV show because you’re just having these experiences, and we were chatting about them, and we were just filming it. So it was easy in that regard.

But mum was very good, she just got into it and she wasn’t nervous around the cameras and stuff, she was just herself which is exactly what we wanted.

Shanthi: What a compliment Romesh, thank you! I was surprised with myself that I wasn’t nervous at all.

Romesh: Let’s be absolutely honest mum, you do see yourself having a TV career. The crew told her that she was very good, she started quietly going to me: ‘I do believe they think I’m very good Rommy’.

I think for her, in an ideal world, series two would not involve me. It would be a spin-off show where mum’s like: ‘So we got rid of Romesh and now we can really get into the show.’

Shanthi: No, no, no (laughing) that’s what Romesh thinks! But I really enjoyed working with him. It was a fantastic, lovely experience. Sometimes I became emotional, thinking, ‘My god, I’m with my son, and they are filming me’, and then I have to control myself and get back to reality.

And the other thing is that he went and did all the spiritual things like going to the temple. He’s a religious boy. I never forced him to believe in anything. We are Hindu and Romesh always prays before he leaves the home. So I bless him with all my heart. It makes me cry sometimes, he’s such a wonderful son to have.

Romesh: I mean, mum, this is way over the top now. I’m supposed to be a comedian!

Shanthi: I’m telling you the truth Romesh, I don’t want to hide it. You know sometimes when you are facing each other it’s very difficult to express your feelings. You feel embarrassed. But I can’t see you now so I can say how I feel about you and the things I wanted to say. It’s a good opportunity for me.

Romesh: I think this interview was a mistake, I’m beginning to realise.

Shanthi: Is it? OK. Do you want me to keep my mouth shut?

Romesh: No! I’m joking, I’m joking.

Week one, and Romesh is having his head rubbed with a chicken...

Romesh, your mum describes you as a coconut in the first episode (white on the inside). What fruit would you say you are?

Romesh: I think I’m a mango. Just very sweet and lovely.

Shanthi: How can you call yourself a mango?! Darling you’re a coconut I tell you.

Romesh: And I would describe my mum as a pomegranate. No, a passion fruit, like, quite sour.

Shanthi: Oh! Thank you so much.

Romesh: She’s a lemon, my mum’s a lemon! Put that down.

Shanthi: Well when you do something wrong, I’m the only person who can correct you. Sometimes you take it in the wrong way and you don’t like it. But who else is going to tell you?

Romesh: Yeah, alright, thanks mum. You’re a lovely lemon.

Romesh Ranganathan is a comedian. He and his mum Shanthi appear in Asian Provocateur.

Asian Provocateur continues on Wednesday, 7 October at 10pm on BBC Three. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Top Coppers: Introducing a new wave of comedy talent

2015-08-26T09:19:48+00:00

C: For pretty much all of the regular Top Coppers cast, it’s their first kind of big outing - except John Hollingworth, who actually has quite a good role in Poldark and has a significant amount of fans already!

One of the big surprising introductions is Donovan Blackwood as Chief. Donovan has been with us since we created a mini-series of Top Coppers in 2010. We put out an advert online, then he just came and auditioned. He’s a session soul singer and he’d not done much TV acting, except for a part in Casualty where he fell off a ladder and got covered in blue paint about 10 years ago. But he came and auditioned and just blew it away.

Donovan Blackwood has played Chief since a 2010 mini-series of Top Coppers

A: It’s like he was born to be the chief, you couldn’t find a better person. He just is the chief. In every episode we have a song, and most of them are sang by Donovan too. He’s got this amazing soulful, deep voice.

C: Then playing John Mahogany you’ve got Steen Raskopoulos who was nominated best newcomer at Edinburgh Fringe last year. And Mitch Rust is played by John Kearns, who won best newcomer at Edinburgh two years ago and last year he won the Fosters Edinburgh award.

John can play a very unusual character, and it was just I think quite fortuitous that we’d also written this really weird character where we were going: ‘Uh who do we get to play THIS?!’ John’s just got something different.

John Kearns improvises about Rust's hatred of actors in this clip

C: For Mahogany, we probably went through maybe 50 to 60 auditions. It was tough because it’s probably the hardest character to play in the show. Mahogany has got to be the voice of the audience in a really surreal world. He’s our Father Ted.

A: He’s the closest to the audience, he’s the only one who can go ‘Um, what?’ you know, question what’s going on. But at the same time he’s ridiculous.

C: Yeah exactly, and that’s a hard part to play, there’s a lot of things to balance there. Steen did a chemistry audition with John and he was absolutely phenomenal. They had chemistry instantly but they met for the first time then in the room.

Gabby Best plays Helga, the precinct's no-nonsense forensics expert

A: And I think Gabby Best has done exactly the same with Helga. A lot of our friends think Helga is their favourite character, they just love her, even though she hardly says anything.

C: In an odd way, we’d written her character quite cold, obviously it’s a reference to Sarah Lund in The Killing and a lot of those sort of Scandinavian crime dramas in more recent years. But Gabby has such a natural warmth to her, that she’s made the character warm without losing any of her steeliness.

A: We’re also very lucky to have a fantastic cast and some really really good cameos in Top Coppers.

C: It was lovely to have Kayvan Novak back. And we got people from The Mighty Boosh, Simon Farnaby and Rich Fulcher. We seem to attract those Boosh kind of guys becausewhat the Boosh had of that kind of other-worldliness we have too.

The show's trailer features several star cameos

C: When we asked Alan Dale to play Mahogany’s father, he really took to it. He was filming a movie in South Africa at the time, so we just had to have him in the sound studio and recorded it all down the line.

The first time he called me I was on a beach with my girlfriend and we were climbing across some rocks when I got this call. So I answered it and started talking to him, and as we were talking she slipped and her foot went into this massive, deep puddle in the middle. So I was kind of like: ‘I’ll help you in a minute, I’m just on a call with Alan Dale…’ [laughs]. But she was somewhat starstruck that Jim Robinson from Neighbours was on the phone, so it was OK!

Cein McGillicuddy and Andy Kinnear co-created Top Coppers.

Top Coppers continues on Wednesday, 26 August at 10pm on BBC Three. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

How to survive Celebrity MasterChef: Heat four with Samira Ahmed

2015-07-07T07:42:31+00:00

What do you tell yourself to help cope with nerves in the competition?

I was great at school exams so I guess it feels a bit like that. Except it’s all one giant chemistry practical combined with a theatrical performance. The boys are super seriously competitive. That's freaking me out. I'm used to being top of the class.

What are you learning about yourself during the competition – any strengths or weaknesses you were not aware of?

I love the challenges. They're my best thing. NOTHING fazes me about cooking in a pro kitchen or dealing with a Mystery Box challenge. I'm loving them. Forget being in a band, my inner teen has been unleashed in the restaurant kitchen! That feels like a rock star adrenalin rush. I want to hang out with the dudes in the kitchen and cook like that.

I'm reliving memories of all the TV cooking shows I watched as a child. From Delia to Nanette Newman's Fun Food Factory to the Galloping Gourmet. I feel I should have the chance to pluck a handsome Don Draper type from the audience to eat my food.

Do the heat four cooks have what it takes?

I'm also naturally quite bossy and organised. I think this makes for interesting encounters with my fellow contestant Keith ‘Cheggers’ Chegwin, who is a childhood hero. My husband's school once won Cheggars Plays Pop so this is insanely exciting to be on with him.

Personality wise I am wondering if we are channelling Fanny Craddock and Johnny? I feel like Cheggers and I have the makings of a George and Mildred style 70s sitcom whatever happens on MasterChef.

But it's the coming up with my own menus that I'm struggling with. I've been cooking and entertaining all my adult life and getting great praise, but the idea of showing off for John and Gregg? My natural instinct is NOT to show off with food. And certainly not to do stuff that I've never done before. And clearly you need to do both those things.

What is the secret of good cooking, for you?

Big portions of fantastic tasting food. No fancy presentation. Lots of nice flavours. Anything Indian, Moroccan or Korean. No boring baby vegetables on the side nonsense. I don't do fancy and I don't do show off. But if you came round to my house you'd have an amazing time.

Also there's nothing that my tin of Indian spices can't improve. Even baked beans. Oh and rhubarb. I love rhubarb. I can't get enough of rhubarb.

What’s your best cheat tip in the kitchen?

There is no cheating. Practice practice practice in advance. But perhaps think ahead about timesaving with any processes you could speed up. Like using a food mixer instead of hand mixing that chappati dough.

Samira Ahmed is a journalist and Celebrity MasterChef contestant.

Celebrity MasterChef continues on Thursday, 9 July at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Bonkers ideas and mischievous colleagues – Sarah Willingham on joining Dragons’ Den

2015-07-03T08:56:46+00:00

WOW! Did that just happen!?! I'm sat writing this from my desk at home soon after finishing filming series 13 of Dragons' Den, and already it seems like I might have actually dreamt the whole thing.

It has been one of the most fun and challenging things I've ever done. Whether it's the inspiration we get from an incredible entrepreneur who walks through the door; the giggles we have at the crazy/bonkers ideas; the intense battle of the bidding between us Dragons; or just to sit and listen to another Dragon talking about a specialist business area and soaking up their knowledge like a sponge. It has been quite a ride!

This external content is available at its source: Sarah Willingham with Deborah Meaden

I walked into the Den on day one and it hit me just how intimidating it is for the entrepreneurs who walk through those lift doors. We must be terrifying, and from the start I managed a big smile for everyone who was brave enough to enter. At the start of every pitch I would sit and silently will them to be their best and not crumble under the lights and the surly stares of the Dragons.

I was waiting for one of those crazy 'umbrella on a hat' pitches and we definitely had a few of those. My favourite pitch was by Howard from Rain Diva – a kind of shower cap to keep your blow dry safe from the rain…. Say no more. And of course I have to mention 'Gold Disc Dave' from Stoke – what an opener he had! I loved him, but you’ll have to wait to see why!

Then there are those who walk in and have NO IDEA about their numbers or their market, and you just sit there shaking your head, saying “Have you not SEEN the show?! Surely you know we're going to ask about your business?!”

This external content is available at its source: All the Dragons' take a selfie together

The other Dragons are fantastic, and I found myself finding my sixth gear really quickly. Sitting and analysing business after business, day after day with four of the most brilliant business minds is an experience I never thought I'd have, and I valued every second of it. They are four of the most brilliant and inspiring people I've even met, but also warm, friendly and hilarious fun to be with.

The other two new Dragons - Nick Jenkins with his accents, and Touker Suleyman with his 'Touker time' (think MC Hammer!) - caused moments of hysteria during filming.

As for the existing Dragons, Deborah Meaden is full of twinkle and mischief, so impressive in the Den when she analyses the businesses, and manages to stay nothing but fair throughout. And of course the very tall Peter Jones, who knows so many industries inside and out and has an amazing ability to cut through everything to find the root of the issue, whilst staying respectful to everyone the whole time.

This external content is available at its source: Sarah and Touker take a photo together

By far the toughest thing about filming Dragons was being away from my family and my businesses. In my 'normal' life I work from the office at home, do as many school runs as life will allow and have a day or two out and about meeting with our businesses. The filming is all consuming, and it's possible to get to the end of a day and not manage to catch the kids between coming home from school and bed time, and it’s possible to go a week and only communicate via email with my businesses. But I wasn't alone – Peter has five kids and Touker has two daughters.

I can't wait for the show to air now and show my kids what I was up to during those weeks away!

This external content is available at its source: Sarah is hugged by her children when she returns home

Sarah Willingham is an entrepreneur and Dragon on Dragons' Den.

Dragons' Den starts on Sunday, 12 July at 8.15pm on BBC Two. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

How To Survive Celebrity MasterChef: Heat three with Craig Gazey

2015-06-30T07:23:56+00:00

What do you tell yourself to help cope with nerves in the competition?

I’m not really doing well with that to be honest! Before signing up to do this I thought we might be given a few little tips, or that off camera it wouldn’t be quite as gruelling as it was... but everything you see on TV is exactly as it happens. This does not help with the nerves!

It started on the Invention Test and just got harder from then on. But, all that said, I am loving every minute of it.

What are you learning about yourself during the competition – any strengths or weaknesses you were not aware of?

I’ve come to the realisation that I’m more highly strung than I’d like to be! But even under the circumstances I find myself able to make some cracking decisions that I never thought possible, added with some not so great ones.

The heat is on for the week three, er, heat!

What is the secret of good cooking, for you?

The secret of good cooking is to cook from your heart and just to deliver nice, homemade comfort food that puts smiles on people’s faces.

What’s your best cheat tip in the kitchen?

This isn’t a cheat but it’s a tip. When dealing with pastry, you need a warm heart and cold hands. Put your hands under a cold tap when making the pastry, don’t overwork it and put it in the fridge for half an hour. Then, when rolling it out, get the flour everywhere. I do. Pastry making is not a clean task, so it’s often wise to get other people to do the washing up!

Craig Gazey is an actor and Celebrity MasterChef contestant.

Celebrity MasterChef continues on Thursday, 2 July at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

How To Survive Celebrity MasterChef: Heat two with Sam Nixon

2015-06-24T07:42:30+00:00

What do you tell yourself to help cope with nerves in the competition?

I usually shout at myself in my head like: "Come on Sam, concentrate. You can do this!"

What are you learning about yourself during the competition – any strengths or weaknesses you were not aware of?

I'm learning that I definitely have a style of cooking. I think the stuff I cook is very classic, no nonsense food.

Which heat two contestants will give Sam a run for his money?

What is the secret of good cooking, for you?

I've definitely learnt that it doesn't matter how many ingredients you put into a dish, it's care and love that makes a dish taste really good. Its sounds really cheesy, but I now truly believe that.

What’s your best cheat tip in the kitchen?

Similar to my answer above. My top tip is to be passionate about what you are cooking. Cook to your strengths and it will come out good.

Sam Nixon is a presenter and Celebrity MasterChef contestant.

Celebrity MasterChef continues on Thursday, 25 June at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

How To Survive Celebrity MasterChef: Heat one with Tish Potter

2015-06-18T12:22:27+00:00

What do you tell yourself to help cope with nerves in the competition?

I had to have a firm chat with myself and made the decision to have a bit more gumption. I really enjoy cooking but not under pressure. I don’t know why it should be so nerve-wracking, but for some reason it really is.

What are you learning about yourself during the competition – any strengths or weaknesses you were not aware of?

I am learning that I respond really well to pressure, funnily enough. Give me clear instructions, a bit of pressure and a bit of encouragement and I will happily work for as long as you like. However, I'm hopeless at making decisions and taking initiative... When I have to make up a recipe for example in the invention test, I panic.

Will the heat one cooks survive service at two busy London restaurants?

What is the secret of good cooking, for you?

Good cooking absolutely relies on good ingredients. Keep it simple. Make it tasty. Salt.

What’s your best cheat tip in the kitchen?

Best cheat in the kitchen? A tablespoon of hazelnut spread in a chocolate fondant stabilises it so it'll (almost) always have a spongey edge and a lovely gooey middle. Also herb scissors and garlic squishers save tons of time.

Tish Potter is an actress and Celebrity MasterChef contestant.

Celebrity MasterChef starts on Thursday, 18 June at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Prized Apart: Would Emma Willis and Reggie Yates tackle its high-adrenaline challenges?

2015-06-08T07:00:00+00:00

New gameshow Prized Apart sees 10 real-life duos compete for the chance to win £100,000 - with half of each couple sent to complete physical challenges in Morocco, while their loved ones at home tackle general knowledge questions to keep them in the game.

So would the show's hosts, Emma Willis and Reggie Yates, be up for the challenges the contestants took on?

How would you explain Prized Apart to your friends?

Emma: It is very much a gameshow, but there are two elements to the game: there is an adventure side to it and then there is a quiz side to it. As long as you can survive the adventure then you will remain in Morocco until the end. If not, you need to rely on having a partner who is very good at general knowledge to get you back out there to the adventure.

Reggie: The stakes are so much higher because two people are fighting for each other. And the contestants are what people are buying into. Because it’s all well and good having these crazy games and stuff, but if you like the people, you’ll buy into their journey. There needs to be heart for you to watch it.

What’s it like working with your Prized Apart co-host?

R: It’s a pleasure working with Emma, she’s the wickedest. It sounds awful but I’ve had many ‘TV wives’ over the years, and I love Emma to bits. She’s just so easy to work with, and chatting with her off-camera she’s exactly the same as when she’s on camera. That’s how I’d like to think I am, too. Love her.

E: It’s great because we have wanted to work together again for such a long time. But at the same time it is slightly torturous because I don’t get to see him until the final, so for about seven weeks!

If the pair of you were to compete together in Prized Apart, who’d do the challenges and who would tackle the questions?

R: I know Matt (Willis, Emma’s husband) fairly well, and I think I’d do exactly what Matt would do in the same situation and that is to sort of say: “Babes, seriously, just let me jump. I’ll run, and you handle that bit.” I’m not thick, but I’m definitely not the best when it comes to general knowledge! I’d rather challenge myself in the physical realm if I was to do it.

E: I am rubbish at general knowledge! But I am quite into adventure and challenges so I would love to do that. Reggie is terrified of things so it makes sense that he stays in the studio!

Emma turns quizmaster with half of the contestants in the studio

How much of a daredevil are you?

E: I like to think I am a real daredevil and I am up for anything but I think I am actually quite scared of things. As soon as I had kids my whole mentality changed and now it is all about survival!

R: I’m not. At all. I’m a bit of a homebody, and I’m not the most extreme of men on the planet. The most I think I do in terms of tough physicality is I run, and that’s it. I’m not going to be doing a Tough Mudder through choice any time soon.

Were you tempted to take part in any of the challenges yourself?

R: Nah. Not for me. Although, there was a canyon jump where you hold on to the rope – that looked awesome. Because looking at it, I thought I’d be able to actually do that, it didn’t look that impossible. So yeah, that one maybe. Because you’d feel like a real man after doing that, and I need all the help I can get!

Reggie spent six weeks jetting back-and-forth from Morocco for filming

Emma Willis and Reggie Yates co-host Prized Apart.

Prized Apart starts on Saturday 13 June at 7pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Eurovision 2015: Are you excited?! Here’s Scott Mills’ guide

2015-05-07T10:49:44+00:00

Eurovision is the most fun week of my year…
I just love being immersed in all things Eurovision. Every year when I get to the host city everyone there is happy, smiley and in a total Eurovision bubble. I usually find the night goes by really quickly! I never get bored of it, even though often I will have seen the show three times before it is live with all the rehearsals that take place.

…even the mornings are entertaining
Often I’ll be staying in the same hotel as some of the acts. Last year performers from Finland, Israel and Poland were all in my hotel. It was odd seeing them all glammed up on stage and then just having breakfast the next morning.

This year's UK entry: Electro Velvet with Still In Love With You

It’s kind of a big deal
I don’t think everyone necessarily ‘gets’ Eurovision. Certainly a lot of people in the UK think of Eurovision and think ‘dodgy songs’. That couldn’t be further from the truth though, Eurovision is a huge production and the host city spends millions on it.

My tip if you’re watching at home…
Watch the red button! It’s brilliant, they put the words up so that you can sing along with each act. It’s great because if you were just listening without the words you’d miss some of the amazing lyrics - last year I’m pretty sure there was a song about a moustache…

Twitter has made a massive difference while commentating as people really do tweet along as they watch, it’s almost as important as actually watching the show. For me it’s like having another few thousand eyes on each performance and the public are so observant and funny!

This external content is available at its source: Laura Whitmore and Scott Mills present last year's show

Regarding toilet breaks
Don’t take them! Or if you have to, go during the interval. Honestly, I am the biggest Eurovision fan so I don’t like to miss anything.

The votes take a while…
The counting can take ages. I’ve read the UK results four times and have always been given an 11am call time, even though the results aren’t until around 11pm. You can’t leave, even to nip to the shop, it’s some kind of Eurovision law! It’s pretty daunting reading the results knowing there are 195 million people watching you worldwide. It’s almost as scary as doing Strictly Come Dancing!

Conchita Wurst, who won Eurovision 2014, with Scott

My top reasons to love Eurovision

#1 A lot of the songs are written by top songwriters responsible for loads of current hits.

#2 The atmosphere is amazing because the fans are so excited to be there, which I totally understand as you have to be very lucky to get a ticket. Last year I knew of someone who headed out to Copenhagen and was over the moon to have tickets for the afternoon rehearsal of the semi-final!

#3 Before I was involved in Eurovision I actually got tickets to some of the host countries as a fan, and it was so much fun. Often the contest is held in lesser-known places in terms of travel destinations and they are wonderful places to visit – I thought Belgrade was amazing. It was my first-ever Eurovision experience. I was there for the weekend, the weather was really hot, there were Eurovision parties, and I thought - I would love to work on this!

#4 Aside from sports broadcasts, it is one of the most watched TV events in the world.

Scott Mills co-hosts the Eurovision Semi-Finals 2015 with Mel Giedroyc on Tuesday 19 and Thursday 21 May at 8pm on BBC Three. The final is on Saturday, 23 May from 9pm on BBC One.

Tweet @bbceurovision or comment on facebook.com/bbceurovision during the semi-final for the chance to have your message read out by Scott and Mel. If you're having a Eurovision party, you can also download scorecards, sweepstake trackers and posters.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Richard Osman: My love affair with the quiz show

2015-04-15T12:09:38+00:00

Richard Osman introduces BBC Four's Classic Game Shows Collection, a nostalgic assortment of game shows from the BBC archives.

Here are a few questions for you:

Who is the longest-serving UK TV quiz host of all-time?
How many episodes of Countdown have there been?
Who created the notorious quiz show flop 24 Hour Quiz?
Why have quiz shows remained so popular on British television?

I’ll give you the answers to the first three at the end of this introduction. And if you’re thinking about them right now, then you already know the answer to the last one.

I love quiz shows, I’ve been making them for many years, and now I have accidentally stumbled into hosting them too. They rarely win Baftas, they never get reviewed in the posh papers, but the enduring ones capture a place in the hearts of the nation in a way that very few shows do.

There are a number of reasons for this, but two are particularly key.

Firstly they are, by their very nature, incredibly interactive. Viewers can’t help but play along, whether it’s trying to name the most obscure member of Westlife (Nicky) on Pointless, or punching the air in delight if you ever get a single question correct on University Challenge. I have always likened quizzes to sport for competitive people who are terrible at playing sport, myself included.

Some shows I’ve produced have been successful, some spectacularly unsuccessful, but the development process is always the same. You get an idea, a little hook, and then you play it over and over again. You play it with good quizzers, you play it with bad quizzers, just to spot any little holes in the format, anything that seems unfair or confusing. You then make little nips and tucks to address these problems.

Usually these little nips and tucks make the format even more complicated, or drag it too far away from the initial concept and the format is abandoned. But very occasionally something comes along that is robust enough to survive the process, and that’s when the ‘play-along’ question becomes key. Is it fun to play, and, much more importantly, is it fun to watch?

I remember pitching The Million Pound Drop to the head of Channel 4, and he loved playing it so much he kept asking more and more colleagues into his office just so he could watch them play it too. That is exactly what makes a hit quiz show.

Victoria Coren-Mitchell has hosted 10 series of Only Connect to date

The second reason for the success of quizzes is their sheer volume. Quizzes have always been inexpensive and quick to make. As you have the same set for every episode, you could make many, many episodes of Pointless, for example, for the same money and in the same time frame that you could make one episode of a high production drama.

Therefore quizzes become a ‘perfect storm’ for channels. Something economical and relatively quick to make, that viewers actually love. For example, two of BBC Two’s highest rating shows, week in, week out, are two of their most low-cost shows to produce: University Challenge and Only Connect.

So how does this perfect storm come about? Viewers usually spot low-cost TV a mile off and will sometimes run for cover. Well, quizzes are inexpensive and quick to make, but they are made with great attention to detail and great enthusiasm. There has always been a wonderful sub-set of people who work in TV, who simply love making quiz shows. Great producers, great format-tinkerers, and, most importantly the great unsung question writers. You might call us geeks, I couldn’t possibly comment.

This sheer volume means that quizzes become part of our daily routine. A regular workout for the brain. Every time Countdown started, my Grandad would take out his pen and his notebook, cup of tea by his side, and play along. I know people do the same with Pointless (maybe not with the pen and pad) and that always makes me feel incredibly lucky, and I know he’d be watching if he were still around. That connection with viewers is very special.

Kenneth Williams chuckles on the What's My Line? panel, with host David Jacobs in 1974

Watching some of the wonderful archive the BBC has brought together in the BBC Four Classic Game Show Collection proved to me that this has always been the case. Mostly low-cost, but such an utter joy to watch. It’s impossible to not play along with an episode of Quiz Ball from the 60s, What’s My Line from the 70s or Ask The Family from the 80s.

And because they often lack gloss or pizzazz, they also provide a peculiarly moving snapshot of Britain through the years, from the gasps of the What’s My Line studio audience on discovering that a contestant is a Woman Detective, to the wonderful sight of people answering quiz questions while smoking pipes.

So I hope you’ll dip in and gain great enjoyment from some of the shows featured. On a side-note, I would like to commend Quiz Ball for having quite the most complicated rules explanation I have ever heard. It takes about three minutes and is utterly incomprehensible. Promise me you’ll treat yourself.

David Vine presents the first episode of Quiz Ball in 1966

I’ll leave you with the answers to the questions I set.

According to the wonderful ukgameshows.com website the longest running UK TV quiz show host was Magnus Magnusson, who hosted Mastermind for just 10 days shy of 25 years. If you said Bamber Gascoigne, you’ve been unlucky, as Magnus beat him by just eight days! The record could be under threat soon however, as Jeremy Paxman is in his 21^st year as University Challenge host and Sue Barker in her 18^th year on A Question Of Sport.
Over 6,000, more than any other British TV quiz or game show. The French show on which it was based has clocked up over 20,000 episodes. Weakest Link managed 1,693, and so far Pointless is just over 800, but we’re not planning to give up any time soon.
Me. Sorry.

Richard Osman curates the BBC Four Classic Game Shows Collection, available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

More from Richard Osman:

Pointless: How I became the co-host

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Five things to watch: Is the next Monet among us?

2015-02-27T17:14:00+00:00

1 Banished Thursday 5 March, 9pm, BBC Two

“This is not England. This is a godforsaken corner of a godforsaken country.”

Set in New South Wales, Australia, Banished retells the story of the penal colony founded after the arrival of male and female British convicts and their masters in 1788.

Starring Russell Tovey, MyAnna Buring and Julian Rhind-Tutt, the drama – written by Jimmy McGovern – delves into subjects of love, faith, justice and morality in a paradise setting that doubles as a human prison.

2 The Big Painting Challenge Sunday 1 March, 6pm, BBC One

If EastEnders stalwarts Pam St Clement and Rudolph Walker turned up and asked us to paint their portrait, we wouldn’t know where to begin. But not so for the nine budding artists competing in The Big Painting Challenge, who this week are tasked with capturing the actors’ best sides on canvas (no pressure, then).

Presented by Una Stubbs - herself an amateur artist - and art lover Richard Bacon, the contestants must complete a series of tasks that are then critiqued by judges Lachlan Goudie and Daphne Todd, OBE, as they compete to be crowned Britain’s best painter.

Easels at the ready!

3 Suffragettes Forever Wednesday 4 March, 8pm, BBC Two

Historian Amanda Vickery tells the untold stories in the battle for women’s rights, a fight which is centuries old.

In this second episode, she explores the paradox British women felt under the reign of a female queen, Victoria, who did not support the campaign, and the women who refused to accept a subservient life.

4 The Casual Vacancy Sunday 1 March, 9pm, BBC One

The drama adaptation of JK Rowling’s famous novel continues, and all is not what it seems in the idyllic parish of Pagford.

As the election to choose a new councillor nears, tensions rise – even more so when a so-called ghost continues to make their political opinions known. But who is behind the stunt?

You can also watch the first two episodes on BBC iPlayer

5 The Gift Tuesday 2 March, 9pm

Warning: you’ll need a box of tissues to make it through this one.

The programme that sees normal people reunited in emotional reconciliations concludes this week. The final episode sees a former prisoner seeking to make amends with his victims, while a mother thanks the woman who drove her 50 miles every day to visit her premature baby at the hospital.

We challenge you not to get a lump in your throat.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Five things to watch this week: one clueless adult and a night in with EastEnders

2015-02-09T13:42:16+00:00

1 Uncle Tuesday 10 February 10pm, BBC Three

The most dysfunctional, morally dubious uncle in the country is back – and this season Andy (comedian Nick Helm) and his nephew Errol have even more woes to keep them entertained/depressed.

With a spot of writer’s block, a restraining order, shared custody and a dead-end job to contend with, will Andy ever write that hit song? (Spoiler alert: er, probably not.)

2 Asylum Monday 9 February 9pm, BBC Four

When a government whistleblower takes asylum in a Latin American embassy as he fights extradition to America and the possibility of a death sentence, he doesn’t expect it to be quite so, well, boring.

Stuck inside the fictional El Rican embassy, Dan Hern (played by Ben Miller) is already losing all patience with his lawyer – who seems mostly concerned with what his last meal would be – when another political refugee, internet pirate Ludo Backslash, is also granted asylum.

Childish, embarrassing and technology-mad, he quickly becomes Dan’s companion from hell. But with so much at stake, who will break first?

3 Alex Polizzi: The Fixer Tuesday 10 February 8pm, BBC Two

If there’s one thing we know about Alex Polizzi, it’s that she means business. Small businesses, to be exact.

She’s on the road helping Brits whose businesses are on the brink of breaking down. This week, she casts her eye over Wakefield-based events company Balloonin Marvellous, whose future looks anything but...

4 An Idiot’s Guide to Politics Wednesday 11 February 9pm, BBC Three

Jolyon Rubinstein (yes, that guy off BBC Three’s The Revolution Will Be Televised) is on a mission to get the Facebook generation more engaged with politics, after discovering that more than three quarters of under 25s don’t plan to vote.

Using a lie-detector and a statue of Ed Milliband as Wallace (without his Gromit) – Jolyon aims to get young people to like politics, and make it their favourite topic. Here’s hoping he doesn’t tumblr at the first hurdle…

5 EastEnders: Back To Ours Available now

Ever wonder how famous EastEnders pairings really get on off-screen? Or what they think of some of their most memorable moments in Albert Square?

Rita Simons and Samantha Womack (Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell) cringe as they relive underwater scenes, sexy wedding dresses and the trauma of filming a live episode, all under the watchful eye of EastEnders: Back To Ours cameras.

Meanwhile, Nitin Ganatra and Himesh Patel (who play father-son duo Masood Ahmed and Tamwar Masood) also cosy up on the sofa over some of their biggest soap moments – and Nitin reveals he sometimes forgets Himesh isn’t actually his son. Aww.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

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