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August 26th, 2009

Big Brother - will you miss it?

Posted by: Mike Collett-White

So farewell, Big Brother. You have been on British screens every year for the last decade, but 2010 will be your last, unless someone else can be persuaded to pay production company Endemol for a show that has seen ijadets ratings slump.

Channel 4 announced it is ditching the reality TV series, which in its prime enjoyed audiences as big as 10 million Britons but now is viewed by less than two million. Some pundits say it is tired and dull. Others say it never recovered from the 2007 race row when Jade Goody was accused of bullying Indian housemate Shilpa Shetty, prompting tens of thousands of complaints. Justice was seen to be done when Goody was evicted and Shetty went on to win.

Endemol, which makes Big Brother, has not given up just yet, and may seek another broadcaster to buy its ground-breaking show.

Whether the ratings slump is part of a broader disenchantment with reality TV remains to be seen. Certainly talent shows, from Strictly Come Dancing to Britain’s Got Talent, continue to thrive in. But as for Big Brother, will you miss it? Has it passed its sell-by date? Is Channel 4 right to ditch it?

January 5th, 2009

Dr Who???

Posted by: Mike Collett-White

matt-smith1After months of hype, speculation and guesswork, the new Dr Who has been unveiled. And the response was, aptly enough, a deafening “Who?”

In recent months, tabloid newspapers have run numerous ”beats” and “exclusives” on the identity of the next actor to play the British television time lord who travels in the space-bending Tardis. Among the candidates, supposedly, was actor David Morrissey, standup comic Bill Bailey and two female actresses — Catherine Tate and Meera Syal.

In the end, the coveted role went to Matt Smith, a little known 26-year-old. Reaction among fans has been mixed, with much of the criticism focusing on the fact that Smith may be too young to play the 903-year-old character. Smith takes over from the hugely popular David Tennant, who is 37.

Bookies are generally delighted with the outcome, with William Hill celebrating a five-figure profit after just one bet — a 3 pound wager at 25/1 — was placed on “rank outsider” Smith. They are already taking bets on Smith’s successor, and producers are also reported to be searching for a female co-star.

Are you happy about the choice of Smith? And who would make a good female foil?

September 22nd, 2008

“Gossip Girl” Meester TV’s hottest star, “Kath & Kim” a bomb-FHM

Posted by: Belinda Goldsmith

meester.jpgActress Leighton Meester, best known for her role as Blair Waldorf in the TV show “Gossip Girl,” has been named as FHM Online’s hottest star on TV this fall — while comedy “Kath and Kim” has topped its list of shows most likely to be axed.

 The 22-year-old actress who was born in a Texas prison, beat Hayden Panettiere from “Heroes” and Madeline Zima from “Californication” for the title.

“As bad girl Blair Waldorf in this year’s breakout hit “Gossip Girl” Leighton Meester has stolen the spotlight with her mind-blowing good looks and amazing performance,” said FHM Online U.S. Editor JR Futrell.

Here is FHM’s list of hottest TV stars this fall:

  1. Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl)
  2. Hayden Panettiere (Heroes)
  3. Madeline Zima (Californication)
  4. Deanna Russo (Knight Rider)
  5. Jamie Lynn Sigler (Entourage)
  6. Jaime King (Gary Unmarried)
  7. Summer Glau (The Sarah Connor Chronicles)
  8. Kaley Cuoco (Big Bang Theory)
  9. Dania Ramirez (Heroes)
  10. Eva Longoria-Parker (Desperate Housewives)

As well as ”Kath & Kim”, which stars Molly Shannon and Selma Blair,  FHM Online forecast “Stylista”, “Do Not Disturb”, “Crusoe” and “The Ex List” were most likely be cancelled. Do you agree?