Stephenson's Rocket

Who would volunteer for Britain's Brightest Family?

2019-02-04T03:30:00.001-08:00

ROCKET

Shipwrecked (E4, Mon) has run aground again, and this time it’s been holed below the waterline. We know this is for younger viewers, but even your flakiest millennial would struggle not to cringe at the quality of this sub-Love Island. Is it a bad dating show, or a bad survival programme, because at the moment it falls between coconut trees. And the whole class war nonsense between the Wythneshawe girl and the posh princess from Chelsea was straight from the Jeremy Corbyn songbook, but not very Channel 4. But given how these shows are edited, they will gushingly make up, hug it out, then share a restorative coconut milk.

What family in their right mind would volunteer for a show called Britain’s Brightest Family (ITV, Wed)? The Lees, and the Clements thankfully did, and were well-up for potentially the most excruciating 30 minutes of their lives to further our amusement. While the show had all the atmosphere of a will reading, it was nonetheless entertaining.

Chairing this televised 11-plus was The Chase’s Anne Hegerty who is receiving her recognition and reward from ITV for suffering the rigours of rice and beans in I’m A Celebrity for a fee significantly less than Noel Edmonds’. We did wonder why she had bothered.

She was actually very good flying solo without Bradley Walsh chittering away in the background. “I’m the Governess Anne Hegerty and the pleasure is all yours!” Boom, boom! It’s tempting to call her the Queen of Mean but we all know who would win in a Harry Hill-style “fight” between Anne and the last holder of the title, Anne Robinson. She may be tough but she occasionally has a lightness of touch — and she’s quick too. When one of the children was asked what he would spend the winning £25,000 in cash on, he replied: “On a trip to Australia!” Hegerty quipped: “You can get there cheaper than that!” Too true. You get ITV to pay for it.

But where was its annoying catchphrase? Every gameshow needs one. In this case, it needed work. As each contestant returned from the podium where they had answered specialist questions, Anne would offer: “Head back to your families…” But only if you got it right…

The families were certainly combative, not least when the two children squared up to each other at the podium over the memory round. It was posh v less so. There can’t have been a grown-up viewer who didn’t immediately feel for these two boys when they were faced with a row of 20 road signs and then asked to regurgitate them in left-to-right order. Yes, headmistress. Gulp!

I have no scientific proof of this, but I do believe that the Clements’ clan were the poshest family to have ever appeared on an ITV gameshow. Mum and dad, from the Home Counties, were a chartered accountant and solicitor respectively, while their son, James, sported an accent that only good money can buy. The most fascinating round for me was the “backwards timetable” which, if you’re a commuter, is how we believe all rail companies read them anyway.

Britain’s Brightest Family could be a sleeper hit, or just put viewers to sleep. You can never tell. The audience, at times, reacted like they’d been given free Temazepan on arrival. It’s certainly one for parents to put children in front of to see whether they’re showing any signs of life after 16 hours of gaming every day.

One of the most curious shows of the week was The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2, Mon). Was this conceived over a drunken lunch by TV commissioning editors? If so, I hope it was a good hangover. I just didn’t get it. Not only did I recognise just one of the stand-ups — I need to get out more — but also the idea in which the stories in their routines were acted before our weary eyes was "extra" as young people say. Why? We have an imagination. The only upside was that we got to hear Seann Walsh talk about a “girlfriend” and have a bit of a giggle at his expense. Not much of a one, but then again the level of entertainment offering was equivalent to watching a real-effect gas fire in your living room. Most of the routine from the Strictly bad boy centred on the apparent fuss we make over the desert menu, and why a cheese board is even included in that. That’s as funny as eating stilton beyond its eat-by date.

Bonkers idea now, ITV: Why not just do a show with young stand-ups rather than do some cheesy filming with bad actors doing it? Include a top MC and you’re done — “It’s Monday Mike Night on ITV2”. There’s no charge for that, ITV.

My first thought on watching refugee drama Safe Harbour (BBC4, last night) was, ‘why even go there, Australia?’ Starring Ewen Leslie, fresh from his triumph in The Cry, it tells the story of several well-heeled Queenslanders who are taking a yachting holiday in the East Timor Sea when they come across a refugee boat, becalmed after an engine fire. The next thing you know is that Aussies are taking a vote (!!!) on whether to tow it to a port. Then hours later, the tow rope is cut, or let go by forces unknown. Of course, it’s a “what if” drama. Ewen Leslie again plays a morally ambiguous character with great skill, and realism. If nothing else, it’s intriguing.

Finally BBC have decided that we don't know enough about Brexit, so commissioned Inside Europe (BBC2, Mon). We were treated to countless shots of fascinating black limos arriving in Brussels with mostly old footage, combined with new talking heads. It lacked a contemporary feel which is more akin to “Oh brother…” Choose your own word to replace “brother”. I was impressed by David Cameron’s optimism however when he met with Czech politician who reported what our former prime minister had told him about his referendum chances: “I”m a lucky man; I can win.” Oh, no you can’t.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thetellyrocket

Celebrating 60 years of Ronnie Scotts

2019-02-04T03:20:00.000-08:00

Ronnie Scott’s, the legendary club, from the world of jazz, is turning 60. The noted Soho establishment is celebrating its bus pass by announcing its own “definitive” list of the 60 greatest jazz albums – and you don’t need to be a jazz aficionado to recognise many of the titles.

It includes such well-known names as Courtney Pine, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, someone called Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, George Benson and Gregory Porter.

It is a something-for-everyone accessible playlist, a word which of course is now synonymous with internet music site, Spotify, where you will find a singles list drawn from the same collection.

The albums were compiled by an impressive list of luminaries from the world of music, including musicians Georgie Fame, Courtney Pine and Pee Wee Ellis, together with broadcasters Jez Nelson (Jazz FM) and Robert Elms.

“With such an incredible array of artists to choose from,” Ronnie Scott’s MD Simon Cooke told me at last week’s glitzy launch, “selecting the most significant jazz albums of the last 60 years was never going to be straightforward.”

“Our 40 aficionados nominated over 800 albums which have been whittled down to a definitive list that not only reflects the jazz of the past 60 years, but looks to the future too; just as we do at Ronnie Scott’s.”

Cooke has been at Ronnie’s since 2008. “Lot of people don’t know that Ronnie and Pete [King, the then joint owner] were actually invited to open a club in Belgravia by the Kray Twins before they moved to this address. They managed to put them off. They were brave men in those days.”

Established in 1959 by saxophonists Ronnie Scott and Pete King, the club opened its doors in a small basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London’s West End. It was the place where local musicians could jam, and showcased the best of British jazz talent as well as introducing many top American and international jazz artists to British jazz fans later on.

Scott’s inspiration was a trip to New York in 1947 to see the jazz scene. On one memorable night Ronnie heard Charlie Parker play with Miles Davis at the Three Deuces. Playing next door was the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band and, late into the night, Davis also played with Gillespie. Scott vowed to set up his own club in London.

In the summer of 1965, the club moved to its current home at 47 Frith Street and there it remains to this day.

Since the early days of Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Miles Davis, the club has continued to present the biggest names in jazz as well as supporting and presenting hotly-tipped rising stars.

In the early days of the club, Scott the saxophonist infused the club with a nice line in self-deprecation.

He was famous for taking to the stage with gems like this: “You should have been at the club last Monday — somebody should have been here last Monday. We had the bouncers chucking them in.”

One jazz fan rang to the club, so the story goes, to ask what time the show started: “What time can you get here..!” came the reply.

He even joked about the old kitchens in the club: “A thousand flies can’t be wrong!”

Scott was the son of a Jewish refugee band leader, while his business partner Pete King was the son of a London bus driver.

In Scott’s memoir he was surprised the establishment had lasted so long. “When Pete and I look back at 20 years of trial and error, of guesswork and gambling, bluff and blunder and all shades of luck, from appalling to lousy, we can only wonder at how we ever had the cheek and temerity to plunge headlong into what has been described as a sure-fire recipe for financial disaster and mental breakdown.”

But of course it became the place to be seen for the London nightlife set. Back in the Sixtes, Princess Margaret used to drop by with actor Peter Sellers, while Sonny Rollins asked to be locked in overnight so he could finish writing the score to the film, Alfie. And all the great names graced the stage there, too, including Benny Goodman, Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald. It would also host Tom Waits, Elkie Brooks and Mark Knopfler.

Ronnie Scott died in 1996, aged 69, from a mixture of painkillers and alcohol, but left an unrivalled legacy.

Impressario Sally Greene, who also owns The Old Vic, bought Ronnie’s in 2005 for £3m. She also spent £2.38m on a refurbishment. “I used to go to Ronnie’s Scott’s with my father,” she said, so it seemed like destiny that one day she would own it.

But looking back it was Scott’s personality that drove the success of the club, believes Cooke.

“They had a love for jazz, and jazz musicians. The whole spirit of the place was based on that fantastic passion they had for the place. It wasn’t an easy ride, they went broke a couple of times, at least.

“And of course, all the celebrities then piled in…Princess Margaret, Spike Milligan, The Beatles had birthday parties down here, and it became the place to be. It seemed that in a non-digital world it was able to spread itself across the globe. And it became this famous thing.

“And it still attracts big names. Prince Edward was in the building last week for some reason. Rob Brydon was here a few weeks ago, and sang the Welsh national anthem. We threw him out! Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck did a late night blues session recently. It just keeps rolling. It has a life of its own.”

And may it roll on for another 60 years. https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thetellyrocket

Bundy mania arrives on UKTV

2019-02-04T03:12:00.000-08:00

UK broadcasters are cashing in on Ted Bundy mania, too, with a sensationalised new four-part documentary.

Really on UKTV is inviting viewers to “binge watch” what they’re describing as an “in-depth look” at the American killer in Ted Bundy: Serial Monster which again heightens the “romantic” side of the notorious criminal.

“Following the Netflix documentary and in anticipation of a film starring Zac Efron later on this year,” it tells viewers, “get inside the mind of one of America’s most notorious serial killers and join the conversation. The whole series will also be available to binge-watch on UKTV Play.”

It adds: “You might think this is the plot of a horror film, but it’s all too real.”

The US documentary makers capitalise on Bundy’s apparent good looks, and “charm” to sell the show abroad.

It’s these qualities that convinced movie producers in the US to cast former Disney heartthrob Zac Efron in an upcoming Hollywood feature film version.

The makers of Ted Bundy: Serial Monster promise: “A handsome gentleman on the outside… a terrifying, depraved monster on the inside. A chameleon so deceptive that he charmed more than one hundred women to their cruel, unfortunate deaths.

“From his beginnings as an innocent paperboy, to an admired high school athlete, to a budding attorney and rising politician, no one recognised him as the bloodiest mass murderer in US history.”

The drama-documentary begins with a real recording of Ted Bundy’s voice before actors play out various gruesome scenes.

In one scene, Bundy, played by US TV regular Adam Long, walks into a darkened room with a crow bar, which he uses to beat his first victim around the head.

Blood splatters the walls and bed sheets in a scene which doesn’t spare the viewer any gory detail.

In another scene, Bundy is seen rummaging in a victim’s underwear drawer.

In other scenes he’s filmed looking “troubled” and “tortured” as he walks through the woods.

Again documentary makers create an “attractive” Bundy who walks about in smart knitwear and who has an easy style around women.

The narrator declares: “It’s the summer of love, and for Ted, it’s the real thing.”

Later it describes one of his victims, Diana Edwards as “the woman of his dreams”.

UK Premiere – Double-bill

Thursday 21 February, 10pm – Really TV

Fortitude season two launch 2017

2019-02-03T10:09:00.001-08:00

Sky Atlantic's Fortitude is truly one of the wackiest shows I've ever seen on Sky. Horror, drama, and dark comedy it has it all. You can never pick up, together with some fine acting. Here's the season two Q&A, featuring Sofie Grobal

The point of the Winter Olympics is?

2018-02-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

IN THE week in which it was announced that the BBC licence fee was increasing by £3 a year to £150.50, it’s been revealed that the Winter Olympics have been attracting as few as 145,000 viewers during the night.

The figure was recorded early Thursday 15 February between 2am and 4am when the BBC was showing live coverage on BBC1.

The BBC are disputing the figure, saying the audience actually averaged 270,000 viewers between midnight and 4.30am.

A BBC source said: “This is on a par with viewing for Sochi [ the last Winter games in 2014], but if you look online, 559,000 were watching the same internet stream.”

The BBC reportedly paid around £140m for four Olympics — two summer, and two Winter Games, including Pyeongchang.

The Corporation wouldn’t confirm how much it paid for these particular games, but figures released last week about the Australian TV rights deal suggested the UK package could be as high as £30-40m for each games.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “We don’t comment on rights. It’s commercially sensitive.”

Meanwhile, UK Sport has invested more than £32m in the Winter games, doubling its previous total.

It predicted a total of between four and 10 GB medals.

The current total stands at four, including one gold.

Meanwhile, new research based on more than 2,000 UK adults has revealed “the country’s widespread disinterest” in the Winter Olympics.

It found almost two thirds of people could not name a single member of the Team GB 2018 Winter Olympics Squad; 16 per cent admitted the main reason they tune into the winter sports competition is to potentially see someone fall or crash at high speed; 41 per cent said the major reason they have no interest in the Winter Olympics is that the UK does not have the climate or terrains to host many of the sports; and a further 37 per cent found winter sports “prohibitively expensive, meaning they have little interest in skiing, snowboarding or ice-skating”.

Doctor Who Christmas special 2015 interviews Peter Capaldi Alex Kingston

2015-12-29T03:13:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas, and another wonderful Christmas special from the team at Doctor Who, led by Steven Moffat. Here's a Q&A from the London launch, featuring top doc, Peter Capaldi, and guest stars, Alex Kingston - River Song, comedian and actor Greg Davies, and showrunner Steven Moffat. Zoe Ball asks the questions. The episode is entitled The Husbands of River Song, and there are some spoiler alerts...

Marco Pierre White talks about his new film

2015-12-22T04:59:00.001-08:00

Here's Marco Pierre White talks about the film that is being made about his life. Ridley Scott is directing and Michael Fassbender is lined up to play the lead... Due to air next year/2017

Dickensian launch London 2015

2015-12-22T04:56:00.000-08:00

Tony Jordan is one of our most talented makers of television. Here's a discussion about his latest offering, to be on the BBC, over Christmas 2015. If you like Dickens, you will love this sprawling new drama based some of its unforgettable characters...

Luther launch 2015 with Idris Elba

2015-12-22T04:44:00.000-08:00

Luther is one of my favourite London cop shows. Idris Elba of course plays this role like his life depends on it. In the stories it often does. He's some content from the London launch attended by this superb actor....

Deutschland 83 London launch interviews

2015-12-22T04:38:00.000-08:00

It's a long time since we've enjoyed a German drama. Deutschland 83 is a superb offering. I attended a London launch at the new Soho house. This is the Q&a chaired by Emma Bullimore. Starts on Channel 4 in January 2015

David Beckham For the Love of the Game interview

2015-12-22T04:29:00.002-08:00

Just how famous is David Beckham? Watch his new documentary to see the astounding reception he receives around the world as he promotes awareness for UNICEF of children in poverty. Here's a recording of an interview from the London launch...

Endeavour's worthy sequel to Morse

2014-08-30T14:12:00.001-07:00

Endeavour is one of ITV's most successful crime drama launches in recent times.

With the show's DVD riding high in the charts, here's my original review....

THIS is a Fergie-free column. There will, however, be frequent mentions of the words, “drama”, “murder” and “ITV”. Of course, if Sir Alex Ferguson wishes to pitch a murder-mystery set in and around Old Trafford in the Nineties, I’m certain ITV will bite off his hairdryer.

The channel, it seems, has gone completely bonkers for period detective dramas. Not ropey old repeats in grainy standard definition, but dramas set intentionally in the distant past, like 1985. That really was a long time ago.

Some of these new dramas are good, some splendid, but some should be turned into the authorities before the makers commit more crimes.

Let’s start with the splendid one. Endeavour (ITV, Sunday) ended its four-week run, set in the Sixties, with a thrilling, chilling episode. Many will have watched expectantly, waiting for a nice shoot-out at the end.

In short, it didn’t happen. Why then all this terribly interesting stuff about how Morse had been taught to shoot by his father, and how he had proved a crack shot on the shooting range? Inspector Thursday also looked a bit like a cowboy in that trilby. Bar room shoot-out next time, please.

The irony was that Morse himself was then shot and wounded, which was the cause of his limp all those years later. Apparently. We assume Colin Dexter approved. The writer turned out in this one, in a cameo, playing a don. Has he been given an honorary doctorate from Oxford yet? He deserves one.

The episode also looked quite different. There was snow in Oxford, and the featured college had red brick. Shocking. ITV going downmarket again.

For Morse aficionados, who had dragged themselves away from ITV3 repeats, you will also have noticed that Endeavour’s father looked uncannily like John Thaw.

Endeavour is now officially better than Lewis. Nine out of 10 cats agree. So ITV, you can now officially stand down Kevin Whately and Lawrence Fox. We’re happy with the replacement.

Indeed, it was such a good episode it made me think of The Remorseful Day, the final ever episode of Morse. I may well have recovered emotionally by the time the next series comes around. In the meantime, back to ITV3. The wonderful thing about repeats is that as you get older you’re never quite sure whether you’ve seen it before. Until it’s over.

And now the DVD is with us. Click here

Enjoy my interview with stars Shaun Evans and Roger Allam...

The great Frozen debate over Let It Go

2014-08-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

Let It Go has of course been such a huge hit for Disney, not only in the cinema but in the DVD charts where it still resides at number one. My greatest surprise was not the film itself but the debate provoked over the posting of this video on youtube. Dozens of comments later we're no closer to settling the argument over who does the best version of this catchy tune. You too can enter the debate...

Buy the DVD from Amazon here

Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Blue Ray

2014-08-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last few days of my holiday watching The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition, on Blue Ray. Yes, I've got nothing better to do with my time! Having watched the films the first time around, I was surprised not only by how much I'd forgotten, but just what a visual spectacle Peter Jackson, now Sir Peter, has created. It also struck me that we mightn't have had the fanfare over Games of Thrones had we not gone through the experiences of "destroying the one ring of power". Enjoy.

Peter Capaldi and his new Doctor Who

2014-08-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

AS Peter Capaldi, the new Doctor Who puts it himself: “Well, here we go again.” Indeed. This is the fourth new Time Lord since the “reboot” and we have gone from the youngest Doctor, Matt Smith, to one as old as the first incarnation, William Hartnell. He is also, arguably, the most Scottish, teamed with writer Steven Moffat, a compatriot. There is a reference to the upcoming referendum. On learning he is Scottish, Capaldi says: “That’s good. I can complain about things!” Did Alex Salmond have a hand in this script? Capaldi plays the tartan time traveller as a serious thinker, an almost troubled being, with a burden. An independent soul, he is not ending his way in the world – he has already been there. The new Doctor is one of us; older, kindly, grumpy at times, and with regrets In short, the new Doctor is one of us; older, kindly, grumpy at times, and with regrets. “I’ve made mistakes,” he says solemnly. In some respects, the person who has the most issues with him is his assistant, Clara. “He looks old,” she says, sounding like a prodigal daughter back from a gap year. This also opens up the potential for comedy, which will lighten the load of centuries past that Capaldi is carrying around. Once he gets over his post-traumatic regeneration disorder, this worldly Doctor could become a classic but do not expect the scarf to make a return. He may be an avuncular Doctor in a frock coat but he will not be reaching for the pipe and slippers. He has already fallen through a tree, ridden a horse, hung from a service lift and jumped from a bridge. If we are also to get a new Doctor’s assistant, I hope she, or he, has a first aid certificate.

Frasier season one review

2014-08-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

Just released on Amazon Prime Instant video is Frasier Season One. This is by some distance my favourite American comedy. Here you see from the start, as Frasier makes the trip from Cheers to Seattle, to his new life with his brother Niles and his father Marty. Each episode is finely crafted, not least because of the professionalims offered by lead actor Kelsey Grammer, who insisted throughout each recording that high standards of production, and comedy timing, were preserved. At least that's what co-star John Mahoney told me during an interview recently. Here we have the 24 episodes from season one, which will not disappoint, and are five-star comedies all the way.

Doctor Who Tom Baker, the funniest Doctor?

2013-11-21T04:55:00.001-08:00

You may know who your favourite Doctor Who is, or who is the first one you can remember. But who is the funniest? Can I offer Tom Baker. Please listen to him hear in an interview I attended for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. As you will hear, most of us couldn't stop laughing...

Strictly come dancing launch 2013

2013-09-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Strictly Come Dancing launch is always a chaotic affair. Entertaining, but just a bit bonkers as literally the new celebs find their feet. This year, we had the added excitement of the show coming from a new studio, Elstree Studios.
Here are some of the dancing pairs...

Daniel Radcliffe young doctors notebook 2013

2013-09-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

When Daniel Radcliffe turns up at an event it's almost a story in itself. So it was when he arrived at the Sky Drama launch of 2013 to talk about the second series of A Young Doctor's Notebook. It is a project he is very passionate about...

And here he is talking about his eagerness to reveal all on film...

Bear Grylls interview Escape from Hell

2013-09-26T03:36:00.001-07:00

There are TV launches, and there are those involving Bear Grylls. He began this one by abseiling down the outside of the iconic Battersea Power Station in London. A former SAS soldier, he did it with seemingly no effort. Here's the interview he conducted with Richard Bacon. It's a great listen.

And watch his descent here....

Show starts in October on Discovery.

2013-05-19T10:38:00.002-07:00

Lord Sugar doesn't suffer fools. We know this. He doesn't suffer journalists either. This is a powerhouse display in front of the assembled press at the launch of series 9 of The Apprentice.

Frankie launch BBC1 Eve Myles interview

2013-05-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

Frankie is a warm-hearted drama, which has come into the schedules on the coat-tails of the huge success of Call The Midwife. Here's the star Eve Myles, along with Dean Lennox Kelly, and writer Lucy Gannon, talking about the inspiration behind it, at a launch at the Covent Garden Hotel.

Mag Dogs series 3 Q n A

2013-05-19T10:32:00.001-07:00

I attend many Q n As as part of my job. Some can be dull and completely unrevealing. This one was a total hoot. Mad Dogs, for Sky1HD, is returning and the four boys gathered by the Electric Cinema in London to answer questions from journalist James Rampton, and the audience.

Horrible Histories series five launch interviews

2013-05-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a fantastic recording of the Horrible Histories team at the BFI launch in London for the sketch show series. Sadly this is the last series of its kind, but there is a film to come! Enjoy!

My Cowboy Builders Hell

2013-05-11T06:53:00.001-07:00

This blog is offered by way of a cautionary tale. It is also predicated on the notion that builders can't be trusted. Many households are having lofts built now, for various reasons. Hence a huge increase in the number of those bidding for your hard earned cash. Here are some points worth remembering when choosing:

don't choose a "packaging" company. Make sure the builder you hire will be actually doing the work.
Establish there is a proper guarantee.
Look at the roof yourself. Dangerous I know. But you could have photographs. We would not have approved our final roof had we seen it.
Do not choose either Landmark Lofts, or New Zealand Lofts for the very reasons I have explained above..
Good luck!
Below is my video, one year on of our worst leak to date with water gushing into my child's bedroom on the first floor (not the loft room!) at 1.30am. She immediately turned on the light to find it was leaking through the light itself!