Not just another TV blog! This is Donz's blog where I review my favourite (and not so favoured) UK TV programs and films. Nothing's forbidden and nothing's taboo. Soaps, reality TV, cooking programs, late night movies. Catch it all and catch it here.
It was Talent show war last night against BBC1's The Voice and ITV's Britain's Got Talent (BGT). After a few years of watching these talent type programmes and not all of the winners going on to have great success and the same old pantomime with the judges grew thin with me. However, with all the hype surrounding The Voice, already a popular hit in the USA I thought it'd only be fair to check it out as it made its debut on British prime time TV. As it says on the tin, this show is all about the contestants voice, no sob story and no scrutiny of that 'star' look as judges/mentors, Sir Tom Jones, Danny O'Donoghue, Will I Am and Jessie J have their backs to the contenders whilst they perform.
Being hearing impaired meant difficulty in spotting true talent but from the little I could hear those that got through were well deserved. An hour separated the two shows forcing a twenty minute overlap. On ITV, BGT had Talent Show Supremo, Simon Cowell back in his judging spot with original judge, Amanda Holden and new judges, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams. As ever, the wacky auditions were the best for viewers but I lost interest within an hour sadly.
So to be fair I'm not fit to judge either show, maybe as it heads past the audition progress I might be a bit more tuned in. All I will say is that ITV have a perfect ingredient in their mix. Not Simon Cowell, nor the crazy contestants, but in presenters Ant and Dec. The perfect hosts for viewers spending Saturday night in.
Emmerdale has produced some hard
hitting story lines recently, displayed fine acting from its cast
and, in my opinion, a seriously underrated quality British Soap
against Coronation Street and Eastenders. Explosive scenes this week
as grieving Adam Barton set fire to the garage with enemy Cain Dingle
still inside it. The farmer boy later rescued his victim and Cain
reluctantly agreed not to tell the police about his involvement,
thanks to Aaron. However, this could prove worse for Adam who will
soon wish he left Cain to toast when the villainous mechanic decides
on how to punish him.
Troubled Zach Dingle is hard hitting
his pints and showing signs of disillusion. Has Megan hit the point
that he's showing signs of Alzeihmers or is the Dingle Head just
supping one pint too many?
Sinful Vicar Ashley Thomas Image Source ITV.com
Ill treatment of the elderly is a sore
subject and a current topic amongst Brits so vicar Ashley Thomas
stands out as the biggest villain in Emmerdale at the moment. His
bestiality towards his father and deviousness in covering up to
outsiders is a huge change in the normally placid vicars character.
Things are stepping up next week when Sandy is injured and social
services are called. Can the character of Ashley ever redeem itself
to viewers.
On the lighter side, Jimmy King used
reverse psychology against wife Nicola's sex ban. Oysters and
champagne worked but will he still have to go through with a
vasectomy? My fellow soap community also kindly informed me that
Jimmy has a well packed lunch box. I missed out on the view but will
be looking out in the near future.
Watch The Emmerdale Cast &
Crew In Fabulous Farewell Video For Danny Miller
Eastenders
Shirley was absolutely bang on the nail the beginning of this week
when she told freshly released Phil that his son Ben was “...wrong
in the head”. Psycho Ben bashed 'Poor Hev' with a photo frame
causing her death then cracked jokes about her whilst he, witness Jay
and cover up expert Phil dined with the Mitchell clan. Even now he
knows he killed Heather for his brother Ian's wrongdoing, he fails to
show any remorse. Even hard nut Phil seems appalled by his coldness
and adopted brother Jay is a nervous and ill looking wreck trying to
show Mitchell loyalty. His clothes that could implicate him to the
murder were sneakily hidden by Ben. Is the psycho teen hoping to
frame Jay? The viewers already know how jealous he is of the
closeness between Jay and his father.
The most emotive impact of grief was shown by the brilliant June
Brown who plays Dot Cotton. She's lost so many people she's loved or
got close to that she believes herself to be a bad omen turning on
Fatboy and insisting he keep well away from her.
Next week sees Ben confiding in Roxy. Will he reveal all or will he
spin her lies with his wickedness?
Coronation Street
Sally Webster
Image Source itv.com
The build up to the revealing of Franks killer, his mother Anne was
well played out. Busybody Sally worked it out after the funeral and
almost paid with her life as she fell and knocked herself
unconscious, not attacked by the killer as stated in the press. With
a son like Frank, no-one could really blame Anne for doing him in.
She's now safely behind bars and the residents can move on now
Sally's out of danger and she and Carla have resolved their
differences with Sally even being offered her job back. I still feel
Corrie should have made the killer be a major character to spice up
the soap.
Glad to see the school dinnergate storyline brought to closure with
little Max back in school. It was a little far fetched for me and
didn't bring the light relief as intended.
Sunita Alahan
Image Source itv.com
Things are hotting up between Karl and Sunita as the pair kissed this
week. She walked away apologising but with her marriage to Dev in
tatters and Karl not putting up much resistance, this is definitely
going to go further and it will all end in tears.
STORYLINE SPOILER: As if Tyrone Dobbs hasn't suffered enough, his
bad luck will soon take a further knock when he becomes a victim of
domestic abuse at the hands of wacky girlfriend Kirsty.
Poor Riley is in a mixture of emotions torn between his love for his
cousin and the torch he still carries for Mercedes and the hurt of
her sleeping with his father Carl. Next week another brunette minx
is thrown into the mix as he and nurse Lynsey become closer.
Jackie McQueen
Homeless hard headed Phoebe
If you're going to mess with a McQueen, Jackie is the worst pick of
the bunch as ungrateful Phoebe will find out when Jackie gets her
hands on the homeless teen. Phoebe exploited Jackie's kindness when
she allowed her to stay the night by robbing her flat and her beloved
dog Terry. No sign of her former homeless companion, George but away
from screen viewers know he is catching up with his family who
believed the runaway was dead. He returns next week with big news
for his friends. Is he going to leave them behind to be with his
family?
A typical Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Image Source: www.chanel4.com
Never mind The Only Way Is Essex
(TOWIE), I'm more interested in the goings on in the Gypsy community.
Channel 4's 'Big Fat Gypsy Weddings' Tuesday's 9pm showed the scenes
of the well documented Dale Farm residents fighting against eviction
from the Council and prejudice from their non-gypsy neighbours last
night. The Gypsy's stood strong and they stood together as they were
faced with bulldozers and riot police and didn't give up until every
last caravan was crushed. Viewers heartstrings were pulled as
residents became homeless and gave an insight to the injustice and
“racism” shown towards them. A ten year old girl featured in the
story made TV gold when she said “If more hippies had been here
they could have saved us”. Bless her little heart.
Lightening the mood we seen the wedding
preparations and shenanigans for young Chantelle's wedding.
Thousands of crystals were sewn onto her Big Fat Gypsy dress by the
Gypsy's favourite dressmaker, Thelma and as always, the reception was
an assemble of the males getting drunk and the girls busting their
moves on the dance floor looking like competitors in a Butlins
dancing competition. Fake tan, fake hair, skimpy bright outfits and
massive heels. Gypsy fabulous.
I'm still curious as to why so many
Gypsy men are camera shy and what kind of work they do to generate
such a luxurious lifestyle.
I was right. I knew Anne Foster would be revealed as the killer of her rapist son Frank from day one. Nobody in my soap gossip world believed me so it's a major buzz to my ego to be right once again. I only managed to catch snippets of tonight's episodes so I will give my full review in UK Soap Watch when I've viewed the omnibus over the weekend.
I accussed Corrie writers and producers of copping out by not letting a major character be the murderer but Gwen Taylor, who plays Anne revelled in her role turning on Sally and Carla tonight making her a worthy baddie. Obviously where Frank inherited his nasty streak from.
Matthew Wolfenden, Chico and Jorgie Porter have skated their way to the final of the celebrity ice skating competition. I'm not a massive fan of the ITV show but I do tune in now and again and will be hopefully watching the final. Matthew's my favourite to win but don't write off the competition, Chico and Jorgie can bust some moves on the ice too.
Sadly Jennifer Ellison left the show tonight in tears of emotion. I must say if I'd risked my life and limbs on ice, been spun around in the air, legs akimbo in very skimpy costumes I'd be bawling to lose out so close to the final.
Jayne Torville and Christopher Dean performing
their Gold medal Bolero 1984
I do wish they'd give a different piece of choreography to finalists to perform other than Torville and Dean's blinking bolero. Yes it is a beautiful dance, and Yes it won them Gold in the Olympic Championships some hundred years ago but surely there are other medal winning perfomances that could be incorparated with to bring the competition forward, not repetitive.
The British Soap Awards will be screened on ITV in May 2012. Viewers are urged to vote for their favourite soaps and characters. The five soaps in battle are Coronation Street, Doctors, Eastenders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks. Catergories include Sexiest Male, Sexiest Female, Villain of the Year, Best Actor, Best Actress and of course, Best British Soap.
When the shortlist is announced next month I will give my winning predictions here on Donz on UKTV as well as my own personal soap star favourites.
The Children copyright Lions Gate Entertainment 2008
Starring Eva Birthistle and Stephen Campbell Moore
Whilst relaxing on the sofa Wednesday (14th March 2002) night and flicking through the channels I came across 'The Children' (2008) on BBC1. It was after midnight and I was a little drowsy but the antics of the evil little buggers in this UK horror flick certainly woke me up. Talk about Damien (The Omen) times five, little girls included, it certainly was unsettling viewing as warned in the text box. Brit horror chillers haven't impressed me for years. Even the American ones seem too far fetched and full of fancy camera trickery these days.
Two families spend New Year together in a remote house in the middle of nowhere when the kids start acting strangely, turn a funny colour, then murder the adults. Loads of blood and gore without overkill for the horror factor and the adults suspecting each other for the grimsly murders for the dramatic plot. As a mother it did freak me out a little and had me wanting to scream at the TV every time one of the little satans tricked the parents into a lure of death with their innocence. Trust me I didn't go to sleep easily after its ending at 1:20am. The ending was a bit of a let down but cleverly leaves the door open for a sequel. Please!
