The Voice Versus Britain's Got Talent

Image Source bbc.co.uk

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.

UK Soap Watch 19th March - 23rd March

EMMERDALE

Image Source: ITV.com
Cain Dingle

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.

Bad Ben
Image Sources BBC.CO.UK

Poor Andy, Heather's fiancé is the prime suspect with his history of violent behaviour. His mother Rose didn't help by immediately telling cops that he was with her around the time of the murder. The poor guy isn't even able to grieve his bride-to-be whilst he defends himself down the 'cop shop'. Most of the residents of Albert Square will believe he's guilty as who else would want to murder simple Heather? Best mate Shirley is a broken woman, especially as she and Heather didn't get to make up from their row. Shirley's locked in grief but she's not a stupid woman and her relationship with Phil will be over should she discover the truth.

Devastated Dot
Image Source BBC.CO.UK

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.

HOLLYOAKS

Mercedes McQueen
Image source e4.com

Not a good week for Mercedes McQueen as she found out ex fiancé Riley and her family were planning Bobby's christening behind her back. Her and Riley made amends and the tart without a heart finally displayed emotion towards her son but soon lost interest when she discovered Riley and his cousin Mitzeee snogging each other.

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?

Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, Program 6

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.

CORONATION STREET! Frank Foster Killer Revealed

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.


Anne Foster
Corrie Killer

UK Soap Watch w/e 13/03/2012

Dancing On Ice 2012 Finalists Revealed



Matthew Wolfenden



It's Chico's Time



Hollyoaks' Jorgie Porter

 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.

Images courtsey of Bing image searches

Coming Soon! British Soap Awards 2012

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.

To place your vote online visit www.britishsoapawards.tv before 3pm Monday 2^nd April 2012.

'The Children' UK horror movie review

The Children copyright Lions Gate Entertainment 2008
Starring Eva Birthistle and Stephen Campbell Moore

Whilst relaxing on the sofa Wednesday (14^th 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!

To watch 'The Children' trailer click here

UK Soap Watch w/e 18th March 2012

CORONATION STREET ( Central/ITV Mondays 7:30 and 8:30pm, Thursdays 8:30pm, Fridays

7:30 and 8:30pm)

Corrie's big 'whodunnit' storyline took a twist this week when alcoholic Peter Barlow confessed to murdering nasty Frank Foster. Peter didn't kill Frank but confessed as he thought girlfriend Carla, rape victim of Frank done the deed. She's adamant she didn't so viewers were left hanging last night as to who the killer might be. All will be revealed next week when Sally Webster discovers Franks missing watch.

No leaks have been given in the press as Coronation Street producers want to give the viewers a surprise. A surprise to me would be a major character revealed as the murderer. However, I've got a huge feeling that viewers are going to be disappointed when Anne Foster, Frank's mother is revealed as the killer. The signals are all there and I think instead of using a brilliant idea to make a key character get away with murdering a vile character like Frank with the viewers knowing but the street characters not Corrie are going to cop out and close the storyline. I really hope I'm wrong and I'll eat my hat next week if I am wrong.

image source itv.com

                                             Lewis Archer (The Charmer) and Audrey Roberts

Elsewhere on the cobbles, widow Audrey Roberts has rekindled her romance with former male escort cum conman, Lewis. Audrey's deeply dippy in this secret affair as she knows her daughter Gail disapproves of Lewis being back on the scene. A huge shout out to Nigel Havers for his acting. Lewis hasn't shown any form of his former ways but Nigel plays the charmer so brilliantly that viewers are constantly waiting for him to trip.

Watch out for a budding romance between shop wife Sunita Alahan and gambling Karl from the Rovers.

EASTENDERS BBC1 Mondays and Fridays 8pm Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30pm

Unlucky Heather Trott
Image source:  bbc.co.uk

Poor fat Heather. The simpleton single mother has finally found love after a long and rocky road. She's all set to marry Andrew Cotton when he reveals he's spent time in prison for GBH. His mother doesn't think Heather's good enough for him and Heather's best pal Shirley can't stand the man who's come between their friendship. After being given an ultimatum by Shirley in Fridays episode, Heather chose love over friendship. Soap fans will know though her happiness won't last for any time as her character is to be killed off next week by (don't read on if you don't already know) mixed up school boy Ben Mitchell. There's gonna be tears.



Relief for Tanya
Image Source:  bbc.co.uk

On the other side of the square relief for Tanya Branning as she found out her chemotherapy treatment had been successful in clearing her cervical cancer. Great acting from Jo Joyner (Tanya) and her family cast members in playing the story out with such gutso and showing the impact on all their emotions. Max had viewers wondering if he would stray (AGAIN) from his sick wife with his brothers ex, Roxy Mitchell. Thankfully he didn't. Too much brother and wife sharing with those Branning Brothers has gone on to go down that route again.

Humour of the week in the nit storyline. Kids and adults are scratching their barnets due to a breakout. My favourite Eastenders character, Kim Fox is also a victim which threw her plans (for a moment) with lover boy Ray.

Phil Mitchell is back on the square next week. I'm hoping the Eastenders baddie can put the foul Derek Branning in his place.

EMMERDALE Central/ITV Weekdays 7pm, Thursdays 8pm as well as 7pm

The Barton family are still struggling with the loss of John. Wife Moira is locked in mourning, eldest daughter Holly sought comfort in heroin, son Adam can't cope taking on his fathers role as farm manager and youngest daughter Hannah wants everyone to stop arguing and unite in their grief together. Now Moira has got out of bed to take charge and handed over the farm management to former owner Andy Sugden the family is at war again. Things take a turn for the worse next week when Adam takes revenge on Cain Dingle, the man who was a key figure in his parents marital problems shortly before John's death. A fire started by Adam leaves an already injured Cain fighting for life. Sources say this fire will lead to the departure of Adams best pal, Aaron Livesy, played by award winning Danny Miller. Danny leaving will be a huge loss to Emmerdale.



Neglected Sandy
Image Source: itv.com

Emmerdale have taken on the social issue on caring for the elderly with old and frail Sandy Thomas It has been uncomfortable for viewers watching his son Ashley shout and lash out at his father in frustration even more so because Ashley is the communities gentle vicar. Well done for Emmerdale for tackling this topic and highlighting issues many older viewers are familiar with and younger viewers may be ignorant to.

HOLLYOAKS Channel 4 weekdays 6:30pm



George goes home
Image Source e4.com



Hollyoaks is a regarded a teen soap but it deals with many issues that need to be made aware with adults also. I must admit I kind of lacked interest after the Silas storyline, the departure of Warren Fox and new college characters were brought in and didn't ignite me. Well the sparks back and 'Oaks is back on form with the homeless/missing storyline with George Palmer and the mysterious Phoebe. Having escaped from the evil clutches of sex traffickers Deena and Graham. George returned to his family, who thought he was dead and Phoebe to her mother, which viewers know is not really her mother. More will be revealed about Phoebe when she moves in with Jackie McQueen next week.

Cold hearted bitch, Mercedes McQueen has shown her true colours to her family by showing them she's more interested in getting ex fiancé Riley back than she is her son. When she finds out Riley is seeing Mitzeee next week she kidnaps Bobby in fury. Mercedes is a hard character to love and viewers are constantly wondering how low will she go?

Dennis is back from India next week with an eerie mysteriousness about what he's been up to in his absence. I'm not a fan of this character and he strangely resembles Ben Mitchell from Eastenders.

Hollyoaks are well known for love triangle story lines, the present being students Annaliese, Rob and Scott. Annaliese dumped boyfriend Rob last week as she feels more for his mate Scott. On Friday she hinted to Scott that she was ready to “move on” to which Scott wished her well and walked off. Poor Scott deserves a girlfriend as he hasn't had no female interests besides Annaliese but his character is such a sweet and loyal mate that it'd be horrid to see him and Rob at loggerheads. Can't wait to see how this plays out.