On the box
That annual TV Love-Fest, The National Television awards was staged and broadcast recently and just for a change I thought I would take a look at what is, in my view a syrupy evening with lots of whooping and hollering by and on behalf of the telly-types, writes Mark Ritchie
In recent times this event had morphed into the Ant and Dec show. It was all-change this year with the famous crisp salesmen, world affairs philosopher and occasional football show host Gary Lineker scooping the big prize of Best Presenter. The irony surrounding this year’s award-recipient is of course that the man with the big ears has just been sacked by Auntie Beeb. Lineker’s ‘sin’ was tweeting his views on the stuff of the big wide world, rather than his observations on VAR and the current state of his beloved Leicester City FC.
Other winners at the NTA’s this year included the surprise drama hit, Adolescence and comedian Lee Mack’s quiz show, The 1% Club.
Everyone looked very swish plush and preening on the night, but I for one wonder how strenuously the votes are sought in certain sections of society. The apparent lack of reach in seeking approval and accurate ratings numbers are, I happen to know, a bone of contention in some circles.
The prize for generous-faced losers should perhaps go to the team from Mrs Browns Boys. This show has also suffered the PC ire of late and been axed from the BBC recently, much to the dismay of their legions of fans. Gavin and Stacey won best sit-com this time around and whilst I was dreading the special recognition award when I heard it was going to be awarded to a duo. The relief was palpable when Jonathan Ross announced that the duo in question was a rather more animated twosome by the name of Wallace and Gromit.
All this and no sign of Philip Scofield or Holly Willoughby in sight, which surely cannot be bad!
If you would like to contribute an article for this page expressing views on UK-TV, please e-mail the editor at mark.ritchie@ukcabaret.com
