HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

Why Prezza's not very ship-shape... First his risque jokes upset fellow cruise passengers. Now he may have norovirus | Mail Online

Why Prezza's not very ship-shape... First his risque jokes upset fellow cruise passengers. Now he may have norovirus | Mail Online

Now we know why Pauline Prescott is trying to worm her way onto TV via TOS. Lord and Lady Ginster imagine themselves to have a future as entertainers. Their lack of self awareness is astounding. But they clearly have friends in low places. This is how they get the bookings.

I wish you all the happiness that Christmas and the New Year can bring.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

 

Now TOS is the star.

 

Last year’s TOS Christmas Party edition, with its so called stars Chiles and Bleakley, was for me a toe curling embarrassment. It was TV at it’s patronising worst. It insulted the intelligence of its audience.

How different was last night. In my opinion, last night’s Christmas Party edition of TOS was well produced, written, directed and presented. It was a perfect show for the early evening slot. It gave me a warm comfortable feeling throughout. Last night the show was the star and not its presenters and contributors; and that is the way it should be. This was the BBC at its best.

TOS is off back down hill.

 

I have been enjoying TOS of late; and then we get patronising Pauline Prescott droning on in a dull, flat monotone which made even Adrian Chiles sound animated.

What qualification does she have for the job? None as far as I can see. She is certainly no autocutie. It is clearly jobs for the boys. That rancid cabal of lefties at the BBC have once more sunk their claws into what was otherwise a good programme.

Back downhill for TOS. Anyone with any talent should be prepared to abandon ship to save their careers.

Try this for pure joy

That was entertainment.

Adrian Chiles admits that he is not up to the job.

I could not agree more.

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1333562/Good-morning-I-dont-think--Daybreak-disaster-admits-Chiles.html

Sergeant Mathew Telford Grenadier Guards

‘Sergeant Matthew Telford of the Grenadier Guards was promoted to that rank in June 2009.

In November of that same year, Sergeant Telford was one of 5 British soldiers killed when a rogue Afghan policeman opened fire on them.

His wife and family will only receive a Corporal’s pension since he only held his rank of Sergeant for less than a year.

However, he was killed on operations by the enemy whilst wearing three stripes of a Sergeant on active service.

Please sign the petition below to support a change in the rules that deny a hero’s widow the pension she deserves’

http://soldiers-pensions.co.uk/?q=petition

Please forward onto any sympathetic contacts that you may have in your address book.

Denise Edgar
National Trustee
The Royal British Legion

Simon Dee

The following piece in the DM is interesting and well thought through. The similarity with the decline and fall of Simon Dee had also occurred to me. Simon Dee fell a long way down and he never recovered.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1325708/As-Daybreak-viewers-desert-Christine-Bleakley-ITVs-curse-struck-again.html

I recall that we used to look forward too and enjoy Simon Dee’s teatime show. I could not say the same about TOS when it was in the clutches of Renee & Renata.

Or is it just my youth that I recall – and miss.

A Guilty Secret

I have a guilty secret. Here seems a good place to confess. I watch  Jeremy Kyle. It gets worse, I watch the daily double edition on ITV2. Worse still, I enjoy it.

We have our own Jeremy Kyle style stars in my area. They can be seen walking in to town to shoplift at Poundland. But they lack the elan of a Vicky Pollard.

Rogue Trader

It appears that ‘Daybreak’ will fail soon. Where can Adrian Chiles go next?

I suggest that with his track record he would fit comfortably into the BBC’s ‘Watchdog’ series. Not as a presenter but rather as a star on their ‘Rogue Trader’ item. Chiles is typical of a rogue trader. He is employed to rescue a show, such as TOS and Daybreak. He scrounges an exorbitant fee for his services, then walks away unscathed, having wrecked the show through his innate laziness and incompetence.

Any ideas for future employment for Adrian Chiles?

I Like TOS, but as for Daybreak…….

These days I enjoy TOS. It has become the show it ought to be. The Presenters have got it right and they have the skill to manage the dynamics of a live programme. The editors and producer work hard to find interesting items. It is no longer a vehicle to support the inflated egos of bland Presenters. Coming to which:

The dead hand of Adrian Chiles now flops over ‘Daybreak’. Where, assisted by Christine Bleakley and his mates on the production team, he  presides over a  haemorrhaging of viewers and cash. When will TV executives realise that Adrian Chiles has no discernible talent. He has no respect for or interest in producing TV of a high standard. Third rate will always do for Adrian. Providing there is someone foolish enough to pay him.  Adrian has been handsomely rewarded in cash for  his machinations – so far.

Christine Bleakley is an artistic simpleton.

Having read the following article in the DM, it appears to me that ‘Daybreak’ has the makings of a comic soap opera.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1319200/Daybroke-Why-viewers-deserting-ITV-s-hyped-new-breakfast-programme.html

Daybreak

What Jan Moir has written about Chiles and Bleakley on ‘Daybreak’ applies throughout much of television. She says, “At the moment, [Daybreak] is just too glutinously self-reverential for its own good. It might improve when Adrian and Christine realise that Daybreak is not about them, it's about us.” I hope that Jason and Alex are able to heed her words. To me it appears that they already have. TOS is a great improvement.

"Read more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1309615/JAN-MOIR-Chemistry-They-looked-theyd-glued-sofa.html#ixzz0ypSTGgNM

The BBC was beastly to me, so I left.

Adrian Chiles claims that he did not leave the BBC to get more money, but rather that he left because the BBC was beastly to him. The wag claims she left because she wanted to stay with Adrian. I saw a pig flying over my garden this morning. Whatever the truth may be I shall not miss either of them. The licence payer  can struggle by without this vacuous pair. 

I have not been able to watch TOS over the last few nights. But judging on what I have seen so far Alex Jones is doing a good job. I find her increasingly watchable. I hope the BBC is able to offer her the training that the silly, greedy wag turned down.

Jason Manford has pitched his performance perfectly. He does not hog the limelight; and he injects some fun into the proceedings.

The features have improved in their presentation and content.

All in all I for one am enjoying TOS.

TOS FEES

(From the Daily Mail)

This is good news. The BBC is saving us money. It would appear that Bleakley and Chiles have slithered onto the gravy train just as it is about to hit the buffers, for I imagine that ITV will be looking for similar savings.

The New TOS starts tonight

 

I am copying from Jane Rackham in the Radio Times. She says it better than me, “With around four million viewers to keep happy each night, new presenters Jason Manford and Alex Jones certainly have some very big shoes (and stilettos) to fill as they settle down on the sofa to present their first ever edition of The One Show together.

So it will be interesting to see if the attraction of the show is its content (celebrity interviews, quirky human interest stories and consumer reports) or its presenters. Or if it was just the sort of lightweight, dip-in/dip-out magazine show that millions want to watch at this time of the evening.”

Maybe Pauline Prescott is the quirky human interest story.

I shall miss Gaby & Mathew. They rescued TOS. They made me enjoy the show.

Here is the link to the RT article.

I have been enjoying TOS. It has improved enormously in  the hands of Gaby and Mathew. I shall miss them. I hope the new pair do not ruin it.

Jason Manford’s comments are encouraging. But I’m not so sure about Miss Jones. Like her predecessor and unlike Jason Manford she has no discernible talent to support her. She appears to have been chosen for no other reason than she has a strong resemblance to the Bleak One.

“We think she is, in a number of ways, typical of our audience.” Says Sandy Smith, TOS editor

 Sorry Sandy Smith, I fail to see in what way Pauline Prescott is typical of the TOS audience.

It seems to me that there is a rancid cabal at the BBC that is determined to take political control of TOS. Presumably because of its high viewing figures and the opportunity to sneak propaganda into the features.

We’ve had this before with Kaye what’s her name. Presumably Pauline Prescott is to be her replacement.

I suppose we can expect regular visits from Lord Mandy and Campbell.

Sandy Smith will wreck the show. Which is a pity because I was just starting to enjoy it.

Some of the DM readers comments are fun. My favourite is the one which that says Pauline Prescott looks like a drag queen.

ALEX JONES replaces CB

Alex Jones

Lets’ wait and see.

Never again, please!

I can do no better than to quote jadedoldie who has said, “I have enjoyed this weeks shows, shame they won't stick to this pairing. Tonight's show felt as if we were all in the same room sharing a laugh.” 

Me too: I just hope that a combination of Jay Hunt and Jason Manford does not return the show to the erstwhile dumbed down precocious TOS that we all despised.

This is Jay Hunt

TOS Returns On Monday

 

So then TOS returns on Monday and we still do not know who will be replacing Christine Bleakley. I expect the BBC will try several hopefuls over the coming weeks before settling on a regular.

My worry is that the new improved TOS will offer competent, articulate and charismatic presenters, and that the TOS features will entertain, educate and in inform. Should this happen then what will we  have left to discuss on this blog? Apart that is from jadedoldie’s seal skin bikini. On that thought, the weather is gloriously sunny and warm here and I am considering getting a Borat style Mankini. I cannot decide whether to choose one in yellow or perhaps eau de nil. Watch the Daily Mail for further reports and photos. I may even team up with a lady footballer.

Dilemma

They are off on their holidays. We are left with the double excitement of whether England will win the World cup and whether BBC or ITV will win the favours of WAG CB.  I cheer for England in the former and ITV in the latter.

Is it the case that England’s poor showing is caused by its players being over paid and generally not very bright, even thick. Importantly, could this explain why CB is now a WAG. It cannot be denied that her attachment to FL has enhanced her career. But then everyone has a right to earn a living as best they can. CB has limited choices.

An Improvement?

 

 

Over the last few weeks I have started to enjoy the feature items. They have improved in subject, content and style.

On the other hand, the two presenters are often silly and patronising. This irritates me.

Michael Flatley last night came across as supercilious. His mawkish speech about family and fatherhood would go down well with American audiences; but it does not work here. If this incident was staged then the editor should be taken out and shot then the crew will really have something to cry about.

We are told the CB intends to stay with the BBC. Importantly, the BBC will not pay her the inflated fee that  ITV had allegedly promised. Never the less she is wise to stay. If CB is prepared to work hard, which frankly I doubt, then the BBC will lick her into shape. The BBC has much that it can teach her [not least how to read an autocue] .CB is well shot of the malign influence of Adrian Chiles, whose motives towards her are suspect.

 

The Face Of 2012 - yeah right

Famous For Being Famous.

CB is in the papers most days lately. This suggests to me that she is tipping off the paparazzi as to her whereabouts. To give her her due she has never complained about ‘press intrusion’. She is also bright enough to realise that some people will throw rocks.

She has chosen a path whereby she will earn her living by her association with others and by being famous for being famous.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong in this. She has a right to earn her living the best way she can. What is that old adage in the business: ‘Art for arts sake and money for crissake’. However, I do object to contributing to her wealth through the licence fee. This because she is almost talentless and turns in a consistently mediocre performance. I wish her well and a good job at ITV, or maybe as a housewife – read wag -  to some deserving male.

I know nothing of and am not interested in her private life. I have no reason to suspect she is anything less than a kind person and a good friend. I expect she was a capable Floor Manager; but she is pretty much useless as an entertainer. Except of course for those who are celeb obsessed.  

Infantile

I am endeavouring to find something good to say about TOS. This is not easy. I acknowledge that some of the items are interesting. But why must they always be given such an infantile presentation. True, some of the guests are amusing and some of them are even interesting. But this is rare.

However, it seems that I am barking up the wrong tree and have totally missed the point of the programme. It is not about the items or the guests. It is about, and only about, the Presenters. I am supposed to be enthralled and seduced by their alluring on screen partnership. In this I have failed.

Alison Graham, writing in The Radio Times has praised the AC & CB on screen magic. All I can say is that CB & AC are an improvement on Ant & Dec. But they are in the same class.

[The picture above is of CB taken when she was at school]

BBC - Some Of The Best

Having being demoralised by the news from Astroplums that TOS is up for a BAFTA, I sought to cheer myself up with a reminder of the BBC at its best. A few of these shows are pictured above. There are many more.

I cling to the hope that BBC producers will rescue TOS from its bland mediocrity and give us another ‘Nationwide’.

The search for AC’s replacement goes on.

This is Gene Hunt: I imagine him with CB as they sit beside each other on that silly sofa. 

The BBC can produce quality shows like ‘Life On Mars’, ‘Ashes To Ashes’, ‘Yes Minister’, ‘Fawlty Towers’ and many more that are enduring and acclaimed around the world. So perhaps I can sometimes forgive them for TOS?

In the meantime I take hope from my belief that talented BBC producers are working hard to rescue TOS from its mediocrity. If they come to use experienced TV journalists to host the show then we might have another ‘Tonight’ or ‘Nationwide’.

CB is best left to pursue her strengths which is to be a WAG. The vacuous CB is no Alex Drake.

“Come with me to ITV”

Should she stay or should she go or do you care.

CB is being being hyped up like mad in a futile effort to overcome her innate lack of talent.

If she intends to pursue the ‘wag/presenter’ route then I suggest she hires a voice coach.

DUMBER & DUMBER

 

Last night both presenters reacted to Giles Brandreth's erudite and accurate summary on our hung parliament with the look of startled rabbits.

Perchance he said something that the editor did not want us to hear? Or maybe she thought he covered the subject in too much depth for a TOS audience to grasp. Such is the patronising approach of this programme.

Next we were regaled with the startling revelation that during the cold war KGB agents in UK were able to make accurate maps of the country. Well, who would have thought it.

Researching a few maps would not have fazed the KGB bearing in mind that they managed to get Gordon Lonsdale in quite easily. He did real damage.

In the 60’s Peter Sellers make a satirical album called ‘Fool Britannia’. In which following the Keeler/Profumo episode he had the then Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, saying , “I will have you know that we have operating in this country today one of the finest intelligence services in the world. Unfortunately, it belongs to the Russians.”

Our security services were in truth far from impotent against the KGB and have many successes to their credit.

I wonder how many of TOS's 4 million viewers actually voted in the election?

The BBC seem to care little for actual talent. They just want to make sure that ITV don’t get her. Let her go elsewhere. There are more talented performers out there who will do a better job for a lesser fee. The public are fickle and would soon forget her.

One's very own BBC chat show: Bumper solo deal lined up for Christine Bleakley after Adrian Chiles quits | Mail Online

 

On her way back from the bank. Good job she’s got the muscles for it.

Countryfile presenter Matt Baker favourite to replace Adrian Chiles on The One Show | Mail Online

 

The search for a new TOS presenter goes on. I think the viewers should vote on it and we could then have a hung show, maybe. [click below].

Countryfile presenter Matt Baker favourite to replace Adrian Chiles on The One Show | Mail Online

The DM articles implies that AC left TOS in a huff of his own accord. I still subscribe to the belief that the BBC engineered his departure.

Last night’s TOS felt refreshing and new.

I’m looking forward Paul Merton tonight. 

The Daily Mash - ADRIAN CHILES 'RACIALLY ABUSED A BADGER'

The Daily Mash - ADRIAN CHILES 'RACIALLY ABUSED A BADGER'

I thought you might find the link above amusing. 

Off he goes to ITV and greater riches.

I am pleased that the BBC gave Adrian Chiles a farewell.  It was the decent thing to do.

Personally, I do not mourn AC’s departure. Particularly as he is heading for ITV which means that I will no longer have to contribute to his inflated salary.

We are now told that the BBC are desperate to retain CB at an enhanced salary if necessary. She can go as well as far as I’m concerned. No one should be bigger the the show. After all, we are not talking about highly talented performers here. The most AC and CB can ever achieve is to be ‘nice’ on TV. There are plenty out there who can do a better job for a lesser fee. We the public will quickly adjust to any change.

TOS needs to be refreshed. I am looking forward to seeing some new faces.

Stand-ins

According to today’s Daily Mail Watchdog host Matt Allwright will present The One Show after Adrian Chiles' departure, with comedian Paul Merton taking over the Thursday slot.

Things are looking up.

 

 

 

 

I am looking forward to the change and the prospect of more stand-ins. Among other things it will test the talents of CB.

I am not too sure about Matt Allwright because in my experience he has a tendency to be silly.

But I look forward to Paul Merton. He has shown that he can be funny or serious depending upon the needs of the show.

Does anyone have a suggestion for stand-ins, particularly for the bizarre?

Here is the link to the DM article.

Chris Evans

I’ve been thinking. I have never enjoyed any of Chris Evans' programmes. He irritates me. But I have to honest and say that he will probably punch some life into TOS. Which it needs.

What the well dressed man is wearing.

Off he goes then with a hoppity-skip to buy an alarm clock.

As ever the epitome of sartorial elegance - A real babe magnet.

Was it purely coincidental that the photographer pictured him beside a skip.

Adrian Chiles finally rides off into the sunset, run out of town by the Sheriff

  

Adrian Chiles is said to have told Christine Bleakley that, if she was his friend, she would refuse to present The One Show with anyone else.

Certainly it was his view - and his view was put to the BBC - that they had better not dare team his Christine with another man. [Source DM]

What a scheming little git.

Such arrogance to ask someone else to endanger their own career in order to further his spat with his bosses.

The BBC has called his bluff. So, he flounces off to ITV.

AC desperately wants to be a star. He strives to become bigger that the Show.  He failed with TOS.

A Career Change For Adrian Chiles?

Our chap in the foreground resembles AC with his TOS studio herberts lurking at the back. Or am I losing my mind.

[Picture courtesy of  ‘Michael’s Bookshop’ , Ramsgate].

Dear Dr Ruth….

Dear Doctor Ruth,

My problem is that I find it refreshing and exciting to have new TOS presenters in my life. I discover that I do not miss Auntie Adrian and Christine. Worse still, I am excited by the impending presence of Chris Evans on Fridays. Does this make me a fickle and promiscuous TV TOSSER One Show viewer?

WHITHER TOS?

A BBC source said recently about the future of TOS: “There has been a lot of talking about what happens if entertainment is saved for Fridays, does it change the show too much? It's still being discussed but the fact is that Adrian will not be required on Fridays.”

So far so good for Friday; but we still need to take care of the rest of the week. Maybe they can give Auntie Adrian a permanent rest from TOS.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Daughters in Prague in the 70’s humouring their father, the would be photographer.

There was very little traffic during the communist times.

Ramsgate Sea Front Once Upon A Time

It is a glorious day today. with a clear blue sky and no wind. The picture above is how Ramsgate once looked during the summer. It is not like that now and, I fear, never will be again.

But at least we have been spared a visit from TOS. That privilege went next door to Margate. We did not get Auntie Adrian & Christine but there are other people who have lived in Ramsgate. Here are a few of them:

Jenny Marx – eldest daughter of Karl Marx, Elizabeth Fry, Samuel Taylor Coleridge,  John Le Mesurier, Wilkie Collins, Duke Of Wellington,       Frank Muir, Vincent Van Gogh & Queen Victoria.

Ramsgate will not miss AC & CB.

TOS in Margate

Margate Lido Then

 

 

 

and

 

Margate Lido Today

 

 

 

 

 

CB & FL ?

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed last night’s TOS. Or rather what little of it that I had the stomach to watch. The duel attack of Omid Djalli’s threat to go off PC and fornicating rabbits sent auntie Adrian into a spasm of hot flushes.

I live next door to Margate. This once great town is now run down and shabby. It has pretentions to culture in that the council is building a ‘Turner Centre’ to display modern art. Turner once lived and painted in the town. The building of the Turner Centre has been mismanaged by the council. It is in the opinion of many a waste of public money that could have been put to better use elsewhere. To sum up: Margate is tatty and cheap. It wastes its time on pointless pseudo artistic projects that will fail. Bearing all this mind, why should anyone be surprised to discover that TOS has an affinity for Margate. It is Adrian and Christine's kind of town. For there they can feel superior.

TOS Presenters

Any helpful suggestions out there?

A New Week On TOS

Some of you will remember the song above. It has  strong and happy memories for me. The drummer is Lesley Dash. We were good friends and neighbours on Penang in the late 60’s. I had last heard from Les in 1970. However, we got in touch again  through the internet a few weeks ago. We exchanged photos. Oh dear – we are both so much older now. Where the bloody hell did those forty years go.

Does anyone know when the hour long TOS Friday shows with Chris Evans begin?

TOS FOOD

Jay’s [is that his name?]  food item last night was better than usual. Albeit that TOS was again bringing us yesterday’s news tomorrow.

For once AC was able to resist trying to poke fun at Jay[?]. AC can be a bit of bully when confronted by a guest or colleague of whom he disapproves. The presenters should know that they are not bigger than the show.

Personally, I yearn for a magazine type show in the early evening. TOS frequently lets me down. Having said that, I detect some improvement in the standard and content of the show recently.

It is good to hear new voices on the site. Welcome one and all.

We’ve got guests coming to stay today. So, it’s time to think about feeding them.

(What IS he doing to that carrot).

 

Farewell TOSblog

So, the Producer has sent  TOSblog to sleep with the fishes. I expect the criticism of TOS became too much for some to bear. Even though the criticism was in the main constructive.

It is also a shame because TOSblog was a source of pleasure to many. We made friends, enemies, friendly enemies and finally friends of enemies but never enemies of friends. I shall miss it.

I hope that some of the erstwhile TOSbloggers will find their way to this site. Here they can talk freely. They will certainly be welcome.

I have been neglecting this site of late and I apologies for that. I have been dragged away by family matters. Nothing bad just time consuming.

WELL DONE!

 

Credit where credit is due, she worked hard and she succeeded. I am truly pleased for her.