Back in Barry and Billericay at the end of November!

Oh what’s occurin’? The third series of Gavin and Stacey starts on 26 November on BBC One. Do not miss it!

Source : grovesmedia.files.wordpress.com

BAFTA Nominations Announced

This years BAFTA television nominations have been released along with some surprises for some of the nominees.

Jonathan Ross is up for best entertainment performance

After a turbulent six months, Jonathan Ross has been nominated alongside Ant and Dec, Harry Hill and Stephen Fry for best entertainment performance. Ross was suspended for three months last October for leaving messages on Andrew Sachs’ answerphone.

His nomination has caused some controversy amongst MP’s and Andrew Sachs’ family. I am pleased that Ross has been recognised for his role on his Friday night chat show and I am sure I am not alone in saying that he should win, he’s better than Harry Hill and Ant and Dec are always winning awards. If Ross does not win then I would be happy to see it go to Stephen Fry. He is such a witty host on QI.

A spokesperson from BAFTA has made it clear that Ross was nominated purely for his chat show and ‘Sachsgate’ was not taken into consideration. It doesn’t bother me if it was, Sachs has already stated that everything was in the past, so why can’t others move on too. Life’s too short!

Other nominees include Rob Brydon for his role as Uncle Bryn in Gavin and Stacey. He is up against, Sharon Horgan from Pulling, David Mitchell from Peep Show and Claire Skinner from Outnumbered. I hope Brydon clinches it, his portrayal of Uncle Bryn is one that many I am sure can relate too.

Can Spooks clinch the prize from Doctor Who (Source: What's On TV)

The drama series is a highly competitive category this year with  Doctor Who, Spooks, Wallander and Shameless in the running. If I had to pick a winner it would undoubtedly be Spooks. Top quality drama that outshines its rivals.

Comedy programmes Harry and Paul, The Peter Serafinowicz Show and Star Stories are nominated in the best comedy show category with The Friday/Sunday Night Project, Harry Hill’s TV Burp, QI, The X Factor and That Mitchell and Webb Look up for best entertainment programme. My favourites being Harry and Paul and QI but it is without question that The X Factor will be triumphant. Where is Strictly though? They seem to be winning lots of awards recently.

The award for best international show will either go to The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Dexter, Mad Men or The Wire. From what I have read I imagine Dexter will be taking away this prize.

Can June's portrayal of Dot win her a BAFTA? (Source: BBC)

Coronation Street has been snubbed for another year leaving Emmerdale and EastEnders to compete alongside The Bill and Casualty for the highly contested continuing drama prize. EastEnders has two reasons to be cheerful with June Brown (Dot Cotton) being nominated as best actress, a category that recognises the greatest actresses on British television. She is up against Anna Maxwell Martin, Maxine Peake and Andrea Riseborough.

It is the first time in 20 years that an actress from soap has been nominated. The previous nominee was Jean Alexander for her portrayal of Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street. Brown’s 2008 single-handed episode will be shown as part of her nomination and I hope she wins.

The BAFTA’s take place on 26 April.

Below is a small part of Dot’s monologue that was broadcast on Thursday 31 January 2008. It was written by Tony Jordan and was the first single-handed episode in any soap.

What To Watch – Monday 23rd March

CLEOPATRA, PORTRAIT OF A KILLER

BBC ONE 9:00 PM

If history programmes are your thing then this is definitely worth a look. We all know that these documentaries belong at the BBC and there is no other company that does them better. Tonight, Neil Oliver who some may have seen on The One Show travels to Egypt and Turkey to uncover the reign of Cleopatra VII. Throughout his journey, Oliver unravels the monarch’s lust for power and answers the question as to whether she killed her own daughter.

 

FILM – PRETTY WOMAN

ITV2 9:00 PM

I think that ITV2 must be receiving commission for showing this film because it is always on. Nevertheless it is a very good film and no matter how many times it is shown, people will tune in and watch it. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere star in this comedy that was released way back in 1990. In the film, (as if you didn’t already know) Gere plays a businessman that hires a prostitute in the form of Julia Roberts. But as the film progresses, the pair fall in love. Will they it go or confront their feelings? We all know what happens and will probably be tuning in anyway…

 

GAVIN AND STACEY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

BBC THREE 9:00 PM

BBC Three have been repeating the first and second series and now it is time, if you missed it to catch up on the Christmas special which has me in fits of laughter. Probably one of the TV highlights over the Christmas period, Gavin and Stacey have some big news for both families but how will Pam and Smithy take it? Also can Smithy persuade Ness to break off her engagement to Dave Coaches? When I was watching it, I could relate to what was going on and Ruth Jones and James Corden did an amazing job when writing it. With a lot of laughs throughout, make sure you tune in and watch the most famous marriage on television.

What To Watch – Friday 13th March

COMIC RELIEF FUNNY FOR MONEY

Do Something Funny For Money (Source: firstnews.co.uk)

BBC ONE 7:00 PM

It’s a night filled with some of the best comedy around. The telethon which lasts for around 8 hours tonight will see comedians such as James Corden, the cast of The Royle Family and Ricky Gervais doing things that are funny for money. Also on the bill are performances from Take That, Girls Aloud and some of the biggest bands around. The hosts tonight include, Graham Norton, Davina McCall, Fern Britton, Jonathan Ross and Claudia Winkleman. 

French and Saunders will also perform their last sketch ever which is a shame because they are just so funny. The Big Red Nose Climb will also come to and end and fans of the outstanding episode of last nights Apprentice will find out who has been fired from the boys team.

But don’t forget what this is all about. The comedy is all done for a purpose, to help raise money for those in need in the UK and Africa. 

During the BBC News at 22:00, turn over to BBC Two for Top Of The Pops where Franz Ferdinand, Oasis and Gavin and Stacey stars Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones will perform.

This is my only recommendation today so make sure you tune in for a great night of comedy, all in aid of Comic Relief.

It’s Nessa and Bryn. What’s occurin’?

They are number one, they are on Top Of The Pops tonight and they are doing something funny for money. You should do the same. A brilliant version of the classic Islands In The Stream.

I give to you Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon and two special appearances by Robin Gibb and Sir Tom Jones. This is Barry Islands In The Stream

BBC Wins big at TRIC awards

The BBC swept the board at the TRIC awards last night (Source: thesun.co.uk)

The BBC was top dog at the Television and Radio Industries (TRIC) awards last night.

EastEnders defeated rivals Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Emmerdale for the best soap prize. Coronation Street did not go home empty handed however with Katherine Kelly winning the best soap personality prize for her portrayal as Becky Granger.

Katherine Kelly took a TRIC award back to Weatherfield (Source: truckfest.co.uk)

Other wins for the Beeb included, Strictly Come Dancing which picked up the gong for best TV reality show and Antiques Roadshow went away with the best arts/documentary gong.

Gavin and Stacey picked up the gong for best satellite/digital programme.

BBC Drama also did extremely well, Lark Rise To Candleford went away with the best TV drama prize and New Tricks won an award for best crime programme.

Completing the BBC’s winnings were Top Gear, Have I Got News For You, Gary Linekar and BBC Breakfast weather girl Carol Kirkwood.

ITV1′s Loose Women won the award for best daytime show and Trevor McDonald was named best newscaster. 

Sky News anchor Eamonn Holmes also won an awards and Alan Carr was recognised and TV personality of the year.

In the radio categories, Johnny Vaughan was the big winner along with his breakfast show on Capital Radio, which he co-presents with Lisa Snowdon.

Gavin and Stacey to end after third series

 Writer and actress Ruth Jones has just confirmed that there will not be a fourth series of BBC hit comedy Gavin and Stacey. Jones, 42 who plays Nessa in the show told the Loose Women that the third series will be the final one.

She told Jackie Brambles, Carol McGiffin, Denise Welch and Jane McDonald that her and co-writer James Corden did not intend to write a second series. They did want to do a special which was broadcast at Christmas and was a ratings winner. 

The growing popularity has meant that the sitcom has gone from BBC Three to BBC One. It is repeated on BBC Three every week and no matter how much I watch it, I find it just as funny.

Jones was also on the show to promote her Comic Relief single that she performs with co-star Rob Brydon and Sir Tom Jones. Barry Islands In The Stream is out now and available for download. Proceeds go to Comic Relief. Don’t miss them performing on Top Of The Pops, BBC Two 10:00 p.m.

Could Gavin and Stacey be coming to an end?

Gavin and Stacey: The Hit Comedy (Source: jamescordenfansite.files.wordpress.com)

James Corden has just hinted on Jonathan Ross that hit BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey could come to an end after the third series. Corden, who is currently penning the third series with Ruth Jones told Ross how the lack of time is making it harder to write the scripts. I am a huge fan of the show and series one and two have been exceptional. The Christmas special was also just as good. Corden and Jones are very good at what they do and I can see the third series of the sitcom being just as entertaining.

Aside from Gavin and Stacey, Corden is also awaiting the release ‘Lesbian Vampire Killers’ and BBC Three sketch show ‘Horne and Corden’. The sketch show stars Corden and Gavin and Stacey co-star turned sidekick Matthew Horne. I have just seen a clip on Jonathan Ross and it looks as though it is going to be a hit. I hope it is anyway. Horne and Corden starts next Tuesday on BBC Three, look out for it in my ‘What To Watch’ section next week.

 

BBC Three Comedy, Horne and Corden starts Tuesday 10 March (Source: gavinandstacey.com)

Lesbian Vampire Killers also stars Horne and Corden and is a film. It does exactly what it says on the tin and is about girls that turn into lesbian vampires when they reach their 18th birthday. Horne and Corden’s job is to kill these vampires. Yet again the film looks like it could be popular with younger audiences, particularly students. The film comes to cinemas on Friday 20 March.

You can also catch James on Comic Relief on Friday 13 March. He has recorded a sketch playing his character Smithy from Gavin and Stacey and will also be presenting between 1:30 am and 3:00 am when the marathon telethon will come to an end.

What To Watch – Friday 6th March

FRIDAY NIGHT WITH JONATHAN ROSS

BBC ONE 10:35 PM

I personally couldn’t wait for this show to come back and so far it has not disappointed. I expected it to be different and although Jonathan is perhaps not as witty as he used to be, the standard of the show has stayed the same. Tonight will be a good show because the main focus is on Gavin and Stacey star and writer, James Corden. He will be talking to Jonathan about hosting the Brits with Kylie and his new sketch show (Horne and Corden) where he plays alongside Matthew Horne, his Gavin and Stacey c0-star. Other guests include, Dexter star Michael C Hall and Annie Lennox who will be providing the music.

 

RAMSAY’S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES USA

CHANNEL 4 9:00 PM

Gordon has been in the news a lot recently and not for good reasons. However this show makes up for that and provides some quality entertainment. Tonight he travels to Michigan to a restaurant that is on the brink of closure. The restaurant named, Jack’s is managed by three owners a general manager and a chef. Gordon meets all of them and begins to realise that none of them will take responsibility for the situation they are in. So, can Gordon save Jack’s? Let’s hope he can because I have heard that the three owners are amateur bodybuilders. Bearing that in mind, Gordon needs to pull out all of the stops to save the restaurant because I for one would not like to see them angry. The could give Gordon a run for his money.

 

QI

BBC ONE 9:00 PM

I am so pleased that Stephen Fry and his QI has made it onto BBC One. It was a long time coming but the leap from BBC Two to BBC One has meant higher ratings and I think QI has firmly been put on the map. The schedulers have also got it right , prime time on a Friday evening is a highly contended slot. Tonight guests Emma Thompson and John Sessions,  will team up with Alan Davies and David Mitchell to answer questions on films.