IT always makes me smile when people say there is nothing to watch on TV.
Even if you don’t have hundreds of channels to choose from, we’ve enjoyed some classic telly in 2006 – and I’ve been lucky enough to interview many of those involved.
In no particular order, here are a few of my favourite things from the last 12 months.
Click on each title for more:
Month: December 2006
CORONATION Street’s gobby Janice Battersby has endured more than a few screen insults about her appearance.
But just look at her now – or rather actress Vicky Entwistle, who plays the Underworld knicker stitcher.
You can read more about Vicky’s dramatic new appearance in today’s MEN and how she escaped being axed from the soap.
I spoke to Vicky just before Christmas, when she was rehearsing for her role in panto.
We also discussed Janice’s romantic New Year’s Day surprise – Roger the plumber.
GET the mince pie, glass of sherry and carrots ready. Someone is on his way.
There’s a special festive link if you continue reading the full story.
THE BBC is facing “very difficult choices” after a Treasury briefing revealed details of the proposed licence fee settlement.
It confirmed months of speculation – mainly fuelled by government leaks – that the BBC is to get a below inflation rise.
The reported deal isn’t as bad for the BBC as some experts had feared but it’s still bad news for director general Mark Thompson.
Although it won’t be finalised and formally announced until the New Year, the settlement agreed within government means the BBC will not have anything like the cash it said it needed for its future plans.
THE Vicar of Dibley ends up hitched to Guy of Gisborne in the final two episodes of a comedy classic.
Dawn French says goodbye to Geraldine Granger when the Vicar meets Harry, a charming village newcomer played by Robin Hood star Richard Armitage.
You may also remember Richard as brooding Manchester mill owner Richard Thornton in BBC1’s 2004 adaptation of North and South.
The village of Turville on the Buckinghamshire / Oxfordshire border doubles for Dibley.
As discussed in a previous blog, Turville has a long track record when it comes to hosting TV and film productions.
Although it’s usually kept out of shot, the local pub is just a few yards away from the cottages used to portray the exterior of Geraldine’s home.
ITV bosses took their eye off the ball when they demoted former golden girl Gabby Logan before last summer’s World Cup.
In as main football presenter came Steve Rider, a surprise appointment given the fact he was not part of the Match of the Day team during his many years with the BBC.
Out went Gabby, shamefully treated by ITV Sport. She was also replaced by Steve as the face of the channel’s Champions’ League coverage.
Now comes confirmation that after eight years at ITV, Gabby is moving to BBC Sport in the New Year.
THE news came in from the House of Commons just after 5pm yesterday.
First there was confirmation that a government decision on the BBC’s next licence fee settlement had been delayed until the New Year.
No surprise there. But what happened next caught just about everyone out.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell – speaking in a debate about the digital TV switchover – unexpectedly turned her attention to the BBC’s move to Salford.
In what may turn out to be the decisive moment for the future of the £400m project, she appeared to back the BBC into a corner.
DOCTOR Who star David Tennant gave nothing away about his future at today’s first screening of the Time Lord’s latest Christmas special.
It was a relatively early start in London’s Soho, bearing in mind he’d been at yesterday’s wedding of Little Britain star Matt Lucas.
For those anxious to know about Matt’s panto-themed reception, David went as Buttons and Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies was, of course, a Dame.
Doctor Who: The Runaway Bride is an hour-long festive adventure which will be shown on BBC1 at 7pm on Christmas Day.
Catherine Tate guest stars as woman in white Donna Noble, a grown-up and toned down version of her schoolgirl comedy character Lauren – but still very definitely “bovvered”.
WHY is Coronation Street’s Eileen Grimshaw holding a baby on Christmas Day?
If you want to find out, the online version of today’s MEN interview with actress Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen, provides a few answers.
“It’s made me completely broody,” Sue told me when we met recently just a short pram push away from the cobbles.
There wasn’t enough room in the feature to cover all aspects of our conversation.
But it does include a flavour of how – like many others in the public eye – Sue sometimes finds it difficult to cope with the attention of fans.
It’s not a new problem. The late John Thaw once told me how bemused he was to be asked to sign till receipts and packets of frozen peas in his local supermarket.
AN early morning train to the countryside today to meet up with John Nettles on location for the new series of Midsomer Murders.
Sitting in the drawing room of a grand old house, he was relaxed and dry-witted as ever, despite the demands of the filming schedule.
More from John in the New Year, including his adventures in a helicopter while filming in Snowdonia.
Fans will be glad to know that he has no thoughts of retiring from the role of Det Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby as he heads into his 10th series.
But Midsomer Murders executive producer Brian True-May is looking ahead to a possible new project for John when he finally hands in his police ID.
It’s called Over Here, a drama which could replace Foyle’s War, with Nettles playing the leader of an English village during World War Two.
Life of Wylie 