IT was all too predictable.
“ITV is to screen a documentary which shows the moment a victim of Alzheimer’s disease dies,” announced the Daily Mail last week.
As night follows day, we were then treated to a quote from John Beyer of “pressure group” Mediawatch UK.
“There is a certain dignity in death that is not appropriate for people to gawp at on television,” he said.
Had Mr Beyer actually seen the programme? That’ll be a no, then.
The story spread. Commentators dived into the argument, quick to condemn.
One spoke of an intrusive camera crew filming at the moment of Malcolm Pointon’s death.
The headline? Death on television is all about ratings.
“They are calling it the last taboo. The ultimate fly on the wall documentary,” he wrote.
“ITV is to broadcast the precise moment a victim of Alzheimer’s disease dies.”
Except it isn’t.
Month: July 2007
THE Frascati was flowing last night as Al Murray played a small warm up gig in a room above a pub.
A sold out audience of just 80 lucky people squeezed into their seats to watch the comedy genius at work close up.
The pub landlord did not let us down, with a mix of old and new material.
That included his thoughts on the IRA Manchester bomb, Oasis, the summer floods and “Amy Winebar”.
Al also showed the first two rows no mercy.
Among those who had a night to remember were an opera singer, dog walker, teacher and solicitor.
When the guv’nor questioned the worth of various jobs, one member of the audience queried the value of working nights above a pub.
“About one and half million quid last year, mate,” was Al’s instant reply.
SO now we know.
David Beckham misses English pubs and pie and mash shops, while wife Victoria is pining for her favourite soap.
“I’m sure my mum will tape Coronation Street and send it out to me,” she says.
The Beckhams move to Los Angeles was covered in two ITV1 documentaries.
First up last week was Victoria’s Coming To America, hilarious from start to finish – so long as you realised it was a spoof.
Posh has since admitted that viewers, especially those in America, may not have got her ironic sense of humour.
Last night it was David’s turn with New Beginnings, named after one of his many tattoos.
It was an altogether more straightforward affair, even taking into account no fewer than four publicists listed on the end credits.
A night at the Proms and a real treat.
Not having seen him before, I was unprepared for the genius of Philip Achille.
Although I’m no expert, I gather it’s not often that a harmonica player takes centre stage at the Proms as a main soloist.
But that’s what Philip – aged just 18 – did.
You can see his wonderful performance of Larry Adler’s theme to Genevieve when a recording of Prom 2 from the Royal Albert Hall is screened on BBC2 at 6.05pm this Saturday.
And you can also hear it via the link on the page here.
Philip brought the house down during the two hour show, marking BAFTA’s 60th anniversary and BBC TV’s Summer of the British Film.
Introduced on stage by Richard E Grant, Music From Great British Films was performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
It included themes from Battle of Britain, Lawrence of Arabia, The Red Shoes, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Yanks, Wilde, Shadowlands, Harry Potter, Shakespeare In Love and The Dam Busters.
IT’S the end of an era on Coronation Street.
Liz Dawn, battling an incurable lung disease, is to quit her role as Vera Duckworth after 34 years on the cobbles.
The veteran actress, now 68, will depart later this year.
Her battleaxe character will not be killed off, leaving the door open for possible future guest appearances.
But, sadly, she now feels unable to carry on as before alongside screen husband Jack, played by Bill Tarmey.
“It’s been an amazing 34 years,” she said.
“I’d like to thank everyone for what has been the best time of my life.”
Liz was diagnosed with chronic emphysema three years ago and had already reduced her workload on the Street.
Her illness – linked to smoking and advanced age – leaves the lungs inflamed.
Sufferers become short of breath as the disease gradually worsens.
IT’S not easy being a dedicated Coronation Street fan.
You have to organise your life to watch five – and sometimes more – episodes a week.
Then you have to contend with the fact that Corrie never starts at the advertised time.
Set your electronic programme guide to record an episode and you will almost certainly miss the closing scenes.
Thankfully, those dreadful Cadbury ads are coming to an end.
“Trudy lights!” – currently being endlessly repeated – has to be the worst sponsorship ident in the history of television.
It will finally disappear in October when furniture retailer Harveys takes over the £10m-a-year Street sponsorship contract.
FORMER Coronation Street star John Savident doesn’t appear to be missing Weatherfield.
He’s currently rehearsing for the role of shoemaker Henry Horatio Hobson in a new production of Hobson’s Choice.
Set in 1880s Salford, it begins at the Chichester Festival on July 27.
But Guernsey-born John almost turned down the job because he didn’t want another northern role.
He told BBC1’s Breakfast today about his years on the cobbles as butcher Fred Elliott – killed off last year.
And he said fans are disappointed to learn that he has a posh voice in real life and is nothing like Fred.
“Somehow people now have forgotten what acting is like.
CORONATION Street fans worried that Antony Cotton may be lured away from the cobbles can rest easy.
The Bury actor, who plays Sean Tully, is preparing to host his new ITV1 teatime series – That Antony Cotton Show.
But even if the five-week Manchester-based run is a success and leads to other things, Antony won’t be quitting Weatherfield – at least not in the forseeable future.
THE schools have barely broken up and most of us are still looking forward to a summer holiday.
So what do the TV companies do? They launch their autumn highlights.
Yesterday it was the turn of BBC1, before all the telly execs head for three weeks in Tuscany, or wherever it is they park their caravans.
The new season includes an already announced modern anthology of fairy tales.
Eccles-raised Debbie Horsfield (that’s her on the left) told me earlier this year that she was writing one of them – The Empress’s New Clothes.
Now the casting has been confirmed.
Denise Van Outen will take the lead as the Empress in the comedy drama, which will also star Life On Mars actress Liz White.
IT’S a case of silence in court for BBC1 legal drama New Street Law.
As predicted in this blog back in March, it won’t be returning to our screens.
Two series of the drama were made on location in Manchester city centre and on a set near Bolton.
But ratings for the court battles involving two rival barristers’ chambers, and starring John Hannah, Lisa Faulkner and John Thomson, were disappointing.
Fans also complained about the scheduling of the series, made by Manchester’s Red Production Company.
It looked like case closed when the last episode was moved to a midweek graveyard slot of 10.40pm.
Now the final verdict has been confirmed.
Life of Wylie 