MICHAEL MCINTYRE’S BIG SHOW, BBC1, 8.10pm
I KNOW the comedian Michael McIntyre is the ultimate “Marmite” personality, but if you’re one of the people who loathes his jolly, jumpy schtick, you might still find some entertainment here.
This is the new series of his loud, innocent, good-natured show, which mixes the host’s trademark comedy with celebrity guests and musical numbers. McIntyre bounds on stage to deliver his hyper-puppy stand-up routine and uses the topic of summer picnics and warm Coke as an excuse to throw himself to the floor.
But he soon recedes and you are able to catch your breath, or maybe stop grinding your teeth, for this is an old-fashioned Saturday night variety show and he’ll not be allowed to hog the limelight.
Mercifully, he’s made to give way to the likes of Olly Murs and Ellie Goulding, and a performance from the cast of the musical School of Rock. Even the awkward talk-to-the-audience segments are a joyful relief, as they provide respite from McIntyre’s desperate urgings that we all whoop and laugh.
STRICTLY COME DANCING, BBC1, 6.55pm
“BALLS” to Blackpool,’ was the cry! As someone who loves Blackpool, visits the illuminations every year, and owns at least three Kiss Me Quick hats, I was annoyed to see this phrase doing the rounds on Twitter. Who’s giving poor old Blackpool a hard time? Then I realised it was a campaign hashtag in support of Ed Balls getting through to the next round of Strictly, in the tower ballroom.Blackpool Tower Ballroom is the ultimate venue for dancing.
You can throw glitter and spangles on every other dancefloor, but they just cannot compete with the mighty Blackpool – so will Ed live up to expectations?
Last week, he held the audience in horrified enchantment with his version of Gangnam Style. Should we laugh and say “Good on him!” or be appalled and urge him to scrape together some dignity? I say he’s a free man now, so he can be as absurd as he likes. Michael Portillo carved out a nice TV career after politics, so why not Ed Balls?
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