children in need

I think they are overdoing the pleeding for donations tonight a bit, particularly Kaplinsky who talks to the camera as if she is personally disappointed with the viewer and they should go away and think about what they haven't done!

The audience is very flat, could you actually get tickets for this, or is it all BBC employees families who don't really want to be there, or people who couldn't get tickets for Strictly Come Dancing. It's hardly the Saturday Night Takeaway audience is it!

And some of the studio's doors have an orange light too readin "Audience Entrance" which illuminate when the studio is ready for the queuing hoardes to enter...

Incidentally, that light-box design was widely used across the BBC. All of TVC's main studios (1- still have them over their entrances. Pebble Mill's studios a and b had them too as did TVC's VT suites and some of the Cons in the old Presentation areas.

A little slip up at the beginning of the My Fair Lady song just then - she couldn't hear the music apparently - the Eurovision curse is back! lol

Yup, I remember Terry and Sue Cook (at that time) appearing on a boat that resembled a swan or something down a very glitzy river thing with lights everywhere. I think they probably got a bit consious of the cost of these complex sets and how it wasn't appropriate to spend so much on them, when you can create a range of effects quite simply with lots of screens and lights (like the last few years).

I think it's also just a matter of simplicity, there's really no point in having a few phone answerers sitting in a little booth on the set and things like the river were just there for the sake of it .....and they filled a few minutes of the programme.

The only reason people will tune in, and then donate money is by entertaining them and all you really need for that is a stage

There's some pictures of Children in Need 1997 and 1998 here:
http://home.clara.net/jim.edwards/cin.htm

All I have to say is
BRING BACK GABY!

Why isnt she doing this years show? Deffinatly bring her back next year and get rid of Keplunkstick and Dumpy Shout alot Cotton

Must admit the newsreaders bit was better than I thought it would be !

Natasha has been good but quite wooden ... !!! Gaby I thought was best. Why did she get axed in the first place ?

Anyone else thought it slightly bad taste to go from a film about child abuse to "Tainted Love"?

I'm going to retire to bed in a few moments, but before I do I'll leave a few of my thoughts about tonight's show: -

The crowd seemed to vary throughout the night. Sometimes they were really excited, whilst others they were fairly flat.

Although to be expected of a telethon, I feel they have been doing the asking for donations over the top far too much tonight, and saying that it's not good enough etc. They seem to have dwelled on the latter too often to the point that it makes me want to switch off and not donate.

I don't know whether it's just me, or does Natasha Kaplinsky get far too much exposure these days? I'm getting sick of seeing her mug on TV. And that Fearne Cotton - who thought she was an ideal candidate for Live 8 and CIN? To me, her presenting style is really grating and shouty and hasn't matured much from her days of Diggit fame, and makes me want to stick a brick through my TV set everytime she comes on screen.

For anyone who missed the newsreaders (and I am sure some of you on here would cream your pants at the thought of seeing your fave newsreaders pracing around on stage in what could be described as not their usual attire ) dance, you can get a copy of the video segment here.