Comic Relief 2013 - Mildly Amusing at Times for Money

It was Rowan Atkinson being the Archbishop of Canterbury. Very odd thing to remove. I would guess it is the kind of thing (religion) that will always get complaints but it was pre-recorded (sometime ago too, it has featured in the promos on BBC One for at least a week) so it was obviously cleared for broadcast.

The only lives bits removed were the introduction to that segment and the bit after that section where Claudia Winkleman said there would be more from the Archbishop later. Was there more from the Archbishop later? I am not sure there was.

EDIT: This...
[media:c9222d7f5d]http://up.metropol247.co.uk/davidlees/comic_relief_2013_archbishop.flv[/media:c9222d7f5d]

So on the whole not a bad night at all. Still would like a bit more live action but I thought it flowed much better than last time and it was good that other than for the first hour there was at least one comedian presenting each slot throughout the night, and a fairly decent mix of comedians at that (of the male variety anyway, though thank god Sarah Millican wasn't involved!) I thought the appeal films were especially good last night - a range of issues throughout the night rather than them all seeming to be about malaria as they have concentrated on for the last few years.

One thing I did find strange though was apart from the first hour and the last hour they barely mentioned the text option at all, even though I'd have thought that is the easiest way for people to give money. Also find it ridiculous they have to say it's for Over 16s only, implying those under 16 can't donate to charity when most teenagers at least are likely to have their own mobile and many would be willing to donate.

Entertainment wise - such events will always be hit and miss. Simon Cowell's wedding got things off to a good start and the Smithy part focusing on fundraisers was great but Peter Kay really missed the mark - it would have been far funnier if he'd done the sofa thing for real rather than used it as a piss take for yet another video, one that wasn't anywhere near as good as the previous ones. The Vicar of Dibley sketch was poor IMO and Ricky Gervais was awful, but I've never liked David Brent and The Office so that's probably more a matter of opinion. EastEnders also felt really out of place and just highlighted what a shadow of it's former self it is - those scenes were excruciating for all the wrong reasons.

On the whole though £75m is fantastic, and over £50m before the news.

Rowan Atkinson's Archbishop sketch received a lot of criticism on twitter - mainly over the word "shag" being used. I would imagine it has been removed because of this.

It seems most of the complainers were parents with children who were waiting for One Direction to appear. Just another reason why you shouldn't give One Direction airtime.

Edit: Oh I see TV Forum is also a prude. The word was "s h a g".

It shows up alright to me. On that subject, to be a little bit Daily Mail it isn't the sort of word you'd expect to hear before 8pm on the Beeb. Ricky Gervais slipped in (metaphorically) a "sh**" before 9pm and I thought Jonathan Ross mumbled a "f***ing in his first bit with Jessie J in the barber's chair.

Overall, more of the same. Needs more actual live comedy acts. Anyone remember Harry Hill doing a TV Burp in the studio a few years back? I find myself reluctantly admitting that Smiffy may have been my comedy highlight of the evening.

Still, can't complain at raising £75m.

Not witdstanding my dislike for the whole thing and my desire for it to be cancelled, I'll try and be constructive.

It needs a rethink, Channel Four puttting up the white flag was too much really.

Give over 7-10 to Radio One and Two to do a musically themed show and then let the more adult stuff run from 10.30 onwards.

A Grimmers, James, Whiley and Evans three hours would be fine, with the appeal videos shown between acts. Then move on to Ross and all.

They've always taken off their regular comedy programmes on Comic Relief nights. Presumably in the past when C4 had live stuff on a Friday night this was partially due to lack of availability of stars as much as them being charitable.



You are Tumble Tower and I claim my 5 pounds!

Why would they give over half of Comic Relief to music, what an odd idea

Simply refocus and revitalise the product, and to some extent zone it, it's tired now.

But not refocus it away from comedy.

We'll differ there.

I suppose you'd like them to refocus the other telethon to 'Adults In Need' too?

It's already blurred between sport and comedy, adding a heavy music content would do anything but provide focus

"Welcome to Comic Relief, a night jam-packed full of no comedy for three hours for some reason." - what an incredibly stupid idea. It'd be like removing the countdown from Countdown, or rescheduling This Morning as a late evening show.

Last night's Comic Relief was the best in a long while, and has garnered praise from people I know due to the higher amount of positive appeals.

The Vicar of Dibley sketch showed how many of the cast members had aged horribly, although it seemed to garner a lot of praise on social media.

The MasterChef with Dame Edna, Jack Whitehall, and Mickey Flanagan was excellent. Ricky Gervais was good, Peter Kay was OK, and there was nothing I can pick out as awful (though the unfunny irony with James Corden as Smithy did come close). It was certainly better than the cack offered up by Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield last year.

£75m suggests otherwise, and that's the figure that matters. It's not perfect but never has been and certainly doesn't need the sort of change you're suggesting. The only thing lacking IMO is live stunts for the show, but it's far better to have plenty of pre-recorded comedy sketches rather than plug after plug after plug from numerous music artists.