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Why has Britain never persevered with a nightly chat show. (March 2020)

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NL
Ne1L C
Watching a few old episodes of David Letterman on Youtube last night got me thinking. As far as I know only Graham Norton and "The Nightly Show" have attempted 5 nights a week.

They've been a staple of US TV for decades. So why not here?
BA
bilky asko
We did have it, just not late at night. The Paul O'Grady Show was on 5 nights a week at 5pm.
NL
Ne1L C
We did have it, just not late at night. The Paul O'Grady Show was on 5 nights a week at 5pm.


Well, yes that was early evening. I was wondering why not try a Leno-esque late night version?
MA
Markymark
We did have it, just not late at night. The Paul O'Grady Show was on 5 nights a week at 5pm.


Well, yes that was early evening. I was wondering why not try a Leno-esque late night version?


C5 tried it with Jack Docherty, it didn't work, a chap called Graham Norton became his stand in, the show still didn't work. I can't recall what happen to Norton
DO
dosxuk
They have been tried, and discussed at length on here. They just never get the audience to justify the cost.
DV
DVB Cornwall
They have been tried, and discussed at length on here. They just never get the audience to justify the cost.


.... also the supply of talent in the UK isn't large enough to make this type of show watchable on a continuing basis, some would argue with a certain amount of accuracy, that it doesn't exist in the US either.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
Wogan had a good run in an early evening slot.
DV
DVB Cornwall
Three times a week for 30 mins, wholly different kettle of fish.
NG
noggin Founding member
Three times a week for 30 mins, wholly different kettle of fish.


And Wogan was early evening, rather than late at night. It was in a similar slot to The One Show. (The One Show manages to be a daily chat-based show - but is very different to the US late night talk shows, and rates higher than any of the other chat shows like Norton or Ross)
BA
bilky asko
We did have it, just not late at night. The Paul O'Grady Show was on 5 nights a week at 5pm.


Well, yes that was early evening. I was wondering why not try a Leno-esque late night version?

What's the point? What does it get from being on late other than a smaller audience?
JC
JCB
We did have it, just not late at night. The Paul O'Grady Show was on 5 nights a week at 5pm.


Well, yes that was early evening. I was wondering why not try a Leno-esque late night version?

What's the point? What does it get from being on late other than a smaller audience?


The freedom of not having to pander to a beige 5pm audiance?
JL
JamesLaverty1925
JCB posted:

Well, yes that was early evening. I was wondering why not try a Leno-esque late night version?

What's the point? What does it get from being on late other than a smaller audience?


The freedom of not having to pander to a beige 5pm audiance?


Paul O'Grady Live (Friday night version after the oriiginal run finished) didn't get great ratings. Think it's accepted a nightly chat show doesn't work here, no doubt someone will try again in the future.

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